Grand jury indicts Wade in Schloss murder

The eight-count indictment adds to the charges against 28-year-old Wade -- who was already in jail on other federal charges -- those of carjacking and using a gun to kill Schloss, charges that both carry a maximum penalty of death.

Under federal law, a defendant may be sentenced to death for those crimes if, after consideration of aggravating factors, such a punishment is warranted. The grand jury included 19 such factors in the indictment for both of the charges, including that Wade intentionally killed Schloss and committed the crime with premeditation.

According to "special findings" filed with the indictment, Wade "committed the offense in an especially heinous, cruel and depraved manner, in that it involved torture and serious physical abuse to Mindy Schloss."

The indictment did not elaborate on that assertion.

Assistant U.S. attorney Tom Bradley said his office could not comment on the case, including on whether prosecutors would seek the death penalty if Wade is convicted.

"This is good. This is wonderful," said Mary Schloss, Mindy's sister-in-law, when she heard that Wade had been charged. "I'm just glad it's getting done."

She said federal investigators told her months ago that they believed Wade murdered Schloss but were still gathering evidence to build their case. Investigators have shared few details with the family, she said, because they didn't want to leak any information to Wade or his lawyers on what they knew.

Mary Schloss said the family would support applying the death penalty, which Alaska law does not allow.

"Even in biblical times they had the death penalty," she said. "There are reasons for it. ... Just as long as he never sees the light of day again, we'll be happy."

Wade was already facing charges of bank fraud, identity theft and illegally possessing a firearm - specifically a .45-caliber Glock 30 semiautomatic pistol - as well as federal drug charges for possessing marijuana in jail. He has been in custody since September, but because there is no federal prison in Alaska, Wade was transferred to a federal facility in Seattle earlier this year to save money and so that he could be closer to his attorney, Gilbert Levy. Levy did not immediately return phone calls seeking comment Thursday.

Schloss, who lived next door to Wade in South Anchorage at the time of her disappearance, vanished Aug. 3. Her body was found Sept. 13 off Knik-Goose Bay Road in Wasilla.

According to the indictment, Wade, intending to kill Schloss, took her red Acura on Aug. 4. Over the next two days, he used her bank card twice, withdrawing at least $1,000, the indictment alleges.

Wade's DNA was found in her car, which was abandoned near the Anchorage airport. Police also discovered a receipt from a transaction using her ATM card in his jacket pocket.

Police arrested Wade Sept. 2 -- 11 days before Schloss's body was found -- after he holed up in an East Anchorage apartment for more than an hour. He was transported to FBI headquarters in Anchorage after his arrest and questioned, a dialogue he has challenged in court as involuntary.

"We actually talked to Mindy, you know," an agent tells Wade, according to a transcript filed in court.

"Huh? What did you just say?" Wade answered.

"I said we talked to Mindy."

"Are you guys trying to play games with me, man?"

FBI Special Agent Dave Heller said his agency could not comment on the case.

Wade became achieved notoriety in Anchorage after the slaying of Della Brown in 2000. He bragged that he killed her and brought friends to see the body. He was eventually charged with rape, robbery and murder. His defense attorneys, however, argued that he lied to his friends to impress them and that he had just found the body. He was acquitted of the more serious charges but convicted of tampering with evidence.

Wade was released from prison in late 2004, after serving time on the tampering conviction.

Brown's mother, Daisy Piggott, reached by phone Thursday afternoon, said she had just heard the news of the new charges. She still believes Wade killed her daughter.

"If they (prosecutors) got a conviction on Della, this wouldn't be happening again."

"I knew he was going to do it again. I knew it in my heart," she said before breaking into tears. "This has been a long time coming."

Asked if she would support the death penalty, she said: "I would rather see him live daily with what he's done. I'd rather see him live to 100 thinking about it."