Shanda Sharer’s Early Life
Shanda Sharer was born on June 6, 1979, in Kentucky. Her parents, Steven and Jacqueline, parted ways shortly after her birth. Jacqueline later remarried, and they relocated to Louisville, where Shanda attended St. Paul School through the sixth grade. Active in extracurricular activities, Shanda Sharer participated in volleyball, softball, and was also a cheerleader.
In 1991, Jacqueline’s second marriage ended, prompting a move to New Albany, Indiana. Shanda Sharer enrolled at Hazelwood Middle School initially, but within a few months, Jacqueline transferred her to Our Lady of Perpetual Help, a Catholic school. Jacqueline made this decision out of concern over a growing friendship Shanda had with a girl named Melinda Loveless.
Melinda Loveless’ Troubled Childhood
Born on October 28, 1975, in New Albany, Melinda Loveless grew up in a dysfunctional family. Her parents, Marjorie and Larry Loveless, faced many struggles. Larry had returned from the Vietnam War deeply traumatized, and his behavior became erratic. Though employed irregularly with Southern Railway, he briefly worked as a supervisor at the New Albany Police Department before being dismissed for assaulting an African American man.
Financial troubles plagued the Loveless family, despite Marjorie’s efforts to support them. Larry’s irresponsible spending on cars, motorcycles, and firearms only worsened the situation, and by 1980, they declared bankruptcy. Melinda and her sisters often went hungry and depended on relatives for basic needs. Larry’s abusive behavior escalated, leading to turmoil within the family.
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Melinda witnessed significant violence, including her mother’s suicide attempt after suffering repeated abuse. The emotional scars from these experiences shaped Melinda’s behavior, leading to growing issues as she entered adolescence. At age 15, Melinda began a romantic relationship with Amanda, a fellow student, which led to further complications when Amanda befriended Shanda Sharer. This new friendship stirred intense jealousy in Melinda.
As Amanda and Shanda’s friendship developed, Melinda’s jealousy deepened. She believed that Shanda Sharer was the cause of her relationship problems with Amanda. Jacqueline, Shanda’s mother, tried to protect her daughter by transferring her to a new school, but the tension between Shanda and Melinda persisted.
In early 1992, Melinda’s jealousy turned into a dangerous obsession. She began planning to scare Shanda Sharer, involving Laurie Tackett and her friends, Toni Lawrence and Hope Anna Rippey, in the scheme. Although none of the girls had met Shanda, they were aware that Melinda wanted to confront her, and they agreed to participate in the plot.
Laurie Tackett’s Dark Struggles
Laurie Tackett, born on October 5, 1974, in Madison, Indiana, had a difficult upbringing. Raised in a strict Pentecostal household, her early life was marked by severe trauma, including sexual abuse between the ages of 5 and 12. Her relationship with her mother was fraught with tension, particularly as Laurie began rebelling against the rigid religious rules imposed on her.
Laurie’s fascination with the occult further complicated her troubled life. By 15, she was engaging in self-harm and claimed to be possessed by an entity, “Diana the Vampire.” Concerned for her mental health, her parents admitted her to the hospital, where she was diagnosed with borderline personality disorder. Despite receiving treatment, Laurie continued to struggle emotionally and even attempted suicide.
The Fateful Night
On January 10, 1992, Melinda, Laurie, Toni, and Hope set their plan in motion. The group met up with Melinda, who was determined to confront Shanda Sharer. Although Toni and Hope had never met Shanda before, they were aware of the plan to scare her. None of the girls expressed remorse or hesitation, as each was dealing with their own personal challenges.
Hope Anna Rippey was born on June 9, 1976, in Madison, Indiana, and endured her own set of challenges growing up. Her parents divorced in February 1984, and she moved to Michigan with her mother and other relatives, facing various difficult circumstances during that time. In 1987, after her parents reconciled, Hope returned to Madison and reconnected with Laurie Tackett and Toni Lawrence. By age 15, Hope, like her friends, began engaging in self-harm.
Toni Lawrence, born on February 14, 1976, in Madison, also had a tragic history. At the age of nine, she was sexually abused by a family member, and at 14, she was assaulted by a teenage boy. Although the police issued a restraining order, Toni’s struggles continued. She began therapy but didn’t stick with it. Instead, she followed her friends into self-harm and attempted suicide in the eighth grade.
The Plan to Scare Shanda Sharer
On the night of the incident, Laurie, Toni, and Hope gathered at Melinda Loveless’ house. Melinda revealed a knife and detailed her plan to scare Shanda Sharer. During the drive to Shanda’s house, Melinda expressed her anger toward Shanda Sharer, calling her a “copycat” and blaming her for the troubles in her relationship with Amanda. The girls agreed that Shanda needed to be taught a lesson.
When they arrived at Shanda’s house, Hope and Toni approached the door, pretending to be friends of Amanda, and invited Shanda Sharer to join them at the “Witch’s Castle,” where Amanda was supposedly waiting. Shanda Sharer hesitated, mentioning that her parents were still awake, but she eventually agreed to go with them later, around midnight. Though Melinda was frustrated by the delay, Hope and Toni convinced her to wait.
The group attended a punk rock concert while waiting for the right time. Although Laurie and Melinda enjoyed the show, Hope and Toni grew bored and ended up engaging in sexual encounters with two boys in Laurie’s car. Afterward, they returned to Shanda’s house around midnight.
Upon their return, Hope convinced Shanda to come with them, saying Amanda was still waiting at the Witch’s Castle. After some hesitation, Shanda Sharer changed her clothes and joined the girls in the car. It was then that she came face to face with Melinda, who had been hiding in the backseat. Melinda immediately pulled out the knife and began interrogating Shanda about her relationship with Amanda.
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The Terrifying Journey to the Witch’s Castle
As they drove toward the Witch’s Castle, a creepy, abandoned stone structure near the Ohio River, Melinda shared a local legend about nine witches who had once lived there and were burned alive by the townspeople. She ominously warned Shanda Sharer that her ghost might be the next to haunt the site. Upon arriving, the girls dragged a crying Shanda out of the car and into the castle. They tied her up and began tormenting her. Melinda took Shanda’s jewelry and handed it out to the other girls, while Hope mockingly danced to the ticking of Shanda’s Mickey Mouse watch. Laurie set a shirt on fire as they continued to harass their victim.
Fearing they might be spotted by passing cars, the group decided to move Shanda to a more secluded area. Laurie suggested a garbage dump. By this time, both Toni and Hope were becoming uncomfortable and refused to leave the car, but Melinda and Laurie continued their vicious attack. They forced Shanda Sharer to undress and savagely beat her, with Melinda repeatedly kneeing her in the face, causing Shanda’s braces to cut into her lips.
Despite Shanda’s efforts to fight back, she was overpowered. Melinda attempted to slit her throat, but the knife was too dull. As Shanda Sharer continued to struggle, Hope got out of the car to help restrain her. Together, Melinda and Laurie took turns stabbing her and beating her with a metal rod. They then tied a rope around Shanda’s neck and choked her until she lost consciousness, believing she was dead.
Shanda’s Agonizing Fate
The girls returned to Laurie’s house, where they cleaned themselves up and drank sodas. Suddenly, they heard Shanda’s agonizing screams coming from the trunk of the car. Realizing she was still alive, Laurie grabbed a kitchen knife and stabbed her for two minutes before returning inside, now covered in blood. Laurie then casually showered and read her friends’ fortunes, as if nothing had happened.
Later, Laurie and Melinda decided to take another drive, with Shanda Sharer still alive in the trunk. Once again, they heard her cries. Upon opening the trunk, they found Shanda barely alive, sitting up and drenched in blood. Though she tried to speak, she couldn’t, her eyes rolling back in a terrifying sight. Frustrated that Shanda Sharer was still not dead, Laurie grabbed the same iron rod and continued beating her until she lost consciousness again.
As the sun began to rise, Melinda and Laurie returned to Laurie’s house, where Toni and Hope asked what had happened. Laurie, laughing, recounted the horrific events of the night, showing no remorse for the violence that had occurred.
The commotion in Laurie Tackett’s room woke her mother, who immediately began yelling at her for staying out so late and questioned why so many girls were in her room. Laurie, trying to calm her mother, promised that she would drive her friends home. Once the girls were back in the car, they made a stop at a gas station. There, they filled up the tank and purchased a two-liter bottle of Pepsi. However, the bottle wasn’t intended for drinking—Laurie emptied it and refilled it with gasoline. The final stage of their horrific crime was about to unfold.
The Final Act of Violence
They drove to a remote location and opened the trunk to check on Shanda Sharer, who, shockingly, was still alive. Melinda taunted her, saying, “You don’t look so sexy now, do you?” Laurie and Hope then wrapped Shanda in a blanket and drove to a secluded area called Lemon Road. Once there, Hope poured gasoline over Shanda’s body, and the girls watched as she caught fire. Despite this, Melinda wasn’t convinced that Shanda was dead. Determined to make sure, she returned with more gasoline, and Shanda’s body was set ablaze again. Their brutal assault had lasted nearly 10 hours.
Around 9:30 AM, the four girls, now responsible for murder, stopped at a McDonald’s for breakfast. While eating, they callously joked about a sausage patty, comparing it to Shanda’s burned body. Afterward, Laurie dropped off Toni and Hope at their homes. She and Melinda then returned to Laurie’s house, where they used a hose to clean the car. Melinda, utterly exhausted from the night’s events, finally went home at around 3 PM.
Once there, she immediately called her ex-girlfriend, Amanda, and bragged about the murder. Amanda didn’t believe her and dismissed the story. Later, Melinda confided in another friend, Crystal, about the crime, even taking her and Laurie to pick up Amanda and show her the blood-stained trunk. To keep Amanda silent, Melinda convinced her not to go to the police by kissing her, framing the murder as an act of twisted love.
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The Discovery of Shanda Sharer’s Body
Meanwhile, that same morning, Shanda’s father realized his daughter was missing. After calling neighbors and friends in search of Shanda Sharer, he contacted his ex-wife, and by 1:45 PM, the couple was at the Clark County sheriff’s office to report their daughter’s disappearance. Unbeknownst to them, earlier that day, someone had made a gruesome discovery. As they were driving to the Jefferson Proving Ground to hunt quail, they noticed something odd by the roadside.
Initially mistaking it for a discarded mannequin, they soon realized it was the charred body of a young girl. Horrified, they contacted the police, who arrived at 10:55 AM. Upon inspecting the scene, the officers noticed the body had been deliberately burned, with the face and hands severely charred, likely in an attempt to make identification impossible. Initially, the police suspected a drug-related crime, not believing that such a violent act could be the work of local teenagers.
That same afternoon, the weight of the secret became too much for Toni and Hope to bear. They confessed everything to their parents, revealing the full extent of the night’s horrors, including the names of Melinda and Laurie. By 8:20 PM, the girls were at the police station, recounting the terrifying events. Authorities wasted no time in making arrests. Detectives quickly connected the dots, realizing that the missing girl reported earlier in the day was the same one found burned by the roadside.
Dental records confirmed that the body was indeed Shanda Sharer’s. On January 12, Melinda Loveless and Laurie Tackett were arrested. Mugshots showed Melinda smiling, seemingly unfazed by the gravity of the situation, while Toni’s anxious expression reflected the severity of what they had done.
The Trial and Public Reactions
Prosecutors swiftly announced that all four girls would be tried as adults, opening the possibility of the death penalty. During the trial, forensic experts revealed the brutal details of Shanda Sharer’s murder. She had been tied at the wrists and ankles, repeatedly beaten with a blunt object, stabbed in the chest, slashed on her legs, and sexually assaulted with a sharp object. The cause of death was determined to be smoke inhalation and burns.
Despite the overwhelming evidence, not everyone viewed the girls as irredeemable. Teachers from their schools expressed disbelief, describing Toni and Hope as well-behaved students, with some even calling them above average. Laurie’s former teacher spoke of her deep religious faith and good values. Classmates noted that while the girls were considered “odd” and frequently wore black, they never expected them to be capable of such a horrific crime.
The defense attorneys focused on the difficult childhoods of the four girls involved, using character references to highlight their troubled backgrounds. All four had experienced physical or sexual abuse from either a parent or another adult. Additionally, Toni Lawrence, Hope Rippey, and Laurie Tackett had histories of self-harm, while Melinda Loveless had the most severe record of mental health issues and aggressive behavior. Their legal teams argued that these psychological conditions were significant contributing factors to the horrific crime.
In the end, Laurie Tackett and Melinda Loveless were each sentenced to 60 years in prison. Toni Lawrence received a 20-year sentence, while Hope Rippey’s initial sentence of 50 years was later reduced to 35 as part of a plea agreement. Though the death penalty was avoided, the consequences of their actions extended far beyond their prison terms.
The Impact on Families
As Melinda’s trial unfolded, her father, Larry Loveless, became a key figure in understanding her violent behavior. It was revealed that Larry had abused his wife, daughters, and other children. In February 1993, Larry was arrested on multiple charges, including abuse, sodomy, and sexual assault. He served two years in prison, but most of the charges were dropped due to the statute of limitations. He was eventually released after pleading guilty to a single charge. In a tragic end to his life, Larry committed suicide in 1998 at the age of 52 by stepping in front of a school bus.
Toni Lawrence was the first of the four girls to be released from prison in 2000. Shanda Sharer’s family, meanwhile, continued to bear the weight of her loss. Her father, Steve Sharer, struggled with his grief and turned to alcohol. He passed away in 2005 from cirrhosis of the liver at the age of 53 and was buried next to his daughter.
Shanda’s mother, Jackie, sought a way to move forward despite the unimaginable pain. In April 2006, she made a controversial decision to donate a service dog named Angel to Melinda, who had been working in a canine assistance program while in prison. Melinda had been training dogs to aid people with disabilities. Jackie faced harsh criticism for this act of forgiveness, but she explained that she wanted something good to come out of the tragedy, believing it was what Shanda Sharer would have wanted.
Charity Scar: A Documentary of Healing
In 2012, the documentary Charity Scar captured Jackie’s emotional journey as she worked with Melinda to train the dog in memory of Shanda Sharer. While Jackie found a path to forgive Melinda, she remained resentful toward Amanda, the girl at the center of Melinda’s jealousy. Jackie firmly believed that Shanda’s death could have been prevented if not for Amanda’s relationship with both girls. She also accused Amanda of engaging in a sexual relationship with Shanda, who was underage, and knowing about Melinda’s violent intentions without taking any action to stop it.
Laurie Tackett was released from prison on January 11, 2018, after serving almost 26 years. She completed a year of parole after her release. Melinda Loveless was released in 2019 after serving her time in the Indiana Women’s Prison, followed by a year of probation.
The brutal murder of Shanda Sharer remains a sobering reminder of the cruelty that young people can exhibit and the devastating effects of growing up in dysfunctional homes. Had Laurie, Melinda, Toni, and Hope not endured such severe trauma during their childhoods, Shanda Sharer’s life might have unfolded very differently.
