Minnesota caregiver gets life in prison for shooting roommate in the face

Jacob Audie, 37, shot his 72-year-old roommate Michael Schille with the victim's own AR-15 while Schille watched TV. Audie was sentenced to life without parole.

Minnesota caregiver sentenced to life for killing roommate who still held the TV remote

A St. Paul man who fatally shot his 72-year-old roommate — a man he was supposed to be caring for — with the victim's own AR-15 rifle has been sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole, Law & Crime reports.

Jacob John Audie, 37, received the sentence on Tuesday after being convicted last week of premeditated first-degree murder and intentional second-degree murder in the death of Michael Maurice Schille. Dakota County Attorney Kathy Keena announced the sentence.

Shot on the couch, remote still in hand

On April 11, 2025, Audie and Schille were in their shared apartment in St. Paul, Minnesota. The two had lived together for at least a year, and Audie had helped care for Schille and clean the apartment, according to a statement of probable cause.

Schille was sitting on a couch in his bedroom, television remote in hand, when Audie shot him "in the left cheek area" using the victim's own AR-15 rifle. Audie later told police he then unloaded the magazine, placed it on the kitchen table, removed the chambered round, and set it beside the couch.

He called 911 and told dispatchers what he had done, stating that his friend was dead and the gun was on the couch.

South Saint Paul Police officers arrived at approximately 8:50 p.m. and found Audie standing in the parking lot outside the building, phone in hand. He was placed under arrest. Inside the apartment, officers located a rifle magazine on the kitchen table, a rifle leaning against the living room couch with a live round next to it, and Schille — still holding the TV remote — with a gunshot wound to the left side of his face. Medics pronounced him dead at the scene.

A letter titled "Michael's Forgiveness"

According to regional NBC affiliate KARE, recently filed court documents revealed that a four-page handwritten letter was found on a table inside the home. Audie reportedly told investigators he had written it, titling it "Michael's Forgiveness."

Court documents indicate Audie had spoken with Schille in the days before the shooting about ending the older man's life, but Schille said he was not ready. Audie later admitted to investigators that he shot his roommate "with the intent to end life/suffering."

"I made sure it was quick and painless as possible but that doesn't matter, what matters is I accept and always will take responsibility for my actions," Audie wrote, as reported by KARE.

A veteran who trusted his caregiver

Schille was a military veteran who had been dealing with health problems, his daughters told KARE. An obituary described a man who "lost his life at the hands of someone he trusted." He is survived by two daughters and two granddaughters. According to the obituary, Schille "loved being on the water and camping and could not wait to get a ride in on his Harley."

Source: Law & Crime