On December 23, 2022, a tragic incident occurred in Berkeley Springs, West Virginia, resulting in the deaths of two individuals in what authorities have termed a murder-suicide. The victim was identified as Jessica Craver, a 41-year-old woman from Maryland.
The incident took place in the parking lot of the Coolfont Resort in Berkeley Springs.
According to Morgan County Sheriff KC Bohrer, the shooter, August Schillinger, 48, also from Maryland, was waiting for Jessica Craver to leave the resort around 9 p.m. When Craver saw Schillinger, she began running through the parking lot in an attempt to escape. However, Schillinger pursued her and shot her several times using two different handguns. Following the shooting of Craver, Schillinger then turned the gun on himself and took his own life.
The entire incident was captured on the resort's video surveillance system, which provided critical evidence for the investigation. Sheriff Bohrer's detailed account highlights the premeditated nature of the attack, as Schillinger was specifically waiting for Craver to leave the resort before initiating the violent act.
There were no arrests made in this case, as the perpetrator, August Schillinger, died at the scene after shooting himself. The investigation concluded that the incident was a murder-suicide, with Schillinger being the sole suspect and perpetrator of the crime.
The incident underscores the tragic consequences of domestic violence and the importance of surveillance systems in aiding law enforcement investigations. The detailed video evidence from the resort's security cameras was instrumental in piecing together the events of that night and confirming the identities and actions of those involved.
