Justice for Sheila? | Full Episode

48 hours we take you there, it is a terrible crime that we have been reporting on from the beginning. Sheila Belush was a proud mother of six children, including quadruplets, we have four, so we filmed four times black here and then for no apparent reason she was murdered in Cold. Blood to kill that girl in front of those babies, how could she do that? There were clues everywhere. We have obtained a warrant for first degree murder. The gunman was quickly hunted down and this man was later convicted for her role in The Conspiracy when she rebelled. Husband Alan Black was involved in her death, but authorities were still after the ex-husband of alleged mastermind Sheila.

It was a nasty divorce. The first person who came to mind was Alan Blackthorne, your father now, almost three years after the crime. Sheila's rich ex-husband. is on trial for murder Peter Van Sant investigators Ellen you never wanted Sheila to be murdered Pure Evil the dramatic final chapter of a 48 Hours mystery I don't know if you've ever seen these photos what you did to my wife there will be

justice

For Sheila, this It is the case that we have followed closely from the beginning about the terrible crime against a young woman who had a lot to live for as a mother of six children, quadruplets and two older children, and who was also starting over.

The authorities were convinced that there had been a cold-blooded plot against this young mother. There were telltale signs of murder. For Hire, they said it. Although the alleged gunman was captured, there was always someone else suspected of being The Mastermind catching up with him. he would be a daunting task for investigators the victim's family always feared someone would get away with it Peter Van Sant now reports on what could prove to be the final chapter in the search for

justice

for Sheila Helen did you have anything to say see with killing your wife was a sight murder victim Sheila Belich's family thought they would never see Alan Blackthorne Black Thorn do you have something to say about this Sheila's billionaire ex-husband was brought to court for his murder trial on charges Since he allegedly arranged his brutal killing just months earlier, Blackthorne, a retired businessman, was living the country club life in San Antonio, Texas.

Okay please, others had been convicted of the murder of Sheila Belush. We believe that the defendant is guilty and, although Blackthorne had been implicated in the 1997 murder by a superior plot. Alan had never been arrested, did you want Sheila to be murdered? Never in any way I didn't want her to be murdered I didn't want her to be hurt I didn't want something of that nature to happen to her period despite Blackthorne's denials Texas authorities continued to investigate it was a murder case they couldn't let go. who had witnessed the violent death of Sheila, her four babies.

I don't understand how anyone on this face of the Earth could make out that Gene Smith is Sheila's mother. I have spent so many nights. crying for those children because they were Sheila's angels, she always said mom, she looks at my angels, we wanted a baby so much and then we had four, so we filmed four times as lucky. Those angels were Sheila's quadruplets, whose birth made Sheila and her new husband Jamie bellish local celebrities in San Antonio Francis Anthony named after my father the day his quadruplets were born the Bellis quadruplets have turned this house upside down baby care times four the updates on the bellish quadruplets became a feature on the local news the first week Oh, that was terrifying.

She would just sit with them around her and say, look at my babies, you know? And it was a great source of pride and joy for her to go outside for the first time. Yes, I'm going home now. Life was good. For Sheila, she had come a long way since a bitter divorce and custody battle with her ex-husband Alan Blackthorne. It was a short marriage that was not good for either of them. It was a nasty divorce. It was an adversarial relationship. She always says hello. Danny when the quads were almost two years old a b c d e f g Jamie, a pharmaceutical salesman, was offered a promotion and the family moved to Sarasota, Florida.

Sheila had custody of her two daughters from her marriage to Blackthorne, Daryl and Stevie, she is now 16 years old. People say you're like your mother. Do you like that compliment? I think it's the best compliment you know I've ever received in my life, but just two months after moving to Florida, is that right? Yes, should I make faces? Stevie's loving mother became the victim of a cold-blooded crime some days. I just can't stop crying, you know, because I keep thinking about November 7th. November 7, 1997. The day started well. I was actually running home from school. He had good news that she was eager to share with her mother.

I discovered a boy. That person he liked was going to ask me out, so I was so excited I had to run home and tell him that he was going to sit by the phone with me all weekend. I walked in the front door and the first thing I really saw were the babies. crying, that was the only noise I heard, babies crying, so I didn't understand, do you know how she could leave them sitting there and cry because she didn't do that? I had made two circles around the house trying to find it and it caught my attention to check the laundry room.

There was blood like all over the floor. There was blood everywhere, even on the babies. Three of them had stripes. One of them had it in her hair. It was her mother's blood. Don't think it registered in my mind that she was right at my feet, you know, I didn't believe it. I looked at her face again and when I really leaned in and looked at her that's when I realized she was. 10. hello hello hello this is the 911 Center what's going on? laughter Janie ran home to face an unimaginable horror. Sometimes the whole experience is kind of surreal and I can't believe it's really happening and he tried to comfort Stevie.

Here's Stevie, I mean 13. A one-year-old girl comes home from school to find her mother with a bullet in her face and her throat cut. It's going to be difficult for her. Do you think babies remember in some way? Oh, they sure hug Timothy. I think he has a cognitive memory of the murder. He says you know mom had a bad boo and a man did it the man who did it left a trail of clues at the crime scene a fingerprint a knife a bullet casing and that's not all the day of the murder the neighbors saw a suspicious man dressed in combat fatigues on Mark Rich Road near the beautiful house, saw a man dressed in camouflage, saw a man in a white car, saw a man with a Texas license plate, police tracked license plate number from another state and four days later, they have obtained a first degree murder warrant charging José Luis Del Toro Jr. with the murder of Ms.

Bellish on November 7. José Luis Del Toro, a former high school football star, is on the run. We launched a massive search for Del Toro in Florida, Texas and northern Mexico. crime becomes national news America's Most Wanted We've named him our number one public enemy and the police are hoping you can help find him tonight two weeks after Del Toro is arrested in Monterey Mexico police believe they have a case solid against Del Toro. fingerprints found in Bellish's house a gun discovered inside del Toro's car was the gun used to shoot Sheila also found in del Toro's car incredibly were the directions to Sheila's house, but why was Sheila murdered ?

The house was not robbed and police say Del Toro did not know. Sheila Stevie Belush had no doubt who was behind the murder of her mother. The first person that came to mind was Alan Blackthorne, your father. It's the only logical explanation I had for this, but Alan Blackthorne was playing golf at the time of Sheila's murder. over a thousand miles away in San Antonio, could he really be involved? There is no evidence that I had any involvement in this. That's what's coming. Thank you, hello, ready, happy birthday to you. Courtney Bellis just turned three years old.

Also Frankie Belich. Timmy gave the belt to his father. Jamie Bellish. She certainly has her hands

full

, you know, having quadruplets is pretty easy when they're in the hospital, the problem is when you bring them home, that's when it gets hard and now it's even harder for Jamie and the kids because they're missing this celebration. and to his life he is the mother of the quadruplets Sheila Belush I don't think a day goes by without thinking about his big hug, hug and kiss. Jamie Bellish is also trying to cope with the murder of his wife. There are days when I do very well and there are days. when I break down and cry but more than anything Jaime wants Justice for Sheila I believe with all my heart that everyone involved in this crime will eventually be put behind bars Joey Del Toro accused of killing Sheila is already behind bars in a Mexican prison Sammy What Message do you have for the Embellish family today I said how are you Texas police also arrested Del Toro's cousin Sammy González, do you regret what happened and a golf scammer named Danny Rocha?

The three men are now accused of plotting to kill Sheila Belush. None of the suspects apparently knew Sheila, but investigators quickly zeroed in on someone who did. Sheila's ex-husband, Alan Blackthorne, is evil. Pure Evil. Sheila's mother, Gene Smith, is the only person on the face of the Earth who has ever hurt Sheila. Put your faces next to each other. Sheila's youngest. Sister Carrie says she heard Blackthorne threaten to kill Sheila. He made the spectacle common. He would never leave me because she would never see her children and she would never leave them. And by chance she got the children.

I would just kill her. Did you hear? he said, I heard him say yes, did you ever threaten in front of Sheila's sisters to kill her if she ever left you and took the girls? No, never, no threat of any kind, period Alan, your enemies have described you as an evil madman. manipulative who are you good I'm a husband I'm a father um I'm a golfer Alan Blackthorne is a rich businessman from San Antonio who can afford to play a lot of golf maybe maybe oh, he made his fortune selling medical equipment play golf Monday through Friday game with my family on the weekends Blackthorne lives in this million dollar mansion with his fourth wife and two children we are a strong family my wife is amazing my children are great Alan can be very very charming and it took me a long time to see the real Allen.

Sheila was afraid of Alan. Yes. Sheila's older sister, Kathy, says that the real Alan is a violent man. Shortly before she decided to leave Allen, they had gotten into a fight with her and he had pulled her hair and punched her in the face. and he busted his lip, this San Antonio police report from 1987 supports Kathy's claim. Blackthorne was arrested and pleaded guilty to assault. You don't deny that you physically abused Sheila. It's true. I did it. I hit her. It was a very low point for me. I have never denied it in my life, but I hit her once and that's all I hit her in 1987, after five years of marriage.

Sheila filed for divorce. Her ex-husband always dragged her to court in one way or another. It was a constant battle. a battle that continued years after the divorce this san antonio police log shows there were many family disturbance calls in the midst of all this turmoil well do you like to barbecue? I love it, yes girlfriend, shoot the Met. Jamie Bellish, I'll drive you. house shortly after marrying, Sheila's new beginning seemed complete when Blackthorne finally relinquished custody of his daughters Stevie and Daryl and agreed to have nothing to do with them ever again. Sheila Beatty took him back to court because she wanted to move on with his life. and getting away from him and she had gotten the girls something he said would never happen if she left him now free to leave San Antonio Jamie bellish accepted a job promotion in Sarasota Florida and the family moved here it was a new beginning for The bellish family 1200 miles from Ellen Blackthorne two months later Sheila belush was dead when you heard that Sheila had been murdered what did you think was good?

At first it was disbelief and then horror and then it was like she had finally done it. Endrino's alibi on the day of the murder is verified by playing golf and who was his partner that day a man named Danny Rocha was Sheila Belush's ex-husband Alan Blackburn involved in her death the same Danny Rocha who would be tried for his role in the murder of Sheila Bella why would you do it? hire someone to kill her why would Danny Rocha, who says he didn't know Sheila, why would he get involved in a plot to kill her if she didn't ask him to?

I have no idea, I don't know what happened. Did you continue with Danny Rocheck? Alan Black was throwing a ball. Will Rocha linked Blackthorne to the murder of his ex-wife. I don't think anyone believes I acted alone, that's what happened in the next few months since Sheila Belush was murdered. He and his stepdaughter Stevie are heading to Sarasota Florida for the trial of one ofthe alleged conspirators Danny Rocha Rocha is the man accused of organizing the murder plot and paying Joey Del Toro to kill Sheila Belush. I want to make sure Sun is imprisoned for the rest of his life. so does life Sarasota prosecutor Charlie Roberts, good afternoon, this is a case, ladies and gentlemen, of a heinous murder.

Roberts wants to prove that even though Rocha didn't pull the trigger, he is still guilty of first-degree murder, this being a case of the murder of a woman named Sheila Belich who had her throat slit and was shot in the face. Could you take your name, Stevie Bellish? The trial won't be easy for Jamie Stevie or Sheila's mother, Gene Smith. I almost died from this. The pain has been unbearable. The answer is that the brutality of her murder is so absurd. Not only do prosecutors want Rocha, they also hope he will implicate the man they believe is the mastermind behind the murder.

Sheila's ex-husband Alan Blackthorne, Danny Roach is the key to this. Henry. Lee is a member of the prosecution team, the only witness who met with Alan Blackthorne have any comment, sir, who was involved in this conspiracy with Danny Rocha was Sheila Belush's ex-husband, Alan Black, involved in her death, he was who was able to tell us what was really said, how this tragic event began, the defendant Daniel Rocha met a rich man named Alan Blackthorne, he succeeded. It was obvious to me that he wanted something done. Danny Rocha has never denied his involvement in the conspiracy, but he insists that the plan never included murder, he simply beat him up so he couldn't take care of the children, no, no, it wasn't.

It wasn't that Rocha, who decided not to take the stand in his case, agreed to talk to 48 Hours, well, I'm on Alan Blackthorne right after New Year's '96. We became friends, played a lot of golf. and sometimes he played up to seven thousand dollars a hole. The cockroaches say that it was on the golf course where Alan Blackthorne was complaining that Sheila was physically abusing her two daughters, Stevie and Daryl. What specifically did he ask you to do? She asked me if I knew anyone like that and at the time she lived in Bernie, Texas, that I would go to Bernie and, you know, rough her up a little bit, so Rocha, who had never been arrested, agreed to find someone who had beaten up Sheila.

I knew it was wrong, but I thought I was helping I thought I was helping two children but prosecutors say Rocha wanted to help himself Bottom line the defendant would be sentenced for life Blackthorne was going to reward Rocha with a partnership in a new golf course regardless of the reason Rocha called his friend Sammy González. I told him how he was doing. Third man arrested in murder conspiracy. Gonzalez, who made his own deal with prosecutors, is now testifying against his friend Danny Rocha. Is it that the court started to say that um this, but if he said yes? an ex-wife who wanted to be beaten you asked him who the person was yes when I told him who this person is it was his beaten ex-wife that's what Alan said did you recognize the name Alan Blackthorne yes González says Rocha You offered him four thousand dollars to abuse to Sheila.

He was able to persist. You gave Sammy González four thousand dollars in cash. Where did you get Ellen Blocks' money? You gave Sammy González a photo of Sheila and her address. Where did you get it from? that information yes, so Alan Blackthorne was the puppet master here, sure, I don't think anyone doubts that, I mean, I don't think anyone believes I acted alone, why Danny Rocha, who says he didn't know Sheila, why would you get involved? in a plot to kill her if you didn't ask him I have no idea I don't know what happened to Danny Rocha he says this was your idea to scare or beat up Sheila Danny Rocha is a liar González then recruited his cousin Joey Del Toro to do athletic work very fast, very, very powerful.

Then, prosecutors say, del Toro got a gun, described to the jury what type of gun a .45 Auto is and drove 1,200 miles to Sarasota 120 Margaret. where he shot Sheila in the face and slit her throat, the tip itself is bent in front of her four babies, the area around her body was a large amount of blood which I had no part in and didn't realize was going to happen on the move you said it I was part of it if you had told Alan Blackthorne no I would be Sheila belush would be alive today that's right you didn't pull the trigger Danny and I didn't know there was a The trigger spun the knife , but you practically opened the front door of the house and said: go get her. supports and that Justice requires is guilty of both charges during his final statement prosecutor Charlie Roberts approached Danny Rocha Frankie Timmy Courtney Joey Devi and Daryl's mother would still be alive today if it weren't for that man who was there five hours after? the jury had the answer the defendant is guilty of principle of first degree murder the defendant is guilty of conspiracy to commit third degree murder for Jamie it was a bittersweet victory Rocha will spend the rest of his life in prison but Alan Blackthorne He is still a man free, something deep down tells me that justice will be done in this case.

How long is that going to take? With no statute limitations on the murder, a dramatic revelation emerges when a private investigator claims that Alan Blackthorne hired him to find Sheila. the murder in the newspaper and it was like ice water started running through my veins because I'm sitting there putting two and two together, they are the next four investigators trying to solve the murder of Sheila Belush by winning a conviction against Danny Rocha for a murder. The plot for hire was no small feat, but they were still a long way from proving their theory and capturing a much bigger prize by attributing the crime to Alan Blackthorne, millionaire businessman Danny Roache, former golf partner and ex-husband of Sheila Belush, for, on the one hand, unravel the plot.

The whole devious scheme depended heavily on the cockroaches' credibility as a witness, not exactly money in the bank, authorities would have to do a lot more digging to prove that Alan Blackthorne was the man behind the murder. Here again is Peter Van and the 911 center. What's the problem? you are part of everything that I am I have not denied who made you God Danny Rocha will spend the rest of his life in prison for his participation in the murder of Sheila Belush now your life is also over a woman he never met but the person he says who wanted to kill Sheila is still a free man why are you in prison and Alan Blackthorne is still out playing golf?

That's a question you should ask the state attorney's office. I mean, I can't arrest them based on testimony. in court why hasn't an arrest warrant been issued for Alan Blackthorne the only witness who met with Alan Blackthorne who was involved in this conspiracy was Danny Rocha Sarasota Prosecutor Henry Lee the problem is we don't know what Rocha tells us It's the truth. He's told us so many different things that we don't know what to believe, so building a case against Blackthorne based solely on Roach's testimony would be risky at best. What will it take? Do you think that kind of pause for you to move on Alan Blackthorne we need more evidence and we are looking for our first involvement was a phone call from Alan Blackthorne Chuck Chambers runs a private investigation agency near Sarasota hired by Blackthorne just weeks before the murder of Sheila that phone call came asking us to locate Sheila Belush, did you find Sheila?

Yes we did it. It was very difficult to find her now. Chambers' office wrote this report after the call. Include Blackthorne's name, address, phone number and Visa card number in the middle of the document. Says Target James Jamie. and Sheila belich once you found Sheila, what did you do with the information we gave directly to Alan Blackthorne around the same time Danny roaches says he was given Sheila's address? Where did you get that information from? I'm from Alan, how did Danny Rocha do it? get Sheila's address in Sarasota Florida oh I have no idea I have no idea Chuck Chambers claims he gave you Sheila's home address Danny Rocha says he got Sheila's address from you Three weeks later she is murdered in her house is like connecting the dots is not damning evidence against you.

I do not think so at all. I had nothing to do with Sheila's death belich hey Frank, where are your pants? Jamie Bellish moved with his family back to small town New York. Jersey, where he grew up Jamie never gives up hope that one day Blackthorne will be brought to justice. Good morning, then an unexpected dramatic announcement in San Antonio, Texas. I have called this conference this morning to announce the arrest of Alan Blackthorne on murder charges. More than two years after Sheila's murder, a federal grand jury indicts Alan Blackthorne. Do you have something to say?

It's good that he's off the golf course. It's good that he's sitting in a cold, dark cell, but do prosecutors have enough new evidence to put Blackthorne away for life? I'm not going to go into all the details of the evidence at that time, we have to do it in a court of law in the upcoming Alan Blackthorne murder trial. Damn, I'll prove I'm innocent, thanks since then. Sheila Belush's body was found on November 7, 1997. Her ex-husband has been suspected of her murder. He is accused of being responsible for the death of her ex-wife. What does he say?

And from the beginning, Attorney Blackthorne has maintained his innocence. You can look me in the eye and say I had nothing to do with this. I had absolutely nothing to do with this period. Okay, how do you prove it now? OK, two and a half years after Sheila Alan's death, do you have anything to say about the murder? Alan Blackthorne's trial begins in San Antonio, Texas. This is really. I mean, I've been waiting for this for so long and the day finally came that he was going to be tried for murder. The month-long trial was held.

Here, in a federal court where cameras are not allowed, prosecutors presented the jury with more than 400 pieces of evidence that they said linked Alan Blackthorne to the murder of his ex-wife. It was really difficult for the jury. It was a complicated puzzle. We had to figure it out. again to make sense today only one person took the stand and that person was Daniel Rocha the main witness against Blackthorne was his former golf partner Danny Rocha I'm the only way they're going to get to Alan Blackthorne and they know that oh well now convicted and sentenced to life in prison for his role in The Killing Rocha was the only member of the murderous conspiracy who had face-to-face contact with Blackthorne.

Do you think Alan Blackthorne is just as responsible for Sheila's murder as you are, of course, he is more responsible. He was just helping a friend. He was just passing this information on in three days of testimony. Rocha fingered Blackthorne as the mastermind and financier of the murder plot, but would the jury believe Rocha is a man? that he had lied to investigators in the past after his testimony, I said, I thought to myself, if this is the second day of testimony and there are no more questions, he is in trouble, we knew he lied, we knew he had the ability to lie , so we heard what he said and he took certain statements and they had to be backed up by fat prosecutors who set out to do just that: they portrayed Alan Blackthorne as a man so obsessed with his ex-wife Sheila that he was willing to pay fifty thousand dollars to have her They would beat her brutally or kill her. what he needed was Sheila's new address in Sarasota Witnesses were called to prove that Blackthorne would stop at nothing to get it Chuck Chambers took the stand Chuck when did Alan Blackthorne first contact you?

Remember he was the Florida private investigator hired by Alan Blackthorne. he was very precise in what he wanted, a cold, direct, non-emotional seeker, I want her to find another witness, a former blackthorn employee testified that he asked her to go to this church in Sarasota where Sheila Belush attended services. Blackthorne told the woman to follow Sheila to her house and write down her address. The jury heard a series of recorded telephone conversations in which Blackthorne posed as a bookmaker, trying to be as discreet as possible so that she could help me. They called a bail bonds company trying to get Sheila's new address.

I'm not asking you to do it. leave me any information, the only thing I'm trying to find out is if they registered the address with you. Can you give me that information? Blackthorne didn't know this company routinely recorded his phone calls and who I'm thinking of was just my name. oh, my name is Al and prosecutors say Blackthorn even lied to his own daughter, Daryl, to get Sheila's address. She says: oh, I need, I need the address and I ask her: why do you need it? and he says: because I'm going to visit you. This Christmas I will come to see you and spend some time with you, a promise Blackthorne could not have kept since he had relinquished all parental rights to his daughters and had agreed not to.to have anything to do with them again.

What bothered me. She was so adamant about getting that address that she manipulated her daughter and told her: I'll visit you at Christmas, which she knew very well, even though she couldn't do it. When Alan Blackthorne took the stand, he testified that he wanted Sheila's address for a very different date. reason to protect his daughters Blackthorne told jurors that his daughters were being physically abused by Sheila and Jamie. He kept saying that he loved his children so much and that's why he was involved in the whole case because because of his children and his children here and children there and evidence was presented to me that I didn't think he meant what he said about their children.

Jurors also had issues with Blackthorne's behavior during his testimony. He was very mechanical. It was like he was very prepared. It was like it was in the script the voice was even killed never High never low never raised an eyebrow took a straight breath barely blinked I mean, it was very strange and jurors say that with all those phone calls to Florida there was one that Blackthorne didn't make and that bothered them, yes. I didn't call and check on his kids. Are you OK? They were injured? Did the murderer hurt them? I thought the way it was done, I thought maybe he meant to hurt her.

We'll have a hung jury on this charge before we feel like we're going to accept it. We need to be absolutely sure that 48 hours will pass. the jury has been deliberating for over a week for over 30 hours the jury seems to be deadlocked you may feel like you are guilty you may look guilty but the government has to prove you are guilty my biggest worry was that the son of a guy was going to get off you that this motherfucker was going to walk that's next even to this day sometimes i go out to that grave and stay there and go i still can't believe this is real it's been over two and a half years since

sheila

belush was murdered in front of her four babies and for her husband Jamie didn't know what was going to happen the jury deliberation on its fourth day felt like an eternity I was thinking we were headed for a hung jury, we need to be absolutely sure the jurors had passed over 30 hours working on the evidence there were still some who were undecided so we took another hour and we took another hour and based on what was presented the testimonial evidence became the decisions this is breaking news the verdict is guilty guilty on both federal charges I saw Ellen Blackthorne's face as the verdict was read, and he sat there, face as cold as could be, expressionless.

I jumped up and down and kept saying yes, it was almost like my team won the Super Bowl, but why was Alan Blackthorne a man who seemed to have it? a whole beautiful house, a beautiful wife and children, they paid to have Sheila murdered once she took those children out of the state he had them in, that was it, he was just going to kill her because he, those were his children and he wasn't going to let her take advantage of him like that if she didn't, how did Rocha get the address unless Blackthorne gave the address to Rocha?

The chances that she could have gotten it any other way were very slim, so that eliminated, uh. Most reasonable doubt he was blinded by his hate, he didn't think they were going to cut him, he was a gambler, he took risks, he was down, Blackthorne, nothing was going to happen to him, yeah, and he felt something happen in my mind. I'll find a way out. I have always done it. He always reached the top on the same day Blackthorne was convicted in San Antonio. Well, in a Florida court. An incredibly dramatic moment. What relationship did you have with Sheila Miller?

Sheila Belush with my beloved wife, sir. For the first time, Jamie Bellish faced Joy Del Toro, the man who shot Sheila in her face and cut her throat. Mr. Del Toro. I don't know if he's ever seen these photos of what he did to my wife. I would like to show it to your family, does your family realize that when you stab her in the neck, that the blade of the knife bent into her spine, you are a useless coward with no remorse in your heart, your honor put this cowardly and useless animal in a cage or it can rot moments later Joey Del Toro was sentenced to life in prison with no chance for Pearl Jamie, you are right, I deserve to die and I am what you told me, how did you set me up?

I am, it was finally about everyone involved in the conspiracy to murder Sheila Belush, including her mastermind, who was now behind bars Alan Blackthorne will be sentenced to life in prison without parole in November. It is satisfactory for me, satisfactory for my entire family. Sheila's entire family, including Sheila's mother. Gene Smith. Can Sheila rest in peace? peace now yes, she is smiling today Sheila is smiling today but for the babies the quadruplets Justice for her mother has a terrible cost there will be recitals and there will be graduations and there will be weddings where there will be an empty place and there will be an empty place in her heart and as Let them grow up, I will tell them, I will tell them about her and how wonderful she was for almost three years, Alan Blackthorne's position of wealth and privilege appeared. could prevent him from being held responsible for the murder of his ex-wife, the burden of proof for investigators was great in this circumstantial case, a case that always seemed to be in danger of ultimately collapsing, albeit patiently, had to be built slowly and painstakingly. and the persistence of the detectives and prosecutors ensured that their man Alan Blackthorne did not escape for the victims' family.

Now there is at least a measure of peace and closure and there is justice for Sheila, thank you.