Podcast Summary: "Nowhere to Run"
Podcast Information:
- Title: This Doesn't Happen to People Like Me
- Host/Author: Sword and Scale
- Episode: Nowhere to Run
- Release Date: March 4, 2025
Introduction
"This Doesn't Happen to People Like Me," a gripping ten-part true crime series by Sword and Scale, delves into the horrifying true story of Tina Lohman—a 77-year-old grandmother whose life was shattered by a brutal crime. In the episode titled "Nowhere to Run," listeners are taken through the harrowing events of November 9, 2021, detailing Tina's abduction, assault, and the subsequent efforts to seek justice.
1. The Calm Before the Storm
On the evening of November 9, 2021, Tina Lohman was leaving work when her car’s headlights malfunctioned. Being not very tech-savvy, Tina decided to pull over, hoping for assistance from a kind stranger.
- Tina Loman (00:18): “My grandma was having issues with her headlights... she decided to pull over.”
Hours later, a patrol sergeant from the Adams County Sheriff’s Office was dispatched to Tina's residence after a distressing 911 call.
2. The Abduction and Assault
As Tina sat stranded on a quiet road in Quincy, Illinois, a truck approached. A man ostensibly offered to help but instead forced Tina into his vehicle, abducting her with his female accomplice.
- Tina Loman (15:24): “They raped me.”
Tina endured unimaginable terror as the perpetrators robbed her, assaulted her, and threatened her life. She managed to convince them to take her back to her home under the guise of retrieving more valuables, hoping her husband could defend her.
- Tina Loman (20:09): “Please don't kill me. I'll do anything. I have a lot of money. I have jewelry. You can have it all if you just go to my house.”
3. Tim Schmidt’s Discovery
Timothy G. Schmidt, Tina’s husband and co-owner of American Builder Supply, returned home around 6 PM to find his house in disarray. The garage door was open, items were missing, and most alarmingly, his wife was found on the living room floor, bleeding and distraught.
- Timothy G. Schmidt (07:11): “When you came that night at 6pm, was the hay, the chainsaw and the hedge trimmer in that garage? No.”
Concerned for Tina’s safety, Tim armed himself with a handgun, fearing that the abductor would return.
- Timothy G. Schmidt (13:42): “I went into the bedroom and I got a handgun.”
4. The Harrowing Encounter
As Tim interacted with Tina, she recounted her terrifying ordeal. Tina explained that a man approached her car, offered help, and instead, kidnapped her. The abductor, threatening violence, stole her belongings and subjected her to sexual assault.
- Sergeant Lohmeyer (03:00): “There was a female there, that they got into an argument.”
Despite Tina’s brave attempt to seek safety by returning home, the situation escalated when the abductor forced his way into the house, leading to further violence.
5. Tina’s Attempted Escape
In a desperate bid for survival, Tina sought to defend herself. She attempted to retrieve a handgun from their bedroom, only to find it had been moved to prevent access by grandchildren.
- Timothy G. Schmidt (25:36): “She couldn't find the gun.”
With the perpetrator breaking into the house, Tina's escape seemed impossible, culminating in her tragic state on the living room floor.
6. Police Investigation and Aftermath
Sergeant Lohmeyer and his team responded swiftly to the distress call. Through meticulous investigation, including reviewing video surveillance from a nearby gas station, law enforcement began piecing together the sequence of events leading to Tina’s assault.
- Sergeant Lohmeyer (02:00): “Fresh tire marks were dug into the yard of the residents. The patrol sergeant also noticed that the garage to the home was open.”
7. Key Insights and Conclusions
This episode not only highlights the brutality of the crime but also underscores the vulnerabilities that even seemingly safe individuals can face. It sheds light on the resilience of Tina and Tim as they navigate the aftermath of the attack and the pursuit of justice.
- Mike Boudet (11:51): “Tim and Tina were happy. They had a good Life. But on November 9, something unimaginably horrific happened that turned their lives upside down.”
The episode concludes with an ominous promise of further revelations and the continuing quest to bring the perpetrators to justice, emphasizing that monstrosity can manifest in the most unexpected forms.
Notable Quotes
- Tina Loman (00:32): “You think that when someone pulls over to help you that there's no ill intent.”
- Timothy G. Schmidt (07:57): “Specifically, did you have a chainsaw and hedge trimmer?”
- Tina Loman (27:36): “One minute they would be nice to her and tell her that she's going to be okay, and the next minute they're kicking her.”
Conclusion
"Nowhere to Run" serves as a powerful testament to Tina Lohman’s ordeal and the subsequent unraveling of a community in shock. Through detailed narration and emotional testimonies, the episode captures the essence of a crime that defied expectations and the relentless pursuit of justice that followed.
Listeners are left contemplating the fragility of safety and the dark realities that can intrude upon ordinary lives, making this episode a poignant addition to the series.
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