Jason Carter Iowa: The Murder Mystery That Tore a Family Apart

Jason Carter, a farmer from Iowa, was accused of killing his mother, Shirley Carter, in 2015.

His father, Bill Carter, sued him for wrongful death and won a $10 million verdict in civil court.

But Jason was later acquitted of murder in criminal court, after a trial that exposed his affair, his financial troubles, and his family’s secrets.

What happened to Jason Carter and his family after the verdict? Here’s what we know.

Where is Jason Carter Today?

Jason Carter is still living in Iowa, near his father’s farm.

He is still married to his wife, Shelly Carter, who stood by him throughout the trials.

He is also still farming and trying to rebuild his life.

Jason has filed a lawsuit against the investigators who accused him of the murder, claiming they made false statements, failed to follow leads, and withheld evidence.

He is seeking damages for malicious prosecution, defamation, and violation of his civil rights.

What Happened to Jason Carter?

Jason Carter was the youngest of three children born to Bill and Shirley Carter.

He had a close relationship with his mother, who was shot twice in her kitchen on June 19, 2015.

Jason and his father found her body when they returned from working in the fields.

Jason called 911 and reported the shooting as a robbery gone wrong.

However, as the investigation progressed, Jason became the prime suspect.

His father hired a private investigator who uncovered Jason’s affair with Tara Kauzlarich, a married woman who lived nearby.

Jason had also borrowed money from his parents and was struggling to pay his debts.

He had also lied about his whereabouts on the day of the murder.

In 2016, Bill and his two other children, Jana and Billy, filed a civil lawsuit against Jason, accusing him of killing Shirley for financial gain.

They claimed he believed his family would cut him off if they found out about his affair.

They also alleged he staged the crime scene to make it look like a robbery.

In 2017, a jury found Jason responsible for his mother’s death and ordered him to pay $10 million to her estate.

Two days later, he was arrested and charged with first-degree murder.

In 2019, Jason went to trial in criminal court.

His defence team argued that there was no physical evidence linking him to the murder and that the investigators had ignored other possible suspects.

They also presented an alibi witness who claimed to have seen Jason at a gas station around the time of the shooting.

After nearly three weeks of testimony, the jury found Jason not guilty of murder.

He hugged his wife and cried as he heard the verdict.

He also asked the authorities to find the real killer and bring them to justice.

Is Mark Ludwick Still an Investigator?

Mark Ludwick was the lead investigator from the Iowa Division of Criminal Investigation who worked on Shirley Carter’s murder case.

He was one of the defendants in Jason Carter’s lawsuit against the investigators.

He had also testified in both the civil and criminal trials against Jason.

According to public records, Ludwick is still employed by the Iowa Department of Public Safety as a special agent in charge.

He has not commented publicly on Jason Carter’s lawsuit or acquittal.

Jason Carter Iowa Dateline

Jason Carter’s case was featured on Dateline NBC twice.

The first episode aired in 2018 and focused on the civil trial and the family feud.

Second episode aired in 2019 and followed the criminal trial and the acquittal.

The episodes included interviews with:

  • Jason Carter
  • Shelly Carter
  • Bill Carter
  • Jana Lain,
  • Billy Carter
  • Tara Kauzlarich
  • Mark Ludwick
  • Other witnesses and experts involved in the case

They also showed footage from the crime scene, the courtrooms, and the farms.

The episodes explored the conflicting evidence, motives, and emotions that surrounded Shirley Carter’s murder and its aftermath.

They also raised questions about whether justice was served or denied for Shirley and her family.

Jason Carter Obituary

There is no obituary for Jason Carter as he is still alive.

However, there is an obituary for his mother, Shirley Carter, who passed away on June 19, 2015.

The obituary described her as a loving wife, mother, grandmother, sister, aunt, and friend who enjoyed gardening, cooking, quilting, reading, and spending time with her family.

It also mentioned her survivors:

  • her husband Bill
  • her children Jana (Jeff) Lain of Pleasant Hill; Billy (Jodi) Carter of Knoxville; Jason (Shelly) Carter of Knoxville
  • her grandchildren Tyler (Katie) Lain; Taylor Lain; Logan Lain; Austin (Morgan) Lain; Madison Lain; Haley (Dustin) Hugen; Hunter Carter; Hannah Carter
  • her great-grandchildren Carter Lain and Harper Lain

The obituary did not mention Jason Carter’s involvement in her death or the civil lawsuit filed by his father and siblings.

Jason Carter Iowa Tara

Tara Kauzlarich was Jason Carter’s mistress who had an affair with him for about a year before Shirley Carter’s murder.

She was a married woman who lived about 10 miles away from Jason’s farm.

She met Jason through a mutual friend and started texting and calling him.

They also met at hotels, gas stations, and secluded places to have sex.

Tara testified in both the civil and criminal trials against Jason.

She admitted to having the affair and said she loved him.

Tara also said Jason had told her he was unhappy in his marriage and wanted to be with her.

She said he had asked her to leave her husband several times, but she refused.

Tara also said Jason had texted her on the morning of the murder, around the same time that Shirley was shot.

She said he had asked her to meet him later that day, but she declined.

She said she did not know anything about the murder or his involvement in it.

Tara said she ended the affair after she learned that Jason was a suspect in his mother’s murder.

She said she felt betrayed and disgusted by him.

She also said she regretted hurting her husband and family by having the affair.

Jason Carter Siblings

Jason Carter has two siblings: Jana Lain and Billy Carter.

They are both older than him and have families of their own.

They both live in Iowa, near their father’s farm.

Jana Lain is Jason’s sister.

She is married to Jeff Lain and has five children: Tyler, Taylor, Logan, Austin, and Madison.

Jana also has two grandchildren: Carter and Harper.

She works as a nurse practitioner at a hospital in Des Moines.

Billy Carter is Jason’s brother.

He is married to Jodi Carter and has three children: Haley, Hunter, and Hannah.

Billy also has a grandson: Dustin.

He works as a farmer and owns several properties in Marion County.

Jana and Billy both believed that Jason killed their mother and joined their father in suing him for wrongful death.

They also testified against him in both the civil and criminal trials.

They said they had noticed changes in Jason’s behaviour before and after the murder, such as:

  • lying
  • borrowing money
  • having an affair
  • acting suspiciously at the crime scene

Jana and Billy both said they loved their brother but could not forgive him for what he did to their mother.

They also said they wanted him to pay for his crime and face justice.

Jason Carter Father

Bill Carter is Jason Carter’s father.

He is a farmer who lives in Lacona, Iowa.

He was married to Shirley Carter for 52 years until she was killed in 2015.

Bill has three children: Jana, Billy, and Jason.

He also has eight grandchildren and three great-grandchildren.

Bill was the one who filed the civil lawsuit against Jason, accusing him of murdering Shirley.

He said he did it because he wanted justice for his wife and because he believed Jason was guilty.

He said he had evidence that Jason had planned the murder, staged the robbery, and lied to cover his tracks.

Bill also testified against Jason in both the civil and criminal trials.

He said he had a close relationship with Shirley and that they were happy together.

Bill said he had no idea that Jason was having financial problems or an affair.

He said he was shocked and devastated when he found out that Jason was a suspect in his mother’s murder.

Bill said he still loved his son but could not understand why he would do such a thing to his mother.

He said he felt betrayed and hurt by him.

He also said he wished he could have his wife back and his family whole again.

Are Jason and Shelly Carter Still Married?

Jason Carter is still married to his wife, Shelly Carter, who stood by him throughout the trials.

Shelly is an elementary school teacher in Knoxville, Iowa.

She married Jason in 1998 and they have two children together.

Shelly testified in both the civil and criminal trials in support of her husband.

She said she loved him and believed he was innocent of the murder charge.

Shelly said she did not know about his affair or his financial troubles until after the murder.

She said she was hurt by his infidelity but decided to forgive him and work on their marriage.

Shelly also said she had a good relationship with Shirley and that she considered her as a second mother.

She said she missed her dearly and wished she could have her back.

She also said she hoped that the real killer would be found and brought to justice.

Who Was Jason Carter’s Sister in Iowa?

Jason Carter’s sister in Iowa is Jana Lain, who testified against him in both the civil and criminal trials.

She said she noticed changes in his behaviour before and after the murder, such as lying, borrowing money, having an affair, and acting suspiciously at the crime scene.

She also said she loved her brother but could not forgive him for what he did to their mother.

Conclusion

Jason Carter Iowa is a murder mystery that tore a family apart.

Jason Carter was accused of killing his mother, Shirley Carter, in 2015.

His father, Bill Carter, sued him for wrongful death and won a $10 million verdict in civil court.

But Jason was later acquitted of murder in criminal court, after a trial that exposed his affair, his financial troubles, and his family’s secrets.

Jason is still living in Iowa with his wife, Shelly Carter, who supported him throughout the trials.

He is also suing the investigators who accused him of the murder, claiming they violated his rights.

His siblings, Jana Lain and Billy Carter, still believe he is guilty and want him to pay for his crime.

His father, Bill Carter, still loves his son but cannot understand why he would do such a thing to his mother.

The case remains unsolved and the real killer is still at large.

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