Versailles, Ind. — Twenty-one months following the brutal murder of 3-year-old Bradyn Chadwell Jennifer Schooler, 35, has been sentenced to 65 years for murder and 2.5 years for neglect of a dependent by Ripley County Circuit Court judge Ryan King. Ripley County Prosecutor Ric Hertel says Schooler will be required to serve at least 75 percent of her sentence, but that could be reduced by earning a GED or college credit while behind bars.
Hertel said Schooler didn’t show any remorse during the investigation or the trial process but did express some remorse in a statement read to court prior to sentencing.
Bradyn’s father, Thomas Chadwell was in the courtroom today and faces felony neglect of a dependent for his role in not seeking medical help for the 3-year-old boy and his 10-year old sister. The 10-year old is in the custody of a family in northern Indiana and is expected to be adopted very soon.
Judge King weighed eight aggravating factors and one mitigating factor in reaching the sentence. The single mitigating factor was Schooler’s lack of criminal history leading up to the crime.
