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

[kahne9]

Thank you for your post MEANMARYJEAN....I completely agree with your post. I've been a member of Websleuths since the Caylee Anthony case. I have seen all of the awesome information that websleuths members have found. So thank all of you for that. I also have no dout that someone on here will find some very good info to help this case. I'm thankful for that. I'm still trying to process all of this mess myself. So I'm sorry if it seemed like I was meing mean...I wasn't

 

[momrids6]

Campbell said Karen Shahan “worked a lot behind the scenes. … She was always so positive and so gracious in opening her home to staff and others.” -

This ^^^ (BBM) worries me....

See more at: http://www.thealabamabaptist.org/pr...09&pricat_art=1#sthash.hkAc12EH.9OJ189BE.dpuf

 

[txsvicki]

If I was just trying to come up with a theory based on practically no information, I'd say the area was cased by a burglar or worse. A neighbor said her husband was also gone at that time so maybe more cars were gone. The pic of the house next to a parking lot, the church not open for meeting, all those trees, and beside a highway. It's looks like a vulnerable area for such a thing. For a cop to say it was the most brutal murder he'd ever examined it must have been pretty bad. Since detectives aren't saying if there was a struggle, then maybe it was some lunatic. It sounds ridiculous, but they also never caught ear/ons, and he attacked cul de sacs after stalking the area well. Are there any other similar crimes in other nearby towns?

 

[killarney rose]

If I was just trying to come up with a theory based on practically no information, I'd say the area was cased by a burglar or worse. A neighbor said her husband was also gone at that time so maybe more cars were gone. The pic of the house next to a parking lot, the church not open for meeting, all those trees, and beside a highway. It's looks like a vulnerable area for such a thing. For a cop to say it was the most brutal murder he'd ever examined it must have been pretty bad. Since detectives aren't saying if there was a struggle, then maybe it was some lunatic. It sounds ridiculous, but they also never caught ear/ons, and he attacked cul de sacs after stalking the area well. Are there any other similar crimes in other nearby towns?

The area is right off I-65. It could even be a random killing. It would be easy off the interstate onto Lakeshore and back on again and gone. This is an upper (to me) middle class area.

 

[SCHMAE]

If you watch enough ID then you know darn well brutality in a killing is a red flag to LE that the victim and the perp likely know each other. Were the 2 sons out of town the only children of this couple?
Some times preachers and their families are especially helpful to the down trodden trying to witness to and help various types of ne'er do wells. Do any of the locals or members of this church know if they were into that type of work? What I mean is possibly mentoring to homeless, drug addicted or problem teens or persons? Sometimes churches have programs where they help and really get very close to these kind of people and not all of these kind of people want help and some may be looking for an opportunity to victimize and take advantage of the kind hearted. That is my thought after just skimming through this case.
That would be sooooooo tragic but I think it happens a lot ! Vultures looking for easy prey at the same time a good person is trying to be helpful and kind to someone down on their luck.

 

[IHAVENOCLUE]

If you watch enough ID then you know darn well brutality in a killing is a red flag to LE that the victim and the perp likely know each other. Were the 2 sons out of town the only children of this couple?
Some times preachers and their families are especially helpful to the down trodden trying to witness to and help various types of ne'er do wells. Do any of the locals or members of this church know if they were into that type of work? What I mean is possibly mentoring to homeless, drug addicted or problem teens or persons? Sometimes churches have programs where they help and really get very close to these kind of people and not all of these kind of people want help and some may be looking for an opportunity to victimize and take advantage of the kind hearted. That is my thought after just skimming through this case.
That would be sooooooo tragic but I think it happens a lot ! Vultures looking for easy prey at the same time a good person is trying to be helpful and kind to someone down on their luck.

:welcome: to the thread, SCHMAE!

good ideas about how some people the kind-hearted try to help...

actually take advantage of those kind souls...

 

[SCHMAE]

A little personal story for anyone who cares.
My grandfather was a preacher, well loved by his parishioners. They trusted him
with their lives, their homes and their souls every day of his life. I have cousins
and uncles and old family friends who still today say things on fb like ' what a Godly
man Rev. ******* was '' . I have to roll my eyes, bite my tongue and squeeze my toes
together to not comment . Scroll and roll, right? He was actually a vicious, sick man who
physically beat at least one of his children into the hospital and sexually abused his
only female child. He was mean and hateful and dirty . But on Sunday mornings from
the pulpit he was filled with the holy spirit and spoke right to everyone's hearts.
Those people, when confronted with the truth, deny it is true. They call his children LIARS and blasphemers for saying such horrible things about a dead man of GOD.
He would put his best face forward on Sunday morning because that is what paid his bills, but it is not who he was . FWIW

 

[BrianInBirmingham]

The area is right off I-65. It could even be a random killing. It would be easy off the interstate onto Lakeshore and back on again and gone. This is an upper (to me) middle class area.

By Birmingham standards, the Shahan home was not “right off” I-65. I understand that by the map it appears “close” but it’s not when you actually get out and drive this. I am a lifetime resident living within 3 miles of their home and it’s hard to find – so is the Church for that matter. It’s all hidden away behind buffer areas of trees. The parking lot that seems so prevalent on the landscape by Satellite image is actually nestled away and almost invisible from Lakeshore Drive at ground level. Additionally, this is an upper middle class area by all standards – not the McMansion crowd, but for those with an interest in an established, historical neighborhood that is close to downtown while still maintaining the “white flight” suburban lifestyle.

This Google Maps link will show you the entrance to Hugh Drive and the contiguous parking lot entrance at street level. I contend it is now more grown up and buffered than when this picture was taken:

https://maps.google.com/maps?q=Hugh...=XiyHc8RXuMgHcukFdAg51Q&cbp=12,17.31,,0,12.81

 

[Kimster]

A little personal story for anyone who cares.
My grandfather was a preacher, well loved by his parishioners. They trusted him
with their lives, their homes and their souls every day of his life. I have cousins
and uncles and old family friends who still today say things on fb like ' what a Godly
man Rev. ******* was '' . I have to roll my eyes, bite my tongue and squeeze my toes
together to not comment . Scroll and roll, right? He was actually a vicious, sick man who
physically beat at least one of his children into the hospital and sexually abused his
only female child. He was mean and hateful and dirty . But on Sunday mornings from
the pulpit he was filled with the holy spirit and spoke right to everyone's hearts.
Those people, when confronted with the truth, deny it is true. They call his children LIARS and blasphemers for saying such horrible things about a dead man of GOD.
He would put his best face forward on Sunday morning because that is what paid his bills, but it is not who he was . FWIW

What a horrible experience! There are people who are fakes and phonies out there everywhere. I'm so sorry your family had to endure it.

I don't think there's any evidence to suggest that in this case the husband had a seedy past. If that changes please let the mods know.


Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

 

[Cherry]

I think this murder seems very well planned.

 

[SCHMAE]

What a horrible experience! There are people who are fakes and phonies out there everywhere. I'm so sorry your family had to endure it.

I don't think there's any evidence to suggest that in this case the husband had a seedy past. If that changes please let the mods know.


Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 2

I'm not even remotely suggesting he has a seedy past Boss. I just want the perception that a preacher is a good guy by definition to be cleared up . Anyone, even a preacher, can be a ! That's all. But there's nothing to suggest this guy is, that's true . TY !

 

[21merc7]

I have no idea what happened here and I am very sad this woman was murdered.

I will agree that this was planned, also known as, coordinated. From an outsider's view, too many knew when she would be home alone and no robbery, or even faking it.

Where that leads, I cannot say. Don't know if the Church can keep LE or media there quiet, but it was something brewing.

(Thank you SCMAE, it is happening everyday now, or being noticed everyday finally not just U.S. but Worldwide. *Not an opinion on this case, just saying thank you for SCHMAE to be able to say it from experience.***)

 

[SapphireSteel]

A little personal story for anyone who cares.
My grandfather was a preacher, well loved by his parishioners. They trusted him
with their lives, their homes and their souls every day of his life. I have cousins
and uncles and old family friends who still today say things on fb like ' what a Godly
man Rev. ******* was '' . I have to roll my eyes, bite my tongue and squeeze my toes
together to not comment . Scroll and roll, right? He was actually a vicious, sick man who
physically beat at least one of his children into the hospital and sexually abused his
only female child. He was mean and hateful and dirty . But on Sunday mornings from
the pulpit he was filled with the holy spirit and spoke right to everyone's hearts.
Those people, when confronted with the truth, deny it is true. They call his children LIARS and blasphemers for saying such horrible things about a dead man of GOD.
He would put his best face forward on Sunday morning because that is what paid his bills, but it is not who he was . FWIW

Standing in a church pulpit doesn't make you a Christian, any more than standing in a garage makes you a car.

I was brought up with a deep distrust of religion and religious men, I think I had a greatgrandfather like this and he's to blame.

I know he cut my father's toe off when he was only 5 - no word on whether it was intentional or not.

 

[LambChop]

I have no idea what happened here and I am very sad this woman was murdered.

I will agree that this was planned, also known as, coordinated. From an outsider's view, too many knew when she would be home alone and no robbery, or even faking it.

Where that leads, I cannot say. Don't know if the Church can keep LE or media there quiet, but it was something brewing.

(Thank you SCMAE, it is happening everyday now, or being noticed everyday finally not just U.S. but Worldwide. *Not an opinion on this case, just saying thank you for SCHMAE to be able to say it from experience.***)

If someone broke into the home with the expectation of there being money from the church collections and there was no money then nothing would have been taken. It's just very possible someone surprised Karen while she slept and she tried to fight back. jmo

 

[SapphireSteel]

I don't see robbery as a motive.

Why would anyone think the church collection funds would be in that pastor's home, as opposed to any of the others working for the church, or even in a safe somewhere?

Nope. Not robbery.

:cow:

 

[killarney rose]

There is an exit ramp from I-65 directly off the interstate onto Lakeshore. It would be quite easy for someone looking for a house to rob to get off and ride around looking for one. I am familiar with this area. My son lived on
Lakeshore while attending Samford. MOO is that this is not what happened. I've got a theory that I'm keeping to myself, others have hinted at it.

I have read too many true crime books, watched too much ID ,read too many cases here on Web Sleuths to know that this does happen and could be a possibility here too. The interstate DOES provide easy access for this neighborhood.

 

[ClemiFern]

There is an exit ramp from I-65 directly off the interstate onto Lakeshore. It would be quite easy for someone looking for a house to rob to get off and ride around looking for one. I am familiar with this area. My son lived on
Lakeshore while attending Samford. MOO is that this is not what happened. I've got a theory that I'm keeping to myself, others have hinted at it.

I have read too many true crime books, watched too much ID ,read too many cases here on Web Sleuths to know that this does happen and could be a possibility here too. The interstate DOES provide easy access for this neighborhood.

You are correct...it would be very easy to find a random house by popping off I-65 but I am with you in that I don't think that's what happened here. I also don't think LE thinks that's what happened here either. Hence, the total silence on this case.

I think you and I have a similar theory and I, too, have probably read too many crime books, watched too much ID and followed too many cases so I'm a skeptic about the "random victim" theory. That being said, we'll just have to wait, apparently, for something/someone to break in this case but I'll close by saying this: When it does break, I feel like it's gonna be a doozy!

 

[BrianInBirmingham]

There is an exit ramp from I-65 directly off the interstate onto Lakeshore. It would be quite easy for someone looking for a house to rob to get off and ride around looking for one. I am familiar with this area. My son lived on
Lakeshore while attending Samford. MOO is that this is not what happened. I've got a theory that I'm keeping to myself, others have hinted at it.

I have read too many true crime books, watched too much ID ,read too many cases here on Web Sleuths to know that this does happen and could be a possibility here too. The interstate DOES provide easy access for this neighborhood.

You may be right. I don't consider myself "close", and I live closer to said exit than the Shahans. It's just a matter of opinion. Certainly someone could have come off the interstate. I-65 or equally (by distance) 20/59 and Red Mountain Expressway. I agree that the probability of that is low and have my opinions about what happened too. I get the idea that we aren't allowed to express our theories <modsnip> so I've kept my mouth shut.

 

[kahne9]

SCHMAE... Yes...There are MANY people who go around to the neighborhoods by our church to witness to others, our whole church passed out Bible school flyers to many neighborhoods around the church. There were many children because of the flyers. The paren't drop their children off at 9 and pick them up at 12. Lakeshore runs into Greensprings hwy, if you continue to drive down greensprings hwy, it leads to downtown Birmingham. There is ALOT of crime down that way. If any of you watch "The First 48" on A&E, I'm sure you've seen episodes that are filmed here. It's very scary to see some of the things that happen 10 minutes away from our church. If you haven't seen " The First 48" Google it for Birmingham.

 

[SapphireSteel]

Here's an article with a photo of Mrs Shahan.

This part disturbs me -

Carter quoted one of the investigating detectives as saying it was “the most brutal murder that he had ever examined.”

I'm guessing that a detective in Birmingham Alabama has seen quite a few brutal murders, so what on earth was done to Mrs Shahan?

That statement, if accurate, implies overkill, which often means a personal relationship with the victim...or at least, extreme anger with the victim or what the victim represents.

In this case, all that's good and honest and caring, maybe?

:sick:

http://www.al.com/living/index.ssf/2013/07/interim_pastor_consoles_congre.html

For those who are sharing with us - the article says there is an "interim Pastor" at that church.

Who is he filling in for? Is it Mr Shahan or another Pastor? How long has this arrangement been in place?

I don't think for a second any of the Pastors are involved, it just seems like a good idea to sleuth it when something has changed recently within the leadership of the community.

Thanks in advance.

:cow: