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

[killarney rose]

Homosexual or not, he still has a motive, albeit slightly different. Homosexuality or adultery are both reasons for him to lose his career in the ministry. "If" her body was staged in that way, it could have been done to divert suspicion away from him and to make it appear that a serial killer was in the area. MOO is that it doesn't matter if he is gay or straight, he still had motive.

 

[BrianInBirmingham]

Yes. He had motive. I think all Homewood has is homosexual relations outside of his marriage. We will know soon enough. I'm betting Homewood has nothing but some behavior they think to be inconsistent with Baptist's beliefs -- nothing else.

 

[LambChop]

No bashing other posters or your post will be deleted. If you are an insider please verify. And remember to link if you are getting information from the media. If not you need to specially state in your post that it is an opinion only.

If you keep headed in this direction I see it getting closed down for a review.

 

[Ausgirl]

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 John Wayne Gacy was a pillar of his community, who put on shows for dying kids in the hospital.

Some folks just really are good at hiding the darkness within them.

 

[Fairy1]

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

IMO, this POV illustrates how brilliant his plan - if it was a plan - really was. He was supposedly traveling under the cover of a religious mission. No one would question the good pastor on that. He announced his plans in advance - and publicly - so why would anyone question his motives? He said he would be back in, what, 3 years? Why would anyone believe he wasn't being truthful about that? It would have been a perfect plan.

LE has been vocal about the inconsistencies in the pastor's story. Right now, we don't know what those are, but I trust LE in this. I feel that Karen's time of death and the pastor's travels were likely integral in their determining what actually happened.

If the pastor is guilty, it will be an enormous betrayal. Not just to Karen, but to their children, congregation and community. I get that. But that doesn't mean he couldn't possibly have done it.

 

[LambChop]

Okay, hypothetical here. What if a person's consistencies had to do with the fact that he stopped to see someone in another city before heading out to visit relatives in another state? What if he did not want to reveal that to LE in order to protect the privacy of this other person? I am still stuck on him not being arrested when LE knew what his plans were and the fact that maybe, just maybe they did not have enough on RS to get an arrest warrant that a judge would sign. The fact that he planned to leave the country may have been enough to sway the judge into signing the warrant in order to keep him here until they finish the investigation.

RS is an educated man and knew what his rights were. He knew that he had every right to demand an attorney and not answer any more questions. He did not do so but remained at LE headquarters and stayed there until his release answering questions. No one has to do that and asking for an attorney is NOT an omission of guilt. He stayed there. It was also public knowledge that he planned to leave and go overseas. These are facts to be considered while we wait for more information. Inconsistencies can be anything. And LE has the right to suspect him if they feel they have enough evidence but I'm not so sure a judge will agree. But we just don't have enough information right now.

Do not spread rumors as facts. If you have a link to the information, link it. If you are an insider you need to verify.

 

[i.b.nora]

IF he is homosexual, Russia is probably the last place on earth he should have been going at this particular time. IMO

I am willing to entertain the possibility that he is gay, has a secret lover, etc. Not sure that alone precludes the possibility of murder, however.

Can only wait and see.

 

[Fairy1]

Okay, hypothetical here. What if a person's consistencies had to do with the fact that he stopped to see someone in another city before heading out to visit relatives in another state? What if he did not want to reveal that to LE in order to protect the privacy of this other person? I am still stuck on him not being arrested when LE knew what his plans were and the fact that maybe, just maybe they did not have enough on RS to get an arrest warrant that a judge would sign. The fact that he planned to leave the country may have been enough to sway the judge into signing the warrant in order to keep him here until they finish the investigation.

RS is an educated man and knew what his rights were. He knew that he had every right to demand an attorney and not answer any more questions. He did not do so but remained at LE headquarters and stayed there until his release answering questions. No one has to do that and asking for an attorney is NOT an omission of guilt. He stayed there. It was also public knowledge that he planned to leave and go overseas. These are facts to be considered while we wait for more information. Inconsistencies can be anything. And LE has the right to suspect him if they feel they have enough evidence but I'm not so sure a judge will agree. But we just don't have enough information right now.

Do not spread rumors as facts. If you have a link to the information, link it. If you are an insider you need to verify.

You make some very good points. But if RS did this, it was premeditated, IMO. And he wouldn't be the first murderer to genuinely believe he was smarter than everyone else. Add to that the fact that he is a pastor - perhaps leading him to believe he was above reproach.

I'm with you - I'd have preferred to see the arrest happen before he was about to board the flight to Germany. But I am hoping the delay was due to slow lab results. Lord knows we've seen that too many times.

 

[LambChop]

You make some very good points. But if RS did this, it was premeditated, IMO. And he wouldn't be the first murderer to genuinely believe he was smarter than everyone else. Add to that the fact that he is a pastor - perhaps leading him to believe he was above reproach.

I'm with you - I'd have preferred to see the arrest happen before he was about to board the flight to Germany. But I am hoping the delay was due to slow lab results. Lord knows we've seen that too many times.

I think the lab results are back by now. It's a murder investigation. I would think there main concern would be DNA because they know how she died. My guess is no foreign DNA (which would make him a suspect), timeline may be off making him a suspect (which if he stopped to see someone he would rather not admit to would be a reason), appearance of being indifferent (which, again, if there were someone else he might act this way), acting as if he had something to hide, etc. All these are inconsistencies that LE would look at and suspect him as the person responsible. But they may not have enough to get RS into court.

And it will be nothing that LE did wrong if this is the case. They are doing what they have to do to keep RS from leaving the country. Anyone hear when he will be going before the judge? jmo

 

[MCDRAW]

So, that is what he was arrested for. Most likely he had been flagged some time ago, and when he was flying out he was arrested for that. After that the local LE had to do something or he would have been released in a few days. In all probability they do not have sufficient evidence or they would have issued an arrest warrant earlier.

So, don't be surprised if he is released again, or charges are dismissed for lack of evidence.

I wonder why he was flying out of Nashville instead of Birmingham.

 

[pastorpk]

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

This was very well said and I concur.
Thank you Lamb Chop

 

[killarney rose]

I wonder why he was flying out of Nashville instead of Birmingham.

I don't really see that as suspect. He had legitimate ties to NV. Its quite possible since he had a son there, he put his things in storage there, left his vehicles there, making it more of a home base, rather than Birmingham. He was in Birmingham because that was where his job was at the time. JMO.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

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.

Just agreeing with you... And jumping off your post...

It seems many people surrounding this case are taking offense of the use of the word "fleeing" on the part of the pastor...

I believe this is merely semantics...

The pastor was trying to leave the country shortly after a heinous murder of his wife... Where he is evidently the main person in LE's spotlight...

Fleeing does not necessarily mean secretive leaving...(as has been noted he announced his move)...

And the pastor IMO was using the ruse/umbrella of the church to facilitate this "move" to a distant country... Where further helping his investigation of his wife would be quite difficult...

so... Whatever the term is used for his attempt to leave the country... The situation is not a commendable one...

JMO

 

[SmoothOperator]

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

OK, lol, I'm definitely no techie..can you tell??.. lol.

**Please forgive the limitations that come w/my posting via mobile ATM**

 

[LambChop]

I don't really see that as suspect. He had legitimate ties to NV. Its quite possible since he had a son there, he put his things in storage there, left his vehicles there, making it more of a home base, rather than Birmingham. He was in Birmingham because that was where his job was at the time. JMO.

That makes sense. I doubt if he wanted to stay in that home.....either way, so he may have gone to stay with his son. jmo

 

[SmoothOperator]

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.

While I, personally would not use the term "con artist" to describe RS, I do however see why some people have used this term in describing him.. IMO, if you think about just what you expressed in the above post(re: duality in his life that he is/was trying to keep concealed) this is descriptive of an individual selling and/or presenting himself to be something he is not.. and essentially that is exactly the definition of what the term "con artist" means.

So, again while its not a term I'd use here..it does however "fit" with some aspects such as what you just posted above..

As for the main gist of the above post these are definitely not facts of the case..atleast at this point in time they are not established as anything other than rumor at best.. Fine by me, but introducing them into this forum's discussion may not be appropriate..IDK.....

But hey, what do I know and I certainly wouldn't begin to tell someone how/what they should post.. To each their own, but calling out people for using the term "con artist" describing RS.. well, as I said, your above post is a perfect case in point of "con artist" not being an inaccurate descriptor for RS.. You, yourself are saying the man was presenting himself as something/someone he quite possibly was NOT.

 

[enzeder]

Image: AFFIDAVIT

Screenshot from link below
http://www.abc3340.com/story/24346354/pastor-richard-shahan-arrested-in-nashville

 

[Ausgirl]

I'm confused.. if the police were so aware of Shahan's plans to leave the country and were all A-OK with it, why would they have him red-flagged in case of attempts to do exactly that?

Also the whole 'wanted' thing.. is this implying that he was wanted for homicide prior to this arrest? How is he 'wanted' if they knew exactly where to find him..?

:waitasec:

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Image: AFFIDAVIT

Screenshot from link below
http://www.abc3340.com/story/24346354/pastor-richard-shahan-arrested-in-nashville

Great find, Enzeder! :rocker:

 

[SmoothOperator]

**Update: We have now confirmed that Shahan is no longer employed with the church. He was taken off administrative leave a few weeks ago. The church has no comment.
http://www.abc3340.com/story/24346354/pastor-richard-shahan-arrested-in-nashville

This update I found to be interesting in that it does NOT coincide with the claim that Richard Shahan is the one who resigned/retired from the church on 12/31/13..

According to the above sourced MSM Richard Shahan has not been employed with the church for a few weeks now when they took him off of paid administrative leave and no longer were employing him..

That is very much different than him retiring/resigning/choosing to leave his employment with the church on 12/31/13..jmo, tho.