Boyfriend, landlord charged in disappearance, presumed death of woman who vanished on walk to see friend

A missing woman’s boyfriend and the owner of the property where the couple lived in Arizona are charged in connection with her disappearance and presumed death.

Cavett Jack Richards, 36, was charged on Wednesday with second-degree murder, conspiracy and concealing a dead body, involving his girlfriend, Shayna Feinman, 35, according to the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office. William Thomas DalCerro, 58, faces charges for his alleged involvement in Feinman’s death, authorities said. DalCerro owned the property where Feinman and Richards had been living.

Feinman, who is originally from New York and moved to Arizona a few years ago, disappeared on March 9 from the Peach Springs/Hyde Park area near Seligman, Arizona, authorities said. She had been heading to a nearby friend’s house but never arrived. Seligman is in the northern part of the state, more than 75 miles west of Flagstaff.

Her vehicle, with her wallet and ID inside, was found near the property where she and her boyfriend had been staying, the Yavapai County Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.

Her cellphone was found on a property nearby.

Authorities initially booked Richards and DalCerro into the Yavapai County Jail in April on weapons violations and charges of tampering with evidence and possession of a stolen vehicle as they gathered evidence in Feinman’s disappearance and presumed death before adding the charges in the Feinman case this week, officials said.

Her body has not been found. A $10,000 reward is being offered for any credible information that leads to her whereabouts. She is described as 5 foot 4 inches and 140 pounds. She was last seen wearing sweatpants with athletic-type shorts over them, a hoodie, and green hiking boots.

A witness told independent Phoenix-based TV station KTVK and local CBS affiliate KPHO, which collectively broadcast together as “Arizona’s Family,” that before Feinman disappeared, she heard an argument between her and her landlord, who told her she could no longer live in the cabin.

“They were yelling and screaming at each other,” the witness said. “He’s like, ‘you have to leave. I’m calling the sheriff.’ She’s like, ‘I need to get my phone and keys.'”

Feinman’s sister Kara Feinman told local NBC affiliate KPNX that she had told friends she felt unsafe.

“On more than one occasion, she shares about feeling fearful and not feeling safe. And it’s really hard to read those things because if I had known how unsafe and how scared she was at any of those times, I feel like I would have been there. I would have flown out there. I wouldn’t have let her be in this situation where she’s felt so unsafe that something terrible has happened,” she told the station. “I don’t think she was in a healthy relationship. I don’t think that they treated each other nicely.”

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