Courtesy of KOLR/Nexstar

Man Convicted of Killing Family in Elkland in 1987 Dies

A man serving multiple-life sentences for killing seven members of his family in the late 80s has died at the South Central Correctional Center in Licking.

The Missouri Department of Corrections says 73-year-old James Schnick died Saturday.

Schnick was convicted in the murders of his wife, Julie, his brother-in-law, Steve Buckner, and his wife, Jan, and his nephews, Kirk, Dennis, Timmy, and Michael, on a farm in Elkland in 1987.

Schnick originally told law enforcement that his 14-year-old nephew, Kirk, went on a rampage killing family members and he had to kill him in self-defense.

He later confessed to all of the killings, when law enforcement told him they were going to give him a lie detector test.