INDIANAPOLIS, INDIANA: An Indiana man has agreed to plead guilty to burglary in a plea deal after he was charged with the killing of his former girlfriend inside her own residence on Christmas morning in 2020. Zacharia Schmidt, 35, will serve a decade behind bars and three years of home detention, Fox Indianapolis affiliate WXIN reported. He faced a murder charge in the Christmas Day killing of Tiffiny Allen, 40.
The victim's mother Julie Allen Witt, told the station she feels like she’s reliving her daughter’s death. “Burglary doesn’t have anything to do with the murder,” she said. “He didn’t steal anything but her life.”
What did the victim's daughter say?
Allen's daughter, Hayleigh Mitchell, was left perplexed. “I’m just frustrated because it doesn’t make sense,” said the victim’s oldest daughter. The victim was in her home in the 2700 block of South Hunter Road in Indianapolis when she tragically met her fate.
Why was Schmidt's sister arrested?
Schmidt and his sister, Chelsea, were arrested for the killing on January 24, 2021. Chelsea Schmidt later pleaded guilty to assisting a criminal commit murder and was placed on probation. According to the outlet, the defendant left the murder scene but returned hours later covered in the victim’s blood. The murder weapon was found wiped free of prints.
An obituary has been set for the victim
Allen’s obituary said the mother of two and grandmother of one owned a housekeeping business for over 20 years. “She was a free spirit who had a unique, bubbly and loud personality,” the obituary read. “She was very thrifty, creative and crafty. She was known to be able to turn ‘trash into treasure.'”
Allen’s friend claims the case was mishandled since the beginning
On Facebook, Allen’s friend Nickie Weddle said the case was mishandled from the start. “I’m hurt my bestie is gone but even more hurt to see her girls and mom relive a nightmare and never get justice,” she wrote. “If you have children of your own, try and put yourself in their shoes. Their mom is gone and nobody has been held accountable at all.”
Mendy Mcqueen wrote on Facebook that Allen’s life mattered. “How many others has the system failed,” she wrote, saying laws need to be changed and suggesting the community come together “and fight all the injustice!”
Schmidt is set to be sentenced on October 6 as per online court records.
