DECATUR, Ala. — A Morgan County jury on Friday found a Madison woman guilty of capital murder for orchestrating the 2020 shooting death of the father of her child to prevent him from attending a custody hearing.
Jaclyn Skuce, 38, was convicted on three counts of capital murder in the death of Anthony Larry Sheppard. Following the verdict, she was immediately sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.
The conviction follows a multi-day trial that detailed a complex plot involving five defendants and a $30,000 payment to a gunman. Prosecutors argued that Skuce recruited Logan Delp through a fake Facebook account and paid him to kill Sheppard in his Hartselle home on the morning of July 24, 2020.
Sheppard, 41, was scheduled to appear in court for a custody and visitation hearing with Skuce later that same day. He was discovered dead from multiple gunshot wounds after failing to show up for the proceeding.
“There are never any winners in a case like this,” Chief Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery said after the sentencing. “This jury was incredibly thorough and took their time to make sure they made the right decision, both for Mr. Sheppard and for the defendant. We are glad that they convicted her for the choice she made to take Mr. Sheppard away from his family.”
The defense team argued that Skuce acted out of a sense of desperation and fear for her safety and that of her children. During the trial, testimony highlighted that Skuce had filed 32 police reports against Sheppard alleging domestic violence, sexual abuse, and death threats.
Prosecutors countered that while the history between the pair was contentious, the killing was a calculated act to eliminate a witness and resolve a legal dispute outside of the courtroom. Evidence presented included a recorded FBI interview in which Skuce admitted to paying Delp thousands of dollars to “take out” Sheppard.
Skuce is the third person to be convicted in connection with the case. Logan Delp, the gunman, was convicted of capital murder in October 2025 and is also serving a life sentence without parole. A third defendant has previously pleaded guilty for their role in the plot.
Cases against two additional co-defendants, Aaron Howard and Angela Stolz, remain pending.
The Morgan County District Attorney’s office stated that while the conviction of Skuce as the instigator of the plot marks a significant milestone, they will continue to pursue the remaining cases to ensure justice for Sheppard’s family.