MURDER
CASE #: 2015-40
Shirley Carter
Status:
Open
Date of Offense:
Date of Offense:
Jurisdiction:
Offense Location:
Lacona, IA
Summary:
Shirley Carter, 67, was found shot and killed in the kitchen of her Lacona, Iowa home on June 19, 2015. She had been shot twice in the back. Drawers in the office and bedroom were found dumped on the floor, but nothing was taken. The case remains officially unsolved.
Vital Statistics
Circumstances of Offense:
On the morning of June 19, 2015, Bill Carter dropped his wife Shirley off at their home at 132 Perry Street in Lacona, Iowa, after the two had morning coffee together at Casey's in Milo. Shirley had chores to tend to for her grandsons' 4-H pigs. Bill then drove to Cargill in Eddyville to haul a load of corn. Sometime that morning, Shirley was shot twice in the back in the kitchen of their home. Both shots struck her heart. Her son Jason Carter discovered her body on the kitchen floor and called his sister Jana Lain rather than 911. Jana, who was in Walmart in Centerville at the time, called Bill. Bill returned home and confirmed Shirley was deceased — she was not yet in rigor mortis. Bill called 911. Rescue units arrived and confirmed Shirley's death. The sheriff arrived at approximately 11:30am and taped off the property. The Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation (DCI) was called in. DCI case number 2015-033621 was assigned. Drawers in the office and bedroom had been dumped on the floor, but nothing was taken — Shirley's purse, credit cards, and cash on the counter were all undisturbed. Jason Carter was briefly questioned and allowed to go home. His clothes were never collected for gun residue testing. Investigators conducted more than 200 interviews and followed over 100 leads in the first year. On January 5, 2016, Bill Carter, Billy Carter, and Jana Lain filed a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Jason Carter. On December 15, 2017, a Marion County jury found Jason Carter liable and awarded $10,250,002 in damages. Three days later, on December 18, 2017, Jason Carter was arrested and charged with first-degree murder. The criminal trial was moved to Pottawattamie County (Council Bluffs) due to pretrial publicity. The trial ran March 5-21, 2019. On March 21, 2019, Jason Carter was acquitted of all charges. The murder of Shirley Carter remains officially unsolved. No further criminal charges have been filed.
Case Last Updated:
Timeline of Events
Jason Carter is acquitted of first-degree murder after a jury trial. The murder of Shirley Carter remains officially unsolved.
The criminal murder trial of Jason Carter begins in Pottawattamie County (Council Bluffs), Iowa, following a change of venue.
Jason Carter is arrested and charged with first-degree murder, three days after the civil verdict.
A Marion County civil jury finds Jason Carter liable for Shirley Carter's death and awards $10,250,002 in damages.
Bill Carter, Billy Carter, and Jana Lain file a civil wrongful death lawsuit against Jason Carter in Marion County.
Shirley Carter is found shot and killed in the kitchen of her home at 132 Perry Street in Lacona, Iowa. She had been shot twice in the back. The Iowa DCI is called in to lead the investigation.
Associated Persons
Jason C. (Child) - Living
Bill C. (Spouse) - Living
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