A woman pretended to be her husband for three years after murdering him and burying him in her yard

In an unexpected turn, the declaration of Isabelle Shavera 15-year-old teenager, became a key moment during the trial for the murder of her father, Michael Shaverin September 2024. Isabelle claimed to have witnessed a violent confrontation between her parents when she was just seven years old, which led her to shoot her father in an attempt to protect her mother, Laurie Shaver. This testimony, however, was not enough to prevent Laurie from being convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. As reported ABC Newsthe case, which began with Michael’s disappearance in 2015, culminated with the discovery of his body buried in the backyard of the family home in Clermont, Floridaalmost three years later.

Michael Shaver, a monorail technician at Walt Disney Worlddisappeared in November 2015 after attending a local event with his family. As detailed ABC Newsyour co-worker, Frank Merrittnoticed tensions between Michael and Laurie during the event, but did not imagine that days later Michael would stop showing up for work. Laurie assured Merritt that her husband had decided to leave his job to save their marriage, but this explanation did not convince those who knew him.

Over the next two and a half years, friends and family received text messages allegedly sent by Michael, in which he asked to be left alone and claimed to have no family. However, no one has seen him physically since his disappearance. In February 2018, a close friend, Scott Amatuccioconcerned about the lack of direct contact, asked authorities to conduct a welfare check on the Shavers’ property.

When investigators arrived at the home, they noticed a suspicious depression in a cement slab near a fire pit in the backyard. As stated ABC NewsAfter obtaining a search warrant, authorities excavated the area and found Michael Shaver’s remains wrapped in a sheet. The autopsy revealed that had died from a gunshot on the back of the head.

What made the discovery even more shocking was that Laurie Shaver had married her new husband, Travis Filmerin that same backyard just over a year earlier. The couple had even carved their initials into the cement slab under which Michael’s remains lay. Filmer, in his first television interview, declared to ABC News that he was unaware of the existence of the body and defended Laurie’s innocence, stating that he did not believe that she had killed her ex-husband.

During the investigation, details emerged about Laurie Shaver’s personal life. As published ABC NewsLaurie had started a relationship with a married veteran, Jeremy Townsendwhile she was separated from Michael. The relationship ended abruptly when Townsend’s wife, Vanessareceived a bouquet of flowers accompanied by an anonymous message that revealed the infidelity. The message, signed “Mike,” was traced to Laurie’s bank account, raising further suspicions about her behavior following her husband’s disappearance.

At trial, Laurie’s defense attempted to shift the blame onto Townsend and the couple’s daughter, Isabelle. According to the defense attorney, Jeffrey WiggsIsabelle shot her father during an altercation, and Townsend, upon arriving at the scene, allegedly shot again and took care of hiding the body. However, Townsend strongly denied these accusations, stating that he was not present at the scene and that Laurie had told him that Michael had left the house with a friend.

The prosecutors Nick Camuccio and Rich Buxman They argued that Laurie Shaver acted alone in the murder of her husband. According to their theory, Laurie not only killed Michael, but also posed as him for more than two years, sending messages from your phone and posting to your Facebook account to maintain the appearance that he was still alive. Furthermore, they pointed out that the fact that the body was buried in his own backyard was strong evidence of his guilt.

On September 13, 2024, a jury found Laurie Shaver guilty of second degree murder. She was sentenced to life in prison, ending a case that had shocked the Clermont community and the family of Michael Shaver.

The impact on the family and the unanswered questions

Following the verdict, Michael’s relatives expressed relief at the resolution of the case. Your sister, Stacie Turnerremembered Michael as a happy and passionate person, especially for his love of airplane racing with the local team Precious Metal. “Michael was an incredible person who he loved with all his heart,” Turner told ABC News. “I believe his spirit will finally be able to rest in peace.”

The Michael Shaver case not only exposed a tragic crime, but also a complex web of lies and manipulations that kept his family and friends in uncertainty for years. Laurie Shaver’s sentencing marked the closing of a painful chapter, although questions about the exact events that led to Michael’s death still linger.