Flirty quotes

In March 1989, 22-year-old Stephen Schap met a young woman named Diane on a flight from London to Baltimore. It’s safe to say he was immediately smitten. He would go on to tell his cousin Randy Miller, “I’ve met the most amazing girl. I’ve never been able to communicate as freely with any girl.” Just 6 months later they were married in a private ceremony. Per Diane, Stephen believed marriage was private thing between two people. He was from Baltimore, eldest of 6 children in a Catholic family. His parents divorced when Stephen was in high school. Eventually it surfaced that the father had cheated which caused the split. This traumatic event greatly shaped the young Schap’s views, particularly on marriage. Per his mother Marianne, “If he got married, it would be for life. He would do anything to keep his family together.” Diane was from Modesto, CA but called Baltimore home. She spent time in Europe and attended Oxford University for two years before going back to Baltimore. Their first year of marriage was a happy one. The couple worked in Baltimore with Stephen employed at his father's construction business. Problems for Diane began to surface on the second year. Communication issues, Diane wanted to talk about problems but Stephen would shut down. “He would say I shouldn’t feel that way and then drop the subject.” Also, a big stressor on the marriage was three very painful miscarriages, the last two keeping Diane in the hospital for weeks at a time. After the third loss the couple decided one of them would be sterilized. Diane first opted to get a tubal ligation but Stephen ultimately decided on a vasectomy. He wanted to spare Diane from any further suffering.
In 1991, Stephen decided a drastic change was necessary. He joined the Army as a private. A large factor in this decision was the belief it would allow him to be able to spend more time with Diane. As he had recently graduated from Loyola University only two years prior this new career decision came as quite a shock to family and friends. Also unusual was Stephen's decision not to join as an officer. He wanted to work his way up from the bottom and eventually become a pilot. In 1992 Schap was assigned to the 11th Army Cal. Regt. in Fulda, Germany as a helicopter mechanic. Diane followed a few months later. By the time she arrived she believed the marriage was over. Stephen became a model soldier, working hard and moving up in rank and responsibility. He encouraged his wife to see Europe while in Germany and she often traveled on her own. By March 1993 Diane worked in the Fulda legal office as a volunteer. Stephen went to air assault school at Downs Barracks in Fulda where he met fellow soldier Spec. Gregory Glover.
Gregory was a shy, easygoing 21-year-old from Phoenix, AZ. Per his mother, since age 4 his goal was to become a soldier after seeing an Army uniform in a catalog. He and Schap got along well, both came from middle-class backgrounds and both were highly regarded as top-notch soldiers. Both were also helicopter mechanics, but worked in separate troops. Glover occasionally joined the Schaps for dinner at their home. Per Diane he would also drop by for dessert and conversation. He and Schap enjoyed similar music tastes and would often swap CDs. Lastly, Glover and Diane were both known to attend the country music nights at the Fulda Community Club.
Stephen went to a platoon leadership development course in September 1993 which lasted 4 weeks. After Schap left Glover visited Diane twice with friends. Spec. Rob Reynolds later testified he quit visiting the Schap home with Glover because Diane was too “flirty”. Soon, she and Glover were having an affair. Diane admitted to having intercourse with Glover at least 6 times before her husband returned. She also admitted at the time she swore her undying love to Stephen she felt the marriage was over. She kept up correspondence with Stephen during the course. One letter dated September 19th stated, “My greatest love and my everything. My husband, my lover, my best friend, and my boyfriend.” In response Stephen wrote on September 22nd, “I cannot understand, for the life of me, why you tolerate me. I'm a constant struggle, I know.” At trial Diane did state that at the time she wrote the letter she was seeing Glover but the affair was not yet sexual.
In October Diane discovered she was pregnant during a trip to the States visiting Stephen’s family. When the couple returned to Fulda, Stephen started preparations for a upcoming transfer to Giebelstadt, Germany. During this time Diane was writing to Glover and slipping notes under his barracks door. ( Investigators later found 2 greeting cards from Diane in Glover’s personal effects in his room. Described as “friendship cards”. No other links between them ever found) Mid-November while Stephen visited friends in the Netherlands Diane met Glover at her apartment and told him she was pregnant. Per Diane, “ He was excited. He wanted to be very involved as the father of the child.” She also stated he was concerned about her health. Glover was assigned next to Fort Bragg, NC and Diane was talking about divorce. They discussed marriage, per Diane. Soon after she asked Stephen to consider a separation so the couple could “reassess” their lives. Glover's mother stated he spoke with a close friend early in December. The friend asked Glover if he had found a special girl. Glover said no.
Thanksgiving Day was spent in deep discussion at the Schap residence. For about three weeks Diane had been pushing for a separation and the couple had not been intimate for at least that long as she told Stephen she had ovarian cysts. When pressed Diane eventually admitted she didn’t love him anymore. There had been too much pain. Stephen was shocked. “I had never heard her speak those words to me before. It required me to dig deep down inside to try to appreciate the situation. I was feeling very incoherent.” Schap wanted to save the marriage but Diane said it was too late. “There was too much hurt. It was too late to try and change things.” Diane spent December 5th with Glover. Sometime that weekend Stephen found his wife’s journal with vague references to “extraordinary” times and possibly an affair. Stephen called his father, upset. Per John Schap Jr., “He said he had discovered his wife had been unfaithful, not only in Germany but back in Baltimore before and during the marriage.” During testimony Diane has stated the people mentioned in her diary were fantasies and no proof of affairs. She also stated Glover was never mentioned in any entries. John advised his son to find someone to talk to. Stephen had one very close friend in mind, Greg Glover.
When Diane returned to the apartment Stephen met her at the door with photocopies of her journal. He stated her threw the original away. Together they went over the diary. “I wanted to hear her speak to me. I wanted to believe”, quoted Stephen. On December 6th, the couple met with regimental chaplain to discuss separation and begin the process of sending Diane back to the US. When the chaplain asked if infidelity was an issue in the breakup both parties said no.
The morning of December 7th, Stephen got up and reported to work as usual. That day Diane planned to stop by her bank. However, after showering and dressing she noticed significant bleeding. Being 3 months pregnant and with her history of miscarriage she immediately had an acquaintance drive her to local Fulda hospital, Herz-Jesu-Krankenhaus for treatment. After learning her hospital stay would be for at least a week Diane called friend and co-worker Sgt. 1st Class Russell Bates to deliver a message to Glover that she was in the hospital. After Bates inquired about her husband Diane advised him, “If you see him just tell him where I am.” She also confided in him, “I slipped and had an affair and the baby is not his.” Bates stated he placed the message on Glover’s desk and covered it up with papers to keep others from seeing it. Later that day Stephen stopped by the legal affairs office where Bates informed him that his wife was in the hospital. Schap was “extremely concerned” and Bates allowed him to use his phone to call the hospital. However, he was unable to get in touch with Diane so decided to go there instead. About an hour later Diane called Bates again to inquire if he had delivered the message to Glover. She also told him that her husband was at the hospital and he knew about the pregnancy and was being supportive.
When Stephen arrived at his wife’s bedside she came clean about the affair and the pregnancy but refused to reveal the father’s name. Per Stephen his first concern was her health. “What I was doing was trying to be strong for my wife. Inside, I felt in pieces. I was extremely upset, but I was extremely worried.” Diane said, “He knew that the marriage had failed” and hoped she would not lose the baby. He offered to go back to their apartment and gather some toiletries and clothes asking, “would I let him be a friend in that way.” They agreed it would be better for her not to reveal the father’s name. However, upon returning more than one hour later Stephen’s attitude had changed. He seemed agitated and stated that he felt sick to his stomach. He began inquiring about the father’s rank and eventually it was revealed he was a specialist. Per Diane, he was concerned if the father was higher ranking it could gravely affect his career. After she stated it was not an NCO and to not worry he asked, “Oh, it’s a specialist?” To which Diane replied, “Yes.” He then demanded to know where she and her lover had made love in their home. After Diane responded it had occurred on a quilt on the floor he responded that he did not want to live in the apartment anymore. He then left the hospital stating he was going to pack his belongings.
Sometime after 5 PM Glover called Diane from a pay phone at the airfield. He lived in the barracks across from the dining facility where the booth was located right outside. Per Diane, “he was very upset, very worried about me and the child.” Also, per Bates upon finding Glover at his barracks and delivering Diane’s message, “I could see the veins in his head begin to pulse. He looked very shaky, very nervous.” Diane assured him the pregnancy was intact. Glover stated that Stephen had given him a lift earlier in the day and they discussed his marriage problems. “He said Steve had given him a ride. He said he seemed upset and talked about the divorce and finding the journal with a list of names of men I slept with. I said not to worry about it.” The couple had been speaking for about 5-10 minutes when Glover suddenly swore twice. The second expletive was cut off mid-breath. “Then all I heard was dial tone”, said Diane. According to The Stars and Stripes newspaper it was reported Glover also stated, “Here comes your husband!” before the expletives.
That December 7th evening was dreary, cold, and rainy. At first the soldiers in the Sickles Army Airfield mess hall thought the loud shouts coming from just outside were two young men horsing around. However, once the cries became more intense several of the soldiers looked out the windows to see one man overpowering the other on the pavement, violently stabbing him about the neck with a large knife. Per witness, Pfc. Anthony Penny “I realized something was wrong when I noticed blood covering his(Glover's) face."
After leaving the hospital for a second time Stephen returned to the apartment and collected his clothes, food, passport, and photocopies he made from Diane’s diary. These items were deposited in Schap’s Honda Civic. As he was also preparing to transfer to Giebelstadt it is unknown what was already in the vehicle before December 7th. Stephen’s next plans were to track down his wife’s lover. Per the second hospital conversation with Diane about the man’s rank Stephen had correctly deduced his identity as Glover. In later statements Stephen would tell Diane, “You know you gave me enough clues. It was easy enough to figure out.” Schap had also learned Diane asked Bates to deliver a message to Glover and used him to track Gregory down at the payphone. Upon seeing Schap approach Glover told him “I’m sorry.” Schap immediately began stabbing Glover and he suffered slight knife wounds while in the booth. Glover then attempted to run away, however he slipped on the wet cobblestones after a short distance. Schap then straddled on top of him and after a short struggle plunged the dual-edged knife into Glover’s throat which punctured a lung and cut the carotid artery. According to later testimony this throat slash was the “kill wound” which stopped Glover from fighting.
Glover was stabbed 10 to 15 times then Schap made repeated cuts through Glover’s neck leaving what the pathologist called a “very ragged” wound. The forensic pathologist Maj. Glen Sandberg who performed Glover’s autopsy said he could not confirm when the specialist died or in what order the wounds were made. Schap was slashing and stabbing in a wild rage- induced frenzy. Finally, Schap would jump up and begin kicking the body and head. This repeated action caused the head to detach from the torso and roll 10 to 15 feet away. According to Schap’s attorney David Court he made the decision to carry the head to his wife only after it initially detached. He picked up the head by it’s hair and began walking away. Stunned soldiers began to yell at him and Schap turned around and declared to no-one in particular, “this is what you get for adultery.” He would also mutter, “and he said he was sorry” sarcastically before getting into his Honda and driving off towards Herz-Jesu. The murder occurred around 5:30 PM. Glover’s torso would be found lying about 4 feet from the phone booth near a drain hole at 5:45 PM. A German woman would tell police she saw a car blocking a narrow bridge over the Fulda River the night of the slaying. As she approached she also witnessed a man leaning over the bridge and then hurriedly get back into his car and speed off. Her descriptions matched the car registered to Schap.
Diane lay in her hospital bed wondering what had happened with Glover. At around 6 PM she heard loud footsteps coming quickly down the hall. She stated that she recognized them as her husband’s. The door burst open and Stephen stood there, chest heaving and clothes speckled with blood. He was carrying a Head brand gym bag and per Diane, “He had the sports bag over his shoulders and it looked like it was full.” Schap would then reach into the bag and pull out Glover’s head. “He grasped the head in both hands and he tried to push it in my face. I kept screaming and screaming” stated a tearful Diane in later court testimony. Schap would tell her, “Look Diane—Glover’s here! He’ll sleep with you every night now. Only you won’t sleep—because all you’ll see is this.”
Gynecologist Dr. Barbara Fuchs-Bauer was the first to arrive in Diane’s room after hearing her screams. She saw a man sitting on the bed holding a human head in his hand. She was later unable to identify Stephen in the courtroom. She also stated Diane had blood on her abdomen and right hand. Dr. Fuchs-Bauer would then leave the room to call the military police. Another doctor Peter Habermann remained at the scene. On her return the man remained quietly on the end of the bed and said, “I want to speak to the MPs.” She also noticed he appeared to be agitated. Habermann stated when he entered the room the head was on the night stand next to the bed facing Diane. From speaking with Stephen, Habermann got the impression that Schap just wanted to talk and that the soldier behaved calmly. “I didn’t feel threatened”, said Habermann. However, Schap did object when another doctor tried to cover the head up. Per Habermann, “He wanted her to see it. He said he felt cheated on, betrayed.” Lastly Habermann would also state Schap was willing to give himself up to the MPs.
MP investigator Brian Border stated that when he arrived at the hospital room Schap asked if he was going to be read his rights. Border said he would but at a later time. Schap also drew Border a map to show where his car was parked. Border also stated, “He said his wife shouldn’t have done what she did. He said he shouldn’t have either, and he’ll pay for it.” Fulda criminal investigation Comd agent Ryan Ribelin testified that he found an empty knife scabbard on the passenger floorboard of Schap’s Honda. Schap sat quietly on his wife’s bed throughout the commotion and remained calm when the military police came to question and arrest him 20 minutes later. The doctors remarked to Schap that Glover’s head was severed so professionally that they wanted to know how he did it. Schap told the doctor that he had learned how to do that earlier. He didn’t specify. Schap would also tell his wife, “I studied this, I planned this, I calculated this, I did this for you. I love you.” On Dec. 8 Stephen called his father John Schap Jr. “He said, I let you down. I wasn’t strong.” The son also told his father that the victim was a “confidant” and that he had entrusted Glover with details about his marital problems.
In the days following her traumatic experience, Diane was told she could be transferred to a different hospital but refused the offer. She was recovering from the shock under the care of American psychiatrists and social workers. Baby was fine. Per the hospital Diane told them Stephen never beat or hit her in the past, nor did he try to hit her in the hospital. Glover’s head and body were sent to the Frankfurt morgue. A memorial service for Glover was held on Dec.. 10 in the Downs Barracks Chapel. The post flag flew at half-staff on the 9th in his honor.
Trial/Case Timeline:
All information, unless otherwise cited, is from The Stars and Stripes newspaper sourced on NewspaperArchive.com
• Dec. 10, 1993- A charge of premeditated murder was preferred against Stephen. Preferred charge means that the Army plans to bring action against Schap. Normally that charge initiates an Article 32 investigation- the Army's equivalent of a grand jury investigation. Schap is being held in pretrial confinement at the Army confinement center in Mannheim, Germany. • Dec. 13, 1993- Extensive search of the Fulda River failed to turn up the suspected murder weapon, Gerber MK II knife. Cold, murky water, churned by strong winds, hampered the search near a bridge not far from the Downs Barracks. Hunt will resume when weather improves. Also, Glover's body flown home to Phoenix on Dec. 12. • Dec. 20, 1993- Schap awaits investigation results. Army is holding Schap while it determines if he should be charged with premeditated murder. V Corps said the Army has assigned a military defense attorney to Schap but speculation in civilian legal circles is that the sergeant probably will hire a civilian attorney if the case does go to court. • Jan. 25, 1994- Army charged Schap with premeditated murder. He will face general court- martial. Date for the trial not yet set. Charge followed nearly 2 month long investigation by the Army's Criminal Investigation Comd. Schap retained well-known civilian lawyer David Court to represent him. • Feb. 3, 1994- Schap’s first day in court. Pleaded not guilty of premeditated murder. Court cleared of all public and media for about 5 minutes with no explanation. Army’s rules for court-martial give judges some leeway in closing court sessions to the public and media. However, judges are required to tell why a motion or request to clear a courtroom is honored. During the open portion of the hearing, Schap’s attorney David Court asked for a delay in the proceedings to prepare defense motions. Judge Col. C.S. Schwender granted the delay and scheduled the next session for March 15. The case should go before a jury March 28 in either Mannheim or Hanau. After the session Schap met with Court for about 45 minutes in the witness waiting room adjacent to the court. • March 10, 1994- Three psychiatrists examined Schap. Report said Schap was mentally sound and suffered no physical problems, he scored in the upper 98% on an IQ test, and he has obsessive compulsive tendencies. Interviews with Schap revealed a man with “high, rigid moral standards” and strong family values. Dr. (Maj.) Carroll Diebold noted that Schap was in a rage when killing Glover. Repressed his emotions. “An obsessive-compulsive person often puts up a facade or front that makes them look cool or calm.” His most significant psychological complication, the panel concluded, was posed by his marital problems. • March 19, 1994- Materials taken from Schap residence shortly after Stephen’s arrest on Dec. 11 allowed to be used as evidence. Publications included Knife Bible, a knife catalog, and literature discussing killing and maiming techniques using knives. One book was found in the family living room and at least three others in a second bedroom. At least two of the books seized had illustrations of wounds resembling Glover’s. Presiding judge Lt. Col. Charles E. Trant ruled that the literature would not prejudice a jury in the case. He also ruled that a knife which the prosecution believes is similar to the one used in the slaying can be used in court for illustrative purposes. Schap sat quietly during the trial showing no signs of stress. Laughed occasionally with his defense attorneys. He will return to court March 28 for jury selection. • March 30, 1994-Third day of Stephen's court martial. Also date Diane testified. Schap stared at his wife throughout the testimony, looking away only briefly to take notes. Visibly pregnant at 6 months gestation Diane never looked at her husband, staring straight ahead. Schap’s defense attorneys called a series of witnesses to testify about his character, marriage, and belief in family unity. Among the witnesses were his mother, a close friend, supervisors, and co-workers. Lead witness was cousin Randy Miller. Per Miller before Schap married, “Family was the most important thing in his life.” Close friend Phil Scharper stated that Schap said family life was crucial. “He said fidelity is the most important thing to him. He said he would never cheat on Diane.” Mother Marianne testified that after she and John divorced Stephen became more determined on his views of marriage. “He said if he ever got married, he’d stay married. He would do everything to keep his marriage together.” Also testified that her son never talked about Diane’s being unhappy or about getting a divorce. Under cross examination she did admit that her son one time spent most of a night with a female friend alone in a room in the house while Marianne was upstairs. Diane was not present although they were married at the time. Other witnesses testified Schap was a professional soldier, a hard worker, and meticulous in carrying out a plan. Witness to the slaying, Spec. Jeffrey Sweeney also testified. Said that as Schap was leaving the sergeant looked back and said sarcastically, “and he said he was sorry.” Sweeney identified Schap as the assailant. Criminal investigative agent James Bateman who was in charge of the investigation said agents found Glover’s wallet and hat in the phone booth near the crime scene. Also found was message from Sgt. 1st Class Russell Bates addressed to Glover. • March 31, 1994- Fourth day of court martial, defense phase. Army psychiatrist Dr. (Maj.) Harold Diebold testified that Stephen was in a stage of rage during the beheading. Given the circumstances, "it would be very difficult for an individual to cooly and calmly reflect on his actions considering all the stresses in his life." Attorney David Court acknowledged his client killed the soldier but says it was not a premeditated act. Schap's father John testified that his son had been affected as teen by the breakup of his parents marriage- a breakup caused by John's affair. Schap characterized his son as "thoughtful and sensitive." Schap's former unit commander and squadron commander said the sergeant was a model soldier who seemed very quiet and conscientious. 11th ACR commander Lt. Col. Nathan Noyes said he did not posthumously promote Glover to sergeant because his affair with Diane Schap "was not consistent with the honor of the U.S. Army." • April 2, 1994- Stephen convicted of premeditated murder. The seven-member panel deliberated for two hours. After the verdict, on the witness stand Schap took a deep breath and then looked at the jury. “One of the greatest things I’ve ever know, perhaps the greatest, is my relationship, my marriage to Diane” he said tearfully. “There's part of me that still holds she’s my wife.” Under military law premeditated murder carries an automatic life sentence. Schap's attorney David Court admitted his client killed Glover but asked the jury to convict the soldier of lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter which carries a 10-year prison sentence. Schap also received a dishonorable discharge from the Army, reduction to the lowest enlisted rank, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. • April 3, 1994- Although military law required that Schap receive a life sentence, the jury recommended clemency. Five of the jurors asked the court-martial convening authority, Lt. Gen. Jerry Rutherford, V corps commander, to set Schap's maximum sentence at 30 years. A sixth juror asked for 20 years. Only the jury president Col. Gerald Luttrell didn't recommend clemency in the sentence. Rutherford should decide on the recommendations within 60 days, according to a Hanau legal official. Schap was returned to the U.S. Army confinement facility in Mannheim after the trial. He is expected to be moved to the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, KS in June. His conviction is automatically reviewed by a military appeals court. • April 11, 1994- Key pieces of evidence in the Schap trial: A knife catalog/order form/credit card receipt/knife sheath( in 1991 Stephen ordered Gerber MK II knife via telephone from a knife catalog. Picture of the knife was circled. Type of knife believed to have been used in the Glover murder), AMF Head gym bag (prosecuting attorney Mulligan called it an intentional act of symbolism. Defense attorney Court said Schap was going to use the bag if Diane needed more items later.), a backpack (found in Schap’s car containing clothes, food for a day, a passport, and small change in various currencies. Mulligan stated he believed Schap planned to flee. Court stated Schap only planned to move out of the apartment), Diane’s journal (prosecution contended Schap mailed the original journal to his father in Baltimore on Dec. 6. Diane testified that her husband claimed he threw the journal into a rock quarry in Frankfurt), and forensic pathology reports on Glover’s injuries (prosecution focused on two major wounds: one that penetrated Glover’s throat and a large horizontal gash across the back of his head just above the base of the skull.) Since Dec. 7 Diane had not visited or had any contact with Stephen. She also refused defense requests for interviews. She testified for the prosecution. • June 15, 1994- The V corps commander has reduced the life sentence of a Fulda, Germany soldier convicted of beheading his wife's lover. Rutherford reviewed the court-martial findings and sentenced Schap to 45 years in prison. The decision probably would have little effect on Schap's eventual release date. Even with the life sentence Schap would have been eligible for parole in 10 years. However, statistically parole is not granted the first time around. • July 6, 1995- Per Maryland Judiciary Case Search website absolute divorce(aka final judgement) was granted to Stephen Schap and Diane Schap(spelt Dianne in the records). Stephen listed as plaintiff so he was the initiator. • Oct. 17, 1997- Attorneys for Schap argued before the court of appeals for the armed forces that the judge in his original trial had given the jury members several instructions that left them biased. Including giving improper instructions to the jury and mistakenly allowing into evidence books and magazines about how to kill and maim with knives. Aim is to reduce conviction from premeditated murder to voluntary manslaughter which would significantly reduce Schap's current 45-year sentence. • Nov. 13, 1998-In a Sept. 30 ruling which was just released the five-member appeals court ruled that there were no judicial errors in Schap's trial and let his sentence stand. • April 5, 2017- Per Federal Bureau of Prisons website Stephen Schap was released on parole

In March 1989, 22-year-old Stephen Schap met a young woman named Diane on a flight from London to Baltimore. It’s safe to say he was immediately smitten. He would go on to tell his cousin Randy Miller, “I’ve met the most amazing girl. I’ve never been able to communicate as freely with any girl.” Just 6 months later they were married in a private ceremony. Per Diane, Stephen believed marriage was private thing between two people. He was from Baltimore, eldest of 6 children in a Catholic family. His parents divorced when Stephen was in high school. Eventually it surfaced that the father had cheated which caused the split. This traumatic event greatly shaped the young Schap’s views, particularly on marriage. Per his mother Marianne, “If he got married, it would be for life. He would do anything to keep his family together.” Diane was from Modesto, CA but called Baltimore home. She spent time in Europe and attended Oxford University for two years before going back to Baltimore. Their first year of marriage was a happy one. The couple worked in Baltimore with Stephen employed at his father's construction business. Problems for Diane began to surface on the second year. Communication issues, Diane wanted to talk about problems but Stephen would shut down. “He would say I shouldn’t feel that way and then drop the subject.” Also, a big stressor on the marriage was three very painful miscarriages, the last two keeping Diane in the hospital for weeks at a time. After the third loss the couple decided one of them would be sterilized. Diane first opted to get a tubal ligation but Stephen ultimately decided on a vasectomy. He wanted to spare Diane from any further suffering.
In 1991, Stephen decided a drastic change was necessary. He joined the Army as a private. A large factor in this decision was the belief it would allow him to be able to spend more time with Diane. As he had recently graduated from Loyola University only two years prior this new career decision came as quite a shock to family and friends. Also unusual was Stephen's decision not to join as an officer. He wanted to work his way up from the bottom and eventually become a pilot. In 1992 Schap was assigned to the 11th Army Cal. Regt. in Fulda, Germany as a helicopter mechanic. Diane followed a few months later. By the time she arrived she believed the marriage was over. Stephen became a model soldier, working hard and moving up in rank and responsibility. He encouraged his wife to see Europe while in Germany and she often traveled on her own. By March 1993 Diane worked in the Fulda legal office as a volunteer. Stephen went to air assault school at Downs Barracks in Fulda where he met fellow soldier Spec. Gregory Glover.
Gregory was a shy, easygoing 21-year-old from Phoenix, AZ. Per his mother, since age 4 his goal was to become a soldier after seeing an Army uniform in a catalog. He and Schap got along well, both came from middle-class backgrounds and both were highly regarded as top-notch soldiers. Both were also helicopter mechanics, but worked in separate troops. Glover occasionally joined the Schaps for dinner at their home. Per Diane he would also drop by for dessert and conversation. He and Schap enjoyed similar music tastes and would often swap CDs. Lastly, Glover and Diane were both known to attend the country music nights at the Fulda Community Club.
Stephen went to a platoon leadership development course in September 1993 which lasted 4 weeks. After Schap left Glover visited Diane twice with friends. Spec. Rob Reynolds later testified he quit visiting the Schap home with Glover because Diane was too “flirty”. Soon, she and Glover were having an affair. Diane admitted to having intercourse with Glover at least 6 times before her husband returned. She also admitted at the time she swore her undying love to Stephen she felt the marriage was over. She kept up correspondence with Stephen during the course. One letter dated September 19th stated, “My greatest love and my everything. My husband, my lover, my best friend, and my boyfriend.” In response Stephen wrote on September 22nd, “I cannot understand, for the life of me, why you tolerate me. I'm a constant struggle, I know.” At trial Diane did state that at the time she wrote the letter she was seeing Glover but the affair was not yet sexual.
In October Diane discovered she was pregnant during a trip to the States visiting Stephen’s family. When the couple returned to Fulda, Stephen started preparations for a upcoming transfer to Giebelstadt, Germany. During this time Diane was writing to Glover and slipping notes under his barracks door. ( Investigators later found 2 greeting cards from Diane in Glover’s personal effects in his room. Described as “friendship cards”. No other links between them ever found) Mid-November while Stephen visited friends in the Netherlands Diane met Glover at her apartment and told him she was pregnant. Per Diane, “ He was excited. He wanted to be very involved as the father of the child.” She also stated he was concerned about her health. Glover was assigned next to Fort Bragg, NC and Diane was talking about divorce. They discussed marriage, per Diane. Soon after she asked Stephen to consider a separation so the couple could “reassess” their lives. Glover's mother stated he spoke with a close friend early in December. The friend asked Glover if he had found a special girl. Glover said no.
Thanksgiving Day was spent in deep discussion at the Schap residence. For about three weeks Diane had been pushing for a separation and the couple had not been intimate for at least that long as she told Stephen she had ovarian cysts. When pressed Diane eventually admitted she didn’t love him anymore. There had been too much pain. Stephen was shocked. “I had never heard her speak those words to me before. It required me to dig deep down inside to try to appreciate the situation. I was feeling very incoherent.” Schap wanted to save the marriage but Diane said it was too late. “There was too much hurt. It was too late to try and change things.” Diane spent December 5th with Glover. Sometime that weekend Stephen found his wife’s journal with vague references to “extraordinary” times and possibly an affair. Stephen called his father, upset. Per John Schap Jr., “He said he had discovered his wife had been unfaithful, not only in Germany but back in Baltimore before and during the marriage.” During testimony Diane has stated the people mentioned in her diary were fantasies and no proof of affairs. She also stated Glover was never mentioned in any entries. John advised his son to find someone to talk to. Stephen had one very close friend in mind, Greg Glover.
When Diane returned to the apartment Stephen met her at the door with photocopies of her journal. He stated her threw the original away. Together they went over the diary. “I wanted to hear her speak to me. I wanted to believe”, quoted Stephen. On December 6th, the couple met with regimental chaplain to discuss separation and begin the process of sending Diane back to the US. When the chaplain asked if infidelity was an issue in the breakup both parties said no.
The morning of December 7th, Stephen got up and reported to work as usual. That day Diane planned to stop by her bank. However, after showering and dressing she noticed significant bleeding. Being 3 months pregnant and with her history of miscarriage she immediately had an acquaintance drive her to local Fulda hospital, Herz-Jesu-Krankenhaus for treatment. After learning her hospital stay would be for at least a week Diane called friend and co-worker Sgt. 1st Class Russell Bates to deliver a message to Glover that she was in the hospital. After Bates inquired about her husband Diane advised him, “If you see him just tell him where I am.” She also confided in him, “I slipped and had an affair and the baby is not his.” Bates stated he placed the message on Glover’s desk and covered it up with papers to keep others from seeing it. Later that day Stephen stopped by the legal affairs office where Bates informed him that his wife was in the hospital. Schap was “extremely concerned” and Bates allowed him to use his phone to call the hospital. However, he was unable to get in touch with Diane so decided to go there instead. About an hour later Diane called Bates again to inquire if he had delivered the message to Glover. She also told him that her husband was at the hospital and he knew about the pregnancy and was being supportive.
When Stephen arrived at his wife’s bedside she came clean about the affair and the pregnancy but refused to reveal the father’s name. Per Stephen his first concern was her health. “What I was doing was trying to be strong for my wife. Inside, I felt in pieces. I was extremely upset, but I was extremely worried.” Diane said, “He knew that the marriage had failed” and hoped she would not lose the baby. He offered to go back to their apartment and gather some toiletries and clothes asking, “would I let him be a friend in that way.” They agreed it would be better for her not to reveal the father’s name. However, upon returning more than one hour later Stephen’s attitude had changed. He seemed agitated and stated that he felt sick to his stomach. He began inquiring about the father’s rank and eventually it was revealed he was a specialist. Per Diane, he was concerned if the father was higher ranking it could gravely affect his career. After she stated it was not an NCO and to not worry he asked, “Oh, it’s a specialist?” To which Diane replied, “Yes.” He then demanded to know where she and her lover had made love in their home. After Diane responded it had occurred on a quilt on the floor he responded that he did not want to live in the apartment anymore. He then left the hospital stating he was going to pack his belongings.
Sometime after 5 PM Glover called Diane from a pay phone at the airfield. He lived in the barracks across from the dining facility where the booth was located right outside. Per Diane, “he was very upset, very worried about me and the child.” Also, per Bates upon finding Glover at his barracks and delivering Diane’s message, “I could see the veins in his head begin to pulse. He looked very shaky, very nervous.” Diane assured him the pregnancy was intact. Glover stated that Stephen had given him a lift earlier in the day and they discussed his marriage problems. “He said Steve had given him a ride. He said he seemed upset and talked about the divorce and finding the journal with a list of names of men I slept with. I said not to worry about it.” The couple had been speaking for about 5-10 minutes when Glover suddenly swore twice. The second expletive was cut off mid-breath. “Then all I heard was dial tone”, said Diane. According to The Stars and Stripes newspaper it was reported Glover also stated, “Here comes your husband!” before the expletives.
That December 7th evening was dreary, cold, and rainy. At first the soldiers in the Sickles Army Airfield mess hall thought the loud shouts coming from just outside were two young men horsing around. However, once the cries became more intense several of the soldiers looked out the windows to see one man overpowering the other on the pavement, violently stabbing him about the neck with a large knife. Per witness, Pfc. Anthony Penny “I realized something was wrong when I noticed blood covering his(Glover's) face."
After leaving the hospital for a second time Stephen returned to the apartment and collected his clothes, food, passport, and photocopies he made from Diane’s diary. These items were deposited in Schap’s Honda Civic. As he was also preparing to transfer to Giebelstadt it is unknown what was already in the vehicle before December 7th. Stephen’s next plans were to track down his wife’s lover. Per the second hospital conversation with Diane about the man’s rank Stephen had correctly deduced his identity as Glover. In later statements Stephen would tell Diane, “You know you gave me enough clues. It was easy enough to figure out.” Schap had also learned Diane asked Bates to deliver a message to Glover and used him to track Gregory down at the payphone. Upon seeing Schap approach Glover told him “I’m sorry.” Schap immediately began stabbing Glover and he suffered slight knife wounds while in the booth. Glover then attempted to run away, however he slipped on the wet cobblestones after a short distance. Schap then straddled on top of him and after a short struggle plunged the dual-edged knife into Glover’s throat which punctured a lung and cut the carotid artery. According to later testimony this throat slash was the “kill wound” which stopped Glover from fighting.
Glover was stabbed 10 to 15 times then Schap made repeated cuts through Glover’s neck leaving what the pathologist called a “very ragged” wound. The forensic pathologist Maj. Glen Sandberg who performed Glover’s autopsy said he could not confirm when the specialist died or in what order the wounds were made. Schap was slashing and stabbing in a wild rage- induced frenzy. Finally, Schap would jump up and begin kicking the body and head. This repeated action caused the head to detach from the torso and roll 10 to 15 feet away. According to Schap’s attorney David Court he made the decision to carry the head to his wife only after it initially detached. He picked up the head by it’s hair and began walking away. Stunned soldiers began to yell at him and Schap turned around and declared to no-one in particular, “this is what you get for adultery.” He would also mutter, “and he said he was sorry” sarcastically before getting into his Honda and driving off towards Herz-Jesu. The murder occurred around 5:30 PM. Glover’s torso would be found lying about 4 feet from the phone booth near a drain hole at 5:45 PM. A German woman would tell police she saw a car blocking a narrow bridge over the Fulda River the night of the slaying. As she approached she also witnessed a man leaning over the bridge and then hurriedly get back into his car and speed off. Her descriptions matched the car registered to Schap.
Diane lay in her hospital bed wondering what had happened with Glover. At around 6 PM she heard loud footsteps coming quickly down the hall. She stated that she recognized them as her husband’s. The door burst open and Stephen stood there, chest heaving and clothes speckled with blood. He was carrying a Head brand gym bag and per Diane, “He had the sports bag over his shoulders and it looked like it was full.” Schap would then reach into the bag and pull out Glover’s head. “He grasped the head in both hands and he tried to push it in my face. I kept screaming and screaming” stated a tearful Diane in later court testimony. Schap would tell her, “Look Diane—Glover’s here! He’ll sleep with you every night now. Only you won’t sleep—because all you’ll see is this.” Gynecologist Dr. Barbara Fuchs-Bauer was the first to arrive in Diane’s room after hearing her screams. She saw a man sitting on the bed holding a human head in his hand. She was later unable to identify Stephen in the courtroom. She also stated Diane had blood on her abdomen and right hand. Dr. Fuchs-Bauer would then leave the room to call the military police. Another doctor Peter Habermann remained at the scene.
On her return the man remained quietly on the end of the bed and said, “I want to speak to the MPs.” She also noticed he appeared to be agitated. Habermann stated when he entered the room the head was on the night stand next to the bed facing Diane. From speaking with Stephen, Habermann got the impression that Schap just wanted to talk and that the soldier behaved calmly. “I didn’t feel threatened”, said Habermann. However, Schap did object when another doctor tried to cover the head up. Per Habermann, “He wanted her to see it. He said he felt cheated on, betrayed.” Lastly Habermann would also state Schap was willing to give himself up to the MPs.
MP investigator Brian Border stated that when he arrived at the hospital room Schap asked if he was going to be read his rights. Border said he would but at a later time. Schap also drew Border a map to show where his car was parked. Border also stated, “He said his wife shouldn’t have done what she did. He said he shouldn’t have either, and he’ll pay for it.” Fulda criminal investigation Comd agent Ryan Ribelin testified that he found an empty knife scabbard on the passenger floorboard of Schap’s Honda. Schap sat quietly on his wife’s bed throughout the commotion and remained calm when the military police came to question and arrest him 20 minutes later. The doctors remarked to Schap that Glover’s head was severed so professionally that they wanted to know how he did it. Schap told the doctor that he had learned how to do that earlier. He didn’t specify. Schap would also tell his wife, “I studied this, I planned this, I calculated this, I did this for you. I love you.” On Dec. 8 Stephen called his father John Schap Jr. “He said, I let you down. I wasn’t strong.” The son also told his father that the victim was a “confidant” and that he had entrusted Glover with details about his marital problems.
In the days following her traumatic experience, Diane was told she could be transferred to a different hospital but refused the offer. She was recovering from the shock under the care of American psychiatrists and social workers. Baby was fine. Per the hospital Diane told them Stephen never beat or hit her in the past, nor did he try to hit her in the hospital. Glover’s head and body were sent to the Frankfurt morgue. A memorial service for Glover was held on Dec.. 10 in the Downs Barracks Chapel. The post flag flew at half-staff on the 9th in his honor.
Trial/Case Timeline:
All information, unless otherwise cited, is from The Stars and Stripes newspaper sourced on NewspaperArchive.com
• Dec. 10, 1993- A charge of premeditated murder was preferred against Stephen. Preferred charge means that the Army plans to bring action against Schap. Normally that charge initiates an Article 32 investigation- the Army's equivalent of a grand jury investigation. Schap is being held in pretrial confinement at the Army confinement center in Mannheim, Germany. • Dec. 13, 1993- Extensive search of the Fulda River failed to turn up the suspected murder weapon, Gerber MK II knife. Cold, murky water, churned by strong winds, hampered the search near a bridge not far from the Downs Barracks. Hunt will resume when weather improves. Also, Glover's body flown home to Phoenix on Dec. 12. • Dec. 20, 1993- Schap awaits investigation results. Army is holding Schap while it determines if he should be charged with premeditated murder. V Corps said the Army has assigned a military defense attorney to Schap but speculation in civilian legal circles is that the sergeant probably will hire a civilian attorney if the case does go to court. • Jan. 25, 1994- Army charged Schap with premeditated murder. He will face general court- martial. Date for the trial not yet set. Charge followed nearly 2 month long investigation by the Army's Criminal Investigation Comd. Schap retained well-known civilian lawyer David Court to represent him. • Feb. 3, 1994- Schap’s first day in court. Pleaded not guilty of premeditated murder. Court cleared of all public and media for about 5 minutes with no explanation. Army’s rules for court-martial give judges some leeway in closing court sessions to the public and media. However, judges are required to tell why a motion or request to clear a courtroom is honored. During the open portion of the hearing, Schap’s attorney David Court asked for a delay in the proceedings to prepare defense motions. Judge Col. C.S. Schwender granted the delay and scheduled the next session for March 15. The case should go before a jury March 28 in either Mannheim or Hanau. After the session Schap met with Court for about 45 minutes in the witness waiting room adjacent to the court. • March 10, 1994- Three psychiatrists examined Schap. Report said Schap was mentally sound and suffered no physical problems, he scored in the upper 98% on an IQ test, and he has obsessive compulsive tendencies. Interviews with Schap revealed a man with “high, rigid moral standards” and strong family values. Dr. (Maj.) Carroll Diebold noted that Schap was in a rage when killing Glover. Repressed his emotions. “An obsessive-compulsive person often puts up a facade or front that makes them look cool or calm.” His most significant psychological complication, the panel concluded, was posed by his marital problems. • March 19, 1994- Materials taken from Schap residence shortly after Stephen’s arrest on Dec. 11 allowed to be used as evidence. Publications included Knife Bible, a knife catalog, and literature discussing killing and maiming techniques using knives. One book was found in the family living room and at least three others in a second bedroom. At least two of the books seized had illustrations of wounds resembling Glover’s. Presiding judge Lt. Col. Charles E. Trant ruled that the literature would not prejudice a jury in the case. He also ruled that a knife which the prosecution believes is similar to the one used in the slaying can be used in court for illustrative purposes. Schap sat quietly during the trial showing no signs of stress. Laughed occasionally with his defense attorneys. He will return to court March 28 for jury selection. • March 30, 1994-Third day of Stephen's court martial. Also date Diane testified. Schap stared at his wife throughout the testimony, looking away only briefly to take notes. Visibly pregnant at 6 months gestation Diane never looked at her husband, staring straight ahead. Schap’s defense attorneys called a series of witnesses to testify about his character, marriage, and belief in family unity. Among the witnesses were his mother, a close friend, supervisors, and co-workers. Lead witness was cousin Randy Miller. Per Miller before Schap married, “Family was the most important thing in his life.” Close friend Phil Scharper stated that Schap said family life was crucial. “He said fidelity is the most important thing to him. He said he would never cheat on Diane.” Mother Marianne testified that after she and John divorced Stephen became more determined on his views of marriage. “He said if he ever got married, he’d stay married. He would do everything to keep his marriage together.” Also testified that her son never talked about Diane’s being unhappy or about getting a divorce. Under cross examination she did admit that her son one time spent most of a night with a female friend alone in a room in the house while Marianne was upstairs. Diane was not present although they were married at the time. Other witnesses testified Schap was a professional soldier, a hard worker, and meticulous in carrying out a plan. Witness to the slaying, Spec. Jeffrey Sweeney also testified. Said that as Schap was leaving the sergeant looked back and said sarcastically, “and he said he was sorry.” Sweeney identified Schap as the assailant. Criminal investigative agent James Bateman who was in charge of the investigation said agents found Glover’s wallet and hat in the phone booth near the crime scene. Also found was message from Sgt. 1st Class Russell Bates addressed to Glover. • March 31, 1994- Fourth day of court martial, defense phase. Army psychiatrist Dr. (Maj.) Harold Diebold testified that Stephen was in a stage of rage during the beheading. Given the circumstances, "it would be very difficult for an individual to cooly and calmly reflect on his actions considering all the stresses in his life." Attorney David Court acknowledged his client killed the soldier but says it was not a premeditated act. Schap's father John testified that his son had been affected as teen by the breakup of his parents marriage- a breakup caused by John's affair. Schap characterized his son as "thoughtful and sensitive." Schap's former unit commander and squadron commander said the sergeant was a model soldier who seemed very quiet and conscientious. 11th ACR commander Lt. Col. Nathan Noyes said he did not posthumously promote Glover to sergeant because his affair with Diane Schap "was not consistent with the honor of the U.S. Army." • April 2, 1994- Stephen convicted of premeditated murder. The seven-member panel deliberated for two hours. After the verdict, on the witness stand Schap took a deep breath and then looked at the jury. “One of the greatest things I’ve ever know, perhaps the greatest, is my relationship, my marriage to Diane” he said tearfully. “There's part of me that still holds she’s my wife.” Under military law premeditated murder carries an automatic life sentence. Schap's attorney David Court admitted his client killed Glover but asked the jury to convict the soldier of lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter which carries a 10-year prison sentence. Schap also received a dishonorable discharge from the Army, reduction to the lowest enlisted rank, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. • April 3, 1994- Although military law required that Schap receive a life sentence, the jury recommended clemency. Five of the jurors asked the court-martial convening authority, Lt. Gen. Jerry Rutherford, V corps commander, to set Schap's maximum sentence at 30 years. A sixth juror asked for 20 years. Only the jury president Col. Gerald Luttrell didn't recommend clemency in the sentence. Rutherford should decide on the recommendations within 60 days, according to a Hanau legal official. Schap was returned to the U.S. Army confinement facility in Mannheim after the trial. He is expected to be moved to the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, KS in June. His conviction is automatically reviewed by a military appeals court. • April 11, 1994- Key pieces of evidence in the Schap trial: A knife catalog/order form/credit card receipt/knife sheath( in 1991 Stephen ordered Gerber MK II knife via telephone from a knife catalog. Picture of the knife was circled. Type of knife believed to have been used in the Glover murder), AMF Head gym bag (prosecuting attorney Mulligan called it an intentional act of symbolism. Defense attorney Court said Schap was going to use the bag if Diane needed more items later.), a backpack (found in Schap’s car containing clothes, food for a day, a passport, and small change in various currencies. Mulligan stated he believed Schap planned to flee. Court stated Schap only planned to move out of the apartment), Diane’s journal (prosecution contended Schap mailed the original journal to his father in Baltimore on Dec. 6. Diane testified that her husband claimed he threw the journal into a rock quarry in Frankfurt), and forensic pathology reports on Glover’s injuries (prosecution focused on two major wounds: one that penetrated Glover’s throat and a large horizontal gash across the back of his head just above the base of the skull.) Since Dec. 7 Diane had not visited or had any contact with Stephen. She also refused defense requests for interviews. She testified for the prosecution. • June 15, 1994- The V corps commander has reduced the life sentence of a Fulda, Germany soldier convicted of beheading his wife's lover. Rutherford reviewed the court-martial findings and sentenced Schap to 45 years in prison. The decision probably would have little effect on Schap's eventual release date. Even with the life sentence Schap would have been eligible for parole in 10 years. However, statistically parole is not granted the first time around. • July 6, 1995- Per Maryland Judiciary Case Search website absolute divorce(aka final judgement) was granted to Stephen Schap and Diane Schap(spelt Dianne in the records). Stephen listed as plaintiff so he was the initiator. • Oct. 17, 1997- Attorneys for Schap argued before the court of appeals for the armed forces that the judge in his original trial had given the jury members several instructions that left them biased. Including giving improper instructions to the jury and mistakenly allowing into evidence books and magazines about how to kill and maim with knives. Aim is to reduce conviction from premeditated murder to voluntary manslaughter which would significantly reduce Schap's current 45-year sentence. • Nov. 13, 1998-In a Sept. 30 ruling which was just released the five-member appeals court ruled that there were no judicial errors in Schap's trial and let his sentence stand. • April 5, 2017- Per Federal Bureau of Prisons website Stephen Schap was released on parole.

In March 1989, 22-year-old Stephen Schap met a young woman named Diane on a flight from London to Baltimore. It’s safe to say he was immediately smitten. He would go on to tell his cousin Randy Miller, “I’ve met the most amazing girl. I’ve never been able to communicate as freely with any girl.” Just 6 months later they were married in a private ceremony. Per Diane, Stephen believed marriage was private thing between two people. He was from Baltimore, eldest of 6 children in a Catholic family. His parents divorced when Stephen was in high school. Eventually it surfaced that the father had cheated which caused the split. This traumatic event greatly shaped the young Schap’s views, particularly on marriage. Per his mother Marianne, “If he got married, it would be for life. He would do anything to keep his family together.” Diane was from Modesto, CA but called Baltimore home. She spent time in Europe and attended Oxford University for two years before going back to Baltimore. Their first year of marriage was a happy one. The couple worked in Baltimore with Stephen employed at his father's construction business. Problems for Diane began to surface on the second year. Communication issues, Diane wanted to talk about problems but Stephen would shut down. “He would say I shouldn’t feel that way and then drop the subject.” Also, a big stressor on the marriage was three very painful miscarriages, the last two keeping Diane in the hospital for weeks at a time. After the third loss the couple decided one of them would be sterilized. Diane first opted to get a tubal ligation but Stephen ultimately decided on a vasectomy. He wanted to spare Diane from any further suffering.
In 1991, Stephen decided a drastic change was necessary. He joined the Army as a private. A large factor in this decision was the belief it would allow him to be able to spend more time with Diane. As he had recently graduated from Loyola University only two years prior this new career decision came as quite a shock to family and friends. Also unusual was Stephen's decision not to join as an officer. He wanted to work his way up from the bottom and eventually become a pilot. In 1992 Schap was assigned to the 11th Army Cal. Regt. in Fulda, Germany as a helicopter mechanic. Diane followed a few months later. By the time she arrived she believed the marriage was over. Stephen became a model soldier, working hard and moving up in rank and responsibility. He encouraged his wife to see Europe while in Germany and she often traveled on her own. By March 1993 Diane worked in the Fulda legal office as a volunteer. Stephen went to air assault school at Downs Barracks in Fulda where he met fellow soldier Spec. Gregory Glover.
Gregory was a shy, easygoing 21-year-old from Phoenix, AZ. Per his mother, since age 4 his goal was to become a soldier after seeing an Army uniform in a catalog. He and Schap got along well, both came from middle-class backgrounds and both were highly regarded as top-notch soldiers. Both were also helicopter mechanics, but worked in separate troops. Glover occasionally joined the Schaps for dinner at their home. Per Diane he would also drop by for dessert and conversation. He and Schap enjoyed similar music tastes and would often swap CDs. Lastly, Glover and Diane were both known to attend the country music nights at the Fulda Community Club. Stephen went to a platoon leadership development course in September 1993 which lasted 4 weeks. After Schap left Glover visited Diane twice with friends. Spec. Rob Reynolds later testified he quit visiting the Schap home with Glover because Diane was too “flirty”. Soon, she and Glover were having an affair. Diane admitted to having intercourse with Glover at least 6 times before her husband returned. She also admitted at the time she swore her undying love to Stephen she felt the marriage was over. She kept up correspondence with Stephen during the course. One letter dated September 19th stated, “My greatest love and my everything. My husband, my lover, my best friend, and my boyfriend.” In response Stephen wrote on September 22nd, “I cannot understand, for the life of me, why you tolerate me. I'm a constant struggle, I know.” At trial Diane did state that at the time she wrote the letter she was seeing Glover but the affair was not yet sexual.
In October Diane discovered she was pregnant during a trip to the States visiting Stephen’s family. When the couple returned to Fulda, Stephen started preparations for a upcoming transfer to Giebelstadt, Germany. During this time Diane was writing to Glover and slipping notes under his barracks door. ( Investigators later found 2 greeting cards from Diane in Glover’s personal effects in his room. Described as “friendship cards”. No other links between them ever found) Mid-November while Stephen visited friends in the Netherlands Diane met Glover at her apartment and told him she was pregnant. Per Diane, “ He was excited. He wanted to be very involved as the father of the child.” She also stated he was concerned about her health. Glover was assigned next to Fort Bragg, NC and Diane was talking about divorce. They discussed marriage, per Diane. Soon after she asked Stephen to consider a separation so the couple could “reassess” their lives. Glover's mother stated he spoke with a close friend early in December. The friend asked Glover if he had found a special girl. Glover said no.
Thanksgiving Day was spent in deep discussion at the Schap residence. For about three weeks Diane had been pushing for a separation and the couple had not been intimate for at least that long as she told Stephen she had ovarian cysts. When pressed Diane eventually admitted she didn’t love him anymore. There had been too much pain. Stephen was shocked. “I had never heard her speak those words to me before. It required me to dig deep down inside to try to appreciate the situation. I was feeling very incoherent.” Schap wanted to save the marriage but Diane said it was too late. “There was too much hurt. It was too late to try and change things.” Diane spent December 5th with Glover. Sometime that weekend Stephen found his wife’s journal with vague references to “extraordinary” times and possibly an affair. Stephen called his father, upset. Per John Schap Jr., “He said he had discovered his wife had been unfaithful, not only in Germany but back in Baltimore before and during the marriage.” During testimony Diane has stated the people mentioned in her diary were fantasies and no proof of affairs. She also stated Glover was never mentioned in any entries. John advised his son to find someone to talk to. Stephen had one very close friend in mind, Greg Glover. When Diane returned to the apartment Stephen met her at the door with photocopies of her journal. He stated her threw the original away. Together they went over the diary. “I wanted to hear her speak to me. I wanted to believe”, quoted Stephen. On December 6th, the couple met with regimental chaplain to discuss separation and begin the process of sending Diane back to the US. When the chaplain asked if infidelity was an issue in the breakup both parties said no.
The morning of December 7th, Stephen got up and reported to work as usual. That day Diane planned to stop by her bank. However, after showering and dressing she noticed significant bleeding. Being 3 months pregnant and with her history of miscarriage she immediately had an acquaintance drive her to local Fulda hospital, Herz-Jesu-Krankenhaus for treatment. After learning her hospital stay would be for at least a week Diane called friend and co-worker Sgt. 1st Class Russell Bates to deliver a message to Glover that she was in the hospital. After Bates inquired about her husband Diane advised him, “If you see him just tell him where I am.” She also confided in him, “I slipped and had an affair and the baby is not his.” Bates stated he placed the message on Glover’s desk and covered it up with papers to keep others from seeing it. Later that day Stephen stopped by the legal affairs office where Bates informed him that his wife was in the hospital. Schap was “extremely concerned” and Bates allowed him to use his phone to call the hospital. However, he was unable to get in touch with Diane so decided to go there instead. About an hour later Diane called Bates again to inquire if he had delivered the message to Glover. She also told him that her husband was at the hospital and he knew about the pregnancy and was being supportive.
When Stephen arrived at his wife’s bedside she came clean about the affair and the pregnancy but refused to reveal the father’s name. Per Stephen his first concern was her health. “What I was doing was trying to be strong for my wife. Inside, I felt in pieces. I was extremely upset, but I was extremely worried.” Diane said, “He knew that the marriage had failed” and hoped she would not lose the baby. He offered to go back to their apartment and gather some toiletries and clothes asking, “would I let him be a friend in that way.” They agreed it would be better for her not to reveal the father’s name. However, upon returning more than one hour later Stephen’s attitude had changed. He seemed agitated and stated that he felt sickto his stomach. He began inquiring about the father’s rank and eventually it was revealed he was a specialist. Per Diane, he was concerned if the father was higher ranking it could gravely affect his career. After she stated it was not an NCO and to not worry he asked, “Oh, it’s a specialist?” To which Diane replied, “Yes.” He then demanded to know where she and her lover had made love in their home. After Diane responded it had occurred on a quilt on the floor he responded that he did not want to live in the apartment anymore. He then left the hospital stating he was going to pack his belongings.
Sometime after 5 PM Glover called Diane from a pay phone at the airfield. He lived in the barracks across from the dining facility where the booth was located right outside. Per Diane, “he was very upset, very worried about me and the child.” Also, per Bates upon finding Glover at his barracks and delivering Diane’s message, “I could see the veins in his head begin to pulse. He looked very shaky, very nervous.” Diane assured him the pregnancy was intact. Glover stated that Stephen had given him a lift earlier in the day and they discussed his marriage problems. “He said Steve had given him a ride. He said he seemed upset and talked about the divorce and finding the journal with a list of names of men I slept with. I said not to worry about it.” The couple had been speaking for about 5-10 minutes when Glover suddenly swore twice. The second expletive was cut off mid-breath. “Then all I heard was dial tone”, said Diane. According to The Stars and Stripes newspaper it was reported Glover also stated, “Here comes your husband!” before the expletives.
That December 7th evening was dreary, cold, and rainy. At first the soldiers in the Sickles Army Airfield mess hall thought the loud shouts coming from just outside were two young men horsing around. However, once the cries became more intense several of the soldiers looked out the windows to see one man overpowering the other on the pavement, violently stabbing him about the neck with a large knife. Per witness, Pfc. Anthony Penny “I realized something was wrong when I noticed blood covering his(Glover's) face."
After leaving the hospital for a second time Stephen returned to the apartment and collected his clothes, food, passport, and photocopies he made from Diane’s diary. These items were deposited in Schap’s Honda Civic. As he was also preparing to transfer to Giebelstadt it is unknown what was already in the vehicle before December 7th. Stephen’s next plans were to track down his wife’s lover. Per the second hospital conversation with Diane about the man’s rank Stephen had correctly deduced his identity as Glover. In later statements Stephen would tell Diane, “You know you gave me enough clues. It was easy enough to figure out.” Schap had also learned Diane asked Bates to deliver a message to Glover and used him to track Gregory down at the payphone. Upon seeing Schap approach Glover told him “I’m sorry.” Schap immediately began stabbing Glover and he suffered slight knife wounds while in the booth. Glover then attempted to run away, however he slipped on the wet cobblestones after a short distance. Schap then straddled on top of him and after a short struggle plunged the dual-edged knife into Glover’s throat which punctured a lung and cut the carotid artery. According to later testimony this throat slash was the “kill wound” which stopped Glover from fighting.
Glover was stabbed 10 to 15 times then Schap made repeated cuts through Glover’s neck leaving what the pathologist called a “very ragged” wound. The forensic pathologist Maj. Glen Sandberg who performed Glover’s autopsy said he could not confirm when the specialist died or in what order the wounds were made. Schap was slashing and stabbing in a wild rage- induced frenzy. Finally, Schap would jump up and begin kicking the body and head. This repeated action caused the head to detach from the torso and roll 10 to 15 feet away. According to Schap’s attorney David Court he made the decision to carry the head to his wife only after it initially detached. He picked up the head by it’s hair and began walking away. Stunned soldiers began to yell at him and Schap turned around and declared to no-one in particular, “this is what you get for adultery.” He would also mutter, “and he said he was sorry” sarcastically before getting into his Honda and driving off towards Herz-Jesu. The murder occurred around 5:30 PM. Glover’s torso would be found lying about 4 feet from the phone booth near a drain hole at 5:45 PM. A German woman would tell police she saw a car blocking a narrow bridge over the Fulda River the night of the slaying. As she approached she also witnessed a man leaning over the bridge and then hurriedly get back into his car and speed off. Her descriptions matched the car registered to Schap.
Diane lay in her hospital bed wondering what had happened with Glover. At around 6 PM she heard loud footsteps coming quickly down the hall. She stated that she recognized them as her husband’s. The door burst open and Stephen stood there, chest heaving and clothes speckled with blood. He was carrying a Head brand gym bag and per Diane, “He had the sports bag over his shoulders and it looked like it was full.” Schap would then reach into the bag and pull out Glover’s head. “He grasped the head in both hands and he tried to push it in my face. I kept screaming and screaming” stated a tearful Diane in later court testimony. Schap would tell her, “Look Diane—Glover’s here! He’ll sleep with you every night now. Only you won’t sleep—because all you’ll see is this.” Gynecologist Dr. Barbara Fuchs-Bauer was the first to arrive in Diane’s room after hearing her screams. She saw a man sitting on the bed holding a human head in his hand. She was later unable to identify Stephen in the courtroom. She also stated Diane had blood on her abdomen and right hand. Dr. Fuchs-Bauer would then leave the room to call the military police. Another doctor Peter Habermann remained at the scene. On her return the man remained quietly on the end of the bed and said, “I want to speak to the MPs.” She also noticed he appeared to be agitated. Habermann stated when he entered the room the head was on the night stand next to the bed facing Diane. From speaking with Stephen, Habermann got the impression that Schap just wanted to talk and that the soldier behaved calmly. “I didn’t feel threatened”, said Habermann. However, Schap did object when another doctor tried to cover the head up. Per Habermann, “He wanted her to see it. He said he felt cheated on, betrayed.” Lastly Habermann would also state Schap was willing to give himself up to the MPs.
MP investigator Brian Border stated that when he arrived at the hospital room Schap asked if he was going to be read his rights. Border said he would but at a later time. Schap also drew Border a map to show where his car was parked. Border also stated, “He said his wife shouldn’t have done what she did. He said he shouldn’t have either, and he’ll pay for it.” Fulda criminal investigation Comd agent Ryan Ribelin testified that he found an empty knife scabbard on the passenger floorboard of Schap’s Honda. Schap sat quietly on his wife’s bed throughout the commotion and remained calm when the military police came to question and arrest him 20 minutes later. The doctors remarked to Schap that Glover’s head was severed so professionally that they wanted to know how he did it. Schap told the doctor that he had learned how to do that earlier. He didn’t specify. Schap would also tell his wife, “I studied this, I planned this, I calculated this, I did this for you. I love you.” On Dec. 8 Stephen called his father John Schap Jr. “He said, I let you down. I wasn’t strong.” The son also told his father that the victim was a “confidant” and that he had entrusted Glover with details about his marital problems.
In the days following her traumatic experience, Diane was told she could be transferred to a different hospital but refused the offer. She was recovering from the shock under the care of American psychiatrists and social workers. Baby was fine. Per the hospital Diane told them Stephen never beat or hit her in the past, nor did he try to hit her in the hospital. Glover’s head and body were sent to the Frankfurt morgue. A memorial service for Glover was held on Dec.. 10 in the Downs Barracks Chapel. The post flag flew at half-staff on the 9th in his honor.
Trial/Case Timeline:
All information, unless otherwise cited, is from The Stars and Stripes newspaper sourced on NewspaperArchive.com
• Dec. 10, 1993- A charge of premeditated murder was preferred against Stephen. Preferred charge means that the Army plans to bring action against Schap. Normally that charge initiates an Article 32 investigation- the Army's equivalent of a grand jury investigation. Schap is being held in pretrial confinement at the Army confinement center in Mannheim, Germany. • Dec. 13, 1993- Extensive search of the Fulda River failed to turn up the suspected murder weapon, Gerber MK II knife. Cold, murky water, churned by strong winds, hampered the search near a bridge not far from the Downs Barracks. Hunt will resume when weather improves. Also, Glover's body flown home to Phoenix on Dec. 12. • Dec. 20, 1993- Schap awaits investigation results. Army is holding Schap while it determines if he should be charged with premeditated murder. V Corps said the Army has assigned a military defense attorney to Schap but speculation in civilian legal circles is that the sergeant probably will hire a civilian attorney if the case does go to court. • Jan. 25, 1994- Army charged Schap with premeditated murder. He will face general court- martial. Date for the trial not yet set. Charge followed nearly 2 month long investigation by the Army's Criminal Investigation Comd. Schap retained well-known civilian lawyer David Court to represent him. • Feb. 3, 1994- Schap’s first day in court. Pleaded not guilty of premeditated murder. Court cleared of all public and media for about 5 minutes with no explanation. Army’s rules for court-martial give judges some leeway in closing court sessions to the public and media. However, judges are required to tell why a motion or request to clear a courtroom is honored. During the open portion of the hearing, Schap’s attorney David Court asked for a delay in the proceedings to prepare defense motions. Judge Col. C.S. Schwender granted the delay and scheduled the next session for March 15. The case should go before a jury March 28 in either Mannheim or Hanau. After the session Schap met with Court for about 45 minutes in the witness waiting room adjacent to the court. • March 10, 1994- Three psychiatrists examined Schap. Report said Schap was mentally sound and suffered no physical problems, he scored in the upper 98% on an IQ test, and he has obsessive compulsive tendencies. Interviews with Schap revealed a man with “high, rigid moral standards” and strong family values. Dr. (Maj.) Carroll Diebold noted that Schap was in a rage when killing Glover. Repressed his emotions. “An obsessive-compulsive person often puts up a facade or front that makes them look cool or calm.” His most significant psychological complication, the panel concluded, was posed by his marital problems. • March 19, 1994- Materials taken from Schap residence shortly after Stephen’s arrest on Dec. 11 allowed to be used as evidence. Publications included Knife Bible, a knife catalog, and literature discussing killing and maiming techniques using knives. One book was found in the family living room and at least three others in a second bedroom. At least two of the books seized had illustrations of wounds resembling Glover’s. Presiding judge Lt. Col. Charles E. Trant ruled that the literature would not prejudice a jury in the case. He also ruled that a knife which the prosecution believes is similar to the one used in the slaying can be used in court for illustrative purposes. Schap sat quietly during the trial showing no signs of stress. Laughed occasionally with his defense attorneys. He will return to court March 28 for jury selection. • March 30, 1994-Third day of Stephen's court martial. Also date Diane testified. Schap stared at his wife throughout the testimony, looking away only briefly to take notes. Visibly pregnant at 6 months gestation Diane never looked at her husband, staring straight ahead. Schap’s defense attorneys called a series of witnesses to testify about his character, marriage, and belief in family unity. Among the witnesses were his mother, a close friend, supervisors, and co-workers. Lead witness was cousin Randy Miller. Per Miller before Schap married, “Family was the most important thing in his life.” Close friend Phil Scharper stated that Schap said family life was crucial. “He said fidelity is the most important thing to him. He said he would never cheat on Diane.” Mother Marianne testified that after she and John divorced Stephen became more determined on his views of marriage. “He said if he ever got married, he’d stay married. He would do everything to keep his marriage together.” Also testified that her son never talked about Diane’s being unhappy or about getting a divorce. Under cross examination she did admit that her son one time spent most of a night with a female friend alone in a room in the house while Marianne was upstairs. Diane was not present although they were married at the time. Other witnesses testified Schap was a professional soldier, a hard worker, and meticulous in carrying out a plan. Witness to the slaying, Spec. Jeffrey Sweeney also testified. Said that as Schap was leaving the sergeant looked back and said sarcastically, “and he said he was sorry.” Sweeney identified Schap as the assailant. Criminal investigative agent James Bateman who was in charge of the investigation said agents found Glover’s wallet and hat in the phone booth near the crime scene. Also found was message from Sgt. 1st Class Russell Bates addressed to Glover. • March 31, 1994- Fourth day of court martial, defense phase. Army psychiatrist Dr. (Maj.) Harold Diebold testified that Stephen was in a stage of rage during the beheading. Given the circumstances, "it would be very difficult for an individual to cooly and calmly reflect on his actions considering all the stresses in his life." Attorney David Court acknowledged his client killed the soldier but says it was not a premeditated act. Schap's father John testified that his son had been affected as teen by the breakup of his parents marriage- a breakup caused by John's affair. Schap characterized his son as "thoughtful and sensitive." Schap's former unit commander and squadron commander said the sergeant was a model soldier who seemed very quiet and conscientious. 11th ACR commander Lt. Col. Nathan Noyes said he did not posthumously promote Glover to sergeant because his affair with Diane Schap "was not consistent with the honor of the U.S. Army." • April 2, 1994- Stephen convicted of premeditated murder. The seven-member panel deliberated for two hours. After the verdict, on the witness stand Schap took a deep breath and then looked at the jury. “One of the greatest things I’ve ever know, perhaps the greatest, is my relationship, my marriage to Diane” he said tearfully. “There's part of me that still holds she’s my wife.” Under military law premeditated murder carries an automatic life sentence. Schap's attorney David Court admitted his client killed Glover but asked the jury to convict the soldier of lesser charge of voluntary manslaughter which carries a 10-year prison sentence. Schap also received a dishonorable discharge from the Army, reduction to the lowest enlisted rank, and forfeiture of all pay and allowances. • April 3, 1994- Although military law required that Schap receive a life sentence, the jury recommended clemency. Five of the jurors asked the court-martial convening authority, Lt. Gen. Jerry Rutherford, V corps commander, to set Schap's maximum sentence at 30 years. A sixth juror asked for 20 years. Only the jury president Col. Gerald Luttrell didn't recommend clemency in the sentence. Rutherford should decide on the recommendations within 60 days, according to a Hanau legal official. Schap was returned to the U.S. Army confinement facility in Mannheim after the trial. He is expected to be moved to the military prison at Fort Leavenworth, KS in June. His conviction is automatically reviewed by a military appeals court. • April 11, 1994- Key pieces of evidence in the Schap trial: A knife catalog/order form/credit card receipt/knife sheath( in 1991 Stephen ordered Gerber MK II knife via telephone from a knife catalog. Picture of the knife was circled. Type of knife believed to have been used in the Glover murder), AMF Head gym bag (prosecuting attorney Mulligan called it an intentional act of symbolism. Defense attorney Court said Schap was going to use the bag if Diane needed more items later.), a backpack (found in Schap’s car containing clothes, food for a day, a passport, and small change in various currencies. Mulligan stated he believed Schap planned to flee. Court stated Schap only planned to move out of the apartment), Diane’s journal (prosecution contended Schap mailed the original journal to his father in Baltimore on Dec. 6. Diane testified that her husband claimed he threw the journal into a rock quarry in Frankfurt), and forensic pathology reports on Glover’s injuries (prosecution focused on two major wounds: one that penetrated Glover’s throat and a large horizontal gash across the back of his head just above the base of the skull.) Since Dec. 7 Diane had not visited or had any contact with Stephen. She also refused defense requests for interviews. She testified for the prosecution. • June 15, 1994- The V corps commander has reduced the life sentence of a Fulda, Germany soldier convicted of beheading his wife's lover. Rutherford reviewed the court-martial findings and sentenced Schap to 45 years in prison. The decision probably would have little effect on Schap's eventual release date. Even with the life sentence Schap would have been eligible for parole in 10 years. However, statistically parole is not granted the first time around. • July 6, 1995- Per Maryland Judiciary Case Search website absolute divorce(aka final judgement) was granted to Stephen Schap and Diane Schap(spelt Dianne in the records). Stephen listed as plaintiff so he was the initiator. • Oct. 17, 1997- Attorneys for Schap argued before the court of appeals for the armed forces that the judge in his original trial had given the jury members several instructions that left them biased. Including giving improper instructions to the jury and mistakenly allowing into evidence books and magazines about how to kill and maim with knives. Aim is to reduce conviction from premeditated murder to voluntary manslaughter which would significantly reduce Schap's current 45-year sentence. • Nov. 13, 1998-In a Sept. 30 ruling which was just released the five-member appeals court ruled that there were no judicial errors in Schap's trial and let his sentence stand. • April 5, 2017- Per Federal Bureau of Prisons website Stephen Schap was released on parole.