Shawn Grate#Dana Lowrey

Shawn Michael Grate was born in Marion, Ohio, on August 8, 1976, to Terry Grate and Theresa McFarland. He was said to have "lived a normal" early life, playing softball and football in his backyard and socializing with neighborhood children.

In school, Grate was said to have had many problems and was held back for kindergarten and the first grade of his education. Despite these problems, he was said to be very charming and amicable, with a former female friend of his stating that "all the girls liked Shawn." Two days before Shawn's 6th birthday, his parents divorced on August 6, 1982.{{cite news|title=Shawn Grate: A cold-blooded charmer|url=https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/10/01/shawn-grate-cold-blooded-charmer-life-story-accused-serial-killer-ashland-mansfield-marion-ohio/91340968/|date=October 1, 2016|access-date=2021-12-02|work=Mansfield News Journal Staff|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210301193146/https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2016/10/01/shawn-grate-cold-blooded-charmer-life-story-accused-serial-killer-ashland-mansfield-marion-ohio/91340968/|archive-date=March 1, 2021}}

When Grate was 11, his mother abandoned the family in Ohio to live with a man in Kentucky. Grate was upset with this affair and did not like Theresa's boyfriends, continuing to live with his father for the next four years. Living with his father, he attended River Valley High School, where he excelled as a baseball player but never played again after breaking his arm, which required surgery following the discovery of a tumor. Harboring murderous fantasies toward his mother from a young age, his half-sister would state that "it was a battle in the household, and that was apparent at a young age between the two of them."

According to a high school girlfriend, Grate would lie on the couch "for days" at a time before returning to normal. A court psychiatrist described Grate as "kind of a depressed kid" despite his reputation as a happy youth, stating that his condition hailed from "neglect and emotional detachment" faced in childhood. The custody of Shawn and his brother was transferred to their father, Terry, on June 28, 1994. He was arrested for grabbing his girlfriend's throat on November 24, 1994. After graduating from River Valley High School in 1995, he broke into a house in Marion County with a juvenile accomplice on October 23, 1996, to steal jewelry and money. Grate was given a felony burglary charge in January 1997 and sentenced to four years in prison before being released early in October 1997.

A grand jury indicted Grate on two counts of aggravated murder in the deaths of two women, Stacey Stanley and Elizabeth Griffith, and the kidnapping and multiple sexual assaults of an unidentified woman whose 911 call to Ashland police led to Grate's arrest on September 13, 2016. In court documents, her name has been redacted. She is being referred to as "Jane Doe." Grate was indicted on 23 counts, all first, second, or third-degree felonies; lesser charges include breaking and entering, burglary, and tampering with evidence.{{cite web|last1=Tunnell|first1=Christopher|title=PDF Released: Grate Indictment 22 Sept 16|url=https://twitter.com/AshlandCoPros/status/779036910719229952|website=Twitter|access-date=2016-09-23}}

Grate was represented in court by court-appointed attorney Rolf Whitney,{{cite news|last1=Sams|first1=Dylan|title=Grate pleads not guilty to two counts of murder, one count kidnapping|url=http://www.times-gazette.com/local%20news/2016/09/19/grate-pleads-not-guilty-to-two-counts-of-murder-one-count-kidnapping|access-date=2016-09-26|work=Ashland Times-Gazette|archive-date=September 20, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160920183908/http://www.times-gazette.com/local%20news/2016/09/19/grate-pleads-not-guilty-to-two-counts-of-murder-one-count-kidnapping|url-status=dead}} who entered a plea of not guilty on all charges on his behalf.{{cite news|last1=Dunning|first1=Shanice|title=Suspected serial killer Shawn Grate pleads not guilty|url=http://www.cleveland19.com/story/33276947/suspected-serial-killer-shawn-grate-to-be-arraigned-thurs|date=September 29, 2016|access-date=2016-10-10|work=Cleveland 19 News}} In a press interview Grate confessed to five murders.{{cite news|last1=Nist|first1=Cassie|title=Q&A from jail: Shawn Grate says his victims didn't want to live|url=http://www.cleveland19.com/story/33343964/suspected-serial-killer-shawn-grate-grants-interview-from-ashland-county-jail|date=October 7, 2016|access-date=2016-10-10|work=Cleveland 19 News}} Grate's attorneys later filed a plea of not guilty by reason of insanity.{{cite news|last1=Steer|first1=Jen|title=Accused Ashland serial killer pleads insanity|url=http://fox8.com/2016/12/28/accused-ashland-serial-killer-pleads-insanity/|access-date=2017-01-04|work=WJW Fox 8 Cleveland|date=December 28, 2016}} His trial date was set for November 6, 2017,{{cite news|last1=Mills|first1=Emily|title=Shawn Grate's trial date set for next November|url=http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2016/10/31/shawn-grates-trial-date-set-next-november/93086374/|access-date=2016-11-07|work=Mansfield News Journal|date=October 31, 2016}} and was later delayed to April 9, 2018.{{cite news|last1=Busbey|first1=Tim|title=Accused Ashland serial killer Shawn Grate's trial delayed until April 9|url=http://www.richlandsource.com/ashland_source/accused-ashland-serial-killer-shawn-grate-s-trial-delayed-until/article_3dda90c4-8c31-11e7-81ea-7b54d0d5f78e.html|access-date=2017-08-29|work=Richland Source|date=August 28, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130222528/https://www.richlandsource.com/ashland_source/accused-ashland-serial-killer-shawn-grate-s-trial-delayed-until/article_3dda90c4-8c31-11e7-81ea-7b54d0d5f78e.html|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Sams|first1=Dylan|title=Trial for Shawn Grate rescheduled for April 2018|url=https://www.times-gazette.com/local%20news/2017/08/28/trial-for-shawn-grate-rescheduled-for-april-2018|access-date=2017-08-29|work=Ashland Times-Gazette|date=August 28, 2017|archive-date=August 29, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170829022910/http://www.times-gazette.com/local%20news/2017/08/28/trial-for-shawn-grate-rescheduled-for-april-2018|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Trial of accused serial killer Shawn Grate delayed until next year|url=http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2017/08/28/trial-accused-serial-killer-grate-delayed/607622001/|access-date=2017-08-29|work=Mansfield News Journal|date=August 28, 2017}}

Ashland County prosecutor Christopher R. Tunnell said that given the "...depraved actions and the gruesome evidence", he would seek the death penalty.{{cite news|first=Michael|last=King|date=September 22, 2016|title=Ashland prosecutor seeks death penalty against suspected serial killer|url=http://nbc4i.com/2016/09/22/ashland-prosecutor-seeks-death-penalty-against-suspected-serial-killer/|access-date=September 26, 2016|work=WCMH-TV NBC4}}

Shawn Grate has also been charged in the deaths of his former girlfriends Candice Cunningham and Rebekah Leicy in neighboring Richland County,{{cite news|title=Convicted murderer Shawn Grate pleads not guilty to Richland County charges|url=https://eu.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2018/09/13/convicted-murderer-shawn-grate-pleads-not-guilty-richland-charges/1291554002/|access-date=September 14, 2018|work=Mansfield News Journal|date=September 13, 2018}} and has also been charged in the death of Dana Nicole Lowrey, 23, who died in 2006 and was found in 2007 in Marion County.{{cite news|title=Ashland killer connection reopens 2015 case|url=http://nbc4i.com/2016/09/20/ashland-killer-connection-reopens-2015-case/|access-date=September 26, 2016|work=WCMH-TV NBC4}}{{cite news|title=Serial killer Shawn Grate charged in Marion County in woman's 2006 death |url=https://eu.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/crime/2019/06/06/serial-killer-shawn-grate-charged-marion-county-womans-2007-death/1365551001/|access-date=June 6, 2019|work=Mansfield News Journal|date=June 6, 2019}} In the second of two letters he sent to Cleveland news station WEWS (News 5 Cleveland) reporter Megan Hickey, Grate attributed his motives to "government assistance", writing that it took his victims' minds. "They were already dead, just their bodies were flopping wherever it can flop but their minds were already dead! The state took their minds. Once they started receiving their monthly checks." Grate claimed he once received a $197 food card and that he "never was able to receive any encouragement, though many bodies received 700".{{cite news|last1=Hickey|first1=Megan|title=Suspected serial killer Shawn Grate reveals "why" he murdered victims in letters to News 5|url=http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/suspected-serial-killer-shawn-grate-reveals-why-he-murdered-victims-in-letters-to-news-5|date=October 5, 2016|access-date=October 6, 2016|work=WEWS News 5 Cleveland}}

After Grate gave details of the murders to two news organizations while in custody, attorneys for the defense and prosecution jointly requested and obtained a gag order preventing Grate from communicating any further with the media.{{cite news|last1=Barbash|first1=Fred|title=The twisted confessions of Shawn Grate, who says he killed 5 women|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/10/14/the-twisted-confessions-of-shawn-grate-who-says-he-killed-5-women/|date=October 14, 2016|access-date=October 24, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post}} On January 6, 2017, a competency hearing determined Grate fit to stand trial.{{cite news|title=Grate competent to stand trial|url=http://www.times-gazette.com/local%20news/2017/01/06/grate-competent-to-stand-trial|access-date=January 10, 2017|work=Ashland Times-Gazette|date=January 6, 2017|archive-date=January 13, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170113011740/http://www.times-gazette.com/local%20news/2017/01/06/grate-competent-to-stand-trial|url-status=dead}} An evaluation released March 6, based on a January 17 assessment to evaluate Grate's claim of insanity, declared that he was not insane at the time the crimes were committed.{{cite news|last1=Caudill|first1=Mark|title=Grate ruled competent to stand trial|url=http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/local/2017/01/06/grate-ruled-competent-stand-trial/96238260/|access-date=January 10, 2017|work=Mansfield News Journal|date=January 6, 2017}}{{cite news|last1=Caudil|first1=Mark|title=Evaluation: Shawn Grate not insane at time of killings|url=http://www.wkyc.com/news/local/ohio/evaluation-shawn-grate-not-insane-at-time-of-killings/420130608|access-date=March 20, 2017|work=WKYC|date=March 6, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Grate's counsel then withdrew the plea of not guilty by reason of insanity on April 7, 2017.{{cite news|last1=Busbey|first1=Tim|title=Shawn Grate's attorneys withdraw insanity plea|url=http://www.richlandsource.com/ashland_source/shawn-grate-s-attorneys-withdraw-insanity-plea/article_a3fd8f4c-1bab-11e7-96da-53a4563772d1.html|access-date=April 19, 2017|work=Richland Source|date=April 7, 2017|language=en|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130222204/https://www.richlandsource.com/ashland_source/shawn-grate-s-attorneys-withdraw-insanity-plea/article_a3fd8f4c-1bab-11e7-96da-53a4563772d1.html|url-status=dead}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2020/02/04/mansfield-house-where-serial-killer-shawn-grate-stayed-demolished/4654001002/|title = Mansfield house where serial killer Shawn Grate stayed demolished}}

{{stack|File:House at 363 Covert Court, Ashland, OH.jpg}}

In a settlement with the owner, the City of Ashland obtained ownership of the house where Grate was apprehended, two bodies were discovered, and police rescued a kidnapped woman. The city pursued a federal grant intending to demolish the house.{{clarify|reason="Was the house demolished?"|date=September 2021}}{{cite news|last1=Sams|first1=Dylan|title=Pump House to sign properties over to city in foreclosure case|url=http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20170912/pump-house-to-sign-properties-over-to-city-in-foreclosure-case|access-date=2017-09-13|work=Ashland Times-Gazette|date=September 12, 2017|language=en|archive-date=January 18, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190118092851/https://www.times-gazette.com/news/20170912/pump-house-to-sign-properties-over-to-city-in-foreclosure-case|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|last1=Sams|first1=Dylan|title=Ashland wants to demolish the houses where Shawn Grate was found last year|url=https://www.times-gazette.com/local%20news/2017/07/14/ashland-wants-to-demolish-the-houses-where-shawn-grate-was-found-last-year|access-date=2017-07-17|agency=Ashland Times-Gazette|date=July 14, 2017}}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} According to Andrew Bush, assistant law director for the city of Ashland:

"There is a settlement agreement among the parties that essentially obligates the Pump House to transfer all property that is the subject of this action to the city of Ashland and transfer their title thereto, provided that the city pays off the sums owed to the county for delinquent taxes and to the Muskingum Watershed District."

Grate's trial for the Ashland crimes began with two weeks of jury selection on April 9, 2018.{{cite news|last1=McNaull|first1=Courtney|title=Jury selection begins in Shawn Grate case|url=http://www.richlandsource.com/ashland_source/jury-selection-begins-in-shawn-grate-case/article_4a052884-3bed-11e8-9772-f7342d9a5bf9.html|access-date=April 9, 2018|work=Richland Source|date=April 9, 2018|language=en}} The trial began with opening statements on April 23.{{cite news|last1=Sams|first1=Dylan|title=Prosecutor: Shawn Grate case "not a whodunnit"|url=http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180423/shawn-grate-not-whodunnit-case-prosecutor-says|access-date=April 23, 2018|work=Ashland Times-Gazette|date=April 23, 2018|language=en|archive-date=April 23, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180423222553/http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180423/shawn-grate-not-whodunnit-case-prosecutor-says|url-status=dead}} On May 2, Grate, who showed no remorse pleaded guilty to 15 of the charges against him.{{cite news|last1=Sams|first1=Dylan|title=Accused killer Grate pleads guilty to 15 non-murder charges|url=http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180502/accused-killer-grate-pleads-guilty-to-15-non-murder-charges|access-date=May 3, 2018|newspaper=Ashland Times-Gazette|date=May 2, 2018|archive-date=September 14, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180914125159/http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180502/accused-killer-grate-pleads-guilty-to-15-non-murder-charges|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|first1=Peggy|last1=Gallek|first2=Stacey|last2=Frey|title=Accused Ashland serial killer Shawn Grate pleads guilty to several charges|url=http://fox8.com/2018/05/02/accused-ashland-serial-killer-shawn-grate-pleading-guilty-to-several-charges/|access-date=May 3, 2018|work=WJW Fox 8 Cleveland|date=May 2, 2018}} On May 7, Grate was found guilty of murdering Stacey Stanley and Elizabeth Griffith.{{cite news|first=Kiara|last=Alfonseca|title=Jury finds Shawn Grate guilty of murder, sexual assault in Ohio|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/ohio-serial-killer-case-sent-jury-death-two-women-n872001|access-date=May 8, 2018|work=NBC News|date=May 7, 2018}}{{cite news|title=Accused serial killer Shawn Grate found guilty of aggravated murder, kidnapping|url=http://fox8.com/2018/05/07/closing-arguments-set-for-today-in-trial-of-accused-serial-killer/|access-date=May 8, 2018|work=WJW Fox 8 Cleveland|date=May 7, 2018}}{{cite news|last1=Sams|first1=Dylan|title=GRATE TRIAL: Guilty on all 8 counts|url=http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180507/grate-trial-guilty-on-all-8-counts|access-date=May 8, 2018|work=Ashland Times-Gazette|date=May 7, 2018|language=en|archive-date=May 8, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180508064718/http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180507/grate-trial-guilty-on-all-8-counts|url-status=dead}} On June 1, Grate was sentenced to death.{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Caudill|title=Crowd in court applauds death sentence for Shawn Grate|url=https://eu.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2018/06/01/shawn-grate-sentenced-death-2016-murders/645107002/|access-date=June 1, 2018|work=Mansfield News Journal|date=June 1, 2018}}{{cite news |last1=Sams |first1=Dylan |title=Judge sentences Grate to death, families mourn |url=http://www.times-gazette.com/news/20180601/judge-sentences-grate-to-death-in-two-murders |access-date=June 1, 2018 |work=Ashland Times-Gazette |date=June 1, 2018 |language=en }}{{Dead link|date=March 2023 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} An initial execution date was set upon conviction for September 13, 2018, but the execution was stayed due to a pending appeal to the Ohio Supreme Court.{{cite news |last1=McNaull |first1=Courtney |title=Serial killer Shawn Grate case resumes on Sept. 25 |url=https://www.richlandsource.com/news/serial-killer-shawn-grate-case-resumes-on-sept/article_4b37d216-bab8-11e8-a225-977fabd6e654.html |access-date=November 2, 2018 |work=Richland Source |issue=September 24, 2018 |language=en}}

The defense counsel in the trial was Robert Whitney and Rolf Whitney. The prosecution team was Ashland Prosecutor Chris Tunnell, Medina County Assistant Prosecutor Michael McNamara, and Special Prosecutor Mark Weaver.

On March 1, 2019, Grate pleaded guilty to the murders of Rebekah Leicy and Candice Cunningham and was sentenced to life in prison without parole for the murder of Leicy and 17 years to life for the other charges, with the sentences running consecutively.{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Caudill|title=Serial killer Grate pleads guilty to killing 2 women in Richland County |url=https://eu.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2019/03/01/serial-killer-grate-pleads-guilty-2-murders/3019380002/|access-date=March 1, 2019|work=Mansfield News Journal|date=March 1, 2019}}

On September 11, 2019, Grate pleaded guilty to the murder of Dana Lowrey and was sentenced to life in prison without parole plus 16 years.{{cite news|title=Convicted killer Shawn Grate sentenced to another life term in Marion County death|url=https://www.10tv.com/article/convicted-killer-shawn-grate-sentenced-another-life-term-marion-county-death-2019-sep|access-date=September 12, 2019|work=10TV|date=September 11, 2019|archive-date=September 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190913052330/https://www.10tv.com/article/convicted-killer-shawn-grate-sentenced-another-life-term-marion-county-death-2019-sep|url-status=dead}}{{cite news|title=Death-row's Grate gets prison term for Marion murder, his first |url=https://eu.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/crime/2019/09/11/serial-killer-shawn-grate-death-row-gets-prison-term-marion-first-murder/2285750001/|access-date=September 12, 2019|work=Mansfield News Journal|date=September 11, 2019}}{{cite news|first=Julia|last=Tullos|title=Convicted serial killer Shawn Grate pleads guilty to Marion County murder |url=https://www.cleveland19.com/2019/09/11/convicted-serial-killer-shawn-grate-pleads-guilty-marion-county-murder/|access-date=September 12, 2019|work=Cleveland19|date=September 11, 2019}}

On December 10, 2020, it was reported that Grate lost his appeal against the death sentence, with the Ohio Supreme Court upholding the sentence by stating there is no mitigation or "reversible error" in Grate's case on the grounds of dismissing the appeal.{{cite web|url=https://lawandcrime.com/live-trials/live-trials-current/shawn-grate-murder-trial/ohio-supreme-court-affirms-death-penalty-for-serial-killer-shawn-grate-there-was-no-reversible-error/|title=Ohio Supreme Court Affirms Death Penalty for Serial Killer Shawn Grate: There Was 'No Reversible Error'|date=10 December 2020|website=Law and Crime|access-date=15 December 2020}} Grate was scheduled to be executed on March 19, 2025{{cite web|url=http://supremecourt.ohio.gov/pdf_viewer/pdf_viewer.aspx?pdf=225147.pdf|title=State of Ohio v. Shawn M. Grate Case No. 2018-0968|date=December 10, 2020|website=The Supreme Court of Ohio|language=en|access-date=June 9, 2021}} but the date was delayed due to ongoing appeals.{{Cite web |last=TFFCM |date=2025-02-19 |title=Ohio Execution of Shawn Grate Delayed |url=https://theforgivenessfoundation.org/2025/02/19/ohio-execution-of-shawn-grate-delayed/ |access-date=2025-03-18 |website=The Forgiveness Foundation |language=en-US}} The method of execution is to be determined; Ohio no longer uses lethal injection as of 2020, but state law does not currently permit any other method.

While Grate slept, the victim identified by the indictment only as "Jane Doe" called 911 from the Ashland house where Grate had bound her to a bed and held her for three days, during which time he sexually assaulted her.{{Cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2018/05/08/hes-good-looking-but-the-devils-good-looking-too-ohio-serial-killer-shawn-grate-convicted-of-murder/|title = I'He's good looking but the Devil's good looking, too': Shawn Grate, Ohio serial killer, convicted of murder|newspaper = Washington Post|date = May 8, 2018 |last1 = Swenson|first1 = Kyle}} She was safely rescued by the Ashland police. Because she was the victim of a sexual assault, police declined to reveal her identity.{{cite web|title=What we know: Shawn Grate tied to 5 deaths, 1 abduction|url=http://www.cincinnati.com/story/news/crime/2016/09/20/shawn-grate-what-we-know/90731792/|website=Cincinnati.com|access-date=September 20, 2016}} Grate claims he did not plan to kill her and that they were going to get married.

Having seen Shawn as something of an "older brother," the 38-year-old Doe had first met Grate in the summer of 2016 at the Ashland Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. There they would share lunch and go on long walks, frequently discussing the Bible and occasionally playing tennis at Brookside Park in Ashland. Despite Grate's attempts to sexually engage her, her relationship with him was described as completely platonic, refusing to exchange phone numbers.

On Sept. 11, 2016, Grate persuaded Doe to walk with him to the Ashland house on 363 Covert Court to receive some clothes he had in his possession. As Doe read the Bible in Grate's room, his friendly demeanor changed as he returned from the house's kitchen; Grate pulled the Bible out of her hand, telling her that she was not "going anywhere." Doe resisted Grate, after which he beat and strangled her.

Grate then proceeded to bind her in various "weird positions", including one that would allegedly strangle her to death as she attempted to break free. During the three-day assault, she had sustained extensive bruising and head and sexual orifice traumas and was bleeding from the vagina; she said she had been sexually assaulted by Grate in "every way imaginable." During the assault, Grate had also shaved a heart shape into her pubic hair, which was removed following an examination by a sexual assault forensic examiner.{{cite news|first=Mark|last=Caudill|url=https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2018/04/26/woman-whose-911-call-led-shawn-grates-arrest-tells-story-court/553900002/|title=Witness: Shawn Grate assaulted me 'in every way imaginable'|publisher=Mansfield News Journal|date=April 28, 2018|access-date=2021-12-09|archive-date=November 1, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211101230644/https://web.archive.org/web/20201205231543/https://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2018/04/26/woman-whose-911-call-led-shawn-grates-arrest-tells-story-court/553900002/|url-status=live}}

Stanley's family had reported her missing the week before Grate was arrested. Her body was found at the Ashland house where Grate was arrested.{{cite magazine|last1=Samuelson|first1=Kate|title=Man Linked to at Least 5 Women's Deaths Is 'Obviously a Serial Killer,' Sheriff Says|url=https://time.com/4501103/shawn-grate-murder-kidnapping-obviously-serial-killer/|access-date=September 20, 2016|date=September 20, 2016|magazine=Time}} She is also known as Stacy Hicks. An autopsy concluded she was strangled to death.{{cite news|last1=Jones|first1=Bob|title=Autopsy report reveals two of Shawn Grate's alleged victims were strangled to death|url=http://www.newsnet5.com/news/local-news/oh-ashland/autopsy-report-reveals-two-of-shawn-grates-alleged-victims-were-strangled-to-death|access-date=January 4, 2017|work=WEWS|date=January 4, 2017}}

Elizabeth Griffith had been missing for about a month before Grate was arrested. Her body was found at the Ashland house where Grate was arrested. An autopsy concluded she was strangled to death.

Grate led police to what he said was Cunningham's body in neighboring Richland County on the day of his arrest.{{cite news|last1=L'Heureux|first1=Catie|title=A Serial Killer's Victim Made a 911 Call That Helped Police Link the Cases of 5 Murdered Women|url=http://nymag.com/thecut/2016/09/5-women-linked-to-serial-killer-shawn-grate-in-ohio.html|access-date=September 20, 2016|work=New York Magazine}} Police found the body behind a house that had previously burned down. He had confessed to killing her in June of 2016, but not before she endured around 3 days of torture. Grate described her as "a problem." The Richland County Sheriff's office officially confirmed on November 1, 2016 that the body found was Cunningham's.{{cite news|last1=Carr|first1=Dillon|title=Candice Cunningham identified as 3rd victim in Grate case|url=http://www.richlandsource.com/news/candice-cunningham-identified-as-rd-victim-in-grate-case/article_608d8396-a042-11e6-86bd-0ff8b86074df.html|access-date=November 7, 2016|work=Richland Source|date=November 1, 2016|archive-date=November 30, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211130222208/https://www.richlandsource.com/news/candice-cunningham-identified-as-rd-victim-in-grate-case/article_608d8396-a042-11e6-86bd-0ff8b86074df.html|url-status=dead}}

Based on information supplied by Grate, police reopened the investigation into Leicy's death. Her body was found in March 2015, and her death was originally ruled a drug overdose.{{cite news|last1=Whitmire|first1=Lou|title=Grate provides Mansfield police with tips in Leicy case|url=http://www.mansfieldnewsjournal.com/story/news/2016/09/19/mansfield-police-searching-evidence-leicy-investigation/90715336/|access-date=September 20, 2016|date=September 19, 2016|work=Mansfield News Journal}} Grate says he strangled her after she stole $4 from him in his place of work.

Grate claims to have killed another woman who was found dead in Marion County, Ohio in 2006 and remained unidentified for 13 years.{{cite news|last1=Barbash|first1=Fred|title='He's obviously a serial killer': Deaths of at least 5 women now linked, probed by Ohio police|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2016/09/20/hes-obviously-a-serial-killer-deaths-of-at-least-5-women-now-linked-probed-by-ohio-police/|date=September 20, 2016|access-date=September 20, 2016|newspaper=The Washington Post}} Grate stated he believed her name was Dana. In January 2018, isotope analysis indicated she was likely from the Southern United States.{{cite news|last1=Volpenhein|first1=Sarah|title=New tests could help identify alleged Shawn Grate victim in Marion County|url=https://www.marionstar.com/story/news/crime/2018/04/11/new-leads-naming-first-grate-victim/507374002/|access-date=April 12, 2018|work=Marion Star|date=April 11, 2018|language=en}} The victim was identified in June 2019 by the DNA Doe Project as Dana Nicole Lowrey, 23, of Minden, Louisiana.{{cite news |title=Marion County Sheriff identifying remains believed to be Shawn Grate's first victim |url=https://myfox28columbus.com/news/local/sheriff-sharing-new-details-on-remains-believed-to-be-shawn-grates-first-victim |access-date=June 4, 2019 |work=WTTE |date=June 4, 2019}} At the time of her death Lowrey had two daughters aged 1 and 5 and was separated from their father.{{Cite web|url=https://www.10tv.com/article/officials-identify-remains-woman-believed-be-shawn-grates-first-victim-2019-jun|title=Officials identify remains of woman believed to be Shawn Grate's first victim|last=Bailey|first=Brittany|date=June 4, 2019|website=WBNS-10TV |location=Columbus, Ohio |access-date=June 8, 2019|archive-date=June 8, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190608064756/https://www.10tv.com/article/officials-identify-remains-woman-believed-be-shawn-grates-first-victim-2019-jun|url-status=dead}}

• List of death row inmates in Ohio
• List of people scheduled to be executed in the United States
• List of serial killers in the United States

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book |first1=Kim |last1=Mager |first2=Lisa |last2=Pulitzer |title=A Hunger to Kill: A Serial Killer, a Determined Detective, and the Quest for a Confession that Changed a Small Town Forever |location=New York |publisher=St. Martin's |year=2024 |isbn= 9781250274885 }}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Grate, Shawn}}

Category:1976 births

Category:21st-century American criminals

Category:American male criminals

Category:American people convicted of murder

Category:American people convicted of rape

Category:American people convicted of kidnapping

Category:American prisoners sentenced to death

Category:Living people

Category:People convicted of murder by Ohio

Category:Place of birth missing (living people)

Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by Ohio

Category:Serial killers from Ohio

Category:Violence against women in Ohio