The True Story Behind Betrayal's "Bible Study Kidnapper" Episode
When Donielle Showvay first met Chad Schipper at a bible study meeting at her sister's college, she had no reason to suspect the smart, kind young man would one day become a kidnapper. Nearly two decades of marriage and six children later, she discovered the man she built her life with had been living a secret double life — one built on debt, deception, and violent crime. Their story is the focus of "The Bible Study Kidnapper," Episode 3 of Betrayal: Secrets & Lies, the ABC docuseries that aired April 12, 2026.
A Life That Looked Perfect From the Outside
Schipper grew up in Erie, Illinois, where he was valedictorian of his 1995 high school class. He went on to build a financial advising business, Schipper Financial Services LLC, and settled into what appeared to be a stable family life with Showvay. The couple moved to a larger home as his business seemed to grow, and Schipper often worked late into the night. What Showvay did not know was that her husband was secretly drowning in debt — allegedly embezzling from clients, stealing from family members, and borrowing against his parents' home using forged documents.
The Plot to Extort Church Friends
Hoping to recover his finances, Schipper set his sights on Larry and Connie Van Oosten, an older couple from their church. He pitched them on becoming financial clients; when they declined, he began planning something far more drastic.
On February 7, 2017, just before 4 a.m., Schipper broke into the Van Oostens' home armed with a taser, duct tape, and handcuffs, forced the couple into the trunk of his car, and drove approximately 20 miles to a property he owned in Geneseo, Illinois. There, he had prepared a soundproof underground room with four surveillance cameras, a microphone, and an intercom. He kept the couple blindfolded and handcuffed, monitoring them from a separate room while using a voice distorter and mask to hide his identity.
"We've dealt with a lot of violent crime, but this one was bizarre," Chris Endress, retired captain of the Illinois State Police, said in the episode. "It was almost like an episode of Criminal Minds."
A Bank Note That Broke the Case
The following afternoon, Schipper drove the Van Oostens to the 1st Trust and Savings Bank in Albany, Illinois, and ordered Connie to obtain a $350,000 cashier's check, threatening to kill Larry if she refused. Inside the bank, Connie wrote a note on a church flier from her purse, explaining that she was in trouble, and slipped it to the teller. Police were immediately alerted and quickly connected the LLC on the check to Schipper's business. A high-speed chase ended in a crash, after which Schipper confessed. The Van Oostens were found the next morning, still handcuffed and blindfolded in the underground bunker.
The Verdict and Where Schipper Is Now
Schipper pleaded guilty in November 2018 to aggravated kidnapping with a concealed identity, home invasion with a dangerous weapon, and theft. He received the maximum 60-year sentence. "There are few crimes that are more heinous," Judge Stanley Steines said at sentencing.
As of April 2026, Schipper is serving his sentence at Menard Correctional Center in Chester, Illinois, with a projected parole date of January 30, 2068.
Showvay divorced Schipper following his arrest. She appears in the Betrayal episode to tell her story and has since remarried. "I had a really hard time figuring out what reality was as opposed to what I thought reality was," she said.
About the Series
Betrayal: Secrets & Lies is hosted by journalist Andrea Gunning and is based on her true-crime podcast of the same name. The eight-episode series airs Sundays at 10 p.m. ET/9c on ABC and streams the following day on Disney+ and Hulu.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.