NEW EPISODE

FRIDAY, JAN. 17

9:01-11:00 p.m. EST - 20/20

When a surprising discovery in the backyard of a family home leads police to a husband and father's killer.

'20/20' REPORTS ON THE HAUNTING DISAPPEARANCE OF HUSBAND AND FATHER MICHAEL SHAVER IN AN ALL-NEW EPISODE AIRING FRIDAY, JAN. 17

A Surprising Discovery in the Backyard of the Family Home Leads Police to the Killer

In 2015, beloved husband and father Michael Shaver mysteriously disappeared, and his whereabouts remained a mystery for years until chilling new evidence unearthed secrets of Michael's marriage and events that led to a devastating discovery beneath the family's backyard. "GMA3" co-anchor Eva Pilgrim reports for an all-new "20/20" on Friday, Jan. 17 (9:01-11:00 p.m. EST), on ABC and streaming the next day on Hulu.

Michael and his wife Laurie grew up together in the small upstate town of Utica, New York, and were together for decades before settling in Florida. But in November of 2015, Michael stopped coming to his job as a theme park mechanic. When co-workers started to worry, Laurie claimed she did not know where he was and said that he had driven off in a black SUV one evening, essentially abandoning Laurie and their two children.

After more than two years passed with no sign of Michael, a police investigation led authorities to the Shaver home - specifically to a fire pit and concrete patio in the backyard. What the police found sent shockwaves through their small town. When Laurie became the prime suspect in Michael's murder, she presented a controversial and unsettling defense with allegations of infidelity, domestic violence and betrayal, revealing the seemingly dark side of their marriage and life together.

This episode of "20/20" includes exclusive interviews with Michael's brother and sister, Brian Shaver and Stacie Turner; Michael's best friend, Scott Amatuccio; Laurie Shaver's husband, Travis Filmer; State Attorney of the Fifth Judicial Circuit in Florida Bill Gladson; Rich Buxman, assistant state attorney of the Fifth Judicial Circuit in Florida; Lt. John Herrell of the Lake County Sherriff's Office; Cpl. Cory Anderson of the Lake County Sherriff's Office; and Jeffrey Wiggs, Laurie Shaver's defense attorney.

ABC News' "20/20" is an award-winning primetime program anchored by David Muir and Deborah Roberts. A proven leader as a long-form newsmagazine for over 45 years, "20/20" features unforgettable, character-driven true-crime mysteries, exclusive newsmaker interviews, hard-hitting investigative reports and in-depth coverage of high-profile stories. Janice Johnston is the executive producer. The two-hour "20/20" events air Fridays from 9:01-11:00 p.m. ET on ABC and are available to stream on ABC News digital platforms and Hulu.

-- ABC --