Jacob Levi Shaffer Accused of Killing 6 in Double State Homicide

by Amy Judd | July 20, 2009 at 03:02 pm
676 views | 30 Recommendations | 3 comments

Videos

FAYETTEVILLE Tenn; suspect confesses to massacre murders july 19 2009

see larger video

sourced by cyn.khoo

FAYETTEVILLE Tenn; suspect confesses to massacre murders july 19 2009

Jacob Levi Shaffer made his first appearance in court this morning, accused of killing six people in two states, in the towns of Fayetteville and Huntsville in what first appeared to be unrelated killings due to the distance, but it is now believed that Shaffer killed all six.

Shaffer's victims:

His wife, Tracie Shaffer.

Her son Devin Brooks, 16.

Devin's friend, Robert Berber, 16

Tracie's father, Billy Hall, 57.

Her brother, Chris Hall, 34.

Billy Hall's employee, Steve Dempsey, 50.

Jacob Levi Shaffer appeared via teleconference in Lincoln County.

With a simple "Yes", Shaffer agreed to court appointed attorneys Dorothy Buck and Bill Harold and shook his head when asked if he had any questions.

The five people murdered in Tennessee died from multiple stab wounds, and although the autopsys are complete, the toxicology results are still pending.

Tracie Shaffer, who was estranged from her husband, was apparently the main target of the killings, and neighbors said that the two had argued on the Friday.

Steve Dempsey was killed first, either late Friday, or early Saturday, and he was found at Hall's Cultured Marble and Granite on Orchard Street on Saturday. Authorities believe that Shaffer then drove to Lincoln County and killed Tracie's father and brother in their home.

He crossed the street to stab Devin Brooks and Robert Berber, and killed Tracie last.

Ribbons have been hung at the local church in memory of the two teenagers.

"Most loyal friend you could have," said friend and fellow church member Cody Tate. "He was always there for you, no matter what."

Pastor Robert Doud said the two young teens were inseparable friends:

"They were just sweet, awesome kids," he said. "It was an honor to know them both."

A memorial fund has been set up at the Redstone Federal Credit Union for the Hall family.


recommend This comment thread is now closed
0
politisite

Thanks Amy.  I heard one of the victims was his wife.  Very sad

0
QueensHart

Divorces and domestic quarrels are the worst .  A policemen told me that almost all

the homes they are called to are couples fighting and usually alcohol or drugs are involved.

I remember when my husband of 20 years left us for a long year with no contact except

by phone.  He came by to pick up my children and I smelled alcohol.   I told him he could

not take them.  At that moment for the first time in my life I understood why some people

are capable of killing.   I knew if I so much as touched him he would have knocked me

and I also knew if I had power I could have torn him to pieces.  Anyone can kill if they

feel threatened or their children are.  A policemen then told me they would be parked

outside anytime he came by if I just called and said he would be around.  Just the site of

their car would help to "settle"  a quarrel that would erupt etc.  I did not know they did

such things.  It was in a very nice neighbor hood with very little crime.  People breaking

up often have one or both partners who have serious issues if being abandoned without

warning.  I quoted the scripture,   "vengeance is mine saith the Lord, I will repay". 

I have lived long enough to see him with his world blown apart...KARMIC JUSTICE!!

We do not have enough social workers , ministers etc. to educate families at risk to prevent

such happenings.  They usually do not join community so others can offer guidance and

suggestions.  Isolation is dangerous for narcissists, and anyone of the many mental

disorders which can surface and harm more that the ones raging.

 

I support being able to have a gun too.  People in these situations would harm them in

some other brutal way whether they had a gun or not.. 

When someone is divorcing and they say,  "ahhh, he would never do that"...usually do not

know the truth of the power of the shadow. 

This story was created over 3 months ago, the comment thread is now closed.

What is NowPublic?

NowPublic lets people work together to cover news events around the world.

Find out more

Crowd Power

politisite
First Flagged at 4:46 PM, Jul 20, 2009 by politisite
These members have powered this story:

Most Recommended Stories in World

Recommendations (30)

Most recently recommended by:
 

closeSign in to NowPublic

is reporting from