When 911 operators in Leetonia, Ohio received a call about the death of Delbert Shafer, they wasted no time in dispatching first responders to the scene. Although it was initially believed to be a natural death, the case took a shocking turn when the county coroner’s office suspected foul play was involved. Investigation Discovery’s “Evil Lives Here: I Will Always Be Scared of Him” ​​chronicles the horrific murder and shows how the investigation led much closer to the victim than expected. Let’s take a closer look at the crime and find out the current whereabouts of Delbert’s killer, shall we?
How did Delbert Shafer die?
Delbert Shafer resided in Leetonia, Ohio with his wife Deborah Williamson. He worked as a police officer and met Deborah while on duty at the court clerk’s office. Although Delbert had two sons and a daughter from his previous relationship, Deborah was quick to care for her stepchildren and Delbert looked forward to living a happy family life. Described as a charming and approachable person who enjoyed reaching out in times of need, Delbert was respected in his community and is missed to this day.
On January 14, 2018, David Shafer, one of Delbert’s sons, called for help after realizing his father was unresponsive. David claimed he found Delbert unconscious in their home in Leetonia and later realized he was dead. Police didn’t think much of the death at first, but once the body was sent for further examination at the county coroner’s office, the case shifted.
On January 17, just three days after the murder, the coroner’s office contacted law enforcement and mentioned that Delbert’s cause of death was suspicious. A detailed autopsy further determined that the victim had blunt impacts to the head, trunk and extremities, which resulted in his death. So, with the case being ruled a homicide, the police began their hunt for the killer.
Who Killed Delbert Shafer?
As David Shafer had informed the police of his father’s death, he immediately became a person of interest in the investigation. Additionally, the show explained how his brother as well as his then-mother-in-law, Deborah, attested to David’s violent streaks and tantrums. On the show, Deborah mentioned how hurting people gave David happiness from an early age. No measure of discipline or reprimand helped, and David grew more and more cruel over time.
Additionally, through their investigation, police discovered that David was on probation after being convicted of an unrelated burglary charge in 2010. When officers went to speak to the suspect, they realized the entire Delbert’s gun collection had disappeared from the house. Although David insisted he had given them away, police obtained a search warrant and found most of the weapons were in the suspect’s possession, hidden in a secret room. Furthermore, the family also found it quite suspicious when David claimed he was Delbert’s sole executor.
Later, further investigation led police to believe that David had attacked Delbert on January 14, 2018. However, instead of calling for help immediately, he left his father to die while eliminating all evidence of his involvement. So, with ample evidence and multiple witness statements, authorities decided to arrest David on charges of tampering with evidence, possession of weapons while incapacitated, and murder.
Where is David Shafer now?
Although David Shafer initially insisted on his innocence, he pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter, tampering with evidence and possessing weapons while incapacitated after being shown in court. He was subsequently sentenced to 10 years in prison for the manslaughter charge in 2021, as well as two years each for the other convictions. Thus, David remains incarcerated at Belmont Correctional Institution in Belmont County, Ohio, and will be eligible for parole in 2033.
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