Update: Missing Indiana pilot arrested in Florida
Update: Missing Indiana pilot arrested in Florida Save Email Print
Quincy, FL
Posted: 12:39 AM Jan 14, 2009
 Last Updated: 4:28 PM Jan 14, 2009
 Reporter: Joel Schipper
28 comments
A | A | A

Police say 38-year-old Marcus Schrenker is alive and in custody in Gadsden County, Florida after being taken into custody late Tuesday night.

He was arrested at a KOA campsite near Tallahassee. Authorities say he has superficial injuries to a wrist, consistent with a suicide attempt.

Police say on Sunday night Schrenker faked a distress call, parachuted out of his small plane over Alabama, and then let it crash in a Florida panhandle swamp.

Schrenker was a stunt pilot who took part in the Elkhart Air Show back in 1999.

Security video shows a man believed to be Schrenker checking into a hotel in Alabama on Sunday night not long after his plane crashed more than 200 miles away.

Investigators discovered he had stashed a motorcycle inside a nearby storage unit the day before the crash.

Schrenker's neighbor says the pilot sent him an email saying it was all an accident and he embarrassed his family for the last time.

Fearing it was a suicide note, the neighbor turned the message over to authorities.

Weeks before the plane crash, Schrenker lost a $500K judgment against one of his companies when he skipped a court hearing. His wife had filed for divorce and he was under investigation for securities violations.
Related Links
More Stories
US Steel due to deliver update on benzene leak

Kokomo, Howard Co. eye plan to keep ticket revenue

Ind. court finds residency law not retroactive

New Indiana law changes unemployment rules

 Authorities seize 902 pot plants in Owen Co. raid

Auto parts maker shutting down Indiana plant

Cummins recalling 400 workers at Indiana plant

Pro-Sunday alcohol sale group gets active again
Post Your Comments
First Name:
Location:
Enter Comments: characters left
Email (optional):
By posting this comment I have read and agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy:
You must agree to the Terms of Service to continue.
Read Comments
Comments are posted from viewers like you and do not always reflect the views of this station.
Posted by: Donna Location: Elkhart on Jan 16, 2009 at 07:48 AM
I can understand some of what people are saying here. Sounds like he got himself in alot of money problems, lets see? None of you are there right now? when you have put yourself in this kinda of problem, and not sure how to get out of it, you don't know what kind of crazy thing you will do. Lets think about his children for once and keep your comments clean. 3 boys are left not sure whats going on with their Dad. why do we always have to say it with negative thoughts. We can't be nice sometimes????? With the economy the way it is, I think alot of people are in the same boat as this guy, he just didn't know what to do.
Posted by: Skippy on Jan 14, 2009 at 08:18 PM
For all of you blogger's who think this guy wasn't a good pilot watch his youtube video. I would personally pay my entire life's savings to watch all you fly under those bridge's. You MIGHT make the first one but God would sort out the pilots on the second one.
Posted by: Chris Location: La Porte, IN on Jan 14, 2009 at 06:52 PM
It does take brains to "drive airplanes"...quoting from Pushing Tin. It doesn't, apparently, take brains to be an investment manager.
Posted by: Lilly Location: Nappannee on Jan 14, 2009 at 06:20 PM
I'm honestly sure that all of you guys are not a pilot and don't plan on it. It's a really hard thing. It's not easy. So before you all say it's an easy job, take the class to become a pilot and then you will see how hard it is
Posted by: Theo Location: MSC on Jan 14, 2009 at 06:13 PM
Amateur. Next time steal a cadaver that has your description. Use it in the crashed plane, but make sure its burned badly so your family cannot ID it. Then maybe you could actually get away with it.
Posted by: Any Location: Dunlap on Jan 14, 2009 at 04:08 PM
Comment for BTH in SBN See everybody? You really don't need much in the way of brains to be a pilot. Are you kidding me? You have no clue BTH!!!
Posted by: Anonymous Location: Indiana on Jan 14, 2009 at 03:47 PM
Make sure your own hands are clean before you judge others.
Posted by: russ Location: goshen on Jan 14, 2009 at 03:07 PM
wow, there is a God.
Posted by: jennifer Location: nappanee on Jan 14, 2009 at 12:52 PM
a person who would go to that much trouble to plan a plaine crash. HAS SOME KIND OF PROBLEM.
Posted by: skippy on Jan 14, 2009 at 12:30 PM
This inconsiderate man led a lifestyle well above his means. The mere thought of his intentions, if one child would have been injured by his stupidity. And i'm sorry the police didn't have to work to hard for this catch. Sorry Anonymous!!
Posted by: BTH Location: SBN on Jan 14, 2009 at 12:30 PM
See everybody? You really don't need much in the way of brains to be a pilot.
Posted by: michael Location: South Bend, IN on Jan 14, 2009 at 12:11 PM
Let's hope the guy lives and he can spend his full sentence all two days of the sentence in prison, typical white collar crime he will get a light sentence..... what a jerk.
Posted by: Anon Location: Elkhart on Jan 14, 2009 at 11:54 AM
What "spur of the moment" thing?! He stashed a motorcycle in a storage unit!
Posted by: D Location: Fla on Jan 14, 2009 at 11:43 AM
Leave this guy alone. He made a mistake. His friends will help him.
Posted by: hahahaha on Jan 14, 2009 at 09:50 AM
Life styles of the Rich and Famous...takes a nosedive. The End
Posted by: Izzabell Location: New Buffalo on Jan 14, 2009 at 09:45 AM
Dangerbird...just wanted to point out that "goes" is not spelled "goe's."
Posted by: Rocky Location: Up Here on Jan 14, 2009 at 09:08 AM
To Matt of S.B. - There is no wife. She filed for divorse.
Posted by: Anonymous on Jan 14, 2009 at 09:05 AM
You have to hand it to the police. This man would not have been easy to find, yet they have him in custody within 24 hours. WOW!
Posted by: Daniel McKenzie Location: South Bend on Jan 14, 2009 at 08:33 AM
I thought I was nuts, he definatly takes the cake. He needs professional help, in most cases it never works but glad it not worse than it could of been. Dont be hatin on the challenged!
Posted by: tom on Jan 14, 2009 at 08:08 AM
i wonder if he will get confirmed at the senate hearings now? he might even get part of the bailout money.
Posted by: dan Location: elkhart on Jan 14, 2009 at 07:45 AM
Is this the village idiot or what. For a guy with such a "brilliant mind", he does not appear to be the sharpest tack in the box. I think my 10 year old could have planned a better escape than this.
Posted by: Scott Location: Saint Joseph on Jan 14, 2009 at 07:34 AM
The guy is going through some rough times right now. Hope it never happens to you haters. Yes he is the loser right now. Doesn't mean he can't turn it around.
Posted by: Myrt on Jan 14, 2009 at 07:13 AM
At least he won't be flying anymore! He could have wiped out a neighborhood pulling a stunt like that. I think he should also be charged for something related to endangering others as well as any other charges he will face. He needs to be a man and face his problems.
Posted by: Matt Location: South Bend on Jan 14, 2009 at 06:57 AM
Goe's. Wow; someone may have missed the apostrophe lesson in grammar school. With regard to this story, suicide attempts are not rational. His family does deserve our prayers; there is a wife and there are three kids involved in the story.
Posted by: Big O on Jan 14, 2009 at 05:51 AM
Wow! this guy is a loser, glad they got him
Posted by: Chip Location: Benton Harbor on Jan 14, 2009 at 05:46 AM
It seems like he overreacted a bit. I can't blame him, I did the same when I ate at Smokey Bones. Yuck.
Posted by: Dangerbird Location: Mi on Jan 14, 2009 at 01:26 AM
This picture says it all. Complete "DORK" ! He says he was bleeding perfusely, turbulance bashed in the windshield. No turbulance, no blood, Open door. All a lie. What an idiot ! He's lucky his plane didn't kill someone. When it should have killed him as stupid as he is. Looks like a spur of the moment stupid discision on his part. COWARD. That should be tattood on his forehead when he goe's to prison.

WNDU News Poll
There are currently no active polls at this time.
Click here to view other polls on our site and past poll results.
Most Popular Headlines