Vengeance in Vegas - CBS News

Produced by Allen Alter, Alec Sirken, Chris young Ritzen, Cindy Cesare as well as Chris O'Connell

Shauna Tiaffay loved for you to laugh as well as sing along with her daughter.

"When the girl ended up being together with Maddie, it had been such as very little else occuringabout her," mentioned Paula Stokes- Richards. "So devoted and so concerned."

Shauna's murder has been a devastating loss on her sister, Paula, and also the girl husband, John.

"She just laughed from life. A Person realize the lady had this innocence," mentioned John Richards.

"It's unhappy simply because I just miss her," Stokes-Richards said. "And pertaining to one thingsimilar to become able to this to take place for you to your ex --it's just unimaginable."

Shauna, any Mormon born inside Salt Lake City, was only 28 when the lady stumbled on Las Vegas.but in order to Shauna, Vegas had been greater than just 1 big, glitzy party; it absolutely was anytown of opportunity. her ambitions associated with locating enjoyable and fortune came accuratewhen the girl became the glamorous cocktail waitress with one of the greatest casinos in town, yourPalms hotel Casino.

"She just loved the actual Palms," Stokes-Richards said. "I feel the girl really felt such as the Palmswas a loved ones environment, which might sound contrary as to the you would think. but I believethe folks that actually work there was actually such as family and consequently they taken care ofevery other."

"I in simply no way found Shauna with a frown associated with anything. she was just thus bubblyalong with laughing with everything," mentioned Randee Emmett, who labored alongside Shauna forabout 10 years.

"She loved your ex job, though. The Lady loved your ex job," stated an additional co-worker, SianaNikolav.

"She just loved cocktailing," added Emmett.

And consumers loved Shauna. Your Woman created close to $100,000-a-year in salary along withtips, usually compensated within casino chips, which usually within Vegas will be exactly your sameas money.

In 2002, Shauna hit the particular jackpot when the lady fulfilled George Tiaffay at the Palms. Hewas obviously a star athlete and homecoming king with his California substantial school.

"Just to look in him, he's extremely handsome, really charismatic," Stokes-Richards said. "What a lotmore could i hear anyone ask for?"

In fact, George Tiaffay can always be a West Point graduate who served inside the Army Corpsinvolving Engineers.

"He likes to serve people," his sister, Bernadette Tiaffay said. "I believe that's what attracted him tobe the fireman."

And George Tiaffay is really handsome he had been even featured in the firefighter pin-up calendar.

"The All-American boy, he sounds like," Van Sant commented.

"Yes. He was. He appeared in order to be it. He acted just like it. He was that guy," said BernadetteTiaffay.

His sisters furthermore say George can be a devoted family members man who sent cash home toaid their particular mom take treatment of his or her disabled younger sister.

"If you will need any helping hand, there he is," stated his sister, Maria McGrew.

George and also Shauna began dating.

"George is at love?" Van Sant asked.

"Oh yeah. Head over heels," McGrew replied. "She was his world. that ended up being his life."

Maddie, George and also Shauna Tiaffay

And existence merely got far better regarding George and Shauna. Simply 1 year into theirrelationship, Maddie was born. three many years later, they were married within Hawaii.

"They actually suited each along with every other," McGrew said. "It really was nice. They're eachdifficult working individuals ... they're both excellent seeking people. These People developed alovely couple."

But looks, because they say, may be deceiving. Following 2 happy many years of marriage, items

began to change. While George lost funds inside the housing marketplace crash, Shauna told pals hehad turn out for you to be jealous, controlling and also critical regarding her.

"He would tell the girl that she dressed like a slut when the girl would dress regarding function -facing Maddie. Which, involving course, would tear Shauna apart, on the girl behalf little girl tolisten to these things," stated Stokes-Richards.

Shauna furthermore complained when George brought the homeless man into their lives, that hepaid to complete odd jobs round the house.

"She would call him creepy," your ex friend, Stephanie Vargas, said. "'God he's thus creepy, why willbe he about my house?'"

But, George's buddy through West Point, Roc Ryder, says he has been as kind hearted as he hasbeen handsome, and also befriending the homeless has been something he had carried out for years.

"Every Thanksgiving he'd always be serving soup towards the homeless people," Ryder said. "Heonly agreed to always be able to be a really giving as well as kind person."

But although he stood a gracious heart, the actual strains continued in the marriage along with afterpractically 10 many years of getting together, the lady had enough along with moved right into atownhouse. These People shared custody associated with Maddie, however Shauna ended up beingnot seeking to file for a divorce.

"She had been sad. The Woman's loved ones was breaking up and in addition this isn't somethingshe wanted," Vargas explained. "She wanted, you realize the particular picket fence and furthermorethe husband and furthermore the daughter. and the lady wanted the fairytale. As Well As the actualfairytale was falling apart."

Determined to save their particular marriage Shauna and George both agreed to begin outtraversing in order to a marriage counselor.

"I consider Shauna was an eternal optimist. she just held hoping that things had been planning toacquire better," stated Stokes-Richards.

Then weeks before the woman's murder, Shauna's townhouse ended up being burglarized. The Girlwedding ring ended up being lacking and, strangely, a new set of her bathing suit bottoms has beentaken. Strangest regarding all: the robber left one thing behind -- a couple of boxer shorts, sizesmall.

"Did this burglary, made it happen shake her up?" Van Sant asked.

"Yeah, it did," said John Richards.

"I just don't believe that in her mind your woman ever thought that any damage will come for you toher," mentioned Stokes-Richards.

But inside an ominous twist regarding fate, just 3 weeks later, a person ended up being back againin her home -- this time, looking forward to her.

Shauna Tiaffay sometimes appears on casino surveillance video clocking out with 3:01 a.m.

It has become the actual early morning hrs regarding Sept. 29, 2012. Shauna is viewed on casinosurveillance video clocking out in 3:01 a.m. They are the last images of the girl life. Following any30-minute drive, Shauna arrives home, allowing herself within through the garage.

Dan long and Terri Miller are investigators using the las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department.

"She enters into which hallway, its dark, there will be no light," Det. Extended explained. "Shemoves towards the particular stairway in order to go upstairs in order to your ex bedroom..."

When suddenly Shauna ended up being attacked through a person wielding any hammer.

"Her hands are usually up to protect her head and also the girl face. The Woman's fingers had beenbroken ... and she was savagely beaten with this particular metal hand of that hammer until sheended up being dead," Extended continued.

At approximately 9 a.m., George along with Maddie arrived to always be able to pick some thing upwhen they walked in and the particular man discovered Shauna's badly bludgeoned body. Georgeimmediately referred to be able to as 911:

911 Operator: 911 Emergency.

George Tiaffay: I feel I have to report any break-in plus a murder.

George Tiaffay: My wife... My wife is, uh ... on the floor, bloody ... stiff...not moving.

"Naturally George goes being our number 1 suspect. A New woman he's separated via .., he findsdead inside regarding an apartment," said Long.

Detective Miller interviewed George Tiaffay in a police auto at the scene:

[AUDIO RECORDING]

George Tiaffay: The Girl has been lying about the floor...

Det. Miller: OK.

George Tiaffay: ...and has been covered in blood.

George Tiaffay: I just want to die.

The detective has been surprised along with what he advised her:

Det. Miller: Just what shift do you perform yesterday?

George Tiaffay: The 24-hour shift.

He stated he has been in contact at the firehouse before he picked Maddie up. Maddie had expendedthe night at the girl grandmother's residence although Shauna went alongside to work.

"He had an alibi," Det. Miller told Van Sant.

"And what does in which tell you?"

"He's not really our killer," the lady replied.

A LUCKY BREAK

Lead detectives Terri Miller and Dan Long, alongside with their entire team, had their particularwork cut out regarding them.

The obvious first suspect in the case like this is the husband. Nevertheless George Tiaffay had thatairtight alibi.

"They learned proper away he had been at the particular office at the fire station and had notnecessarily been the particular man that killed Shauna," stated Long.

Shauna's murder ended up being brutal and also chilling.

"I remember thinking, 'Do we have a sexual predator?'" mentioned Miller.

"And anyone gotta always be questioning for you to yourselves, 'Do we possess some kind of monsteravailable around the streets?'" Van Sant commented.

"Yes," Det. Miller replied. "And we're like, 'Who are we looking for? are we searching for any male?Are Generally we looking for any female?'"

The murder shocked town and set Shauna's co-workers about edge.

"Were an individual worried that someone has been targeting casino women?" Van Sant asked.

"We had been just about all thus scared," Siana Nikolav replied.

"Was somebody staking her? Has Been someone obsessed together with her?" said Lacey Green.

"Maybe they're gonna, an individual know, arrive following among us," said Randee Emmett.

But 48 hrs to the investigation, detectives received a crucial tip through an unlikely source: WilliamPennix, known as Large Will.

"I been trying to stay the straight existence under the particular hands in the Lord," mentionedPennix.

Big Will had lived Throughout las Vegas with regard to years, working like a maintenance man in anapartment complex.

He got an urgent call from the friend.

"He said, 'Big Will I have to talk to you,'" stated Pennix.

The friend found see him and dropped any bombshell: he'd just murdered any woman.

"When he told you which he had killed this woman, what was the expression about his face?" VanSant asked.

"He has been happy, happy just like he'd just completed any mission, any mission to exactly wherehe's gonna acquire compensated any large quantity of money, he's gonna leave city and live a happylife, like that," Pennix replied.

"Did he inform you how he killed her?" Van Sant asked.

"Yeah, yeah," Pennix replied. "He informed me in which -- he ended up being laughing when heexplained it. He said, 'I hit this woman with a hammer over and over along with over, until thehammer broke.'"

The man whom referred to end up being able to as big Will has been nicknamed "Greyhound," whilehe ended up being lean and fast, as well as lived inside a tent inside the foothills far from yourglittering lights involving downtown. Greyhound has been an ex-con and big Will was helping himstraighten his existence out. Nevertheless as quickly as the 2 men spoke, Huge Will's missionbecame bringing Greyhound to become able to justice.

"'This is truly a damn tragedy.' I said, therefore if I hear this around the news tomorrow morningyour most sensible thing I can perform can be comply with his tracks, make an effort to hunt himdown so that I can easily try to bring a quantity of kind of closure for you to this woman's family,"Pennix told Van Sant.

News report: The gorgeous cocktail waitress, any mother. Brutally murdered in their home.

That maybe it was -- a lady murdered. Huge Will knew precisely what he had to accomplish -- heknown as police. From first, detectives Lengthy as well as Miller were skeptical.

"Initially, I ended up being thinking in order to myself, 'you've got to be kidding me,'" Miller said."He will be providing us this story relating to this man which lives up inside the mountains inside atent who's homeless ... and, it's kind of a crazy story."

Crazy -- nevertheless cops felt these people needed to examine it out.

Big Will said excitedly Greyhound often walks miles from his desert tent to an Albertson's grocerystore, exactly where he'd been spotted prior to stealing food. Thus right away, the detectives wentwith Pennix to look pertaining to him there.

"I got out of the vehicle as well as went within to chat for the Albertson's employees throughouthopes that they would understand that somebody named Greyhound, which fits this description, is,"Miller explained.

Big Will knew Greyhound sometimes marketed drugs in the Chevron station proper subsequentdoor. Then -- the stroke involving luck.

"I observe Greyhound. ... He says, 'Hey Huge Will, whatcha performing more than here?' And so Isaid, 'Wait one minute I'll always be right back.' Therefore I went inside the store along with advisedthe actual detective, 'There he is proper there,'" mentioned Pennix.

"Big Will then exits the restroom along with whispers within my ear ... as well as goes, 'That'sGreyhound,'" stated Long.

"We got lucky by the grace of God, he had been there!" Pennix exclaimed.

"I'm like -- this can't be happening," Lengthy told Van Sant. "I walk outside ... I wanna acquire asnear as I may to end up being able to him before he identifies me as a police officer."

Cops identified themselves and instantly found drugs throughout Greyhound's possession, so theyreally took him in order to police headquarters.

"And he's volunteered to always be able to arrived at our office along with aid us together with ourinvestigation," mentioned Long.

Greyhound's real identify can be Noel Stevens. He denied he has something to complete togetherwith Shauna Tiaffay's murder.

"'I have nothing to do along with it, it isn't me. An Individual possess the wrong guy,'" Extendedstated of Stevens' denial. "He lets us know that he does live in the desert. He features a tent."

While Greyhound has been held upon drug charges, the huge police research is actually launched tofind his campsite.

"Terri and also I walked it, which fence. We were required to climb through which fence, itabsolutely was tough," long explained. "This case came right down to shoe leather. We ran all of itdown."

It was out in the rocky desert foothills, concerning 8 miles in the Vegas strip, in which detectives,generating their own means by means of the treacherous landscape, discovered a amount ofessential evidence.

"We brought a helicopter using us and a bunch associated with people to search and we searchedevery one of these hills," Lengthy mentioned in the remote area.

Detective Sam Smith had found a new crucial little bit of evidence near the campsite -- any couple ofStevens pants; these were bloody. Police tested these around the spot.

"I walked past any small shrub, and also rolled up underneath the actual shrub was obviously a setof pants in which looked out of place," mentioned Smith.

"And what did you discover later on about the blood, whose blood has been it?" Van Sant asked.

"That had been Shauna Tiaffay's blood," he replied.

Back with headquarters, police confronted Noel Stevens using what they had found. Then that theyutilized an old trick in order to pry more info out of him.

"A large amount of individuals don't know this. Investigators are allowed -- I'll use this term -- inorder to 'mislead' a new suspect," Van Sant noted towards the detectives.

"No, we're allowed to lie," long replied.

They bluffed Stevens, saying someone fingered him for that murder.

Stevens stunned the particular detectives simply by admitting he killed Shauna Tiaffay.

But why? Much More clues had been located when police analyzed Stevens' cell phone.

"We find a guy by the identify involving George within his cell phone. Along With when we requesthim, 'Who's George?' He says, 'That's my pal the actual firefighter,'" mentioned Miller.

George has been George Tiaffay--Shauna's husband. As Well As Noel Stevens had been the actualhomeless handyman that had caused friction inside the Tiaffay marriage.

"This is Vegas. Anyone just hit most sevens, right?" Van Sant noted to the detectives.

"Yes, we did," long replied.

"Jackpot," said Miller.

THE PERFECT CRIME?

As quickly as the lady heard concerning the tragic murder involving your ex beautiful sister, PaulaStokes-Richards and your ex husband, John, right away had 1 suspect in mind.

"We almost all considered that George was involved. but we couldn't figure out how he did it," thegirl said.

So they will decided to contact George, whom was still standing outside Shauna's townhousetogether with police.

"So I thought, we must record this," additional John Richards.

George Tiaffay: Hello?

Paula Richards: George?

George Tiaffay: Yes.

Paula Richards: This is Paula. May a person figure out what's heading on?

George Tiaffay: Shauna passed away [crying].

Paula Richards: Along With what does these people do throughout order to her?

George Tiaffay: Oh God. I don't know. She's layin on the floorboards together with blood on the girlbehalf head.

Paula Richards: [sighs] Will Be the girl nonetheless ... is Shauna's body even now there?

George Tiaffay: Yes, I think so. Oh my God.

George then handed his cell phone to some grief counselor.

"No one in addition can easily listen to what I'm saying, correct?" Stokes-Richards questioned theparticular counselor, who replied, "Correct."

Paula then made a startling accusation.

"I have got my suspicions in which your ex husband might be associated with this," she informed theparticular counselor. "Based on, anyone know, many, many conversations I've had using my sister, Ihighly suspect he might become involved."

The day following the murder, the couple caught the initial flight to Nevada coming from Nashville.

"When we landed around the flight out in order to Las Vegas, we had both shifted in to thisinvestigator mode," mentioned John Richards.

While the actual Richards were conducting their particular amateur investigation, detectives Milleralong with Lengthy had been continuing their expert one, armed with a good luck charm: an worldwide web casino chip that belonged for you to Shauna.

"And I said, 'I want one to hold on this simply because this provides allowed me for you to really feelsimilar to Shauna is near us," John Richards said. "And -- you tend to be in a position to give it backagain to me when you obtain an arrest."

Soon to their investigation, detectives had discovered dozens of calls in between Noel Stevens andalso George Tiaffay before the murder.

"You stated 87 calls?" Van Sant asked.

"That's correct, 87 calls in a single month. That's greater than I speak with my husband," Det. TerriMiller replied.

Tiaffay along with Stevens met a prolonged time earlier when both were living on the identicalcenter class street; Noel from his sister's house, and additionally the Tiaffays down the block.

"Noel reached understand George, questioned him if he could do yard function for George," said Det.Dan Long.

Cops soon discovered from Noel Stevens their own relationship was complicated; Noel idolizedGeorge.

"He genuinely thought he and George were very, really shut along with would not flip on oneanother," stated Det. Miller.

But detectives believed George Tiaffay has been manipulating his friend--who may have got sufferedthrough mental illness.

"He has a pawn; he posseses an implement, any tool in Noel Stevens. and he's gonna use in whichtool," mentioned Det. Long.

Big Will told detectives that will George gave Noel Stevens $600 throughout cash in order to killShauna, using the guarantee associated with thousands much more to be able to come.

"He said, 'Well, uh, he gave me a key to obtain in this lady's residence along with I murdered her.' AsWell As my heart dropped. And Which I said, 'What?' I said, 'What you simply signed yourself a deathwarrant! A Person don't know if this man is gonna attempt to kill anyone or what,'" Pennix informedVan Sant.

When cops had been scouring Noel Stevens' desert campsite, an additional intriguing clue they willfound was a bar code tag. They Will scanned it also it matched the design regarding hammeraccustomed to kill Shauna.

"...and we figure out in which Lowe's sells these hammers," mentioned Long.

That launched investigators on the tedious mission: reviewing hundreds of hours of videosurveillance tape. Finally, they will hit spend dirt when they spotted George Tiaffay and also NoelStevens buying collectively pertaining to hammers.

George Tiaffay as well as Noel Stevens seen buying with every other on surveillance video

Nevada Metropolitan Police Dept.

"We have got our definite link between Noel and George," stated Long.

Stevens has been singing for you to cops just such as a canary.

"So he gave that anyone simply roadmap and you're subsequent it and you're simply discoveringprecisely what he ended up being quoted saying you'd find?" Van Sant asked.

"Absolutely," Miller replied.

The murder weapon

Nevada Metropolitan Police Dept.

Even leading these to exactly where he had buried the murder weapon: any hammer, which brokethroughout a pair of through the brutal attack.

"And there is blood in it," mentioned Miller.

They in addition discovered any achievable motive with regard to murder: money. Shauna liked foryou to devote it and George liked in order to always be able to save it.

"There's a quantity of economic transactions that will seem just like he's attempting to hide cash --through his mom," Miller explained.

With your noose tightening on George Tiaffay, detectives met along using his family nine days rightafter Shauna's murder.

"So after the interview, I tell mother and also sister which George will be involved in killing Shauna,"stated Long.

"How will they react for you to that?" Van Sant asked the actual detectives.

"It's traumatic for you to them," long replied.

"'No, no, no.' They're crying. They're telling us which we possess been absolutely 100-percentwrong," mentioned Miller.

Minutes next conversation, police, which had George Tiaffay beneath surveillance along with weremonitoring his telephone calls, overhear his sister calling him. Then suddenly, George "jumped back

to his truck along with shot in order to popularity quote, unquote, 'like the bat from hell,'" statedLong.

George weaved erratically by means of area traffic as well as to the Summerlin Parkway. Heaccelerated in order to 90 miles each hour and also smashed head-on in in order to a barrier. Copsbelieve it absolutely was a new suicide attempt.

"He's trying to end his lifestyle proper now. because he can't face the real fact regarding what'sgoing to come," stated Miller.

Amazingly, George survived the crash because, cops say, he has been wearing a new seat belt. Hewas rushed into a neighborhood hospital where detectives later arrested him.

"And I said, 'George, you're below arrest for that murder of your wife, Shauna Tiaffay.' and hisreaction has been merely to look up via his hospital bed and say, 'OK,'" said Miller.

George Tiaffay along using his attorney, Robert Langford, at Tiaffay's arraignment

That's when police furthermore charged Noel Stevens along with Shauna's murder.

"It was a feeling involving relief, all we wanted had been justice with regard to Shauna," said JohnRichards.

Detectives believed George Tiaffay only agreed to always be able to be one step away from acquiringaway by making use of it all.

"Commit the murder then do away along with Noel," long said. "If he could possibly get in whichcompleted within the right way, he's gonna commit the particular perfect crime."

Noel Stevens booking photo

las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept.

But George had been steadfastly sustaining his innocence, and also prosecutors grow to be able tobe concerned about their crucial witness, Noel Stevens.

"He's from one's heart in the murder conspiracy, right?" Van Sant inquired Prosecutor MarcDiGiacomo.

"He is actually a very important element within the case," he replied.

"He's mentally ill, right? He features a violent criminal history ... And Also he's the star witness?"Van Sant asked.

"You know, the actual defense wants him being our star witness," stated DiGiacomo.

THE TRIAL OF GEORGE TIAFFAY

George Tiaffay's defense attorney, Robert Langford, knows how to take command, regardlessinvolving whether as an actor before a new are living theater audience or even just before a jury, ina Sin Town courtroom. and now, Langford will be front along with middle in a case that even aplaywright would locate challenging to imagine.

"It's an excellent story. It's real interesting. but it's not evidence yet inside the case," statedLangford.

"Who is actually responsible for your murder of Shauna Tiaffay?" Van Sant asked.

"Noel Stevens. Noel Stevens says he is. Noel Stevens beat the woman's to death having a hammer,"

Langford replied.

"Was he hired by George Tiaffay to do that?"

"There isn't any proof that," stated Langford.

It's been 3 many years since the actual murder, and Shauna's family members as well as friends,such as Lacey Green, are usually apprehensive.

"I'm not confident," Green said. "It's very scary being unsure of what's going to happen."

"I worry which he will be discovered innocent," stated Paula Stokes-Richards.

In his opening statement, Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo knows he has to make Noel Stevens as well asGeorge Tiaffay partners inside crime.

"At no point throughout the communication using the police will George Tiaffay ever mention NoelStevens," DiGiacomo addressed the particular court.

"He calls Noel Stevens 87 occasions within the month involving September," he continued.

The prosecutors' biggest challenge will probably be receiving any jury to believe George Tiaffay canbe capable of murder.

"You are going up against an all-American boy," Van Sant noted in order to DiGiacomo. "That's anew tough challenge."

"It is," he replied. "As any prosecutor, it's very unusual for you to possess the resume associated withGeorge Tiaffay and then him be a murder suspect."

Pam Weckerly, Assistant Clark County District Attorney, features scrutinized what the lady thinkstends to make Tiaffay tick and also what might possess driven him in order to murder.

"I feel George Tiaffay can be someone who had numerous successes in his life," she said. "When hismarriage is crumbling, I believe that's something which he just can't cope with. ...the idea hewouldn't possess complete control over his daughter and Shauna, ultimately."

Unraveling the actual complicated tale regarding George Tiaffay's intertwined relationship togetherwith Noel Stevens is actually left to be able to prosecution witnesses. Huge Will Pennix remembersspecifically what Stevens advised him your day Shauna had been killed:

William Pennix: He said, "I got sumpin' to inform you." And Which I said, "Well, what is it?" Hementioned -- "I just -- murdered the woman." As Well As proper then along with there, I said, "You'vegot being a damn fool."

Robert Langford: Does a person believe everything that Noel Stevens Greyhound informed you?

William Pennix: That depends around the day.

Yet, Pennix admits below defense questioning that trusting what Stevens features to become able tosay is a dubious prospect at best:

William Pennix: With any scale of just one in order to 10, I would place him in a scale of maybe one-and-a-half [chuckles].

Robert Langford: Ten being really honest along with zero --

William Pennix: One-and-a-half - one-and-a-half meaning not honest with all, that's correct.

And prosecutors admit that honesty could become minimal of Noel Steven's problems.

"He's an alcoholic. He's informed a new ton regarding lies prior to and, oh, he's any multiple-timefelon on top of it," said DiGiacomo.

Despite almost all that, the actual courtroom falls silent as a really different looking Noel Stevens,perhaps one in the most unlikely star prosecution witness throughout Clark County history, requiresthe stand.

"He looks like a maniac. I literally felt such as my heart dropped in to my stomach when I found himwalk via in which door," said Stokes-Richards.

Stevens, who pleaded guilty within 2013 to always be able to Shauna's murder, agreed to testifyagainst Tiaffay once prosecutors, inside a pretrial deal, promised to not seek the particular deathpenalty against him.

Marc DiGiacomo: While you receive nervous, do you've sometimes a bit difficulty speaking?

Noel Stevens: I stutter.

"Are you guys pondering to each other, 'Are we nuts?'" Van Sant asked.

"Yes," Pam replied. "We're declaring it to each and every as well as every other," stated DiGiacomo.

But Stevens quickly settles in, along with prodded simply by DiGiacomo, recites information on hisrelationship using Tiaffay:

Marc DiGiacomo : ...are you just performing perform for him, or possibly is -- there a few --

Noel Stevens: We're friends.

Marc DiGiacomo: OK. Exactly what kinda things maybe an individual have completed together?

Noel Stevens: We labored out, stuff such as that.

He recounts breaking directly into Shauna's townhouse three weeks just before your ex murder, aswell as admits he's your one that left out individuals dimension little boxer shorts:

Marc DiGiacomo: Whom informed anyone to create it appear just like a robbery?

Noel Stevens: George did.

And without having a suggestion involving remorse, Stevens coldly describes how he killed Shaunawith this hammer:

Noel Stevens: I hit the woman's within the head.

Marc DiGiacomo: Exactly what happens whenever you -- turn out which door and you are holdin' inwhich hammer?

Noel Stevens: The Lady had -- she's -- the girl tells me why I'm performing this.

Marc DiGiacomo: The Lady says, "Why are you carrying out this?"

Noel Stevens: Yes.

Marc DiGiacomo: That told one to kill Shauna?

Noel Stevens: George.

"He can be -- any zombie parrot ... inside that he were built with a reaction which ended up beingalways 'George. George would it. George informed me. George,'" stated Langford.

Itching for you to cross analyze Stevens, Langford rips right in to him, obtaining the state's starwitness to admit he not only hears voices, but provides visions:

Noel Stevens: 'Cause I hallucinate.

Robert Langford: Exactly what sort of hallucinations?

Noel Stevens: I discover -- Shauna sometimes.

Robert Langford: Sometimes?

Noel Stevens: Yes.

Robert Langford: Carry out the truth is other people?

Noel Stevens: Sometimes.

Robert Langford: Does one listen to voices?

Noel Stevens: Yes.

"Noel Stevens will be the craziest person I've ever seen take the stand," Langford said. "What will bereasonable doubt otherwise Noel Stevens?"

"I consider the more Noel talks, the greater believable he is," Pam Weckerly said. "It seemedimpossible to me which he could have fabricated this notion of the conspiracy with that degree ofdetail--unless it really happened."

Prosecutors replay some of the most damning evidence. That Will footage involving George Tiaffayand Noel Stevens acquiring hammers, knives, and other items.

"You get this defendant purchasing 2 hammers inside 5 days. His ex-wife is killed using a hammer.Which just isn't an item you might be purchasing really often," Weckerly told your court.

George Tiaffay sits calmly through the actual trial, showing no emotion. He never requires theparticular stand.

"They have to show the situation beyond an acceptable doubt. As Well As they will didn't," Langfordsaid. "So there's pointless to put George on the stand."

The merely protection witness: Tiaffay's sister, Maria McGrew.

Robert Langford: in every 1 associated with the many years that will you've recognized George, haveyou at virtually any time known him being any violent person?

Maria McGrew: never ever, ever.

Along using Tiaffay's family, friends coming from his childhood and West Point days will end upbeing in court to exhibit their own support.

"I'm here simply because I'm prepared to stand at the actual rear of as well as defend George'scharacter," mentioned Terri Reed.

"George is not necessarily the person becoming depicted through the prosecutor," stated Roc Ryder.

After any week-long trial, hearing via a number of 40 witnesses along with with 400 exhibits insideevidence, 12 jurors will now determine your fate involving George Tiaffay.

Juror Roy Wright had questions.

"Were they just acquiring this stuff with regard to Noel to be any handyman with, or had been thatthey getting 'em for any murder?" he explained.

WHO WILL THE JURY BELIEVE?

It has been three years since Shauna Tiaffay is discovered brutally murdered, along with your exfamily hopes their particular long, agonizing wait will end inside justice.

"I'm just on pins and also needles, you know. My abdomen offers held it's place in knots pertainingto days. I click here don't feel I've at just about any time been thus nervous," Paula Stokes-Richardsmentioned as the lady waited for a verdict.

George along with Shauna Tiaffay

A jury will decide if George Tiaffay ended up being your mastermind behind his wife's murder.

"George Tiaffay is the evil one," said John Richards.

On 1 side of the courtroom sits Shauna's family; some are generally dressed up in pink, her favoritecolor. Upon another facet sit George's supporters. His sister Bernadette requires a moment for youto pray.

"He's been known as the monster. Folks call him up a monster! It's just ridiculous along withshocking," your woman said.

Finally, after three lengthy days, any verdict: guilty of conspiracy for you to commit murder alongwith first-degree murder; seven counts inside all. George Tiaffay is an acronym silent with all theidentical emotionless stare he has received throughout the entire trial.

His loved ones will be simply devastated.

"In the opinion, has been an injustice done?" Van Sant asked defense attorney Robert Langford.

"Yes. because I believe there is reasonable doubt," he replied.

Paula Stokes-Richards, which knew from day 1 in which George was behind her sister's murder, canbe humbled.

"It was almost 3 years ago that will Shauna has been brutally murdered. and were thus happy thatwill justice was served," she informed reporters.

Prosecutor Marc DiGiacomo says he in absolutely no way lost sight involving his best involving luck

charm - which casino chip that belonged for you to Shauna and provided in order to him by simplythe woman's family.

"And regarding you, what do which chip represent?" Van Sant asked.

"It represented their particular hope regarding justice. A Person know, it sat on my personalcomputer regarding three years. After I walked more than for the verdict I had put it during mypocket," DiGiacomo replied.

At his sentencing, the jury must decide George Tiaffay's fate: lifestyle in prison or even existenceusing the possibility associated with parole within as quickly as 20 years.

"We hope he will get the maximum penalty. George can always be a controller, manipulator. and Ibelieve the particular worst hell with regard to him will be remaining throughout prison the othersinvolving his life and not being in the situation to manage anything," stated Stokes-Richards.

Paula will take the actual stand in order to remind the jurors involving your ex loss.

"Shauna's greatest joy in this globe ended up being getting a new mother," she addressed the court."I don't forget the lady usually operating the girl fingers via Maddie's ponytail and your woman aswell as he would call the woman's 'Little Monkey.'"

George Tiaffay's family and friends also speak, hoping their own phrases will persuade the actualjury to exhibit mercy.

"George can be certainly one of the particular best regarding us. He's difficult working.Compassionate. you won't look regarding a better fire fighter on the job as compared to George,"Andrew Steyn, a buddy and fellow firefighter, said on the stand. "Just among the greatest folks I'veknown. "

"I'm George's brother, that's pretty much whom I am," stated Patrick Tiaffay.

"How have you feel concerning that? Langford asked.

"I ended up being proud," he replied.

George Tiaffay shows no emotion as he learns his sentence: existence with out possibility associatedwith parole.

He will now invest the remainder involving his life in prison.

Juror Roy Wright says that while Noel Stevens is troubled, they will in absolutely no way doubted hisstory.

"I consider the overall consensus was, he wasn't truly that smart enough to make up an elaboratestory that will fit your timeline consequently perfectly," he explained.

And the particular jury additionally believed witness Huge Will Pennix, whom jump-started theparticular investigation.

"I said, 'Praise the Lord. Justice continues to be served!'" Pennix mentioned next the actual verdict.

"Is Huge Will any hero within this case for you to you?" Van Sant asked DiGiacomo.

"He is. He doesn't rely on being an individual who turns a pal in. Nevertheless when he heard thetale via Noel ... he felt a new moral conviction to produce the actual phone call. Along With withregard to in which you realize he is the hero," he replied.

With your trial at the rear of them, Paula and John Richards concern your self with Shauna'sdaughter, Maddie, whom is now 11 many years old. The Lady features lost each involving the girlparents. Maddie lives together with George's mom, nevertheless Paula as well as John visit the girloften.

"I'm certain your woman had been hoping the woman's daddy belly home. Yet when she's previousenough, I'll explain to the girl why that isn't the situation as well as why it shouldn't be the actualcase," Stokes-Richards informed reporters.

"Sometimes when we're talking about Shauna using Maddie, I will easily notice when Maddie'sreflecting in their encounter that they laughed a whole lot with the girl mom," your woman said. "Ican't explain it, yet I know that Maddie found a large quantity of laughter ... with Shauna."

Shauna's family can be raising awareness pertaining to domestic violence by means of theirparticular team Justice4Shauna.

Noel Stevens will be sentenced inside November pertaining to Shauna's murder. He faces anymaximum associated with lifestyle within prison with out the prospective for parole.

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