Kindergarten teacher Justine Swartz Abshire married Eric Abshire in May 2006. Six months later, Justine was found dead on a Virginia road in what at first appeared to be a hit-and-run accident. When the medical examiner found 113 blunt trauma injuries including 23 to her head, it became a homicide case. After a four-year investigation, the Virginia State Police arrested Justine’s husband, Eric Abshire.
According to the Orange County prosecutors, “Eric Abshire strangled his new bride, ran her over and then dumped her body on the road near their home in a failed attempt to make it look like a hit and run.” They said there was “evidence of marital problems, financial problems and that (he) would gain financially with the victim’s death.” Eric Abshire was found guilty of first degree murder and is currently serving a life sentence in prison. Justine was 27-years-old. Dateline NBC is re-airing a special featuring the death of Justine Abshire on May 31 at 7pm.
