AL - Karen Shahan, 53, murdered, Homewood, 23 July 2013 #1

[CountryGirl]

He was suppose to be beginning his new missionary job, that includes preaching sometimes especially if they know you're a pastor, they almost always ask you to preach when you are there. I know they do not celebrate Christmas till later in the year and on thing R told the church he was looking forward to was telling the true meaning if Christmas again to children.

Has he shared why he would leave the country for a 3-year mission with his wife's murderer on the loose?

 

[wfgodot]

Attorneys Wendell Sheffield and John Lentine, who are representing Shahan, say statements implying that Shahan was fleeing the country

snip

Please provide links for information quoted from sources.

 

[LambChop]

Has he shared why he would leave the country for a 3-year mission with his wife's murderer on the loose?

There could be a couple of reasons. If he were responsible for what happened he would clearly want to get out of the country. If he were not responsible for what happened he may want to get away because it would be too painful to be in the home. I know the feeling because of the home my husband and I shared, I found it very difficult to go back into it after his death from Cancer. I lived in the 2 bedroom addition portion of the home and my daughter had moved back into the main part of the house. I can imagine what it would feel like to live in a home where your wife was brutally murdered.

Not sticking up for him just that there are always two sides until we know the truth. Either way it's just speculation because we do not have the facts yet so let's try and discuss this with what information we have and be respectful of all posters.

 

[Salem]

Please remember to link up your quotes, MSM, etc. or your posts will disappear.

Salem

 

[i.b.nora]

I don't think this article has been linked yet:

'I tend to believe that he's innocent' - First Baptist pastor defends ex-associate pastor charged with murder

By Greg Garrison
on January 03, 2014 at 4:32 PM, updated January 03, 2014 at 8:19 PM

"BIRMINGHAM, Alabama - First Baptist Church of Birmingham Interim Pastor Charles T. Carter said today that it's wrong to portray former Associate Pastor Richard Shahan as fleeing when he was arrested New Year's Day in Nashville on his way out of the country."

*

""I don't know all the facts," Carter said. "I've tried to remain neutral. I don't know all the facts that the authorities know, but I tend to believe that he's innocent.""

*

"Carter said Shahan has been wrongly portrayed as a fugitive from justice.

"I do know that he was not fleeing," Carter said. "He was going to a mission assignment. That's been known for two months. I dispute the term 'fleeing.'""

More...

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/01/i_tend_to_believe_that_hes_inn.html

 

[i.b.nora]

Christmas in Germany is celebrated the same time as here. Christmas in Russia is celebrated January 7th.

 

[i.b.nora]

This a Baptist publication:

http://www.thealabamabaptist.org/print-edition-article-detail.php?id_art=30231&pricat_art=1

This snip:

"Charles T. Carter, interim pastor of First, Birmingham, said Richard Shahan “was not ‘fleeing’ the country. His plans had been known and publicized ever since early November … to provide leadership to BMI’s children’s ministry in Kazakhstan (where he had served on two previous missions trips while at FBC).”

On Dec. 29, 2013, Carter said the church held a public commissioning and prayer time for Richard Shahan at the conclusion of the morning worship service.

‘He was not fleeing’

“At my suggestion early on he received a written statement from his legal counsel that in their opinion he was free to leave/return to the USA,” Carter said. “He was not fleeing; he was en route to assume a new position as a missionary.”"

 

[SmoothOperator]

OK, just to be clear about a couple key issues wrt RS' arrest(and of course its jmo at this point) and I fully understand that my opinion does not amount to even a hill of beans in the grand scheme of things, but it is part of what takes place here on this forum..

I, personally, do take great issue with RS moving off to another country(regardless of whether its for 3 years, or permanently) while in the midst of his wife's brutal murder being actively investigated..and the great issue I have is not even from a personal standpoint, but rather it is from the legal/technical standpoint wrt his *attempting* to move to another country, at this point in time..

Richard Shahan has not been in complete darkness wrt to LE's investigation..in fact he was held on 48 hour warrantless arrest for which he was clearly being interviewed/interrogated about his very own inconsistencies that he relayed to the investigators.. I, honestly have no doubt in my mind that RS was called on these inconsistencies and was absolutely fully aware that he was LE's prime suspect due to his actions, his words, and IMO, evidence indicating his direct involvement.. But that's jmo, and I am being clear on this being jmo..

Part of my point is that I fully believe RS is/has been fully aware that he had inconsistencies that threw up major red flags and at the VERY LEAST RS knew he was being investigated as numero uno, prime suspect in his wife's brutal murder investigation that is/has been very much ongoing and active. In an ongoing, active HOMICIDE investigation it is SOP for any POI to NOT be able to just up and leave the country, and for a supposed length of time of a several years..??.. No..not to mention if the person is the spouse of the murder victim, with whom LE has been unable to "clear", much different is that LE has him as the sole suspect, solely responsible for his spouse's murder, and this LE's investigation has consistently led straight back to RS as being the sole perpetrator of his wife's murder..

Yet, as we know RS had every intention(and was following thru at the time of his arrest) of picking up and moving to a foreign country for atleast 3 years(MOO is similar to LE's in believing the intended length of his "visit" was very much indefinitely) even tho, his wife's brutal murder took place less than a year ago, in their home, with him being the prime, and only suspect in the very active and ongoing murder investigation.. There is IMO, a very simple and clear reason why POIs in a homicide investigation are not allowed to just traipse off to foreign countries.. And even more so for a prime suspect to whom LE have several key indicators of having been solely responsible for the murder.. They aren't permitted to take off to foreign countries, much less move off to a foreign country.. These are very basic SOP and no one will convince me that Shahan and his attorneys did not fully know and understand that the prime suspect was not permitted to just do as he so pleases and just up and move off.. :smh:... He knew, and they knew and IMO, they were going to press it as far as they were allowed to get away with in terms of just moving off to a foreign country..and Imo while I fully believe they were hoping like hell to press their luck and Richard successfully make it overseas to Germany(and IMO ultimately to Russia)..while that's what they were desperately hoping for(and maybe even praying for), but IMO, they were none too shocked or surprised when Richard was taken into LE custody at the Nashville airport..

Now, was RS surprised/shocked as to exactly how/who/when he was taken into custody??.. IMO, you bet due to his having successfully made it through the check in, security, etc and likely believed that if they were to arrest him it would have been at one of those above mentioned, points in the airport arrival/check in process .. Imo , it likely shocked the **** out of him at a point where he was very much under a false sense of security in believing he was successfully going to make it out of the country, and was merely moments away from being on board, and in the air, on a flight overseas.

So, it is from the legal/technical standpoint that I also take great issue with(and that's not even delving into the personal standpoint that I take great issue with)..just from the technical standpoint there are IMO, very much several disturbing issues wrt his fleeing/leaving the U.S. amidst his wife's very active homicide investigation..a homicide investigation that all roads continue to lead back to him, her husband, Richard Shahan as being the sole, and only responsible party for his wife, Karen's horrific, brutal murder.. LE's taking this perfectly, fully legal, standard operating procedure of taking him into custody and moving forward with charging him as the sole perpetrator of his wife's murder..this is no shocking, or surprising, and/or unexpected turn of events..IMO, least of all for Richard Shahan and his defense attorneys was this shocking, or unexpected..

Again while IMO, they hoped like hell they would be able to get RS overseas, but they ALL knew that it was the most basic, standard op procedures that could dictate LE to arrest him/take him into custody/officially charge him for Karen's murder immediately preceding his fleeing/leaving the country..and as we can all now see, that is exactly what happened..and IMO, thank God LE did follow this basic SOP of taking him into custody before he could leave the country because just as Chief Roberson said in the presser, it is a fact that just as Snowden remains unable to be extradited to the U.S. to face the charges for his crimes committed..so, too could that easily be the same for Richard Shahan in his successfully making his way over seas..therefor leaving justice for Karen unable to be served on the sole, responsible perpetrator for her heinous, brutal murder.

Thank God this LE took this route in implementing one of the most basic, SOP in a homicide investigation.. IMO, it absolutely is the first, big step toward Karen having justice served on behalf of the crimes committed on her.

And again, as always this is jmo, tho!

 

[txsvicki]

Shahan wasn't necessarily fleeing, but he had to know that he was the main POI and so did the church.He spent 3 days in jail being questioned! The pastor can say whatever, but they were helping him to leave the country and not face charges. Now he can tell the Christmas story in jail and have his day in court. If he did it, he must really be slick, because I don't think the elder pastor would knowingly defend a murderer.

 

[LambChop]

Well, I don't know. I would not be too eager to say he was fleeing when it was clearing stated what his plans were going to be a couple of weeks ago. We all read about it here at WS. Usually people keep it quiet when they are trying to escape being arrested. He had his passport which tells me LE did not tell him he could not leave because he was a suspect. Pulling your passport is one of the first things they do to make sure you are not planning on leaving the US. It also does not appear he had a visit from LE to tell him it might be wise to put off his plans for awhile until they finish their investigation and fully rule him out.

That being said we are still where we were a month ago with no information and only his arrest with no reason why he is suspected other than LE feels he killed his wife. Not unusual for LE to feel a husband would be suspect. I would really like to know what they have and what his "inconsistencies" were.

It appears he certainly felt that he was free to travel and go on with his life since they did not arrest him after his interviews. And how can we determine if he knew he was a suspect when no one could get any information from LE. Nothing was released. If he truly were innocent how would he know he was their main suspect. If he knew I would think he would have been out of there a long time ago. jmo

 

[meanmaryjean]

I think the fact that he was released after questioning emboldened him - made him feel he was made of Teflon. And who KNOWS what he told the church staff about the questioning? I mean, they are -I'm sure- having trouble wrapping their heads around the fact that his wife was murdered and that he's been charged with murder.

 

[EllaMae]

<modsnip>

LE believes RS murdered his wife because the evidence takes them there. I don't think they have tunnel vision at all. I believe they've known for a while who did it, and their case has been building over the months since the murder.

IMHO....of course.

 

[CountryGirl]

Whether or not he was "fleeing", I have a big issue with him leaving, even though he announced it two months ago (in November I believe) which was four months after Janet's brutal murder. Four months with no arrests, and he was the only person that we know of that was brought into custody for questioning in her murder. Not a peep that we've heard from him about finding her killer, offering a reward, etc. If I've missed it, please correct me.

 

[SmoothOperator]

Well, I don't know. I would not be too eager to say he was fleeing when it was clearing stated what his plans were going to be a couple of weeks ago. We all read about it here at WS. Usually people keep it quiet when they are trying to escape being arrested. He had his passport which tells me LE did not tell him he could not leave because he was a suspect. Pulling your passport is one of the first things they do to make sure you are not planning on leaving the US. It also does not appear he had a visit from LE to tell him it might be wise to put off his plans for awhile until they finish their investigation and fully rule him out.

That being said we are still where we were a month ago with no information and only his arrest with no reason why he is suspected other than LE feels he killed his wife. Not unusual for LE to feel a husband would be suspect. I would really like to know what they have and what his "inconsistencies" were.

It appears he certainly felt that he was free to travel and go on with his life since they did not arrest him after his interviews. And how can we determine if he knew he was a suspect when no one could get any information from LE. Nothing was released. If he truly were innocent how would he know he was their main suspect. If he knew I would think he would have been out of there a long time ago. jmo

While you see it as there being no indicators of Richard Shahan being aware of LE's view of him as a suspect.. IMO, I must respectfully disagree as IMO LE's very own words indicate that Shahan was/and had been their prime and only suspect in his wife's murder.. And it is none other than Richard Shahan's own words/actions that resulted in all roads leading directly back to him.. His inconsistencies play atleast some role in the red flags that were waving wildly in the faces of investigators.. And the inconsistencies played a role in leading investigators straight back to Richard Shahan..

Richard Shahan was held by LE on a 48 hour warrantless arrest..and his wildly waving red flags of inconsistency were not clarified as to in any way indicate his telling the truth about claiming to be in no way involved.. They weren't cleared up then, and since then have not been cleared up..<<---- These two issues, alone, IMO, clearly indicate LE having Richard Shahan very much a suspect.. Now, I guess some may say that Richard Shahan somehow did NOT understand what these two issues, alone indicated(and while I personally don't buy that for a moment), but one thing is certain Richard Shahan's attorneys know/have known full well what just these above two issues indicated(not to mention the other details that we, as the public, are rightfully NOT privy to at this time).. Just those two, known by us, indicators very much coincide with Richard Shahan being a suspect in terms of LE's investigating officers working Karen Shahan's homicide investigation..

IMO, while some disagree with my strong opinion on this particular issue, I, however have no doubt in my mind that Richard Shahan's attorneys know/have known full well the suspect status of their client wrt to LE's investigating officers.. And IMO, takes away any doubt as to Richard Shahan possibly being ignorant to such legalese wrt to suspects in a homicide investigation.. Even if I believed he, himself was ignorant to this(which for the record I DO NOT BELIEVE he's ignorant and/or unknowing about his suspect status).. But nonetheless even *IF* he was, his attorneys absolutely aren't.

IMVSYHO, Richard Shahan's attorneys as well as Richard Shahan, himself know/have known full well his suspect status..and IMO, that's concluded easily and fully by the extremely, miniscule amount of information that we, as the public are privy to at this time.

But of course its all jmo, tho, and one I am perfectly happy to agree to disagree with any of my fellow members who may see or view things differently.. To each their own is what sets WS apart from so many other message boards/forums

**ETA: Re: fleeing vs. leaving.. IMO, my use of fleeing/leaving are one in the same in regards to this case.. Yes, he was very much attempting to leave the country, and yes, ITA that he had publicly stated such..but IMVHO his leaving the country equates, to me atleast, as his attempting to flee this country and attempt to successfully be able to swerve any future criminal proceedings regarding his wife's murder..

Now, thats obviously moo, but for all intents and purposes wrt this case specifically, my use of fleeing/leaving are one in the same..hence why most times I use the two side by side, separated by a backslash..jmo.

 

[i.b.nora]

Technically speaking, you are using a 'forward slash'.

 

[CountryGirl]

Has this been posted?

Attorneys John Lentine and Wendell Sheffield say they didn't know a warrant was issued for Richard Shahan's arrest, in connection with the murder of his wife Karen Shahan, until after he was arrested.

 

[BrianInBirmingham]

This idea that Richard Shahan is some sort of con artist is absurd. This is a man that builds sets and costumes to put on elaborate bible story shows for children...and quite frankly, by all reports and you tube videos, he was excellent at it. Both RS and his late wife reportedly have a history of some mental illness issues (based on conversations with those close) -- but he's not a con artist or super villain. Roberson has stated that RS was arrested due to “inconsistencies in his statements”. I feel certain that Homewood does not have a case. I personally believe that RS didn't do this, but I also believe that he had some duality in his life that he was trying to cover up.

 

[looneymama]

I'm not sure why being excellent at building sets for plays might make someone incapable of killing their wife.

Sent from my Desire HD using Tapatalk 2

 

[fruity]

"I do know that he was not fleeing," Carter said. "He was going to a mission assignment. That's been known for two months. I dispute the term 'fleeing.'""

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2014/01/i_tend_to_believe_that_hes_inn.html

His wife died in July, he started planning to leave the country in October after he had been questioned by police about her murder ....

I'm not sure about anyone else but that does sound like fleeing to me.

 

[txsvicki]

Duality of life or lifestyle while representing the Baptist doctrine and teaching children is beyond wrong. If he did that instead of leaving and getting a regular job using his college degrees, then he is very manipulative. Even having a motive for murder tells that something is really wrong. I feel more comfortable for the kids of Germany and Khakistan or whatever the name of the place is without him there right now. I'd be outraged if some imposter was spending time with kids and taking my missionary donations while doing it. If homosexual tendencies turn out to be the motive I doubt if just being homosexual is the real motive. He could leave and live his life how he chooses and even change denominations if he wanted.