Suvechha Sarkar
In May 2005, the residents of the small town of Chittenango, New York, were shaken by the sudden disappearance of 33-year-old Lori Ann Leonard. She was a devoted mother of two young boys and was beginning a new chapter in her life at her new apartment. CBS’ ’48 Hours: Facing a Monster’ explores how a relentless search for her ended in heartbreak when her remains were discovered in July 2005. The episode reviews the details that brought the killer to light and features interviews with Lori’s loved ones and the authorities who helped solve the case.
Lori Leonard’s Life Was Centered Around Her Family and Two Young Sons
Lori Ann Leonard arrived as a bundle of joy in the lives of Donald Leonard and Barbara Sloan on September 14, 1971. Growing up in Syracuse, New York, she enjoyed going on camping trips and spending time with her parents and siblings, Jennifer and Jeffrey Leonard. Jennifer described her sister as a funny and kind person who always helped others in need. Lori eventually attended a high school in the East Syracuse-Minoa Central School District. In adulthood, she entered a relationship and gave birth to her son, Austin Feltrinelli, sometime around 1996. Sadly, that relationship didn’t work out, leading her to part ways with her partner.
During another relationship, Lori welcomed her second son, Zackary Wicklund, into the world. Soon, cracks began to form between her and her partner, resulting in their separation. Despite that, she never gave up her search for love and eventually met Shawn M. Doyle on an online dating website in 2003. Although their connection didn’t work out, they eventually decided to remain friends and kept in touch. By 2005, Lori was working as a waitress at a bar and devoted the rest of her time to playing with her sons. She shifted to a new rental apartment on April 29, 2005, after moving out of her old apartment in Chittenango, New York. On May 4, she set out for Albany to pick up Yankees tickets from an acquaintance.
Lori’s Remains Were Found Almost Three Months After Her Disappearance
However, Jennifer became concerned when she called Lori repeatedly and couldn’t contact her. On May 5, the older sister called 911 to report the 33-year-old missing. When officials first checked Lori’s apartment, they found no signs of a break-in or struggle. They further located her car at the apartment and noticed recently unpacked boxes from her move. Despite weeks of searching, her family and officials were unable to find any information about her whereabouts. On July 24, 2005, a fisherman traveling along the Champlain Canal discovered a locked floating toolbox and pulled it ashore. However, when he noticed a foul odor coming from inside, he promptly called 911.
When officials unlocked the box, they discovered it contained the remains of a woman wrapped in a comforter. Inside the toolbox, they further uncovered bedding, pillows, and a purse containing Lori’s ID and a picture of her two sons. Furthermore, the toolbox contained sand tubes, indicating that those were used to weigh the box down. She was reportedly handcuffed, and her hands and feet were also bound with duct tape. Experts further noted that Lori’s head was wrapped with duct tape, and she had a bandana tied around her mouth. The autopsy report determined that her cause of death was asphyxia due to suffocation.
A Trail of Physical Evidence Helped Authorities Identify the Killer
After Lori was reported missing, officials questioned the man who was supposed to give her the Yankees tickets. The man informed them that she had not picked up the tickets. In his statements, he further told that, while he was waiting for her and became concerned, he called her multiple times but received no response. Reports state that when authorities checked Lori’s cellphone records, his account was corroborated, and he was ruled out as a suspect since his alibi was confirmed. Investigators became suspicious when they learned that Shawn stayed at her new rental apartment for a few days and left her home the day she went missing, making him the last person to see the 33-year-old alive. He reportedly never called her after she went missing.
As per police records, during his interrogation, Shawn claimed that on the day Lori went missing, he had left her apartment around 3 pm and driven 3 hours to his home in Hudson Falls, New York. When his vehicle was searched, they discovered a key with a serial number inside the glove compartment. After Lori’s remains were uncovered on July 24, 2005, law enforcement executed a search warrant at Shawn’s home. During that search, they discovered duct tape, multiple bandanas, and sand tubes that matched the items found at the crime scene. The key that was found inside Shawn’s car was also revealed to be a match to the lock of the toolbox, in which Lori’s remains were discovered.
Investigators learned that Shawn had previously pleaded guilty to second-degree menacing and was sentenced to 3 years’ probation. The judgment was regarding an unrelated case involving his ex-girlfriend, Ceres Opanowski, AKA “C.C.,” that happened on January 27, 1996. Furthermore, he had pleaded guilty to the charge of unlawful imprisonment in another case related to his former partner, Sarah Volmar, for which he was again sentenced to 3 years’ probation. Ultimately, on July 25, 2005, Shawn was arrested and charged with second-degree murder of Lori. His jury trial began on January 23, 2006, and he was found guilty of second-degree murder on January 26. Shawn was finally sentenced to 25 years to life in prison with the possibility of parole in 2030.
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