Family Decries Lenient Sentence for Woman Found Guilty of Brutal Murder in Connecticut Home Invasion
Apr 03, 11:00 PM
The sentencing of Heather Anderson, 36, has reignited outrage over the brutal murder of Shelley Stamp, 34, nearly two years ago in her Connecticut home. Anderson, who admitted to the crime, was sentenced to 25 to 30 years in prison by New Haven Superior Court Judge Joseph B. Schwartz. However, Stamp's grieving family has condemned the sentence as insufficient for the heinous crime committed.
The family discovered Stamp’s body after not hearing from her and decided to stop by her apartment in Waterbury. That’s where they found her dead inside her home in a pool of blood, having been beaten and strangled with her own jacket during a home invasion, allegedly in pursuit of money for drugs. Anderson, who entered an Alford plea to one count of felony murder, will serve her time in a state correctional facility.
During the sentencing hearing, Stamp's mother and sister delivered emotional victim impact statements, expressing profound grief and anger towards Anderson. Laura Tajildeen, Stamp's sister, directed powerful words at Anderson, condemning her actions and wishing a lifetime of remorse upon her.
“I hope the look on my sister’s face, the cries of help as you brutally attacked her, haunts you for the rest of your life. I hope you rot in your prison cell for the rest of your miserable life, and you dwell on the choices that you’ve made, and they haunt you for every minute of every day, because you deserve no happiness and no mercy from the court as you had none for my sister.”
Stamp's mother, Kathy Daversa, expressed deep disappointment with the sentence, asserting that justice had not been served for her daughter's senseless killing. “25 to 30 years is not justice for the brutal and heinous murder of a vivacious, caring, loving, young woman in the prime of her life,” Daversa said. “She must have been so scared. What a horrible way to die. Looking up at a stranger’s face full of rage, in desperate need of money to supply your disgusting drug habit. I picture her horrific death in my mind over and over again. No one can imagine picturing your daughter’s vicious murder obsessively.”
In response, Anderson offered an apology to Stamp's family, expressing regret for the tragic outcome of her actions. However, Judge Schwartz criticized the severity of the crime, denouncing it as a "particularly troubling murder" driven by a callous pursuit of drugs.
“I agree with the state, it was done for peanuts. For nothing but a few bucks to buy drugs. It is unforgivable. It leaves me at a loss for words,” Schwartz said. “When you murder somebody, you don’t just murder the complainant. In a lot of ways, you murder their entire family. Not only have you changed them forever, you have stolen all kinds of memories and the future that they were supposed to have together.”
The details of Stamp's murder, revealed during the investigation, showcased the brutality of the crime. Anderson, along with another woman, Shannon Gritzbach, allegedly targeted Stamp's apartment in search of money. Anderson reportedly sought out a man she believed could provide her with money. This individual had previously resided in the same apartment as Stamp but had relocated to another unit within the building. Surveillance footage captured Anderson's failed attempts to enter the apartment before ultimately confronting Stamp upon her return home.
Despite Anderson's admission of throwing Stamp to the ground and stealing from her apartment, including cash and credit cards, she denied tying the jacket around Stamp's head. Police discovered Stamp's belongings in Anderson's possession upon her arrest.
While Gritzbach faced initial charges in connection with Stamp's death, she was later released on misdemeanor charges. However, her failure to appear in court has resulted in an ongoing search for her arrest.
The Stamp family is now advocating for harsher sentences for these types of violent crimes.
“It’s because the sentences are not strict enough. The criminals are not afraid to commit the crimes. That’s the problem,” she added. “There’s absolutely no justice in 30 years. It’s an insult to my daughter’s life. It’s an absolute slap in the face to my daughter that the brutal murder just got 30 years.”
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The family discovered Stamp’s body after not hearing from her and decided to stop by her apartment in Waterbury. That’s where they found her dead inside her home in a pool of blood, having been beaten and strangled with her own jacket during a home invasion, allegedly in pursuit of money for drugs. Anderson, who entered an Alford plea to one count of felony murder, will serve her time in a state correctional facility.
During the sentencing hearing, Stamp's mother and sister delivered emotional victim impact statements, expressing profound grief and anger towards Anderson. Laura Tajildeen, Stamp's sister, directed powerful words at Anderson, condemning her actions and wishing a lifetime of remorse upon her.
“I hope the look on my sister’s face, the cries of help as you brutally attacked her, haunts you for the rest of your life. I hope you rot in your prison cell for the rest of your miserable life, and you dwell on the choices that you’ve made, and they haunt you for every minute of every day, because you deserve no happiness and no mercy from the court as you had none for my sister.”
Stamp's mother, Kathy Daversa, expressed deep disappointment with the sentence, asserting that justice had not been served for her daughter's senseless killing. “25 to 30 years is not justice for the brutal and heinous murder of a vivacious, caring, loving, young woman in the prime of her life,” Daversa said. “She must have been so scared. What a horrible way to die. Looking up at a stranger’s face full of rage, in desperate need of money to supply your disgusting drug habit. I picture her horrific death in my mind over and over again. No one can imagine picturing your daughter’s vicious murder obsessively.”
In response, Anderson offered an apology to Stamp's family, expressing regret for the tragic outcome of her actions. However, Judge Schwartz criticized the severity of the crime, denouncing it as a "particularly troubling murder" driven by a callous pursuit of drugs.
“I agree with the state, it was done for peanuts. For nothing but a few bucks to buy drugs. It is unforgivable. It leaves me at a loss for words,” Schwartz said. “When you murder somebody, you don’t just murder the complainant. In a lot of ways, you murder their entire family. Not only have you changed them forever, you have stolen all kinds of memories and the future that they were supposed to have together.”
The details of Stamp's murder, revealed during the investigation, showcased the brutality of the crime. Anderson, along with another woman, Shannon Gritzbach, allegedly targeted Stamp's apartment in search of money. Anderson reportedly sought out a man she believed could provide her with money. This individual had previously resided in the same apartment as Stamp but had relocated to another unit within the building. Surveillance footage captured Anderson's failed attempts to enter the apartment before ultimately confronting Stamp upon her return home.
Despite Anderson's admission of throwing Stamp to the ground and stealing from her apartment, including cash and credit cards, she denied tying the jacket around Stamp's head. Police discovered Stamp's belongings in Anderson's possession upon her arrest.
While Gritzbach faced initial charges in connection with Stamp's death, she was later released on misdemeanor charges. However, her failure to appear in court has resulted in an ongoing search for her arrest.
The Stamp family is now advocating for harsher sentences for these types of violent crimes.
“It’s because the sentences are not strict enough. The criminals are not afraid to commit the crimes. That’s the problem,” she added. “There’s absolutely no justice in 30 years. It’s an insult to my daughter’s life. It’s an absolute slap in the face to my daughter that the brutal murder just got 30 years.”
Want to listen to ALL of our podcasts AD-FREE? Subscribe through APPLE PODCASTS, and try it for three days free: https://tinyurl.com/ycw626tj
Follow Our Other Cases: https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com
The latest on Catching the Long Island Serial Killer, Awaiting Admission: BTK’s Unconfessed Crimes, Delphi Murders: Inside the Crime, Chad & Lori Daybell, The Murder of Ana Walshe, Alex Murdaugh, Bryan Kohberger, Lucy Letby, Kouri Richins, Malevolent Mormon Mommys, Justice for Harmony Montgomery, The Murder of Stephen Smith, The Murder of Madeline Kingsbury, and much more! Listen at https://www.truecrimetodaypod.com