Kavanagh guilty on all charges

By Adam Rollins
Posted 3/25/23

A St. Charles County judge on March 17 declared a verdict that family and friends of Tara Fifer, Lexy Vandiver, Jessica Powell and Mason Vandiver have known in their hearts for nine years: Shawn …

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Kavanagh guilty on all charges

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A St. Charles County judge on March 17 declared a verdict that family and friends of Tara Fifer, Lexy Vandiver, Jessica Powell and Mason Vandiver have known in their hearts for nine years: Shawn Kavanagh is guilty of first-degree murder with no defense that excuses his actions.

Judge Rebeca Navarro-McKelvey delivered verdicts for nine felony charges in brief, direct statements during a Friday afternoon hearing that lasted less than five minutes. The rulings follow three days of testimony and argument earlier in the week at a trial that’s finally happening after years of delays.

Kavanagh has been awaiting trial since he was arrested in February 2014 and charged with the murders of Fifer, Lexy Vandiver and Mason Vandiver, as well as the severe wounding of Powell, and four counts of armed criminal action and one charge of burglary.

As the family members and close friends of Kavanagh’s victims heard the verdict and then began exiting the St. Charles County courtroom, it was as if they were finally allowed to let out the emotions that they had been holding back throughout the three days of Kavanagh’s trial. They didn’t make it to a private room that had been set aside for them before they began to cry with a mix of sorrow and relief. They hugged and told each other that this long ordeal is nearly over.

Several family members also took a moment to thank Prosecuting Attorney Kelly King for the work she has done in this case. King was elected as Warren County’s head prosecutor in November of 2014, inheriting the Kavanagh case and now taking it to a verdict.

But the trial for Kavanagh isn’t quite over. Hearings were scheduled to resume on March 20 for the sentencing phase in which Prosecutor King and Assistant Attorney General Kevin Zoellner will argue for the death penalty. On the other side, attorneys for the Missouri Public Defender system will attempt to convince Judge Navarro-McKelvey that Kavanagh should be allowed to live out his life in prison.

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