Survivor’s testimony key to serving to convict violent ex-boyfriend charged with homicide

C.C. Opanowski was simply 18 years outdated when she was brutally attacked by somebody she as soon as liked — her ex-boyfriend Shawn Doyle. C.C. tried to place the traumatic incident behind her till she realized years later that Doyle murdered a mom of two younger boys. For the primary time, C.C. is talking out publicly to” 48 Hours” and correspondent Anne-Marie Inexperienced about her story and the way she was capable of finding the power to testify towards her attacker in court docket.

It was Jan. 27, 1996 and C.C. Opanowski has simply completed her first semester of faculty in upstate New York. She and her ex-boyfriend, Shawn Doyle had been damaged up for about 4 months.

C.C. Opanowski: My mom was going away for the weekend. … so I had this complete massive home to myself. …And my good friend Shannon and I … we had been very shut …  I stated, “well, let’s stay at my house ’cause there’s no one around.”

Shannon McCauliffe: it was only a women’ evening. We simply wished to relax out.

C.C. and McCauliffe had been roommates at Sage Junior Faculty of Albany.

Shannon McCauliffe: I’m actually introverted (laughs) and he or she was very bubbly and completely happy and chipper … And he or she simply — she introduced me outta my shell.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: While you had been first assembly her, was Shawn Doyle round on the time?

Shannon McCauliffe: Sure. He was obnoxious. … she would argue with him so much on the telephone.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: After which … in January is when this incident occurs at her home?

Shannon McCauliffe: Mm-hmm. … we had been having a great time. It was simply the 2 of us.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: However he retains calling.

Shannon McCauliffe: Mm-hmm. … Eager to know what we’re doing, desirous to know if he can come over. … She had a cellphone and I used to be like,” simply flip it off.” Like she’s like, no, ’trigger if I flip it off, he’s gonna come right here. 

Shannon McCauliffe: We lastly get up and all we wished was espresso. … I had the — of the mindset of I’m like, “oh, I can’t go out in public looking like I’m a mess. Let me go home and get dressed.”

After McCauliffe left to go dwelling, C.C. says there was a knock at her door.

C.C. Opanowski: And I open it. And it’s him.

C.C. Opanowski:  And he stated … I simply wanna discuss to you. … And as soon as he was inside, issues received a lot totally different. … He pushed me onto the sofa … began, you understand, holding me down and restraining me. , yelling at me … And he picked me up and pushed me towards the French doorways and saved banging me towards the French doorways.

McCauliffe known as C.C., however there was no reply

C.C. Opanowski: My hair was in a ponytail … And … he picked me up, held me up and minimize my hair off …  it was gone, simply all of it. … he had already been choking me and … I assumed he was gonna stab me.

Shannon McCauliffe: I known as her again a half an hour later, she nonetheless didn’t reply. … and that’s when my eyebrows form of went up.

C.C. Opanowski: I’m in full shock. I can’t consider it’s taking place and I’ve to determine the right way to get out of it. …However throughout this time, the telephone continues to ring.

Shannon McCauliffe: I waited a pair minutes and I known as her again.

C.C. Opanowski: I defined to him … if I don’t reply this telephone, my mom will name the police. … So I do choose up the telephone and it’s Shannon.

Shannon McCauliffe: I stated, “hey, are you OK?”

C.C. Opanowski: And I don’t know why I did this, however I began unloading the dishwasher. …And I’m saying to her, no, no, yeah, all the pieces’s superb. No, no. And no saved popping out of my mouth. And he didn’t choose up on it, however she positive did. And that’s when she stated,” is he there?” And I stated, “yes.”

A SURVIVOR SHARES HER STORY

It has taken virtually 30 years for C.C. to speak publicly in regards to the day her former highschool boyfriend, Shawn Doyle, attacked her in her household’s dwelling in Hudson Falls, New York, after which used scissors to chop off her ponytail.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What was it prefer to have your hair minimize off on this manner?

C.C. Opanowski: Demeaning.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Demeaning. You assume that’s why he did it?

C.C. Opanowski: Most likely. Simply to ensure he may knock me down someplace.

On that day, as Doyle went out and in of violent rages — at one level holding the scissors to her throat — C.C. says she wasn’t positive she would make it out alive. Till, she says, McCauliffe known as.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: When she lastly picks up the telephone … what did you hear in her voice?

Shannon McCauliffe: Worry.

McCauliffe says she knew that Doyle had been harassing C.C., so when C.C. instructed her Doyle was there, Shannon notified police after which rushed over to C.C.’s home.

Shannon McCauliffe: I pulled onto her road and I parked after which I noticed the – the — the law enforcement officials and all the pieces. … so I kinda went in after the very fact. … She appeared terrified and indignant and unhappy.

C.C. says she thought when police arrived, they’d make her really feel secure. However that’s not precisely what occurred.

C.C. Opanowski: They don’t put him in handcuffs. … They usually put us at the back of the identical police automotive.

C.C. Opanowski: Thoughts you, all of this time … I clearly appear to be I’ve been assaulted. My hair is totally minimize off.

And after they arrived on the police station —

C.C. Opanowski:  I used to be like, why — why are we right here? Why is he not — why are we in the identical room?

C.C. says as an alternative of separating them, police questioned them collectively.

C.C. Opanowski: They usually made it appear to be it was some struggle between two younger children, that turned, you understand, barely darkish.

When “48 Hours” reached out to the Hudson Falls Police Division, they acknowledged that legislation enforcement’s response to home violence has advanced over the previous a number of a long time to higher work with and assist victims. Police arrested Doyle and charged him with menacing, harassment and trespassing.

C.C. Opanowski: it … And also you’re saying, “did this really happen to me?” , “how could this happen to me?”

JEALOUSY, A TATTOO AND OTHER RED FLAGS

C.C. Opanowski and Shawn Doyle grew up within the small city of Hudson Falls situated in upstate New York.

C.C. Opanowski: He was good to me. He was very nice. 

When C.C. began relationship Shawn Doyle, she was simply 15 years outdated — a sophomore in highschool. Doyle was one 12 months older.

C.C. Opanowski: , we’d exit and do a number of issues collectively. We simply frolicked on a regular basis.

C.C. says Doyle had troubles at dwelling. Throughout his junior 12 months, Doyle instructed her his mother and father kicked him out. So, C.C. begged her mother and father to let him transfer in with them.

Anne Marie Inexperienced: Did you’re feeling sorry for him?

C.C. Opanowski: Def — oh positively.

Quickly after he moved into C.C.’s household dwelling, she says she noticed a change in Doyle’s habits. C.C. says he turned jealous and would secretly observe her round — one thing she says she didn’t assume on the time was a giant deal.

C.C. Opanowski: While you’re a 16-, 17-year-old lady and you understand you’re taking a look at, oh, jealousy, you understand, he should love me a lot and that’s why he’s doing this. Or he adopted me dwelling, he’s so fearful about me, however is that actually what the case is? While you look again as an grownup, somebody with expertise, you understand, you assume. That’s in all probability not — not OK. 

And Doyle confirmed much more possessive habits that C.C. discovered troubling.

C.C. Opanowski: He at one level did get a tattoo. … It was a coronary heart on his arm. … And it had my identify within the center.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What did you say?

C.C. Opanowski: Why would you do this?

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: And his response?

C.C. Opanowski:  I really like you.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Was it a purple flag?

C.C. Opanowski: Undoubtedly.

Throughout his senior 12 months, C.C. says Doyle dropped out of highschool and was working odd jobs that he couldn’t hold.

C.C. Opanowski: And that is the place issues begin to get … darker. , he — he doesn’t have any prospects. He is aware of that I’m on the brink of go away to high school. And to him, his complete life is — is about to fully change.

However C.C. says she caught by him, writing in her senior yearbook, “I love you Shawn!” And in the summertime of 1995, when she left to attend what’s now Russell Sage Faculty in Albany, they agreed to remain collectively and see one another on weekends.

However on the finish of September, issues took a scary flip when C.C. instructed Doyle she wouldn’t be coming dwelling each weekend to see him. Doyle confirmed up at her dorm.

C.C. Opanowski: He stood outdoors, mainly threatening that he was going to kill me.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: And now he’s threatening not simply you, however anybody round you.

C.C. Opanowski: Principally anybody round me … so he was arrested.

Doyle was charged with harassment and trespassing. It was the ultimate straw for C.C., who says she broke it off with Doyle for good and he moved out of her dad or mum’s home. Later that winter, that’s when Doyle confirmed up and viciously attacked her at her dwelling.

Anne Marie Inexperienced: I do know he threatened so much, however did you ever consider that Shawn Doyle would have bodily damage you?

C.C. Opanowski: Not till that day, not in that manner.

After the assault, C.C. returned to varsity and completed up her freshman 12 months. However McCauliffe says her good friend had modified.

Shannon McCauliffe: I feel it had a profound influence on her life.

C.C. Opanowski: , I used to be all the time trying over my shoulder … I purchased myself a Swiss Military knife. … I’m having evening terrors. … , waking up crying, waking up screaming, not having the ability to sleep. … terrible, terrible.

So eight months after the assault, when it was time to take the case to trial, C.C. — who was nonetheless simply a young person at 19 years outdated — instructed prosecutors she couldn’t undergo with it. She says she was too traumatized and scared.

C.C. Opanowski: I didn’t wanna should face him in court docket. I didn’t wanna be going over this over and over and over. I actually wished it to go away.

Doyle was supplied a deal. He pleaded responsible to menacing within the second diploma and was sentenced to only three years’ probation. C.C. transferred schools and moved hours away from Hudson Falls.

C.C. Opanowski:  I wanted peace and I didn’t know the right way to get it.

C.C. tried to overlook her previous, however she says she was haunted by a dialog she had with the prosecutor.

C.C. Opanowski: She stated, you understand … based mostly on what I see right here, he’s going to do that once more to a different particular person. And that has for the previous 28 years caught in my head.

LORI LEONARD DISAPPEARS  

9 years after C.C. Opanowski left upstate New York for a brand new life distant from Shawn Doyle, 33-year-old Lori Leonard disappeared.

Lori was a single mother who lived together with her two sons, Austin, who was 9 on the time, and Zackary 5, in Chittenango, a small city outdoors Syracuse, New York. 

Austin Feltrinelli: She was a — a really caring mom. The recollections of her — simply us all the time being completely happy collectively, spending time … form of all the time … the three of us.

Zackary Wicklund: It was simply lots of love and affection.

Jennifer Leonard: Her dream was to have a house, a father determine for her children, and for them to be completely happy. … She wished the white picket fence.

Jennifer Leonard was Lori’s older sister.

Jennifer Leonard: We had been good mates. However I used to be somewhat little bit of a bossy mom to her. … I had been by lots of issues already in my life and my relationships, and I used to be very, I’d say, overprotective.

In 2003, Lori met a person on the relationship web site Cupid.com. His identify? Shawn Doyle. On-line relationship was new again then, so Jennifer was skeptical about him.

Jennifer Leonard: He was not charismatic. He was not social. … He was like a bit of furnishings that you just simply walked round.

However she says Lori didn’t agree; she solely noticed the great in folks.

Jennifer Leonard: She would say, you understand, he’s misunderstood or he’s shy.

Jennifer says Lori instructed her little or no about Doyle, besides that he lived three hours away in Hudson Falls and labored at an ice cream manufacturing facility. She additionally talked about that Doyle was on probation.

Jennifer Leonard: She instructed me that he was a boxer, that he was defending a lady at a bar and was arrested as a result of he used a few of his skilled boxing strikes.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Did you ever see any kind of proof of his skilled boxing?

Jennifer Leonard: No.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: I imply, did he — do you assume he was even a boxer, ever?

Jennifer Leonard: No. … I didn’t purchase the tales that he was promoting her. … It gave the impression of he was making an attempt to be one thing that he was not.

Jennifer says after her sister met Doyle, Lori turned distant.

Jennifer Leonard: I’d discuss to Lori thrice a day.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: After which when Shawn got here into the image?

Jennifer Leonard: It was — it was somewhat quiet.

And issues solely received worse.

Jennifer Leonard: I had known as her one evening and he was over there and all I may hear within the background was him yelling at her. And that — that was like, “what is this?” And he or she’s like, you understand I’ll name you again. It’s not a giant deal.

Jennifer Leonard: However I feel what scared me greater than something was when he was caught yelling at her … it stopped. Just like the form of guys that you understand don’t need anybody else to see what occurs behind closed doorways. … He was sneaky.

Quickly after this incident, Lori ended her romantic relationship with Doyle. Lori instructed Jennifer they agreed to be simply mates and that he was superb with it.

Jennifer Leonard: And I used to be like, no, he’s not. Nope. Individuals like that aren’t simply OK with being mates.

Regardless of the breakup, Doyle would nonetheless drive three hours from Hudson Falls to go to Lori. Oftentimes hanging out on the bar the place she waitressed late at evening.

Dorothy Tucker: Shawn, all the time known as me and he — he’d name me to get recommendation.

Dorothy Tucker lived down the road from Doyle in Hudson Falls and regarded him a detailed good friend.

Dorothy Tucker: I noticed a candy man who would bend over backwards if I requested him to.

Nevertheless, after the connection with Lori ended, she says Doyle instructed her he had adopted Lori and watched her as she went out on a date.

Dorothy Tucker: I used to be like, “Shawn, you can’t do that. … She does not wanna be with you.”

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Have been you beginning to get involved about him and his habits at that time?

Dorothy Tucker: No. No. As a result of he agreed with me. … I didn’t see the monster that he actually was … He hid it fairly nicely.

On Friday, April  29, 2005, Lori, who was dwelling with Jennifer, moved to a brand new rental residence.

Dustin Delatore: Normally persons are depressing after they’re transferring. She was simply completely happy.

Lori’s nephew Dustin Delatore, who was 15 on the time, helped with the transfer.

Dustin Delatore:  She wished her personal place. … She noticed her future in that day.

Additionally serving to with the transfer was Shawn Doyle, who supplied up use of his truck.

Jennifer Leonard: She had requested a pair folks earlier than that. So he was a final resort. … He was nonetheless enjoying the “I’m your friend.”

Anne Marie Inexperienced: What was Shawn like that day?

Dustin Delatore: Standoffish. Simply, I imply, quiet.

Jennifer says the transfer went easily till Doyle determined to hold round— and stayed with Lori in her new place for days.

Jennifer Leonard: It was beginning to get on her nerves now.

5 days after the transfer, Jennifer says Lori instructed her Doyle was lastly leaving as a result of Lori had plans to go to Albany for the afternoon.

Jennifer Leonard: She was purported to go choose up the tickets.

Tickets to a Yankees recreation — a present from somebody she had met at work.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Have been you involved in any respect about her going to choose up tickets from a stranger?

Jennifer Leonard: Sure, sure. However that was how she was. … She was very trusting.

On Wednesday, Could 4, Jennifer known as Lori within the afternoon, hoping to catch her whereas she was heading to Albany.

Jennifer Leonard: And it saved going straight to voicemail.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Was that bizarre?

Jennifer Leonard: Oh … Her telephone by no means went straight to voicemail. It was by no means off.

At first Jennifer thought she might have gotten misplaced on the drive or that her telephone battery had died.

Jennifer Leonard: It wasn’t a thought on the time, that, that one thing dangerous occurred, simply that, you understand, the place is she?

Twenty-four hours later, when Lori by no means known as or returned dwelling, Jennifer notified Chittenango police.

Wade Irwin: Patrol began trying into her whereabouts at the moment.

Lead investigator Wade Irwin searched Lori’s rental residence.

Wade Irwin: She had simply moved into the house. … There have been nonetheless a number of containers, objects being unpacked. Didn’t seem that there have been any indicators of a break-in, or a criminal offense that occurred on the dwelling. … However her automotive was there. 

And he stated there was one thing else unsettling in regards to the scene.

Wade Irwin: There was one shoe within the middle of the mattress. It was odd.

Investigator Irwin says he was decided to talk to at least one particular person.

Wade Irwin: The final person who — that we had been capable of decide that noticed her, was Shawn Doyle.

However earlier than investigators may attain out to Doyle, Jennifer says she tracked down Doyle’s quantity and known as him herself.

Jennifer Leonard: “Shawn, have you talked to Lori?”  And, uh, he goes, “no I haven’t talked to her in a couple of days. Um, wasn’t she supposed to get tickets the other night?” And I’m like, “yeah, she was, we haven’t heard from her since. I’m like, you know, if she calls you let us know because the phone’s off” … and he’s like, “oh yeah, definitely let you know …” …After I hung up, I used to be like I had chills and I’m like, he’s filled with it. He is aware of one thing.

A KEY CLUE IN THE CASE

As days glided by, Chittenango investigators reached out to everybody who had contact with Lori Leonard prior her to her disappearance— together with the person she was purported to get Yankees tickets from in Albany.

Wade Irwin: He was an govt for an organization. … We had been capable of monitor him down. He was interviewed.

Detective Wade Irwin says the chief waited for Lori in Albany and when she by no means confirmed up, he known as her and even left a message.

Wade Irwin: He was … calling with concern of … the place she was. “We’re supposed to meet up. I got the tickets. I’m here, are you OK? I hope an accident didn’t happen.”

His alibi checked out, however Lori’s telephone information would reveal much more about one other one that hadn’t known as.

Wade Irwin: What turned regarding for myself is … the individual that cared about her, supposedly.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Shawn Doyle.

Wade Irwin: Shawn Doyle. By no means known as, by no means left a message.

When Chittenango police went to interview Lori’s former boyfriend, he instructed them that on the day she disappeared, he left her residence “about 3 p.m.” after which drove three hours dwelling to Hudson Falls.

Wade Irwin: He simply all the time, had stated all alongside… that he left her and he or she was alive on the residence.

After they checked out his alibi, Irwin says they couldn’t clear him. But, Doyle was cooperative and even allowed investigators to look his truck and take photographs. After they searched Doyle’s glove compartment, they discovered one thing curious.

Wade Irwin: There was a key with a serial quantity on it.

As investigators saved an eye fixed out on Doyle and continued to seek for Lori, Jennifer says her household struggled to clarify Lori’s disappearance to her two younger sons.

Austin Feltrinelli: After a number of days to a number of weeks you understand one thing’s up. Your mom’s not dwelling. … The query is, you understand, the place is she? What’s — what’s she doing?

Jennifer Leonard: We’d say issues like she received misplaced … you understand, we’ll get her. We’ll discover her.

To make issues worse, Austin and Zackary had been now separated, staying with their fathers, and solely seeing one another on weekends.

Austin Feltrinelli: We’d lived collectively our complete lives. … That was clearly totally different, you understand, waking up day by day with one — your mother’s not there, uh, however two — now your brother isn’t.

Jennifer Leonard: We had been struggling and day by day our household was doing one thing to search out her. … We had been in search of her. We had been a well-oiled machine.

 Jennifer suspected Shawn Doyle had one thing to do together with her sister’s disappearance. So, weeks after Lori vanished, she headed to Hudson Falls and held an illustration, hoping somebody there would know one thing about Doyle that would assist investigators.

Jennifer Leonard: We had posters. We had indicators, we had Shawn’s identify up on indicators, if anyone will converse to us.

Dorothy Tucker says when she heard Lori’s household was on the town, she instantly known as Doyle.

Dorothy Tucker: I used to be like, “Shawn, what’s going on?” , “did you do something?” (mimics his voice) “I didn’t do anything to her. She’s probably off on a beach somewhere with some guy.”

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: However you consider Shawn on the time?

Dorothy Tucker: Oh, positively.

Later that day when Dorothy handed Lori’s household rallying on the streets, she says she did one thing she has come to deeply remorse.

Dorothy Tucker: Like an fool, I yelled out the window. … telling them to go dwelling. Shawn didn’t do something they usually wanted to depart.

As months handed with no signal of Lori, the household’s hopes started to dwindle.

Wade Irwin: I made a promise … to discover a decision to this for them and provides them the closure and solutions that they wanted. … It was disheartening as a result of each evening … I’d name them and provides them an replace no matter whether or not there was constructive or unfavourable data. (tears in his eyes)

After which, on July 24, 2005, three months after Lori went lacking —

Capt. Tony LeClaire: We had a report {that a} fisherman had been going by on this space right here.

Captain Tony LeClaire is with the Washington County Sheriff’s Workplace.

Capt. Tony LeClaire: He noticed, uh, what he regarded as a toolbox that goes at the back of a pickup truck floating. Thought it could be helpful for him. So he grabbed onto it … towed it together with his boat a couple of mile-and-a-half (factors) … After which they dragged it outta the water there.

The field was locked and emitting a foul odor, So police had been known as, and after they broke open the lock, authorities found a physique inside.

Wade Irwin: And there was contents, pillows, bedding, purse, however proper on high was Lori’s ID. (emotional)

Additionally within the field was a photograph of Lori’s two sons.

Wade Irwin: She was handcuffed behind her again. … There was duct tape across the handcuffs. Her ft had been sure collectively and duct taped. .. Her face, from chin to brow, um, had duct tape. After which as soon as that duct tape was eliminated there was a bandana tied in her mouth.

The Medical Examiner would rule that Lori died of asphyxiation.

Jennifer Leonard: I couldn’t wrap my head round what they had been saying. “What do you mean she was found in the toolbox in the water?” I — I couldn’t, I couldn’t, I couldn’t settle for it.

Irwin says that’s when Shawn Doyle went from an individual of curiosity to a suspect within the case.

Wade Irwin: Every little thing began to return collectively actual rapidly. We received a search warrant inside hours to go to his residence.

Throughout their search, police discovered sand tubes in his storage that matched the sand tubes contained in the toolbox used to weigh it down.

Wade Irwin: We had been capable of monitor down within the dwelling, comparable handcuffs, bandanas, duct tape different signifies that he used that matched what was used on Lori.

Do not forget that key investigators had found in Doyle’s truck? It matched the lock of the toolbox, tying Doyle on to the crime. 

When investigators checked the bridge close to the canal the place the toolbox was discovered, they found scratches on the bridge railing that matched scratches discovered on the underside of the toolbox.

Anne Marie Inexperienced: Simply inform me about what investigators assume occurred? What was the speculation?

Capt. Tony LeClaire: The idea is that he got here right here together with his pickup truck, got here to the bridge, um, someplace within the middle of the canal and took the toolbox and mainly simply pushed it over the sting … and as he did, it scraped throughout.

Simply in the future after the invention of Lori’s physique within the toolbox, investigators arrested Shawn Doyle.

Anne Marie Inexperienced: What was that second like for you?

Det. Wade Irwin: Overwhelming.

Jennifer says it was time to interrupt the information to Lori’s two younger sons. Zackary remembers the second regardless that he was solely 5 years outdated.

Zackary Wicklund: I felt it as quickly as I walked into the room. And I feel my dad was the one which stated that she’s not coming dwelling and I simply form of fell into him and simply didn’t know the right way to react.

Jennifer Leonard: I watched somewhat boy break. He stated not a phrase.

Then it was time to inform 9-year-old Austin.

Austin Feltrinelli: I set free form of like a shriek and, and form of simply collapsed, uh, in my dad. And I can nonetheless form of really feel it.

Jennifer Leonard: And he wailed. It wasn’t a cry. It was, it was a pained guttural wail. … I’ll all the time have that sound in my head.

Jennifer says she couldn’t really mourn her sister as a result of she needed to put together for Doyle’s upcoming trial.

Jennifer Leonard: I used to be gonna be sure that he received what he deserved.

A SURVIVOR’S BREAKING POINT

In late summer season of 2005, C.C. Opanowski obtained a telephone name from her father: her ex-boyfriend Shawn Doyle had been arrested for homicide.

C.C. Opanowski: I couldn’t consider what I used to be listening to. I couldn’t consider it. … You don’t need it to be true … and it’s horrible. 

When C.C. realized that the sufferer was 33-year-old Lori Leonard, a single mother of two younger boys, she says she was overwhelmed with excessive guilt.

C.C. Opanowski: That was a breaking level for me. I felt for her complete complete household and her two younger youngsters.

C.C. says she was haunted by the selection she made as a traumatized and scared teenager.

C.C. Opanowski: And all I can take into consideration is … If I may return, I’d have performed it in another way. … I’d have pressed my expenses a lot additional.

So simply weeks later, when investigators reached out to C.C. and requested if she would testify at Doyle’s trial, she was decided to assist.

C.C. Opanowski: I have to be sure that he’s put away for — for murdering Lori. … At this level now, I’m indignant. I’m not fearful.

However C.C. was not Doyle’s solely ex-girlfriend who investigators hoped would testify towards him. 5 years after Doyle attacked C.C., he allegedly tried to kill 23-year-old Sarah Volmar.

“48 Hours” reached out to Volmar and obtained no response, however she did converse with the CBS affiliate in Albany in regards to the assault in 2005.  

SARAH VOLMAR/ CBS6 ALBANY NEWS REPORT: He had tied me up with shoelaces and, um, put the duct tape again over my mouth after which simply started strangling me till I handed out. After which my mom walked in on it.

Doyle was charged with illegal imprisonment within the second diploma and assault within the third diploma. However once more, a deal was made. Doyle pleaded responsible solely to the cost of illegal imprisonment. A choose sentenced him to a few years’ probation.

On Jan. 23, 2006 Shawn Doyle’s trial started. It was a day that Lori’s sister Jennifer Leonard had waited for.

Jennifer Leonard: I used to be gonna be her advocate. I used to be gonna converse for her. I used to be gonna converse for the boys.

When Doyle entered the courtroom, Jennifer Leonard says she was caught off guard as a result of his look had modified.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What’d he appear to be?

Jennifer Leonard: Choir boy. He’d grown his hair. He had a sweater on.

Kevin Kortright, now retired, had solely been district legal professional for lower than a month. He says key to his case was ensuring Doyle’s different victims – C.C. and Sarah — can be allowed to testify. Oftentimes, judges don’t enable a defendant’s prior dangerous acts to be introduced into trial.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Why had been the ladies so essential?

Kevin Kortright: It exhibits what he’s able to.

Kevin Kortright: He’d performed it virtually precisely the identical prior to now. … It’s his modus operandi. It’s sturdy proof.

Regardless of the protection’s objections, the choose dominated that C.C. and Sarah may testify. However first, Kortright offered the jury with all of the items of bodily proof that pointed to Shawn Doyle — just like the objects they present in Doyle’s storage and residential: the sandbags and handcuffs.

Anne Marie Inexperienced: And what about that bandana?

Kevin Kortright: He wore a bandana 24 hours a day … He had bandanas in his bed room. He had bandanas in his truck. The bandana in Lori’s mouth was the one which I consider he was carrying that day.

After which there was that toolbox. Kortright known as to the stand a clerk from a neighborhood AutoZone retailer who says she offered Doyle the toolbox only one week earlier than Lori disappeared.

Kevin Kortright: She recognized him completely. … She even recognized his shirt he was carrying.

And a very powerful piece of proof: that key present in his glove compartment that tied Doyle on to the field.

Don Lehman: That was as sturdy as proof as you could possibly get.

Retired journalist Don Lehman lined the trial for the Submit Star newspaper.

Don Lehman: The important thing to the toolbox was … there was no manner round that …

Then Kortright known as Dorothy Tucker, Shawn’s as soon as shut good friend, to the stand. He says she was a serious witness as a result of she offered data as to how they consider Doyle transported Lori’s physique from Chittenango — three hours over to Hudson Falls — after he murdered her.

Dorothy Tucker: He simply saved calling me.

Tucker instructed the jury that the day that Lori disappeared, Doyle stopped by her home. Behind his truck, she says, was a really giant cardboard field.

Dorothy Tucker: I stated, “Shawn, what do you got there?” … Oh simply rubbish. Junk I had at Lori’s. … and take it to the dump.

DA Kortright believes Lori’s physique was within the field and that in some unspecified time in the future, Doyle transferred her physique to the toolbox. Tucker testified that simply days after his first go to, Doyle confirmed up at her home once more and the cardboard field had been changed by a big toolbox.

 

Dorothy Tucker: I stroll out and I stated “hey Shawn … what do you need a toolbox for? You don’t have any tools to put in it.” And he laughed and yeah, yeah, you understand. So then he began saying a couple of good friend … was going to satisfy him. They had been gonna go fishing.

Tucker stated Doyle instructed her he was going to fish by the Champlain Lock canal space – a spot he knew nicely and frequented usually. Doyle had even taken C.C. there many instances after they dated.

Kevin Kortright: Lori was within the field that day. And he was taking her to dump her within the canal the place she was later discovered.

District Lawyer Kortright known as C.C. Opanowski as his final witness.

Kevin Kortright: You all the time put the perfect for the final.

C.C. Opanowski:  I used to be very, very nervous.

C.C. instructed the jury in regards to the assault and the long-lasting psychological anguish Shawn Doyle induced her.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What did you need Shawn Doyle to see?

C.C. Opanowski: That I wasn’t afraid. That you just’re not my scary something anymore.

When it was the protection’s flip, Lehman says they tried to poke holes within the prosecution’s case.

Don Lehman: There simply was not – not lots of holes to poke.

“48 Hours” reached out to Shawn Doyle and members of Doyle’s household, however they declined to be interviewed.

After three lengthy days of testimony, the case went to the jury. Lori Leonard’s relations held their breath.

Jennifer Leonard: I felt like I hadn’t exhaled in months and that’s what I wanted. I wanted to exhale.

SHARING IMPORTANT LESSONS

Regardless of the all of the proof towards Shawn Doyle, retired journalist Don Lehman says nobody knew which manner the jury would rule. 

Don Lehman: There have been instances that we’ve seen many circumstances the place the jury does issues that simply form of defy the proof.

On Jan. 26, 2006, after simply two-and-a-half hours of deliberations, the jury got here again with a verdict:  responsible of second-degree homicide.

CBS6 ALBANY NEWS REPORT: When the responsible verdict was learn, Lori Leonard’s household burst into cheers and sobs, however Shawn Doyle confirmed little response.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Responsible.

Kevin Kortright: Um hmm.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What went by your thoughts while you heard that phrase?

Kevin Kortright: Thank God.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Why does it nonetheless have an effect on you?

Kevin Kortright: As a result of dangerous issues occur to good folks.

C.C. Opanowski: I used to be relieved and completely happy that he was going to be punished for what he did.

For C.C., it was troublesome to course of the truth that an individual she as soon as liked was convicted of homicide.

C.C. Opanowski: To me, it virtually felt like there wasn’t a person left within him. However extra like a monster. To your crimes to develop into worse as you go … to virtually excellent them, to consider them in that serial style.

One month later, earlier than Doyle was sentenced, a choose listened to testimony and skim over sufferer influence statements from Lori’s family and friends.

LORI LEONARD’S FAMILY MEMBER (in court docket) | CBS6 ALBANY: Jail isn’t even the precise place for somebody like him. It’s not punishment sufficient.

Austin and Zackary, Lori’s sons, had been too younger to attend trial, however each wrote letters to the choose.

Zackary Wicklund (studying his assertion): She let me sleep together with her after I was scared. … And after I see one thing scary and listen to one thing scary … we used to sing songs we preferred essentially the most collectively.

Austin Feltrinelli (studying his assertion): I feel my mother was the best mother on the planet. … My mother, my brother and I had actually nice instances collectively. … I’m additionally unhappy as a result of (pauses) I’ll by no means see my mother anymore now due to what occurred …

Shawn Doyle was sentenced to the utmost — 25 years to life, with the potential of parole.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: Was that sufficient?

Jennifer Leonard: I didn’t assume so.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: You don’t need him getting out?

Jennifer Leonard: No. There’s no forgiveness. No manner man. No. none.

Dorothy Tucker: He’s a hazard to society. And I — I hope he by no means will get out.

Dorothy Tucker, who initially stood by Doyle, says she feels betrayed by him.

Dorothy Tucker: He lied straight to my face and right here is somebody that I trusted thought I knew, by no means noticed that aspect of him.

Tucker hopes Lori’s household will forgive her for a way she beforehand handled them after they got here to rally towards Doyle in Hudson Falls.

Dorothy Tucker: I wished to inform them how sorry I used to be and I nonetheless am. … that was completely uncalled for and it was unacceptable habits on my half.

Lehman, who has lined many home violence circumstances in his virtually 30 years as a reporter, says there are vital classes that may be realized from C.C. and Sarah’s assaults and Lori’s homicide.

Don Lehman: Each case of home violence is a possible murder. … All of them should be taken critically. All of them should be dealt with in a solution to shield these victims.

Don Lehman: , as a younger lady with two younger children … that’s simply mind-boggling that these children misplaced their mother … to a man like this …

C.C., who bravely got here ahead to inform her story, hopes that others can study from her.

C.C. Opanowski: Be vigilant. Have a look at what’s taking place in entrance of you and ensure somebody is aware of. Don’t hold it quiet. … Listen and … when you’ve that feeling, that one which doesn’t go manner — you understand, the one that you just attempt to push down — that’s the one it is best to take heed to essentially the most.

She says she is able to let go of the guilt she has felt for what occurred to Lori.

C.C. Opanowski: I’ve waited so lengthy and I’ve needed to reside with it for all of those years.

Jennifer Leonard: It’s not her fault. It’s the system that failed. … She did what she needed to do. … I don’t blame her. I really feel unhappy that she’s felt guilt all this time.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: How would you like your sister to be remembered?

Jennifer Leonard: Lori Ann. She … so enjoyable. So humorous. So loving …

For Jennifer Leonard, she longs for the life she all the time thought she would have with Lori.

Jennifer Leonard: We had been purported to be … dwelling in the identical place and going out and elevating our youngsters and having events and that’s what it was purported to be. That’s what we had been purported to have … And I’m it … simply me and the youngsters making an attempt to get alongside with out her.

Anne-Marie Inexperienced: What do you miss essentially the most about Lori?

Zackary Wicklund: In moments the place I’m actually unhappy, the place I’m like I simply want her to carry me and he or she hasn’t been ready to try this in 20 years.

Shawn Doyle is eligible for parole in 2030.

 In case you or somebody you understand wants assist, the Nationwide Home Violence Hotline has counselors obtainable across the clock at 1-800-799-7233 [SAFE].  

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Produced by Chris Younger Ritzen. Elena DiFiore and David Dow are the event producers. Michael Loftus and Chelsea Narvaez are the affiliate producers. Anthony Venditti is the content material analysis supervisor. Michael McHugh is the producer/editor. Ken Blum is an editor. Lourdes Aguiar is the senior producer. Nancy Kramer is the chief story editor. Judy Tygard is the chief producer.