Fatal shooting leaves husband dead, wife bruised and bleeding
By MARIANN MARTIN
mmartin10@jacksonsun.com
OLIVE HILL - Family members of a Hardin County man who authorities said was killed by his wife on Sunday say the couple had a history of domestic violence on both sides, but it had not been reported to the sheriff's department.
Authorities say Shannon Baugus, 39, shot George "Eddie" Baugus, 47, multiple times around 12:30 p.m. Sunday in their home in the 1100 block of Coy Hill Road. Neighbors said Eddie Baugus was also known as "Bad Egg" Baugus.
Shannon Baugus called 911 and told dispatchers she shot her husband, according to Hardin County Sheriff Sammy Davidson. He was pronounced dead at the scene.
Shannon Baugus was taken to the Hardin Medical Center and treated for a mild concussion, bruises and bleeding from one ear, Davidson said. She was treated and released.
Davidson said Shannon Baugus has not been charged in the case, and details of the investigation will be turned over to the district attorney general's office to determine if charges should be filed.
Hardin County District Attorney General Hansel McCadams could not be reached for comment Monday.
Davidson acknowledged that there was a probable history of domestic abuse, but said the couple had never called the sheriff's department in the disputes. Eddie Baugus had a prior criminal record of theft and drug charges.
Eddie Baugus' cousin, Debi House, said the family does not deny that her cousin was abusive, but she insisted that the violence was two-sided.
"She has been threatening to do it (kill her husband) for years," House said Monday. "The day before he was killed, Eddie made the comment, 'She gives as good as she gets.'
"It's not like he was a wife-beater for no reason. We definitely feel like she should be charged," House added.
House said her cousin was shot at least four times, three times in the face and once in the chest, with a .357 Magnum.
"She emptied the gun," House said. "If she is claiming self-defense, I can see shooting once or maybe twice. But that many shots - it doesn't fit."
The couple had been married about 4 years, House said. Several children were in the home at the time of the shooting, including Shannon Baugus' teenage daughter and Eddie Baugus' 18-year-old son. House said she has custody of Eddie Baugus' 7-year-old child.
"His children are absolutely devastated," House said. "He was a very good father and a good provider. I'm not saying he was an angel, but he didn't deserve this."
The Baugus' rural property had a no-trespassing sign posted at the end of the long lane and a closed gate across the entrance Monday morning. The house was not visible from the road.
Shannon Baugus did not have a listed phone number.
Several neighbors said they were shocked by the shooting and described the Bauguses as good neighbors.
Eric Davis, who was buying a chicken sandwich at the Olive Hill Store Monday, said he knew Eddie Baugus much better than he did Shannon Baugus.
"I've known him since about 2001 - bought a few dogs from him," Davis said. "He was a good guy; always treated me right."
Eddie Baugus raised bull dogs and horses, Davis said.
According to Hardin County court records, Eddie Baugus pleaded guilty to various drug charges and theft of property in 2000.
Drug charges against Eddie Baugus were dropped in 2001 after the judge ordered the evidence suppressed.
- Mariann Martin,
425-9782
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