Contents
Introduction
Shauna Howe was a bright and beautiful girl who loved Halloween. She was looking forward to attending a Girl Scouts party on October 27, 1992, in Oil City, Pennsylvania. But she never made it back home that night. She was abducted, raped, and murdered by three men who threw her off a bridge. Her case remained unsolved for over a decade, until DNA evidence linked the killers to the crime. This article will explore the details of Shauna Howe’s cause of death, the investigation, and the trial of her murderers.
Abduction and Discovery
According to Wikipedia, Shauna Howe left her home at around 4:30 PM to go to the party. She was walking alone on the street when a skinny, disheveled man approached her and grabbed her. A witness heard a scream and saw a car speeding away. The witness provided a description of the man and the car to the police, who later identified the man as Eldred “Ted” Walker, a 33-year-old local resident. Walker denied any involvement in the kidnapping and was released due to lack of evidence.
Two days later, a piece of Shauna’s clothing was found in a wooded area near an old railroad. The next day, Shauna’s body was found under a trestle, about 200 yards from where the clothing was found. She had been thrown from the bridge into a dry, rocky creek bed. According to The Criminal Journal, the autopsy revealed that Shauna’s cause of death was blunt force trauma to her head and chest. She had also been sexually assaulted, as evidenced by the presence of seminal fluid on her clothing and in her mouth.
Investigation and Breakthrough
The police collected the biological evidence from the crime scene and compared it to Walker’s DNA, but he was not a match. The case then hit a wall, as there were no other leads or suspects. The police kept the DNA profile in the database, hoping for a match someday.
In 2002, their hope was realized when the DNA profile matched James O’Brien, a convicted kidnapper who was in jail. James, along with his brother Timothy, were implicated in Shauna’s murder. A hair fiber found on Shauna’s clothing also matched Timothy. The police learned that the brothers were friends with Walker and had used his car and house on the night of the abduction. According to The Cinemaholic3, Walker admitted that he had grabbed Shauna and passed her to the O’Briens, who were waiting in a parked car. He also admitted that he knew the brothers were upstairs in his house with the girl, as he heard her crying.
Trial and Conviction
In 2005, Walker pleaded guilty to kidnapping and third-degree murder as part of a plea bargain. He agreed to testify against the O’Brien brothers in exchange for a reduced sentence. The brothers were tried separately and both found guilty of first-degree murder, kidnapping, rape, and conspiracy. They were sentenced to life in prison without parole. Walker was sentenced to 40 years in prison.
Legacy and Impact
Shauna Howe’s murder had a lasting impact on the community of Oil City and the state of Pennsylvania. Following her death, the Oil City Council banned night-time trick-or-treating for 15 years, until it was lifted in 2008. Shauna’s case also prompted the state to pass the Shauna Howe Act, which expanded the DNA database and required all felons to submit their DNA samples. Shauna’s family and friends continue to honor her memory and seek justice for her. Shauna Howe’s cause of death was a horrific tragedy that shocked and saddened many people, but also inspired them to fight for change and prevent such crimes from happening again.
