Benjamin Edward Schreiber, a prisoner serving a life sentence for first-degree murder, made a remarkable claim: he had temporarily died, and therefore, his sentence was complete.
This unusual argument was rooted in a near-death experience in 2015, when Schreiber’s heart stopped and was restarted five times by medical staff.
After recovering from septic poisoning and kidney damage, Schreiber filed for post-conviction relief in 2018, asserting that his brief “death” meant he had served his life sentence.
However, a judge rejected his claim, calling it “unpersuasive and without merit.” The court’s decision was straightforward: if Schreiber was alive, he must remain in prison; if he was dead, the appeal was moot.
Schreiber’s case raises intriguing questions about the nature of life sentences and the consequences of near-death experiences.
Although his claim was denied, it highlights the complexities of the justice system and the creative arguments prisoners may use to seek freedom.
Ultimately, Schreiber’s own life came to an end in April 2023, due to natural causes, rendering his appeal moot.
