Former defense attorney addresses accusations surrounding her for decades: “Do I look like I’m telling a big, fat whopper?”

This story initially aired on May 7, 2022.

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

“People that really know me know that I’m not that way … who could be and live so long?” Shelton tells “48 Hours” contributor Jenna Jackson.  “I’ve never killed anybody.”

The interview is the fruits of a decades-long sport 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 specialists reinvestigate most of the allegations towards Shelton. And there are a lot of. Starting within the Nineteen Seventies, one in all Shelton’s former boyfriends was bludgeoned to demise, and one other ex-boyfriend’s house was allegedly set on fireplace. A former consumer who authorities stated by accident 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’s extra.

“If I had done a tenth of what has been said about me, I’d be dead, all right?” Shelton says.

“Murder accusations?” Shelton says later. “It’s merely been people throwing mud at the wall and hoping some of it will stick.”

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

“I mean, do I look like I’m telling a big, fat whopper?” Shelton says with amusing.

THE CATHERINE SHELTON CONNECTION

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

But earlier than I do this, I received some assist from a pair specialists. They’re each “48 Hours” consultants.

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

Lisa Andrews: To maintain any person criminally chargeable for one thing, you might have to have the ability to show it. And to date nobody metropolis, nobody company, nobody has been in a position to even sufficient virtually for an arrest. 

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

Brian Benken: There’s no query, from what we find out about her previous previous to this, that she’s succesful. You know, the query is, you recognize, 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 thus far  … she comes on the scene as a — as a Houston prison protection legal professional. She’s already received a repute. She’s related to … her ex-boyfriend, who she had filed a typical regulation marriage swimsuit towards.

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: Exactly—

Brian Benken: — crushed to demise 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: They all sorta go in a circle right here. And then she is charged with capturing one other ex-boyfriend, Gary Taylor, a reporter right here in Houston.

Brian Benken: Who she truly received convicted for.

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

Brian Benken: Right.

Lisa Andrews: … and solely received probation.

Brian Benken: Right.

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

Catherine was by no means implicated in Bell’s demise, but it surely added to her repute as a lady with a previous. And there have been different outdated allegations of harassment, burglaries, and so forth that by no means received to court docket.

But now, Let’s transfer to the subsequent 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 skilled marksman. Catherine informed us what had attracted her to him after 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. Don’t suppose she’s not clever. And she’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 decide to “set aside” her conviction for capturing Gary Taylor.

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

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

Things have been comparatively quiet for a few decade till a 3rd man’s demise had a hyperlink to Catherine in June 1999.

Lisa Andrews: So, let’s speak concerning the subsequent case. … Chris Hansen.

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

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

Brian Benken: It’s our understanding that, you recognize, 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, but it surely belonged to her. … discovered … by her husband, Clint Shelton.  

Hansen was discovered hanging in a closet space of the house. He was bare.  According to newspaper stories on the time …

Lisa Andrews:  It was dominated an accident once more. This time, as an alternative 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 instances earlier than

Brian Benken: Not in—

Lisa Andrews: They’re not—

Brian Benken: — any person else’s home. 

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

Hansen’s demise 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. Lots of 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:  Hello.

911 OPERATOR:  Hello.

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

911 OPERATOR: Do you recognize who shot her?

CALLER:  No, ma’am.

CALLER:  She’s saying, “Please help me, please help me they’re still chasing me.” She’s saying that someplace down the best way 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 lately give up working for Catherine and had opened her personal immigration consulting business. Catherine, she says, went ballistic. The two girls quickly started accusing one another of scamming their shoppers.

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

“48 Hours” spoke with Marisa in 2003.

MARISA HIERRO: She’s screaming, “You won’t live to see Christmas.” I imply, she stated it precisely like that.

Catherine denies that she ever threatened Marisa. But Marisa says she was fearful — 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 known as my workplace — about 30 days earlier than he had handed. He had informed me that … she was taking, like, cash from him. … I informed him to go to the police. He informed me he was afraid to go to the police, as a result of, you recognize, he wasn’t a citizen. He had Canadian citizenship or one thing.

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

MARISA HIERRO: We pulled round to the again …

MARISA HIERRO: Mike’s about to get out. …  impulsively, he simply snapped over. And he grabbed my arm. And he simply stated “Oh no.” … So, I look to see what he is . And he is telling me, “Just run,” …  don’t be concerned what you hear. Just — 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 when 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’d ever heard, as a result of it was so shut.

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

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

MARISA HIERRO: I’m working … I’m 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 raise up my hand.

MARISA HIERRO: I do know after 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 stated, “Don’t be a [expletive],” to him. She stated, “I said do it.” … And he informed her, “I — I did. I shot her.” And now she stated, “Do it again.”

MARISA HIERRO: When he argued and stated, “I did it,” I simply heard them, like, depart.

Marisa had been hit — buckshot from the blast tore into her arm and she or he was significantly 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.” 

In spite of Marisa’s witness account, Catherine was by no means arrested. She had an alibi. Her lawyer says cellphone information present that Catherine was speaking on her cellular phone after which her residence cellphone with a pal and her mom on the time of the capturing.

But 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 stated, you recognize, Catherine has this means to drag individuals in and to assist her. So, Clint’s been married to her for a number of years, you recognize, he is simply sucked into this. And, “Sure — sure, baby. I’ll go along with you and shoot your paralegal and her husband. Why not?” I imply —  

Lisa Andrews: That’s simply unbelievable to me.

Brian Benken: That’s kinda the best way it seems although.

And that is the best way it seemed to the prosecutors as nicely.

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 Catherine was at the scene or not, she orchestrated it.”  He stated 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: Right, 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 just a few years into his sentence.

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

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 demise. The case was ultimately dropped.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2003): This began out to be a wrongful demise lawsuit filed by Marisa towards me for killing her husband. It has was one thing else.  

That’s 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 have been unfaithful.

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

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

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

The decide appeared impressed.

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

Guess what? The decide 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 no less than 30 or 40 years as a result of that is how lengthy it will take to pay for all this.

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

CATHERINE STANDS BY HER MAN

In November 2003 I used to be a bit 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 individuals? 

CATHERINE SHELTON: Well, I do not intend to.

Jenna Jackson: I assumed … she stated all this on digital camera, she needed to know what the present was going to seem like. There’s all these our bodies … At 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 cellular phone, says, “Hey this is Catherine.” I’m like, “Hey Catherine …” I get little butterflies in my abdomen at that time. And she’s like, “I just wanted to let you know I seriously considered killing you, but I decided not to. … And I was like, “OK, thanks …” Click!

Around 2012, I left the business, but as it turns out, it hadn’t left me. Catherine Shelton was always there in the back of my mind. I found out she had been disbarred since the last time I saw her, but what else had she been up to? I wanted to talk to her again. So, in 2016 I called her.

Not only did she take my call, but she agreed to meet with me again.

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

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

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

I’ve blended emotions about her. 

I discover her sensible, wily and at occasions…even humorous.

But she will get very critical when one specific topic comes up.

CATHERINE SHELTON (2016): There’s a person in jail who does not should be there. His identify 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 not possible. 

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

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

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

Jenna Jackson: Tell me out of your expertise … in case you’re defending him, what’s our greatest case to say, “Clint didn’t do this, it makes no sense?”

Lisa Andrews: You make this case about Catherine Shelton…

Lisa says the best method to get Clint off the hook can be for him guilty Catherine.

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

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

Catherine Shelton (2016): He’s been within the penitentiary … with out something … as a result of he would not do what they wished 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 chargeable for the capturing both. But for the primary time she shared that she had doubts.

Catherine Shelton (2016): At one level I assumed, nicely, possibly I did do it. Maybe I blacked out and did it … And I talked to the psychologist who labored with my shoppers, and I stated, “Look … I keep feeling like so many people can’t be wrong,” and he stated, ” It’s impossible. I was talking to you, like, when it was happening on the phone.”

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

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

It’s an accusation she’s made earlier than. Catherine says Marisa had been working an immigration rip-off – mainly taking cash from immigrants who wished inexperienced playing cards. Attorneys who represented a few of Marisa’s former shoppers informed 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 immediately, however on the time once we requested her about these allegations she denied them. And she additionally denied Catherine’s accusation that she was the one who arrange her husband’s homicide.

MARISA HIERRO (2003): Have I all the time accomplished the very best factor in life, stated the precise factor, made the very best selections? No. But have I ever damage anybody? No. Would I ever damage Michael? Never. [cries] Never.

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

Jenna Jackson: That is a reasonably highly effective weapon.

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

Tony Leal: The weapon that was used on the crime scene on that evening 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 should know methods 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 skilled. 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.

But Leal says Catherine’s argument cuts each methods.

Tony Leal:  But if I used to be planning a homicide that I wished to get away with … we have to make this seem like we did not do it. …  to throw off investigators. It’s not a nasty 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 of an individual of curiosity within the shootings. He additionally says he does not consider Marisa Hierro had something to do along with her husband’s homicide. 

Catherine’s efforts to free Clint seem to be an extended shot however since she is speaking to me once more, I ponder, will she speak about different instances?

Jenna Jackson (studying to Catherine): We’ve received arson accusations, homicide accusations, beating, capturing, theft. And who is aware of what else?

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

Catherine Shelton: He stated, “You know, you and I would both be better off dead.” And I assumed, “well maybe you,” you recognize, “but not me.” 

HE SAID, SHE SAID

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

After our reunion in 2016, I met up with Catherine just a few extra occasions and she or he informed me bits and items concerning the allegations towards her, however I felt like she was holding again.

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

But now, in 2022, she informed me she has extra to say.

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

Jenna Jackson: I believe she desires to set the document straight … And appropriate some issues that’ve been stated about her for, god, 30 plus years now.

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

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

Catherine Shelton: Yes.

Jenna Jackson: Remember the evening that every little thing went down with Gary Taylor? I wanna stroll you thru what he says occurred, and I would like you to inform me what occurred. OK?

Catherine Shelton: All proper.

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

In 2003, Taylor walked us by what he says occurred that evening 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 received there, he says Catherine informed him there was one thing for him in her bed room closet.

GARY TAYLOR: I seemed within the closet and it was empty. I went in to verify.

GARY TAYLOR: As quickly as I received 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 seemed by the crack the place the door hinges have been, and there was Catherine.

GARY TAYLOR: And she stepped into the bed room, and she or he backed up towards a wall and she or he 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 seemed completely different than I’d ever seen her. … this was a brand new Catherine. … and she or he began— talkin’ to me …

GARY TAYLOR: She stated … “Don’t worry about the next life because there isn’t one.”

GARY TAYLOR: And she seemed down on the gun … and that is after 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, nicely 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 news for that boy. I did have some passionate ideas about somebody, but it surely positive wasn’t him.

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

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

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

Catherine Shelton: I stated, “those things that you want … they’re in the closet up on the top 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 wood chair to drag it over to rise up, you recognize, it was 9 toes. … and I assumed, “Now is your only chance.”

Catherine Shelton: And I knew I had one other gun below the mattress … I simply began saying, “Oh please Gary, don’t kill me.”  And I went down on my knees, you recognize, like this [bends her knees]. It was occurring contemporaneous with him transferring 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’ll be able to.

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 saved capturing … 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 smooth tissue of his again. The fats muscle. … He was handled and launched rapidly from Ben Taub Hospital that evening.

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

We spoke to Taylor lately and he denies that he held a gun on Catherine and says he is positive Catherine meant to kill him that evening.

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

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

And she’ll even have to clarify the latest demise she has a hyperlink to … a fifth one.

Catherine Shelton: Why would I’ve killed him?

ADDRESSING THE ALLEGATIONS

It’s so arduous to drag Catherine into focus. Is she bored with the accusations which have swirled round her for many years?

Catherine Shelton: People who actually know me know me, they know I’m not that method. I imply, who may very well 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’s taken them 40 years. 

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

Catherine Shelton: Yes — just a few.

Jenna Jackson: — instances linked to you. Murder—

Catherine Shelton: You imply that I knew the individuals? Yes.

Jenna Jackson: Arson, homicide, fraud.

Catherine Shelton: Burning, theft, common mayhem.

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

Catherine Shelton: If I had accomplished a tenth of what I — has been stated about me, I’d be useless, all proper?

Jenna Jackson: Have you ever murdered anybody?

Catherine Shelton: I — homicide accusations? … It’s merely been individuals throwing mud on the wall and hoping a few of it is going to stick.

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

The different man was Michael Hierro, shot to demise in his driveway. His spouse, who was additionally shot and survived, had been in a dispute with Catherine as nicely. 

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 demise swimsuit.

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

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

Catherine Shelton: Be kinda arduous to check any person … harming themself, that took care of their physique, you recognize, and their diet.

And she additionally informed us she does not know something about Chris Hansen’s demise. He was the contractor who turned up useless and bare in a home she owned.

But why do these rumors comply with her round? Catherine thinks the rationale 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 document of “If you hit me once, I’ll hit you twice.” You know. I used to be taught to take up for myself. And I did.

But that repute, 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 number of that. And — after the primary incidence — of the outrage of, like — George Tedesco — individuals would, you recognize, typically have a look at me.  And I assumed, “Well, I’ll just use this to my advantage,” you recognize? And so, if I’d, like, you recognize, have a look at them or one thing like that or — you recognize, I’d see that they’d go loopy, you recognize, or one thing.

Jenna Jackson: So, you performed it up?

Catherine Shelton: Yeah, I did.

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

Jenna Jackson: But you might have accomplished some — some violent issues.

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

Catherine, nevertheless, says that she’s softened with age … no less than a bit.

Catherine Shelton: It was once you will solely do that when.  (sighs) Now — I’m attempting to be — you recognize, comply with Jesus and every little thing a bit higher. I’m a Catholic. And so now the rule is, all proper, you must do it twice, however then I’ll beat the crap out of you.

Catherine says she desires to place her previous behind her. But there’s now a brand new demise with a hyperlink to her.

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

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

Catherine Shelton: … he was in fairly dangerous form. He was on oxygen, you recognize? You know, I imply— a number of oxygen. Loads of oxygen. He could not even transfer with out 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 immediately. May, June, July, August, September— August. He died in August. He solely lived 5 months. And he would possibly’ve lived a bit longer, besides the storm.

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

Catherine Shelton: And I attempted to wrap him up in blankets. … And I assumed no less than right here it is chilly, you recognize? And – and — he could have to remain right here with me in the home, you recognize, until they will come and get him. So, I did not know what else to do.

But it is what Catherine did subsequent that received her in bother. She signed his identify on a lease software after he was useless to try to hire a home. She received caught.

Catherine Shelton: The DA’s Office did not wanna take it at first. And then they stated, “Well, it’s only a misdemeanor.”

Catherine Shelton: And um —

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

FRAUD DOC SCREENGRAB – credit score wanted

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

Catherine Shelton: I’m not going to jail. I have never accomplished something fallacious.

Jenna Jackson: But how are you so positive? You’re dealing with this case proper now. It’s pending —

Catherine Shelton: Well, I am unable to —

Jenna Jackson: — as we sit right here —

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

Catherine says she has a motive for signing the useless man’s identify on that doc. She says she was simply attempting to get a brand new residence for the aged man’s nurse and her household. According to Catherine, they’d misplaced their residence within the storm.

It’s so arduous to type this all out. And in any case this, I nonetheless cannot make up my thoughts about her. 

Jenna Jackson: How would you … describe your life?

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

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

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

Catherine Shelton: I’m 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 just a few moans and groans and, you recognize, m — missed strikes, I’ve performed the hand I used to be dealt.

Jenna Jackson: Do you might have something to admit? Have you informed us the reality about every little thing?

Catherine Shelton: Anything that I’ve needed to confess, I’ve confessed up to now. It’s accomplished. The confession is finished. 

Jenna Jackson: But no homicide?

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

 Catherine Shelton’s fraud trial is presently scheduled for March 6, 2023.

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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 chief story editor. Judy Tygard and Jenna Jackson are the chief producers.