Judge grants bench trial request for suspect accused in cold case homicide

A judge granted a request for a bench trial Thursday for Shanna Goylar, 42, accused in the murder of Cari Farver. Goylar entered a plea of not guilty Thursday in court.

Farver was reported missing in November, 2012. Her mother told police Cari had last been seen in Omaha on November 13 of that year. Farver's vehicle was located in Omaha on January 10, 2013. The case eventually went cold but in February 2016 Pottawattamie County Sheriff's detectives contacted Omaha Police to assist in the investigation. Goylar was arrested in December 2016. Farver's body has never been found.

Police stated in a press release that a grant awarded to the Omaha Police Department’s Cold Case Unit allowed for DNA testing regarding Farver’s homicide.

Prosecutors believe the motive for the alleged murder was that Goylar and Farver were dating the same man.

Prosecutors allege that Goylar stabbed Cari Farver to death in her SUV in 2012. They say Goylar burned the body and then cleaned up the vehicle and returned it to the apartment complex where Farver was staying at the time with her boyfriend.

Later in the investigation property of the victim was found in Goylar's home. Investigators also found fingerprints on a mint container in Farver's vehicle.

Prosecutors also allege that Goylar used apps and other methods to conceal her identity to send fake e-mails to make it look as if Farver were still alive. Prosecutors say she also used fake e-mails to frame other woman for the murder.

Attorney James Martin Davis says prosecutors have no body, no murder weapon, and no witnesses. Davis argued the prosecution doesn't even know if a murder occurred or where it could have happened.

Davis says a bench trial will speed up the proceedings. Goylar's trial date is set for May 10th

Anyone with information about this case is asked to contact the Homicide Unit at 402-444-5656 or call Crime Stoppers at 402-444-STOP. All tips will remain anonymous. Tips on all homicides that lead to an arrest will be paid up to $25,000.00.