New Year's Weekend Leaves Two Dead

Hattiesburg, Miss. - Over the holiday weekend, two separate domestic violence cases left two women dead.

The first murder happened on Friday night at 1310 Corrine St.

Hattiesburg Police Officer, Lt. Jon Traxler said, "Upon arrival, they did locate a victim laying outside the apartment. They found a male subject sitting inside at a table. He was still in possession of the firearm."

Police arrested Theopelis Schaffer, 64, at the scene of the crime. Schaffer’s girlfriend, Anna Griffith, 39, was taken to Forrest General Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police received a call on Saturday about a domestic disturbance at 706 Myrtle St.

Traxler said "they met the person that identified himself as the boyfriend of the victim, later turned out to be who was charged as the suspect in the crime."

Joseph Michael Shaw Jr., 34, said his girlfriend Kelly Lander, 37, was unconscious in the bathroom. Police and paramedics were unable to revive her.

Also, police said there were marks on both Shaw and Lander from what appeared to be a fight.

Lt. Traxler explains what you can do if you're in the middle of a domestic dispute.

"Call us. Let us come out. Let us do our investigation. Even if it means somebody has to go to jail."

Both suspects have been arrested and are charged with murder. Currently, the suspects are being held at Forrest County Jail and are awaiting bond.