Steven Crandall
WAUSAU, WI (WSAU) — The man accused of putting a bounty on the head of Christian Schauer before he was killed will go to trial six years later.
Investigators say Steven Crandall offered a $5,000 reward for Schauer’s body because the 20-year-old had stolen some prescription pills that he had intended to sell. Crandall said he arranged the hit through an acquaintance and paid after he saw pictures of Schauer’s body.
The 27-year-old will face a week-long jury trial from March 9th to the 13th, 2026. He faces one count of conspiracy to commit homicide, a Class A felony.
Schauer was found dead in the McMillan Marsh in December 2020. A group of three people was accused of carrying out the crime, led by Jared Carl, who is serving a life sentence for homicide. He is eligible to apply for parole in 2057.
Carl’s father, Shawn, pleaded no contest to falsifying information to harbor or aid a felon and resisting or obstructing an officer. He was given a withheld sentence and served time in the Marathon County Jail. Audrey Benson is serving prison time for hiding a corpse.
Crandall returns to court for a status hearing on June 23rd. If found guilty, he faces a mandatory life sentence with only the possibility of parole to be decided by a judge.
The case was previously scheduled for trial in January 2025, but that was wiped off the calendar at the defense’s request.
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