Parents of woman whose murder was cited by Kristi Noem release statement | Emma SchaferEmma Schafer was a 24-year-old community organizer who was fatally stabbed in her Springfield apartment in July 2023Summary:May 7, 2025The parents of Emma Shafer , a 24-year-old killed in Springfield in July 2023, released a statement Wednesday after U.S. Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem unexpectedly moved her Illinois speech to the site of their daughter's murder. Schafer was a 24-year-old community organizer who was fatally stabbed in her Springfield apartment in July 2023. Calixto was in the U.S. illegally at the time of the crime. Noem spoke near the site of Shafer's murder, using it to emphasize her criticism of Illinois’ “sanctuary” policies and sayingat the time of the crime. Marshals Service said they are cooperating on the case.