Where is Laurie Shaver now? Details explored ahead of 20/20 on ABC
The upcoming episode of ABC's 20/20 is all set to cover the brutal murder of Michael Shaver and the involvement of Laurie Shaver in the same. The case was filled with mysteries and there remain doubts about what went down. Moreover, Michael Shaver was found years after he abruptly disappeared.
This case would be the subject of ABC's 20/20 season 47 episode 13, which is set to premiere on January 10, 2025, at 9.00 PM EST. This case dates back to 2015 but remains fresh in the minds of Clermont, Florida, residents.
Not only did Laurie Shaver actively play a role in the murder of her husband, but she also kept the pretense that he was alive by using his phone to text the people he knew and using his social media accounts to make it appear that he was alive.
Years after the murder, which remains muddled in various mysteries, Laurie Shaver was ultimately sentenced to life in prison for the crime, where she remains as of today.
Who is Laurie Shaver and what did she do?
Laurie and Michael Shaver first met in Utica, New York, where both of them grew up. As childhood friends, their friendship eventually blossomed into something more and they started dating. After years of dating, they decided to move to Clermont, Florida and also tied the knot.
In Clermont, the two had a seemingly idyllic life with two children between them. Michael worked as an employee at Disney World Resort in Orlando while Laurie took care of the kids. Everything seemed fine in their relationship from the outside. However, in November 2015, Michael allegedly stopped coming to his workplace and texted some of his contacts that he was moving to Georgia.
Laurie Shaver claimed that her husband had abandoned the family and left. However, as two years passed by, some of Michael's friends and relatives grew concerned after only hearing from him in text messages and reported him missing.
By then, Laurie had moved on with her life and had married Travis Filmer. Finally, in 2018, the police began an investigation into Michael Shaver's disappearance. While Laurie recounted the same story about him having abandoned his family and leaving in a black SUV, the police wanted to check their Clermont home with search dogs. In a surprise twist, Laurie denied the police this.
Suspicious, they brought a search warrant and came with K-9 units only to discover Michael's remains under a concrete slab that had been poured over a fire pit. The remains were wrapped in a fitted sheet, further encased in a tarp, and secured with straps.
An autopsy revealed that he was shot to death. Laurie Shaver immediately became the prime suspect in the case. Laurie also allegedly used his social media accounts to text people he knew and had allegedly given varied accounts about his disappearance.
She was finally arrested in 2020.
Where is Laurie Shaver now?
Laurie's trial took place in 2023, where the defense claimed that Laurie was physically and mentally abused by Michael and even that her 7-year-old daughter had accidentally shot at Michael Shaver after seeing him abuse her mother.
The daughter, then 15, also took the stand and testified that she had indeed shot Michael, however, due to her not admitting this during the earlier part of the investigation, the jury was not convinced.
Ultimately, Laurie Shaver was sentenced to life in prison. She remains incarcerated at the Florida Women’s Reception Center.
The upcoming episode of 20/20 on ABC will cover this case in more detail.
