Homeless woman charged with fatal beating of Keith West in his Uptown home

Jeff Mayes — Sun, 07 Feb 2016 12:14:18 -0600

By MITCHELL ARMENTROUT
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Sabrina Shaffer | Chicago Police

A homeless woman has been accused of fatally beating 63-year-old Keith West inside his Uptown neighborhood apartment last year on the North Side.

Sabrina Shaffer, 45, faces first-degree murder charges for the December 2015 attack at West’s home in the 4500 block of North Sheridan, according to Chicago Police and the Cook County medical examiner’s office

Someone called police for a well-being check after they hadn’t heard from West, and officers found him “seriously battered” inside the apartment about 3:45 p.m. Dec. 26, police said at the time.

West was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he died at 9:41 a.m. Dec. 28, authorities said. An autopsy did not rule on cause or manner of death, but police classified it a homicide.

Shaffer, whose home address is listed as the Pacific Garden Mission at 1458 S. Canal St., was arrested Wednesday and ordered held on a $750,000 bond at a Saturday hearing, according to Cook County Circuit Court records. She is due back in court Monday.

Police conducting homicide investigation after Keith West found 'battered' in Uptown apartment last month

Jeff Mayes — Thu, 07 Jan 2016 16:20:01 -0600

By ASHLEE REZIN
Chicago Sun-Times Wire

Autopsy results were inconclusive, but Chicago Police are investigating the death of 63-year-old Keith West in his Uptown apartment last month as a homicide.

Officers arrived about 3:45 p.m. Dec. 26 to conduct a well-being on West at his apartment in the 4500 block of North Sheridan Road, according to police and the Cook County medical examiner's office. Someone had called police after they could not make contact with West.

He was discovered inside the apartment "seriously battered," police said.

West was taken to Advocate Illinois Masonic Medical Center, where he was pronounced dead at 9:41 a.m. Dec. 28, the medical examiner's office said. An autopsy was inconclusive, with results pending further studies, according to the medical examiner's office.

However, police said they are investigating the death as a homicide. As of Thursday afternoon, no one was in custody.

Keith West | Homicide Watch Chicago

Homeless woman charged with fatal beating of Keith West in his Uptown home

Police conducting homicide investigation after Keith West found 'battered' in Uptown apartment last month