Catherine Shelton, former protection legal professional, addresses accusations surrounding her for many years

Catherine Shelton has been dogged by questions surrounding the deaths of assorted males in her life. She has by no means been charged with homicide. The previous protection legal professional has been trailed by allegations and headlines for many years. She’s been referred to as a assassin, a stalker, and a loopy lawyer.

“Folks that actually know me know that I am not that method … who might be and dwell so lengthy?” Shelton tells “48 Hours” contributor Jenna Jackson.  “I’ve by no means killed anyone.”

The interview is the fruits of a decades-long recreation of cat and mouse between Jackson and Shelton.

In 2003, Jackson co-produced an version of “48 Hours” on Catherine Shelton. Jackson and a group of authorized consultants reinvestigate lots of the allegations in opposition to Shelton. And there are numerous. Beginning within the Nineteen Seventies, certainly one of Shelton’s former boyfriends was bludgeoned to loss of life, and one other ex-boyfriend’s condo was allegedly set on fireplace. A former shopper who authorities mentioned unintentionally hanged himself was discovered useless and bare in a house Shelton owned. She says she had nothing to do with any of those incidents. She shot one other boyfriend within the again. She admits to that however says it was self-defense. And there is extra.

“If I had completed a tenth of what has been mentioned about me, I would be useless, all proper?” Shelton says.

“Homicide accusations?” Shelton says later. “It is merely been folks throwing mud on the wall and hoping a few of it can stick.”

Shelton’s story has turn out to be Jackson’s obsession to seek out the reality.   

“I imply, do I seem like I am telling an enormous, fats whopper?” Shelton says with fun.

THE CATHERINE SHELTON CONNECTION

After years of taking part in a recreation of cat and mouse with Catherine Shelton, I’ve determined to fulfill up along with her once more and see if she’s been holding onto any secrets and techniques.

However earlier than I try this, I bought some assist from a pair consultants. They’re each “48 Hours” consultants.

Lisa Andrews was a longtime prosecutor. She’s now a protection legal professional.

Lisa Andrews: To carry anyone criminally answerable for one thing, you could have to have the ability to show it. And to this point nobody metropolis, nobody company, nobody has been capable of even sufficient nearly for an arrest. 

And Brian Benken, a trial legal professional and personal investigator.

Brian Benken: There isn’t any query, from what we find out about her previous previous to this, that she’s succesful. You realize, the query is, , what is the proof?

The controversy surrounding Catherine Shelton began within the late 70s.

Jenna Jackson: OK, so let’s recap what we all know to this point  … she comes on the scene as a — as a Houston legal protection legal professional. She’s already bought a status. She’s linked to … her ex-boyfriend, who she had filed a typical legislation marriage go well with in opposition to.

Brian Benken: The one who didn’t present up for the court docket look for the lawsuit that she filed. Who was discovered —

Jenna Jackson: Precisely—

Brian Benken: — overwhelmed to loss of life in his storage.

Jenna Jackson: And that’s nonetheless unsolved. And we really feel like there are such a lot of unanswered questions there.

Jenna Jackson: All of them sorta go in a circle right here. After which she is charged with taking pictures one other ex-boyfriend, Gary Taylor, a reporter right here in Houston.

Brian Benken: Who she really bought convicted for.

Jenna Jackson: And that is the one factor she’s ever been convicted of, proper?

Brian Benken: Proper.

Lisa Andrews: … and solely bought probation.

Brian Benken: Proper.

And, after all, there was a second loss of life we talked about. It was Tommy Bell.  He was named with Catherine in a wrongful loss of life lawsuit and was later discovered with a bullet in his head.  Investigators say Bell shot himself taking part in Russian roulette. 

Catherine was by no means implicated in Bell’s loss of life, however it added to her status as a girl with a previous. And there have been different outdated allegations of harassment, burglaries, and so forth that by no means bought to court docket.

However now, Let’s transfer to the following chapter in Catherine’s life. 

In 1981 Catherine left Houston and married a small-town Texas boy named Clint Shelton.

His household owned a gun store and he occurred to be an professional marksman. Catherine instructed us what had attracted her to him once I began overlaying Catherine in 2003.

CATHERINE SHELTON: He simply appeared like a form of a person of the West-type individual. 

Clint’s dad Richard did not take care of Catherine.

RICHARD SHELTON (2003): She’s clever. Do not suppose she’s not clever. And she or he’s imply to go along with it. … She’s a bitch—18 karat.

Catherine and Clint would later transfer as much as Dallas.

She ultimately satisfied a choose to “put aside” her conviction for taking pictures Gary Taylor.

After her probation was lifted in 1988, she bought her legislation license again and opened a follow.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003) : What I attempt to do is get justice for the individuals who come to me.

Issues had been comparatively quiet for a few decade till a 3rd man’s loss of life had a hyperlink to Catherine in June 1999.

Lisa Andrews: So, let’s discuss in regards to the subsequent case. … Chris Hansen.

Brian Benken: This— that is the place the case kinda goes from unhealthy to bizarre.

Chris Hansen was doing a little contracting work for Catherine in her new house. He was right here within the states from Canada. 

Brian Benken: It is our understanding that, , she was doing a little immigration work for him.

Lisa Andrews: Mr. Hansen was present in a house that she had but to maneuver into, however it belonged to her. … discovered … by her husband, Clint Shelton.  

Hansen was discovered hanging in a closet space of the house. He was bare.  In keeping with newspaper stories on the time …

Lisa Andrews:  It was dominated an accident once more. This time, as a substitute of by Russian roulette, it was dominated accident by autoerotic asphyxiation.

Jenna Jackson: In her home?

Lisa Andrews:  In her home.

Brian Benken: In her home.

Jenna Jackson: So, have you ever guys seen these kinda circumstances earlier than

Brian Benken: Not in—

Lisa Andrews: They don’t seem to be—

Brian Benken: — anyone else’s home. 

Lisa Andrews: Proper. I imply, they occur, however that is fairly uncommon.

Hansen’s loss of life could have been uncommon, however the subsequent one with a hyperlink to Catherine was proper out of a film.

THE HIERRO CASE

 
Jenna Jackson: So, we’re again in Dallas, she’s working as a protection legal professional. … a number of months after Chris Hansen’s physique is present in her home.

Lisa Andrews: And this can be a actually huge one. Sensational, newsworthy. Numerous media protection, and an enormous deal in Dallas.  

Brian Benken: So, this occurred in Rowlett, Texas.  And on December the twentieth, 1999, there is a 911 name:

CALLER:  Hi there.

911 OPERATOR:  Hi there.

CALLER: There is a girl laying on my entrance porch that is been shot twice.

911 OPERATOR: Have you learnt who shot her?

CALLER:  No, ma’am.

CALLER:  She’s saying, “Please assist me, please assist me they’re nonetheless chasing me.” She’s saying that someplace down the way in which her husband’s been shot .

The 911 caller did not know who had shot Marisa Hierro, however Marisa says she knew instantly who was concerned: her outdated boss Catherine Shelton.

Marisa had not too long ago give up working for Catherine and had opened her personal immigration consulting enterprise. Catherine, she says, went ballistic. The 2 girls quickly started accusing one another of scamming their purchasers.

MARISA HIERRO: She was threatening me, she was screaming at me.

“48 Hours” spoke with Marisa in 2003.

MARISA HIERRO: She’s screaming, “You will not dwell to see Christmas.” I imply, she mentioned it precisely like that.

Catherine denies that she ever threatened Marisa. However Marisa says she was apprehensive — she knew what occurred to Chris Hansen, the person that had been discovered hanging in a house Catherine owned. Marisa says she knew him and claims he had a beef with Catherine. 

MARISA HIERRO: He referred to as my workplace — about 30 days earlier than he had handed. He had instructed me that … she was taking, like, cash from him. … I instructed him to go to the police. He instructed me he was afraid to go to the police, as a result of, , he wasn’t a citizen. He had Canadian citizenship or one thing.

Marisa says Hansen had wound up useless not lengthy after. His loss of life dominated an accident. Then, that December night, all hell broke unfastened for Marisa and her husband Michael exterior their house.

MARISA HIERRO: We pulled round to the again …

MARISA HIERRO: Mike’s about to get out. …  hastily, he simply snapped over. And he grabbed my arm. And he simply mentioned “Oh no.” … So, I look to see what he is taking a look at. And he is telling me, “Simply run,” …  don’t be concerned what you hear. Simply — simply go. Run.”

MARISA HIERRO: And — I may simply see from, like, the neck down. I could not see any face. … And I may see somebody simply cocking, holding one thing like this. And I do know now once I’m wanting, it is — it is confirming in my head that that is somebody holding a gun.

MARISA HIERRO: It was the loudest sound I would ever heard, as a result of it was so shut.

MARISA HIERRO: I imply, you consider it now and also you suppose he ought to’ve ran him over, he ought to’ve — he ought to’ve completed somethin’ totally different. He shoulda pulled ahead and slammed into the storage. He ought to’ve lifted up the storage. He ought to’ve completed one thing aside from get out. 

Marisa says she may see two masked figures: one individual with a gun, a person; the opposite a girl, petite with blonde hair.

MARISA HIERRO: I am operating … I am not even pondering that I may even get quick sufficient away. So, I stood and I simply — I always remember, as a result of I noticed — it is like a fireplace leaving a gun. … And the one factor I may consider to do, I assume, was carry up my hand.

MARISA HIERRO: I do know once I was shot and I landed ahead, I landed face down. 

Marisa says as the 2 masked figures stood over her, the girl was giving the shooter orders.  She says she acknowledged Catherine by her voice.

MARISA HIERRO: She mentioned, “Do not be a [expletive],” to him. She mentioned, “I mentioned do it.” … And he instructed her, “I — I did. I shot her.” And now she mentioned, “Do it once more.”

MARISA HIERRO: When he argued and mentioned, “I did it,” I simply heard them, like, go away.

Marisa had been hit — buckshot from the blast tore into her arm and he or she was critically wounded. Her husband Michael lay useless within the driveway.   

MARISA HIERRO: When the police get on the scene the primary issues I say … I say, “Catherine. Catherine Shelton.” 

Despite Marisa’s witness account, Catherine was by no means arrested. She had an alibi. Her lawyer says telephone data present that Catherine was speaking on her cellphone after which her house telephone with a buddy and her mom on the time of the taking pictures.

However her husband Clint was arrested and charged with homicide and aggravated assault.

Police had discovered two latex gloves and a masks made out of pantyhose in a Porta Potty on a development web site close to the homicide scene. Clint’s DNA was on the masks.

Brian Benken: So many individuals have mentioned, , Catherine has this potential to tug folks in and to assist her. So, Clint’s been married to her for a number of years, , he is simply sucked into this. And, “Positive — certain, child. I will go together with you and shoot your paralegal and her husband. Why not?” I imply —  

Lisa Andrews: That is simply unimaginable to me.

Brian Benken: That is kinda the way in which it seems to be although.

And that is the way in which it regarded to the prosecutors as effectively.

Jenna Jackson: I sat by it 20 years in the past. Sat by that complete homicide trial. The prosecutor’s case was, “Clint did this, and whether or not Catherine was on the scene or not, she orchestrated it.”  He mentioned that. That was his case. 

Brian Benken: It needed to be his case ‘trigger Clint had no motive on his personal to do that —

Lisa Andrews: Proper, Catherine had the —

Jenna Jackson: I agree —

Brian Benken: Catherine had the motive.

In 2000, Clint Shelton was discovered responsible and sentenced to life in jail for gunning down the Hierros. We spoke to him a couple of years into his sentence.

CLINT SHELTON: I didn’t homicide or try to homicide anybody. And I used to be not there that night time.

Catherine insisted neither of them had something to do with it.

CATHERINE SHELTON [2003]: I do not know something about it.

Marisa would later sue Catherine for wrongful loss of life. The case was ultimately dropped.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): This began out to be a wrongful loss of life lawsuit filed by Marisa in opposition to me for killing her husband. It has became one thing else.  

That is as a result of Catherine would then countersue, saying Marisa had falsely blamed her and her husband Clint for the crime and that every one of her claims had been unfaithful.

The trial was uncommon. Marisa and her lawyer did not present up. So, Catherine received by default.

The ruling? Marisa libeled Catherine by accusing her of homicide. However Catherine was nonetheless able to battle for damages.

CATHERINE SHELTON [testifying in court]: And the more serious factor she says in right here, this factor says, I am a coward. … My father wasn’t a coward. My mom wasn’t a coward.

The choose appeared impressed.

JUDGE: I feel it was a really well-tried case. Very effectively defined. Your arguments are effectively supported.

Guess what? The choose awarded Catherine hundreds of thousands of {dollars} in damages.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): She must discover a job. And we hope she’ll keep at it for at the least 30 or 40 years as a result of that is how lengthy it’ll take to pay for all this.

Catherine was indignant at Marisa.  And as I am about to let you know, she would additionally turn out to be livid with me. I bought a bodyguard.

CATHERINE STANDS BY HER MAN

In November 2003 I used to be just a little involved.  Catherine Shelton was indignant with me — very indignant.  Catherine’s saga hit nationwide airwaves with our “48 Hours” report:

RICHARD SCHLESINGER | “48 Hours” correspondent: Do you damage different folks? 

CATHERINE SHELTON: Nicely, I do not intend to.

Jenna Jackson: I assumed … she mentioned all this on digital camera, she needed to know what the present was going to seem like. There’s all these our bodies … On the time, my boss at CBS was actually nervous that Catherine would attempt to kill me.  

So, my boss employed a bodyguard to comply with me round.

Jenna Jackson: Three months after the present airs, Catherine calls my cellphone, says, “Hey that is Catherine.” I am like, “Hey Catherine …” I get little butterflies in my abdomen at that time. And she or he’s like, “I simply needed to let I critically thought-about killing you, however I made a decision to not. … And I used to be like, “OK, thanks …” Click on!

Round 2012, I left the enterprise, however because it seems, it hadn’t left me. Catherine Shelton was all the time there at the back of my thoughts. I came upon she had been disbarred because the final time I noticed her, however what else had she been as much as? I needed to speak to her once more. So, in 2016 I referred to as her.

Not solely did she take my name, however she agreed to fulfill with me once more.

CATHERINE SHELTON: What time is it? It is 11 o’clock. Too early for mimosas.

It was the beginning of a years-long, sophisticated relationship.

CATHERINE SHELTON: … who am I to guage somebody’s soul?

I’ve blended emotions about her. 

I discover her good, wily and at instances…even humorous.

However she will get very critical when one explicit topic comes up.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2016): There is a man in jail who does not should be there. His title is Clint Shelton. 

All these years later, Catherine continues to be standing by her man, at the same time as Clint Shelton was serving out his life sentence for the homicide of Michael Hierro.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2016): And all people who is aware of him … is aware of that it is not him ‘trigger it is unimaginable. 

Catherine was decided to exonerate Clint. My curiosity was piqued. I used to be capable of get my arms on a whole bunch of pages of police stories that we did not have entry to once we initially coated this story. Over the following few years, I went by them each time I had the possibility to see if there was one thing that had been missed.  The group additionally took a glance. 

Lisa Andrews: I feel everybody would agree he didn’t have a motive.

Ultimately, it appeared that the very best likelihood Clint Shelton had to assist himself was Catherine.        

Jenna Jackson: Inform me out of your expertise … in case you’re defending him, what’s our greatest case to say, “Clint did not do that, it is senseless?”

Lisa Andrews: You make this case about Catherine Shelton…

Lisa says the best option to get Clint off the hook could be for him responsible Catherine.

Lisa Andrews: You discuss all of the loopy deaths … earlier than he ever met her. … And then you definitely paint her as this psycho who will get mad and lashes out in anger.

However that hasn’t occurred. Clint has by no means even urged Catherine had something to do with the taking pictures.

Catherine Shelton (2016): He is been within the penitentiary … with out something … as a result of he would not do what they needed him to do, the prosecutor and the — and the state.

Jenna Jackson: Which was?

Catherine Shelton (2016): Which was, uh, give me up.

And Catherine nonetheless swears she wasn’t answerable for the taking pictures both. However for the primary time she shared that she had doubts.

Catherine Shelton (2016): At one level I assumed, effectively, possibly I did do it. Perhaps I blacked out and did it … And I talked to the psychologist who labored with my purchasers, and I mentioned, “Look … I hold feeling like so many individuals cannot be mistaken,” and he mentioned, ” It is unimaginable. I used to be speaking to you, like, when it was occurring on the telephone.”

So, who does Catherine imagine was behind the ambush plot? Marisa Hierro.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2016): She was instantly accountable. Even when she didn’t herself pull the set off. … she made it occur.

It is an accusation she’s made earlier than. Catherine says Marisa had been operating an immigration rip-off – principally taking cash from immigrants who needed inexperienced playing cards. Attorneys who represented a few of Marisa’s former purchasers instructed us she did little or nothing for the cash they paid her. Catherine says Marisa’s husband was about to rat her out.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2016): I do know Michael was inconvenient to her …  possibly she thought if she removed him, that she was actually simply going locations and he knew an excessive amount of.

We could not discover Marisa at this time, however on the time once we requested her about these allegations she denied them. And she or he additionally denied Catherine’s accusation that she was the one who arrange her husband’s homicide.

MARISA HIERRO (2003): Have I all the time completed the very best factor in life, mentioned the proper factor, made the very best decisions? No. However have I ever damage anybody? No. Would I ever damage Michael? By no means. [cries] By no means.

However Catherine says she’s bought another reason Clint could not have been the shooter: the gun.

Jenna Jackson: That may be a fairly highly effective weapon.

Tony Leal: It’s. It is a scary weapon. It isn’t a protected weapon.

Tony Leal: The weapon that was used on the crime scene on that night time was a sawed-off shotgun, 12-gauge. They use buckshot.

Tony Leal is a former chief of the Texas Rangers. He is aware of weapons.

Tony Leal: A shotgun is made to unfold a number of projectiles in order that when it shoots, it goes out the entrance of that barrel and steadily will increase its width.

Tony Leal: So, while you’re not skilled in weapons, a shotgun is an excellent weapon … You do not have to know the best way to actually shoot a gun.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2016): He had in all probability, at one level, 200 weapons. … and he was only a very, superb shot.

Catherine says her husband was a marksman and a gun professional. He would by no means use a crude weapon like that.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2016): The weapon … was nothing like what Mr. Shelton would have used if he was going to shoot something.

However Leal says Catherine’s argument cuts each methods.

Tony Leal:  But when I used to be planning a homicide that I needed to get away with … we have to make this seem like we did not do it. …  to throw off investigators. It isn’t a foul plan.

We spoke to the previous prosecutor on the case, Toby Shook, who’s now a protection legal professional. He says Clint Shelton is strictly the place he belongs, and that Catherine continues to be thought-about an individual of curiosity within the shootings. He additionally says he does not imagine Marisa Hierro had something to do along with her husband’s homicide. 

Catherine’s efforts to free Clint look like a protracted shot however since she is speaking to me once more, I ponder, will she discuss different circumstances?

Jenna Jackson (studying to Catherine): We have arson accusations, homicide accusations, beating, taking pictures, theft. And who is aware of what else?

What about Gary Taylor?  The ex-boyfriend she shot within the again.

Catherine Shelton: He mentioned, “You realize, you and I’d each be higher off useless.” And I assumed, “effectively possibly you,” , “however not me.” 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

Jenna Jackson [driving]: Right here we go. On our option to choose up Catherine for an interview. … We’ll see the way it goes. You by no means can inform. It is all the time an journey.

After our reunion in 2016, I met up with Catherine a couple of extra instances and he or she instructed me bits and items in regards to the allegations in opposition to her, however I felt like she was holding again.

CATHERINE SHELTON: You realize, I imply how may I do know that?

However now, in 2022, she instructed me she has extra to say.

Cameraman: What do you suppose she’s prepared to speak about? 

Jenna Jackson: I feel she desires to set the file straight … And proper some issues that’ve been mentioned about her for, god, 30 plus years now.

And after reexamining this case so rigorously, I feel I am able to face her once more too. I assumed I would begin by asking her a few man she’s by no means needed to speak a lot about — a person she as soon as cuttingly described as an “oyster.”

Jenna Jackson: I do know you bear in mind this ‘trigger you needed to hear about it for years and years. 

Catherine Shelton: Sure.

Jenna Jackson: Keep in mind the night time that every thing went down with Gary Taylor? I wanna stroll you thru what he says occurred, and I need you to inform me what occurred. OK?

Catherine Shelton: All proper.

Gary Taylor is that newspaper reporter who instructed us about his torrid relationship with Catherine that led to an unpleasant breakup. Amongst different issues, Taylor accused Catherine of burglarizing his condo. Catherine didn’t admit duty for the housebreaking however in response to Taylor she did provide to assist get his belongings again. When Taylor went to her house what he bought as a substitute was a bullet in his again.

In 2003, Taylor walked us by what he says occurred that night time with Catherine.

GARY TAYLOR:  She insisted that I come over to her place and that she would have the stolen items delivered over there.

After he bought there, he says Catherine instructed him there was one thing for him in her bed room closet.

GARY TAYLOR: I regarded within the closet and it was empty. I went in to ensure.

GARY TAYLOR: As quickly as I bought within the closet, the lights went out. … And I heard a gun click on.

GARY TAYLOR: I knew she was on the market.

Taylor says he regarded by the crack the place the door hinges had been, and there was Catherine.

GARY TAYLOR: And she or he stepped into the bed room, and he or she backed up in opposition to a wall and he or she took a policeman’s place, like this (demonstrates), with the pistol, pointed on the closet. Now I had the door between us.                         

GARY TAYLOR: Now she regarded totally different than I would ever seen her. … this was a brand new Catherine. … and he or she began— talkin’ to me …

GARY TAYLOR: She mentioned … “Don’t fret in regards to the subsequent life as a result of there is not one.”

GARY TAYLOR: And she or he regarded down on the gun … and that is once I … made my transfer. And I kicked open the door, I grabbed the chair. I went straight at her with the chair like a lion tamer or somethin’. 

GARY TAYLOR: She fired off a spherical … the bullet got here by the chair, and … nicked me proper above the ear, proper right here. And I threw the chair at her.

GARY TAYLOR: I ran down the hallway …

Catherine Shelton: OK, effectively his model of what occurred is bull—-.

Catherine denies even relationship Taylor and claims he was solely round as a result of he was writing a narrative about her hoping to revive his profession.

Catherine Shelton: I had information for that boy. I did have some passionate ideas about somebody, however it certain wasn’t him.

What Catherine instructed me was that after an evening out ingesting, Taylor went to her house for a nightcap. She says Taylor made himself a drink within the kitchen after which got here again into the lounge holding certainly one of her weapons.

Catherine Shelton: I mentioned, “that is not loaded.” And he says, “it’s now.”

Catherine says she tried to divert Taylor towards her bed room closet.

Catherine Shelton: I mentioned, “these issues that you really want … they’re within the closet up on the highest shelf.” … I assumed I may form of go round him, however no. He has me go in entrance of him again to the room.

Catherine Shelton And he reaches for this picket chair to tug it over to rise up, , it was 9 toes. … and I assumed, “Now could be your solely likelihood.”

Catherine Shelton: And I knew I had one other gun below the mattress … I simply began saying, “Oh please Gary, do not kill me.”  And I went down on my knees, , like this [bends her knees]. It was occurring contemporaneous with him shifting the chair.  I reached below, pulled it out, stood up, turned and shot him. Like this. With one hand as a result of that is how I shoot. With one hand (laughs). Not like this, however flip your physique to the facet and shoot. As shut as you possibly can.

Jenna Jackson: What occurred then?

Catherine Shelton: He lifted the chair on the identical time … The chair is then rocketed out throughout the room … as a result of I shot by the chair. And the bullet bounced off his head … And he yelled, turned and ran … And I stored taking pictures … I shot him out the door!

Jenna Jackson: You chased him out the door?

Catherine Shelton: Yeah. … And the second shot hit him within the again.

 
GARY TAYLOR (2003): She blew me out by the door and— I used to be layin’ face-down on the grass exterior of her place. … And I used to be so pissed off.

Jenna Jackson: He says that got here two centimeters near his coronary heart. He practically died –

Catherine Shelton:  It did not even penetrate the physique cavity all proper? … It was within the gentle tissue of his again. The fats muscle. … He was handled and launched shortly from Ben Taub Hospital that night time.

Catherine insists that she shot him in self-defense. By the way in which, her declare that Gary pointed a gun at her was one she had made earlier than at trial. 

We spoke to Taylor not too long ago and he denies that he held a gun on Catherine and says he is certain Catherine meant to kill him that night time.

So, Catherine has instructed us her facet of what occurred with Gary Taylor that night time, however what about all the opposite rumors and accusations in her life?

Jenna Jackson: I’ve recognized a variety of legal protection attorneys and never all of them have this path … of of their wake that they have been accused of, proper?

And she or he’ll even have to clarify the latest loss of life she has a hyperlink to … a fifth one.

Catherine Shelton: Why would I’ve killed him?

ADDRESSING THE ALLEGATIONS

It is so laborious to tug Catherine into focus. Is she bored with the accusations which have swirled round her for many years?

Catherine Shelton: Individuals who actually know me know me, they know I am not that method. I imply, who might be and — and dwell so lengthy?  

Or is a part of her amused by all the eye? 

Jenna Jackson (listening to sirens exterior): Yup, I hear ’em. The sirens within the background.

Catherine Shelton: They’re right here for me.

Jenna Jackson: (laughs) They discovered you.

Catherine Shelton: They lastly situated me. It is taken them 40 years. 

Jenna Jackson: So, for 40 years, there have been some fairly loopy accusations thrown at you. Some—

Catherine Shelton: Sure — a couple of.

Jenna Jackson: — circumstances linked to you. Homicide—

Catherine Shelton: You imply that I knew the folks? Sure.

Jenna Jackson: Arson, homicide, fraud.

Catherine Shelton: Burning, theft, common mayhem.

Jenna Jackson: So why? Why are all these items being mentioned about you each which method you go? I imply, have you ever completed all these items?

Catherine Shelton: If I had completed a tenth of what I — has been mentioned about me, I would be useless, all proper?

Jenna Jackson: Have you ever ever murdered anybody?

Catherine Shelton: I — homicide accusations? … It is merely been folks throwing mud on the wall and hoping a few of it can stick.

Keep in mind, Catherine was by no means charged with homicide however she has hyperlinks to 2 males who met a violent finish. The primary man was that ex-boyfriend, Dr. George Tedesco, discovered bludgeoned to loss of life in his storage on the day he was purported to go to court docket in a dispute with Catherine.

The opposite man was Michael Hierro, shot to loss of life in his driveway. His spouse, who was additionally shot and survived, had been in a dispute with Catherine as effectively. 

Catherine Shelton: Myself, I’ve by no means killed any human being … I’ve by no means — paid anybody to kill any human being, promised anybody that I’d pay them to kill one other human being, supplied anybody something of worth.

As for these different mysterious deaths, there was Tommy Bell, the person who was named along with her in a wrongful loss of life go well with.

Catherine Shelton: He had killed himself— or shot himself whereas taking part in Russian roulette, watching a Clint Eastwood film. 

She nonetheless denies that she had something to do with it, however she did appear skeptical in regards to the Russian roulette story.

Catherine Shelton: Be kinda laborious to check anyone … harming themself, that took care of their physique, , and their vitamin.

And she or he additionally instructed us she does not know something about Chris Hansen’s loss of life. He was the contractor who turned up useless and bare in a home she owned.

However why do these rumors comply with her round? Catherine thinks the explanation could also be as a result of she was all the time recognized for being a drive to be reckoned with.

Catherine Shelton: I had considerably of a monitor file of “For those who hit me as soon as, I will hit you twice.” You realize. I used to be taught to take up for myself. And I did.

However that status, she says, took on a lifetime of its personal after the Tedesco homicide. Catherine says she used it to construct her legend.

Catherine Shelton: I performed off a variety of that. And — after the primary incidence — of the outrage of, like — George Tedesco — folks would, , generally have a look at me.  And I assumed, “Nicely, I will simply use this to my benefit,” ? And so, if I would, like, , have a look at them or one thing like that or — , I would see that they’d go loopy, , or one thing.

Jenna Jackson: So, you performed it up?

Catherine Shelton: Yeah, I did.

Though Catherine insists she by no means murdered anybody, she does admit to some violence when she wanted to defend herself.

Jenna Jackson: However you could have completed some — some violent issues.

Catherine Shelton: Oh sure. And I — I’d — if somebody put their arms on me.

Catherine, nonetheless, says that she’s softened with age … at the least just a little.

Catherine Shelton: It was you may solely do that after.  (sighs) Now — I am making an attempt to be — , comply with Jesus and every thing just a little higher. I am a Catholic. And so now the rule is, all proper, it’s a must to do it twice, however then I will beat the crap out of you.

Catherine says she desires to place her previous behind her. However there’s now a brand new loss of life with a hyperlink to her.

The most recent case was that of a 70-year-old man named Sam Shelton—no relation to Catherine.

He was sick, she says, and in 2017 he was dwelling in her home.

Catherine Shelton: … he was in fairly unhealthy form. He was on oxygen, ? You realize, I imply— a variety of oxygen. A number of oxygen. He could not even transfer and not using a tank, an enormous tank with him.

Catherine says she took him as a result of he was a veteran and had no household round. He did not final lengthy. 

Catherine Shelton: He lived for — let’s examine. After I met him in — in March or April, let’s examine. I’ve to depend on my fingers at this time. Might, June, July, August, September— August. He died in August. He solely lived 5 months. And he would possibly’ve lived just a little longer, besides the storm.

That storm was Hurricane Harvey. It got here blasting by Houston that August.  Catherine says Sam died of pure causes throughout the storm. There was nowhere to take him.

Catherine Shelton: And I attempted to wrap him up in blankets. … And I assumed at the least right here it is chilly, ? And – and — he could have to remain right here with me in the home, , until they will come and get him. So, I did not know what else to do.

But it surely’s what Catherine did subsequent that bought her in bother. She signed his title on a lease software after he was useless to try to lease a home. She bought caught.

Catherine Shelton: The DA’s Workplace did not wanna take it at first. After which they mentioned, “Nicely, it is solely a misdemeanor.”

Catherine Shelton: And um —

Jenna Jackson: (studying) Fraudulent use of figuring out info. Felony.

FRAUD DOC SCREENGRAB – credit score wanted

Backside line: Catherine is at present charged with a felony and he or she’s dealing with trial. She may even go jail for as much as 10 years.

Catherine Shelton: I am not going to jail. I have never completed something mistaken.

Jenna Jackson: However how are you so certain? You are dealing with this case proper now. It is pending —

Catherine Shelton: Nicely, I can not —

Jenna Jackson: — as we sit right here —

Catherine Shelton: — give away my — my protection. … I imply, it is not an excellent case for a prosecutor. It is — it is fairly—it — it is not a skinny case. It is a case that may’t be confirmed.

Catherine says she has a cause for signing the useless man’s title on that doc. She says she was simply making an attempt to get a brand new house for the aged man’s nurse and her household. In keeping with Catherine, they’d misplaced their house within the storm.

It is so laborious to type this all out. And in spite of everything this, I nonetheless cannot make up my thoughts about her. 

Jenna Jackson: How would you … describe your life?

Catherine Shelton: Nicely, I actually by no means anticipated it to be the way it was. … really, I wish to have been a librarian. That — that was what I actually needed to do.

Jenna Jackson: Has your life turned out such as you thought it might.

Catherine Shelton: Nicely, no. I have never been a librarian. So, it did not work out.

Catherine Shelton: I am who I’m, interval. … And that is simply how the playing cards are dealt. … you have to … play the hand you are dealt. And with a couple of moans and groans and, , m — missed strikes, I’ve performed the hand I used to be dealt.

Jenna Jackson: Do you could have something to admit? Have you ever instructed us the reality about every thing?

Catherine Shelton: Something that I’ve needed to confess, I’ve confessed prior to now. It is completed. The confession is finished. 

Jenna Jackson: However no homicide?

Catherine Shelton: I have never — not but, I have never (laughs). So anyway, you by no means know.

Catherine’s fraud trial is at present scheduled for this summer season.

Produced by Chuck Stevenson and Gabriella Demirdjian. Emma Steele is the affiliate producer. Mead Stone is the producer-editor. Ken Blum, George Baluzy, Gary Winter and Diana Modica are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the manager story editor. Judy Tygard and Jenna Jackson are the manager producers.