Police Suspect Bones In Florida
Belong To Missing Laurens Man
By LIBBY CUDMORE • Special to www.AllOTSEGO.com
LAURENS – Police believe that human remains found buried underneath a fire pit in the backyard of a Lake County, Florida, home may belong to a Laurens man last seen in 2015.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Michael Shaver, 36, was reported missing in February by a close friend who said that no one had heard from Shaver since October 2015. All activity in his bank account stopped at that time, too.
When sheriff’s Deputies went to the Shavers’ home on Feb. 16, his wife, Laurie Shaver, 35, also told them she had not seen or heard from him since 2015. She allowed deputies to search the home, but as they walked with her to the backyard, they noticed a large depression in the back yard and noted that there was a fresh layer of concrete, the newspaper reported.
A cadaver dog was brought in from the Brevard County Sheriff’s Office and allegedly hit on what deputies called “an area of interest.” Shaver allegedly ceased to cooperate with police and requested an attorney.
Deputies found what they believe to be a skeletal remains under a concrete slab, as well as clothing. The items have been sent to the lab for testing.
According to his sister, Stacie Shaver, Cooperstown, Michael worked as a mechanic on the monorails at Walt Disney World. The couple had been dating since seventh grade in Laurens, and moved to Central Florida in the late 2000s. They have two children, a 10-year-old girl and a 7-year-old boy.
In September 2014, Michael was arrested and charged with battery and domestic violence after Laurie told Lake deputies that her husband grabbed her arms and pushed her against a wall during a heated argument about a home renovation project, according to reports. He was later sentenced to probation.
Laurie Shaver told deputies that she has been in a relationship with Travis Filmer since early 2016, and the two plan to marry, according to sheriff’s reports.