Stacy Shelton

Hello, my name is Stacy Shelton, and I am the mother of Ian Alexander Shelton. Not only was Ian my son, he was my best friend, confidant and caregiver. I have survived three and a half years fighting with mastatic stage lv nsclc, Ian has been a force of strength to me, always ready and willing to take care of me and help me get through each day. Now he's gone and it's hard to live life without him. Ian didn't walk into the freezing water on his own, he couldn't have. So now I will pursue to seek the truth and get Justice for Ian. Ian went missing in the early morning hours of December 3rd at Lake Afton after going there with his girlfriend to watch the sun rise. According to her account, she believed Ian was having a mental crisis and needed help. Despite that belief, she took off and left Lake Afton without Ian—but she did take with her all of his belongings. She stated that he was having a mental breakdown, but there is no proof of that; it is only her version of events. She is a registered nurse and has been trained to recognize when someone is in crisis. In Kansas we have mandated reporting. She knew she had a duty to help and chose not to. Even tho she claimed to love Ian until this day. She failed him. At 2:13 a.m., Ian was seen on the lake store’s camera getting a soda from the machine. He appeared sober, silly, and definitely not like he needed help. The temperature that night was 23 degrees, near a large body of water. Ian’s foot had previously been broken, and he had no way to call for help. His girlfriend left Lake Afton, taking Ian’s warm winter coat, his phone, and blankets with her, deciding not to leave them where Ian could find them. She drove home and did not call 911, did not seek help, and did not notify me—his mother—for more than six hours. Ian was left completely exposed to freezing, pitch-dark conditions where hypothermia could begin in as little as 30 minutes. Five weeks later, Ian was found floating deceased in the cold, dark water near the spillway. Weeks earlier, a neighbor of Lake Afton had found Ian’s wallet on the shore in the same proximity—an area that had already been searched many times. According to her account, his girlfriend last saw Ian leave the car, fall over a gully, and disappear into the dark. There is one question that will not leave our family: how did Ian end up in the water? Ian would never have willingly entered freezing winter water. From what we have been able to learn, drownings at Lake Afton are extremely rare during the winter months and have historically occurred during the summer when people were swimming. That reality makes this tragedy even more tro ubling. We need to understand what happened in the critical hours after Ian was left alone and how he came to be in the water. There are still unanswered questions, and we are committed to seeking the truth and accountability wherever it may lead. Ian was my only son and my best friend. He always tried to do the next right thing. He helped people without being asked, made strangers smile, and brought light wherever he went. Our family, his sisters, and even his cat Iris are devastated by his loss. Ian had so many beautiful moments still in store for him. It is a tragedy that his life was cut short. Because of the circumstances surrounding Ian’s death, our family must retain legal counsel for two critical reasons. We need help recovering Ian’s personal property that was taken and has not been returned, and we must pursue legal accountability for the actions and decisions that led to Ian being left alone in such a dangerous situation. According to her own account, she believed Ian was experiencing a mental crisis. Despite this belief, she left Lake Afton without him, took his phone and his coat, did not call 911, did not seek help, and did not notify me for hours afterward. These facts require answers, accountability, and justice. Funds raised will go toward: Cremation, funeral, and memorial expenses for Ian Attorney’s fees and court costs to file a civil suit regarding Ian’s personal belongings, which are items now in the possession of his girlfriend, including his father Mark Shelton’s acoustic guitar Attorney support to explore legal avenues and potential lawsuits related to Ian’s death and the circumstances in which he was left alone at Lake Afton We are hopeful that donations will also allow us to start a small fund for Ian’s daughter to honor his memory and support her future Every donation helps us honor Ian’s life, pursue justice, and give him the dignity and peace he deserves. Ian always helped others and cared deeply for those around him. His girlfriend was not there to help him when he needed it most, though she states she loved Ian to this day. If you cannot donate, sharing this page is an invaluable way to help bring truth, accountability, and closure.