Remote cabin encounter ends with justified shooting

CLAYTON — A bizarre and unsettling incident unfolded on the evening of March 20 along remote Morgan Territory Road, roughly five miles outside Clayton, when residents began reporting a strange man trespassing on properties and behaving erratically.

Neighbors took to social media to warn others about the individual, later identified by authorities as 42-year-old Rafael Saravia. Dressed in red sweatpants, Saravia reportedly approached several homes, claiming he was scouting wedding venues. His odd behavior alarmed the tight-knit rural community.

Around 7 p.m., the situation escalated when Saravia arrived at a cluster of old cabins near a defunct mercury mine at the intersection of Morgan Territory and Marsh Creek Road. There, he encountered Stan Busse, who was outside working on his car. When Busse asked Saravia what he was doing in the area, Saravia suddenly became violent, attacking Busse with a rock and a glass bottle.

Busse managed to escape into his cabin and retrieve a legally registered handgun. According to his son, Garret Busse, who lives in an adjacent cabin, Saravia continued acting aggressively, threatening nearby structures and charging at Stan once again. Busse fired a warning shot before ultimately shooting Saravia in the shoulder and abdomen.

According to Garret, due to the remote location, it took over 30 minutes for deputies from the Valley Station Sheriff’s Office and officers from the Clayton Police Department to arrive on scene. During that time, Saravia remained on the ground.

Saravia was transported to a local hospital and later confirmed as the suspect. According to Garret Busse, sheriff’s investigators determined the shooting was justified, classifying it as a “clean shoot” in self-defense. According to sheriff’s detective Jimmy Lee, no charges have been filed.
Stan Busse declined an interview.