On February 14, 2014, the small community of Bellflower was shaken to its core when Shawn Kavanagh was arrested for the brutal killings of Tara Lynn Fifer, Lexy Vandiver, and 7-year-old Mason Vandiver, as well as the severe injury of Jessica N. Powell. 

The incident occurred at home south of Jonesburg in Warren County, where Powell was staying with Vandiver and her children.

For almost a decade, Kavanagh has been imprisoned as the families of the victims have waited for justice. 

Finally, next week, a St. Charles County Judge will preside over Kavanagh’s trial.

The proceedings will determine whether Kavanagh is guilty of the charges leveled against him and whether he should be sentenced to death.

At the age of 32, Kavanagh is facing three counts of first-degree murder, one count of first-degree domestic assault, one count of burglary, and four counts of armed criminal action. 

His alleged crimes took place at the home where his estranged wife, Jessica Powell, was staying with Lexy Vandiver and her two children.

Tara Fifer, a coworker at the New Florence Care Center where the three women worked, had also come to visit.

The trial will examine the events of that fateful day in February 2014, as well as the circumstances leading up to it. 

The families of the victims will be present to hear the evidence presented and the arguments made, hoping for a verdict that will bring them a sense of closure and justice.

Throughout the past nine years, the families of the victims have had to endure the pain and trauma of their loss, while Kavanagh has been held in custody awaiting trial.

Now, as the trial begins, they are hoping for a resolution that will provide them with some degree of healing and closure. 

The trial will be closely watched by the community, as the outcome will have a significant impact on the lives of everyone involved.

According to reports, on the evening of February 14, 2014, Shawn Kavanagh arrived at the home south of Jonesburg, seeking his estranged wife, Jessica Powell.

When he was told to leave, Kavanagh allegedly became violent and retrieved a knife from his vehicle, attacking the people inside the home.

At 7:51 p.m., Kavanagh called 911 to report that he had killed several people. When the Warren County Sheriff’s Department arrived, they found Kavanagh covered in blood, and he reportedly confessed to the killings. 

Tragically, Lexy Vandiver and Tara Fifer were found dead inside the home, while Powell suffered multiple stab wounds and was rushed to the hospital for lifesaving surgery.

Seven-year-old Mason Vandiver, a first-grader at Warrior Ridge Elementary School, was also attacked and suffered severe wounds. 

He was quickly taken to a hospital in St. Louis for treatment but passed away later that night. The only person in the home who was unharmed in the attack was Lexy Vandiver’s 18-month-old daughter.

The prosecutors handling the case are Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Kelly King and Assistant Attorney General Kevin Zoellner. 

They have been pushing for Kavanagh to stand trial for the past six years, seeking justice for the victims and their families.

Kavanagh is being represented by attorneys from a specialized division of the Missouri Public Defender System, which focuses on capital punishment cases.

Over the years, the defense attorneys have been granted postponements due to various difficulties.

The upcoming trial will examine the evidence and determine whether Kavanagh is guilty of the charges leveled against him. 

The families of the victims will be present throughout the proceedings, hoping for a verdict that will bring them a sense of closure and justice.

The trial is likely to be closely watched by the community, given the shocking and heinous nature of the crimes committed.

The COVID-19 pandemic, among other reasons, has caused the trial of Shawn Kavanagh to be delayed multiple times, leaving families of the victims waiting for nearly a decade for justice to be served. 

The trial was postponed due to concerns about assembling a jury pool in a safe manner during the pandemic. 

Before the pandemic, the public defenders representing Kavanagh requested postponements citing various reasons such as attorney turnover, medical conditions, and other unusual circumstances.

In each case, the postponements were granted to ensure Kavanagh received his constitutional right to effective assistance of counsel.

One instance in which the trial was nearly underway was in September of 2018, when Kavanagh’s then-lead attorney became ill with a severe stomach ailment, causing the trial to be postponed yet again.

The constant delays have reset the clock on the trial date, leading to the current situation.

The trial, which is set to begin on March 13th, will not have a jury as Kavanagh has waived his right to one.

Instead, he has requested a “bench trial” where the judge alone will decide his fate. St. Charles County Judge Rebeca Navarro-McKelvey will oversee the case and make the final ruling. 

The trial will take place over seven days at the St. Charles County Courthouse.

If Kavanagh is found guilty, the trial will move to the sentencing phase where the judge will determine if Kavanagh should be sentenced to death.

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