The recent mystery of a photographer’s death appears to have been solved after two Ohio teenagers were arrested when one sent text messages to a friend admitting he had “done something serious.” It has also emerged that the photographer died as a result of being struck by a 75-pound log, which hit her as she shot senior portraits in a public park.
The incident happened on September 2nd, around 5.30pm, at Hocking Hills State Park in Logan. Victoria Schafer, aged 44, was taking pictures of six high school seniors when she was hit with the log from above. She was later pronounced dead at the scene, but police claim it was obvious there was foul play involved, and not simply nature taking its course. According to reports, they found the imprint of where the 80-pound log had been before it was pushed, and that it could not have simply rolled off the cliff through weather conditions.
After authorities were tipped off about the messages on October 8th, two teens admitted to their involvement in pushing the log over the cliff. They are now in custody at a juvenile detention center.
Schafer’s son John said that despite his grief, it was “just bad teenage judgment,” and that he plans to speak in court to ensure the incident doesn’t “ruin [the teenagers] lives.”
Mourners have been posting well-wishes on her Facebook page, Victoria Shafer Photography.