On November 19, 1992, the rural community of Rocky Comfort, Missouri, became the setting for a violent crime involving 22-year-old male Tim Eastburn, who was found dead in his home. A neighbor discovered the grisly scene after noticing a broken window and kicking in the front door to check on the resident. Authorities arrived to find that the victim had been shot twice with a high-powered rifle.
An autopsy later revealed that one bullet had severed his spinal cord, causing instant paralysis, while a second contact wound to the head proved instantly fatal. The investigation determined the weapon used was the victim's own AK-47 assault rifle, which had been taken from the residence.
Law enforcement quickly focused their attention on individuals close to the victim, specifically his ex-wife, Sheena Renea Eastburn. Witnesses reported seeing a pickup truck leaving the scene, and a neighbor testified to seeing Sheena arrive at the home earlier that day with two men. The victim had reportedly told a witness that his ex-wife had come to 'clean him out.' Investigators located the pickup truck submerged in a nearby pit and were able to link the rifle ballistics to the murder. The two men accompanying Sheena were identified as Terry Banks and Matt Myers, the latter described as Banks' best friend.
The investigation revealed that Sheena Eastburn had engaged in a relationship with Banks shortly after her marriage to the victim was dissolved in September of that year. Although she did not pull the trigger herself, prosecutors argued she was instrumental in the planning and execution of the crime, which appeared to be motivated by robbery and personal animosity. Sheena admitted to being present during the murder but claimed she had no prior knowledge of the lethal intentions of her companions, a defense that was ultimately rejected by the court.
Following the arrests, the legal proceedings resulted in significant convictions for all three suspects. Matt Myers entered a plea bargain with the prosecution, pleading guilty to second-degree murder and other related offenses, for which he received a sentence of sixty-seven years in prison. Sheena Eastburn was found guilty by a jury of murder in the first degree and was sentenced to life in imprisonment without the possibility of probation or parole. Terry Banks was also convicted for his role in the slaying. The swift conclusion of the case brought a measure of justice to the small community shaken by the targeted violence.
