When Delbert Shafer, a Leetonia law enforcement officer, was found unresponsive at his Ohio home in January 2018, authorities believed he died of natural causes. Later, a detailed autopsy report revealed unexplained injuries to his head consistent with blunt-force trauma. David Shafer, the son living with Shafer at the time and the first to discover him unresponsive, was the only suspect in the case. Shafer’s death was declared a homicide after the autopsy report.
The next episode of ID’s Evil Lives Here will revisit Shafer’s beating by his son David. The episode, named I Will Always Be Scared of Him, airs on the channel this Sunday, April 30, at 8:00 PM.
Who was Delbert Shafer?
Delbert Shafer was found unresponsive in his home by his son David on January 14, 2018. He was a law enforcement officer in Leetonia, Ohio. Shafer was declared dead at the scene, and his death initially appeared to be of natural causes. Three days later, an autopsy report found that he died of blunt force injuries to his head, trunk, and extremities.
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His son David claimed that he called his nurse friend after finding his father unresponsive. The nurse allegedly came over and checked him with a stethoscope, which led him to believe that Delbert was fine. David told authorities that he couldn’t remember the nurse’s name.
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David was reportedly out on parole in Pennsylvania. Previously, he was convicted after being charged with several burglaries, attempted burglary, receiving stolen property, and theft-related charges.
After investigation, authorities found that Shafer was attacked by his son David, who then cleaned the crime scene and let him die of fatal injuries instead of calling for medical support.
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Eventually, David pleaded guilty to voluntary manslaughter, having weapons under disability, and tampering with evidence in January 2021. He was sentenced to 14 years in prison.
