Fort Riley, Kansas – A Kansas woman has been sentenced to over 24 years in prison for fatally shooting her U.S. Army soldier husband while he held their baby, as her 9-year-old stepdaughter brushed her hair in a nearby bathroom.
Murder and Sentencing Details
Margaret E. Shafe, 31, was sentenced on Friday to 293 months in prison for the February 2024 shooting of her husband, Greg Shafe, on the Fort Riley military base, according to the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the District of Kansas.
She was convicted of second-degree murder on Valentine’s Day 2024, following a jury trial.
Threats Before the Shooting
According to court records, Margaret Shafe threatened her husband just minutes before killing him.
“I’m going to make him feel my f—ing pain, and he just laughs at me. And you know I’m the one that gets the last laugh. And I’ve been trying – and I’ve been trying, and I want him dead!” she said shortly after 7 p.m. on February 19, 2024.
About 20 minutes later, she grabbed her husband’s gun, went upstairs, and fired at him in the face while he held their 11-month-old baby. He fell into the bathroom where the 9-year-old girl was brushing her hair.
Children Witness the Tragedy
The 9-year-old girl screamed and hid in the shower before helping grab her younger sister and calling their father. Both children were unharmed physically.
After the shooting, Margaret Shafe grabbed the kids, drove off the base while intoxicated, and was arrested a few hours later. Prosecutors noted she attempted to blame her husband, claiming he had a sexual interest in children.
Lack of Remorse and Jail Behavior
While in jail, Shafe boasted about the murder and even held a “f— you” birthday party for her deceased husband, using paper scraps as confetti.
“The defendant showed a complete lack of remorse for her unjustifiable actions,” the sentencing memorandum stated.
History of Abuse and Trial Testimony
Prosecutors described the murder as the culmination of years of physical and emotional abuse. Margaret Shafe, often intoxicated, would belittle her husband and threaten to leave with their child.
During the trial, the 9-year-old daughter testified against her mother, which helped secure a conviction.
“Margaret Shafe deserves to go to prison. The evidence in this case showed she murdered her husband while the couple’s two young daughters were in the home,” said U.S. Attorney Ryan A. Kriegshauser.
“The Court heard brave testimony from Ms. Shafe’s own daughter who witnessed her mother shoot her stepfather in a fury.”
Court Outcome and Takeaway
With a 293-month prison sentence, Margaret Shafe will spend over two decades behind bars. Authorities emphasize the importance of child safety and reporting domestic abuse, as brave testimony from children played a crucial role in justice being served.
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