The retrial of a Boundary County man is underway on homicide and arson charges for allegedly murdering his wife and setting their home on fire in 2020.  

Shannon Dabbs, 60, is charged with second-degree murder after police claim he shot and killed his wife, Susan Marie Dabbs, in 2020. The man is also charged with first- degree arson for allegedly burning down their house. A January trial resulted in a hung jury after two jurors were undecided, requiring this retiral that started Oct. 6. 

Similarly to how she began the first trial against Dobbs, Boundary County Prosecuting Attorney Andrakay Pluid asked the jury to focus on how the murder took place, not on the person allegedly behind the crime. 

“The case is not a who done it, it’s a how he did it,” Pluid said. 

However, Defense Attorney Joseph Sullivan told the jury that Susan Dobbs was deeply in debt at the time of her death. 

“You’re going to hear evidence from the detectives that have investigated this that Susan Dabbs housed $40,000 in overdraft fees,” Sullivan said. “Susan had no means to recreate the lifestyle that she had.” 

Dabbs was initially arrested in August 2023 before he posted a $300,000 bail.  

In his first trial, Dabbs's defense attorney argued that the man shot his wife in self-defense after she had allegedly set fire to their house and shot at him.  

However, prosecutors contended that Dabbs shot his wife because she was divorcing him and that he burned down their house to cover up the alleged murder. 

Witness testimonies and evidence from the prosecution and defense are scheduled for the next few days. 

The trial is being held at the Boundary County courthouse and is scheduled to be for two weeks.  

Jury selection and opening statements from prosecuting Attorney Pluid and Defense Attorney Sullivan have concluded.