Over Labor Day weekend, the 44-year-old was taking senior photo portraits on one of the most popular trails in Hocking Hills State Park when she was struck from above by a large log.
Following the initial report of the mother of four’s death, officials then announced the tree was “dislodged” from above before striking Schafer near Old Man’s Cave and that it was not a “natural occurrence.”
Last month, Central Ohio Crime Stoppers offered a $10,000 reward to anyone with information regarding Schafer’s death.
After receiving pertinent information regarding the case, the Ohio Department of Natural Resources began investigating a 16-year-old and 17-year-old, who have now been charged with reckless homicide, the Chillicothe Gazette reported.
A press release from the Hocking County Prosecutor’s Office said the boys allegedly admitted that they helped push the log over a cliff that struck Schafer.
Schafer’s death is the third reported near Hocking Hills this summer. Park officials have also rescued at least four hikers throughout the season.
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This article appears in Oct 9-15, 2019.
Wondering if you can be more specific?
Did they do it on purpose or were they screwing around and killed her accidentally, not knowing she was below them?
Thats why its reckless homicide. They didnt kill her on purpose, but they acted recklessly causing death. Its the same kind of charge you would get if you ran a red light and killed someone. Its not intentional but its reckless. Its all very sad.
More specific about what? Basically they were up above and shoved a huge piece of a tree over the edge of a cliff down to Old Man’s Cave trails below. If I had to guess, I’d say they weren’t intentionally trying to kill anyone. But where she was killed you could likely have seen people below, and even if you couldn’t, Labor Day weekend at Old Man’s Cave is PACKED so anyone would just assume people were below. On one hand I’d like to say “kid pranks gone wrong”. On the other hand, just like kids who throw rocks off overpasses, I’m glad they caught these little shits and I hope they spend serious time in the klink.
Punks like these are everywhere, even in the peaceful Hocking Hills.
Even in a state park. I’d like to see them rot in prison for a long, long time.