SLANESVILLE, W.Va. — Police in Hampshire County released more information Saturday morning about a Thursday murder near Slanesville.
Sheriff’s deputies said their investigation shows Mandy O’Hara, 36, and John Shoemaker, 21, of Capon Bridge, broke into the house of O’Hara’s estranged husband Michael O’Hara and killed him in his bedroom.
Deputies allege O’Hara and Shoemaker then wrapped the body in a tarp, tied it to the back of their car, and began driving on Hickory Corner Road where they were spotted by another motorist who saw the body come loose from the back of the suspects’ vehicle
“The eyewitness made brief conversation with the suspects and the suspects fled at a high rate of speed. The eyewitness chased the car to get a better description, but lost sight of the vehicle,” according to a release from the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Department.
The eyewitness then went to another location to get cell service and deputies believe while he was gone O’Hara and Shoemaker returned to Michael O’Hara’s body, tied it back to the vehicle, and dragged it to the Cacapon River where it was hid under a tree.
Hampshire County deputies found the body after tracking from the area of Hickory Corner Road where the eyewitness saw the body. They believe O’Hara’s body was dragged 3 to 4 miles.
Mandy O’Hara, Shoemaker and Gabriella Clutter remain in the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail without bail. O’Hara and Shoemaker are charged with murder, Clutter, 21, of Capon Bridge is charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Deputies said the three were living together and Mandy O’Hara had not lived with Michael O’Hara for several months.
(previous Friday, 9/27) SLANESVILLE, W.Va. — A Hampshire County woman was charged with murder and taken into custody Thursday night, the same day her estranged husband’s body was found in the Cacapon River.
Sheriff’s deputies levied first-degree murder charges against Mandy O’Hara, 36, of Capon Bridge. Investigators allege O’Hara—along with John Shoemaker, 21, and Gabriella Clutter, 21, all of Capon Bridge—conspired to murder Michael O’Hara at his house on Hickory Corner Road near Slanesville.
Shoemaker also was charged with first-degree murder, while Clutter was charged with conspiracy to commit murder.
Michael O’Hara’s body was found submerged in the Cacapon River just a few miles from his home. Deputies said he was stabbed to death at his home before his body was dumped into the river. Investigators said eyewitnesses and the victim’s family members helped them develop the suspects in the case.
Mandy O’Hara, Shoemaker and Clutter were being held in the Potomac Highlands Regional Jail on Friday. Deputies said the three lived together and evidence recovered at their home connected them with the crime.