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Jason Shackelford, of Columbia, "raped and killed his girlfriend’s 12-year-old daughter on the night of Feb. 8 into the morning of Feb. 9 at a home in the 500 block of Avenue H in Columbia. He stated he attempted to conceal the victim’s body in a freezer in the basement," the Lancaster County District Attorney says.
The unnamed girl was later found in the mother's chest freezer in the basement of the home on Ave. H, according to the DA.
The mother, voluntarily provided a statement to and was interviewed by Columbia Police around 6:50 a.m. on Feb. 10.
She explained that Shackelford and she were going through a breakup, and she recently asked him to move out. She "stated she received a text while at work around 6:35 a.m. on Feb. 9 from Shackelford saying (her daughter) was sick and in bed," the DA wrote in the release. But when the mom "returned home from work around 7:45 a.m., Shackelford and she got into an argument, and Shackelford showed her (daughter)’s empty bed. Shackelford allegedly stated he took (girl) to New York, and she was safe," but this was later proved false.
Shackelford then raped the mother before forcing her to leave for the Wyndham Lancaster hotel with him.
"Shackelford allegedly used the (daughter's) well-being as leverage and sexually assaulted (the mom) again at the hotel before allowing her to go smoke a cigarette. At this time, (the mom) alerted hotel staff to call the police. C
Columbia Police Detective Matthew Leddy filed charges. Additional charges may be filed pending the results of an autopsy and further investigation.
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