The Eastern District Court of Appeals upheld multiple felony convictions against a Montgomery County man stemming from a 2014 Valentine’s Day triple murder.

In an opinion released April 9, a three-judge panel rejected Shawn Kavanagh’s claims that insufficient evidence of deliberation to support the murder convictions was presented and that the trial court erred in admitting one of his statements made to law enforcement officials.

Kavanagh brutally stabbed three people to death and seriously injured a fourth in the horrifying incident outside of Jonesburg in Warren County.

In April 2023, a St. Charles County judge sentenced Kavanagh to four consecutive life sentences without the possibility of parole. Kavanagh also was convicted of armed criminal action, first-degree domestic assault and first-degree burglary.

In a bench trial, Kavanagh was found guilty March 23, 2023, for the murders of Tara Lynn Fifer, 22; Lexy Vandiver, 29; and Lexy’s son, 7-year-old Mason Vandiver. Kavanagh was also convicted for the severe wounding of Jessica Powell, his estranged wife, who was at Lexy’s home with the other three victims when Kavanagh attacked them. The case was heard in St. Charles County after a change of venue.

Former Warren County Prosecuting Attorney Kelly King, who now serves as deputy attorney general, prosecuted the case alongside Assistant Attorney General Kevin Zoellner.

The appellate judges ruled that Kavanagh had multiple opportunities to not proceed with the murder on the night of the killings, including stating to himself at one point that he “shouldn’t do this, I shouldn’t go back in there.”

In announcing the appeal ruling, Attorney General Andrew Bailey said in a release, “As a former prosecutor and now attorney general, I will always fight to keep Missouri’s most dangerous criminals off the streets. “I’m proud of the efforts of my Criminal Appeals Unit in handling this case. The Attorney General’s Office remains resolute in our mission to seek justice for victims across the state.”

On the night of the killings, Kavanagh reportedly arrived at Lexy’s home at 7:45 p.m. seeking Powell, who was visiting her friend’s house. According to previous testimony, Kavanagh wanted to spend Valentine’s Day with his ex-wife and suspected she was engaged in a sexual relationship with one of the victims.

After arguing, Kavanagh retrieved a knife from his car, returned to the house and went on a killing spree.

At 7:51 p.m., Kavanagh called 911 and reported that he had just stabbed and killed several people, according to the Warren County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies arrived to find Kavanagh covered in blood. He admitted to killing the people inside the home.

Lexy Vandiver and Tara Fifer were found dead inside the home. Powell was found with multiple stab wounds and was airlifted to a hospital for lifesaving surgery.

Mason Vandiver, a first-grader, was rushed to a hospital in St. Louis for treatment of multiple severe wounds, but died that night.

The only victim unharmed in the attack was Lexy Vandiver’s 18-month-old daughter Jeanette.

A total of 75 stab wounds had been inflicted on the four victims.