Nearly 150 on witness list for metro-east husband’s murder-for-hire trial
The Madison County state’s attorney’s office has filed a list of nearly 150 witnesses whom prosecutors could call during the trial of a man accused of hiring two hitmen to shoot and kill his estranged wife’s girlfriend outside a Collinsville home earlier this year.
The murder trial of Sammy J. Shafer Jr., 37, is scheduled for April 27, 2026, according to court records. The Caseyville businessman and father of three has been held in the Madison County Jail without bond since his arrest Jan. 25.
The witness list includes Marty D. Shaw, 34, of Collinsville — the alleged getaway driver and former employee of Shafer’s excavating business — and Gary D. Johnson, 46, of East St. Louis, the alleged shooter and Shaw’s cousin.
Few outstanding issues were brought up at a brief pretrial hearing on Monday. T.J. Matthes, who is representing Shafer along with St. Louis attorney Scott Rosenblum, asked Circuit Judge Tim Berkley about records of phone calls that Shaw has made from jail.
“He’s on the witness list, so I’m assuming they’re going to be calling him to the stand. I’d like to get his jail call list,” Matthes said after the hearing. He declined further comment.
Portia Rowland, 32, was fatally shot about 6 a.m. Jan. 21 outside a home on Olive Street in Collinsville that she shared with Sammy Shafer’s estranged wife, Sarah Shafer.
The office of State’s Attorney Tom Haine charged Sammy Shafer, Shaw and Johnson with first-degree murder and other offenses. Prosecutors allege that Shafer paid them $10,000 to have Rowland killed.
Shaw and Johnson are represented by the office of Public Defender Mary Copeland. Johnson’s trial is set for March 9, 2026. Shaw’s trial has not been scheduled.
Sammy Shafer Jr.’s parents, Sammy Shafer Sr. and Tammy Shafer, attended Monday’s hearing at the Madison County Criminal Justice Center in Edwardsville. Their son, wearing shackles and a striped jail uniform, glanced at them briefly before leaving the courtroom.
On the opposite side of the aisle sat about 10 of Rowland’s family members and friends. They met with Assistant State’s Attorneys Luke Yager and Lauren Maricle after the hearing. A family representative declined to be interviewed.
“Not at this time,” he said.
Sammy Shafer Jr.’s attorneys filed a motion May 27 to request a change of venue, arguing that Shafer couldn’t get a fair trial in the metro-east because of pretrial publicity, including news stories and social media posts.
“Not only has the coverage been voluminous, but it has also been prejudicial because it has reported on matters that are inadmissible at trial and are inflammatory to a forthcoming jury venire,” Matthes wrote, referring to the pool of people from which jurors are selected.
Prosecutors responded June 5 by asking Berkley to deny the defense motion, arguing that Shafer’s trial should be held in the county where the murder occurred. The judge has not yet ruled on the matter.
The prosecution’s witness list shows the sizable investigative effort undertaken to find those responsible for Rowland’s killing. It includes 17 officers and detectives with the Collinsville Police Department, seven crime scene investigators and forensic scientists with the Illinois State Police, and 35 personnel from other agencies who assisted as part of the Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis.
Investigators reportedly used license plate readers to track a suspect vehicle, leading them to a Missouri address where they took Shaw into custody. That led them to Shafer and Johnson.
Shafer is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and two counts of solicitation of murder for hire. Johnson is charged with two counts of first-degree murder and one count of possession of a weapon by a felon. Shaw is charged with two counts of first-degree murder.
Rowland was a 2010 graduate of Collinsville High School who worked as a mechanic for Metropolitan Sewer District in St. Louis, according to her obituary.
Shafer was a well-known businessman who operated S. Shafer Excavating in Pontoon Beach with his father. He also served as president of several other businesses, including a trucking company and the Caseyville Bridge Inn, a bar on Main Street.
St. Clair County Circuit Court records show that Sammy Shafer filed for divorce from Sarah Shafer in 2023 after nearly 10 years of marriage.
