2 teens arrested in death of mother of 4
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LOGAN, OH (WLWT) — Two teenagers have been arrested in connection with the death of a mother of four at Hocking Hills State Park.
Authorities with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources announced the arrest of two 16-year-olds suspected in the death of 44-year-old Victoria Schafer, of Chillicothe.
“It was shock, because as much as I wanted answers — and I really wanted answers — I don’t know if I thought that I would get any,” said Tara Gillum, a friend of Schafer’s and fellow small business owner.
Schafer, formerly of the Cincinnati area, owned a photography business and was at Old Man’s Cave on Labor Day taking senior photographs for a group of students when a log fell on her.
Investigators did not name the teens, as they are minors. Both were charged with reckless homicide and are being held at the juvenile detention center in Lancaster.
Hocking County prosecutor, Benjamin Fickel, said both teenagers are from Logan, Ohio. Fickel said the teens admitted to forcing a 74-pound log off a cliff, causing it to fall more than 75 feet, and it hit Schafer.
Fickel said investigators received a tip about a text message one of the the teens sent to a classmate, saying he and a friend did something serious at the park.
The teenagers were arraigned Friday.
As the legal process progresses, those close to Schafer said she would be the first to forgive.
“Last night, when people in here were talking about it, that seemed to be the recurring thing was that, ya know, she 100 percent would’ve forgiven,” Gillum said.
Authorities have not said what the teens allegedly did to make the log fall.
“I don’t really need anything, just some answers,” Fritz Schafer, Victoria Schafer’s husband said, last month. “I just can’t stop thinking about her.”
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