Leo Schofield Jr. was born in Massachusetts in 1965 and moved with his family to Lakeland, Florida, in the early 1980s. In 1986, he married Michelle Saum, who was tragically killed the following year. In 1989, Leo was convicted of her murder, and despite being offered plea deals that could have secured his release decades earlier, Leo has steadfastly maintained his innocence. While incarcerated, he earned multiple college degrees and became a pastor, devoting his time to education and ministry. In 2022, Leo’s case became the focus of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Gilbert King’s narrative podcast series, Bone Valley. The podcast concluded that Leo had been wrongfully convicted of Michelle’s murder and pointed to another man who lived nearby as the perpetrator—a man who has since confessed to the crime. Bone Valley received worldwide critical acclaim, garnered over 10 million downloads, and ultimately contributed to Leo’s release on parole in 2024. His story is now being developed into a dramatic multi-season television series. Leo Schofield Jr. currently lives in Tampa, Florida, with his wife of 29 years, Crissie Carter Schofield.

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