This article is from the source 'washpo' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.washingtonpost.com/local/crime/lawyer-denied-bond-in-stabbing-of-mclean-couple/2014/11/17/6e81607c-6ea7-11e4-ad12-3734c461eab6_story.html?wprss=rss_homepage

The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Andrew Schmuhl denied bond in ‘torture’ stabbing of McLean couple Andrew Schmuhl denied bond in ‘torture’ stabbing of McLean couple
(35 minutes later)
The Springfield man who along with his wife is accused by police of brutally stabbing a McLean couple was denied bond Tuesday morning. The Springfield man who, along with his wife, is accused by police of brutally stabbing a McLean couple was denied bond Tuesday morning after new details emerged in the attack that prosecutors described as a “torture session.”
Andrew Schmuhl appeared at a Tuesday hearing in Fairfax County. He is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and abduction by force. Prosecutors say he and his wife, Alecia, broke into a McLean home Nov. 9 and left homeowners Leo Fisher and his wife, Susan Duncan, with life-threatening injuries. Andrew Schmuhl appeared at a hearing in Fairfax County. He is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and abduction by force. Prosecutors say he and his wife, Alecia, broke into a McLean home Nov. 9 and left homeowners Leo Fisher and his wife, Susan Duncan, with life-threatening injuries.
Last week, a judge denied bond for Alecia Schmuhl after prosecutors described a scene of revenge. At Tuesday’s hearing Pierre Priale, a defense attorney for Andrew Schmuhl, said his client had suffered a spinal cord injury in 2012 from an accident that affected his mobility. Priale argued that because of the injury, his client should be released on bond so that his parents could care for him. Andrew Schmuhl’s parents were in the courtroom.
But a prosecutor showed a photo of Schmuhl playing in a kickball tournament in August. In reference to the night of the attack in McLean, Fairfax County Chief Deputy Commonwealth Attorney Casey Lingan said, “He had no trouble making his way around that night.”
Prosecutors at a bond hearing last week for Alecia Schmuhl described the attack as an act of revenge. Bond in her case was also denied. She is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and abduction by force. She has also been charged with felony eluding and obstruction of justice.
Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond Morrogh said at Friday’s hearing that Alecia Schmuhl was angry over her recent dismissal from Fisher’s firm, Bean Kinney & Korman, where she was an attorney.Fairfax County Commonwealth’s Attorney Raymond Morrogh said at Friday’s hearing that Alecia Schmuhl was angry over her recent dismissal from Fisher’s firm, Bean Kinney & Korman, where she was an attorney.
Andrew and Alecia Schmuhl are accused of breaking into Fisher’s home, using a stun gun on him, and stabbing him and his wife. Prosecutors have said the couple were held hostage in their own home for hours and described the incident as a “torture session.”Andrew and Alecia Schmuhl are accused of breaking into Fisher’s home, using a stun gun on him, and stabbing him and his wife. Prosecutors have said the couple were held hostage in their own home for hours and described the incident as a “torture session.”
After Duncan sounded an alarm, the Schmuhls fled in a car. Officers later found spotted the vehicle on the Capital Beltway and were led on a four-mile chase before they could stop it. A few new details about the night of the attack came out in Tuesday’s hearing. It was revealed that while both Duncan and Fisher were tied up, Andrew Schmuhl pressed Fisher to log on to his computer to get personal details of other lawyers at the 70-person firm.
Police say they found Andrew Schmuhl wearing only a diaper. Inside the car were bloody clothes, a Taser and a gun, according to authorities. While he was on the computer, Fisher’s wife was able to move from a bathroom where she was being held captive. Andrew Schmuhl fired at her, authorities said, and Duncan believed she was shot in the head. Prosecutors, however, would not confirm after the hearing if she was in fact shot in the head.
The case has stunned the neighborhood where Fisher lives, which has little crime, and left people in local legal circles wondering how this could happen. Duncan played dead, prosecutors said, and was able to hit a fire alarm once Schmuhl’s attention turned away. The alarm scared Andrew Schmuhl off, and he and his wife fled in a car, authorities said. Officers later found spotted the vehicle on the Capital Beltway and were led on a four-mile chase before they could stop it.
Police say they found Andrew Schmuhl wearing only a diaper in the car. Bloody clothes, a Taser and a gun were also recovered from the vehicle, according to authorities.
At Tuesday’s hearing, prosecutors said the motive for the attack was clear.
“I submit this is all over the firing of his wife,” Lingan said.
Other partners of the firm attended the hearing, and were noticeably relieved at the bond decision.
Lingan declined to comment on Fisher or Duncan’s health or whether they are still in the hospital.
The case has stunned the neighborhood where the victims live, which sees little crime, and left people in local legal circles wondering how this could happen.
Andrew and Alecia Schmuhl are both lawyers and live in Springfield.Andrew and Alecia Schmuhl are both lawyers and live in Springfield.
Alecia Schmuhl, 30, was fired from Fisher’s law firm on Oct. 29 after working there for almost two years. Her husband had also been accused by Fisher’s firm of committing fraud on a refinancing application. Andrew Schmuhl had been out of work for 2 1/2 years after he suffered a back injury in the Army.Alecia Schmuhl, 30, was fired from Fisher’s law firm on Oct. 29 after working there for almost two years. Her husband had also been accused by Fisher’s firm of committing fraud on a refinancing application. Andrew Schmuhl had been out of work for 2 1/2 years after he suffered a back injury in the Army.
Police and prosecutors say the couple’s anger hit a boiling point on that Sunday night. Around 6:30 p.m., they say, Andrew Schmuhl knocked on Fisher’s door, posing as a law enforcement officer. As the incident unfolded, Fisher and Duncan were bound and threatened.Police and prosecutors say the couple’s anger hit a boiling point on that Sunday night. Around 6:30 p.m., they say, Andrew Schmuhl knocked on Fisher’s door, posing as a law enforcement officer. As the incident unfolded, Fisher and Duncan were bound and threatened.
At one point, Duncan saw someone who matched Alecia Schmuhl’s description outside the home and Andrew flicked the lights on and off inside, as if to signal her. Andrew Schmuhl also allegedly fired a shot near Duncan. The bullet lodged above a bathroom door, where she was being held. At one point, Duncan saw someone who matched Alecia Schmuhl’s description outside the home, and Andrew flicked the lights on and off inside, as if to signal her.
Eventually, he stabbed Fisher in the face and upper body and turned the knife on Duncan, Morrogh said. Duncan managed to hit an alarm, and the Schmuhls allegedly fled in a car driven by Alecia. After Duncan triggered the alarm the attackers fled, Fairfax County police arrived at the home just before 10 p.m. and took a “dying declaration” from Fisher, Morrogh said.
Fairfax County police arrived at the home just before 10 p.m. and took a “dying declaration” from Fisher, Morrogh said. Fisher managed to describe the attackers’ vehicle, and a massive search began, involving dozens of officers and a police helicopter. Fisher and Duncan were taken to Inova Fairfax Hospital in critical condition. Police said they have had difficulty interviewing them because of the extent of their injuries.
Officers spotted the vehicle on the Capital Beltway about 30 minutes later, and it sped away, Morrogh said. Alecia Schmuhl allegedly led the officers on a chase for four miles before being stopped in the Springfield area.
In the meantime, Fisher and Duncan had been rushed to Inova Fairfax Hospital in critical condition. Police said they have had difficulty interviewing them because of the extent of their injuries.
Alecia Schmuhl is charged with two counts of malicious wounding and abduction by force. She has also been charged with felony eluding and obstruction of justice.
Some who know the Schmuhls have had a tough time understanding what went wrong from the couples’ seemingly rising talents.Some who know the Schmuhls have had a tough time understanding what went wrong from the couples’ seemingly rising talents.
Alecia Schmuhl speaks three languages and served on the board of the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. Andrew Schmuhl was a former judge advocate in the Army. Neither had a criminal record in Fairfax County. They both graduated from Valparaiso University Law School in 2009, the school said.Alecia Schmuhl speaks three languages and served on the board of the Arlington-Alexandria Coalition for the Homeless. Andrew Schmuhl was a former judge advocate in the Army. Neither had a criminal record in Fairfax County. They both graduated from Valparaiso University Law School in 2009, the school said.
Staff writers Justin Jouvenal and Dana Hedgpeth contributed to this report.Staff writers Justin Jouvenal and Dana Hedgpeth contributed to this report.