Prisoner Who 'Died' And Came Back To Life Argued Life Sentence Has Technically Finished

After being convicted of murder, Benjamin Schreiber contended that his life sentence concluded when he momentarily died but was revived, sparking a contentious legal debate.

It was reportedly claimed by a prisoner that his life sentence technically ended when his heart stopped.

Credit: Iowa Department of Corrections

In the middle of the 1990s, Benjamin Schreiber was given the order to serve out the remainder of his days in prison in Iowa.

Due to his use of a pickaxe handle to club a man to death, he was found guilty of first-degree murder.

The victim was murdered by Schreiber and his girlfriend, who then dumped his body outside a trailer, according to evidence presented in court during the trial.

According to CNN, Schreiber began experiencing septic poisoning and kidney stones in 2015.

He was taken from Iowa State Penitentiary to a local hospital after being unconscious.

Schreiber's heart had briefly stopped when he arrived at the hospital, and it had to be revived five times.

According to The Guardian, the guy was brought back to life by doctors using epinephrine and adrenaline.

After he had stabilized, they managed his sepsis and returned him to custody.

Following that occurrence, the convicted killer attempted to convince the judge that after serving out his "life sentence," he should be permitted to leave jail.

Additionally, according to Schreiber, who signed a 'Do Not Resuscitate' order years previously, he claims that he was resuscitated against his will.

When Schreiber's brother was brought in, he instructed the medical personnel to "let him pass" unless he was in pain.

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If he was, they may give him something to relieve the discomfort.

Regarding what occurred at the hospital, the courts had a different perspective.

The murderer's defense was deemed "unpersuasive and without merit" by a lower court.

Even though you might have returned to your cell after hearing that, Schreiber made the decision to go to the Iowa Court of Appeals in order to push his case further.

However, it appears that they were unimpressed with the reasoning as well.

Upon consideration of the matter by a panel of three judges, Justice Amanda Potterfield concluded as follows:

“We do not believe the legislature intended this provision, which defines the sentences for the most serious class of felonies under Iowa law and imposes its ‘harshest penalty’... to set criminal defendants free whenever medical procedures during their incarceration lead to their resuscitation by medical professionals.”

Justice Potterfield added: “Schreiber is either still alive, in which case he must remain in prison, or he is actually dead, in which case this appeal is moot."

The appeals court cited Iowa state law, which stated that anyone convicted of a class A felony "must spend the rest of their natural life in prison, regardless of how long that period of time ends up being or any events occurring before the defendant's life ends," according to CNN.

At Unity Point Medical Center in Fort Dodge, Schreiber passed away last month "from natural causes."

Upon consideration of the matter by a panel of three judges, Justice Amanda Potterfield concluded as follows: “We do not believe the legislature intended this provision, which defines the sentences for the most serious class of felonies under Iowa law and imposes its ‘harshest penalty’... to set criminal defendants free whenever medical procedures during their incarceration lead to their resuscitation by medical professionals.”

Justice Potterfield added: “Schreiber is either still alive, in which case he must remain in prison, or he is actually dead, in which case this appeal is moot."

The appeals court cited Iowa state law, which stated that anyone convicted of a class A felony "must spend the rest of their natural life in prison, regardless of how long that period of time ends up being or any events occurring before the defendant's life ends," according to CNN.

At Unity Point Medical Center in Fort Dodge, Schreiber passed away last month "from natural causes."