Shanda Sharer
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Shanda Renee Sharer (1979–1992) was a young girl who was tortured and burned to death in New Albany, Indiana by four teenage girls. Her case attracted nationwide attention due to its gruesome nature.
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[edit] Background
Sharer was born in Pineville, Kentucky, a small mountain town, to Steve Sharer and Jacque Vaught on June 6, 1979. In 1991, Shanda started attending Hazelwood Jr. High where she formed a lesbian relationship with 14-year old Amanda Heavrin. At that time, Heavrin was also dating a 16-year old girl named Melinda Loveless. Loveless was infuriated when she found out about the relationship, and vowed to make Sharer pay.
[edit] Events of January 10-11, 1992
[edit] Pre-Abduction
On the night of January 10, 1992 Loveless and three other girls, Laurie Tackett, Hope Rippey and Toni Lawrence, decided to pick up Sharer. 17-year old Tackett had heard enough of Loveless rant about what she was going to do to Sharer, and urged her to do something already. After calling Sharer to make sure she was home, they set out to find her house with Hope driving. As it grew dark, Hope parked the car about a block from Sharer's house. Melinda sent Hope and Toni to fetch Sharer. "Just say Amanda wants to see you" Melinda urged.
Shanda answered the door when Hope and Toni knocked. Hope told her that Amanda wanted to see her. Her interest piqued, Shanda stepped outside to gather further detail. Hope told her that Amanda was waiting at a deserted place called the Witches' Castle, and if she would like to ride out there with them. Shanda suggested they come back later when her parents were asleep.
Melinda was at first angry that the duo hadn't returned with Shanda. Hope and Toni assured her that they could return for her later. Meanwhile, Shanda briefly argued with her dad Steve about the encounter. Soon after she was invited to a neighbourhood party, and Steve reluctantly agreed to let her go on the condition she return by 10:30 P.M. Around 11:15 P.M. Shanda returned with her friend Michelle. Steve shot down her plan to have Michelle stay over, and after calling Michelle's mom to come pick her up, headed to sleep. Around midnight Michelle left.
Around that time, Melinda, Laurie, Hope and Toni started on their way back to Shanda's house after leaving a punk rock concert. Melinda discussed her plans to kill Shanda as they drove. Again, Melinda urged Hope and Toni to go up to Shanda's house when they were parked close to their earlier spot. Toni refused, and Laurie and Hope set out. Melinda hid under a red blanket in the back of the car with her dull knife.
[edit] Abduction
As they got closer, a young man said goodbye to Shanda and drove off. Hope and Toni were slightly nervous but seeing Shanda standing outside decided to move on with their plan. Hope asked Shanda if she was coming. Shanda pressed for more information on Amanda. Hope informed her that Amanda was waiting at Witches' Castle. As Hope convinced Shanda to come, Laurie headed back and put some more stuff over Melinda to hide her further.
Hope and Shanda then proceeded to the car. Toni got out of the front seat to allow Shanda to get in the middle. As the car drove, Shanda questioned Hope on the wherebouts of Amanda. Hope told her that Amanda was waiting at the Witches' Castle. Shanda then asked what Amanda was wearing. Hope made up an outfit that would resemble Amanda's style.
Melinda rose out of the back and grabbed Shanda as the car approached the Witches' Castle, better known as Utica. Melinda threatened Shanda with the knife, and pressed her for information about her relationship with Amanda. Shanda's answers bothered Melinda, and her anger started to increase. Shanda started to hyperventilate.
The car came to a stop near the abandoned castle, and all four girls got out. Melinda and Laurie led Shanda inside, where they tied her wrists and ankles with some rope. Melinda mocked Shanda's style darting the knife around. Hope followed making Shanda take off her rings and Mickey Mouse watch. Hope played with the watch, as Melinda contined mocking Shanda. Laurie mentioned that there were bones buried in the dungeon, and Shanda could be next.
Laurie then went back to the car with Toni, and brought back a black T-shirt which she set on fire. She told the crying Shanda that she would look like that by the day's end. Noticing cars speeding by, the group decided to head to a more secluded location. Laurie noted that they were running out of gas back in the car. Shanda gave them directions to a gas station close to her house.
As they reached the gas station Laurie covered Shanda up with the blanket, and stayed guard with Melinda as Toni and Hope proceeded to get gas. After pumping the gas, Toni and Hope briefly flirted with some boys at the station, before heading back to the car and continuing on. They again stopped at a gas station after a while to get directions. Toni called a friend of hers.
[edit] Torturing Shanda
The girls headed back to Madison which was about an hour away. Laurie began to act weird as she played industrial music, spooking the girls. Melinda held on to her knife forebearingly. Laurie directed Hope down a gravel road near Laurie's house. After driving for a few miles Laurie told Hope to turn into a dirt path that had once been a logging road. She drove on until they reached a clearing that was used as a garbage dump.
The girls got out and Toni pleaded with Melinda to let Shanda go. Melinda told her to shut up, and dragged Shanda outside with Laurie. Toni and Hope stayed in the car, and turned up the radio to drown out what was happening. Shanda was made to take off all her clothes except her underwear. Melinda brough the clothes back to the car to keep as souvenirs and took back one of Hope's T-shirts for Shanda to wear. As Laurie held Shanda, Melinda punched her in the stomach. Melinda then grabbed Shanda's head and slammed it into her knees several times drawing blood. They then attempted to stab Shanda in the neck with the knife but it was too dull. Hope briefly joined Laurie and Melinda in holding Shanda down. After attempting to strangle Shanda, the girls took her back to the car and put her in the trunk. They started heading to Laurie's house.
At Laurie's house, Toni and Hope got off citing that they were tired, and headed to sleep. Melinda and Laurie took off again with Shanda in the trunk. For the next four hours Laurie drove throught the empty Southern Indiana roads occasionly stopping to torture Shanda when she began to scream and bang against the trunk. Laurie used a tire iron to stab her, beat her, and sodomize her. Shanda finally became quiet after one of Laurie's blows broke off part of her skull. The duo assumed this killed Shanda and drove back to Laurie's house at about 7 A.M.
[edit] Burned alive
When Hope questioned Laurie about the fate of Shanda, Laurie joked that the previous night was all a joke. She then revealed with glee how she had tortured Shanda. Melinda joined in amused. Laurie's mom woke up, and started arguing with her about staying out late and bringing home other girls. Laurie agreed to take them home, and they took off. They headed toward the burn pile intending to set Shanda on fire. This plan fell through when they found the area covered in frost. Laurie then took Hope to see Shanda's bloody body. Hope sprayed Windex on the still alive Shanda's body, making a joke about her appearance.
They got back in the car, and drove toward a nearby gas station. Pumping gas into the car, Laurie made Hope buy a two liter bottle of soda, and pour it out. She filled it with gas, and they headed to another secluded area. They stopped the car next to a frozen ditch. Melinda and Hope wrapped the still alive Shanda in a red blanket and dropped her on the ground. Shanda held on tightly to the blanket. Hope reluctantly agreed to pour gas onto Shanda on Laurie's beckoning, and Shanda was soon on fire. They jumped back in the car and drove off.
Melinda was not satisfied. She made Hope turn around and drive back to make sure Shanda was dead. She poured on some more gas, and rekindled the fire. Melinda was amused as Shanda's tongue darted in and out. Shanda was now dead.
[edit] References
- Jones, Aphrodite (May 2005). Cruel Sacrifice, New York: Pinnacle Books. ISBN 0786010630
