2 Teenagers Arrested in Woman's Odd Death

Ohio state photographer Victoria Schafer was killed by a falling log
By Neal Colgrass,  Newser Staff
Posted Oct 12, 2019 5:15 PM CDT

Last month, an Ohio state photographer was killed by a falling log. Now two teens have been arrested for allegedly forcing that log over a cliff, the Dayton Daily News reports. Victoria Schafer died Sept. 2 when the 80-pound log hit her near Old Man's Cave in Hocking Hills State Park. From the log's original imprint, investigators saw it had been pushed, and park visitors told authorities they'd seen a group of young people nearby. Then a tipster said one of the two teens had sent a text admitting to doing something grave in the park, prosecutors tell WBNS-TV. The teens were arrested Thursday and charged with reckless homicide.

John Schafer, the victim's oldest son, says his father told him about the death. "I was like, 'Is she OK?' And he was like, 'No, she's dead.' After that, I didn't really say anything or think at all." The Hocking County Sheriff's Office says the teens confessed during interviews, but they denied guilt at a hearing. While the family is grappling with grief, John says, he thinks his mother "would understand" if "it was truly just some kids that didn't know any better or were just being stupid kids, and not anything more than that." The 44-year-old victim died while snapping portraits of high school seniors, per USA Today. She ran her own photography company and was known for contributing to causes. (In another tragic story, a family of five was found dead on a cliff.)

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