Lancaster County man charged with allegedly killing and raping his ex-girlfriend’s daughter

LANCASTER COUNTY, Pa. (WHTM) – A Lancaster County man has been charged after he allegedly killed and raped his ex-girlfriend’s 12-year-old daughter and left her in a freezer, according to Columbia Police and the Lancaster County Attorney’s Office.

Officials say Jason Shackelford admitted to prosecutors that he raped and killed the girl between February 8 and 9.

Shackelford was arrested after East Lampeter Township police responded to the Wyndham Lancaster Hotel at 2300 Lincoln Highway East about a report of a domestic riot in which police spoke to Shackelford and the victim’s mother.

Police say the woman told officers Shackelford told her while she was at work on February 8 until the morning of February 9 that he had kidnapped the 12-year-old girl from her home.

The woman told police that she and Shackelford are in the process of separating and that she recently asked him to move out.

According to police, the woman reported Shackelford texted her early on February 9 saying the girl was ill and in bed. When the woman got home that morning, she got into an argument with Shackelford, who showed her the 12-year-old victim’s empty bed and said he got her safely to New York.

Shackelford then allegedly raped the woman before forcing her to go with him.

As the woman went away to smoke a cigarette, she urged hotel staff to contact the police.

Columbia Police Detective Matthew Leddy filed a criminal manslaughter charge, and pending the results of an autopsy and further investigation, further charges may be filed.