In a tragic turn of events that unfolded within their University City home, Jannicka Andujar, a female, lost her life on January 30, 2016. The quiet of the suburban St. Louis residence was shattered by a fatal gunshot that would leave a family irrevocably broken. Her husband, Cameron Harper, admitted to shooting her, a grim confession that took place while their children were present in the home.
In the immediate aftermath, those children were taken into protective custody, shielded from the traumatic scene that had unfolded.
The investigation into Jannicka's death led to the arrest of her husband, who was initially charged with second-degree murder. The case, however, would take a different path as it moved through the legal system. According to Andujar's mother, Shirley Moffit-Smith, there had been prior issues within the marriage, though she never imagined it would escalate to such a violent conclusion. She described her son-in-law as gentle and sweet in her presence, making the violent act all the more shocking. Reports also indicated that police had been called to the couple's home for domestic violence incidents in the past, hinting at a troubled history that preceded the fatal shooting.
Ultimately, the charge against Cameron Harper was amended from second-degree murder to voluntary manslaughter. This change came after the only witness to the shooting later stated that they did not actually see the event unfold. Harper maintained that he acted in self-defense, claiming that his wife had a knife. In a legal maneuver that avoids a direct admission of guilt while acknowledging the strength of the prosecution's evidence, Harper entered an Alford Plea. He was subsequently sentenced to 12 years in prison for the death of his wife. While the legal proceedings concluded with this plea, for the family of Jannicka Andujar, the belief that she was murdered remains.
