UPDATED Thursday: Memorial service scheduled for Schoens

Tuesday, 02 September 2008 05:22 Last Updated on Wednesday, 10 September 2008 12:23 Written by Angel McCurdy

A memorial service will be held for Tech. Sgt. Daniel Schoen, 1st Special Operations Aircraft Maintenance squadron, and Staff Sgt. Erin Schoen, 1st Special Operations Medical Operations Squadron, 9 a.m. Sept 8 at Commando Hangar.

Daniel Lee Schoen, 32, and his wife, Erin, 31, were walking their dogs south on Pawnee Drive about 7:30 p.m. Sunday when they were struck, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports. Daniel Schoen died at the scene, and Erin was transported to Baptist Hospital in Pensacola, where she died around noon on Monday.



Hill

Robert Lynn Hill, the driver of the 1988 Ford F-150 pickup truck that struck the Schoens, turned himself in to the Santa Rosa County Sheriff’s Office on Monday and was arrested by the FHP and charged with two felony counts of leaving the scene with death. Bond for Hill has been set at $260,000.

On Thursday, the FHP issued a report saying it Is currently looking for two other pickup trucks that may have been following HIll at the time of the crash.

“It is under investigation right now,” said Cpl. Chris Nussbaumer of the FHP. “We are looking for other vehicles and other people that may have been involved or may have seen the incident.”

Both of the Schoens were in the military and stationed at Hurlburt Field. Daniel Schoen was a technical sergeant and Erin was a staff sergeant.

"The next step is to process the vehicle for any forensic evidence,” Nussbaumer said.

The couple's dog, Tonka, was seriously injured after being struck, but had no external signs of trauma and no signs of shock. Later, the veterinarian recommended that Tonka be put down after finding the dog had a fractured back. The couple's other dog, Rocky, had no injuries and is being taken care of by a family friend, said Dominic Persichini, director of animal services for Santa Rosa County.

On Thursday, two dozen military men and women paid their respects to the Schoens by setting up a memorial along Pawnee Drive where the couple was killed.

“We’re mourning the loss of two friends,” said Tech Sgt. Tom Keitur. The group silently stood together as the two crosses bearing the names of the Schoens were put into place.