In a quiet mobile home park just outside of Lincoln, Missouri, the life of 27-year-old Caleb L.D. Shephard was tragically cut short on the night of Friday, January 12, 2018. A United States Army veteran and a father to two sons, Shephard, of Cole Camp, was found with a gunshot wound to his abdomen outside a residence in the park. Emergency services were quickly on the scene, and he was rushed by ambulance to a helicopter landing site, but unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries and died.
The investigation into the shooting led authorities to the occupant of the residence, 21-year-old William J. Heffernan. Following their initial inquiries, investigators arrested Heffernan in connection with Shephard's death. The Benton County Sheriff's Office had not immediately determined a motive for the shooting. Heffernan was subsequently charged with second-degree murder, armed criminal action, and tampering with physical evidence. His bond was set at $100,000.
In the months that followed, the legal process began to unfold. Heffernan initially entered a plea of not guilty to the charges against him during his arraignment. However, by November 2018, a significant development occurred in the case when it was reported that Heffernan had waived his right to a jury trial. It was announced that a plea agreement had been reached between the prosecution and Heffernan's legal counsel, canceling the scheduled trial. A plea hearing was then set for November 14, 2018, at the Benton County Circuit Court.
