Iowa Inmate’s Brief “Death” Wasn’t Enough to Annul His Life Sentence

In a case that many have called bizarre, Iowa inmate Benjamin Schreiber attempted to argue that his life sentence had expired after he briefly died—and was resuscitated—during a medical emergency. Doctors revived him five times after his heart stopped in 2015, leading Schreiber to claim the sentence had already been served.

But Iowa courts unequivocally rejected his argument, stating that “life” doesn’t expire during a medical mishap.

The Life Sentence That Didn’t Expire

Schreiber’s legal gambit began with a filing for post-conviction relief in 2018. He resisted decades in prison—convicted in the 1990s for murder and serving a sentence without chance of parole—arguing that his clinical death technically fulfilled the term of his punishment.

However, both the district court and the Iowa Court of Appeals shot down the claim, citing absurdity and lack of legislative intent.

Judges Cut to the Chase, the Life Sentencen Was Still Valid

Judge Amanda Potterfield delivered the ruling with clarity: Either Schreiber is alive, in which case he remains incarcerated, or he is dead, in which case his appeal is moot. She emphasized that none of the law’s language suggests that a momentary cessation of life terminates a legal life sentence.

The unusual case was even compared to a failed appeal by a former New York inmate who made a similar argument—he too lost.

Beyond the Gimmick—A Delay in Dying Means Delay in Justice

Law scholars point out that cases like Schreiber’s highlight the need for clarity in compassionate release, medical ethics, and the understanding of sentence completion.

While his argument was outrageous, it forced courts to reaffirm that life sentences are measured by actual time served—not by clinical interruptions.

Legal Implications and Public Outcry

Though public response has leaned toward mockery of Schreiber’s “death loophole,” this case shines a light on the complexities of defining life, death, and legal finality.

Defense attorneys caution that in rare instances where medical errors taint incarceration fairness, courts may need to consider exceptional rulings. But for now, courts make clear: you can’t serve a life sentence twice—even if you die once.

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