Petition launched to keep Ohio child murderer in prison

ZANESVILLE, Ohio (WCMH) — The perpetrator of a brutal child murder more than 30 years ago could receive early release from prison when he comes before a parole board this month.

According to a news release from Muskingum County Prosecutor Ron Welch, on a February night in 1993, Billy J. Shafer offered to babysit Sara West. After murdering the 5-year-old girl, Shafer confessed to investigators that he shot her in the head and cut her body into pieces.

The disturbing details included Shafer telling investigators that killing another person had been a lifelong desire of his, and West became his victim because “opportunity was knocking.”

According to the prosecutor's office, Shafer was tried as a juvenile, because he was a teenager when he committed the act. He received a sentence of 20 years to life, plus three years on a gun specification.

Currently, the Ohio Department of Rehabilitation and Correction Parole Board is reviewing the 47-year-old's sentence. One consideration the Board must account for before setting Shafer free is “community opposition to a murderer’s release,” Welch noted. In response, Welch's office has organized a public petition that anyone can sign to keep Shafer locked up.

“Keeping this child murderer behind bars is the only way Sara will continue to receive justice,” Prosecutor Welch said. “His release would be a slap in the face to Sara, her family, our community, and to justice.”

The petition is available online and will be delivered to the parole board before it votes on Oct. 15 or 16. Five years ago in 2019, the parole board voted to deny Shafer's release.