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

[ClemiFern]

Checked local news sites this morning and nothing new. Hoping we hear something on this before the week's end. A press conference from the HPD would be nice!

 

[ClemiFern]

http://www.cbs42.com/2013/07/28/memorial-service-for-slain-wife-of-homewood-pastor/#respond


Quoting the above article:

The tragic crime began to unfold Tuesday morning, when Shahan’s body was found after a co-worker reported she had not come to work. Her husband was out of town.

“They’re saying don’t be afraid, but yet be cautious if you know anything about it, so that to me is unsettling. It’s a mixed message,” said neighbor Marietta Moyer.

Police spent days processing the couple’s home on Hugh Circle for evidence. By Saturday the crime scene tape had come down and the house remained empty.

A neighbor today told us off camera that the church owns and rents the homes on the street. He did not know Mrs. Shahan and reports nothing out of the ordinary the night she was killed.

Adding to the community fears, so little information has come from the police. No news conferences, no word on whether this was some random crime and no arrests.

This is not the article I've been trying to find but this one does quote a neighbor who said there was nothing out of the ordinary the "night" she was killed. So I'm guessing they at least have told some of the neighbors that it happened the previous night.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

This church seems to be very protective and supportive of its congregation...

I wonder if they like to "take care of their own"... and has a strong wish for privacy...

Thus the minimal reporting of this tragic event?

JMO

 

[BhamAdGal]

I also thought the turnout of 200 at Mrs. Shahan's funeral as repoted in the newspaper was quite low. This is a big Baptist church- the husband was on staff and she had sung in the choir. You would think the entire congregation would be there- it was not a football Saturday in Alabama- so no excuses. Not only that, they had been previouly affiliated with another large Bapt. church (Shades Mountain) no more than 3 miles away from their current church. I was expecting reports of standing room only- 200 is a small crowd for people with these kinds of connections.
I noticed all the lights in the back of the house were on this am as I drove past (it's right on my way to work). This had not been the case before- even right after the crime.
So frustrating to hear not ONE bit of news about anything from LE!

 

[ClemiFern]

I also thought the turnout of 200 at Mrs. Shahan's funeral as repoted in the newspaper was quite low. This is a big Baptist church- the husband was on staff and she had sung in the choir. You would think the entire congregation would be there- it was not a football Saturday in Alabama- so no excuses. Not only that, they had been previouly affiliated with another large Bapt. church (Shades Mountain) no more than 3 miles away from their current church. I was expecting reports of standing room only- 200 is a small crowd for people with these kinds of connections.
I noticed all the lights in the back of the house were on this am as I drove past (it's right on my way to work). This had not been the case before- even right after the crime.
So frustrating to hear not ONE bit of news about anything from LE!

I thought the turnout was low as well. 200 is an extremely small crowd for such a large congregation and like you said, having been formerly associated with Shades Mtn. Baptist which is huge and has a membership of probably over a thousand at the very least (I'm just guessing). I would have expected SRO too, but then again, it is getting close to back to school and B'ham families do tend to take that last summer vacation late and close to the start of school. Maybe there's just a lot of members on vacation right now, but still...200...not a very large crowd at all.

You see that many or more in a tiny community for a locally known person easily. I've attended many small town funerals where there were easily 400+ people in attendance on a weekday!

I'm just so frustrated that they aren't giving out any more information. Just an update with "nothing new to report" given to a local news affiliate would be better than nothing. I know we're just being impatient and they, most likely, have something in the works but the silence is maddening!!

As far as lights being on in the back part of the home, do you think maybe Mr. Shahan has moved back into the house? The last article I posted did say that last Saturday the crime tape came down and the house was empty so I guess it's been released by the investigating agency. Maybe he was just there early to pick up some personal things or maybe someone was there getting some things for him. I'd find it incredibly hard (maybe impossible) to go back there if it had been a member of my family.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

It is surprising to me, too, that over a week has gone by since her death... And there has been virtually no information, outside of the death itself and her funeral, being reported...

JMO

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

Additionally... It doesn't sound like LE is asking for assistance from the community...

for instance to come forward with information regarding out of place vehicles/persons/etc....

Unless I have missed it...

JMO

 

[SmoothOperator]

Could someone confirm or deny whether this is the Shahan residence circled in red?
Its what I deduced from the link and description posted upthread, but could have misunderstood, thus why I wanted to be sure I've circled the correct home on the Google map screenshot below..TIA

 

[ClemiFern]

Additionally... It doesn't sound like LE is asking for assistance from the community...

for instance to come forward with information regarding out of place vehicles/persons/etc....

Unless I have missed it...

JMO

You haven't missed it or at least I haven't heard of them asking the community for help. They have posted a help line phone number on all the news articles but still...

 

[SmoothOperator]

The tragic crime began to unfold Tuesday morning, when Shahan’s body was found after a co-worker reported she had not come to work. Her husband was out of town.

“They’re saying don’t be afraid, but yet be cautious if you know anything about it, so that to me is unsettling. It’s a mixed message,” said neighbor Marietta Moyer.

http://www.cbs42.com/2013/07/28/memo...astor/#respond

Thanks for posting this snippet and link, Clemifern.. I was quite curious about especially this above snippet quoting a neighbor.. If I am understanding correctly it appears as tho she's indicating that LE have expressed some level of concern in their cautioning of anyone who possibly has any knowledge of the crime and/or its perpetrator(s)..

Or maybe I am misinterpreting the words of this neighbor???.. It seems to me to be saying that while LE is not issuing any type of warnings of concern for the safety of the community as far as relating to being fearful that this perpetrator may possibly strike again..and therefor they need to be cautious for those reasons..yet LE are saying that it is anyone who may have any knowledge about the crime or its perpetrators..it is actually those who are in need of being cautious due to the possible danger that knowledge may pose for them regarding the perpetrator of this crime wanting to ensure that exact type of info does NOT reach authorities..

Thoughts, please??.. As I certainly may be misinterpreting what this neighbor is saying in the above linked article.. TIA for any who can offer their opinion on this matter.

 

[SapphireSteel]

Ok I take it that this occurred in a low crime neighbourhood?

It sounds like a "nice" couple with a nice home in a nice area...if I've got the right impression?

Maybe LE aren't asking the congregation for help because they know the perp is in the congregation.

:cow:

ETA: from the above clip -

“They’re saying don’t be afraid, but yet be cautious if you know anything about it, so that to me is unsettling. It’s a mixed message,” said neighbor Marietta Moyer

The above comment tends to be consistent with the theory that this is someone they all know. :moo:

 

[meanmaryjean]

^^^ I agree ^^^^^

 

[wfgodot]

Tritto here.

 

[BrianInBirmingham]

As I re-read this entire thread, all of the facts (and lack thereof) are starting to feel more like an elaborate murder-for-hire sting. I'm not advocating that position -- I realize it's ludicrous on the surface, I'm just saying that's how LE and those close to the situation are behaving.

 

[BhamAdGal]

That is it!

Could someone confirm or deny whether this is the Shahan residence circled in red?
Its what I deduced from the link and description posted upthread, but could have misunderstood, thus why I wanted to be sure I've circled the correct home on the Google map screenshot below..TIA

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

That is it!

the view from above gives me the impression that the house is surrounded by trees with thick foliage... As they would be right now before fall...

therefore... It seems that an intruder could be hidden while entering the house...

am I correct with this assumption...

Or does the area look different at ground level?

TIA...:seeya:

 

[momrids6]

For informational purposes & with mod permission:

Two church staff members immediately drove to Kentucky to pick up Richard and drive him back home when Karen was found, Carter noted. Richard had been in Franklin, Tenn., and Fort Campbell, Ky., visiting his and Karen’s sons, -

See more at: http://www.thealabamabaptist.org/pr...d_art=28309&pricat_art=1#sthash.hkAc12EH.dpuf

 

[RazTaz]

For informational purposes & with mod permission:

Two church staff members immediately drove to Kentucky to pick up Richard and drive him back home when Karen was found, Carter noted. Richard had been in Franklin, Tenn., and Fort Campbell, Ky., visiting his and Karen’s sons, -

See more at: http://www.thealabamabaptist.org/pr...d_art=28309&pricat_art=1#sthash.hkAc12EH.dpuf

Thanks MOM for checking & MOD for allowing the Alabama Baptist org news to be used on this thread. I get my state's version and also the overall Baptist Press of the SBC and find the news articles in them to be usually more thorough than the MSM. And is actually less slanted IMO than MSM.

Anyway, I just want to say thanks for allowing it in this thread and I believe it will be very insightful to this particular case.

 

[kahne9]

Thank you momrids6 for posting this article. I posted it the other day (yesterday) but deleted it because of the replys that were posted. I guess I felt like posting it was doing more harm than good. I'm a member of this church, so I didn't want anyone thinking I posted it just because I'm a member...anyway, just wanted to say thank you...and thank you Mod for allowing it.

 

[txsvicki]

Some word choices used in the article are confusing.