The horrific Death of Adrienne Shelly

This story has haunted me all week. Initially, Shelly's death was reported as a suicide, but as I read the details I knew immediately there was more to it that what had come out thus far. For those of you who do not know who Adrienne Shelly was I suggest you check the IMDB here for a list of her work. She was a singularly wonderful talent, and best known for her work in the Hal Hartley indie films, "The Unbelievable Truth" and "Trust."

On November 1st, around six o'clock Shelly's husband, Andrew Ostroy, went to pick her up from her New York apartment that she used as an office and found her hanging from a shower rod by the neck. Initial reports labeled the death a suicide, but the circumstances surrounding her death didn't add up. Shelly had just wrapped up a new film, "Waitress" staring Nathan Fillion and Keri Russell, she was a devoted mother to her 3 year old daughter, and her marriage was solid. Her husband stated that there were emails from that day talking about plans for Saturday, and most important there was a wayward sneaker print on the toilet seat next to the shower rod that didn't match any known prints from Shelly, her family, or rescue workers.

Further investigation revealed that construction work was going on in the apartment directly below Shelly's, and there police found a matching shoe print in the dust. The shoe print belonged to one Diego Pillco, an illegal immigrant from Ecuador. According to Pillco's version of events Shelly went downstairs to complain about the noise, there were words, and Pillco threw a hammer at her. At that point Shelly went back upstairs, and Pillco pursued her in fear of being deported if she reported him. He punched her, knocked her unconscious, tied a sheet around her neck, dragged her into the bathroom, and hung her from the shower rod with a sheet "to make it look like a suicide."

He has been arrested and charged of course, but the damage has been done. A little girl is without her mother, a man has lost his wife, and the world has lost a wonderful talent to this piece of filth.

I have a few problems with Pillco's version of events, however. The exact details of the Medical Examiner's report have not been disclosed to the public, but things were said at the arraignment that lead me to believe that Shelly's death was more horrific that Pillco's version would lead one to believe. First, Shelly wasn't dead when she was hung. The ME has stated that she died from compression of the neck. Second, Pillco had a deep scratch on his face which he said he got when Shelly "Struck him first." A scratch attack is a defensive type of attack, not normally used as a "first strike". The DA said that "Ms. Shelly did not go easily", which leads me to believe there was more to the physical confrontation than "She hit him, her hit her and she went down" scenario. The DA has stated this crime "was especially egregious."

Pillco stated that he hung her from the shower rod in order to make it look like a suicide. I find this too self-serving and convienient. In the heat of this scenario he had the presence of mind to try to fake a suicide? I don't think so. The tabloids in New York had splashed Shelly's picture all over the place the days before his arrest with "suicide" headlines, and now he says he intentionally staged it? I'm not buying it.

Lastly, it is well known that in Latin culture a woman would NEVER confront Pillco the way Shelly did for fear of harsh reprisal. Thus, with all this information my reconstruction of events goes something like this:

Shelly went downstairs to complain about the noise, there was some type of heated verbal exchange, and Pillco threw the hammer at her. Fearful, Shelly went back up to her apartment to call the police. Pillco, fearful of deportation, chased her and caught her before she got into her apartment. There, he forced his way into her apartment and beat he into unconsciousness. Still wishing to punish her for daring to challenge his manhood, Pillco grabbed the sheet, tied it around Shelly's neck and dragged her into the bathroom. As she was being hung, Shelly regained consciousness and reached out at Pillco, scratching him on the face.

I am willing to bet that when the full ME report comes out, the extent of her beating will more significant than "one punch", and scratches on her neck will reveal that she was fully conscious when hung.

People simply do not understand how much their security and safety has been compromised by our immigration policy. If Shelly's death has any meaning, I only hope it is to bring to light this fact.

I hope Diego Pillco rots in hell.