(credit: CBS)
RIVER FALLS, Wis. (WCCO) – The house where Aaron Schaffhausen murdered his three daughters will be deconstructed, according to the lender that currently owns the residence.
In July, Schaffhausen was sentenced to three life sentences for killing 11-year-old Amara, 8-year-old Sophie and 5-year-old Cecilia at their River Falls home in July 2012.
Schaffhausen admitted that he killed the three girls in order to hurt his ex-wife. After he slit the girls’ throats, he called Jessica Schaffhausen and said: “You can come home now, I killed the kids.”
Aaron Schaffhausen’s family originally tried to sell the home, but the sale was stopped after the girls’ mother protested.
An auction was then held in August, but no one bid on the house. The opening bid had been set at $180,000.
At the time of the auction, neighbors said they wanted the home torn down.
“I can’t imagine anyone wanting to live there after what happened. It’s difficult just walking by it daily; you always glance over and remember,” Tami Duran said. “I think they would like to see it demolished and a memorial put up for the kids.”
Affinity Plus Federal Credit Union, the lender that owns the property, said Jessica Schaffhausen and her family requested they deconstruct the house.
Several local organizations volunteered their services to accomplish the task. All salvageable materials will be donated to Habitat for Humanity.
“Our ultimate goal in this situation was to do the right thing –- and we have been working closely with Jessica and her family to determine what that was,” Affinity Plus CEO Dave Larson said. “We’re proud to honor their wishes, and to contribute to the memorial playground that will be built in honor of the girls.”
The lot will be sold and all proceeds from the sale will go toward the memorial playground being built in memory of the three sisters.
