Ridgeway man gets 20-year maximum sentence in prison for killing his mother

Photo by Tom Rivers: Curtis Schroth walks out of Orleans County courtroom today after he was sentenced to 20 years in state prison for first-degree manslaughter.

ALBION – A Ridgeway man who killed his mother by hitting her in the head with a hammer was sentenced 20 years in state prison this morning in Orleans County Court. .

Curtis Schroth, 52, was given the maximum sentence as part of a plea agreement. His attorney, Public Defender Joanne Best, asked for a 10-year sentence, noting Schroth has no prior arrests and was suffering from a mental health disorder.

Schroth, in a Nov. 5 court appearance, admitted to hitting his mother in the back of the head with a hammer on Oct. 15, 2024, causing injuries that led to her death 12 days later on Oct. 27.

District Attorney Susan Howard acknowledged the “mitigating circumstances” with Schroth’s mental health conditions.

“This is a heart-breaking story that ended with the life of an innocent woman,” Howard said.

Schroth was living with his mother, Dolores Schroth, at the time. She was 78.

Curtis Schroth declined to speak during sentencing this morning. Best said he has been diagnosed with Schizoaffective disorder and is bipolar. With medication, he can function well with the conditions, she said.

“This was an isolated, random incident,” Best said during sentencing. “What occurred is extremely out of character for Mr. Schroth.”

Judge Sanford Church imposed the maximum sentence, saying Schroth is “dangerous.”

“He killed his mother by hitting her in the head with a hammer,” the judge said.

He also imposed five years of post-release supervision of Schroth. Judge Church didn’t fine Schroth, but assessed a $300 court surcharge, $50 DNA fee, and $25 crime victims’ fee.