Pilot recovering in Florida hospital

Published 10:27 am Wednesday, January 14, 2009

An Indiana investment manager who attempted to stage his own death in a plane crash is today recovering from self-inflicted wounds in a Tallahassee, Fla. hospital, according to published reports.

Marcus Schrenker, 38, was captured at a campsite in Quincy, Fla. Tuesday night. Schrenker was taken to Tallahassee Memorial HealthCare after police discovered marks on his body consistent with a suicide attempt.

According to a CNN report, “Schrenker was found at a campsite near Quincy, Fla., with ‘deep cuts on his wrist.’ Schrenker was bleeding profusely when about 20 officers approached his tent.”

Indiana authorities issued two felony warrants against Schrenker Tuesday. Schrenker was charged in Hamilton County, Ind. Superior Court with two Class C felonies – unlawful acts by a compensated adviser and unlawful transacation by an investment adviser. A judge set Schrenker’s bond at $4 million.

The charges are linked to Schrenker’s three Indiana-based businesses – Heritage Wealth Management Inc., Heritage Insurance Services and Icon Wealth Management. Last week, Schrenker was ordered to pay more than $500,000 in a federal judgment.

Schrenker was flying from Anderson, Ind. to Destin, Fla. Sunday when he put his six-passenger Piper Malibu plane on autopilot and parachuted to the ground over Shelby County. The plane eventually crashed in Milton, Fla.

Schrenker later approached a Childersburg police officer at a store and told the officer he had been in a canoeing accident. The officer didn’t know about the crash, and took Schrenker to the Harpersville Motel. When police learned of the crash, they returned to the hotel, but Schrenker was gone.

Schrenker had checked into the motel under a false name, put on a black cap and fled into the woods.

Harpersville Police Chief David Latimer believes Schrenker meticulously planned his escape. On Saturday, Schrenker rented a storage unit at the 280 East Mini Warehouse in Harpersville, and an employee there witnessed Schrenker pushing a red Yamaha motorcycle into a unit, Latimer said.

Schrenker retrieved his motorcycle Monday after fleeing from the motel, and dumped his clothing in a nearby dumpster, Latimer said. Harpersville police discovered Schrenker’s clothing Tuesday and are holding it as evidence.

Schrenker could face federal charges related to the plane crash, according to CNN.