Chance Donahue Murder Confession: Necrophilia and Life Sentence

On August 29, 2023, 27-year-old Chance Donahue called the Powell Police Department, confessing to the murder of his 29-year-old ex-girlfriend, Shannon Hyatt. He informed the dispatcher that he was mentally unstable and wished to turn himself in at the police station for his and the officers' safety, fearing a "suicide by cop" scenario if they came to him.

The Confession and Initial Response

Chance confessed to murdering Shannon and stated he had the "murder weapon," a knife, with him. He was instructed to leave the knife on top of the refrigerator at his home, where his mother and 7-year-old brother were present. He complied, telling his mother not to touch it and giving her a hug, believing he was going to prison.

As Chance claimed to be driving to the police station, dispatchers tracked his cell phone data. Officers were redirected to intercept him, as an armed and unstable individual on the loose posed a significant danger. He was eventually pulled over at a Sheets gas station less than half a mile from his home. Officers made contact, instructing him to turn off his car and show his hands. He cooperated and was taken into custody.

Discovery of Shannon Hyatt's Body

Upon searching Chance, officers found blood on his socks and shoes, confirming his confession. Attention then shifted to Shannon's home. Police forced entry and found Shannon Hyatt on the living room floor with numerous stab wounds to her upper body and a deep slash across her throat. A large pool of blood and splatters were visible. She was pronounced dead at the scene. The autopsy later revealed over 30 stab wounds and defensive wounds on her hands, indicating she fought back.

Chance's Interrogation

Detectives questioned Chance, who initially attributed his actions to a "psychological break" and a "really bad breakup" with Shannon. He claimed the breakup stemmed from his inability to be honest, his stealing, and taking advantage of people, particularly Shannon. He mentioned Shannon's social media posts about their breakup and her alleged attacks on his mother.

Chance's mother, Ashley Ratka, corroborated some of his claims, stating Shannon had made disturbing accusations about their relationship and had been "messing with him crazy." She described Shannon as controlling and believed Shannon's social media posts encouraged others to track Chance's movements.

Chance further explained that he had stolen money from Shannon because she had taken his debit cards due to his financial irresponsibility. He rationalized the stealing as a way to appease her when she became "mean" due to his unemployment, intending to replace the money before she noticed.

Mental State and Escalation

As the interrogation continued, a deeper issue emerged. Chance claimed to have undiagnosed schizophrenia and experienced auditory and visual hallucinations. He recounted seeing Shannon everywhere at a music festival, believing she was stalking him.

His mother confirmed his deteriorating mental state, revealing he had been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and had not been taking his prescribed medications (Seroquel, Risperdal, Wellbutrin) for weeks. She mentioned he had been hearing voices.

Chance described the events leading to the murder: 1. Around 11:00 PM, he drove by Shannon's house, initially intending to "knock and talk." 2. He peered into her garage window to see if her car was there and tried to see into her room without being seen. 3. He then decided to go home, give his mother his car keys, and check himself into a psych ward. 4. However, on his way home, he experienced a "weird thing" where he felt that if he couldn't have Shannon back, he could "take your life force and then you'll be together forever." 5. He went home, changed into all black clothing, grabbed a knife, and returned to Shannon's house. 6. He twisted the doorknob, and Shannon screamed, "I will call the cops." 7. He slammed his shoulder into the door twice. After the first impact, Shannon said, "Are you fing kidding me?" 8. The door gave way, and he entered. He didn't speak or make a sound but immediately began stabbing Shannon. 9. Shannon didn't realize what was happening until he had stabbed her multiple times, then she cried out, "Are you fing kidding me? What the f***, Chance? Stop. Wait. Please, stop. I'm dying. I love you. I love you." She then stopped speaking. 10. He admitted to cutting her throat to "speed up the process."

Post-Murder Actions and Disturbing Details

After killing Shannon, Chance took her house keys and phone. He screwed a piece of plywood to the front door, claiming it was to prevent her cats from escaping. He then exited through the back door, locking it with her key.

He admitted to using Shannon's phone after her death, accessing her notes where she had written about feeling like she was falling into the same patterns with "Matt" as she had with Chance.

Most disturbingly, Chance confessed to having sex with Shannon's dead body for 5 to 10 minutes. He stated she was definitely dead, with dilated eyes and limp, but her body was still warm. He then repositioned her body, rotating it 180 degrees so it wouldn't be in plain view from the front door. He went outside, smoked cigarettes, and disconnected her Wi-Fi to disable her security system.

The "God Frequency" and Lack of Remorse

Chance revealed a belief that he was a "god" during episodes of psychosis, viewing people as "things." He explained his actions as absorbing Shannon's "life force" to be with her forever, likening it to a Native American belief about absorbing an animal's soul. He even showed a tattoo representing the "god frequency."

When asked about guilt or shame, Chance stated he felt guilty for taking Shannon away from those who loved her but struggled to process emotions. He admitted to wanting Shannon back and also wanting to "take something away from her," leading to the stabbing. He expressed an "eye for an eye" mentality, believing the only justice would have been if he had died too.

Charges and Sentencing

Chance Donahue was charged with aggravated murder, murder, tampering with evidence, and abuse of a corpse. In July 2024, he accepted a plea agreement and pleaded guilty on August 8, 2024, to aggravated murder and abuse of a corpse. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 31 years and is currently incarcerated at Pickaway Correctional Institution in Ohio.