Man Accused Of Killing And Burying Wife In Yard Pleads Not Guilty

NEW PORT RICHEY, FL -- The man accused of killing his wife and concealing her death from family members for a year was arraigned Thursday in Pasco County on a first-degree premeditated murder charge in a grisly case that ultimately led to four murders.

Shelby John Nealy, 25, is accused of murdering his wife, Jamie Ivancic, 21, at her rental house at 10930 Norwood Ave. in Port Richey in January 2018 and burying her body in the back yard.

According to investigators, Nealy killed his wife and then sent text messages to her parents in Tarpon Springs for months to convince them she was still alive.

When her parents finally demanded to see Jamie Ivancic in December, investigators say Nealy went to their home in The Meadows mobile home community in Tarpon Springs and killed the parents, Richard, 79, and Laura Ivanic, 59, as well as her brother, Nicholas Ivancic, 25, and the family's dogs by bludgeoning them with a hammer.

Although Nealy refers to Jamie Ivancic as his wife, investigators believe the couple were either not married or divorced. They had two children, ages 2 and 3.

After the murders, Tarpon Springs detectives said Nealy stole Laura Ivancic's car and fled to his former hometown of Lakewood, Ohio, with the couple's two children. He was arrested by Lakewood Police and extradited back to Florida on Feb. 2.

Nealy was arraigned in Pinellas County on the Tarpon Springs murders shortly after returning to Florida. He pleaded not guilty on all three counts.

On Thursday, Pasco Circuit Court Judge Mary Handsel arraigned him on the charge of first-degree murder in the death of Jamie Ivancic. Nealy pleaded not guilty to her murder as well.

Nealy has been in the Land O' Lakes Detention Center since he was charged by the Pasco County Sheriff's Office with the murder of Jamie Ivancic in February.

Handsel said she would make arrangements to have Nealy be remanded back to the Pinellas County Jail to await the trial for the murders of his in-laws. She also set a pretrial hearing for May 20 at 9 a.m. for the first-degree murder of Jamie Ivancic.

At Thursday's hearing, Nealy waived his right to a speedy trial.

See related stories:
Police Believe Accused Triple Murderer Spent Week At Crime Scene

3 People, 3 Dogs Found Dead In Homicide In Tarpon Springs Home

Tarpon Springs Triple Homicide: Son-In-Law Admits Role, Cops Say

Body Could Be Wife Of Accused In Tarpon Springs Triple Homicide

Authorities Say Wife Of Accused Murderer Possibly Buried Year Ago

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