Robert Schofield

Robert “Joey” Schofield was a U.S. Air Force veteran, a husband, and a father of four who loved fishing with his kids, hunting, and sitting around a bonfire. The 32-year-old, who was born in Jacksonville, Illinois, had served his country as an F-16 mechanic while stationed in Alaska, where he met his wife, Sara. Remembered for his love of family, he would often sing little songs with his children. After his military service, he studied computer information systems at Spoon River College and was working at the Nestle plant in Jacksonville.

On October 4, 2020, Joey was last seen in his hometown of Murrayville. He was reported missing the next day when he failed to show up for his shift at work. His vehicle was soon found abandoned near a property where he had been building a new home for his family. For days, law enforcement, joined by concerned family and friends, conducted an extensive search for the missing veteran. The search came to a tragic end on October 8, 2020, when investigators discovered his body buried in a field off Gobbler Road in rural Morgan County. An autopsy later confirmed that he had died from multiple gunshot wounds.

The investigation into the homicide was handled by the Morgan County Sheriff's Office. Their work quickly led them to identify suspects close to Joey. The first to be arrested was his cousin, 35-year-old Kenneth J. Acree, who lived on the same road where Joey’s body was found. He was charged with first-degree murder and concealment of a homicidal death. The investigation soon revealed a wider conspiracy to cover up the crime.

Shortly after Kenneth Acree’s arrest, authorities took his wife, Laura C. Acree, into custody, charging her with concealment of a homicidal death and obstruction of justice. In a shocking development, investigators also arrested Joey’s own wife, 29-year-old Sara M. Schofield, on the same charges of concealment and obstruction, implicating her in the plot to hide her husband's murder.

What initially appeared to be a complex case with multiple family members involved was ultimately resolved through a series of guilty pleas, bringing an end to the court proceedings. Kenneth Acree, the man who shot his cousin, pleaded guilty to first-degree murder. He was subsequently sentenced to serve 40 years in the Illinois Department of Corrections.

The two women charged with helping to hide the crime also admitted their guilt. Laura Acree pleaded guilty to a charge of obstructing justice for her role in the cover-up. Joey’s wife, Sara Schofield, pleaded guilty to the charge of concealing a homicidal death. With the sentencings of all three co-defendants, the case of Robert "Joey" Schofield's murder is considered closed by the justice system. Following private family services, he was laid to rest at Camp Butler National Cemetery.