Robert O'Shields shot Mariann Eileen O’Shields, 55, to death April 30, 2014 near a domestic violence shelter.
Robert Lee O’Shields Sr., 54, pleaded guilty but mentally ill to murder, possession of a weapon during the commission of a violent crime and violation of an order of protection. O’Shields’ defense attorneys argued that he was depressed and suicidal at the time of the murder. The designation doesn’t impact the sentence length.
Robert O'Shields shot Mariann Eileen O’Shields, 55, to death April 30, 2014 near a domestic violence shelter operated by SAFE Homes – Rape Crisis Coalition on Spartanburg’s east side. Ms. O’Shields had been staying at the shelter with her 8-year-old daughter and the murder occurred moments after the child boarded a school bus.
The shooting victim identified O’Shields as her assailant in a 911 call and others who tried to render aide. She died a short time later at Spartanburg Regional Medical Center. Robert O’Shields fled the crime scene and he was arrested hours later at the hospital where he was treated for an apparent panic attack.
“This is a life prison sentence for Robert O’Shields when you consider the defendant’s age along with the fact a murder conviction requires day for day service,” Solicitor Barry Barnette said.
Solicitor Barnette built the court record of the guilty plea by entering a recording of the 911 call along with a school bus video that showed the defendant approaching the crime scene in his car. The court record includes volumes of detailed police reports.
“This murder was a cold and calculated act,” Barnette said. “The defendant violated a court order issued about two weeks before the murder and shot her twice.”
Robert O’Shields will serve every day of Circuit Judge Derham Cole’s prison sentence.
The defendant’s previous criminal record consisted of a driving under the influence conviction that occurred about 30 years before the murder.