At this time, I'd also have to say his reputation was the trigger, she might not even have known about the boyfriend - but might have discovered
, some evidence of emails or texting going on with men, who knows.
She might have threatened to expose him to the church, his children, his family. At that time, since he wasn't going anywhere right away, exposure certainly would put a big damper on his plans.
I also would like to know where this boyfriend is - over there? Was he here when the murder occurred?
ITA that his reputation played a key role in this.. IMO much of it all revolves around EGO.. and IMO, his reputation is merely an extension of the ego..
Regarding Karen and looking at the *possibility* of her having discovered some/any/all of the secrets that her husband worked hard to keep concealed from everyone in THEIR lives(family, friends, church, coworkers, etc)..
I don't believe she'd just roll over and be a doormat as some people do in this type of very difficult situation..and I don't believe that she'd react at the other end of the spectrum as I believe so many of us would in the hurt, shock, and pain getting the best of us and our reacting by lashing out with threats of anything/everything one can think of..
I believe she would have confronted Richard..and I don't mean an aggressive confrontation, but rather just a confronting him with the information that she had learned, or in some way had come to know.. And I find it quite possible that she would have told him that this could not continue.. As in he could not continue living this life based upon deceit and lies, but rather that he would have to come clean with those to whom he owed that level of honesty(his children, family, and the people in/around his job of ministering).
Of course from most of our POVs this is all strictly an opinion in theorizing about the realistic *possibilities* of what/how Karen was murdered..and I guess, for me, personally, what's most important, and my main point is that I honestly believe that *IF* Karen had somehow come to learn about Richard's very deep well of lies, deceit, and dishonesty of epic proportions.. IMO, I honestly believe this kind woman would have faced it with a somewhat level head, and in a rational way compared to how so many of us would handle it. But..here is what my MAIN POINT IS...
I strongly believe that her kind, loving, and compassionate spirit would have still been murdered REGARDLESS.
*IF* she knew the truth, IMO, it truly mattered NOT..IMO it didn't matter "how" she reacted or handled the situation.. IMO, Richard didn't kill her due to her threatening to expose him..or tell the world of his deep well of deceit and lies.. IMO Richard killed her because he found it to be the most preferable solution to his problem, IMO. Just as someone else mentioned upthread--> Richard being coddled, and cared for as a distraught widow was WAAAAAAAAAAY more appealing to him than what was the other side of the proverbial coin..
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Again, I will reiterate, this has a whole helluva lot to do with EGO!.. Just as it did with Scott Peterson..Just as it sadly does with other "husbands" that we have come to know, that chose to murder their wife/significant other.. Richard Shahan is NOT some enigmatic mystery whose motive for slaughtering his wife remains elusive and unknown..:SMH:.. Richard Shahan, IMO, is a man who is selfish, self absorbed, and consumed with all things himself, and IMO, so, too does Richard have the EGO of a man whose true self revolves around his needs, his wants, his desires..and IMO, sadly it led to this beautiful, compassionate woman, Karen being killed..because for him it was the most preferable solution to the equation, IMO and JMOO..
(**and I just want to make certain to clarify that my colorful descriptors used in comparing the two sides of the proverbial coin(ie.remembered as a distraught widow..or..remembered as a gay ex-husband/minister) are purposely used to illustrate the extreme, stark contrast of the two..**)
