Mary Felton, a 74-year-old female, was a beloved figure in her Gary, Indiana community, known for her extensive public service and entrepreneurial spirit. Her life was tragically cut short on December 8, 2021, when she was found shot to death in the driver's seat of her white SUV at the intersection of 8th Avenue and Lincoln Street.
In the hours leading up to her death, Felton had taken steps to protect herself from a man with whom she had a prior relationship.
She had gone to the Gary police station to report a sexual assault that had occurred on the preceding Sunday and had expressed fear for her safety, mentioning that she had a restraining order against the individual. After meeting with detectives, two officers escorted her to her vehicle. Tragically, she was discovered deceased just a few blocks away from the police station shortly after.
The investigation into Felton's murder quickly led to a suspect. Earl Shearer, Sr., age 66, was taken into custody the day after the shooting. According to charging documents, Felton had identified Shearer as her assailant in the sexual assault case she reported just before her death. Surveillance footage from the police station parking lot reportedly showed a man matching Shearer's description entering the rear of Felton's vehicle and later leaving in a different car. A K9 unit investigating the homicide scene also followed a trail that led back to the police parking lot.
Mary Felton was a respected community leader, having served in various capacities, including as a member of the Gary Library Board and the Gary Community School Corp. board. She had also held positions within three different municipal administrations and owned her own accounting firm. Her death was mourned by many in the community, who remembered her as a dedicated public servant and a proud mother and grandmother.
