Second person charged in teen’s Monroe County shooting death
A second person has been charged in connection with the shooting death of a 14-year-old girl in Monroe County, whose father also faces charges in the case, authorities announced Wednesday.
David A. Schultheis, 34, of Prairie du Rocher, was charged Tuesday with reckless discharge of a firearm in the death of his daughter, Emma Schultheis.
Karen A. Schwarze, 58, of Valmeyer, was charged with concealment of a homicidal death and obstructing justice, according to a release from Sgt. Justin Biggs of the Monroe County Sheriff’s Department.
The sheriff’s department provided additional details about the incident that led to Emma’s death. Authorities said Emma was outside a brick building on July 21 when David Schultheis fired a handgun at a buzzard inside the structure.
“In doing so, Schultheis inserted only his arm into the room — keeping his head outside the doorway to avoid potential ricochet — before pulling the trigger,” the release stated. “The bullet struck the bird, passed through it, exited the building through a window, and ultimately struck his daughter, Emma Schultheis, who was outside.”
First responders were called at 1:34 p.m. and found Emma wounded at 5925 Illinois 3 in Waterloo. She was taken to a St. Louis hospital, where she died later that day.
Authorities allege that Schwarze concealed a Taurus .40-caliber pistol “with the intent to prevent the apprehension or prosecution of David Schultheis.” The investigation also found that, after search warrants were executed, Schwarze attempted to influence others not to speak with law enforcement officers during the early stages of the investigation, according to the news release.
Schwarze was making arrangements to surrender to the sheriff’s department, Biggs said. Her case did not yet appear in online county court records Wednesday.
Schultheis surrendered to authorities on Tuesday and has since been released from the county jail. Court records indicate that probable cause was found he committed the offense.
A defense attorney for Schultheis was not listed Wednesday in Monroe County court records. Monroe County State’s Attorney Ryan Webb could not be reached for comment.
“The Monroe County Sheriff’s Department remains steadfast in its commitment to conducting thorough, fact-based, and impartial investigations,” Biggs said in the release. “Regardless of the emotional and procedural complexities, our mission is to deliver truth, accountability, and justice for the families involved and for the community we serve.
“While this incident may have been preventable, our obligation is not to dwell in speculation but to uncover and present the facts with integrity.”
Prior to the release, Sheriff Neal Rohlfing said Wednesday that Schultheis “made some poor choices” that resulted in the death of his daughter, who was known for her prize-winning livestock.
“Everyone should always use caution when using and handling firearms,” Rohlfing said. “Treat every firearm as if it’s loaded. You should always know your backdrop.”
Rohlfing said the shooting was “not intentional.”
“We feel terrible for the family and friends,” he said.
Emma won second place for her steer and first place for her heifer at the Clinton County Fair in Carlyle on July 16. She was looking forward to showing her livestock at the Monroe County Fair. The Red Bud Future Farmers of America said on Facebook that fair week was Emma’s “Super Bowl.”
She was honored at the 4-H and FFA Market Animal Auction at the Monroe County Fair on July 24, just three days after her death and three days before what would have been her 15th birthday.
“She was a wonderful, helpful, sweet little girl,” Amanda Schultheis said of her daughter. “She was our best friend.”
This story was originally published September 3, 2025 at 4:34 PM.
