The autopsy report came in for us to read. As all autopsy's it was graphic and very detailed. But as I saw the injuries inflicted on Shelby by Travis, and read about what happened to his body, as Travis left him out there without any remorseful thoughts, I became sick. To understand how little regard Travis had for his own father, and the rest of the family and friends, shows you what an evil person Travis really is.
This is a summary of what he did to Shelby or the injuries Shelby's body had on him.
1. Abrasions to chest, arms , and left hand ( Shelby was left handed, I can just picture him raising his hand to block Travis blows)
2. Lacerations on the face
3 He was shot in the back of the head. The bullet shattered his skull into pieces
4. his heart was enlarged. I asked a nurse why this could be and was told, either from the trauma of the beating or from the bleedout of the gunshot wound, but most likey the trauma of it and fear made his heart swell and grow bigger
5. lacerations to the head
The condition of the body was described in gruesome detail. Decomposition had set in, and his body was different colors. There was skin slippage on the anterior chest, greensih colors in some spots and brown ish color in others. There could be no eye exam due to decomp and insect activity which the insects ate his eyes. Stage 1 through stage 3 maggots were present in the head and abdomen areas of his body and they laid eggs.
I am leaving out some details at this time, because it is sensitive and I myself am having a hard time writing this. But one must see that Travis has NO REGARD for human life and no sense of descency. He left Shelbys body to be desecrated by the elements, and he knew what could happen. How could he do these things to his father. How could he beat and murder him and then leave his body out for these horrible things to happen to him. What kind of evil gets into a mans heart that he is capable of such horric things such as this. What happens to someones conscience that they aren't bothered or ashamed for the act they commited? Knowing these facts really makes me sick that he may be out in 15 years. It is not enough.
We will add more details as the pain of this subsides, but we feel that the public should know what kind of wickedness is in this man, and to grasp that in fifteen years he may be free to do this to someone else. As we view the crime details we will post some information. Now that the crime is over, the evidence will become public record. We will share some, but not all, as we can get in to view it.
March 4, 2010:
The family went to the Justice Center to retrieve some of the personal items retained as evidence for this crime on March 3, 2010. While we were there, we did manage to talk to the detective who handled the case, and profiled Travis. What we learned from him literally sent chills up and down the spine. What we found that was on the taped confession, is very disturbing. Not only did he premeditate and murder his father, he confessed to planning another serious crime involving kidnapping someone. This man is extremely dangerous, and I hope for the sake of the safety of the public that he remains behind bars for the rest of his natural life. Who knows what else he would have done had he not been caught. It is sad that Shelby’s life had to end so tragically to find out what kind of monster Travis really is, but at least after Shelby’s death, Travis was stopped in his tracks from hurting someone else. There certainly could have been more casualties than just Shelby. It was said, and we all know, that he is a very mentally ill young man and has no regard for hurting anyone to get what he wants. I hope and pray that he never gets out of prison. The information that is on the recorded confession is so bizare and strange. The things he was involved in and talked about is unimaginable.
Please continue to pray for all that loved and were close to Shelby. It is a hard road to go down, and healing seems elusive. At every turn there seems to be something to take you back to that horrible night when he was found murdered. His loved ones are still finding this so hard to cope with. The images and memories of that night are still so haunting.
