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Murder of Allen R. Schindler Jr.

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Allen R. Schindler, Jr
Allen R. Schindler, Jr.
Born(1969-12-13)December 13, 1969
Chicago Heights, Illinois
DiedOctober 27, 1992(1992-10-27) (aged 22)
Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Navy
RankE4 Radioman 3rd Class

Allen R. Schindler, Jr. (December 13, 1969 – October 27, 1992) was an American Radioman Petty Officer Third Class in the United States Navy who was murdered for being gay. He was killed in a public toilet in Sasebo, Nagasaki, Japan by Terry M. Helvey, who acted with the aid of an accomplice, Charles Vins, in what Esquire called a "brutal murder".[1][2] The case became synonymous with the gays in the military debate that had been brewing in the United States culminating in the "Don't ask, don't tell" bill.[2]

The events surrounding Schindler's murder were the subject of CBS' 20/20 episode and were portrayed in the 1997 TV film Any Mother's Son.[3] In 1998, Any Mother's Son won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Made for TV Movie.[4]

Background

Schindler was from a naval family[2] in Chicago Heights, Illinois and was serving as a radioman on the amphibious assault ship USS Belleau Wood in Sasebo, Nagasaki.

According to several of his friends, Schindler had complained repeatedly of anti-gay harassment to his chain of command in March and April 1992, citing incidents such as the gluing-shut of his locker and frequent comments from shipmates such as "There's a faggot on this ship and he should die".[5] Schindler had begun the separation process to leave the Navy, but his superiors insisted he remain on his ship until the process was finished. Though he knew his safety was at risk, Schindler obeyed orders.

While on transport from San Diego, California to Sasebo, the USS Belleau Wood (LHA-3) made a brief stop in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. Afterward en route to Japan, Schindler made a personal prank announcement "2-Q-T-2-B-S-T-R-8” (too cute to be straight) on secure lines reaching much of the Pacific Fleet. When he appeared at captain's mast for the unauthorized radio message, he requested that the hearing be closed. It was open, with two hundred to three hundred people in attendance.[1] Schindler was put on restrictive leave and was unable to leave the ship until a few weeks after arriving at Sasebo and four days before his death.

Murder

Airman Apprentice Terry M. Helvey, who was a member of the ship's weather department (OA Division, Operations Department), stomped Schindler to death in a toilet in a park in Sasebo, Nagasaki. A key witness, Jonathan W. saw Helvey jump on Schindler's body while singing, and blood was gushing from Schindler's mouth as he attempted to breathe. Schindler was left lying on the bathroom floor until the Shore Patrol and the key witness to the incident carried out Schindler's body to the nearby Albuquerque Bridge.[2] Schindler had "at least four fatal injuries to the head, chest, and abdomen," his head was crushed, ribs broken, and his penis cut, and he had "sneaker-tread marks stamped on his forehead and chest", destroying "every organ in his body",[6] leaving behind a "nearly unrecognizable corpse."[7] The key witness was requested to explain in detail to the military court what the crime scene looked like, but would not because Schindler's mother and sister were present in the courtroom. His family was only able to identify him by the tattoo on his arm.[8]

Details revealed

The Navy was less than forthcoming about the details of the killing, both to the news media and to the victim's family, especially his mother, Dorothy Hajdys.[9] Navy Officials failed to include his belongings: the log book Allen kept of his time on board, and his record of harassment he was receiving on the advice of friends.

In the wake of Schindler's murder, the Navy denied that it had received any complaints of harassment and refused to speak publicly about the case or to release the Japanese police report on the murder.[5]

The medical examiner compared Schindler's injuries to those sustained by a victim of a fatal horse trampling saying they were worse "than the damage to a person who’d been stomped by a horse; they were similar to what might be sustained in a high-speed car crash or a low-speed aircraft accident."[2]

At the wake in the family's home in Chicago, his mother and sister could only identify him by the tattoos on his arm as his face was disfigured.[2]

Trial and outcomes

During the trial Helvey denied that he killed Schindler because he was gay, stating, "I did not attack him because he was homosexual", but evidence presented by Navy investigator Kennon F. Privette, from the interrogation of Helvey the day after the murder, showed otherwise. "He said he hated homosexuals. He was disgusted by them," Privette said. On killing Schindler, Privette quoted Helvey as saying: "I don't regret it. I'd do it again. ... He deserved it."[1]

Under a court-approved bargain in exchange for his pleading guilty to "inflicting great bodily harm," the maximum penalty is lifetime imprisonment. Under the original charge, it was death.[1]

After the trial, Helvey was convicted of murder and Douglas J. Bradt, the captain who kept the incident quiet, was transferred to shore duty in Florida. Helvey is now serving a life sentence in the military prison at the United States Disciplinary Barracks at Fort Leavenworth, Kansas, although by statute, he is granted a clemency hearing every year. (As of 2015, he is housed at FCI Greenville in Illinois. [1]) Helvey's accomplice, Charles Vins, was allowed to plea bargain as guilty to three lesser offenses, including failure to report a serious crime and to testify truthfully against Terry Helvey, and served a 78-day sentence before receiving a general discharge from the Navy.

Cultural references

The events surrounding Schindler's murder were the subject of a 20/20 episode and were portrayed in the 1997 TV film Any Mother's Son.[10] In 1998, Any Mother's Son won a GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Made for TV Movie.[11]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jameson, Sam (May 28, 1994), "U.S. Sailor Sentenced to Life Imprisonment in Murder", Los Angeles Times, retrieved March 21, 2008
  2. ^ a b c d e f Brown, Chip (December 1993), "The Accidental Martyr", Esquire, archived from the original on March 27, 2008, retrieved March 21, 2008 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  3. ^ "Any Mother's Son – About the Movie". Lifetime Television. Archived from the original on January 26, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  4. ^ "GLAAD Awards Part I in NYC". PlanetOut Inc. March 31, 1998. Archived from the original on February 1, 2002. Retrieved February 12, 2002.
  5. ^ a b "Uniform Discrimination: The "Don't Ask, Don't Tell" Policy of the U.S. Military, section V. Discharges of Gay And lesbian Servicemembers", Human Rights Watch, January 2003, retrieved March 21, 2008
  6. ^ "'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' – intolerable or intolerant?", Gay & Lesbian Times, Editorial, no. 1013, May 24, 2007, retrieved March 21, 2008
  7. ^ Belkin, Dr. Aaron (May 1, 2005), "Abandoning 'Don't Ask, Don't Tell' Will Decrease Anti-Gay Violence", Naval Institute: Proceedings Monthly, archived from the original on March 17, 2008, retrieved March 21, 2008 {{citation}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  8. ^ Green, Jesse (September 12, 1993), "What the Navy Taught Allen Schindler's Mother", New York Times, retrieved March 29, 2010
  9. ^ Joyner, Will (August 11, 1997), "Slain Sailor's Mother As a Profile in Courage", The New York Times, retrieved March 21, 2008
  10. ^ "Any Mother's Son – About the Movie". Lifetime Television. Archived from the original on January 26, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2008. {{cite web}}: Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
  11. ^ "GLAAD Awards Part I in NYC". PlanetOut Inc. March 31, 1998. Archived from the original on February 1, 2002. Retrieved February 12, 2002.

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