In a chilling case out of Alabama, Jaclyn Skuce, a 43-year-old woman from Madison, has been sentenced to life in prison after being convicted of hiring a hitman to murder the father of her child during a bitter custody dispute. This horrific case underscores the tragic lengths a parent can go to in a custody battle.
The Crime: A Gruesome Murder for Custody
The crime occurred on July 24, 2020, when the Hartselle Police Department was called to conduct a welfare check on Anthony Larry Sheppard, the father involved in a custody dispute with Skuce.
Sheppard had failed to appear in court for a scheduled custody hearing, prompting his attorney to request that police check on his well-being.
Upon arrival, officers found Sheppard’s storm door shattered and the main door slightly ajar. Inside, they discovered Sheppard’s lifeless body, having suffered multiple gunshot wounds. The discovery led investigators to uncover a disturbing motive behind the murder.
The Role of Jaclyn Skuce: A Callous Plan
Skuce, motivated by the desire to prevent Sheppard from gaining custody or further visitation rights to their child, hired Logan Delp, a man from Hartselle, to carry out the murder. The two allegedly communicated over social media, where Skuce offered $30,000 for the killing.
Skuce’s decision to hire a hitman was not just about eliminating Sheppard as a potential father figure in her child’s life but also about securing sole custody. Prosecutors described her actions as a premeditated attempt to take Sheppard away from his family forever.
Conviction and Sentencing
Jaclyn Skuce was convicted of three counts of capital murder:
- Murder for hire
- Murder of a witness
- Murder committed by shooting into an occupied dwelling
Her conviction follows a thorough investigation that involved multiple defendants. Logan Delp, the hitman hired by Skuce, was convicted of capital murder in October 2025. Four other individuals have been charged with capital murder in connection to Sheppard’s death, including another who pleaded guilty, and two awaiting trial.
The Jury’s Decision
The jury’s verdict was clear: Skuce’s actions were deliberate, and her plan was a cold-hearted crime of desperation. After the conviction, Chief Assistant District Attorney Garrick Vickery expressed relief that justice had been served.
He stated, “There are never any winners in a case like this. 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.”
Vickery went on to say, “We are glad that they convicted her for the choice she made to take Mr. Sheppard away from his family,” emphasizing the profound impact of Skuce’s decision on Sheppard’s loved ones.
Life Sentence Without Parole
Skuce was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. She will serve her sentence in the Alabama Department of Corrections, a permanent reminder of the tragic consequence of a parent’s extreme actions in the pursuit of custody.
Key Case Details in a Summary Table
| Date of Crime | July 24, 2020 |
|---|---|
| Defendant’s Name | Jaclyn Skuce |
| Charges | Capital murder (murder for hire, murder of a witness, murder in an occupied dwelling) |
| Victim | Anthony Larry Sheppard |
| Hitman | Logan Delp |
| Amount Offered | $30,000 |
| Conviction | Found guilty of capital murder |
| Additional Defendants | 4 others charged with capital murder |
| Delp’s Conviction | Convicted in October 2025 |
| Sentence | Life imprisonment without parole |
Jaclyn Skuce’s decision to hire a hitman to murder her child’s father in a custody dispute has led to a life sentence and serves as a tragic reminder of the extremes to which some individuals may go when faced with family conflict. With a lengthy investigation involving multiple defendants, justice has been served in the case of Anthony Larry Sheppard, who tragically lost his life in the midst of a bitter custody battle.
