News and Tribune

Police & Fire News

Discussion

Add a comment on this story
February 19, 2013

Odd behavior in jail sends accused killer to hospital

Shewmaker expected to be charged after release from Clark Memorial

By GARY POPP gary.popp@newsandtribune.com

CLARK COUNTY — The man preliminarily charged for fatally gunning down an exotic dancer in Clarksville early Monday morning was taken to the hospital later in the day.

Ronald Wayne Shewmaker, 44, of Corydon, was taken from the Michael L. Becher Adult Correctional Complex to Clark Memorial Hospital about 2 p.m. after he had been charged with the murder of 32-year-old Lisa McQuirt, of New Albany.

Clark County Sheriff Danny Rodden said the jail’s medical staff recommended that Shewmaker be taken for treatment, after he showed signs of erratic behavior in the facility.

“He was acting crazy, like he was on something,” Rodden said. “He was taken to get tested to see what might have been causing his behavior.”

Rodden said if hospital staff locates controlled substances in Shewmaker’s system, those results could be protected by HIPAA, the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act, and not made available for public release.

Shewmaker was taken into custody by Harrison County Sheriff’s Department at his home early Monday morning and later transported to the Clark County jail by Clarksville police. He was booked into jail about 8:30 a.m., according to jail staff.

Shewmaker is expected to be charged in Clark County Circuit Court No. 1 with murder following his release from the hospital.

Shewmaker was arrested after investigators tied him to the fatal shooting of McQuirt, who was shot four times outside of a home near the intersection of Kenwood and Loomis avenues in Clarksville about 4:50 a.m. McQuirt was believed to have been at the residence visiting her boyfriend.

She is the mother of four children and was employed at Bottoms Up, a gentlemen’s club in Louisville. Police believe Shewmaker may have first met McQuirt as a patron of the strip club. The nature of their relationship continues to be investigated by police. A silver Dodge Charger parked near the death scene was registered in both Shewmaker and McQuirt’s names, according to police.

Shewmaker was still in Clark Memorial Hospital as of Tuesday afternoon.

Text Only | Photo Reprints
Police & Fire News