Donna Scheulen Evans, a 53-year-old woman from Apex, NC, tragically died on January 16, 2011. She was found shot in her home office, with a gun lying beside her. The medical examiner's report revealed that Donna had been shot twice, and both shots were fatal and couldn't have been self-inflicted.
Her husband, F. John Evans, 67, was arrested and charged with first-degree murder in connection with her death.
According to search warrants, John Evans might have tried to stage the crime to appear as if Donna had shot him and then killed herself. However, the investigation found inconsistencies in his account.
Authorities were alerted to the shooting by a woman renting a room in the couple's home, who heard John Evans screaming for help and found Donna lying on her stomach with a gun beside her. John Evans was also shot and treated at WakeMed Hospital before being arrested. Investigators seized computers from the home, suspecting that Donna's online activities and relationship with a man named Richard Renny might have been a motive for John Evans.
The couple's relationship was reportedly ending, and Donna had recently retrieved a safety deposit box to store important documents and personal property. Neighbors and friends described Donna as a generous and caring person who was active in her local church and enjoyed motorcycle riding.
The case drew significant attention, and John Evans was held without bond in the Wake County jail while awaiting trial. The investigation continued to uncover details about the couple's strained relationship and John Evans' possible motives.
