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{{Infobox criminal
| name = Marcus Schrenker
| image_name =
| image_size =
| image_caption =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|11|27}}
| birth_place =
| death_date =
| death_place =
| cause =
| alias =
| motive =
| charge = Illegal destruction of an aircraft, deceiving the [[United States Coast Guard|Coast Guard]] (federal), [[securities fraud]], operating as an investment banker without being registered (state)<ref name="bloomberg2">Laurence Viele Davidson for Bloomberg News. January 21, 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20140227143007/http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=newsarchive&sid=aIeMZ02ICeeo&refer=home Indiana Fund Manager Indicted for Faking His Death (Update2)].</ref>
| conviction = June 5, 2009 (federal, pleaded guilty)<br>October 7, 2010 (state, pleaded guilty)
| conviction_penalty = 51 months in prison and $905,000 fine (federal)<ref name=CNNsentence/><br>10 years in prison (consecutive) and fines of $633,781 (state)<ref name=RTV/>
| conviction_status =
| occupation = [[Financial advisor]]
| spouse = Michelle Schrenker (divorced)
| parents =
| children = 3<ref name="abc"/>
}}
'''Marcus Schrenker''' (born November 27, 1970)<ref name=SPID>{{cite web |title=Supervised Population Information Detail |url=http://www.dc.state.fl.us/offenderSearch/detail.aspx?Page=Detail&DCNumber=D57531&TypeSearch=AO |website=www.dc.state.fl.us |accessdate=28 November 2019 |language=en}}</ref> is a former American financial advisor. In 2009, he attempted to [[Pseudocide|fake his own death]] due to personal, financial, and legal troubles. As a result, he was the subject of a multi-state, three-day [[Manhunt (law enforcement)|manhunt]].<ref name=NYT2009-01/><ref name=AP>Jay Reeves and Rick Callahan for the Associated Press, via Yahoo news. Jan 13, 2009. [https://web.archive.org/web/20090119140636/http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20090113/ap_on_bi_ge/plane_crash_mystery "Investors Complained About Missing Ind. Pilot]</ref><ref name="cnn">{{Cite web |title=Affidavit: Fugitive pilot seemed ready to stay on run - CNN.com |url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/01/14/missing.pilot.found/ |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=www.cnn.com}}</ref>

His wife Michelle divorced him,<ref name=NYT2009-01/> and after pleading guilty to federal charges he was sentenced to 51 months in prison and fined $905,000 in June 2009.<ref name=CNNsentence/> In October 2010, after pleading guilty to state charges, he was sentenced to 10 additional and consecutive years in prison and fined $633,781.<ref name=RTV/>

==Background==
Schrenker grew up in [[Merrillville, Indiana]], and attended [[Purdue University]], where he met his wife.<ref name=NYT2009-01/>

Prior to January 2009, Schrenker lived with his wife and three children in a $1 million waterfront house in [[Geist, Indianapolis|Geist]], a wealthy suburb of [[Indianapolis]].<ref name="abc"/><ref name=NYT2009-01/><ref name=Geist/> He owned a plane and a Lexus.<ref name=NYT2009-01>{{cite news|last1=Johnson|first1=Dirk|title=A Man With Everything, Including a Lot to Flee|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/01/15/us/15plane.html|work=The New York Times|date=2009}}</ref><ref name=IndyCut/>

Schrenker was listed as the owner of three companies: Heritage Wealth Management Inc. (HWM), Icon Wealth Management,<ref name="abc"/> and Heritage Insurance Services, all listed at the same address.<ref name=CNNprobe>Josh Levs for CNN. January 12, 2009 [http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/12/florida.plane.crash/index.html Authorities: Pilot who bailed from plane under securities probe].</ref> In December 2008 Schrenker and HWM were sued by another company that was trying to get back $1.4 million for commissions it had paid to Schrenker for selling insurance and annuity policies.<ref name="abc"/>

On December 30, 2008, his wife filed for divorce because he had been having an affair with a woman at the airport where he kept his plane.<ref name=20-20>Michael Pressman and Deborah Roberts for ABC News 20/20. March 26, 2010 [https://abcnews.go.com/2020/marcus-schrenker-fake-death/story?id=10201960 Marcus Schrenker's Life Spirals Out of Control]</ref><ref>Note: Another source says the divorce was filed December 31: Jeff Swiatek for the Indianapolis Star. January 14, 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20090122213224/http://www.indystar.com/article/20090114/NEWS02/901140388/1003/BUSINESS Fishers businessman cut his wrist, officials say].</ref> The next day, his Indiana state financial advisor license expired,<ref name="fox">{{Cite web |date=2009-09-04 |title=FOXNews.com - Timeline: Marcus Schrenker Plane Hoax Mystery - Local News {{!}} News Articles {{!}} National News {{!}} US News |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090904132413/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479883,00.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> and all three of his companies were searched under a warrant related to ongoing investigations,<ref name=CNNprobe/>

At the beginning of January, the Indiana Department of Insurance filed a motion to revoke the license of Schrenker and Heritage and fine them, "citing a string of complaints from clients, some charging that he forged signatures and withdrew investment money causing large surrender penalties".<ref name="abc"/> On January 9, Schrenker was ordered by a Maryland court to pay a Maryland insurance company $533,564 for issues also related to commissions.<ref name="abc"/><ref name="pen">Tallahassee Democrat and wire reports via Staff, Pensacola News Journal. January 14, 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20090124092628/http://www.pnj.com/article/20090114/NEWS01/90114012 It's normally real quiet]".</ref> Schrenker was also being investigated by the FBI at the time the events occurred.<ref name="abc"/>

At least eight lawsuits had been filed against Schrenker in the ten years leading up to the events of January 2009, including slander, interfering with a business relationship, and failing to pay a contractor who worked on one of his homes.<ref name=IndyCut>Jeff Swiatek for the Indianapolis Star. January 14, 2009 [https://web.archive.org/web/20090122213224/http://www.indystar.com/article/20090114/NEWS02/901140388/1003/BUSINESS Fishers businessman cut his wrist, officials say].</ref>

==Plane crash and manhunt==
On January 10, 2009, Schrenker traveled to [[Harpersville, Alabama]], in a pickup truck carrying a red [[Yamaha Motor Company|Yamaha]] motorcycle with [[saddlebags]] containing money and supplies.<ref name="ap">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-22 |title=The Associated Press: Agent: Investor mutters "die" as run from law ends |url=http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsET3AfuAoTChx5t6o2BcA9_YMbgD95MU4M02 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122215846/http://www.google.com/hostednews/ap/article/ALeqM5hsET3AfuAoTChx5t6o2BcA9_YMbgD95MU4M02 |archive-date=2009-01-22 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> He returned to Indiana after placing the motorcycle in a storage facility, telling the owner he would return and retrieve the motorcycle the following Monday.<ref name="fox" />

On January 11, 2009, Schrenker departed in his turboprop single-engine [[Piper Meridian]] (tail number N428DC) from an [[airfield]] in [[Anderson, Indiana]], scheduled to fly to [[Destin, Florida|Destin]], [[Florida]].<ref name="PopMech">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-20 |title=Financial Adviser's Daring Getaway - Marcus Schrenker Apprehended - Popular Mechanics |url=http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/worst_case_scenarios/4269526.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090120163314/http://www.popularmechanics.com/science/worst_case_scenarios/4269526.html |archive-date=2009-01-20 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> Near [[Birmingham, Alabama]], he made a distress call, telling [[air traffic controller|air traffic control]] that his windshield had imploded and he was "bleeding profusely."<ref name="indy">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-23 |title=Indy.com {{!}} Post: Fishers pilot vanishes over Alabama {{!}} Indianapolis, Indiana |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123075200/http://www.indy.com/posts/indy-plane-crashes-in-fla-pilot-missing |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref><ref name="guardian">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-14 |title=Businessman 'faked death by jumping from plane' |url=http://www.theguardian.com/world/2009/jan/15/businessman-faked-death-us |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=the Guardian |language=en}}</ref> He then set the plane to [[autopilot]] and parachuted out. Military jets that had been dispatched to intercept Schrenker's plane discovered it in flight, with its door open and cockpit empty.<ref name="guardian" /> They followed the plane until it crashed just north of [[Milton, Florida]] at about 9:20pm.<ref name="guardian" /><ref name="tal">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-23 |title=Updated: Indiana fugitive facing federal charges in connection with plane crash {{!}} tallahassee.com {{!}} Tallahassee Democrat |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090123065507/http://www.tallahassee.com/article/20090114/NEWS01/901140344/1010 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> The plane had flown {{convert|200|mi|km}} on [[autopilot]] and crashed 50 to 75 yards from a residential area.<ref name="indy" /><ref name="tal" /> Upon inspecting the crash site, investigators discovered that there was no blood inside the plane and the windshield showed no sign of any problems.<ref name="guardian" /> On board the aircraft they found a [[atlas|United States atlas]] and a national [[campground]] directory, both of which had the Florida and Alabama sections torn out.<ref name="msnbc2">{{Cite web |title=Cockpit items led cops to missing financier |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna28623108 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=NBC News |language=en}}</ref>

After parachuting to the ground, Schrenker made his way to a private residence in [[Childersburg, Alabama]], arriving around 2:30am on January 12.<ref name="cnn" /> Appearing wet from the knees down,<ref name="cnn" /><ref name="fox" /> he told the resident he had been in a [[canoe]]ing accident. He received a ride into town, where he made contact with the local police station. Not yet linking Schrenker to the crash, the police brought him to a hotel in [[Harpersville, Alabama|Harpersville]], where he checked in under a false name and paid for his room with cash.<ref name="cnn" /> When police returned later that morning, he had fled on foot into nearby woods.<ref name="indy" /> Schrenker then traveled to the storage facility where he had earlier stored his motorcycle,<ref name="ap" /><ref name="scotsman">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-22 |title=Financier fakes down death in air crash before fleeing - Scotsman.com News |url=http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Financier-fakes-down-death-in.4872042.jp |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122220131/http://news.scotsman.com/latestnews/Financier-fakes-down-death-in.4872042.jp |archive-date=2009-01-22 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> and then rode the vehicle to a [[Kampgrounds of America|KOA Campground]] in [[Quincy, Florida]].<ref name="abc">{{Cite web |date=2016-03-06 |title=New Charges for Pilot Suspected of Faking Death - ABC News |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=6630842&page=2 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160306021916/https://abcnews.go.com/US/Story?id=6630842&page=2 |archive-date=2016-03-06 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref><ref name="msnbc2" /> Without offering his name, he told the owners of the grounds that he was traveling cross country with friends, using cash to purchase a one-night tent site, firewood, and a six pack of [[Bud Light Lime]].<ref name="msnbc2" /> He was also given access to the campground's [[wireless internet]].<ref name="msnbc2" />

On January 12, Schrenker emailed neighbor and friend Tom Britt, stating the crash was "a misunderstanding" and that he had checked into the motel because he was "embarrassed and scared" of returning home.<ref name="scotsman" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-19 |title=FOXNews.com - Text of Marcus Schrenker's E-Mail to Neighbor - Local News {{!}} News Articles {{!}} National News {{!}} US News |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090119183318/https://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,479886,00.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> He also said that he would likely "be gone" by the time Britt read the email.<ref name="Geist">{{Cite web |date=2009-01-22 |title=Search continues for missing Geist pilot - News- msnbc.com |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28625061/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122204239/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/28625061/ |archive-date=2009-01-22 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> Britt turned the email over to the police.<ref name=NYT2009-01/> The same day, a Hamilton County Superior Court judge froze the assets of both Schrenker and his estranged wife.<ref name=CNNfreeze>{{Cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/US/01/13/pilot.assets/index.html|title=Judge freezes assets of pilot whose plane crashed without him|date=2009-01-13|publisher=CNN|accessdate=2009-01-13}}</ref>

==Capture==
On January 13, officials captured Schrenker in a [[tent|pup tent]] at the Quincy campground, having roughly located him using information from the email he had sent.<ref name="tal" /><ref>{{Cite web |date=2009-01-22 |title=Missing pilot Schrenker found with slit wrist {{!}} NECN |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090122210156/http://www.necn.com/Boston/Nation/2009/01/14/Missing-pilot-Schrenker-found/1231930621.html |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> The ground's owners, Troy and Caroline Hastings, grew suspicious when the man had failed to check out by 5pm.<ref name="msnbc2" /> Upon approaching Schrenker's site, Troy Hastings noticed a large red stain on the outer flap of his tent.<ref name="msnbc2" /> The couple were soon contacted by the local sheriff, who asked if anything unusual had happened recently at the camp. Troy Hastings told the officer about the suspicious camper; shortly thereafter, authorities swarmed the campground.<ref name="msnbc2" />

Investigators told the press that he had slashed his left wrist, had an additional self-inflicted wound near his elbow, and was barely conscious.<ref name="ap" /><ref name="tal" /> [[US Marshal]] Assistant Chief Deputy Frank Chiumento said that Schrenker "wasn’t able to speak very clearly. A lot of the words that he was speaking were unintelligible, but he mentioned 'die' at least two times as we were providing medical treatment to him."<ref name="tal" /> He was in a "very incoherent state" and had lost massive amounts of blood by the time authorities first arrived, but paramedics were able to control his bleeding and he was flown to [[Tallahassee Memorial Hospital]].<ref name="tal" /> Among the items found at the campground with him were knives, a [[laptop computer]], toiletries, clothes and maps.<ref name="tal" />

==Charges and trials==
On January 13, 2009, Schrenker was charged in [[Hamilton County, Indiana]] with 11 counts of unlawful acts by a compensated adviser and unlawful transaction by an investment adviser, and his [[bail]] was set at $4 million.<ref name=NWI/><ref name="cnn" />

In May 2009 an Alabama judge granted a $12 million judgment against Schrenker related to the sale of an airplane to a man from Alabama.<ref name=NWI>Bowdeya Tweh for The Times of Northwest Indiana. Aug 14, 2010 [https://web.archive.org/web/20160530052905/http://www.nwitimes.com/news/local/schrenker-appears-not-to-have-enough-funds-to-pay-claims/article_964437e1-d44c-5e14-88dc-88798b77b183.html Schrenker appears not to have enough funds to pay claims]</ref>

In June 2009 Schrenker pleaded guilty to federal charges of destroying an aircraft and causing the U.S. Coast Guard to respond when no help was needed.<ref name=NWI/> In August he was sentenced to four years and three months in prison and was required to pay $34,000 in restitution to the Coast Guard and $871,000 in restitution to [[Harley-Davidson]], the plane's lien-holder.<ref name=CNNsentence>Staff, CNN. August 19, 2009 [http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/08/19/fugitive.pilot/ Man gets 4 years for crashing plane, trying to fake death]</ref>

By August 2010, his possessions had been sold off and there were civil claims against him totaling about $20 million.<ref name=NWI/> In August 2010 he reached a deal with Indiana prosecutors to plead guilty to five counts of securities fraud, serve 10 years in prison and pay victims of his schemes more than $630,000,<ref name=NWI/> and in October the judgement was entered, with the 10 years' imprisonment ordered to run consecutively with the sentence on the federal charges for the faked plane crash.<ref name="RTV">{{Cite web |date=2016-03-10 |title=Schrenker Sentenced To 10 Years In Prison - TheIndyChannel.com |url=https://www.theindychannel.com/news/schrenker-sentenced-to-10-years-in-prison |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160310201456/https://www.theindychannel.com/news/schrenker-sentenced-to-10-years-in-prison |archive-date=2016-03-10 |access-date=2022-08-01 |website=web.archive.org}}</ref> A hearing on his ongoing divorce was scheduled for later that October.<ref name=RTV/>

On 25 September 2015, he was released on parole by the [[Florida Department of Corrections|Florida Department of Correction]] with a scheduled termination date of 16 September 2019.

==References==
{{Reflist|2}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Schrenker, Marcus}}
[[Category:People from Hancock County, Indiana]]
[[Category:Place of birth missing (living people)]]
[[Category:People who faked their own death]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:American people convicted of fraud]]

Marcus Schrenker - Revision history

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