A person accused of placing out a $10,000 contract to have a
Collinsville girl killed might discover it troublesome to fulfil his personal contract with
town of Springfield – to raze 38 dilapidated homes.
PHOTO COURTESY MADISON COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY
Sammy J. Shafer Jr., proprietor of S. Shafer Excavating, has been cost with first-degree homicide and solicitation of homicide.
Sammy J. Shafer Jr. owns S. Shafer Excavating, an organization primarily based in Pontoon Seashore that does work all through the Metro East and central
Illinois. Final fall, the Springfield Metropolis Council accredited the corporate’s bid to
demolish 38 blighted homes all through town.
To date, Shafer’s firm has torn down 37 homes, however the contract
additionally requires him to grade every vacant lot after the bottom thaws and stage a
38th dwelling as soon as the pure fuel traces are disconnected, Public Works
Director David Fuchs mentioned. The town’s contract requires paying him $692,000,
however with Shafer now within the Madison County Jail awaiting trial it stays
unclear whether or not he’ll have the ability to fulfill the contract.
Fuchs, who discovered of the arrest Tuesday, mentioned it has not but
been decided how the remaining work might be accomplished or whether or not a portion
of the contract might be paid.
Shafer, 36, is accused
of paying $10,000 to have Portia Rowland, 32, killed. Authorities didn’t
reveal a doable motive for the murder however KSDK TV has reported Rowland was in
a relationship with Shafer’s estranged spouse.
Madison County State’s
Legal professional Tom Haine introduced Jan. 27 that Shafer and two different defendants have
been charged with first-degree homicide in reference to the capturing loss of life.
PHOTO COURTESY MADISON COUNTY STATES ATTORNEY
Gary D. Johnson is charged with first-degree homicide and possession of a weapon by a felon.
Rowland was shot a number of occasions by a gunman who approached her outdoors
her Collinsville residence on the morning of Jan. 21.
“We imagine the proof at trial will present that this was not a random
crime however was a calculated and cold-hearted murder-for-hire scheme primarily based on a
private grievance,” Haine mentioned in a ready assertion.
Shafer is charged with first-degree homicide and solicitation of homicide.
Gary D. Johnson, 45, of East St. Louis is charged with first-degree homicide
and possession of a weapon by a felon. The costs allege that Johnson shot
Rowland. Johnson was beforehand convicted of homicide in a 1997 case.
Marty D. Shaw, 33, of Collinsville is charged with first-degree homicide.
In accordance with court docket paperwork filed by Haine’s workplace, Shafer paid Shaw,
one in every of his workers, $10,000 to kill Rowland. Shaw admitted driving his
cousin, Johnson, to the sufferer’s home the place Johnson allegedly shot her. KSDK
TV reported that investigators imagine after the capturing, Shaw stored $3,500 and
gave $6,500 to Johnson and each males then went to a close-by on line casino.
The state’s lawyer is arguing the defendants pose a menace to others
and may stay in custody whereas awaiting trial.
