Columbia man who raped, killed 12-year-old girl gets life in prison

Jason Shackleford

A Columbia man who raped and strangled to death his ex-girlfriend’s 12-year-old daughter and then raped and sexually assaulted her mother will spend the rest of his life in prison after pleading guilty Friday.

In exchange for his plea, Jason Shackelford avoided the possibility of a jury sentencing him to death, even though the state currently has a moratorium on it. 

During the hearing before Lancaster County Judge Jeffery Wright, Shackelford, 40, admitted raping Elaina Smith, strangling her, then placing her body in a freezer overnight Feb. 8-9, 2023.

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