In 2017, Chad Schipper kidnapped a couple from his church, who were in their sixties, out of desperation to save his failing business, and threatened them for $350,000.
He held them in a secret soundproof room below one of his homes. Now, Chad is serving a 60-year prison sentence for his crime.
Chad Schipper grew up in Erie, Illinois. He graduated as his high school valedictorian in 1995. He was described as a smart and kind person.
Chad met the woman who would be his wife, Danielle Showvay, at a Bible study meeting at her sister’s college. Eventually, they got married and had six kids together over the course of their nearly 20-year marriage.
Their marriage became strained when Chad began working long hours and late nights. He was a financial advisor and owner of the business Schipper Financial Services LLC.
Chad and Danielle met Larry and Connie Van Oosten at church. Chad had also attended school with their son, Jeff. The two couples became friends.
Sometime in 2014, Chad asked the Van Oostens for a loan and to be his financial clients. However, they ended up turning him down. So, he pivoted to real estate and began buying properties to rent out for extra income.
He seemed successful on the surface, but he was actually drowning in hundreds of thousands of dollars of debt, a secret he kept even from his wife.
Chad was desperate to get out of his troubling financial situation. In 2015, he started hatching a plan to obtain money from the Van Oostens.
On the morning of February 7, 2017, he broke into the couple’s home, wearing a black face covering, a cap, sunglasses, gloves, and a device that disguised his voice. He kidnapped them at gunpoint. Before forcing them into the trunk of his vehicle, he bound and blindfolded them.
Around 8:00 a.m., he drove them to an empty property he owned in Geneseo, Illinois. They were handcuffed to metal handles in a windowless basement outfitted with four security cameras, a microphone, and an intercom system that Chad could monitor from another room. Additionally, he used a taser to subdue them.
The next day, Chad drove Connie to a bank in Albany and demanded that she get a check for $350,000 or else he would kill her husband. Determined to save her and her husband’s lives, Connie made a risky move.
She scrawled a quick note to the bank teller on a church bulletin from her purse. The message read: “My husband and I are being held at gunpoint. Do not react. Do not follow us.”
The bank staff prepared a $350,000 check for her as a ruse and quietly reported the situation to the police as Connie walked back out to the car. The police were able to trace the check back to Chad. The security cameras at the bank also captured his vehicle.
After a high-speed car chase that ended with Chad crashing his car, he was arrested. He confessed to the kidnapping and claimed that he was desperately trying to save his failing business. Later, it was discovered that he was allegedly stealing money from his family and embezzling funds from clients.
The Van Oostens were held for 48 hours before authorities found them in the basement. They were taken to a hospital and treated for their injuries.
On November 14, 2018, Chad pleaded guilty to theft, aggravated kidnapping with a concealed identity, and home invasion with a dangerous weapon. He was sentenced to 60 years.
Since then, Danielle filed for divorce and has reconnected with her first love. They are now married. Currently, Chad Schipper is at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois. His projected parole date is January 30, 2068.
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By Emily Chan
Emily Chan is a writer who covers lifestyle and news content. She graduated from Michigan State University with a degree in... More about Emily Chan
