Aaron Schaffhausen

American murderer

Aaron Schaffhausen

Nationality| American
Criminal status| In prison
Spouse| Jessica Schaffhausen (2000-div. 2012)[1]
Children| Amara Schaffhausen (2000–2012)
Sophie Schaffhausen (2003–2012)
Cecilia Schaffhausen (2007-2012)
Motive| Revenge against ex-partner
Conviction(s)| First degree intentional homicide (3 counts)
Criminal penalty| Life imprisonment without parole
Details
Victims| Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia Schaffhausen (his daughters)
Date| July 10, 2012
Location(s)| River Falls, Wisconsin
Weapon| Knife and hands

Aaron Schaffhausen is a man who murdered his three daughters in their house in River Falls, Wisconsin in 2012.[2]

## Background

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Aaron and Jessica Schaffhausen married in 2000 and both filed for divorce in 2011; the divorce was finalized in January of the next year.[1] Jessica Schaffhausen, who had primary physical custody, lived with their daughters, Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia in a house in River Falls that they rented from Aaron Schaffhausen, while he lived in Minot, North Dakota.[3] The two parties had joint custody.[1] Amara and Sophie attended Greenwood Elementary School.[4]

## Crime

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On July 10, 2012, Schaffhausen sent a text message to his ex-wife requesting a visit to their daughters. His ex-wife was not present at the house, and the babysitter left after Schaffhausen arrived. He slit the throats of the three girls with a knife.[2] He also strangled Cecilia.[4] Amara, Sophie, and Cecilia were 11, 8, and 5.[5] Schaffhausen later called his ex-wife to tell her that he had killed them.[2] A can of gasoline was spilled onto the ground.[6]

Schaffhausen turned himself in at a police station in River Falls.[3] He was charged with three murders and attempted arson.[6] His bond was set to $2 million.[7]

## Trial and punishment

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On March 29, 2013, Schaffhausen entered a "guilty but insane" plea. Prosecutors accused him of killing the girls to get revenge against his ex-wife.[5] Schaffhausen stated that this was indeed his motive, but that he did not know right from wrong due to a mental issue.[2] He also pleaded guilty to attempted arson.[8] According to prosecutors, Schaffhausen disliked that his ex-wife was romantically involved with someone else, and he had resentment over the divorce.[5]

In April 2013 a jury ruled that Schaffhausen was sane when he committed the murders.[9] Jurors took three and a half hours to conclude that Schaffhausen knew right from wrong despite his mental issues.[10] Howard Cameron, the St. Croix County judge, gave him three life sentences without parole, one for each victim.[11] In 2014 Cameron also made Schaffhausen pay over $14,000 in restitution to Jessica Schaffhausen; about one-fourth of the money given by his family and any money he earns while in prison will be garnished and given to his ex-wife.[12] In addition he was asked to pay witness costs of $10,000.[13] In 2015 one of Schaffhausen's appeals was denied.[14]

Schaffhausen was housed in the St. Croix County Jail during his trial.[15] He entered the Wisconsin Department of Corrections in July 2013,[16] and is incarcerated at Waupun Correctional Institution.[citation needed]

## Aftermath

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The funeral for the girls was held at the Kilkarney Hills Golf Club in River Falls on Tuesday, July 17, 2012.[17][18]

Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union acquired the house where the murders took place. Details Construction dismantled the house; its materials were donated to St. Croix Habitat for Humanity.[19] The credit union used the money generated from the sale of the land to fund a park built in honor of the girls.[20] The Tri-Angels Playground at Hoffman Park, accessible to handicapped children and built with designs referring to each of the three girls, opened in 2015.[21]

Jessica Schaffhausen remarried and had children with her new husband.[22]

## See also

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* List of homicides in Wisconsin

Cases of filicide attributed to revenge against an ex-spouse:

* John Battaglia
* Elaine Campione
* Amy Hebert
* Murder of the Kumari-Baker sisters
* Charles Mihayo

## References

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1. ^ a b c Forliti, Amy (2012-07-11). "Father Arrested After Daughters Found Dead in Wis". ABC News. Archived from the original on 2012-07-15. Retrieved 2017-01-24.`{{cite web}}`: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
2. ^ a b c d "Aaron Schaffhausen Update: Wis. father gets three consecutive life sentences for killing daughters". CBS News. 2013-06-16. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
3. ^ a b "Dad accused of killing 3 daughters called mom and said, 'You can come home now because I killed the kids,' she says". Fox News. 2012-07-12. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
4. ^ a b Rathbun, Andy (2012-07-11). "Father of River Falls sisters: 'I killed the kids'". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
5. ^ a b c "3 Wisconsin sisters killed; dad gets 3 life sentences". CBS News. 16 July 2013. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
6. ^ a b Rathbun, Andy (2012-08-20). "River Falls killings: Dad charged with attempted arson". Twin Cities Pioneer Press. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
7. ^ "Attempted arson added to charges against father accused of killing girls". Milwaukee Journal-Sentinel. Associated Press. 2012-08-22. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
8. ^ "Guilty but not responsible, Wisconsin suspect claims in his three daughters' deaths". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. 2013-03-28. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
9. ^ "Jail Releases New Photo Of Aaron Schaffhausen". WCCO-TV (CBS Minnesota). 2013-07-21. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
10. ^ "Wis. dad responsible for killing 3 daughters, jury rules". USA Today. Associated Press. 2013-04-16. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
11. ^ Bee, Trisha (2013-07-16). "Aaron Schaffhausen gets 3 life sentences for killing daughters". WITI-TV (Fox 6). CNN. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
12. ^ "Judge Orders Schaffhausen To Pay Restitution To Ex-Wife". WCCO-TV (Minnesota CBS). 2014-01-24. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
13. ^ "Wis. judge orders Schaffhausen to pay restitution". WEAU. Associated Press. 2014-01-24. Archived from the original on 2017-01-24. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
14. ^ "Appeals Court Upholds Schaffhausen's Conviction In Daughters' Death". WCCO-TV (CBS Minnesota). 2015-07-14. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
15. ^ Louwagie, Pam (2013-08-01). "Aaron Schaffhausen, who killed his 3 daughters, faces extra prison risks". Minneapolis Star-Tribune. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
16. ^ "Jail Releases New Photo Of Aaron Schaffhausen". WCCO-TV (CBS Minnesota). 2013-07-21. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
17. ^ "Amara Rose Schaffhausen." Pioneer Press. July 15, 2012. Retrieved on June 3, 2018.
18. ^ "Memorial service set for the Schaffhausen sisters." River Falls Journal. July 12, 2012. Retrieved on July 3, 2018.
19. ^ Murphy, Esme (2013-09-16). "Dismantling Of Schaffhausen House Begins". WCCO-TV CBS Minnesota. Retrieved 2017-01-24.
20. ^ Delong, Katie (2013-09-26). "River Falls home, where father killed three girls, demolished". WITI-TV (Fox 6). CNN. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
21. ^ Rupnow, Chuck (2015-08-05). "Mom gets her first look at playground honoring her three slain daughters". Leader-Telegram. Retrieved 2017-01-23.
22. ^ Huppert, Boyd (2016-11-02). "Mom finds new life after deaths of 3 daughters". KARE-TV. Retrieved 2017-01-23.

## External links

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* Articles about Aaron Schaffhausen from WCCO CBS 6
* Articles about Aaron Schaffhausen from Fox 6
* Hoffman Park (site of Tri-Angels Playground) - City of River Falls