NEWS

Bond set for murder suspects

Haskel Burns
American Staff Writer

Bond has been set for the suspects charged in connection with the unrelated deaths of two Hattiesburg women this weekend.

During an initial court appearance Monday, Municipal Court Judge Jerry Evans set bond at $1 million each for Theopolis Schaffer, 64, and Joe Michael Shaw Jr., 34.

Theopolis Schaffer

Schaffer was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Anna Griffith, 39, who was shot around 11 p.m. Friday in the 1300 block of Corinne Street at Dumas Apartments.

Hattiesburg Police Department Lt. Branden McLemore said the shooting was the result of an apparent domestic dispute between Schaffer and Griffith.

Forrest County Deputy Coroner Lisa Klem said Griffith was pronounced dead at Forrest General Hospital at 11:54 p.m. Friday.

Joe Michael Shaw Jr.

Shaw was charged with first-degree murder in the death of Kelly Ladner, 37, who was found dead at around 2 p.m. Saturday at a residence on Myrtle Street.

McLemore said Shaw of Hattiesburg, who was Ladner's boyfriend, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder because of marks found on both Ladner and Shaw. However, the incident is still considered a death investigation, until a cause of death can be determined.

Klem said Ladner's body was sent to the State Crime Lab in Jackson for an autopsy, the results of which are expected as early as Tuesday.

Schaffer and Shaw were arrested and booked into the Forrest County Jail.