Woman Killed at Hocking Hills State Park

Victoria Schafer Killed by Log Pushed by Two Teenagers at Hocking Hills

Victoria+Schafer%2C+image+courtesy+of+cincinnati.com

Victoria Schafer, image courtesy of cincinnati.com

Lena Edwards, Staff Writer

Victoria Schafer, 44-year-old photographer, was killed at Hocking Hills State Park in Logan, Ohio on September 2.

The photographer died after being hit by a log that weighed approximately 75 pounds while taking photographs around 5:30 pm near Old Man’s Cave. After their initial investigation, the police discovered that the log could not have fallen on accident (NYTimes). There were few leads until an anonymous tip on October 8 led the police to two teenagers who were at Hocking Hills the day of Schafer’s death.

This tip came from a classmate who, according to the Chillicothe Gazette,  said one of the teenagers sent a text saying he did “something serious” at Hocking Hills. After this tip was received, both juveniles, whose names have not been released because of their age, were arrested for reckless homicide.

John Schafer, son of Victoria Schafer, forgave the two boys for what seems to be a mistake.

”If there’s anybody that understands teenagers making mistakes,” said J. Schafer, “it’s my mom and I. 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, I think my mom would understand. They [his family] feel some type of relief knowing that it’s the beginning of the end to putting this to rest. They just want some closure, really.”

As of October 22, both teenagers have been charged with murder, felonious assault, and involuntary manslaughter, and will stay in juvenile detention until the court says otherwise (WTAP).