At just 18 years old, C.C. Opanowski was brutally attacked by her ex-boyfriend Shawn Doyle, whom she once loved. Years later, she discovered that Doyle had murdered a mother of two young boys. In a public interview with “48 Hours” and Anne-Marie Green, C.C. shares her story and how she found the strength to testify against her attacker in court.
The incident occurred on Jan. 27, 1996, shortly after C.C. had finished her first semester of college in upstate New York. Despite being broken up for four months, Doyle showed up at her house and violently attacked her. C.C.’s friend Shannon McCauliffe, who was present that night, tried to call her but received no answer. Concerned, she called back and realized something was wrong when C.C. started unloading the dishwasher and saying everything was fine, despite the fear in her voice.
Doyle held C.C. down, cut off her hair, and threatened her with scissors. McCauliffe, aware of Doyle’s history of harassment, called the police and rushed to C.C.’s house. When the police arrived, they did not immediately arrest Doyle, leaving C.C. feeling unsafe. Despite the trauma, C.C. found the courage to speak out and seek justice for herself and the mother Doyle had murdered. Opanowski and Shawn Doyle grew up in the small town of Hudson Falls, located in upstate New York. They dated during high school and into C.C.’s freshman year of college. C.C. was just 15 years old when she started dating Doyle, who was one year older. She recalls their time together fondly, but noticed changes in Doyle’s behavior after he moved into her family home. Doyle became possessive and jealous, even getting a tattoo of C.C.’s name on his arm. C.C. saw these actions as red flags, but continued to support Doyle as his life took a darker turn.
Despite their agreement to see each other on weekends, things took a scary turn when C.C. told Doyle she wouldn’t be coming home as often. Doyle threatened her and was arrested for harassment and trespassing. This incident led C.C. to break off the relationship, but Doyle’s behavior escalated to a vicious attack at her home. This attack left C.C. traumatized, causing her to suffer from night terrors and fear for her safety.
When the case went to trial, C.C. was too traumatized to face Doyle in court, leading to him receiving a lenient sentence. C.C. moved away from Hudson Falls in search of peace, but couldn’t shake the prosecutor’s warning that Doyle may harm someone else in the future. This thought haunted C.C. for years, as she tried to move on from her past with Doyle. Opanowski left upstate New York to start a new life far away from Shawn Doyle, and shortly after, 33-year-old Lori Leonard disappeared.
Lori, a single mom living in Chittenango with her two sons, Austin and Zackary, was described as a caring mother by her family. Her dream was to have a happy home with a father figure for her kids.
In 2003, Lori met Shawn Doyle on Cupid.com, but her sister Jennifer was skeptical of him. Despite Doyle’s questionable behavior and stories, Lori saw the good in him. However, their relationship took a turn for the worse as Doyle became increasingly controlling and aggressive towards Lori.
After ending the romantic relationship with Doyle, Lori tried to remain friends with him. Despite this, Doyle continued to visit her and exhibit concerning behavior.
On the day of Lori’s move to a new rental apartment, Doyle offered to help with his truck. Despite being standoffish and overstaying his welcome, Lori allowed him to stay with her for days.
Days after the move, Lori told her sister she was going to Albany to pick up Yankees game tickets from a stranger she had met at work, causing concern for her safety. She was a very trusting person. On Wednesday, May 4, Jennifer called Lori in the afternoon, hoping to catch her while she was heading to Albany. Jennifer was surprised when Lori’s phone kept going straight to voicemail, as it was unlike her to not answer her phone. Initially, Jennifer thought Lori may have gotten lost on her drive or that her phone battery had died. However, when Lori did not return home or call back, Jennifer contacted the Chittenango police.
Lead investigator Wade Irwin searched Lori’s apartment and found no signs of a break-in or crime, but noted an odd clue – a single shoe on Lori’s bed. The investigation led to speaking with Shawn Doyle, the last person known to have seen Lori. Doyle claimed he had not spoken to Lori in days and seemed dismissive of her disappearance, raising suspicions.
As the investigation continued, Lori’s phone records revealed that Shawn Doyle, who claimed to care about her, had not attempted to contact her. Doyle’s alibi was checked but could not be cleared. During a search of his vehicle, a key with a serial number was found, which later became important to the case.
Lori’s family struggled with her disappearance, trying to explain it to her young sons and maintain hope of finding her. Jennifer suspected Shawn Doyle’s involvement and held a demonstration in his town, hoping to gather information that could aid the investigation.
When Dorothy Tucker contacted Doyle and heard his dismissive attitude towards Lori’s disappearance, she began to doubt his innocence. Later, as she passed by Lori’s family demonstration, she expressed regret for her initial reaction and urged them to go home. Shawn did nothing and they needed to go.
Months went by with no sign of Lori, causing the family’s hopes to fade.
Wade Irwin expressed his determination to find closure and answers for the family, despite the disheartening circumstances. He would call them every night with updates, whether positive or negative.
Then, on July 24, 2005, three months after Lori’s disappearance, a fisherman found a toolbox floating in the water. Inside, authorities discovered Lori’s body, along with her ID, a photo of her sons, and other personal items.
The details of Lori’s tragic death, including how she was bound and asphyxiated, were revealed by Wade Irwin. The investigation quickly pointed towards Shawn Doyle as the suspect, with evidence linking him to the crime.
Scratches found on a bridge railing matched those on the bottom of the toolbox, further implicating Doyle. He was arrested soon after Lori’s body was found.
The heartbreaking moment when Lori’s sons were told she was not coming home was described by Jennifer Leonard. The emotional impact on the young boys was evident, with Zackary feeling the loss immediately and Austin collapsing in grief.
As the family prepared for Doyle’s trial, Jennifer remained focused on ensuring he faced justice for Lori’s murder.
The news of Doyle’s arrest for Lori’s murder was a shock to his ex-girlfriend C.C. Opanowski, who felt extreme guilt and regret for not taking action against him sooner.
Determined to see justice served, C.C. agreed to testify at Doyle’s trial, along with other ex-girlfriends who were approached by investigators. Five years after Doyle attacked C.C., he allegedly attempted to kill 23-year-old Sarah Volmar. Despite “48 Hours” reaching out to Volmar and receiving no response, she did speak with the CBS affiliate in Albany about the attack in 2005. In her interview with WRGB, Sarah Volmer described how Shawn Doyle tied her up with shoelaces, put duct tape over her mouth, and strangled her until she passed out, only to be interrupted by her mother walking in on the scene.
Doyle was charged with unlawful imprisonment in the second degree and assault in the third degree, but he pleaded guilty only to the charge of unlawful imprisonment, receiving a sentence of three years’ probation. In January 2006, Doyle’s trial began with Lori’s sister, Jennifer Leonard, ready to advocate for her late sister. Despite the defense’s objections, the judge allowed C.C. and Sarah to testify, showcasing Doyle’s modus operandi and prior bad acts.
Key physical evidence, such as sandbags, handcuffs, a bandana, and a toolbox, tied Doyle directly to the crime. Witnesses, including a clerk from an AutoZone store and Dorothy Tucker, provided crucial information linking Doyle to the murder. C.C. Opanowski, the final witness, shared the lasting mental anguish caused by Doyle’s attack.
After three days of testimony, the case went to the jury, leaving Lori Leonard’s family anxiously awaiting the verdict. Despite the overwhelming evidence against Doyle, there was still uncertainty about how the jury would rule. On June 26, 2006, the jury reached a verdict of guilty of second-degree murder after just two-and-a-half hours of deliberations.
CBS6 ALBANY NEWS REPORT: Lori Leonard’s family celebrated with cheers and tears upon hearing the guilty verdict, while Shawn Doyle remained stoic.
Anne-Marie Green: Guilty.
Kevin Kortright: Um hmm.
Anne-Marie Green: What was your reaction to hearing that word?
Kevin Kortright: Thank God.
Anne-Marie Green: Why does it still impact you?
Kevin Kortright: Because bad things happen to good people.
C.C. Opanowski expressed relief and happiness that Doyle would be punished for his actions, despite the difficulty of accepting that someone she once loved was convicted of murder.
Before Doyle’s sentencing, a judge listened to testimony and victim impact statements from Lori’s friends and family.
LORI LEONARD’S FAMILY MEMBER (in court) | CBS6 ALBANY: Prison isn’t enough punishment for him.
Lori’s sons, Austin and Zackary, who were too young to attend the trial, wrote letters to the judge expressing their feelings and memories of their mother.
Shawn Doyle received a sentence of 25 years to life with the possibility of parole, which some felt was not enough.
Jennifer Leonard and Dorothy Tucker both expressed their belief that Doyle should never be released, citing him as a danger to society.
Lessons on domestic violence were highlighted by reporter Don Lehman, emphasizing the importance of taking all cases seriously to protect victims.
C.C. shared her story in hopes that others would learn from her experience and urged people to speak up and not remain silent in abusive situations.
After years of guilt, C.C. expressed her readiness to let go of the burden she carried for what happened to Lori.
Jennifer Leonard fondly remembered Lori as a fun, funny, and loving person, expressing her longing for the life they were supposed to have together.
Zackary Wicklund shared the sadness of not being able to have his mother to comfort him in moments of need.
Shawn Doyle is eligible for parole in 2030, prompting a reminder for those in need of help to reach out to the National Domestic Violence Hotline.
The story was produced by Chris Young Ritzen, with contributions from various producers and editors at CBS News. Anne-Marie Green is a journalist and correspondent known for her work on “48 Hours” and the “Post Mortem” podcast. Green tiene más de dos décadas de experiencia en el periodismo de transmisión a su trabajo en CBS News.