A Night of Horror and a Flawed Investigation

The Schrolls were found dead in their home—Kathleen with a gunshot to the back of the head and Carl with two chest wounds. A cordless phone lay near Kathleen’s foot, a chilling reminder of her final moments: she had called her mother, Elizabeth Horton, to report that Olin “Pete” Coones had broken into their home, stolen a lawnmower, and threatened to kill them. Police arrived to find no signs of forced entry, leading to initial suspicions of a murder-suicide. However, Kathleen’s frantic call shifted focus to Pete, a man entangled in a financial dispute with her.

Kathleen had been the caretaker for Pete’s elderly father, Olin Coones Sr., and allegations later surfaced that she had embezzled over $28,000 from his accounts and fraudulently added herself as a beneficiary to his life insurance policy. These financial conflicts became central to the case, but investigators ignored critical evidence, including gunshot residue on Kathleen’s hands and a fourth bullet missed at the scene—details later uncovered by Wyandotte County’s Conviction Integrity Unit.

The Wrongful Conviction of Pete Coones

Pete Coones, a retired mail carrier and father of five, was arrested hours after the murders. Despite no physical evidence linking him to the crime, prosecutors relied heavily on the testimony of a jailhouse informant with a history of mental illness and dishonesty. This informant, later revealed to have been coerced by prosecutors, claimed Pete confessed to the murders in prison. Key exculpatory evidence—such as surveillance footage disproving a supposed gas station confrontation between Pete and Kathleen—was withheld from the defense.

In 2009, Pete was convicted of Kathleen’s murder and sentenced to 50 years in prison. His family maintained his alibi: he was home that night, even waking his wife and daughter during the timeframe of the killings.

Exoneration and a Bittersweet Freedom

After 12 years of legal battles, Pete’s conviction was overturned in November 2020. The Midwest Innocence Project and attorneys uncovered suppressed evidence, including DNA on the murder weapon matching Kathleen, not Pete, and proof that the revolver belonged to her. The case was reclassified as a murder-suicide, with evidence suggesting Kathleen shot Carl and herself to frame Pete amid mounting legal and financial pressures.

Tragically, Pete died just 108 days after his release, at age 64, from untreated health conditions exacerbated by prison neglect. His wife, Dee, later sued the Kansas City Police Department for fabricating evidence and misconduct, highlighting systemic issues in wrongful convictions.

Legacy: Fighting for Justice Beyond the Grave

Pete’s story galvanized efforts to reform Kansas’ criminal justice system. The proposed Pete Coones Memorial Act seeks to regulate jailhouse informants by creating a statewide tracking system and ensuring transparency in their testimonies. His family and advocates continue to push for accountability, ensuring his ordeal sparks lasting change.

“He wanted to inspire hope,” said Pete’s son Quinn. “If this bill passes, it will be his wishes come to fruition.”

Conclusion

The deaths of Kathleen and Carl Schroll began as a shocking crime but morphed into a harrowing tale of injustice. Pete Coones’ wrongful conviction underscores the dangers of prosecutorial misconduct and unreliable informants. While his freedom was fleeting, his legacy endures—a rallying cry for reform and a reminder that the pursuit of truth must always prevail.