Shively's family wants killer found

TOLEDO, Ohio - Family members of Jennifer Shively, the 26-year-old Toledo woman whose body was found Aug. 25 in an Oak Harbor marina, are heart broken and are seeking the public's assistance in bringing her killer to justice.

Jennifer's mother and two brothers spoke publicly for the first time a week after Jennifer was identified.

"That was my baby and I always looked out for her," said Raymond Smith."It's tearing us up. It's hurting us. She didn't just die. Someone took her and the way they did it was (explicative) up."

Shively's body was found by two jet-skiers at Lamberjacks Marina in Oak Harbor. Someone had dumped her body in Lake Erie. Her body was weighed down with two large cement blocks. Her hands were bound behind her back and her feet were tied together.

The Lucas County Coroner said the 26-year-old mother of five was strangled to death before being weighted down in Lamberjacks marina.

Ester Swope, Jennifer's mother, has tried to block out the details of how her daughter died by remembering their last conversation.

"I told her I loved her and she loved me, and I'd see you tomorrow," Ester said.

But tomorrow never came and the next time Ester saw her daughter was by noticing her tattoos on the news.

"It was sad," Raymond said. "It was instant tears. Just to see on the news and know it was her ... I saw the tattoos and I knew it was her."

Jennifer will be laid to rest Friday. In addition to her mother and two brothers, Jennifer leaves behind five young children.

"They just know she's gone and not coming back," Raymond said.

Gerald Smith, Jennifer's other brother, had not seen her for some time. He has been stationed in Germany in the military. He arrived in Toledo on Wednesday.

"We have to have a closed casket," Raymond said. "We can't even say goodbye."

Originally the Ottawa County Sheriff's office was investigating this case, but Aug. 28, county detectives requested assistance with the Toledo Police Department since the victim is from Toledo.

The two departments are working in tandem to gather leads to solve this brutal murder.

Detectives from Toledo police and the Ottawa County Sheriff have not revealed any new information on the murder case.

You are asked to call Crimestopper at (419) 255-1111 with any information on Jennifer. Your anonymous tips could lead to the apprehension of the suspect or suspects, and you could be eligible for a cash reward.