[1] Schmidt grew up in the Chicago area and attended Lyons Township High School and later earned a bachelor's degree from Southern Illinois University[2] in 1974.

[10] Schmidt resigned from the County Board in January 2011 to assume her new position as an Illinois State Senator.

[13] She also acted as the chief Senate sponsor of a bill which authorizes law enforcement agencies to collect pharmaceuticals for safe disposal.

[20] Schmidt was appointed minority spokesperson of the Local Government Committee during the 97th session of the Illinois General Assembly.

She served on the following six committees: Schmidt and her husband Bob were married in 1980 and currently reside in Lake Villa, Illinois.

The last 911 call made on September 26 was recorded, and has led to implications that Schmidt may have intended to use her political position to influence Lake County authorities against intervening in the matter.

[22] Robert Schmidt consistently conveyed to the media that he considered the affair to be a private matter and did not wish to comment further.