Former assessor's office employee murdered

SPOKANE — A former Whitman County Assessor’s Office employee was murdered allegedly by her husband in a faked suicide.

Shannon Ayers, 58, was shot in the head and died on Jan. 19 in Spokane.

Her husband, Dean Ayers, 55, of Spokane, called 9-1-1 around 11 p.m. to report his wife committed suicide with his pistol that he kept under his pillow on their bed.

Spokane deputies arrived to find her still alive despite a gunshot wound and a 9 mm pistol in her right hand, according to investigators.

She was shot on the left side of her head from 8-12 inches away, and the bullet exited her right side, according to the coroner’s autopsy report. The bullet struck a lamp on her bedside table.

Investigators concluded Shannon Ayers was unable to shoot herself on the left side of her head from 8-12 inches away with the pistol in her right hand.

In addition to the forensic evidence, deputies noted Dean Ayers told two different stories of what happened.

The first statement by Dean Ayers had the couple arguing before Shannon Ayers drew the pistol and shot herself. Dean Ayers claimed he was in bed when it happened, got up, and moved to her side, but did not move the gun, according to court documents.

Shannon Ayers was taken to Sacred Heart Medical Center where she did at 4 a.m. on Dec. 19.

A detective interviewed Dean Ayers after she died. Dean Ayers allegedly said Shannon Ayers shot herself while he was returning from the bathroom and he moved the gun from her hand but didn’t remember where he put it, according to court records. He reportedly said he called his parents before 9-1-1 and was unable to find 9-1-1 on the phone.

It is different than his original statement.

Dean Ayers was booked in the Spokane County Jail for murder in the second degree – domestic violence and his bail was set at $1 million.

Shannon and Dean were married in 2013.

She grew up in Genesee, Idaho, on the family farm. Shannon Ayers graduated high school in Genesee in 1981, where she enjoyed softball, basketball, volleyball, and drill team, according to her family.

Shannon started working early on the farm and later attended the Kinman Business School in Spokane. She held numerous jobs including being the postmaster in Viola, Idaho, an employee at the Whitman County Assessor’s Office, and a staff member at the state Department of Transportation in Spokane.

She enjoyed being outdoors, animals, and being with family. Shannon Ayers cherished time with her children and 17 grandchildren, according to her family.

Shannon Ayers married in 1983 and had three children. She married again in 1994 and accepted two step-children, and married a third time in 2013 to Dean Ayers.

A funeral service for Shannon Ayers is on Jan. 28 at 1 p.m. at St. Mary’s Catholic Church, 138 Jackson St. in Genesee, Idaho.