Benjamin Frederic Shaffer, aged 69, and his wife Edith Elouise Shaffer were residents of Yuma, Arizona. They were tragically murdered in Manchester, Mendocino County, California, in July 1982. The couple was reported missing, and their bodies were discovered over a year later, on December 8, 1983. The Shaffers were victims of a serial killer who had targeted them during their visit to California.
The official death records for both Benjamin and Edith Shaffer list their date of death as December 9, 1983, which corresponds to the date their bodies were found.
The investigation into their deaths revealed that the Shaffers had been robbed and murdered. The case was part of a broader investigation into a series of murders committed by a serial killer who was eventually apprehended and died in prison. The details of the investigation indicated that the killer had a pattern of targeting elderly couples, robbing them, and then murdering them to cover up the crimes.
In 1983, a court case related to the murders resulted in the conviction of an individual named Remsen. Remsen was found guilty of one count of second-degree murder, six counts of forgery, three counts of attempted grand theft, one count of grand theft, and one count of grand theft auto. This conviction was part of a larger effort to bring justice to the victims and their families. The legal proceedings highlighted the brutality of the crimes and the meticulous efforts by law enforcement to solve the case.
The Shaffers' tragic deaths and the subsequent investigation and legal actions underscore the dangers posed by serial offenders and the importance of thorough investigative work in bringing such criminals to justice. The case remains a somber reminder of the vulnerability of individuals and the critical role of law enforcement in protecting communities from such heinous acts.
