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the gray ranch along the Third Ave in the sleepy midwestern town of less than four hundred people was the recur. Site of screaming mad chaos and horrific domestic violence. Then one day abusive husband Scott Shanahan was gone. Some thought he packed his bag eggs and left town weeks past months went by still sign of the volatile wife beater, but What really happened to him was so shocking and so unbelievable that even grizzled longtime law enforcement officials were gassed by the sight, an awful smell the town. Wonder why Dixie Shanahan managed to live with their husbands, rotting body inside her master bedroom for fourteen months, this fascinating story will leave you asking yourself. One question was the punishment that Dixie received in her case justified the book that we're profiling this evening is Dixie's last stand

Was it murder or self defense, with my special guest journalist and author John Ferric, welcome back to the program, and thank you for agreeing to this interview, John Ferrick, yeah thanks very much for having me back on that very very thankful. Thank you very much. We had a great time last time, speaking with you, so let's. Jump right into this, tell. Why? How you came to be in rest in this story and why you decided write this book Dixie's last name. What was it about this case that compelled write this book. Well, one is it was kind of interesting to Dana that, just for my time, timeliness standpoint. I think this was probably my second or third day. I was newspaper journalist and Omaha Monographs wind up being out there for about nine years, but it was actually, I think, my expectant third, a on the job and a

story came over the Associated Press wire back at the downtown office and and it was just real short and it announced that I'll woman Defiance Iowa had been a. Rested for murder, and but it also play it out that that her husband had apparently been left in the house. For more than a year, which was just mobile so that day, myself and seasoned veteran after Tiger for by the name of Rudy Smith, who had been at the Omaha Newspaper for forty years. We loaded up photography gear and got her notebooks and made the hourlong drive out to defiance IA And uh- and it just really was a an unusual murder case to be covering I really couldn't recall up at that point in time. You know really

Coming, are and add murder case such as this in the town of less than four hundred people in a county of about thirteen thousand people, and it just just really was believable in the first thing that can jumped in my mind and a lot of other p. People was how could how could this have been hidden? for for over a year. You know how is with Scott Shanahan's body, hidden from you know, from the public, just yeah. How come nobody knew about this and It will get into this, I'm sure in the shell, but but eventually a lot of the peculiarities of the case, but then also other aspects of domestic violence, an issues about fairer and writes a sentence, things an actually kind of forgotten point. But but when I really focused in that really drove me kind of write the book as Well Dan, was along the lines of. I thought this was a very

all done small town sheriff's investigation? This was an agency that, that only had, I think, seven or eight all time, deputies plus the plus the sheriff and in this case the sheriff actually did his cell in investigations play the key role and getting to the bottom of things so so of all the things came together and- and you know that's what it was going to ultimately lead me to write a book on this that came out earlier this year, Dan now tell us. Basically, I like to get for people that don't live in this area, I'm not familiar with it and might not even be familiar with the United States. So much, but let's get the geographical position. In terms of there's DES Moines which is a place more well known, and you said like this is less than four hundred people, but this is about sixty miles outside of Omaha, so give us basically the basic-

the cities that are bigger, that we might note and tell us where this place is and then tell us a little bit more about Harlan IA so we're basically the bigger the closest biggest town two in this county courthouse that yes, people again throughout North America, United States and in Canada, like Dan, the which of the two most populated cities No one is is Omaha Brassica, which is about our an hour to the west of of of defiance Ohio, and and the morning which would probably be about two hours to the to the east of of defiance. And again defiance is a little town of about four hundred people in a county Shelby County Iowa, which had about thirteen thousand people, and this is

this is a very agriculture culturally dominated area in region of Iowa, a lot of people throughout this region, either work in agriculture or confirming or how far have some type of job. It's connected to a note to the agriculture committee. You know it kind of while others may work in government sector jobs such as working for the county county government, county courthouse or school teacher or law enforcement, jobs and stuff. That this is an area of the country that really released this area here, Shelby County and in particular defiance. You know we're really trying to kinda maintain status, quote there really weren't too many new job opportunities, let alone any companies opening up, so defiance in particular had ahead of downtown that really didn't have very much

Aside from the volunteer fire station, a small bank and you know a village hall in the clerk's office and one restaurant, Slash bar that was kind of talked enough: Yup checked in the community while Harland's mentioned Dan was the county seat and hard it still is a very viable, are strong call town community has excellent. Schools are really good, sports programs and really, if economic hub of lawful Shelby County, attire town of about five or six thousand, with a handful of key, I manufacturing companies and may your employer, so really a lot of people throughout the Shelby? How many area, particularly defiance you know, would often make the twelve or thirteen mile drive either

great to Harlan, Iowa or also up Hwy, fifty nine, Tour Denison Iowa, which was but again another eight or nine miles up the road, but but really Harlan was the economic base of the county and Harlan is actually where the sheriff's office and the city of Harlem Police Department were located and that's where uh all, the county government offices closing the court house in the jail where located. Now, let's talk about Scott Shanahan, he was born in nineteen sixty two, not a big guy, but tell us a little bit about his as much as you could for you found out about his early life and And tell us what happens according to Harlan Police, later Deputy John Kelly, but let's start off with- his earliest background. If this is some kind of indication of what later, he becomes right,

I'm going from memory memory here and Scott was he was short: five foot, four tough kid: tough guy and was an only child and his his parents had had John moved. So when he was really little from my Dave Dennison yeah. He was pointing Denison and then they moved out just right down the road and in the early 1980s built a house, in the town of Defiance Iowa and that's a nice, a piece of property. It's a ranch! got a nice big backyard, really in nice, mature trees. Now- and I said it's it's a nice house and- and this is where he grew up- let which is mom and Dad yeah and really just kind of pots around is he is, he grew up, really didn't.

Wasn't very motivated, either for career or education and really took a liking to to automobiles but really didn't pursue that as a career It worked a handful of different jobs over the years but sometimes get fired from his job. Usually well to not showing up for work, so he was not really dependable and he also It wasn't very motivated to to make something of themselves more or but his family had the they came into our into a garage property that was right across the street Dan and it's really this garage where he spent the bulk of his time. Re, storing in acquiring older. Vehicles lot of classic cars, and this is kind of where he would just putz around most of his days, and

I just really refer bisht these cars. You know cut him down a little bit but uh, but spent a lot of his time there- and you know, is this future wife, it could eventually talk about and testify this really wasn't a job or anything where he was making a lot of money. It just really was more less. You know his hobby that really didn't help out? You know as far as generating income, you know once you've actually does get married and have children. Now what was his earliest the earliest record of in terms of AL, hall and or drug problems before we talk about just his relationships with women in general, how he was and how he was received by women. I know he had a couple minor skirmishes with the law info I spent, I believe in his let's see four and sixty two in in this

20s, but nothing that really landed him in in any serious hot water. With authorities I mean there There are different reports, like I said, just minor drug use marijuana, but this is not really hardcore distribution. Her dealing I I think by and large place that he became a tactic. He interacted with a lot of the local law enforcement officials and again in the small town, small county. You know such as Shelby County. You know what Uncommon, for the caps to know the locals and vice versa, even if they weren't causing trouble but but the problems by and large, that you know that he was involved with. You know prior to his marriage, without with Dixie you know really were were were pretty minor and I'm not amount to have any significant crime that would have ever put a in in jail. You know final on long prison, Dan.

Now, let's talk about Dixie Schreiber. She was born in nineteen. Sixty seven in Muscatine IA on her parents are Richard and Arlene and she's got two brothers and two sisters or part of too brother your sisters and her father dies when she's three and then a stepfather comes into the scene and he's sexually abusive. So tell us a little bit more about this chaotic. Only situation that Dixie grew up in yeah. This is actually one of the the family that she she came from. You know It is well known nowadays, unfortunately, more infamous for you for for its dysfunction- and you know, there was. There was a lot out of reports over the years after you know, even after Dixie had gotten away from the family Dan, but just all kinds of. Unfortunately,

Syfy infested docks. You know, and sexual abuse out by it my step, Father UN toward his. You know toward a stop daughters and stuff it. You know in this is Dixie Layer, tough If I did, she know she, she tests either she had been a victim. You know as well as her siblings, but yeah it's a rough situation. It's unfortunate situation and people certainly understood and felt sorry for her and- and he has that the nature around fifteen or sixteen she's going to come to live with Scott Shanahan and his parents Beverly and L and and and that surround it's around. Point in time where I think Dixie was fifteen or sixteen Scotts about five

your shoulder? That's where they started dating and it became a serious item? You know again at the same point that there are no living under the same rough but But it's really the at this house and third at third street or Third avenue in defiance, is where Texas going to move in yeah during the 1980s, and it's really. She's, going to spend the next twenty years or so of her of her life so but, like you said yes, she came from a tough family. Now, let We talk about the age that she there's an age difference and so its import, at this young age, so so she's sixty Scott is twenty one. At this time,. Correct and and and he also he's he possesses a very domineering overbearing personality. But it's sounds like that.

Wasn't immediately apparent, or at least at first to Dixie, you know it it it will that may have involved. You know you know yelling and yeah. Screaming. You know you know, come more of a domineering person up it wasn't any type of serious. You know, file, at first that eventually perpetuates and becomes up on. Issue in a huge factor in you know in the events that unfold over time, but but at first you know like like, like we planned, in about a five or six year, age, difference between the two of them, but You know they got along the yellow each other, but up but we're willing to put up with each other and- and I think, Dan, the fact that Dixie was so young, you know fifteen or sixteen

she really, especially in a real small, isolated town like this to you know, I think she really wasn't exposed. You know to other guys. You know other potential suitor just just to have an up opportunity, even see what else is out there. That's kind of my my take from you know from studying the case over the years so but but it just. It just seems like those to start. Serious, romance serious relationship with each other, while they're very young, while she's very young and he's a little bit older and- and that's really. All Dixie is exposed to Yeah and she really just stuff you know, falls head over heels for Friskies Shanahan and you know, and and and unfortunately it's going to lead to a downward spiral. You know over over a period of time which didn't mention and I think is important to do to sort

understand the character of of Dixie, and that is that in one thousand nine hundred and eighty four she finally broke away from this sexual abuse. It was rampant in her family, this continual sex, abuse, so she broke away in one thousand nine hundred and eighty four, but you talk about how she did that she said she threatened her her father that. She was going to go to police and then the father took off with one of his female companions, so you could the father dying at three she early breaking away. But in that that she have to actually tell she actually threatened called police and then her father. The solution was to take off with his newest girlfriend. Thanks for yeah function,. Right right and and and and- and I remember, I think they were living right across the state line again close to Omaha in the small community of you, tanned, under brassica, which

is a small town of about one thousand one hundred people just west of Omaha Ne- and I remember it- Either- comes out in the trial or in court testimony a later date two, but I think Dixie. It pointed out that that the family was constantly on the move when she was young and her belief was that that was off. Because it was harder for the police to us to the smaller community place, to keep tabs on on her family, especially her abusive stepfather and more or less. They were always kind of the family of the step. Father always kept one step ahead of the the police and investigators, and it's an associate that day and age in that time frame. You know it's a lot harder for place to make a case in the past to get a case. You know what, by the time they're going out to the house on soon, do they find out that the family had moved sixty, my miles away, and that seemed to be

kind of the events that were unfolding. When, when did, she was very young, her for her father stepped out, there are, you know, have the fan moving around a lot and dick. She is. She got older just with FED up with the abuse and kind of put her foot down, and you know eventually got out of that house got away that environment, but Is the unfortunate end result is that that's going to lead to bad decisions and you know and bad bad bad events for her over the course of her adults over the course of her adult life Dan. Now, let's talk about the environment that she's living in for this twenty years and the pair it's our Alcester Inbev and he's got diabetes, and so he's got two legs amputated and he's legally blind and she's had a heart attack triple bypass and she's on an oxygen tank so

tell us about the beginning of this relationship in terms of what Dixie sees in the ship relationship and tell us how it how it proceeds and before we talk about the descent into something a lot different, When it started with so tell us what it started off with and what was his relationship with with all the people in the home, including Dixie well what Dixie situation yeah back then she got along real well with with AL and out Bev specially about, and you know, and and part of living in this environment to in this house again before them Al Balvin. The child, Scott, but She took it upon herself to really also help care for Bev and and and to point it out for a listener, so both of them

especially AL. You know really had some serious, serious health issues. You know, and so you have Dixie Kind, take it apart are self to really be the caregiver to help both of them out Scott is just kind of absence or really that's not something that you know he really to combined of South Dixie would go. You know, help my groceries, you know and help run errands. You know, especially since our out couldn't really get out of the house very much and stuff and Sherels, eventually you're going to pass away and there's going to be a conversation at a later point in time. You know they do she's, going to really remember, as she gets older, You know an it's a conversation with Bev you know along the lines of this. You know. If something ever happens to me. You know. I really want you to look after Scott

there was also signs to the Dan and support to bring this up to for listeners where you know Dixie, You know have had also observed situations where, where Scott had been abusive, his own mother, and I was very embarrassed and ashamed about this. To the point where I know there was there was an instance where you know where she told somebody and I'm going off of memory. So I can't remember for his Dixie or fears one of the neighbors, but It may have been one a neighbors, but but but Babbitt hit a pole in the neighborhood. She had fallen off a ladder. You know, while she was, you know, doing not doing work on the house when in reality you know Scott. It had most likely

punched punched his mother gotten angry with her in a fit of rage. So so there were science of Scott being abusive, tore his own mother being basically violent toward her when he didn't get his way or or wanted wanted something and and again in this Environment Dixie was more or less a caregiver, you know for AL and Bev and it all, really they weren't in the best of health and it's it's around early 1990s, the thing one thousand nine hundred and ninety four memory serves. You know where, where Bev passes away, and and now you know both of Scott's parents are gone, it's really just him and Dixie with that house. Now. You talked about his career and that it didn't have much of one and was and inclined for steady work. So he tinkered at the garage. It was conveniently across the street and so tell us

about how they said ordered them selves on with what income? Where did this income come from?. They were very fortunate that especially, you know, and you know in those days and yet based on you know the academy at that point in time, but but when, when, when Scott's parents had passed away, Scott had inherited. It was at least one hundred and fifty thousand dollars, plus the property, and again it's a very nice, ranch writing in the community send and also that garage and and within a couple years, the economy with was very strong this you know this this mutual fund are stacked. Fine, I can't remember off top my head. Would it was, but, but anyway, this this inheritance grew very quickly to from one hundred, and fifty thousand to two upwards of one hundred and eighty thousand within a couple of years, and

gay It was also working around this time. Time frame thanks God. One of us order to work- and you know she actually- she was- she wasn't. She was a very good employee. She actually worked in in the for for a handful of different to the living homes or independent living, but senior care. You know she worked in senior care and provided caring comfort. You know for the area. Elderly and so she was working, bringing some money from that job, but really overtime, though it's SEN heritage, stand that couple primarily scat. You are really going to kind of greedy or here really just kind of make it focus. You know if you know there

running habits and practices from from from there on out, and it's really this this, that they're going to live off of and drain down over a short few years, and that is certainly going to stay in the tensions between the between the couple, I believe now to the point where there is reports that she has said to him so this is just a hobby you're going to have to get a job, so that was part of the tension that she had this responsibility with the children and she wanted him to full time employment and his response was what.

Jesus returns, very, very angry and trending toward her and and and and I'm trying to member the so many different violent episodes down, but but he hi, I I just know that he screams at her Huon verifications and and and eventually that's gonna, become very, very, very violent. But he just as adamant that you know, if that he doesn't need a job, and you know, and and and just is- is not going to go out and and look for a job in in how dare you, you know kind of become so you know he just he he just can't x. Chapter somebody else criticizing him, let alone suggesting that he changed his and there's going to all kinds of situations where you know he's going to throw garden tool fed her This really miss some violent episodes where but he forces heard take out some concrete, actually, for some time, create

sidewalk in front of house just to ridiculous her. When clearly you know he would have known how to do this. He he sent her to drive around of a few of the area, towns to find the right kind, mix and then forced her to mix the cat. Great when she admitted she clear They didn't know what she was doing. You know he just. Just sit around, and you know smirked and you. You know then yeah smacked her, and it's humiliated her and. Just to be a number of other episodes. You know where things get much much worse than that, where he's, Is it going to take her down the basement and and tire up with the clothes hanger and leave down the basement for a couple days at at one point in time and like I said it's just really, you know where verbal abuse. Really

send to more physical abuse, and it really becomes a lot worse for Dixie over. You know over a short period of of years stand. You talk in the book it is year two thousand I get a lot of these reports are according to Dixie because she doesn't call police in the incident. Did you mention where He drags her downstairs by the hair and and leaves they are tide up with a coat hanger behind her back their hands tide right, She doesn't call police so we're getting these reports from her in October. Six, two thousand her friend Brenda Johnson called Shelby County police. I told him of abuse but Dixie had some plan to move to Texas. So tell us about this, because this is very important to this entire story in the trial too, what happens with this yeah and there's been a handful of times

Where again- and I should just point- the South of Listeners- Dixie Dixie had so people family members by this point in time around two thousand that had moved or- or you know located in around just in the state of Texas. And and yeah and one was her sister Diane, I remember and and she had gone back a couple times again, even during this tumultuous relationship a couple times and then I may not have even gotten into this really in depth in the book. Just because again, some of these were short trips, but but thinks he did make a couple trips down and access to stay down there for a couple days and she would come back, but on this particular episode when you're talking about Dan, she had to had confided in in our friend Brenda. You know that she was finally ready and willing to you know to get out of this relationship with Scott once and for all. And

and and in Brenda- wanted to make sure that it happened she wanted to. You know see through just because she knew that to such in a in a situation like this, you know often times the are. The abuser ops becomes very, very over powering an overbearing and and and the victim this case sixty it would not been a surprise for her to wilt under pressure or make excuses or just be afraid that something bad what happen if she actually carried through and you know and actually did move out, packed her bags and you know and laughed so what, on this occasion, under Brenda, goes to the property and- and she sees clearly both cars in the driveway Scotts Dixie, since she goes to the door and and nobody answers the door. I think this was the well, the daytime too, on a weekday and Brenda at least had the smart, the sixth sense,

intuition whatever you want to say. To to To get ahold of law enforcement- in this case the Shelby County, Sheriff's office and- I know the fellow that's the current sheriff now Mark Curvy was one of the responders, and I interviewed him at length of this book and and so Mark Mark arrives on that Kevin Murphy. Another deputy was there as well, but but you know they tried their best day tried knocking on the door. Nobody came to the door, they walk around the back and I think, our kids, the smarts, to think to himself that people often have keys. You know, yeah, sometimes under light poster in our under a match, and you know him Brenda. You know quickly. Yeah find found that some found this key to the front door. There walk around to the front. Now I wanted to

give a little background just for listeners kind of what's going on inside the house. Ok, the drapes are closed. Scotts inside the house with Dixie. And I believe there are two small children at that point time yet 'cause two thousand year they would've had two and just curious, but he's whispering, because he notices a squad car now in its front driveway and yell, he whispers, watch and say with respect to he yeah. You know he he turns to Dixie inflicted you call the police. And and actually she didn't so you know she's she's telling the truth you know but I've So you didn't believe her nonetheless he's hiding her in one of the closets and I believe the children were either in the closet or or the bedroom. He can find them as well Eventually Harvey and uh and Brenda come around back to the front of the house. You know and announced their presents and open the door and you know and Scott

Dixie Emerge letter. The closet that the two children emerge as well antics she just had both eyes. Just for you know we're just horribly purple, just black and blue. I should say but you know she had clearly been beaten by in the hours preceding this and and that day the sheriff's office took took Scott into custody and they charged him with with domestic violence. Again, I'm going off of memory. I think, if we're talking two thousand- and this would have been his third arrest- for domestic violence and and which would

not very important, because that would have been like the one that led to that class. The d felony, which I was the most severe charge that he had to face up to this point in time related to the, Mastic violence with Dixie. This would been the charge that carried are up to five years in prison I believe they also charged him as well. You know, without you know, with false in is there a charge basically for holding Dick Dixie Captive as well? So there are two charges he faced Dixie is able to get out of the situation. Obviously scac it's taken away in handcuffs driven to the county jail in Harlan twelve miles away, he's sitting there. You are waiting trial. Dixie does make it down to text then, and- and they get special for listeners throughout North America on the distance

from Iowa to Texas. You know it well over a thousand miles. There's a there's. A it's a very, very long distance to get there either by car or by automobile, and that's very important to point out because distance alone- would make it very very difficult for an abuser even like Scott Shanahan to just all, sudden suddenly show up and heart of Dixie you grabber and try or in the back of his pickup truck and drive, go back to Iowa, so that that the distance could and should have been some comfort and reassurance to Dixie and the fact, Set the Shelby County County Attorneys office in concert with the sheriff's office you know really was, was, was going to work hard too. Make sure that this third arrest for domestic violence, that only charge

really was gonna stick and if it would stick in all likelihood he would have gone to prison. You know it's served at least the handful of years not for five years by line. That's very important too, because that that would have made it easy to predict you to get a divorce or just get out of this relationship, and you know a move by and in in need somebody to meet a nice guy, the some they should never had an opportunity to meet up, because you know she and Scott have been together since he was fifteen or sixteen and then now the thing is She's got this ideal opportunity to rebuild his life. The support of family, especially with the sis, three thousand miles away from, and it looks like they're going to there very determined to put this guy away for a fair amount of time. So what is Scott do in response to this? What what does he do

Well, that's kind of point where he really kind of try. Become MR lovey Dovey, and really appealed the Dixie that he's going to become a chain, start change man and that that he's he's he's really got fell down. The street thought things out here: he's he's not going to be he's, gonna change, his old ways and bad ways: bad behavior! I going up from but I know he mentioned things like going to counseling in a batterers education classes, and you know it and he's really going to appeal to her an emotional standpoint. You know that You know that really, the most of right thing for her coin, and this really to have their family whole whole again to be intact and and and he's going to, and also obviously you can. A family, if he's going to be in prison, so so you got to remember, listens, have to remember he's appealing to her

but in reality, he's pushing her. He subconsciously, or just being out right about it, but but nonetheless he's going to appeal to her to the point where she's going to right to the court. The prosecutor office and inform them that she does not want to come back to the state of Iowa to testify as their key witness, in order to secure a conviction, against got? Shanahan in court? This, this domestic bounce, a felony charge that the prosecutor's office and Susan Christiansen Prosecutor, you know really were- were- were hoping to move forward and Yeltsin's got to prison for the precious offices, Is it going to just immediately listen to Dixie they're, going to plead with her to the point where you know they're going to initially delay the trial Dan

and they're also going to point out that if money is a concern, well they're just going to plant they're willing to pay to get Dixie to come back to Iowa pager Eric Airfare Hotel Ever accommodations are necessary help just to make sure that she's able to be in court to to appear on the witness stand, raise right hand and promise to tell the truth so help yeah so, but she's not going to want to have any of that and it's going to become a lost cause in a very frustrating case for the for the county attorneys office in the sheriff's office, and eventually, what's going to happen, is without their key witness they're going to have to drop their act. The criminal charges against Scott Shanahan so for context and background for listeners scattered. Sorry been convicted of two misdemeanor domestic violence charges prior to this, this third charge

where he had held this wife captive and left her with black and blue eyes so it so, unfortunately, the most serious crime that he commits the most serious offense that he's arrested for is the one that that he ultimately gets away with Scott free. It never goes on this record as far as a conviction. He never does any health problem a curse far as a sentence for this crime. Yes, he had been arrested. Yes, he did, sometime in jail awaiting trial, but but there was no convey, For this crime and no felony on this record, so you get, released from jail and this is, I think, is really even more important for listeners as far as just kind of string of bad decisions that happened involved, Dixie, Shanahan,. Dixie'S gonna, soon, afterwards make the decision to reunite with Scott

to the point where she doesn't even tell her sister Diane. You know that she's going to go back to Iowa and get back together with Scott And by doing so yeah the band and she was going to nursing school down in the state of Texas and in pursuing a nursing degree which which really would have said her up for great and steady, clear path. In in Texas, she's, going to drop that and and return, to the state of Iowa and move back to the house sign on third Third Ave and get back together with Scott and his two kids. So for scat, he gets his wife back who who he had abused repeatedly

and he doesn't have an additional conviction, anise anise record, and he doesn't go to prison. So he gets everything he wants- and unfortunately for Dixie, you know abuse still going to continue. It's only going to intensify according to all accounts and and from that point forward,. What happens in terms of the relationship is very very important Sing to her, according to anybody in terms of addition to the family Well, let's see I'm there's going to be a situation where, let's see which back in two thousand and two where, where where Dixie finds out that she's pregnant. Is that the part that you wanted me to talk about a little bit? Then? Yes, yes, ok, good, ok and and so this I believe, this probably unexpected and

and apparently, according to Dixie by all accounts, Scott was just furious, raving mad stark mad. You know about this about this news and and and just did not want to have this baby and up by all accounts, just becomes verbally, abusive and and apparently even physically abusive toward Dixie just over this issue that that she was going to go forward in have this child. She was adamant. She we wanted to have have the have the have the child and and by her I heard by her account- and we have thing too, if that's not true, just based on Scott's character and other issues You know that he absolutely did not want to go forward and have this of this child and that is going to become kind of a key wedge or a key issue,

That's really going to strain the relationship on top of the fact that that the financial situation predictions got in their family is really starting to put them in a perilous predicament comes, around the summer of summer months. Two thousand and two you know right around this time that this news of this pregnancy, Dan. Now she's kind of isolated from her family. Is she not and at this time as well she's, not really confiding in her friends about how This relationship has you know either no improved or not improved as when we're talking about Brenda Johnson, but so tell us why she does say, though, in terms of the abuse extent, sing to the baby to claim about Scott.

Bush is going to claim that that scouts can eventually up. You know punch her in the stomach and- and you know and had her problem you know, again yelling at her and screaming at her and just telling that she's not going to have this this baby and yeah. Do I need god, keep going forward on that Dan and didn't go into you know you have the day off. You know all of this. Of this I'm side, it is so again, according to Dixie's account yeah, this we've been very late summer of two thousand and two, but but She had gotten one of the oldest hurled this children Zach. You know, God I'm up for school and you know getting him ready to get on the school, bus and and the story is set up. You know that that the young boy, again about seven or eight years old, could have gone into the bedroom to by two, his father

I just kind of rolled over and you know, continue to sleep, Dixie gets or sign ready for school and sure play the Scott wakes up and just kind of a ball of you know: SIRI and rage. I should say, and just angry about you know, keep going off to school, and then Fight develops again over this site, this pregnancy. And and from there, the story. The story is that the fight eventually moved into the garage, you know where, where Scott had beaten, Dixie a punch, repeatedly and and eventually get move back into the house and That's where Scott grabs ago grabs his shotgun. You know and and and kind of gives

see the you know, and Intel tell her. You know this day is not over with yet again. According to her her account, he takes the shotgun walks with it back into his bedroom and and Exceed maintains that this is the time that she's finally going to call law enforcement an again for context purposes for listeners all the while that Dixie had returned to defiance Iowa after the charges were dismissed against Scott, back in the early part of two thousand and one there never been one call to law enforcement for any domestic violence by Dixie but we know that there was probably a lot of domestic abuse still going on and, like you pointed out, she was very isolated.

Unintentionally or intentionally as far just just her small support network really was not aware. You know of that things. Escalating and becoming worse for her But this occasion, according to Dixie she made she made the decision. She was going to go back in their bedroom and and use the telephone, and I forgot to point out for listeners but DR, but earlier when Scott had walked up to her, and you know how scowled at her about the shotgun. Instead, the states and over according to Dixie Scott. It also grabbed a couple of the telephones. You know again people mostly at landlines at that point in time, really didn't have cell as much so the story of Scott grabbed the south or grab the landlines, took it back to the bedroom with him, along with a shotgun, And Dixie's going to. Maintain as she walked down the hallway went into the bedroom to use the phone,

saw the shotgun by the bed and thought that Scott was. You know going to shooter. And that she grabbed the gun, and you know and uh kind Self defense shot. Scott in fear of her life and Thinking better unborn child and and just after that went retreated back to the living room. And just sat in the Living room chair. You know for several hours and just kind of thought herself. You know. Oh, my god, what just happened. You know this kind of this whole set of events just kind of really hit home. Again. That's that's Dixie's account of how the day the morning went and how how things escalated and turned not only violent but fatal.

And what did she say that she does with ask that's body and the room that he killed. And what does she do? According to her, well she's, going to maintain that she's going to go into that room. I think once or twice that day and that's there is going to be at, but double wish. What she's going to do was after after she shot him. She's going to pull the bed sheets just over his head and and so basically you can't see his face and there's just a lump under the bed at that point So she's going to cover him up in the in their bedroom in the northeast bedroom of the house of the ranch And and then There is also going to be uh, having chest of drawers set again. There's two there's two doors that lead to the bedroom: one

you know being the main door from the from the hallway, the main hallway in the home, but then there's a so a second or from the bathroom right over by the by the bedroom standard, there's gonna be a chest of drawers, is going to play, store a hamper, I should say placed up against the bathroom door, so in effect somebody. If December is using the bathroom and tried to open the door and go into the bathroom or go into the bedroom, you know they would be blacked. It just would be next to impossible, a pro football player to get in there and the other thing, is that she's going to do to Dan is she's going to put down. Found some towels underneath there the door kind that half inch area on both doors but just put some towels down there to make to basically prevent

any orders or stench from percolating into the house. And along those lines to I should point out, but I almost forgot about the windows, but up at the window in the back bedroom, yeah she's, going to crank that open and that's going to be open up pretty much all summer fall and winter. You know over the next six to nine months that back bedroom doors can be opened, bareback, bed, bedroom win I should say it's gonna be wide open, and so she takes these steps and and not only that. Then she's, eventually going to move a bunch of boxes, cardboard boxes and some of these I think, came from Christmas gifts that she had bought her children. You know for for different toys and I think of tv and a stereo, possibly but anyway, there's going to be a bunch of children's toys, and you know when I think cooler

but just all kinds of stuff going to kind of blocked the door. The main you know old door for the for the for the northeast bedroom that she and Alan Scott had previously shared, but but that's pretty much it once she closes that door. She closer that chapter. You know for life as far as just Scotts just remains, the covers to his dead body. You know our or after our day after day, you know over the course of many many months. And it's gonna take awhile yeah. Let's, let's go back now because part of it is We don't get all this information at the same time, so I'm Anyone Scott Shanahan. His parents are dead, he's not really a much of a law.

To friends or coworkers that he's had in this in Harlan or in the small town of client. So he's not. Reported missing, but what people in a small community notices that they don't see him in town Let see Dixie in town. Tell us some of the suspicious things that kind of stack up- for people that are can't help. But observing things in this small town thanks Jenn yeah, that's that's a good point to bring up top so again in a small town like to finance. I everybody kind of knows everybody, but on the other side to I want to point out. You know people aren't always overly nosey and and people do keep to themselves. But the thing is Dixie's K. To take a handful of actions that peep we're going to kind of raise your eyebrow and become a little suspicious self, just because they're going to know it's not in Scath Character in some of those things that, it does immediately. In the aftermath of his death

or selling off putting ads in newspapers, including the Omaha newspaper. You know sixty miles away but she's going to put classified ads in the paper two sell off some of Scott's prized possessions, including a number of these cars on an I can say this and antique tractors. Found that he had also collected or or had on this property and and a bunch of his his tools now. So and the people that are going to come to take a look at these vehicles are The people that are already familiar a little bit with Scott Shanahan to the point where you know there is going to be very reluctant because they know Scott's reputation. You know and his explosive tendencies you know, they're going to become a little reluctant. They tell Dixie that you know when Scott comes back when they see Scott. You know those is bringing back the vehicle and stuff, and I should point

Dixie was, would tell these people that Scott had run off do different stories that she gave, but it was kind of all along the lines of the hit run away. You know one story out of going to a town about fifty or sixty miles away I am a guy off from a big story, tenement different parts of Iowa, but it but the story. Was it heated up and left her in the kids and again along the lines. Some of these people were very reluctant to even want to take his vehicles. Thinking he be back but I know in one situation particularly particular made Dixie made a comment over at the Post office to a fella. She again she was let to let him take one of the farm tractors suffer for nothing you know, and he was willing to just to put it on, is large and in Mineti saw sky returning return, the town cat, It just gladly come by and take the tractor back, no problems and Just very bold he's not coming back,

and again at that point in time the guy wasn't thinking, oh my god, he's probably dead, he's murdered in the back bedroom, but but as time goes by in the events unfold. You know no play Scott. It's those kinds of comments that people are going. Remember and again there was another fellow come it lived over in Council Bluffs IA, which is very close, to Omaha and and he's going to become interested in the classic cars and he just remembers when we made the phone call to inquire about the car. You know just that you know, Dixie was selling these classic cars, but really didn't sound like she knew practically anything. You know about the vehicles and stuff like that.

He was worried that that he was walking into the middle of our. You know a lot of potential divorce, her you know or or Dion gel situation or the property being repossessed, and this was very reluctant to you. No one even go up there to defiance over look at these cars, but no venture he's going to make the drive up there with his kid, and you know they're going to buy one of the cars and some tools for seven or eight hundred dollars. But you know again: it's other people kind of become suspicious of why this stuff too, because this new Scott real well, and they knew about the only thing, Scott loved in life or seem to love in life once his tools, and these cars said he spent all his time refurbishing and restoring, and you know for his wife: feet to be just part. I think I don't know part is not the right word, but just to be selling these off one at a time. Some extra money is Scott. Supposedly, is still around just did

I make very much sense at all to these people and most important thing to that seem to get overlooked, but but its truck, still sitting in driveway the whole time too. So it begs the question you know if Scott did run off you know: how did he run off? You know how did he get out of defiance Iowa if his truck was still? You know this is brown truck? Was still sitting in his black top driveway on Third Ave. Now, to add to the incredi This another. Incredulous. You know the person that should be I have some red. Bags when he talks to Dixie, is Jeff Duty and so tell us who Jeff Duty is and what his relationship becomes with Dixie. Yes, so we just do he's a few years older than than Dixie memo service and he lived

in a town about half an hour to forty five minutes away, try to Grove Iowa, and he had worked at one of the big manufacturing companies in IDA Grove, but it's around the royal day weekend and of two thousand and three, where, where Jeff and Dixie out becoming acquainted with each other at at a local neighborhood barbecue that was hosted by one of the other neighbors allthough Dixie and Scott Shanahan, their life same with Carl's butt. But anyway Dixie and Jeff duty it off right away and to the point where they become a very serious couple of SIRI this item you know from the outset and and jeff- would stay at Dixie's house on the weekends pretty much

every weekend during the summer of two thousand and three uh and I know they go on at least one vacation together too as well, but Again, he's staying at the Shanahan home on Third Ave and how to I, I I I don't know how to explain this other than he just overlooked or or with not a quince idents, you didn't ask the right questions, didn't notice, thing out of the ordinary, but but he's staying at the Shanahan House meanwhile she's, name, bedroom, the master bedroom is cordoned off and they're spending their time sleeping on a on a bad day in in in a back bedroom off the top. The kid Chippenham mistake. I can't miss the real bedroom was kind of a that, but now the last, but not sleeping in the master bedroom and

his version. His statement later is you know that he just suspected or it was under the impression that that's where all the abuse that happened and more she took Dixie are worried word that you know that. That's why the room was closed in and you know what he respected her privacy and respected her wishes, and you never was curious and never tried to open the door and and certainly according to him never suspected that Scott Shanahan was dead and no riding way in that under the covers, so that back bedroom It's a peculiar situation, to say the least, but you know there's there really was. Never any evidence. Rabbit, certainly no proof, But somehow he was in on the situation that he had any College, your intimate knowledge are or any knowledge at all. You know that Scott's body was being concealed in that back Northia

star bedroom of the house and and again the other, true, though I again when you brought up that point earlier than about people becoming suspicious in town about Dixie's actions, I think the fact she was dating Jeff stepped duty don't bring him to the house to the Shanahan House and he was staying there every weekend and people saw his vehicle in the drive for all the times. That, in a lot of respects, was a huge red flag for the folks in the real small town of Defiance Iowa to Dan, because people just New Scott Shanahan so well that they couldn't imagine that somehow he would put up with his wife carrying on an affair. I some other man, stay it is house all this wild stuff like that. So so the fact that she's dating Jeff duty. Home after selling off a lot of scouts tools in the vehicle for extra money, in fact

nobody stops cat around town. That's ultimately going to at least push somebody in the community to make a phone call to Shelby County Sheriff's office over in Harlan IA twelve miles away. Sometimes during the summer months of two thousand and three. Now you introduce a character named gene cavenall, and he some questions, and so he looks at the what the official reports were an initial statements, and so tell us how we proceed with this, and what does he do to basically reopen this case. Yeah Jeans and old school sheriff too, and you know just kind of back in the day. You know where he's, not really a political grand skin grandstander you, it's an old fashioned detective and and This case all comes to him, and he kind takes the initiative to two

only find one of his deputies to do some work for them. Genes can also do some of the key investigative work himself Bottom line he's going to send somebody out to to at least ask Dixie. Basically, it's up, you know where Scott at you know, they've got a call that you know somebody. People haven't seen Scott in town for practically a full year now, and you know again. Her story is that he ran off. That's got, ran off and you know, may have gone to Atlantic Iowa what jeans can eventually do, though, is he's going to do some legwork and background research to he's going to start getting ahold of some of the other or law enforcement departments. Try to find out if Scott had moved to rain this area. Talents he's also going to check and see if they, very counts, a law enforcement contact with him had he been stopped for a traffic offense, sir arrested for anything nobody's going to find anything there.

He's going to do a lot more research on that too. He's going to see if Scott may have moved to a different state, there any drivers license records for Scott. The only They came up with the one he already had state of Iowa driver's license jeans going to eventually payroll records in uh? employment records. You know through different federal databases,. Scott receiving unemployment somewhere. Did he find a job somewhere, So I can lead anywhere. There's no proof is no indication of Scott's collecting any unemployment or you know, or working in a job where he sat in a lot of paying taxes either and there's other steps to gene's gonna take two, but The long and short of it is that Jeanne cabinets not going to find any any paper trail That's going to lead him to believe that you know that there's any activity going out with Scott Shanahan, including his bank, account and any credit cards. Nothing like that.

And that's again going to lead gene, you know, and his deputies to continue the interview see to try to get to the bottom of things and their stores can deviate a little bit. You know, to the point where it's going to be different versions of the story, and this can be a story she's going to throw out there. You know about Scott, you have found another girl find some heavy set up blind woman that may have come by to pick him up and then drop him off on time. To pick up some of this x cd's, but but by and large. You know from the team standpoint hit hit, hit exhausted all the legitimate leads. You know that Scott may have been a missing person voluntarily. The Scott may have left his wife. And decided to take on you know the way. And start a new life somewhere else, for other reasons and and really The only thing left really for the sheriff's office to do was to check the property

to see if, by chance, Scott Shanahan was still there and I remember she shared Cavanah, told me- and I I may have put this in the book, but I can't remember if I did or not, but but I know he did not think that they were going to find anything when they went ahead with the search warrant. He just Wasn't expecting to find you know what they alter. We found that first, but she is around October 20th of two thousand and three Dan. Now, right away, she a friend's house, but will skip over that she is arrested and he is charged to tell us what the charges are the bail is set at and how things proceed. Just right initially after she is arrested Dixie is arrested and charged with the with first

murder and. Bail if memory serves, I think, was around one hundred thousand, but it is ten percent, then so, and the town's going to rally to her defense to to the point where they're going to take up some goodwill offering sin, you know, I'm in your collection buckets are at the local, tavern and stuff like that too, but But she's gonna bail out of jail shortly after being, arrested and charged with us, got stuff murder and and again, based on that, based on with the sheriff's office in the Iowa division Criminal investigation, which again is the equivalent of a state, the state detective agency. You know the help smaller department's, if necessary, the shell county, Sheriff's worked in hand in hand with them to help carry out the search warrant that balance cat, but but yes, based on the autopsy and based on

but they found in the bedroom that left the authorities very convinced. You know that Scott Shanahan died- you know intentional homicide and that this was that some type of domestic domestic spat. You know that you know where was one of the case of self defense. Now the thing is too to dispute the claim of self defense? Initially what you is the autopsy so tell that's where he was shot. In terms of and her, we went where the explanation that she again Again, we there's a trial, but let's. Talk about what the autopsy gleaned in terms of- How he was shot- and where he was shot in that room so and then tell us

just what she and initially said in her statement as to how it how she feared for her life- and it was self defense- tell us again about what her statement was Right well well, gee gauging, back to the autopsy Dan when they, when they take, Scotts remains, and there wasn't much left with them. He was down about forty to forty five pounds, but it still fair amount of flesh there and and when they took the autopsy table turn up. Are they found that there the shotgun shell larged in the back of his skull, Ann yeah, so nothing in the front and ordinarily. Obviously, our listeners with this, but the self defense situation. You know just think about whether it's a gun, right or just a knifing situation, but but but

expectation, will be that the person would be wounded, Woon hurt, you know, hi and and they face on their skin, not on the backside and and that's true in this situation. So so you have scat suffering, one fatal, shot, gun blast and it's to the back of his head. And it's also important to point out to that since it body was left in the exact condition that- Kennedy was shot in appeared to be resting, comfortably sleeping, No less at the time that he was shot. He had a pillow. He is head on a pillow. He had apparently slept with a pillow between his legs prosecuted. Point out that that's not that uncommon, but he was wearing his back through shorts, and So the inference to law enforcement and to the crime scene, officials was

and again pointing out the fact that the only wound the more to it, was to the back of his head. It was just I have been shot from the back from behind somebody, basically distinct upon him. You know shot him from behind and shot him in his sleep and So again, the physical evidence and the crime scene indicated that this was homicide where the person was may have been shot they were sleeping and that it was that a case from police. The evidence in show that this was a case of self defense and again backing up to earlier part of the interview

Dixie version of a dancer story was that you know that she had gone to that back bedroom to try to retrieve one of our telephones. She was going to call the sheriff's office that morning once and for all, fed up with the abuse that she was in during two scat, especially related to the south. This third pregnancy that she had experienced and and and that in that She saw that there was a gun near the bed between Scott and the. And the and the dresser and they she thought that Scott was in the process of lunching. For this, the shotgun of his and that she doctor self that she need to protect yourself and for unborn child, so she quickly grab the gun and fight, shot aimlessly

happened to hit Scott in the back of his head, and you know- and that was the catastrophic version of events that have happened, that they coined her pointer statement. I should say then Now she gets a public defender yeah, but she gets to public defenders. And these guys are not rookies. These guys are experienced, there is an incredible amount of public support for her and the community and also. And there's also a big center. Against Scott Shanahan's DIS dis DIS meant that he was a bad guy and maybe had it coming to him. Now. In light of that sentiment, and, of course, that sentiment will can lead to a jury having those kinds of feeling as well in a community like this, there was a we bargain I it is surprising that was operating through two attorneys and

yes, we all know not take on the advice of your attorneys is usually doesn't workout well to your advantage. So what was the plea bargain. Four an. Why was the plea bargain offered? Do you think Well, the the play Berg just to answer your question Dan. The plea bargain was to the charge of manslaughter and would have carried a maximum maximum penalty actual sense of zero to ten years and in Iowa often times, if you got the ten year maximum, you would probably be released custody after serving five to seven years and maybe even shorter than that it really would depend on the defendant's socks, behavior and disk and how they were adapting to prison life and- and you know, and so on and so forth, so on. The bottom line the object, because he would have accepted this plea bargain if you would

probably been released from after the after serving five to seven years, and and again the plea bargain was unusual one according to my conversations and interviews with the with the key prosecutor in this case, Charlie Fellman, who is from the Iowa TRAIN Generals Office and he was kind of the lone Wolf on this case, because, again small to situation. Where you get you know, there's very few lawyers and you know and everybody he knows everybody, but but lawyers have to be careful of conflicts of interest. The recently the prosecutor Markus Gross previously served as a public defender Scott Shanahan on one of those earlier domestic violence cases that he had pleaded guilty to so so so Marcus had informed the court that it just it was in his that's interesting, that of the community

large, that he by why of the case and not be involved. So that's how Charlie Fellman Sioux City Iowa got involved in the case and and handled it himself, but patrolman you. So the prosecutor had not initially offered Dixie a plea bargain, but he kind of felt private pressure It would not be the right word. It wasn't pressured, but just kind of prodded by the judge, who is interesting. I really likeable guy named Charlie, Charlie Smith, Judge Charles Smith, and just it did kind of indicated that you know he'd like to at least see. You know a plea bargain offered in this case in Belmont that interpreted that to mean the judge want you want to see the case resolved with a plea bargain in probably nine thousand two hundred and ninety I should ninety eight percent of all criminal cases to get resolved with the play by

Don't go to trial, but was not that unexpected, for you know for a plea bargain to be offered anyway. Go ahead, and you know and- and it goes along with this program he had visited with with sheriff Cavanaugh- had a time also you Mark Kirby, who is the chief deputy and kind of told them? What was up they both we're on with the idea of a plea bargain thinking. That might be a fair way to resolve the case and just get it resolved so tell me goes- makes this offer and you know he never hears back from the main attorney. Dixie I correct Stensland. Day passes. Another day passes, I think, by the third day you know Solomon, starting with catch his head. So he placed The phone call gets ahold of Greg stensland annoying. Orange to let you know that his client, you know, does not want to after plea bargain you know- and and- and I should point out yeah

Coleman was the one that has I'm sorry, Dixie's attorney was the was the first one that had had made the comment early on in the case, saying that you know that he thought she would if more than one you know sleep yeah, going down to manslaughter but in reality by the time you push came to shove, Dick he was adamantly refused to share mentally, refused to accept a plea bargain. So Everything was kind of off at that point in time and uh she was going to go to trial. You know on this. So on, this murder charge and that's kind of the stage that was set and you're right. She knew what she already had. There was a lot of public support for her. I mean people in the town in the area had a lot of them and gave given money to help her bail out of jail hum, as you point out earlier Scott it very few friends. You have all murder victims said I could remember it

Counting my last twenty years is a is a is a reporter and a handful of different states to Dan. I just can't really. Nobody else comes to mind somebody that just really p by and large just did not miss. Also he was unsympathetic. Murder, victim here and and ordinarily, when you have high profile murder cases like this as Listeners know you here pre trial, publicity- and you know- and you know the you know- it's usually the defense- the winds to. Move the trial to a different county thinking that can't get a fair trial. Well, that's the app Here Dixie was more than willing to take her chances your home county Shelby County Iowa, and you know and pick a jury you among her neighbors and in on other people throughout the Shelby County area, thinking that

It couldn't possibly find her guilty of murder. You know when the case with the trial Dan now She doesn't listen to her attorney, so the attorneys have these. This dilemma: where she's they have an uncooperative, client, unrealistic so? There's nothing else to lose and see, it's going to be, he said she said and he being dead. Then she has to take the stand. So we don't have much time, but we can, go through the entire trial, her really Tell us a little bit about the cross examination and really where the prosecutor really. Decimated her on the stand with an issue that really she couldn't really answer and really spoke to her lack of credibility in

and it really was a fascinating trial, but it really did boil down to what with Dixie, how with the jury, can a few digs his testimony on because clearly the she took the position of that that this was the justification. She was justified in you know, in committing it wounding her husband. We we know the for know that her version of events Dahlman in my mind, really reminds me a lot of a Clint Eastwood. As far as he's. Not a very you know louder, you know overbearing guy, although he a big guy, Charlie, Charlie Tom, the prosecutor, but he's very subtle kind of questioning- and he was very professional and very courteous. Dixie Shanahan, on the stand but It really work to his advantage where he was able to convince the the twelve jurors that she, help select that our version of events just could not jibe with the facts:

and he hammered her over and over by pointing out the photos and he showed the video of the crime scene as far as just how Scott was still in that bed. Fourteen my after she had shot him and he looked like he was sleeping in that bed and and and again he he really drove home. The fact that you know that. Her story, just couldn't be true that there's no way she shot Scott with you know, with his own shotgun. You know during an argument or struggle over the gun when the wounds to to the back of his head and and I plan quickly one other thing that he had that he had used. It really was damning for her Dick I did not know how to operate weapons Abby. She testified that she was not familiar with with shotguns the

this was, I believe, at sixteen gauge shotgun and the ammunition round that was used to to kill Scott was a twelve gauge round. There was also four twenty gauge round. It was jammed. That was stuck in the chin. Chamber, I believe, of this, the shotgun on did a masterful job, as far as you know, showing the jury that Scott Shanahan may have been all kinds of bad things in life, but he knew his car is in the in the in the news in the new with weapons. And there was no rhyme or reason. For Scott Shanahan. They have the wrong ammunition in his own gone. So that spoke to premeditation and and and and Tom, and was able to convince the jury that that it was Dixie that- did that that shotgun and she loaded it with the wrong ammunition, because she didn't know the ammunition and you know and That's why I got shot with a twelve gauge round, with a with a sixteen gauge shotgun

and that's why the twenty gauge round was still stuck in that stuck in the in the shotgun so against almost just really able to hammer home to the jury. A very simple point: That her version of Events- just absolutely can't be true that she's not to, The truth on the witness stand, people may be sympathetic toward her. She may have been out multiple times: domestic violence victim. He didn't dispute that and Stress that, but his point was that that didn't make right that didn't make it right for for this to be in potential homicide and for Dixie to leave Scotts body in the bed bedroom. You know and not do anything about it and let fourteen months past you know, while his boss, this kind of rotting away in the back bedroom. He also mentioned to the that, because the prosecutor reached out to her specifically. The Dixie that she had more than

ample opportunities to go to police, when she was in Texas as well. There. He pointed out several things that you couldn't answer to in terms of opportunities to be able to end rather than what she claimed was this. One and only opportunity, and because he, he lost that he lunged for her with the with the weapon that she had. No, she had no choice, now with this as well. The story, doesn't end in terms of with the trial She's convicted of second degree murder tell about the sentence and then again just to add to this story The story doesn't end there, so tell us about the sentence and then, tell us what happens after that. Well It was a situation where, where, at you said, the jury's gonna convicted see a sex degree, murder

and then I what that point in time, Iowa several years earlier, had enacted these very tough trying to get. No nonsense. Laws stop trying to get tough ride. Violent criminals, but not kind of allowing any mitigating factors to get worked worked away. Into the case with through It was true in this case an so that chargeless was forced to give Dixie just a flat. Fifty year sentence, also judge Charles Smith had no opportunity at all to to give her it sounds very, very diverse, differ send signed you. Certainly, we governor a lighter sentence, given all that she had been through in life and all the hardships and and then the abuses should gone through, but still the fencing with horror. Probably just it will, I don't say horrible, but just it was. It was a waste of time and everybody in the court room pretty much admitted that including the judge. So

judge really felt sorry for her and he felt she did not deserve to go to prison. He felt the jury's verdict was Justin. He taught he informed everyone he was. I can overturn the verdict but up, but he did not believe that this the fence was just and he pointed out that he hoped in the aftermath of Dixie's case that publicity about it in the high profile. Nature of it would spark the, If I were legislature to reconsider its earlier decision to set these get tough laws, you know where the judges had absolutely no Lee where we go wrong in determining a sentence. I heat hope that this case would spark some debate and foster debate and can cause them to reconsider, make changes, but the never did happen. I mean there was some debate, but but politicians Democrat and Republican now he'll never came together and you know, and it made any changes to the law. So so she went to prison with the standard, fifty or sentence, a few years after she was in Custer in prison, though,

the Iowa governor at that point time before he left office to to join the Brock Obama's cabinet, as secretary at Agra picked up but from Sex, had had commuted the Adam portion percent. So he didn't commute her sentence. But basically, what this map was that earlier. She had been eligible for parole if she had served thirty five years, now he made it more or less that after she served ten years in prison, she would become eligible for parole for release every year. Thereafter,. So two thousand and fourteen who is the first here so last summer was the first year that she was eligible for parole and and unfortunately for her, just based on

Behavior in prison should still racked up a lot of violations, for you know for problems and behavior, and then I think the fact that there have been some turn over to the pro poor. It's very political and some of the people that were initially on the Pro board were gone and and by large. This pro board from last year decide It is just slightly not to grant her parole. She came up recently, Dan and earlier this earlier this summer and in her bid was denied. But I want to point this out. This is important, but it sounds like she was ordered to undergo a they were going to have a psychologist. Do some evaluation, and so she, supposed to come back up. They basically said they'd reevaluate her case in a couple of months, so it'll be in but by September we should have worked. Whether not you know they're going

consider you know maybe letting her out early, maybe even this year, so she's again, she's been in prison. Now, since two thousand and four so so she's been in the state of Iowa's Crop prison system for eleven years now, so it's possible now. You know that her days, you know closer to two release actually. And what's interesting, sort of end to this, as well as that she stated in that parole bid is that He did have prospects for work and she had a home to go back to at a community. That was supportive. Actress- and I even know spoke with chair of cabin up just a week or two ago, because I'm gonna be back in now, Harlan IA. Well, I think if I get six. Seven. It due to presentations are back out at the library there and and gene, and I were talking over the phone and

He agreed if he thinks that the day is coming, that you know that she make it released and he is repeatedly told me he's like giants she's going to go back to that house. My understanding is Jeff duty. You know who she eventually did Mary after she was charged with murder. My understanding is Jeff duty is still living in that house and by all indications by all accounts it Dixie get through from Iowa prison. Well, it's this year next year or whenever but she'll return to defiance, Iowa and move back to that house and and I would expect that she would be welcomed, or at least accepted by the community, there's still a lot of people that feel that you know that she served more than enough time now eleven you know, know prison prison and I think a lot of people would, you know, would be willing to accept her back To the defiance Iowa Community, again B,

question what happened to her children: where are they now Her children ultimately wound up with her with one of her sisters down in the state of Texas said Dan, so so they are hum My understanding is that they're all still living down there, I think her oldest, is eighteen or nineteen years old now, but yeah but yeah. My understanding is that there Titun continuing to us to live there and I'm not exactly sure how much context she can help us with them. You know given the fact that she's in prison- and I wonder down in texas- I know they still correspond but but again within shortly after she went to prison. You know her parental rights, you know were revoked. And her children were in a placed in custody with other other fan. In my purse and family members happened- happened to be in the in the state of Texas and in very interesting

I want to thank you very much for coming on and talking about Dixie's last stand was it murder or self defense now for those people that might want to find out more about some of the other true crime offerings that you have? I know you with wild blue press, but but tell us about where they might locate you, you have a website, do you do Facebook tell us how people might be able to contact you. Yeah. I I try to be very active and on social media fronts and and John Farrell So, J, o h and after r a k dot com is my primary website and I keep it updated for our regularly and then and then yes, I, I am not offer author to climb up or silly with Steve Jackson and hand in the wild blue press group, which I have some excellent authors like a cable and rob her and around France fell and broke there. And so, if you

sent out him like that said, so I have a page on the wild blue press. Our website as well and in my most recent book, was just released last week and that's actually a sequel to bloody Eliso CSI scandal, the heartland, so that book is called body of proof tainted evidence in the Jessica, O'Grady murder, question mark so tired do radio interviews but uh. You know as far as just to say it that way, but I have to point out the question mark, so listeners will have to make up their minds after reading the book. You know whether or not there was evidence that was planted by this infamous csi in the that that worked on the very high profile Omaha murder case involved, a beautiful young woman named Jessica, Grady was involved in a relationship with With a fellow her age on an Christopher Edwards, so again,

those are the primary spots and then people can also follow me on Facebook at true crime, author, John Ferric Dan. One last question I am intrigued here is that we did interview about bloody lies, so you say this is a sequel and I really have not heard that term in true crime, so tell us a little bit just before we go. What why it's a six well the thing that and I didn't have sued plan it out this way. But I kept this in the back of my mind. The last few pages of bloody lies I mentioned this murder case in Omaha very high profile case that it actually happened just three weeks after the farmhouse murders in Murdock Nebraska, where the stacks were killed in just go: grading murder,

and- and I know I've included a photo of a car that suspected blood was found. But the thing about this case was that that date, cope with becomes the hero he's the he becomes. The arms of the key one horsemen official, the key Testifier for the prosecution's case in what became Nebraska's first. Nobody murder case went to trial and the thing was this case it happened three weeks after the Murdoch Mart and also the branding is Alice murder. So Culpitt goes to prison. Planting evidence to move to prior cases, but yet Questions remain in questions lingered in the wake of his conviction and sentence, or what about that. It's called grading. Murder was the evidence all this evidence that he found that helped. Sure the arrest and prosecution of Christopher Edwards was it legit.

Or not, and that's probably promotes. The whole point of you know key point of my book Dan. Is to really dive into that evidence and also take a deep look at this case. Yeah and put it in context. Well sounds great, sounds like an opportunity for me to interview you again about that. So that will be another interest, the interview, no doubt so. I want to thank you very much for coming on and talking about Dixie's last and you have a great evening and hope to talk to you again real soon. Thank you great thanks again for the opportunity and have a great night. You too goodnight connect.

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