A convicted murderer made a legal argument unlike any other after experiencing a near-death event behind bars. He insisted that because he had momentarily died and was revived, his life sentence had effectively ended. The court, however, did not see it that way.
The Unusual Legal Claim That Made Headlines
Cases involving inmates sentenced to life in prison have sparked widespread discussions over the years. From chilling last words of those on death row to unexpected confessions before execution, the legal system has seen its share of unusual situations. But few have been as bizarre as the case of Benjamin Edward Schreiber, a man who claimed that he had technically fulfilled his life sentence because his heart had stopped beating.
Schreiber was convicted of first-degree murder without the possibility of parole for his role in the brutal killing of John Terry in the mid-1990s. The crime was as gruesome as it was deliberate—Terry was beaten to death with an axe handle, leading to Schreiber’s life sentence at Iowa State Penitentiary.
However, more than two decades later, in March 2015, an unforeseen medical emergency would lead Schreiber to an argument unlike anything the courts had seen before.
A Medical Emergency That Led to a Legal Battle
While serving his sentence, Schreiber suffered from severe kidney stones, which caused a life-threatening infection. His condition worsened to the point that he collapsed in his prison cell and was rushed to a hospital. There, he was diagnosed with septic poisoning, a critical condition that often proves fatal if untreated.
According to court records, Schreiber’s condition was so dire that doctors had to revive him five times using a combination of medical interventions, including adrenaline and epinephrine. This resuscitation occurred despite the fact that he had a “do not resuscitate” order in place, which he had previously arranged.
His brother, who was contacted during the crisis, reportedly told medical staff that they could administer pain relief, but otherwise, he should not be kept alive artificially. However, doctors proceeded with life-saving treatments, ultimately bringing Schreiber back from the brink of death. After undergoing surgery to repair the damage to his kidneys and receiving intensive antibiotic treatment for septic shock, he eventually recovered.
The Argument That His Life Sentence Had Technically Ended
Following his recovery, Schreiber took his case to court in April 2018, filing for post-conviction relief. His argument rested on a technicality: since his heart had stopped, he had experienced clinical death, meaning his life sentence should be considered fulfilled.
Essentially, he contended that because he had momentarily “ceased to exist,” the terms of his life sentence had been met, and he should therefore be released. The legal claim, while novel, quickly caught public attention.
However, the state of Iowa was not convinced by his reasoning.
The Court’s Response: A Firm Rejection
In 2019, a judge ruled against Schreiber’s claim, stating that his argument was “unpersuasive and without merit.” Judge Amanda Potterfield provided a simple but definitive response to his assertion:
“Schreiber is either still alive, in which case he must remain in prison, or he is actually dead, in which case this appeal is moot.”
The court also pointed out that Schreiber’s own ability to file legal documents and argue his case demonstrated that he was, indeed, still alive. The ruling further stated that there was nothing in the legal system that supported his interpretation of a “life sentence” ending due to a momentary death.
Despite Schreiber’s additional argument that his due process rights had been violated when medical personnel ignored his “do not resuscitate” order, the district court declined to rule on that issue. As a result, the appellate court also refused to take it into consideration.
His Final Years and Death
Though his legal battle ultimately failed, Schreiber’s case remained one of the most unusual legal arguments ever presented by an inmate. He continued to serve his life sentence until he eventually passed away due to natural causes in April 2023 at a hospital in Fort Dodge, Iowa.
His obituary did not mention the legal fight that had defined the latter years of his life, but his case remains an example of the strange and often unexpected arguments that can emerge from the criminal justice system.