Copyright
© 2005 – 2023
Iowa Cold Cases
All Rights Reserved
Quick Links
Reprint Permissions
If you'd like to reprint a post or case summary, please contact us with the name of the requested post/article. Thank you in advance!
Stay in Touch
Contact
Shirley Dene Carter
Shirley Dene Carter
Homicide –> Civil Trial –> Criminal Charges Filed –> Not Guilty Verdict
Shirley Dene Carter
68 YOA
132 Perry Street
Lacona, Iowa
Marion County
Investigating Agency: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Agency Case Number: DCI 2015-033621
Date of Crime: June 19, 2015
Wrongful Death (Civil) Lawsuit Filed: Jan. 5, 2016
Civil Trial Verdict: Guilty – Dec. 15, 2017
Criminal Charges Filed: Dec. 18, 2017, for First-degree Murder
Criminal Trial Began: March 5, 2019, in Pottawattamie County
Verdict: Not Guilty verdict reached on March 21, 2019
68 YOA
132 Perry Street
Lacona, Iowa
Marion County
Investigating Agency: Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
Agency Case Number: DCI 2015-033621
Date of Crime: June 19, 2015
Wrongful Death (Civil) Lawsuit Filed: Jan. 5, 2016
Civil Trial Verdict: Guilty – Dec. 15, 2017
Criminal Charges Filed: Dec. 18, 2017, for First-degree Murder
Criminal Trial Began: March 5, 2019, in Pottawattamie County
Verdict: Not Guilty verdict reached on March 21, 2019
UPDATE — Jury Finds Jason Carter Not Guilty
Thursday, March 21, 2019 — COUNCIL BLUFFS, IA
Jason Carter found not guilty of mother’s murder (Courtesy WHOTV.com)
After a short deliberation, a Pottawattamie County jury has found Jason Carter not guilty of murdering his mother Shirley Carter.
Shirley was found dead in her Lacona home in June of 2015.
Law enforcement in Marion County charged Jason with first degree murder in Shirley’s death last year, after he lost a wrongful death lawsuit filed by his father Bill Carter.
Jason’s criminal trial started with jury selection Tuesday, March 5th.
Note: All information in the following case summary is properly attributed to the source where it was obtained. Please see the “Sources” section following the summary.
Marion County in Iowa
On Friday, June 19, 2015, Shirley Carter, a 68-year-old grandmother, was shot and killed inside her home in rural Lacona, Iowa, in Marion County.
Lacona in Marion County
Investigators included the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office, the Pella Police Department, the Knoxville Police Department, the Warren County Sheriff’s Office, the Indianola Police Department and the Iowa State Patrol, who obtained many search warrants and county attorney subpoenas to follow-up on any and all evidentiary leads.
Shirley’s husband, Bill Carter, told officials he’d dropped off Shirley at the couple’s 132 Perry Street home after a morning coffee run before heading out to haul corn, which he and son Jason did on contract. Before leaving the house, Bill told his wife of 52 years he’d be home between 11 and 11:30 a.m.
Neighbors in Shock over Shooting Death of ‘Good Grandmother’ – WHOTV.com, June 22, 2015
Bill said Jason was 17 minutes behind him in line, and that while Bill went on to haul another load from elsewhere, Jason went to his parents’ house.
In an in-depth Des Moines Register article published a year later on June 20, 2016, Bill recalled how he was returning home in his 18-wheeler semi when his cell phone rang. The caller was his adult daughter, Jana Lain from Centerville, who said she’d just received a phone call from Jason, who’d told her he had found their mother dead in their parents’ kitchen.
After arriving home, Bill said he found his wife’s body on the kitchen floor in a pool of blood, her arms folded across her chest. “It looked like she was sleeping,” he told Register reporter Rekha Basu. “I kissed her.”
Reported the Register:
Shirley had been shot twice through the back. “The first shot took off the bottom of her heart. The second disintegrated her heart,” Bill said. Jason came in from the deck and showed him a bullet hole in the fridge.
Though he has told the story countless times, Bill Carter still cannot tell it without sobbing so convulsively he can barely speak. By all accounts, he and Shirley were devoted to each other. They’d been married more than 50 years, 48 of them in that farmhouse.
~ Des Moines Register, June 20, 2016
The county sheriff arrived at the home just moments after Bill, and asked Bill to leave the house; the home ended up sealed for several days.
Courtesy WHOTV Channel 13, Des MoinesShirley Carter was shot twice in the back at this rural Lacona home in Marion County, Iowa, on Friday, June 19, 2015.
Bill said that because he wasn’t allowed to look around, he couldn’t see that drawers in the office and bedroom had been pulled out, their contents dumped on the floor. Nothing, however, appeared taken; investigators found Shirley’s purse, containing credit cards and $140, undisturbed, as was an envelope on the dresser containing $1,700 in $100 bills.
Bill told the Register he wasn’t allowed to check his safe in the basement, where he kept the gun Jason had given him, to see if it was missing.
Officials said the perpetrator shot Mrs. Carter sometime between 7 a.m. and noon, and law enforcement requested the public’s assistance in identifying any people or vehicles in the vicinity of the home during that time period.
Law enforcement also said they were interested in speaking with any person who may have been approached to either purchase or take possession of a rifle in and around Marion County or surrounding communities since June 19, 2015.
Investigators said they didn’t believe the public was in any kind of danger, but the words did little to calm neighbors’ nerves.
“I don’t know what to think about it,” said neighbor Kyle Phillips in a June 22 WHO-TV Channel 13 interview. “A woman is dead and they say don’t worry?”
Shattered Relationships
As the year passed, Bill’s grief morphed into frustration, despair and suspicion, the Register said.
The following events occur in the year following his wife’s murder:
- Bill provides officers with bullets previously fired from the rifle, and they match those recovered from Shirley’s body.
- Bill says law enforcement assure him early on — at least three times — that an arrest is coming soon.
- Bill makes two suicide attempts.
- Bill accuses officials of bungling evidence-gathering and says those facts will come out in a trial and implicate the officers.
- Bill concludes there will not be an arrest without public pressure, and spends $160,000 to hire an attorney and a private investigator.
- The results of the attorney and private investigator lead Bill to file a wrongful death suit against his son, Jason.
- Bill alleges his son used the rifle from the basement safe to kill his mother, hiding the gun on the property and then retrieving it days later before authorities realize it is missing.
- Bill accuses law enforcement of not collecting Jason’s clothing and boots, which might have shown the position of gun powder and blood, until 10 days after the crime.
- Bill suggests a conflict of interest between his son and Marion County Sheriff Jason Sandholdt, who are friends.
- Sandholdt declines to respond but says an active investigation is under way and he’s very confident an arrest will be made “when the DCI, my office and the attorney general’s office all feel a jury would convict who we charge.”
- Bill claims Jason failed a lie detector test given by the DCI and sheriff’s office.
- Jason’s name is excluded from his mother’s headstone.
The Civil Suit
Bill, along with his other two remaining children, filed the wrongful death lawsuit against Jason on January 5, 2016, naming Jason as the killer.
More Than 100 People Turn Out for Shirley Carter Rally – WHOTV Channel 13 report, Jan. 15, 2016
“The reason we decided to file is because we were afraid there wouldn’t be any justice for Shirley,” Bill told KCCI Channel 8 in a June 21, 2016, news report.
The Iowa DCI said investigators had conducted 200 interviews and followed up on 100 leads in the year since the murder and called the investigation “still active.”
Photo by Rodney White/The RegisterA photo of Shirley and Bill Carter at his home in rural Lacona, Thursday, June 16, 2016. His wife Shirley was murdered at their home a year ago June 19. There have been no arrests yet in the case.
According to a number of published news reports, Bill Carter based the allegations against his son on a combination of potential motivations and circumstances. Jason, he said, was having financial troubles and had $5 million worth of family farmland to gain. Bill also said Jason had been having an extramarital affair and that Shirley became aware of it and may have confronted Jason.
Bill said he hadn’t known about his son’s affair until after Shirley’s death.
On March 6, 2016, the family’s attorney, Ron Danks, subpoenaed Shirley’s autopsy results and the 911 call made by Jason the day of Shirley’s murder. According to news reports, the Marion County Sheriff’s Office on March 29 filed a motion to quash the subpoena, saying the release of the 911 call by Jason Carter would be detrimental to the ongoing investigation.
Courtesy photo WHO-TV Channel 13, Des MoinesBill Carter told WHOTV he still loves his youngest son but has to have justice for his wife, Shirley.
A Marion County judge agreed to release both the autopsy and 911 calls, but only to both parties involved and no outside third parties. The judge also ordered that details of the 911 call not be discussed in public or with anyone not directly involved in the case.
Bill Carter said he still loves his youngest son, but “I have to have justice for Shirley. I have to.”
Courtesy Marion County Sheriff’s OfficeThe defense team for Jason Carter said that because the criminal investigation into Shirley Carter’s murder was ongoing and ‘active’ before and during the civil trial, the State was not required to give to [Carter] exculpatory evidence showing Jason did not murder his mother.
Jason Carter — represented by attorney Steve Wandro — continued to deny all allegations of any involvement in his mother’s homicide.
The wrongful death civil suit was scheduled to begin in Marion County on April 3, 2017, and expected to last about three weeks.
Father vs. Son in Civil Court Leads to First-Degree Murder Charge
On Friday, Dec. 15, 2017, a Marion County jury sided with Bill Carter and decided Jason Carter would have to pay $10 million to his slain mother’s estate.
Two days after the civil trial verdict, Marion County officials and the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation brought Jason in for booking after Jason was charged and arrested for first-degree murder in his mother’s death.
In a press conference held Tuesday, Dec. 20, 2017, in Des Moines, Bill Carter said he still loves his son but can’t forgive him.
Murder trial of Jason Carter, man accused of killing mother, moved to western Iowa
January 31, 2019 | by Luke Nozicka, The Des Moines Register
A central Iowa man found responsible for his mother’s death by a civil jury will go to trial in criminal court in March in western Iowa, court records show.
Jason Carter, 46, of Knoxville, was charged with first-degree murder in the killing of his mother, Shirley, two days after the civil jury in December 2017 found him responsible for her June 2015 death. The jury ordered Carter to pay $10 million to Shirley’s estate.
Earlier this week, the court set Carter’s criminal trial to begin March 4 in Pottawattamie County, transferring it out of Marion County because of pre-trial publicity.
Shirley Carter, 68, died from two gunshot wounds from a medium-caliber rifle at her rural Marion County home. Jason Carter was sued by his father, Bill Carter, and his brother, Billy Dean Carter, after no one was charged in her death.
Full Story at The Des Moines Register
Not Guilty
After a short deliberation on Thursday, March 21, 2019, a Pottawattamie County jury found Jason Carter not guilty of murdering his mother.
More information about the trial may be found in the Sources listed following this case summary.
About Shirley Carter
Shirley Dene Carter was born June 10, 1947, in Des Moines, Iowa, the daughter of Carroll Worthington and Jean (Shoemaker) Worthington.
Shirley Dene Carter Tribute by Bertrand Funeral Homes
She grew up in the Pleasantville area and was united in marriage to Bill Carter on March 31, 1963. The couple has always farmed in the Lacona and Pleasantville areas. Shirley was the consummate farm wife and worked side by side with Bill. The couple raised their three children on the farm, and with the kids grown, Shirley cherished her role as grandma. She had a gentle spirit and a kind heart that always found the good in people.
Shirley passed away on Friday, June 19, 2015, at her home at the age of 68 years.
Shirley’s survivors included her husband of 52 years, Bill; children: Jana (Dee) Lain of Plano, Iowa, Billy Carter of Ankeny and Jason (Shelly) Carter of Knoxville; grandchildren: Sean Gordon, Chase Carter and McKenna Carter; father, Carroll Worthington of Pleasantville; brother, David Worthington of Des Moines and many other family members and friends.
Shirley’s mother, Jean, and a brother, Jeff Worthington, preceded her in death.
Photo by Rodney White/The RegisterThe gravesite for Shirley Carter in the Pleasantville Cemetery Thursday, June 16, 2016. Bill Carter has filed a wrongful death suit against his youngest son, Jason Carter.
Casket bearers included Sean Gordon, Chase Carter, Jason Carter, Billy Carter, Dee Lain and Ifo Atagi.
The family conducted a private funeral service with burial following in Pleasantville Cemetery.
In lieu of flowers, the family suggested memorials be made to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital or to Iowa Public Television.
Mason Funeral Home of Pleasantville handled arrangements. Online condolences may be left at BertrandFuneralHomes.com.
Do you know something about this murder?
If you have any information about Shirley’s murder, please contact the Marion County Sheriff’s Office at (641) 828-2220 or file a report anonymously through Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa at (515) 223-1400.
Sources:
- Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation
- Marion County Sheriff’s Office
- Pella Police Department
- Knoxville Police Department
- Warren County Sheriff’s Office
- Indianola Police Department
- Iowa State Patrol
- Submit a Tip Through Crime Stoppers of Central Iowa
- Justice for Shirley Carter Facebook page
- Find a Grave Memorial for Shirley Dene Carter
- “Carter found not guilty of mother’s murder,” by Kyle Ocker, The Daily Iowegian / Ottumwa Courier, Thursday, March 21, 2019
- “Jury Finds Jason Carter Not Guilty of Mother’s Murder,” by Lauren Wilcox, WHOTV.com, March 21, 2019
- Carter Vs Carter, WHOTV.com Videos
- “New Evidence Put Jason Carter Trial on Hold,” by Staff, WHOTV.com, March 18, 2019
- “Jason Carter’s attorneys accuse prosecutors of withholding exculpatory evidence,” by Luke Nozicka, The Des Moines Register, March 18, 2019
- “Focus turns to forensics in Jason Carter murder trial,” by Hannah Hilyard,” KCCI.com, March 15, 2019
- “Bill Carter: Life ‘will never be the same’: Father testifies in murder trial against son,” by Kyle Ocker, Editor, The Daily Iowegian, March 14, 2019
- “Jason Carter’s Emotional 911 Call Played During Second Day of Testimony,” by Laura Barczewski, WHOTV.com, March 11, 2019
- “Jury Selected, Opening Statements Given in Jason Carter Trial,” by Laura Barczewski, WHOTV.com, March 8, 2019
- “A civil jury found Jason Carter liable in his mother’s death. Now he’ll stand trial for murder.” By Luke Nozicka, The Des Moines Register, March 5, 2019
- “Jason Carter Murder Trial Begins Tuesday,” by Staff Writer, WHOTV.com, March 4, 2019
- “Murder trial of Jason Carter, man accused of killing mother, moved to western Iowa,” by Luke Nozicka, The Des Moines Register, January 31, 2019
- “As hearing ends, an Iowa judge considers: Should Jason Carter get a new civil trial?” by Luke Nozicka, The Des Moines Register, December 13, 2018
- “Jason Carter’s lawyers say evidence shows someone else may have killed his mother. But is it hearsay?” by Stephen Gruber-Miller, The Des Moines Register, December 10, 2018
- “Jason Carter Asking for Trial For Murder of his Mother to be Moved Out of his Home county,” by Staff at WHOTV.com, June 21, 2018
- “Carter seeks change of venue; trial to begin in March,” by Pat Finan, The Journal Express, June 21, 2018
- “Attorneys: New evidence proves Jason Carter didn’t kill mother,” by Mario Rossi, WeAreIowa.com, May 31, 2018
- “New Audio Files Point to Other Potential Suspects in Carter v. Carter Case,” by Jerad Giottonini, WHOTV.com, May 31, 2018
- “Jason Carter’s Attorney Asking For New Civil Trial in Death of his Mother,” by Jerad Giottonini, WHOTV.com, May 30, 2018
- “Iowa man says new evidence shows someone else killed his mother, asks judge to toss civil judgment,” by Stephen Gruber-Miller, The Des Moines Register, May 30, 2018
- “Dennis Murphy Talks Carter vs. Carter Trial Ahead of ‘Dateline’ Episode,” by Emily Koss, WHOTV.com, February 2, 2018
- “The Farm,” DATELINE NBC, S2018 E202, NBC.com/dateline, Air Date February 2, 2018
- “Judge upholds Carter verdict, won’t reduce damages,” by Pat Finan, The (Knoxville) Journal Express, January 25, 2018
- “Why has criminal justice system dragged its heels until now on Shirley Carter’s murder?,” by Rekha Basu, The Des Moines Register, December 27, 2017
- “Jason Carter, charged with murder in mother’s fatal shooting, released on bond,” by Luke Nozicka, Des Moines Register, December 21, 2017
- “Father responds after son charged in Marion Co. murder,” by Pat Finan, Knoxville Journal-Express / Daily Iowegian, December 20, 2017
- “Bill Carter Says He Still Has Love for His Son, But Not Forgiveness,” by Michael DaSilva, WHOTV.com, December 19, 2017
- “Complaint and Affidavit for Jason Gene Carter,” Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation, December 18, 2017
- “Bill Carter’s Attorney Speaks Out Following Arrest of Jason Carter,” by Jerad Giottonini, WHOTV.com, December 18, 2017
- “Marion County Man Arrested for Murder in the 1st Degree,” Marion County Sheriff’s Office PRESS RELEASE via the Iowa Department of Public Safety, December 18, 2017
- “Shirley Carter case: Son must pay $10 million after jury finds him responsible for mother’s death,” by Luke Nozicka, DesMoinesRegister.com, December 18, 2017
- “DCI: Jason Carter charged with murder in mother’s death,” by Adam Brower, KCCI.com, December 18, 2017
- “DCI to Reveal Details in Murder Arrest of Jason Carter,” by Kelly Maricle, WHOTV.com, December 18, 2017
- “Jury sides with father over son in civil case shooting death,” by Luke Nozicka, The Des Moines Register, December 15, 2017
- “Jury deliberation underway in bizarre wrongful death lawsuit,” by Todd Magel, Anchor/Reporter, KCCI.com, December 15, 2017
- “Carter vs. Carter: Affair comes out in civil murder trial,” by Todd Magel, KCCI.com, December 7, 2017
- “Woman’s widower says son killed mom over $10 million estate,” by Todd Magel, KCCI.com, December 6, 2017
- “Investigation in Lacona Murder Case Continues,” by Staff Writer, WHOTV.com, August 26, 2015
- “Still no answers one year after Shirley Carter’s death,” by Laura Terrell, KCCI.com, June 21, 2016
- “Basu: Mother’s slaying divides father, son,” by Rekha Basu, The Des Moines Register, Published June 17, 2016 and updated June 20, 2016
- “Father’s Day Marks Anniversary of Unsolved Murder in Marion County,” by Jannay Towne, WHOTV.com, June 15, 2016
- “Carter family moving forward with civil lawsuit against son: The family says Shirley Carter was murdered by her son, Jason,” by Claire Powell, weareiowa.com, April 15, 2016
- “More than 100 People Turn Out for Shirley Carter Rally,” by Justin Currency, WHOTV.com, January 15, 2016
- “Family, friends seek justice for death of 68-year-old woman,” by Ryan Smith, KCCI.com, January 15, 2016
- “‘My son murdered my wife’: Father files lawsuit claiming his son shot dead his mom after hiring a private investigator when police failed to make an arrest,” by Anton Milsson, DAILYMAIL.com, January 12, 2016
- “Marion County Sheriff Continues Investigation into the Murder of Shirley Carter,” by Tony Correa, KNIA/KRLS News, Thursday, October 15, 2015
- Polk County Crime Stoppers, Updated 8/4/2015
- Marion County Sheriff’s Office PRESS RELEASE: UPDATE REGARDING HOMICIDE INVESTIGATION — SHIRLEY CARTER, Marion County Homicide Investigation, Contact person: Sheriff Jason Sandholdt, July 1, 2015
- “100 people interviewed in Shirley Carter homicide case,” by Kim St. Onge, KCCI.com, July 1, 2015
- “Neighbors in Shock over Shooting Death of ‘Good Grandmother’,” by Jannay Towne, WHOTV.com, June 22, 2015
- “Authorities: Suspicious Death Rules a Homicide: Shirley Carter found with gunshot wound,” by Ryan Smith, KCCI.com, June 20, 2015
- “Obituaries: Shirley Dene Carter,” bertrandfuneralhomes.com, June 19, 2015
What’s bizaare, which absolutely no one has explained, is why on a 9-1-1 call, the son, who is not a medical examiner or coroner, puts his mom’s death at 2 hours ago. That right there is so incredibly bizarre that I am surprised that the police didn’t interrogate Jason on it. And why did he call others before calling 9-1-1?? Another thing is that the propensity to start “crying” almost on queue. Also, the female-like screeching that Jason does, such as on the 9-1-1 call. I could understand anger and yelling, but the screeching voice at 3 raised octaves is waaaay over the top, a bit dramatic for a grown man, especially a man who thinks he’s got big enough balls that he can have an extramarital affair.
Just watched Accused, I believe the ‘evidence’ doesn’t prove or disprove John. The whole time I was leaning towards the father Bill’s involvement but I don’t think that was clear cut either. I think the whole investigation was conducted with tunnel vision and Ludwick/Ludwig (whatever his name) was embarrassing and proved he never followed up because he went with his own judgement! Not facts! I personally don’t believe Jason committed this crime.
I agree fully. Sadly once tunnel vision becomes the direction of any case the evidence does not take the investigator/s in the right direction. This case may never truly be solved because Ludwig’s tunnel vision meant that many issues were not followed up on and quite possibly evidence was ignored that didn’t fit his theory.
As someone who studied Criminology, I struggle to understand his thinking and his processes. Whether a Cold Case Team could solve this case is something that without all the complete facts is doubtful
So many lives have been ruined completely because of this very sad case. Not only did they loose a wife, mother, daughter, sister etc but false accusations hang over all involved as long as the true culprit is not caught, send to trial and found guilty. My prayer is that the Police finally do their job right and start from scratch with open hearts and minds and follow only the evidence to it rightful conclusion.
Jason’s attorneys solved the case on A&E in 2021 where is the updated case information 😩
What about Jasons wife? My theory is they planned it and it was all about money. She killed mom, staged it, crossed arms and legs and left. Then Jason shows up to call it in 2 hours later with an alibi.
In addition that is why Shelly was so opposed to Jason taking the plea deal, because she was worried he would end up breaking his silence about who really pulled the trigger. The affair didn’t matter at that point.
Ridiculous
The staging of the scene to resemble a “robbery” where nothing was missing save the murder weapon and that the body was also staged strongly suggests to me the killer was a family member, either the husband or one of the two sons. The killer didn’t bring a weapon but knew there was a gun safe in the basement and retrieved the murder weapon from there. It seems clear Jason was not the killer since video places him far away at the time of the murder. Comment from family member above indicates husband was also far away at the time of the murder. That leaves Billy Dean Carter. Where was he that morning – why was he never a suspect? Can any other family members be implicated or have motive? And Jason’s wife, she seems 100% convinced from the beginning that Jason wasn’t involved – not the slightest doubt. Is there a reason she is so sure? It’s baffling to me that this remains a cold case and that not a shred of physical evidence was ever found.
im sure the police have thought about this as many others have also. maybe there isnt quite enough evidence to move forward……yet
I just watched the A&E Accused Guilty or Innocent series episode about this case. Presented from the defendents point of view. It elaborates on a very generous plea deal offered by the state and statements by others implicating the Followill brothers. At this point I am convinced that not only is Jason not culpable it is likely neither are any family members. It is upsetting that his life has been greatly impacted and that he is being held responsible with no further appeal possible for a 10.2M civil judgement against him.
Billy was at work. I worked with him, and remember the day he found out about his Mom being killed. He was devastated. Hi alibi was checked a million times, and verified by several people who interacted with him at work the days leading up to the crime, and the day of.
I am in agreement with William Hilder, Jason is innocent. The last person to see Shirley alive and m concern here is why would he do everything to blame his son. I am not blaming anyone because to jump to conclusions is exact what has damaged so many lives.
Without doubt I do believe that the Police made three crucial mistakes
1. They told the Billy they had someone they were looking at and would be laying charges within weeks. Of course the famiily were going to get frustrated. How Jason got a fair trial is testament to the wonderful jury.
2. The Police did not follow the evidence. They made an assumption and without doubt attempted to make the evidence fit their conclusion.
3. There were a number of clues that the Police didn’t follow to their conclusions. They were so harassed by Jason’s and I think the Civil Judgement left them looking inadequate So they jumped on that banned wagon, a case that leaves a loving parent wondering why he would deliberately push to blame his own son.
Personally as a Criminologist I would love to see all the evidence as heart breaks for Jason and his family, he has been found innocent by a court of Law, yet his own self righteous family have found his guilty….why, because he had an affair. Something that had nothing to do with his parents. There is far more to this story and all parties, especially Shirley deserve someone to investigate this from an open mind.
As I was looking up information on the case, I came across testimonies of those involved in the case. Billy Carter was supposedly at work when his mother was killed, but I have no clue if his alibi checked out. From the follow up episode, the rumors of others being involved was investigated by Jason’s attorneys. They found a truck that was possibly seen in the area, plus the phone belonging to someone of interest pinged off the closest tower to the Carter farm at 9:23am (or very close to that time, as I don’t recall the exact time they said). Sounds to me like the police have some work to do. I truly find it difficult to believe that Jason or his wife were involved. His brother is extremely weird though, but weirdness doesn’t indicate guilt.
Husband did it. Two thoughts. 1) Based on Bill’s comment about finding out that Jason had an affair, he said ‘We (he and Shirley) did something wrong’. That is a comment based on morality. He felt there was a failure on their part in raising Jason. As a moral man, he may have believed he could do no wrong, and place the blame entirely on his wife. This also sounds familiar with the reports that Bill was a very controlling husband. 2) Where’s the rifle? Husband claims the son hid the rifle somewhere on the property, and retrieved it later to get rid of it. Couldn’t the husband do the exact same thing? Husband had more opportunity to get ride of the gun along the stretch of roads during his traveling to sell the grain. Or on his return. 3) Spending hundreds of thousands of dollars to investigate the son is a sign of deflection/guilt. He essentially blamed the son for the death of his wife, because he thought it was her fault that their son had an affair. And 4) most important. It is HIGHLY unlikely that a son who just murdered his mother in cold blood would EVER touch her body to carefully place her hands crossed over her chest
THAT is something that a husband/lover/significant other would do. Basically placing a loved one “at rest’. Jmho
I think Jason Carter killed his mother he needs to be in prison for the rest of his life
Interesting…
https://www.kniakrls.com/2020/07/02/fight-between-father-and-son-lands-bill-carter-in-the-hospital/
Wow, great family alright…
Some farming families are ruthless and very greedy. My in-laws are farmers and are great people, However, I’ve seen enough from their more distant relatives, neighboring farming families, landlords & tenants to know millions of dollars in farmland corrupts.
OMG was Junior ever fully investigated? and was about the sister? she stated that she told Jason he needed to call 911, but she called her father. she didn’t call 911 to report in right away either. The whole thing is strange. Shirley Carter will not rest in peace until the truth is found out.
I have watched this case in the past and watched again tonight. I think that Jason Carter killed his mother. I watch cases all the time. I find that infidelity is a common denominator in a lot of cases like this. If his mother had learned of his affair and his knowing that his inheritance could be in jeopardy, I think he could definitely kill her before she told his father. But, a statement he made in passing was a key for me. He said that when his brother left home, his dad forced him to do all the chores his brother left behind even though he felt he was too young to carry the load. I think he resented that, and he felt he was entitled to the land and money he would inherit. He would have gone on cheating and living his life had his mother not gotten in his way. He wasn’t going to take the chance of his father finding out and taking him out of the will. I think he knew too much when he called 911. I don’t think the judge told the jury to find him innocent. I do think the police did a lousy job of investigating the crime. If they had done their job, the truth probably would have come out.
I think the father did it why would he try and commit suicide not once but twice come on now
I totaly agree. He was the last person to see her before the son found her.
Cindy, Ravin, Tracy, and whomever else is implying the father, he’d husband was the last to see/hear/talk to/know she was alive. You need to know 2 things about the father/husband/Bill Sr. When he left the house after getting coffee with her, he inadvertently pulled out in front of his neighbor at 7:41AM. (Neighbor testified to being looking at the time on his car click, and further more, he continues to drive behind Bill Sr. to the gravel and then highway, North and East (where Bill Sr. picks up his semi, at a farm in Pleasantville, approx. 15 miles from home).
So give or take we are now at about 7:55-8:00AM.
Bill checked his semi tires as always is his practice with a hammer. (To some, this may sound different, but if you’re old school, or even taught by an old schooler on semi grain hauling, this is common. You hit each of the “18 wheels” with a hammer to see they are solid, check lights and note any fluid leaks, safety for transport. Basically it is a quick walk around. He says his semi is loaded from the day before with corn, ready to go to Cargill, about 50-60 minutes away to deliver grain. He states he waited a few moments for the diesel to run, not a long time, because it is was a sunny day, warm, 6/19/15. He then pulls out, and heads to Cargill with his own set goal of 9:00 AM arrival. The camera at Cargill shows him pulling in the gates at 9:01AM.
Meanwhile, Shirley (wife, mom) has filled out a voting ballot for the Iowa Corn Board voting for Donny Hunerdose. Why? Because they’d seen Donny at Casey’s when they got coffee, prior to Bill Sr. taking Shirley back home. Donny tells them he hopes he doesn’t mind that he sent them a ballot and would appreciate their vote. They tell him no problem, and Shirley tells Donny she will fill it out right when she gets home.
Then, she apparently notices there’s a number to call the vote in. She removes the stamp from the already filled out envelope (the stamp is on the desk, the ballot and envelope are found in the kitchen trash by her daughter and turned over to DCi/Sherriff’s.).
KEY **Between 8:44AM, and 8:47AM, Shirley makes FIVE calls to two phone numbers from their HOME phone and submits their vote on the phone (records and testimony in criminal trial by the Corn Board Rep of the received vote and copy of the Corn board’s records. Also, the Home phone company records 5 dialed calls to the 2 numbers for that time period. Short calls. She was alive. Bill Sr. Was about 50 minutes away from the home. So he did NOT leave her shot with two high powered rifle shots through her lungs and heart. He did not kill her. I hope this clears some things up. I understand it is difficult to make sense if the timeline if you’re not looking through everything very thoroughly and if you don’t listen to testimony that is crucial, yet was not spelled out and summarized by the prosecutor..unfortunately. I am their niece. My cousin is Jason. If you want clarification like this and it is not sealed, I am willing to offer any answers I can.
Murder for hire by Bill Sr
Still afraid of Bill, Linnette? Or is the inheritance you think is coming your way giving you the courage to persevere?
Dearest F,
Inheritance. That’s a terrible thing to say. I’ve never in my life thought I would inherit anything from anyone. This remains true today. Afraid of anyone? Not at all, but thank you for your concern.
Also, Dearest F. You are so inclined to accuse me of the greed others have, why do you not state your comment with your name? You said my name without issue. Please show the same courage. Thanks.
Thank you…this is the most cohesive explanation of time that I have read about this case. I agree that the prosecutor did not cover these details adequately. I think this case should have been solved with a more comprehensive and professional investigation. I appreciate this explanation.
I think if Jason was found not guilty I believe his father needs to be looked at. Because i watched the case and believe hes the one that killed her and pointed the finger at his son.
Me to
I just watched the Guilty or Innocent and have 2 questions. Who and what is the Joe person mentioned by the reporting person as admitting he did it? Why would he be going to the Carter home for drugs, wouldn’t anyone who knew them know that Shirley would more than likely be at home in the morning and or Bill?
We watched the Dateline episode. We are of the opinion that Jason did murder his mom. He shows no tears or emotion, only steadfast adamant behaviour to convince the authorities that he is innocent. He is an adultery plus a murderer. His wife stays……she is nuts! Get yourself a divorce. If the tables were turned, Jason would be long gone!
I think they need to investigate the 3 people that one of the neighbors had told the officer about like the man who told her that he had did the murder the man named joe and the 2 other guys that had helped him why haven’t they been questioned and checked into there had to have been finger prints or something and how can they charge a man for murder when they have no murder weapon just wondering I still think Jason carter is a innocent man and they should do a little more investigation on the joe guy and his 2 buddy’s prayers that the family will realize that the son did not murder his mother and maybe by the grace of the good lord above the father and the rest of the family will maybe just maybe have a heart and realize that the mother wouldn’t want the family to fall apart when wrongly accused of something that wasn’t true I’m sure that the mother would be very very sad to know that the father was treating his own flesh and blood the way he is without any evidence to prove what actually happened to her that day other then what the detectives lead them to believe prayers and love from my family to there’s hopefully someday they can put there family back together
👍
I’m with Frank on this one. I’ve always thought the exact same thing.
And tonight I watched the continuance of the same story.
I can’t believe they haven’t arrested the real killers of Mrs Carter.
Bad Police work, and they simply don’t want to take any responsibility.
The husband was the last one to see her before the son found her. And when the husband got to the house he said aw Shirley and kissed her. I find that a little bizaar. The son was extremly emotional. The husband got all the money when the wife died. Husband planned it.
I agree with you. For some reason I just feel the husband did it and made darn sure the son got blamed for it.
I also agree with you! LE screwed up this case so much I think they created the timeline of her death to match Bills timeline of his movements. I think Bill set up his own son and tried to seal his fate by filing the civil lawsuit way before trial of Jason. Bill thought the civil suit would help get Jason convicted. Ignoring the confession of the brothers as well as not disclosing that info to all parties is criminal. Bill obviously has his favorite children and to heck with the rest. I hope Jason gets Justice.
Throughout this whole ordeal locals have known two things:
A – Shirley & Bill’s son Jason has a very negative reputation and it wouldn’t be aberrant for him to kill his mother for something he believed was rightly his. This is greatly in line with his reputed personality.
B – Law enforcement, particularly Sheriff Sandholt, mishandled a great deal of this case that gifted the defense with more than reasonable doubt and allowed Mr. J Carter to be freed of any criminal charges.
This case will likely never be solved because of double jeopardy laws.
It is heartbreaking to know it will go on as “”unsolved”. It is frightening to know we are not safe. I found out the jury didn’t have a choice on the guilty or not guilty given the fact the investigation was awful, including the sheriff tipping off the main dishevt of a search warrant, evidence not collected, lack of following frivolous leads resulted in the jurors as instructed to by the judge, to come back with a not guilty verdict due to a lack of a full investigation.
None of this so-called expatory evidence was new to the defendant, extended family, his friends, nor his attorneys. As a matter of fact a few of his friends helped create the scenario, whether or not he knew before or after..he knew by December 2015. I am unable to share those publicly as I was not a part of the conversations. It would be illegal for me to do so. It wouldn’t be like getting away with murder, but I’m confident I’d be charged immediately, sued, convicted, and imprisoned. I wish so much I could share all I know.
My Aunt’s birthday would be June 10th. She was murdered June 19th, 2015, so
It is a rough time right now for her family.
M’Thinks Bill Carter protested too much boo hooing over Shirley’s death. Neighbor said he was extremely controlling over even smallest things. While son Jason was said to have a good relationship with his mother, and besides which, how could he inherit farm if only his mother and not father was dead.
Regarding your last question, the theory is that his parents were very conservative and would disinherit Jason upon learning of his infidelity; a fact that Shirley recently discovered but had not divulged yet to Bill. Jason’s inheritance would have been secure if he successfully hid his involvement in his mother’s murder so the theory goes.
He threw it all away and has paid a big price. He will pay a much bigger price in the after life I strongly suspect.
I think there is an editing error. The family name switches to Clark towards the end of the posting.
KP, thanks for catching that. I found two instances where I’d inadvertently typed the name Clark instead of Carter, and have fixed both of them. So glad you brought this to my attention. All best to you.
They got married when she was 15??
C, yes — according to Shirley’s obituary, she was just a couple of months shy of 16 when she and Bill married. It wasn’t all that uncommon back then, particularly if the parents gave consent. Many of these “young newlyweds” also stayed married for the rest of their natural lives. It’s a wonderful thing seeing couples who’ve been married 50, 60, and sometimes even 70 years.
Thank you for clarifying this, Jody. It’s not surprising “C” focuses on her age at the time of marriage. Billy G Carter was 16, just a class ahead of Shirley.
The uncommon fact is that he worked while finishing high school through half days at the school and the remainder via correspondence to earn his high school diploma and working full time as a butcher and driver to support his young family. He received an ACT score of 29, and turned down college scholarships to be with his young wife.
Shirley and Billy were still happily married after 52 years, successfully farming and raising their family against all odds.
As Jody said, the young marriage was not uncommon at the time, but there are also many failed marriages and unwed mothers. The Carters were the exception to the rule due to love, hard work, and the unique ability to stay real, honest, good people, and perseverance.
‘Happily married’ is an opinion. Unless you’re the husband or wife, the happiness of a marriage is never known. Married people only let you see what they want to divulge. And older couples show even less. Because their thought process about marriage is ’til death do us part’. Because that’s how it was way back when. None of that new fangled divorce or separation talk. Married at 16? A life of working a farm? With your spouse 24/7 for decades? Loss of monetary support? Property? Access to children and grandchildren? Not something older folks ever think is possible. Again ’til death us do part’.
It’s very true that you never know what’s really going on behind closed doors. People did marry in their teens quite a bit. But…researching my family history, I can tell you that even in those “long term marriages,” a lot of side stuff went on. A lot of divorces back in the day too, we just didn’t have the massive media we have now to hear about everything that went on.