Journalist seeks answers from a one-time Texas attorney with ties to five dead men

“48 Hours” has been protecting the debate surrounding a former Texas protection lawyer for 20 years. Say the identify “Catherine Shelton” and you’re assured to get various tales and evaluations from many of us in Houston and in Dallas. That is as a result of bizarre issues have came about to the boys in Shelton’s existence. Some have suffered ordinary mishaps and misfortune and 5 males have died. She says she’s by no means killed any person, however questions stay. “48 Hours” contributor Jenna Jackson went searching for the reality.

IN SEARCH OF ANSWERS

I have heard a large number of outrageous crime tales in my existence. However not anything comes shut to what is in those packing containers: attacks, arrests, trials, disbarments — information and paperwork from years of Catherine Mehaffey Shelton’s wild and mysterious existence.

However this could also be actually the tale of my obsession with Catherine.

It began greater than two decades in the past. I first met Catherine for a exhibit I used to be generating for “48 Hours” at the controversy that had surrounded the protection lawyer for many years.

Within the years since, I have met her a couple of extra occasions and it is at all times been the similar — she’s coy, even playful. However incessantly, I go away feeling perplexed. I ponder whether she’s now not the cat and I am the mouse she’s simply batting round.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2016): I’ve achieved a couple of issues. Sure. I do admit that I have — neatly, I have by no means stabbed any person. All proper? … And I have by no means shot any person with a shotgun.

Is she to blame of the rest? Some issues? Or is that this all a twist of fate? I have made up our minds I’ll glance into all of it once more and spot if I will be able to dig up any new data. The objective? To fulfill along with her one remaining time and spot if I will be able to get some solutions.

From the beginning, I knew I used to be going to wish lend a hand sorting throughout the allegations.

Jenna Jackson: We have now—fraud … elder abuse, attacks, robbery, tax evasion, fraud once more, prison mischief, shootings …

Brian Benken: It is not black and white. However as you’ll be able to inform from these types of footage and other circumstances in your desk, that is a large number of coincidences.

That is Brian Benken, a personal investigator and now a protection lawyer.

Brian Benken: We are gonna stay an open thoughts. You understand, no tunnel imaginative and prescient right here.

And Lisa Andrews, a former prosecutor. They used to name her the “ice queen.”

Lisa Andrews: However let’s be actual right here. … there are a large number of coincidences.

Each Brian and Lisa are specialists for “48 Hours.” Like virtually everybody in Houston, they have got heard so much about Catherine Shelton. 

Brian Benken: She’s a legend round Harris County … ‘Motive I virtually return 40 years down on the courthouse. And in case you communicate to any of the outdated prosecutors and protection lawyers from again within the day, they know all about Catherine.

Jenna Jackson: All of them know her identify.

Brian Benken: And they are able to inform you various tales.

Catherine Mehaffey Shelton started training legislation within the Seventies.

GARY TAYLOR (2003): She was once— clever. She was once very witty.

That is Gary Taylor. He was once a newspaper reporter in Houston protecting the courthouse. He were given to understand her beautiful neatly.

GARY TAYLOR: She was once widely recognized across the courthouse on account of the recognition she had.… she idea she was once smarter than everybody else in the remainder of the arena.

GARY TAYLOR: I knew that — she was once a difficult— tricky gal.

GARY TAYLOR: She adorned her house with — with stills from outdated Humphrey Bogart gangster motion pictures.

He is gonna be a far larger a part of this tale in a while. However concentrate to a couple different reminiscences of Catherine.

LLOYD OLIVER (2003): I dare say more than likely the prettiest prison protection legal professional within the Harris County courts. … She simply had a vivacious persona, simply charmed everybody.

Lloyd Oliver is an established lawyer and a well known determine across the Harris County Courthouse. I hadn’t spoken to him in years, however we stuck up with him just lately and he nonetheless had some crystal-clear reminiscences. 

Lloyd Oliver: She had stunning blonde hair. She was once shapely. And — she attracted males.

Lloyd and Catherine have been buddies. 

Lisa Andrews: How did you now not fall prey to her charms?

Lloyd Oliver: We were not concerned— romantically or bodily. …  the place you’ll be able to inform this is I am nonetheless right here. I am nonetheless round. (Laughs) We are having this dialog presently.

Lloyd Oliver:  A few of her relationships became — beautiful unpleasant. And … once they mentioned it was once over, sh — I consider her pronouncing as soon as, “It ain’t over until I say it is over.” So, in case you have been her boyfriend, you needed to wait until she were given in a position to step away it appears.

Lloyd Oliver: On occasion she would simply come un— unglued.

And as I used to be about to listen to, some say you did not essentially should be romantically concerned with Catherine to peer that aspect of her. 

Robert Pelton (telephone name): Hi?

Jenna Jackson: Hello, is that this Robert Pelton?

Robert Pelton: Yeah. Sure, ma’am.

Jenna Jackson: I am right here with Lisa Andrews and Brian Benken.

Robert Pelton: I do know ’em each really well. (laughs) They are each tremendous, tremendous attorneys.

Jenna Jackson: They’re. Smartly, they’re serving to me on a mission—about Catherine Mehaffey Shelton.

Robert Pelton: Oh, my God. Oh.

Jenna Jackson: You consider her?

Robert Pelton: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I feel so. Yeah, I am afraid I do. She — she attempted to kill me when she was once on trial, in trial.

Jenna Jackson: Wait.

Brian Benken: Which trial was once she in?

Jenna Jackson: Wait. What?

I knew I needed to meet with him in particular person, so I tracked him down 

Robert Pelton: I consider Catherine Mehaffey neatly.

Robert Pelton is a protection lawyer. He says he was once within the courthouse again in 1980 when Catherine it appears had an overly dangerous day. A fellow lawyer took Pelton apart.

Robert Pelton: He mentioned, “Catherine mentioned she’s simply taken sound asleep tablets or Valium. She’s gonna dedicate suicide. Will you’re taking her within the hallway?” I mentioned, “OK.”

Robert Pelton: The hallway was once — I imply, the door was once proper there. There was once an overly small court docket. … And abruptly, Catherine grabs my tie, and pulls me in, and opens the door— opens the door, and the pass judgement on has were given a pistol laying on his table. … And the window’s open at the fourth tale of the courthouse development. She says, “You are gonna die with me.” And he or she grabbed me, and I feel, “OK” — In my thoughts, I feel, “I am both gonna get shot or fall lifeless from the fourth tale of the courthouse development.”

Jenna Jackson: Oh, my gosh.

Robert Pelton: And naturally, I used to be hollering. And he or she was once hollering. The bailiffs were given the door open. I do not consider how, and were given her, and naturally I used to be scared to dying, and strapped Catherine down as I commit it to memory, took her to the health center … on a stretcher, and — come to seek out that she had now not taken sound asleep tablets.

Jenna Jackson: Do you assume she was once severe that day? Was once she looking to kill you?

Robert Pelton: I do not — I’d hate to assume so. … I feel she was once — had quickly overpassed her schools. … I feel she was once simply scared and appearing out. I — I might hate to assume she was once looking to actually do one thing dangerous to me. However I do not know. I imply, thank God not anything — I did not — I by no means needed to to find out.

Catherine admits she went to the health center that day and had her abdomen pumped however denies the remainder of Pelton’s account and says she by no means attempted to harm him. However that tale was once simply some of the many swirling round her. And there have been darker tales. In all probability some of the darkest would contain an ex-boyfriend of Catherine’s.

He were discovered murdered in his storage.

THE MURDER OF GEORGE TEDESCO

Brian Benken (with Jenna Jackson at crime scene): This one was once a horny brutal one… Proper up right here by means of this gate.  That is what we imagine to be the primary case … related to Catherine.

Jenna Jackson: Oh wow.

Brian Benken: They to find him overwhelmed to dying in that storage proper there.

Jenna Jackson: In that storage …

Brian Benken: I imply significantly overwhelmed to dying.

The sufferer was once a physician; an anesthesiologist named George Tedesco. He and Catherine had as soon as dated.

Jenna Jackson (at crime scene): It is a loopy, loopy homicide … and it is nonetheless unsolved.

Brian Benken: Proper … and there is not any statute of boundaries.

Brian Benken: His Corvette was once lacking … however … It did not appear to be a standard theft. … the murder detectives idea it gave the look of one thing beautiful private.

Jenna Jackson: Non-public?

Brian Benken: There was once in reality — a tire iron there, very similar to this (holds up tire iron), that they imagine was once more than likely the weapon that was once used. … he suffered main — a number of cranium fractures and hematoma. You understand, he bled out from the — the thrashing that he took. 

Brian Benken (pointing to pictures on wall): Those are one of the crucial crime scene pictures from that location.

Having a look on the crime scene pictures I perceive why it appeared private, however why could not it’s only a theft that can have became violent? In any case his automotive was once lacking. 

Brian Benken: He nonetheless had jewellery on him. His pockets was once nonetheless on him. You understand, issues of that nature that an individual who is robbing you might more than likely take. 

And the opposite factor fascinating about his scene, when other people most often— oftentimes, when they are discovered lifeless of their storage, this is because it is anyone that is aware of that they are gonna be there at a selected time.

The timing of Tedesco’s homicide was once additionally curious.

Lisa Andrews: Wasn’t he intended to turn up in court docket for the lawsuit that —

Brian Benken: Sure —

Lisa Andrews: — Catherine filed towards him claiming —

Brian Benken: — precisely.

Lisa Andrews: — they have been married? After which he was once a no-show at the day of trial?

Brian Benken: Yeah.

Tedesco was once came upon murdered the day he was once intended to visit court docket in a dispute with Catherine. Detectives came upon that Catherine and Dr. Tedesco were combating for months. Catherine sued him for part his belongings, claiming they have been “commonplace legislation” married. She mentioned they’d been in combination for just a little over a 12 months, however an investigator for Tedesco’s circle of relatives says they’d handiest dated 3 or 4 months. The entire thing became very unpleasant, with Tedesco alleging that Catherine made threatening telephone calls, stalked him or even dedicated housebreaking.

Lisa Andrews: There appears to be a lotta rage on this crime. And, so, it’s possible you’ll marvel, OK. Was once she sturdy sufficient to do that? Was once she nonetheless indignant sufficient at him to do that? 

Just right questions, and we will come again to this example in a 2nd.

However first it is value speaking about the type of hassle Catherine had with any other boyfriend after they broke up.

FERRIS BOND (2003): It was once god-awful. It was once god-awful. It is the worst factor I have ever been via.

This can be a legal professional named Ferris Bond. We talked with him when I used to be first reporting this tale.

FERRIS BOND: I would not want that at the worst enemy. I would not even want it on her.

They dated within the 70s and he says issues began out tremendous.

FERRIS BOND: She was once an overly beautiful, petite little blonde lady … and she or he was once to be had. … we in reality dated more than likely a duration of months.

However Bond says after he noticed her get right into a battle along with her roommate, he made up our minds to get out.

FERRIS BOND: It changed into clean to me that she had some violent inclinations and— I will have to try to escape from her.

However he mentioned with Catherine, breaking apart was once laborious to do.

FERRIS BOND: More than likely the worst factor was once burning my condominium and all of my possessions. … stole my automotive, shot at me with a shotgun.

No fees have been ever filed towards Catherine. Once we spoke to her again then, she denied the ones allegations and did not actually need to speak about Ferris Bond. However she did admit she could also be an excessive amount of for some males to maintain.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): There are some forms of males who’re actually, actually indignant by means of me. … I feel it is my propensity to more than likely say precisely what I feel to them at a undeniable level when — when I simply can’t grasp it in any further.

To escape from her, Ferris Bond advised us he joined the Marines.

FERRIS BOND (2003): Frankly, I did not assume that there was once any approach she’d practice me into the Marine Corps.

With that tale in thoughts, we took a better have a look at that Tedesco homicide case and began digging just a little deeper. We came upon that once Dr. Tedesco was once murdered, issues were given stranger speedy. For starters, Catherine broke into the crime scene claiming that she was once retrieving some belongings that belonged to her.

Brian Benken: … when they discovered Tedesco’s frame, Catherine and an lawyer that was once representing her on the time … they in reality get a locksmith. They cross into his townhouse.

Lisa Andrews: An lawyer went along with her to do to that?

Brian Benken: An lawyer went along with her.

That lawyer was once Lloyd Oliver.

Lloyd Oliver: — she has an uncanny approach of … getting people — speaking people into doing her bidding for her. And I am no exception to the rule of thumb. … she talked, “OK, let’s cross do it.” So, we went over there, and I walked — you could not get in. So known as the locksmith. He we could us in.

Brian Benken: I imply, what— that did not carry any flags to you?

Lloyd Oliver: I do not know —

In a deposition later, Catherine admitted she took, among different issues, a TV, pottery, $140 in money, her driving force’s license and an vintage sword.

Brian Benken: And what would ever make her assume that that was once a wise factor to do —

Jenna Jackson: Proper.

Brian Benken: — to head in there and take away belongings when a lotta other people have been gonna assume that fin — it is a monetary purpose initially. She’s already … looking to declare that she’s the typical legislation spouse when everyone it appears in his circle of relatives …  mentioned no, they are now not even shut.

Jenna Jackson: He was once simply overwhelmed to dying—

Brian Benken: Yeah, he is simply overwhelmed to dying—

Lisa Andrews: She simply—

Jenna Jackson: —”it was once my stuff. I am taking it.”

Lisa Andrews: She simply does what she needs to do, proper—

Jenna Jackson: (Laughs) She does not care—

Lisa Andrews: She does what she needs to do. And does not — rattling the effects.

In that very same deposition, Catherine claimed that Tedesco was once eager about some criminal activity and was once allegedly violent along with her. But if “48 Hours” requested her about Tedesco again then, she did not need to speak about him.

Brian Benken: All proper. So … I’ve to query, if — if she’s disenchanted about him being killed …

Lloyd Oliver: She wasn’t in blubbering tears. I imply, she wasn’t that disenchanted.

Brian Benken: OK.

Lloyd Oliver: She nonetheless had her wits about her.

Brian Benken: All proper.

Lloyd Oliver: And Catherine’s wits are — she’s beautiful — beautiful sharp.

There have been many lingering questions concerning the case and for some, purple flags. The DA’s Place of business it appears idea there have been purple flags, too. So, they made up our minds to secretly file a few of Catherine’s telephone calls. Her anger at but any other ex-boyfriend was once captured on tape:

MAN: Simply loosen up.

CATHERINE SHELTON (screaming): He is were given to beg for my mercy. He is hurting me. I have achieved not anything. I am simply looking to escape.

MAN: Smartly, go away him on my own.

CATHERINE SHELTON: Beg me for mercy.

“BREAKING UP WAS HARD TO DO”

So, I promised we might get again to Gary Taylor. Keep in mind him? He was once the Houston newspaper reporter who coated the courthouse and Catherine. He first met her in 1979 after her ex-boyfriend Dr. Tedesco was once murdered.  

GARY TAYLOR (2003): She was once a scorching merchandise on the courthouse. She was once intriguing on account of the thriller of her previous and the chance—the chance that gave the look to be lurking beneath.   

Taylor says he was once intrigued, and that intrigue changed into one thing else. 

Jenna Jackson: His courting along with her began as a result of he was once protecting the Tedesco case, looking to get a tale. … So, like most of the males in her existence again at the moment, they began relationship and having an affair, and, you realize, traces have been blurred, I feel, just a little bit. 

Jenna Jackson: It does appear find it irresistible was once, like, birthday celebration always again then. I imply, now not that it is tame now on the Harris County Courthouse, however within the ’70s, it is, like, these types of wild events. 

Brian Benken: It was once a distinct surroundings again then.

Jenna Jackson: Yeah — 

Lisa Andrews: Completely other. 

Taylor was once now not shy about the main points of this torrid affair.

Jenna Jackson (studying from ebook): He says, “Our roadmap to the bed room was once marked in scarlet letters from the instant (laughs) we met.” 

Taylor even wrote a ebook about that point in his existence.

Jenna Jackson (studying from ebook): “She additionally had the laborious glance of a nasty lady, and that performed to my weak spot. A risk? She simply gave the look of a laugh to me.”

GARY TAYLOR (2003): I used to be searching for just a little pleasure in my existence. And he or she unquestionably delivered in that class … 

I talked with Gary Taylor about this years in the past.

GARY TAYLOR: We had a sexual courting that went on for … about 4 weeks. … And — then I spent about 3 months looking to disengage from that courting— 

Catherine, by means of the best way, disagrees with all of that. She does not even admit that they dated.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): I do not imagine him a courting or the rest. He is not anything.  

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): …  for a few months, he adopted me round … and— went to court docket, adopted me there.   

Taylor advised me Catherine got here with some very sharp edges.  

GARY TAYLOR (2003):   She’s— very abrasive, very competitive. And she will— she will stroll right into a room and feature other people— arguing along with her in an issue of mins. … She has a — she has a mood that — that comes out. And he or she can not — at all times keep an eye on it.

GARY TAYLOR: You understand, Tedesco’s identify was once at all times arising … I heard her say this  to a number of other people: “You higher do what I say. You understand what came about to George. You understand  about George.” 

However Taylor says he actually noticed a frightening aspect of her when he advised her it was once over.

GARY TAYLOR: It was once one night time we have been — once I advised her we have been gonna must get a divorce. I noticed her — tear up a — a suitcase … And he or she tore all of it to smithereens.  

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): The affiliation, such because it was once — was once damaged off with some verbal acrimony.  

Taylor says she as soon as even put a pistol on her bedside desk, he thinks, simply to remind him of who was once boss.  

With hassle now brewing between Taylor and Catherine, Taylor went to his buddies within the DA’s Place of business. They have been nonetheless investigating Tedesco’s unsolved homicide. It was once recommended that Gary and his roommate may secretly file Catherine at the phone.  

But if Catherine came upon that Taylor was once operating with the DA, let’s simply say she wasn’t happy. Taylor’s roommate known as her and were given her response on tape.  

Jenna Jackson: And — and also you guys have not heard this? 

Lisa Andrews: No, and— 

Brian Benken:  We have now now not heard this. 

Lisa Andrews: now we have been death to listen to this — 

Brian Benken: Sure. 

Jenna Jackson: So, I’m going to simply play a pair seconds of this for you. 

CATHERINE SHELTON AUDIO RECORDING (screaming):

He does not wish to make a idiot of me.

God’s sake I by no means killed anyone in my existence. I have by no means actually sought after to.

However he is doing such a lot to me. He higher forestall! He higher forestall!

Now! He is were given to beg for my mercy.

Jenna Jackson: That stresses me out.

Jenna Jackson: And my working out is again then, the pal of — Gary’s who recorded this then performed it — or one in every of them performed it within the press room for the entire newshounds, and she or he came upon. So, her — her anger at Gary was once escalating.  

GARY TAYLOR (2003): And I did not know the way a lot violence would come down on me, however … she had advised me that I had entered — she was once very dramatic, overly dramatic. … she preferred to inform me that I had entered the “enviornment of dying.” 

Brian Benken: I feel it made her indignant, so mad, as a result of in early January of 1980, she in reality displays up on the press room the place Gary works with different newshounds. And my working out, simply went loopy there —

Jenna Jackson: Ballistic. Uh-huh (affirms). 

Brian Benken: — and began throwin’ stuff round.

Taylor says Catherine began stalking him: following him on a date with any other lady, coming near and scaring off any other. Catherine, on the other hand, says that is not true and he was once the only pursuing her.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): I do not believe the rest about him in any respect, except for, “Why does not he get a existence? 

However then Taylor says there was once a housebreaking at his house, and that may result in what he mentioned was once tried homicide.

GARY TAYLOR (2003): (status in doorway) She was once keeping the gun on me in a police place with each arms. I simply threw the door open … I got here at her with the chair. She fired one spherical.

“THAT BITCH SHOT ME”

The following drama hooked up to Catherine Shelton came about on a leafy boulevard close to downtown Houston.

Jenna Jackson: You guys know, now we have — Gary Taylor is likely one of the — the boys in Catherine’s existence over the — you realize, over time.

Brian Benken: So, it is my working out — so at some phase, you realize, Gary and her courting get started going south.

Gary Taylor says after he and Catherine ended issues, any individual broke into his condominium and stole a few of his stuff.

Catherine didn’t admit accountability for the housebreaking, however Taylor says she did be offering to lend a hand get his property again. A couple of years in the past, Taylor advised “48 Hours” about that night time.

GARY TAYLOR (2003): She insisted that I come over to her position and that she would have the stolen items delivered over there.

When he were given there, he says Catherine advised him there was once one thing for him within the bed room closet. Taylor walked us via what he says came about subsequent.

GARY TAYLOR (2003): She had advised me there was once one thing for me within the closet, so I went again (Taylor opens the door) … I appeared within the closet and it was once empty. I went in to ensure.

GARY TAYLOR: Once I were given within the closet, the lighting fixtures went out.

GARY TAYLOR:  … heard her coming down the corridor and I heard a gun cock.

GARY TAYLOR: And he or she stepped into the bed room, and she or he sponsored up towards a wall and she or he took a policeman’s place, like this (demonstrates with each arms), with the pistol, pointed on the closet.  It gave the look of she was once gonna use it.

GARY TAYLOR: She took a place throughout from me the place I may use the door as a defend. And I may nonetheless peek out throughout the jamb right here and watch her …

GARY TAYLOR: Now she appeared other than I might ever noticed her. … This was once a brand new Catherine. She had a— there was once like a hazy glance in her eye, like she was once in a distant position.

GARY TAYLOR: I had the door between us. … and she or he began— talkin’ to me,

GARY TAYLOR: And I consider she mentioned and— you realize, “Do not be concerned concerning the subsequent existence as a result of there is not one.”

GARY TAYLOR: Yeah, after which I believed— yeah, she’s for actual.

GARY TAYLOR: And I attempted to formulate a plan in my thoughts methods to get out of right here.

GARY TAYLOR: There was once a chair by means of the door.

GARY TAYLOR: She appeared down on the gun or one thing, and that is the reason once I— once I made my transfer. … I simply threw the door open. I got here at her with the chair like a lion tamer or somethin’. 

GARY TAYLOR: She fired one spherical throughout the chair.

GARY TAYLOR: I used to be … vaguely acutely aware of a bullet coming throughout the chair. And what I came upon later is she fired off a spherical, a bullet got here throughout the chair, and— nicked me proper above the ear, proper right here. And I threw the chair at her. … I ran down the hallway…

GARY TAYLOR: Once I were given to the door I ended, I clicked the deadbolt, I opened the door. And that is the reason once I felt— the shot within the again. I used to be layin’ facedown at the grass outdoor of her position. … “That whinge shot me. She actually— she shot me.”

Taylor says he went to a close-by retailer, and any individual there known as 911.

GARY TAYLOR: They usually loaded me within the ambulance and … I assume they figured I used to be gettin’ in a position to die or somethin’ ‘motive they mentioned, “Let us know who shot you. Let us know who shot you.” And I mentioned, “Catherine Mehaffey …  Catherine Mehaffey …”

Taylor says he virtually died that night time. That the bullet got here inside a centimeter of his middle.

GARY TAYLOR: If she sought after me outta there, I used to be operating— down (laughs) a hallway on my approach out. She shoulda mentioned, “Adios.” You understand, however as an alternative she shot me within the again. So, I have— I have were given to— I have were given to imagine that one and one equals two. 

The law enforcement officials arrested Catherine. She advised police that night time that she was once simply protective herself —that it was once all self-defense.

Lisa Andrews: There have been a large number of details that were not favorable to her, like, he was once shot within the again.

Lisa Andrews: They’ve to provide an explanation for, you realize, why this was once self-defense, however but the sufferer is shot within the again, that will get more or less difficult to provide an explanation for, and it will get laborious to provide an explanation for very credibly.

Even supposing Catherine would not percentage the specifics about what came about that night time with “48 Hours” again then, she did appear to place the blame squarely on Gary Taylor.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): I imply, if anyone had shot at me in their very own house, which is actually a — a contravention of hospitality, I might marvel what sort of a visitor I used to be to advantage that more or less conduct.

For the primary time, Catherine was once going through a significant rate: tried homicide.

After which issues in Catherine’s existence were given extra difficult. As though the Gary Taylor capturing wasn’t sufficient, a couple of months later, any other guy related to Catherine turns up lifeless. His identify was once Tommy Bell.

Jenna Jackson: Such a lot of connections. That is loopy —

Lisa Andrews: The Tedesco, Gary Taylor, Tommy Bell, all of the ones circumstances are very intertwined. You actually have to drag the threads on all of the ones circumstances to cause them to all make sense.

Jenna Jackson: Yeah. Needless to say.

Tommy Bell. It was once a reputation I might come throughout ahead of, however I had no thought I used to be about uncover some new clues about his very bizarre dying.

ANOTHER CURIOUS CONNECTION

In early 1980, again on the courthouse in Houston, Catherine Shelton went on trial.

Jenna Jackson: OK, so she is going to trial beautiful briefly at the Gary Taylor capturing, proper?

Brian Benken: Yeah … the capturing occurs in January, and so they cross to the primary trial in April of that very same 12 months, which is beautiful fast.

She admitted she shot Gary Taylor however maintained that it was once self-defense.

Jenna Jackson:  And what came about? How’d that cross?

Lisa Andrews: Just right for Catherine, ‘motive it was once a hung jury.

Seven to 5. Seven for to blame. 5 for now not to blame. And I am advised that it was once break up alongside gender traces. The boys went with Gary Taylor, and the ladies went with Catherine.

At her 2nd trial, she claimed Taylor had faced her with a gun. She was once discovered to blame and sentenced to ten years. However she by no means served at some point. Her conviction was once overturned on attraction and quite than undergo a 3rd trial, she agreed to plead to blame to irritated attack and were given probation. Catherine was once quickly barred from training legislation. Taylor says it did not topic to him that she did not cross to jail. 

GARY TAYLOR (2003): I in reality idea she can be in additional agony if she could not apply legislation as a result of she reveled on this.

Catherine did not care to elaborate on any of it.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): I simply can’t bring to mind the rest so as to add to it that may make it (exhales) the rest greater than it’s, which is— it was once an unlucky incident, unquestionably. And I am happy nobody was once killed, together with me. So, I’m going to go away it at that.

However she did percentage any other opinion on Gary Taylor.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): I bring to mind an oyster. Only a— grey, formless substance, glossy however now not with what— with polish.

Once we requested Catherine why she at all times looked as if it would a be in the course of a brewing hurricane, she had this to mention:

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): I am in the course of existence, and I am intended to paintings via this and paintings this stuff out and do the most productive I will be able to. It is not for me to explanation why.

However I’d marvel why once I discovered about any other dying—the second that had a hyperlink to Catherine.

Keep in mind Dr. Tedesco?  He is the ex-boyfriend who became up overwhelmed to dying in his storage.

A 12 months ahead of his homicide any individual broke into his space. They stole some weapons and artwork. A short while later, a person named Tommy Bell was once arrested.

KENT FERGUSON (2003): Tom Bell was once arrested in New Jersey…. in ownership of plenty of these things, together with some firearms that had serial numbers.

Kent Ferguson is a former FBI agent became non-public investigator.

KENT FERGUSON: They usually belonged to George Tedesco.

Then, after Tedesco was once discovered murdered, Tommy Bell got here into the image once more. This time, police sought after to speak with him as a result of they idea he could be hooked up with the crime. Ferguson says Bell in reality knew Tedesco. And because it seems, Bell was once as soon as a shopper of Catherine’s. 

KENT FERGUSON: When the police sought after to speak to Tom Bell concerning the homicide of George Tedesco, she mentioned that he could not— she was once now not gonna permit her consumer to talk.

Catherine denies that Bell was once a shopper of hers at the moment. Tedesco’s circle of relatives, on the other hand, did not look forward to the prison investigation to be over. They filed a wrongful dying go well with towards each Catherine and Tommy Bell. They accused either one of them of conspiring to kill the physician.

However the lawsuit by no means made it to trial, and neither did Tommy Bell.

Jenna Jackson: So speedy ahead an overly brief period of time, Tom Bell is located lifeless. … the roommate mentioned he was once in there in his room by means of himself enjoying Russian roulette.

Brian Benken: You do not—

Jenna Jackson: Shot himself within the head.

Brian Benken: You do not play Russian roulette on your own.

Jenna Jackson: That was once my first idea.

Brian Benken: No. No.

Jenna Jackson: Precisely.

However whilst I used to be having a look throughout the police recordsdata at the case, I came upon one thing new.

Jenna Jackson: So … there are some investigator’s notes that say the roommate, the only witness within the condominium to Bell’s Russian roulette dying, his fingerprints have been in reality at the gun that killed Bell. 

Brian Benken: Oh, wow—

Lisa Andrews: Wow.

Jenna Jackson: Proper? So, we tracked down this investigator. He showed all of this. He recalls all of it.

Brian Benken: So, once they discovered the roommate’s fingerprints at the gun— what— was once he puzzled I suppose?

Jenna Jackson: Sure. And he mentioned, you realize, when he heard the shot, he bumped into the room, Tom Bell, his roommate, is at the flooring. And he moved the gun out of the best way in order that’s why his fingerprints have been on there.

And wait. There was once extra consistent with the investigator I spoke to. He claims the roommate were relationship Catherine. He advised me how he came upon about it.

Jenna Jackson: … he requested the roommate if he knew Catherine. And the man is going, “It is the most unearthly tale.”

Jenna Jackson: “There is this — you realize, one night time I am on my approach house f— you realize, a number of months again and there may be this little Mercedes by means of the aspect of the street, flat tire. So, I forestall to lend a hand her. And her identify was once Catherine. And we began relationship. We — you realize, get on well that night time and we began relationship.”  And I am like, “What?” (laughs) I imply —

Brian Benken: That is — that is nuts —

Lisa Andrews: Any other twist of fate.

Jenna Jackson: That none folks knew till presently. I imply, this investigator knew it. He mentioned sadly whilst they idea that was once a horny clean connection to all this craziness, they’d no actual proof to head ahead with.

Catherine advised me she did not even know the roommate.

Neither of them have been implicated in Bell’s dying.

In spite of everything it was once simply any other curious, unsettling state of affairs.

It is been a wild journey — a beating dying, a capturing, a tape that some say seems like “The Exorcist,” an bizarre Russian roulette dying.  And one lady with hyperlinks to all of it. A lady who turns out to benefit from the intrigue surrounding her and baiting me particularly.

She as soon as even introduced me a pattern of her hair for DNA in case I sought after to match it to one thing.

Lisa Andrews: What?

Jenna Jackson (holds up lock of hair in a plastic bag): Catherine Shelton hair.

CATHERINE SHELTON: While you get to understand me, you understand I do not need any fascinating — ordinary, glittering existence. Not anything. Not anything. Right here it’s. That is it. Imagine you me, if there was once the rest occurring, I might find out about it. (Sighs) I imply, my greatest factor round this is that I have were given this dangerous cat.

Jenna Jackson: I imply— and I am simply gonna say — however possibly she did not do any of it … However the explanation why we — we and legislation enforcement officials in Houston and Dallas over 40 years can not hook up with her is, possibly she did not do it …

Brian Benken: Perhaps it is —

Lisa Andrews: It is conceivable.

Within the future years, Catherine’s conviction for capturing Gary Taylor can be put aside, however she can be related to 3 extra deaths: A tender guy came upon lifeless and bare in one in every of her properties, any other guy shot lifeless in his driveway. His spouse, a witness, claims Catherine was once concerned.

MARISA HIERRO (2003) (crying): And I knew it was once her. I realize it was once her! … Catherine Shelton.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): Now not me. I wasn’t there.

And but any other guy died whilst he was once staying along with her.

Include me as I catch up with Catherine once more after a few years. Why am I doing this? Catherine as soon as admitted she thought to be killing me. Was once she joking? Did she imply it? 

Jenna Jackson (riding to Shelton’s space): We will see how she is nowadays. I am just a little anxious. I might throw up. Do not get that on digicam.

Will she in spite of everything put to relaxation the entire questions on her?

To be persevered Saturday, Might 7 at 10/9c on CBS and streaming on Paramount+.

 

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Produced by means of Chuck Stevenson and Gabriella Demirdjian. Emma Steele is the affiliate manufacturer. Mead Stone is the producer-editor. Greg Kaplan, Wini Dini and Grayce Arlotta-Berner are the editors. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior manufacturer. Nancy Kramer is the chief tale editor. Judy Tygard and Jenna Jackson are the chief manufacturers.