Collinsville murder-for-hire case timeline and a look at what’s next

A Caseyville businessman is accused of paying $10,000 to have his estranged wife’s girlfriend killed outside her Collinsville home in January 2025. The gunman has been sentenced to life in prison, and the alleged mastermind’s murder trial is scheduled for January 2027.

Here are key takeaways:

• The murder: Portia Rowland, 32, was shot and killed about 6 a.m. on Jan. 21, 2025, outside the Olive Street home she shared with Sarah Shafer, who was planning to marry Rowland. Sarah Shafer’s estranged husband, Sammy J. Shafer Jr., had filed for divorce in August 2023 after nearly 10 years of marriage.

• The arrests: The Major Case Squad of Greater St. Louis followed more than 200 leads and executed more than 30 search warrants. Investigators used license-plate readers to track a suspect vehicle, leading to the arrests of alleged getaway driver Marty D. Shaw, alleged gunman Gary D. Johnson and Shafer within days.

• The alleged plot: Prosecutors say Shaw, a former employee of Shafer’s excavating business, and his cousin Johnson were hired to kill Rowland. Johnson allegedly confessed, saying Shafer provided the gun and Shaw provided Rowland’s address. After the shooting, the two went to a Missouri casino.

• The gunman’s conviction: Johnson was found guilty of first-degree murder in a March 2026 bench trial. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole on April 23, 2026, because of a prior murder conviction from 2000.

• What’s next: Shafer’s first-degree murder trial is set for Jan. 11, 2027, after his defense attorneys requested a continuance. His attorneys have also requested a change of venue, citing pretrial publicity. No trial date has been set for Shaw.

The summary points above were compiled with the help of AI tools and edited by journalists. The source reporting referenced above was written and edited entirely by BND journalists.