CAMDEN & TYNAN SCHONS - 3 & 5 yo - Novi (W of Detroit) MI

Neighbor Who Knew Schons Family Shocked

Monday, 17 Jan 2011

NOVI, Mich. (WJBK) - Jennifer Schons and her two sons were allegedly killed by her husband and their father. He was later found dead in a parking lot. Meanwhile, the community says there were really no warning signs, and they are still in shock.

"It just seemed like all the right steps were in place to make a clean break and make a restart," said neighbor Chris Stone.

However, the Schons family will never have a fresh start. Novi police believe 39-year-old Mark Schons stabbed his 38-year-old wife Jennifer to death and then suffocated their two sons, four-year-old Camden and six-year-old Tynan.

Mark Schons was later found dead in his SUV in a Walmart parking lot. Novi police say he placed a grill in his vehicle and died of carbon monoxide poisoning.

Many of the Schons' neighbors described Mark as a private person, but Chris Stone seemed to know the family better than most. "They were nice enough people, quiet, friendly," he said. "We moved our swing set over there. We sold it to them when they first moved in, so he and I put it up together."

The Stone's daughter babysat the two young boys just before Christmas. "They were good kids, always perfectly behaved," Stone said.

While neighbors such as the Stones may not have seen any warning signs, the Schons were in deep financial trouble. They filed for bankruptcy and shut down their store. The Schons were also planning on getting divorced, but still none of those factors will ever explain how a father and husband could allegedly murder his whole family.

"Shock," said Stone. "What else do you say?"

Visitation and funeral services will be held at First Presbyterian Church in Brighton later this week.