ABC‘s popular investigative show “20/20“ aired a shocking episode in January 2025 that told the sad story of Michael Shaver, a beloved husband and father who went missing in 2015 and was missed by his family and friends. The Hulu episode, which is hosted by Eva Pilgrim, is about Michael’s mysterious disappearance and the shocking facts that led to his conviction. Here is a more in-depth look at Michael’s life, his sad death, and the scary truth that was found.
The Early Life of Michael Shaver
Mike Shaver was born in Utica, New York, on January 14, 1982. His parents, brother Brian, and sister Stacie loved and supported him as a child because they were all close. A lot of what made Michael who he was came from his love of mechanics and airplanes. As a kid, he was known for being interested in and excited about working with machines, traits that helped him later in his career.
Michael’s love life took off when he met Laurie, who became his soulmate. They were friends as kids in Utica and became engaged after many years of being together. They moved to Clermont, Florida, after getting married and making a life together while raising two kids. Michael was a monorail technician at Walt Disney World and loved his job. Laurie, on the other hand—worked from home for an insurance company.
After work, Michael did what he loved, which was flying. He became a part of a local flight team called Precious Metal and flew in races all over the country. His sister Stacie said that he was always full of joy and passion when he was working on airplanes.
The Disappearance
The 7th of November 2015, Michael went to a tractor show with his family and Frank Merritt, a coworker. People who were there saw that Michael and Laurie were having a hard time. During the following week, Michael missed work three days in a row. When Merritt called Laurie out of worry, Laurie told him that Michael had left her and driven off in a black SUV to save their marriage.
This was the start of two and a half years of worry and confusion for Michael’s family and friends. Laurie said that Michael had left their family, but when he suddenly disappeared, no one knew what happened. Through text messages from Michael’s phone, Laurie talked to his family and friends and made him seem like someone who didn’t want to talk to anyone. Some of the short messages that were sent said things like “leave me alone” and “I don’t have family.”
A Chilling Discovery
In February 2018, Scott Amatuccio, a close friend of Michael’s, voiced concerns about the lack of physical proof of where Michael was. He asked that the Shaver home do a welfare check. When the police got there, they saw a strange concrete slab in the backyard next to a fire pit. The police dug around the site and found Michael’s body parts wrapped in a sheet after getting a search warrant.
The autopsy showed that Michael had been shot in the back of the head, which proved that he had been killed. That the wedding reception for Laurie’s new marriage had been held in the same backyard made the discovery even scarier. The initials of Laurie and Travis Filmer, her new husband, were carved into the concrete slab that covered Michael’s body.
Laurie Shaver: The Prime Suspect
Laurie Shaver became the main suspect in Michael’s murder as the investigation went on. The prosecution said Laurie posed as Michael for more than two years, using his phone and social media accounts to make it look like he was still alive. This lie kept the investigation into his disappearance from happening right away.
In her defense, Laurie brought up claims of domestic violence and cheating—which made Michael look like a bad husband. She said that their 7-year-old daughter Isabelle saw a fight the night of the murder and shot Michael to protect her mother. Also, Laurie said that her boyfriend at the time, Jereme Townsend, came to the scene, threw away Michael’s body, and told her not to say anything.
These claims were denied by Townsend, who said he had nothing to do with Michael’s death or the disposal of his body. The prosecutors said Laurie’s story was made up to avoid taking responsibility.
The Trial and Conviction
It was in September 2024 that Laurie Shaver was put on trial for killing Michael. There were emotional testimonies in court, including one from Isabelle, who is now 15 years old. She talked about the things she said she saw as a child and how she got her mother’s gun and shot her father.
The defense tried to put the blame on someone else, but the prosecution had strong evidence against Laurie. They said Laurie acted alone because she was having money problems and her marriage was getting tense. The fact that her body was found in her backyard and that she had been lying for two years painted a very bad picture.
Laurie Shaver was found guilty of second-degree murder on September 13, 2024. She got a life sentence in prison with no chance of parole.
A Family’s Pain and Closure
After the verdict, Michael’s family felt both sad and relieved. His sister Stacie Turner talked about how nice her brother was and how much he loved his family. She said, “Michael was a remarkable person.” His love for everyone was complete. It looks like his spirit will finally be able to rest in peace.
Michael’s family and friends felt some closure after the trial, but the pain of losing him is still very heavy. Friends and family will always remember how much he loved life, how devoted he was to his family, and how much he loved flying.
The case of Michael Shaver is a terrible example of how lies and betrayal can break people’s hearts. This shows how important it is to look for justice and the truth, even if they are buried deep. The episode of 20/20 brought Michael’s life and untimely death to the public’s attention—shining a light on a tragedy that will always be remembered by everyone who knew him.
Family and friends will always remember Michael Shaver. Their stories show that he was a man who loved deeply, worked hard and left an indelible mark on those who knew him.a beloved husband and father who went missing in 2015 and was missed by his family and friends.
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