[1][2] Born as the illegitimate son of a Prussian junker,[3] Schmidt was reportedly educated in Heidelberg,[1] and often engaged in duels, resulting in several scars on his face.
[4] He escaped military service by moving to America, arriving in Lakewood Township, New Jersey with his wife Anita Darsch and daughter Gertrude in 1913, under the name of Emil Braun.
Not only that, but Ulrich also informed the police of another time when he flew into a violent rage with threats of taking her life, as a result of her inquiry about why the old well in the house wasn't used.
[9] From there, Schmidt moved to Royal Oak, Michigan, assuming the name of Herman Neugebauer and finding himself work as a mechanic in one of the local Ford factories.
[10] These ads attracted the attention of 40-year-old domestic servant Augusta Steinbach, who, after corresponding with Rolfe for a few months, set out to marry the mysterious man, bringing with herself around $500 and some jewelry.
[11] In February 1917,[1] she told her long-time friend and fellow servant Agnes Domanie about her intentions to marry the man in Detroit, departing to the city in March.
A few days after she left, she wrote to Ms. Domanie, describing enthusiastically her husband-to-be, as well as asking her friend to send three trunks of clothes stored in a nearby warehouse.
Upon his arrest, Helmuth confessed that he had burned Steinbach's body, but alleged that she had killed herself with poison following his refusal to instantly marry her and a subsequent quarrel on March 11.
[14] Despite Schmidt's death, the police continued to investigate the deceased's history, discovering several other previous marriages, along with other women who've gone missing who had connections to him.
[4] Under the direction of Constable William T. Mason, a gang of men was mobilized to search the Schmidt household in Lakewood, but nothing was found that could shed light on the disappearances.
[12] Soon after the officials gave up on excavating the property, a workman throwing up his last shovel of dirt uncovered a body wrapped up in a canvas under the cemented floor of the garage.