Michelle Rotuno-Johnson

mrotunojoh@marionstar.com

MARION The night Shelly Shockey died, she took off work and went to the basement of her home with her husband, who said he had a surprise for her.

Her husband then blindfolded her before strangling her and cutting her throat with a kitchen knife, according to Assistant Marion County Prosecutor Denise Martin.

David Shockey voluntarily pleaded guilty this afternoon to aggravated murder, and will spend life in prison with the possibility of parole after 25 years. Alleged accomplice Danielle Crokie has not yet gone to trial.

The state of Ohio nullified a second charge of tampering with evidence in exchange for Shockey's plea.

Martin said Crokie and David Shockey, who allegedly were romantically involved, planned Shelly's murder several weeks ahead of time. She said David asked for Shelly's Facebook password, pretended to be her, and sent messages to her family and friends that said she was having an affair with another man.

Shelly was out of town with friends that weekend, Martin said. Her son Dalton, who was 5 at the time, was staying with his grandparents in Mansfield. Martin said receipts from the home showed David bought plastic bags, gloves, duct tape and other supplies around the time of the murder.

Her body was wrapped in plastic and hidden among boxes in the basement.

Martin said Marion Police went to check on Shelly on March 10 after a friend of hers gave them a call. David Shockey reportedly had marks on his neck and forearm, and told police he got into an altercation with another man who Shelly was having an affair with.

At the police station, Martin said, David confessed to murdering his wife and told the officers where to find her body.

Shelly's father, Henry Diersing, wanted to speak before the court but was too overwhelmed. Marion County Prosecutor Brent Yager read Diersing's statement.

"Shelly lost all her right to life, and seeing Dalton grow up to be a man because of your selfish act," Diersing wrote. "It makes my heart good that you will never see your kid grow up, play ball, or any other thing that life has to offer. Just cold prison walls. Just like you deserve."

Shockey said there "ain't a minute that passes" where he doesn't think about what happened.

"I wish I could change everything that happened that day," said Shockey, who was crying during the proceeding. "I'm sorry. I truly am."

Judge William Finnegan issued Shockey's sentence.

"What a tragic case this is. On a senselessness scale, it's really up there," he said.

Police say Shockey worked with an accomplice to kill Shelly Shockey, 41, March 9 at her home at 419 Pennsylvania Ave.

He was indicted in March on charges of aggravated murder and tampering with evidence. Danielle Crokie, of, Bucyrus, was indicted on charges of complicity to aggravated murder, conspiracy to commit aggravated murder, obstructing justice and tampering with evidence. She will go to trial in November.

Police found the victim's body in the basement underneath boxes and blankets. Crokie is allegedly the girlfriend of David Shockey.

mrotunojoh@gannett.com

740-375-5150

Twitter: @RJReports