Ep 27. Sheila Devalloo

Sheila Devalloo, a nurse from Florida, found herself on the wrong side of the law when her husband was found dead in their home in May of 2003. Sheila called 911 and told the operator that her husband, Jagadish Devalloo, was unresponsive and that she believed he had suffered a heart attack.

However, upon closer inspection, Jagadish's cause of death was not a heart attack. Instead, it was discovered that he had been strangled to death. This discovery led to an investigation, and soon Sheila became the prime suspect.

Sheila had a history of violence against her husband. Neighbors reported that they had heard the couple fighting often, and Jagadish's brother claimed that she had physically assaulted him on more than one occasion.

Despite this evidence against her, Sheila initially denied any involvement in her husband's death and claimed that she had found him that way when she came home from work. However, as the investigation continued and more evidence was uncovered, Sheila's story began to unravel.

Police found that Sheila had been conducting internet searches for things like "how to commit the perfect murder" and "how to make a suicide look like a murder" in the weeks leading up to Jagadish's death. They also discovered that she had been having an affair with a co-worker and had discussed with him the possibility of leaving her husband.

Eventually, Sheila confessed to killing her husband, claiming that she had done so in self-defense because he had been physically abusing her. However, her story was undermined by the fact that there were no signs of a struggle in the home, and no marks on her or Jagadish's body to suggest that he had attacked her.

Despite Sheila's claims of self-defense, she was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years in prison. Throughout the trial, Sheila maintained her innocence and even attempted to fire her attorney at one point.

The case of Sheila Devalloo is a tragic reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the devastating consequences that can come from it. It is also a cautionary tale about the importance of thorough investigations and the use of technology in solving crimes.