Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘Facing a Monster’ of CBS’ ’48 Hours’ digs deep into the mysterious disappearance of a single mother of two young boys, Lori Leonard, who turned up dead a couple of months later in 2005. The case rattled the entire community to its core, while the deceased’s loved ones were devastated by their loss. The investigation revealed a shocking truth that led the detectives to the perpetrator responsible for her death. The documentary also features insightful interviews with Lori’s loved ones, who talk about their experience and the impact it had on their lives.
Lori Leonard’s Remains Were Discovered Inside a Metal Toolbox Months After Her Disappearance
Lori Ann Leonard graced the world of Barbara Sloan and Donald Leonard on September 14, 1971, in Syracuse, New York, becoming a loving member of the family. The Leonard family also consisted of her two siblings — a sister named Jennifer Leonard and a brother named Jeffrey Leonard. The three siblings shared a close bond with each other as they spent a lot of time together while growing up. She went to East Syracuse-Minoa Schools, where she made plenty of friends thanks to her vibrant and compassionate personality. At some point, seemingly in her 20s, she was in a relationship with a man, with whom she shared two sons — Austin and Zackary. Although the relationship didn’t work out, she considered her children the apples of her eye.
Being an adventurous individual, she loved camping and playing different kinds of games with her sons and other family members in her free time. In 2003, Lori came across Shawn M. Doyle on Cupid, an online dating website. Their relationship was short-lived, but they continued to stay friends with one another and keep in touch. On April 29, 2005, she moved out of her old apartment in Chittenango, New York, and shifted into a new rental apartment, with the help of Shawn. However, just a few days after settling into her new house, Lori dropped her two sons at a relative’s house on May 4, after which she was on her way to Albany to pick up Yankees tickets from a man she met at work. Alarm bells started ringing when her sister, Jennifer, called her to catch her on the way to Albany, but the call kept going to voicemail.
As it turned out, Lori never collected the tickets. The following day, her sister informed the police about the situation and requested a welfare check at Lori’s house. When the authorities searched her rental apartment, they could not find the 33-year-old mother of two or any signs of a break-in or a struggle. Moreover, her car was found abandoned in the Syracuse area. After nearly three months of her disappearance, a boater came across Lori Leonard’s remains inside a metal toolbox in the Lake Champlain Canal near Lock C-9 in Washington County on July 24, 2005. She was found handcuffed with her feet bound together and wrapped in a comforter. Dental records helped the authorities to confirm her identity, while the autopsy revealed that she had died due to a lack of oxygen.
Lori Leonard’s Killer Had Stayed With Her For a Few Days Before Killing Her
When Lori Leonard went missing in early May 2005, the police began searching for her and tracing her steps around the time of her disappearance. Upon interviewing her sister, Jennifer, they learned that she was going to collect tickets from a man, who became a person of interest. After questioning him, they eliminated him as a possible suspect after he provided a concrete alibi. Jennifer had also told the detectives about Lori’s ex-boyfriend’s violent temper, due to which the couple had parted ways. She also claimed that Shawn had stayed at Lori’s new rental apartment for a few days after helping her move.
As they dug deeper into Shawn, the authorities found out that he had exchanged several phone calls with Lori before her disappearance. From the moment he was brought in for questioning, he was cooperative with the investigators, claiming that she was alive when he left her apartment. He even allowed them to search his truck, where they found a strange key with a serial number on it. Little did they know that the key would help them crack open the case a few months later. The authorities reportedly interviewed more than 750 people and followed over 280 leads. When Lori’s remains were discovered on July 24 inside a toolbox, Shawn was directly linked to the crime when the key found in his truck matched the lock of the toolbox.
The Killer Was Brought to Justice For the Gruesome Murder
In order to find more evidence against him, the authorities searched the suspect’s house and came across similar handcuffs, duct tape, bandanas, and other items found on Lori’s remains. A day later, on the night of July 25, the police arrested and charged Shawn Doyle with second-degree murder while he was working at Ellsworth Ice Cream in Saratoga Springs. Upon looking into his rap sheet, they learned that he had previous drug-related convictions and an arrest for unlawful imprisonment and assault. Following his arrest, Lori’s family was relieved as her mother, Barbara Sloan, acknowledged the efforts of the law enforcement officials, saying, “We hate what happened, but we are glad these guys helped bring Lori home.”
Several months later, on January 23, 2006, Shawn Doyle’s trial commenced. The prosecution called C.C. Opanowski, a key witness who had dated the defendant several years earlier, to the stand. She testified against him and claimed that he had shown signs of violence during their relationship. Another former girlfriend of Shawn also took the stand and testified that he tried to kill her. A few days later, on January 26, 2006, the jury deliberated and returned with a final verdict. Shawn Doyle was convicted of second-degree murder in connection with Lori Leonard’s death and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison.
