Business owner arrested in murder-for-hire scheme

A man accused of putting out a $10,000 contract to have a Collinsville woman killed may find it difficult to fulfil his own contract with the city of Springfield – to raze 38 dilapidated houses.

Sammy J. Shafer Jr. owns S. Shafer Excavating, a company based in Pontoon Beach that does work throughout the Metro East and central Illinois. Last fall, the Springfield City Council approved the company’s bid to demolish 38 blighted houses throughout the city.

So far, Shafer’s company has torn down 37 houses, but the contract also requires him to grade each vacant lot after the ground thaws and level a 38^th home once the natural gas lines are disconnected, Public Works Director David Fuchs said. The city’s contract calls for paying him $692,000, but with Shafer now in the Madison County Jail awaiting trial it remains unclear whether he will be able to fulfill the contract. 

Fuchs, who learned of the arrest Tuesday, said it has not yet been determined how the remaining work will be completed or whether a portion of the contract will be paid.

Shafer, 36, is accused of paying $10,000 to have Portia Rowland, 32, killed. Authorities did not reveal a possible motive for the homicide but KSDK TV has reported Rowland was in a relationship with Shafer’s estranged wife.

Madison County State’s Attorney Tom Haine announced Jan. 27 that Shafer and two other defendants have been charged with first-degree murder in connection with the shooting death.

Rowland was shot multiple times by a gunman who approached her outside her Collinsville residence on the morning of Jan. 21.

“We believe the evidence at trial will show that this was not a random crime but was a calculated and cold-hearted murder-for-hire scheme based on a personal grievance,” Haine said in a prepared statement.

Shafer is charged with first-degree murder and solicitation of murder.

Gary D. Johnson, 45, of East St. Louis is charged with first-degree murder and possession of a weapon by a felon. The charges allege that Johnson shot Rowland. Johnson was previously convicted of murder in a 1997 case.

Marty D. Shaw, 33, of Collinsville is charged with first-degree murder.

According to court documents filed by Haine’s office, Shafer paid Shaw, one of his employees, $10,000 to kill Rowland. Shaw admitted driving his cousin, Johnson, to the victim’s house where Johnson allegedly shot her. KSDK TV reported that investigators believe after the shooting, Shaw kept $3,500 and gave $6,500 to Johnson and both men then went to a nearby casino.

The state’s attorney is arguing the defendants pose a threat to others and should remain in custody while awaiting trial.