Closing arguments in trial of Lake County woman accused of killing and burying her husband

LAKE COUNTY, Florida. — Attorneys are expected to make closing arguments Friday in the trial of Laurie Shaver, a Lake County woman accused of killing her husband and burying him under a concrete slab.

This came after a day of explosive testimony from Shaver and Shaver's daughter, who said she actually pulled the trigger.

Shaver was arrested in 2020, more than two years after her ex-husband, Michael Shaver, who had not been seen since November 2015, was reported missing. Before her arrest on a warrant for second-degree murder, investigators searching Shaver's property on Sandy Pines Road discovered human remains under a concrete slab, later identified as those of Michael.

Shaver testified for about two hours Thursday, saying her husband was often physically violent and she did not stand up for herself.

[TIMELINE: Where things stand in the case of Laurie Shaver, accused of killing and burying husband]

“One time I literally reached for an Oreo and got thrown off the couch,” Shaver said.

Laurie Shaver said she tried several times to get away from her husband, including traveling to New York with her daughter Isabelle to escape Michael Shaver and file for divorce while he was away on a business trip.

Shaver says Isabelle, then seven years old, tried to protect her after a violent altercation.

Shaver: “The next thing I see is – I can't even say it – I see her, I more or less heard it, then I think I saw her.”

Lawyer: “Now who do you mean when you say ‘they’?”

Shaver: “Isabelle.”

Lawyer: “What is Isabelle doing?”

Shaver: “She fired a shot.”

Lawyer: “Were you able to see where the shot lodged in Michael after Isabelle fired it?”

Shaver: “I couldn’t do that.”

Lawyer: “Where are you after Isabelle fired the gun?”

Shaver: “Still on the floor.”

Isabelle had previously told the court that she had shot Michael Shaver.

Laurie and Michael were reportedly meeting other people at the time of his disappearance. One of the men Laurie was meeting testified on Thursday.

Jeremy Townsend described his relationship with her as “friendship with benefits and no strings attached.”

He denied having anything to do with the murder. On the witness stand, he was asked several direct questions about the murder.

Prosecutor: “Was there ever an argument between you and Michael Shaver?”

Townsend: “No.”

Prosecution: “Did you ever shoot or injure Michael Shaver?”

Townsend: “No.”

Prosecution: “Were you at any time involved in the disposal of Michael Shaver’s body?

Townsend: “No.”

Prosecutor: “What happened to your affair with Laurie after the affair was discovered?”

Townsend: “I cut it off.”

An autopsy revealed that Michael Shaver was shot only once.

A detective also testified Thursday about Shaver's social media posts referencing the concrete slab and fire pit she built in her backyard where the body was found.

In one of his posts, he read aloud: “Latest project: Built this fire pit today, cut part of the fence for access, and just need to pour concrete and put in a new gate.”

On the third day of the trial on Wednesday, Laurie Shaver's new husband Travis Filmer spoke about his knowledge of Laurie's relationship with Michael and was asked why Michael's disappearance did not raise further questions for him.

The trial is expected to continue on Friday at 8 a.m.

News 6 is broadcasting the trial live at the top of this story.

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