Black on Parole Murders 84-Year-Old White Neighbor

WXYZ
January 17, 2014

Bernice Schaufele
Bernice Schaufele. Her son-in-law said “You wouldn’t have had to steal from Bernice. She would have given you anything you wanted.”

Peter Gerard Jones, 46, has been charged with murder after his 84-year-old neighbor was found dead in her Novi condo.

Bernice Schaufele was excited for a big move. The 84-year-old Novi woman was planning on moving out of her condo on West Glen Haven Circle and heading to North Carolina where she’d be close to one of daughters. But Bernice would never make her much anticipated move.

One of Bernice’s daughters found her dead on the first floor of her home Monday around 2:45 p.m.

According to the Oakland County Medical Examiner’s office, Bernice Schaufele died from “near strangulation” and a stab wound to the neck.

Peter Gerard Jones
Peter Gerard Jones.“This is just a horrific crime by an animal on an 84-year-old lady. He shouldn’t have been on the street,” said Zoltan Lukacs, Schaufele’s son-in-law.

Jones, a parolee, lived with his mother close-by and piqued a police officer’s interest after he began asking questions as the officer cordoned off the area around the scene of the crime.

He was taken in for questioning and during the execution of search warrants at his home and garage, police found small valuables allegedly stolen from Bernice.

Novi police say Jones has convictions for two prior homicides.

It feels like this is “somebody else’s life,” said Sharon Schaufele, one of Bernice’s daughters, about the family’s devastating loss.

Bernice and her loved ones were excited about what was supposed to be her upcoming move to North Carolina.

We’re told after Bernice’s husband died 22 years ago and she loved spending time with her daughters and enjoyed shopping.

Jones is currently being held without bond and is expected to be back in court next week.