Caseyville Businessman Charged in Alleged Murder-for-Hire Scheme

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A businessman from Caseyville, Illinois, has been arrested and charged with multiple counts of murder and solicitation for allegedly hiring a hitman to kill his estranged wife's girlfriend. Sammy J. Shafer Jr., age 36, faces charges including two counts of first-degree murder in connection with the shooting of 32-year-old Portia Rowland, who was found shot multiple times outside her shared residence in Collinsville on January 23, 2025.

Alongside Shafer, two additional suspects—Gary D. Johnson, 45, and Marty D. Shaw, 33—have been arrested. Johnson is accused of being the shooter while Shaw is alleged to have driven the getaway vehicle. State's Attorney Tom Haine described the incident as a premeditated act motivated by personal grievances, emphasizing that it was not a random act of violence.

The investigation involved a comprehensive effort by the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis, which followed over 200 leads and executed more than 30 search warrants. Authorities used license-plate readers to track down the suspects, leading to their arrests in the days following the murder.

Sammy Shafer Jr. is known as the owner of S. Shafer Excavating and has several business interests, including a trucking company and a local bar. He was in the process of a divorce from Sarah Shafer, who had been in a relationship with Rowland.

As the investigations continue and the case moves towards trial, the Madison County state’s attorney's office has vowed to argue against releasing the suspects on bail, citing ongoing threats to public safety.

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