JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA: A Florida woman was charged with murdering her ex-girlfriend, although the authorities have not yet publicly disclosed the exact nature of the crime. According to the court records, 43-year-old Shannon Lee McCarthy, has a past of allegedly abusing and threatening the victim, Heather Sheppard, who was reported missing on July 3.
Police officers discovered her remains a couple of days later on the 5300 block of Colonial Avenue, on the front porch of McCarthy’s home, WJXT reported. “During their investigation, human remains were located in an advanced state of decomposition,” authorities wrote. “As a result of this finding, the Homicide Team #1 and Crime Scene Units responded and began assisting in the investigation," they added.
Who is Shannon Lee McCarthy?
Police named McCarthy as the person behind the murder of Sheppard. They arrested the defendant on Tuesday, July 18, for murder in the second degree, as well as altering, destroying, concealing, or removing records, documents, or physical evidence. As per the court records, she remains at the Duval County jail without bond.
Even though the investigators did not provide any details against the suspect, she was previously charged with attacking Sheppard in a battery case months earlier. According to the associated arrest affidavit, on the night of January 29 this year, authorities responded to an address on the 5300 block of Colonial Avenue. Police said that Sheppard claimed McCarthy punched her in the face several times during an argument. “The victim advised she was asleep when the suspect came in and woke her up and became irate with her because the suspect believes she is the reason her sister is no longer living with her,” authorities said according to Law and Crime. “The victim advised the suspect pushed her head into a wall and punched her several times to the face with a closed fist.”
McCarthy allegedly kept following Sheppard when she was walking into different rooms to get her belongings in an attempt to hit her. McCarthy allegedly threw “everything” inside and outside the home. The victim called her daughter and ex-husband to help her get her possessions, she said. Officers noted “several small lacerations” to Sheppard’s right side of the face.
According to documents McCarthy voluntarily got off her porch after an officer asked to speak with her. She was detained and put in the back of the marked patrol vehicle.
What did the suspect claim?
McCarthy allegedly claimed that she asked Sheppard to leave the home. However, the victim got infuriated and began striking her several times in the head and pulling her hair from the back. The suspect debunked the allegations of attacking Sheppard and insisted that bruises on the victim’s face were caused by the victim herself.
Authorities also claimed to find marijuana on McCarthy, who stated that Sheppard planted it in her pockets during the verbal altercation. Investigators noted that they told the victim of a safe place to which Sheppard said that she would collect her belongings and stay with her daughter. “The victim signed all domestic violence paperwork,” authorities wrote.
