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

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I read that about a day or 2 after it happened and had not been able to find the link where I read it. I have searched and searched for it so thank you but I clicked on the link you provided and I didn't see it there either. If you go back to the first 2 pages you'll see where I posted that I read this but couldn't find the link.

About 3/4s of the way through the video the reporter talks about interviewing the neighbor who heard something that night. I haven't seen it mentioned in print anywhere, just this video.
 
About 3/4s of the way through the video the reporter talks about interviewing the neighbor who heard something that night. I haven't seen it mentioned in print anywhere, just this video.

Thank you! I have driven myself crazy looking for it...lol. It was in print when I saw it and the station must have removed that because I haven't listened to any video about it at all. No wonder I haven't been able to find it again. My sanity is restored.
 
Shahan worked at the Hobby Lobby on Lakeshore Drive in Homewood. Staff there tell us everyone loved her. They didn’t know anything happened until a family member called this morning. http://www.cbs42.com/2013/07/23/body-found-in-homewood-prompts-homicide-investigation/

Just utterly baffling.. WTH??.. So, now according to this article Hobby Lobby was totally unaware of anything having happened to Karen UNTIL WEDNESDAY, JULY 24, MORNING when a family member of Karen's called the store..
 
IF Karen's mother was still living and working at Hobby Lobby, wouldn't she be mentioned in Karen's Obit?
 
I wasn't looking to try and find any family names at all, but did notice when looking at the obituary that none of her family was listed besides husband and kids. Maybe it's a regional thing or the nature of the crime and privacy, but I thought it a little odd.
 
I wasn't looking to try and find any family names at all, but did notice when looking at the obituary that none of her family was listed besides husband and kids. Maybe it's a regional thing or the nature of the crime and privacy, but I thought it a little odd.

It could be because they do not know who killed her that they did not want to put names in the paper. jmo
 
Saturday's memorial service was held at First Baptist Church of Birmingham, where her husband, the Rev. Richard Shahan, serves as an associate pastor. Karen Shahan's family members - her husband, two sons, father, brother and aunt - sat along the front row of the church for the service.

From: http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/07/slain_wife_of_homewood_pastor.html

This is the only mention I have seen of a living father (or any father). She did have two brothers, however, both living.
 
As one who lives in the region, I can say that immediate family, parents, siblings, kids, etc. are usually included in obits unless there is a reason not to. Even if they are also deceased, they will be listed as such.
 
I wasn't looking to try and find any family names at all, but did notice when looking at the obituary that none of her family was listed besides husband and kids. Maybe it's a regional thing or the nature of the crime and privacy, but I thought it a little odd.

Many, many newspapers now charge $$ for obits. By the word. It is not uncommon here for there to be a brief (2 line) death notice with a link to the funeral home website - and THERE the complete obituary is available.

And I find this odd (caveat, my husband is a minister and has conducted scores of funerals): The interim pastor spending time praising what a great guy the husband is, during his wife's funeral. I do not remember this EVER happening at any funeral I have ever attended.
 
In my going thru and clicking closed the multitude of windows I had open re: Karen's homicide, I quickly copy/pasted them into a quick list for us to have to refer to when need be to any/all things stated in the media about the case..

Links to media re: Karen Shahan homicide Birmingham, AL

http://interactives.cbs42.com/photo...ide-investigation-/crime-scene-investigation/

http://m.timesdaily.com/news/state/article_59e812f4-f474-11e2-b883-0019bb30f31a.html?mode=jqm

http://www.wset.com/story/22931651/homewood-police-continue-homicide-investigation-thursday

http://blog.al.com/spotnews/2013/07/woman_found_slain_in_homewood.html

http://www.thealabamabaptist.org/print-edition-article-detail.php?id_art=28309&pricat_art=1

http://m.myfoxal.com/autojuice?targ...roner-identifies-woman-found-dead-in-homewood

http://www.cbs42.com/2013/07/25/karen-shahan-murder-investigation-continues/

http://www.cbs42.com/2013/07/23/body-found-in-homewood-prompts-homicide-investigation/

http://www.wsmv.com/story/22920189/wife-of-ala-preacher-found-dead-in-home

http://www.timesfreepress.com/news/2013/jul/24/wife-alabama-preacher-found-dead-home-suburban-bir/

www.atoast2wealth.com/2013/07/29/wife-of-alabama-minister-found-murdered-in-home-no-leads-in-case/

http://blackchristiannews.com/state...most-brutal-murder-of-associate-pastors-wife/

Chattanooga Times Free Press - Minister's wife found slain
www.pressdisplay.com/pressdisplay/viewer.aspx?issue...

http://www.gadsdentimes.com/article/20130726/APN/1307260692
 
Many, many newspapers now charge $$ for obits. By the word. It is not uncommon here for there to be a brief (2 line) death notice with a link to the funeral home website - and THERE the complete obituary is available.

And I find this odd (caveat, my husband is a minister and has conducted scores of funerals): The interim pastor spending time praising what a great guy the husband is, during his wife's funeral. I do not remember this EVER happening at any funeral I have ever attended.


On the length of the obit ... when my brother passed, I opted for the abbreviated version, just as you mentioned. The cost of doing something more detailed was a bit of a shock.
 
I think it's possible that some of the people she worked with might also be affiliated in some way with the church.
For instance, church elders or deacons are usually volunteer positions. These church officials would also have a regular job or business. Hobby lobby is a business with a Christian mission statement. That's why they close on Sunday. I would think that it would be the type of business that other church members would choose to work for.

MOO

I spoke with a coworker of Shahan's at Hobby Lobby today. I shop at that location for my business on a weekly basis She reiterated that it was they who DID ask for a welfare check by LE. I am not aware that the mother worked with her and don't believe this to be the case. I have no information about Church members being coworkers. Karen Shahan did "close" the Hobby Lobby location on Monday night and left there around 8:30pm. Additionally, I was informed that she was wearing a nightgown when her body was found. Additionally, I learned that Richard Shahan had gone to help move one of the two sons, the one that lived in Franklin, TN, back to Birmingham to live in their home and go to college in Birmingham. Mr. Shahan was described as catatonic during the memorial service. The body has not been released by investigators.
 
Hopefully police are never swayed by influential members or religious status when questioning a murder. It's probably very traumatic and could put some in defense mode, which could affect the wording of a funeral service.
 
Franklin, Kentucky is about three and a half hours from Homewood, Alabama or about 240 miles.

This is correct distance but wrong state. The one son was in Franklin, Tennesse which is about 2 hours 38 mins from Homewood, AL or 180 miles.

To correct my mistake.
 
I don't think this has been posted before. It's interesting to me:


“She was a fine, fine Christian lady and a faithful member of the choir,” said Don Campbell, who served as minister of music and worship (1993–2009) and later pastor of senior adults and pastoral care (2010–2012) at First, Birmingham.

“[Karen] was always positive, always supportive and encouraging,” said Campbell, who now serves as minister of worship at The Baptist Church at McAdory, McCalla.

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.”

Her death has been a shock to the First, Birmingham, congregation, Carter said, but the congregation has pulled together to help.

Two church staff members immediately drove to Kentucky to pick up Richard and drive him back home when Karen was found, Carter noted. Richard had been in Franklin, Tenn., and Fort Campbell, Ky., visiting his and Karen’s sons, Kyle and Colin. Kyle lives in Franklin, and Colin is in the Army serving at Fort Campbell. Colin and his wife, Elizabeth, have two children.

A church ministry assistant helped Colin navigate the red tape involved in getting a military pass to be off post for an extended period of time.

Church officials also cleaned up the Shahan house once it was released by police and helped with several funeral-related duties, Carter added, noting the church is paying for all funeral expenses as another way to help the family during this time.

- See more at: http://www.thealabamabaptist.org/pr...d_art=28309&pricat_art=1#sthash.94PPRmLY.dpuf
 
Franklin is straight up I 65. I drive it in about 1hr 45 minutes.

Make that 2 hours 15 minutes... I used to work a lot up there. I may be thinking of Pulaski... It seems very close to me,,, Franklin.
 
<modsnip> It's pretty clear to me that if this crime is as viscous as the LE team is saying it is; then this is PERSONAL. Meaning someone who knew her and loved/hated her killed her. Not a stranger. There isn't any other motive.

There could be a bunch of motives, we just don't know about.

That sort of "overkill" could also come from a stranger having a psychotic episode and thinking Mrs Shahan was Godzilla and he was saving the world.

Unfortunately same old story, LE aren't sharing if there's signs of forced entry, a known threat, etc so at this point we can't be sure of anything.

:twocents:
 
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