5 chilling details about Michael Shaver's murder 

Season 47 episode 13 of 20/20 on ABC will focus on the murder of Michael Shaver. Michael Shaver was killed by his wife Laurie Shaver in their Clermont, Florida residence, in November 2015.

While Laurie tried to cover up the crime she committed in every way, she was finally arrested in 2020 for the homicide, and on September 13, 2024, she was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life behind bars.

As per prison records, Laurie Shaver remains incarcerated at Florida Women’s Reception Center. The upcoming episode of 20/20 which will focus on this case, will air on January 10 at 9:01 pm on ABC. The logline for the same reads:

“A discovery in the backyard of a family home leads police to a husband and father killer.”

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5 chilling details about New York resident Michael Shaver’s 2015 murder

1) Michael Shaver’s body was buried in the backyard

As per reports by ABC News, Michael Shaver’s skeletal remains were found in Laurie and Michael’s backyard. The remains were wrapped in a sheet.

In the same backyard, Michael’s wife Laurie had recently married Travis Filmer, and the couple also etched their initials on a cement slab near the fire pit where the remains were discovered.

Filmer who was shocked and devastated by this discovery in his wife’s backyard, told 20/20:

"Yes, they're saying that they found a body on the property. Yes, they're saying that Laurie had some major involvement in this. There's always two sides to a story. There’s no doubt in my mind...she didn’t kill Michael."

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2) Michael Shaver was shot in the back of his head

As per ABC News, after Michael’s remains were discovered, forensics determined that he had a single gunshot wound to the back of his head. Addressing the gunshot wound, Laurie and Michael’s daughter, Isabelle (15) appeared in a Florida courtroom on September 12, 2024, and revealed that:

"I [Isabelle Shaver] heard my mom [Laurie Shaver] screaming for help, and so I went to my mom’s room and went to her end table...I grabbed her gun...and I shot him.”

It was later argued by the prosecution that Isabelle had nothing to do with her father's death and that Laurie was solely responsible for the same.

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3) Many found Michael Shaver's abrupt absence strange

After Michael’s sudden disappearance in 2015, his co-worker Frank Merritt was genuinely concerned about his whereabouts. When he visited Michael’s home his wife said that Michael abandoned her.

As per ABC News, Frank Merritt described the abrupt disappearance as:

"He was here one moment, gone the next, type of thing. No goodbye...He was just gone.”

Michael's location was unclear for the next few years, and his friends and family would frequently get texts like: “leave me alone” and “I don’t have family” as per ABC News.

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4) Jereme Townsend's wife received a bunch of flowers as a warning

After Michael allegedly left his wife, as Laurie claimed, she started dating Jereme Townsend, who was already married to a woman named Venessa Townsend. However, their secret affair didn’t last long as Townsend’s wife received a package consisting of flowers and a note, which read:

“Roses are red. Violets are blue. My wife is a wh*re. Your husband is to [sic]. Sorry about this. Check your Facebook message. We need to talk. Mike.”

Following the confirmation of Michael's death during the investigation, it was discovered that Laurie Shaver had paid for the aforementioned package.

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5) Laurie Shaver tried to cover up her husband’s murder

During Laurie Shaver’s trial, although Shaver did not plead guilty, prosecutors alleged that Laurie killed her husband, acted on her own, and also faked his disappearance with fake stories, messages, and more impersonating him. About the same, prosecutor Rich Buxman told 20/20:

"We have the defendant's husband buried in her own backyard. That points directly to Laurie Shaver.”

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To learn more about this case, watch season 47 episode 13 of 20/20 on ABC airing on January 10, at 9:01 pm.