In the quiet community of Sharpsburg, Maryland, the life of 24-year-old Lena Elizabeth Titus was tragically cut short on the evening of May 13, 2015. A resident of Hagerstown, Lena had driven to the home of her former boyfriend, Shaun Frazier, with the intention of retrieving her personal belongings. What should have been a simple exchange turned into a premeditated and brutal act of violence that ended her life.
As Lena pulled into the driveway of the Sharpsburg residence, Frazier, who
was 28 years old at the time, was lying in wait. Positioned at a second-story window, he took aim with a rifle and fired at her. After the initial shot, he proceeded to go outside and shoot her again, this time with a shotgun. The cold-blooded nature of the attack was further underscored by communications he had with friends just prior to the murder. Investigators discovered text messages Frazier sent, including one that ominously read, “Lena is here. It's time to take action.” After the shooting, he sent another chilling message to a friend stating, “I did it … I killed her.”
Following the murder, Shaun Frazier fled the scene, prompting a seven-hour manhunt before he was ultimately apprehended and taken into custody. He was subsequently charged with first-degree murder. In September 2016, Frazier pleaded guilty to the charge, acknowledging his actions in court. During the legal proceedings, his defense attorney argued that Frazier was 'out of his mind' on oxycodone at the time of the killing. Frazier himself claimed to have been diagnosed with post-traumatic stress disorder and bipolar disorder. Nevertheless, a psychological evaluation determined he was competent to stand trial. In January 2017, Shaun Frazier was sentenced to life in prison for the murder of Lena Titus.
