On December 29, 2012 Lee-Ann Shannon drowned in the bathtub at her home. Her husband, Hart City Councilman Timothy Shannon was charged on January 09, 2013 with her murder.
Murder or suicide? Forlorn wife drowns in tub on day nanny-turned-mistress moves in
True Crime Daily
September 28, 2017
On the surface, Tim Shannon and his 34-year-old wife Lee-Ann appeared to have a happy marriage. The pair met in college, and shortly after graduating they tied the knot.
"She felt great influence from her mother that you should get married because you are at a certain age and you've had no other prospects," said Lee-Ann Shannon's cousin Deborah Lariviere.
Tim Shannon's distinguished family was a fixture in the small town of Hart, Michigan, not far from the lake. His father was the only doctor in town, and Tim went into politics, becoming a well-respected city councilman.
"Her mother was all excited because she felt that her daughter was marrying into a very affluent family that was going to take good care of her," said Deborah.
Lee-Ann went on to work part-time as a real estate agent, leaving her time to raise the couple's two children -- only 3 and 4 years old. Their good fortune even allowed for full-time help from a young live-in nanny named Jamie.
"The minister of the church that they all went to had made a plea to the families that this girl needed a place to stay, and spoke specifically to Lee-Ann and Tim about the possibility of them opening their home to this person, which they did," said Deborah.
It all made for a happy All-American life.
"She was a fantastic mother. Her kids were her life. She just loved her children," said Deborah.
But then tragic news changed everything.
"I got a phone call from my aunt on Sunday evening," said Deborah. "She was hysterical, and she's crying, and she says, 'Deb, Lee-Ann's dead!' And I said 'What do you mean Lee-Ann's dead?' She said 'She drank too much and she drowned in the bathtub.'"
At the house, detectives walk into a grim scene. In the bathroom, Lee-Ann's bloated body is lying in the family bathtub, the water drained, her lips a pale blue.
"We talked with the Hart Police Department, who investigated the original case, and after talking with them we did have some concerns of a drowning in a bathtub," said Oceana County Sheriff's Detective Mark Schneider.
And yet after an initial check at the scene, all indications for cops point in the direction of a simple but horrible tragedy.
"We have reason to believe that Lee-Ann got intoxicated that night," said Oceana County Prosecuting Attorney Joseph Bizon. "We found the empty bottles in the home, and her blood-alcohol content when they did the autopsy was a 0.23, so that would be consistent with her being intoxicated."
Within days, detectives wrapped up their investigation. Hart County cops reported that Lee-Ann's death was an "accidental drowning."
"They said 'Well, we don't really think anything foul has gone on,'" said Deborah Lariviere.
It all appeared to be a closed case. But not really.
"How often does a person, an adult, drown in a bathtub?" said prosecutor Joseph Bizon. "It sounded funny."
Soon, nearby Oceana County took over the case. Remember, Tim Shannon was an elected official, and his position as councilman posed a conflict of interest.
Once Oceana County investigators are on the case, they uncover startling revelations, clues to Lee-Ann's sudden death that didn't drain from the bathwater that horrible day.
"Timothy was able to get his wife Lee-Ann to agree to move Jamie in to assist with raising of the two kids and be a nanny at the residence," said Oceana County Sheriff's Detective Shane Hasty, the lead investigator on the case.
Behind closed suburban doors at the Shannon home, cops discover a situation brewing that's ripe for a scandal. At the center: Jamie Hathaway, the 20-year-old woman who Lee-Ann and Tim had invited into their home.
"Her mother told Lee-Ann, 'No, Lee-Ann, you don't invite another woman into your home. This is going to, this could cause problems,'" said Lee-Ann's cousin Deborah.
At the time no one knew just how many. But Deborah Lariviere claims the relationship between Tim, Lee-Ann and Jamie had some eyebrow-raising conditions.
"The thing that was very disturbing, apparently this girl was calling Tim and Lee-Ann 'mom and dad,' which was sort of odd because she wasn't a child, she was a woman, and she would refer to them as mom and dad not only in the house, but out publicly," Deborah tells Crime Watch Daily.
And interestingly, Deborah says the couple seemed to be taking it even one step further.
"Lee-Ann told her mother 'We're going to adopt Jamie,'" said Lee-Ann's cousin Deborah. "They took steps and even went to see a lawyer to do this."
But Lee-Ann was about to get the shock of her life from the very woman she now considered a daughter. The loving mother learned the nanny had taken on some extra duties, igniting a sizzling romance with the man of the house, right under Lee-Ann's nose.
Investigators soon learn Tim Shannon desperately wants out of his marriage.
"He claimed that his marriage had fallen apart. He was going to be filing for divorce," said prosecutor Joseph Bizon.
But Lee-Ann is distraught, and drinking. Before Tim can file for divorce, she turns up dead.
"The largest amount of evidence was the fact that we had a woman dead in the bathtub," said Bizon.
Was it an accident, or did someone kill her?
On a hunch, a prosecutor decided to take a closer look, and even he was shocked by what he would find.
A woman's body found dead in the drained bathtub of her suburban home. At first, it looks like an accidental drowning, but when cops take a closer look:
"There's really no feasible way for a 280-pound person in a small 5-foot tub with an inclined back, that their head could even get below the water line," said Det. Shane Hasty.
But who could possibly want Lee-Ann Shannon, a doting wife and mother of two young children, dead?
"Her kids were her life. She just loved her children," said Lee-Ann's cousin Deborah Lariviere.
Detectives learned this family of four had a new fifth member: The 20-year-old nanny, Jamie Hathaway.
"All of a sudden we find out that he's having an affair with this girl," said Deborah.
And apparently Tim Shannon, a prominent local councilman, came clean about the affair to Lee-Ann.
"Apparently there were arguments," said Deborah. "The word has it that Tim was seeing a lawyer to divorce her. Between him and Jamie, I guess they felt they could just say to Lee-Ann, 'OK, you're going to pack up your things and you're going to leave.' Tim had asked her to move out."
The whole sordid betrayal threw Lee-Ann into a downward emotional spiral.
"Lee-Ann struggled with depression and other issues related to that, developed we believe a drinking issue. Tim Shannon ultimately decided he wanted to be with the younger woman," said prosecutor Joseph Bizon.
Cops say that on the last night of Lee-Ann's life, Dec. 28, 2012, she was drowning her heartbroken sorrows in hard liquor.
"The night of December 28th, we believe that Lee-Ann bought several bottles of Boone's Farm and Everclear and got drunk," said Bizon. "We are told when she was drinking, she would take a bath."
But what exactly happened next is a mystery. Until it wasn't.
Tim Shannon finds Lee-Ann and calls 911.
911: "How warm or cold is she?"
Shannon: "Um, cold."
911: "Cold? What's the water temperature?"
Shannon: "Oh, I drained it."
Cops arrive at the house and question Tim.
"He claimed she had slipped under the water on her own due to her intoxication, and that he found her that way," said Joseph Bizon.
Detectives quickly learn the nanny Jamie Hathaway happened to be out of the house with the kids the morning Lee-Ann was found in the tub.
"So we felt it was imperative to get some information from her," said Det. Shane Hasty.
Investigators immediately bring Jamie down to the station and grill her about Lee-Ann's sudden death. That interrogation was captured on an audio recording.
Detective: "What was your relationship with Tim?"
Jamie Hathaway: "He's one of my best friends."
As soon as detectives press further, Jamie openly admits to the sexual affair with Tim.
Detective: "Is there something that sparked between you and he..."
Hathaway: "Depends on what you mean."
Detective: "Was there an affair between you two?"
Hathaway: "Yeah."
Detective: "Would you say you and Tim are in love?"
Hathaway: "I am."
Detective: "With Tim?"
Hathaway: "Yes."
Suddenly cops wondered: Could their love affair be a motive for murder?
"Well, that fact that they had an extramarital affair alone is a reason for suspicion," said Shane Hasty.
And if that's not enough to cast doubt in the detectives' minds, the next clue was about to drop.
"She also informed us that the 29th, the date that Lee-Ann was found dead, was the day that she and Timothy had decided that she would be moving into the residence, and Lee-Ann would not be there anymore," said Det. Shane Hasty.
Detective: "So was the plan then that day that after Lee-Ann moved out, was gone out of the house, you were coming to stay?"
Hathaway: "Yep."
But Jamie claims a monkey-wrench was thrown into their plan when Lee-Ann accidentally drowned. Cops aren't buying Jamie's story and the case is quickly turning into a homicide investigation.
Detective: "If you want to help clear this up for yourself or any other questions we may have down the line, by all means this is your shining moment right here today."
Hathaway: "You think he killed her, is what you're telling me."
But what detectives were really thinking at the time is that a plan for divorce had long been underway. Others connected to Jamie Hathaway and Tim Shannon also believed something was up.
"I thought they were planning something," said Stacy Skorupa, Jamie's former roommate.
At one time, Jamie rented a room from Stacy Skorupa, who says she recalls the couple being there together and acting very suspiciously on several occasions.
"The feeling I got about Timothy and Jamie being together were a very unsettling, it was abnormal quiet with them in the room together," said Skorupa.
Detective: "Jamie, have you ever thought of drowning or hurting Lee-Ann?"
Hathaway: "There are times when I want to smack her, but to actually kill her, not really."
Detective: "Has Tim ever communicated to you that he wanted to harm Lee-Ann at any point?"
Hathaway: "None that I can recall."
"She stated that she did not have any involvement or that this was not a planned incident, but we were getting the feeling that it was, that this may have been premeditated," said Det. Hasty.
Detective: "Did you have anything to do with her death?"
Hathaway: "No."
Detective: "Did Tim have anything to do with her death?"
Hathaway: "I don't think he did."
But could detectives prove otherwise? Jamie revealed that she had already moved her personal belongings to the residence, packed in bins, sitting in Tim's storage shed. When cops raided the shed, they found a treasure trove of what could be incriminating evidence.
"We discovered documents in her handwriting where they were planning to go to Las Vegas for marriage," said Det. Hasty. "She had a checklist of things to do prior to being married. Our belief was the obvious reason is that she needed to be removed for their relationship to continue."
"She had diaries, and in these diaries she had one particular saying that I remembered: 'Burn after dying,'" said Oceana County Sheriff's Detective Mark Schneider. "It could have been 'burn after Lee-Ann Shannon was killed.'"
Then there were even more references. Were they possibly predicting Lee-Ann's last breaths? On a piece of notebook paper, an ominous list with "death surrounds the mother" and "suicide" in Jamie's handwriting. There's also a box labeled "go through last after Lee-Ann leaves."
Detectives also found jewelry that belonged to Lee-Ann's mother that had gone missing from the house. There's even a family photo, but Lee-Ann is folded out of the picture. Cops also scoured computers, where they found racy messages between Jamie and Tim.
"Tim and Jamie were very prolific chatters," said Bizon. "They would make plans for where they would meet for getting together, sex talk, pictures, clothed and naked, at least one picture of them being intimate together."
It's a long, hot, seemingly incriminating list of evidence. But now cops wondered: Did sexual intimacy and suspicious diary entries tucked away by the nanny add up to murder?
"We pored over everything we could looking for any evidence of collusion, any evidence that this was a plan, that there was some premeditation," said Bizon.
Despite the sizzling clues, cops had no physical evidence to hold Jamie on murder charges. Back at the station, they wrapped up their interview with the nanny.
They then set their sights on Tim.
"Jamie Hathaway left the building, we had a unit available and we informed that patrol officer that we wanted him to follow her to see where she goes," said Det. Hasty. "Because we needed to get to the Shannon residence, knocked upon the main door of the residence, could see Mr. Shannon inside and asked him to come down, and he did so voluntarily."
In the recorded interview, detectives question Tim about his relationship with Lee-Ann and his affair with Jamie -- then they go in for the jugular.
Detective: "You kind of see the problem we're developing here, Tim? You got the 'movie of the week' goin' on. Things don't make a whole lotta sense."
Hart, Michigan City Councilman Tim Shannon is about to hit the hot seat, facing serious questions after finding his wife's cold body in the family's bathtub. Detectives hauled Tim Shannon down to the station.
Detective: "I asked you to come down her because honestly we wanted to speak with you."
And right off the bat they ask about the steamy affair in an audio-recorded interrogation.
Detective: "Tim, there's a rumor going around that you had a sexual affair with Jamie."
"Almost immediately he inserted her into the role of the mother of those children, taking them places and doing things with them like a mother would," said Bizon.
Tim doesn't deny he saw Jamie as more than a second "mother" to his children. He was filing for divorce from his wife and he and Jamie planned to tie the knot in Vegas. But he claims coincidentally, Lee-Ann accidently drowned in the tub the very day Jamie was permanently moving in.
"Timothy Shannon had explained to Hart P.D. that his wife was a larger woman, I believe approximately 280 pounds, and that it was a smaller tub, and that when she did take a bath that she would have to scootch up against the shower wall above the nozzle," said Det. Hasty. "Well that just didn't seem logical. Nobody takes a bath like that. That also raised some suspicion."
And it didn't take long for cops to turn suspicion into some stunning admissions.
Detective: "Tell me what happened, OK, because what I've read so far I think is a bunch of B.S. If you've made a mistake, let's talk about that mistake you made. Let's get it out, get it out in front of us."
After only 30 minutes of increasingly tough police questioning, Tim suddenly seems to start caving.
Tim Shannon: "I didn't intend for her to die. We were intending on moving her out to her mother's, went to get her out of the tub, and she was staying there, staying drunk, started hitting me, so I just sit on her."
Detectives ears are perking up, hanging on his every word. They knew Tim was about to come clean and confess every dirty detail.
Detective: "Tim, I'm going to stop you right now. I'm going to read you your rights."
They read him his rights and urge him to keep talking. And he does.
Detective: "So she's drunk, she's in the tub."
Shannon: "She's drunk and she's flat on her back. Just trying to get her up, get her moving. She grabs, pulled me in."
Detective: "So you're on top of her, and then what?"
Shannon: "Mhm."
Detective: "You gotta tell us Tim."
From there, like water from a faucet, the truth comes pouring out.
Detective: "But you remained on top of her?"
Shannon: "I refocused, I get up, and she's out, not breathing. I don't know because I was out for a minute."
"He then states that he was holding her under the water and he then states that the only thing he can recall is that Lee-Ann began floating in the bathtub," said Det. Shane Hasty.
Detective: "When you come to?"
Shannon: "When I refocus, she's not breathing."
"He 'regained his focus,' is the term that he used, he realized what he had done," said Joseph Bizon.
Detective: "But by the time you stopped she was already deceased?
Shannon: "Mhm."
Detective: "And she remained under the water?"
Shannon: "She floated up, but no breathing."
Prosecutor Joseph Bizon says that after Tim Shannon drowned his wife, Tim changed his clothes, then callously waited several hours before calling 911.
"We believe that between him pushing her under the water and calling 911, that he changed his clothes and put his clothes in the laundry because they were wet," said Bizon.
Tim Shannon was arrested and held without bail, charged with one count of murder.
But despite all the secret diary entries and other suspicious evidence cops found in plastic bins at the home that day, Jamie Hathaway was not charged in connection with Lee-Ann Shannon's murder.
"Having gone over all the evidence we're not able to determine premeditation or plan that she was supposed to die," said Bizon.
Tim Shannon pleaded no contest and was convicted of second-degree murder.
"I don't think he is an evil person by nature," said Det. Mark Schneider. "I think he got to the point of being coaxed. I think he was at his wits' end, didn't know what else to do as far as juggling his wife and his girlfriend."
"Our belief was that Jamie Hathaway was infatuated with Timothy Shannon," said Det. Shane Hasty. "You could see that she was the person giving Timothy orders, whether that was right down to the point that Lee-Ann had to die, we're still unsure of today."
And Jamie became a witness for the prosecution. Despite not being able to pin any charges on her, investigators still have their doubts about the nanny's involvement.
"Jamie is still out, and follow-up conversations with Timothy Shannon, he was offered to tell us the whole truth, and he chose not to," said Det. Hasty. "I believe he's still protecting Jamie to this day."
Jamie Hathaway is reportedly living two hours away in Kalamazoo, Michigan, while Tim will serve 13 and a half to 25 years behind bars -- not eligible for freedom until he's well into his 50s.
At his sentencing, Lee-Ann's cousin Deborah Lariviere told Tim Shannon exactly what she hopes his future holds in prison.
"What happens in jail is not kindly, and that's the worst fate that I wished for him," said Deborah. "That someone would take him as a bride and really teach him what life's about."
Tim and Lee-Ann's kids are now living with his parents, and Tim is left with plenty of time to think about the path he chose, a path that tore apart a family, leaving his children without a mother or a father.
Lee-Ann Shannon’s Murder: Where Is Timothy Shannon Now?
The Cinemaholic
August 05, 2021
On December 29, 2012, Lee-Ann Shannon drowned to death in the bathtub at her Hart, Michigan, home. The police received a call from her husband, informing them that Lee-Ann had an accident that resulted in her death. Investigation Discovery’s ‘Forbidden: Dying for Love: Good Deed Punished’ chronicles the heinous murder and shows how the investigation soon turned into a homicide when the police began uncovering horrifying details about the slaying. Let’s take a trip into the dark mind of the killer and find out where he is today, shall we?
How Did Lee-Ann Shannon Die?
Lee-Ann Shannon was married to city councilman Timothy Shannon at the time of her murder. The two got acquainted in college and decided to get married soon after graduating. The couple shared two children and always put out the image of having a happy marriage. To take care of her children, Lee-Ann found employment as a part-time real estate agent. The family even took on Jamie Hathaway as a full-time nanny who lived with them and looked after both children.
On December 29, 2012, the police received a call from Timothy Shannon, who informed them that his wife had a tragic accident while in her bathtub. When first responders arrived on the scene, they found that Lee-Ann had drowned while in her bathtub. Her bloated body was lying inside, and the water had been drained. The medical examination showed that she was intoxicated with alcohol on the day of her drowning. The empty alcohol bottles were also found in her home. Believing it to be an accident, the investigation was wrapped up. However, a deeper look into the death would soon reveal a sinister plot.
Who Killed Lee-Ann Shannon?
With Timothy Shannon’s role as a city councilman, the neighboring Oceana County investigators looked at the case a second time. When looking into Lee-Ann’s death, authorities found that she had invited the nanny, Jamie Hathaway, into her own home despite others warning her not to do so. They even discovered that Jamie and Timothy had started an affair with Lee-Ann present in the house. Timothy told Lee-Ann about the affair and even informed her that he wanted out of their marriage and would be filing for divorce. This led Lee-Ann to spiral into depression as she struggled with her failing marriage. Moreover, the investigation revealed that Timothy had asked Lee-Ann to move out of their house the same day she was murdered.
Suspicion against the husband strengthened when officers noticed how Jamie Hathaway began living with Timothy immediately after Lee-Ann’s death. Although Jamie was not present in the Shannon residence at the time of the murder, authorities decided to take her in for questioning. While being interrogated, Jamie told police how she and Timothy had started a sexual affair and decided to live together after Lee-Ann left the house. Further evidence of their affair was found in Jamie’s diaries and online chats, which the police found when they searched the Shannon residence. With a motive forming in their minds, authorities then called Timothy Shannon to the police station and put him under heavy interrogation.
Although Timothy initially denied having anything to do with Lee-Ann’s murder, constant interrogation forced him to come clean. Timothy then told police how he found Lee-Ann intoxicated with alcohol in the bathtub on the day of the murder and tried to pull her out of the tub. According to the show, he alleged that his wife began hitting him and also pulled him into the tub with her, which resulted in him sitting on top of her. Timothy insisted that he lost focus for a while and confessed to holding Lee-Ann under the water for quite some time. When the city councilman finally came back to his senses, Lee-Ann was already dead and floating in the tub. With a confession on their hands, the police promptly arrested Timothy Shannon and charged him with murder.
Where Is Timothy Shannon Now?
Once Timothy was produced in court, he pleaded no contest to second-degree murder. Although once convicted of the charge, the persecution sought only the minimum sentence of 20 years. Ultimately, Timothy Shannon was sentenced to 13.5 to 75 years in prison, and the judge tasked the Michigan Dept. of Corrections parole board with determining when his sentence will end. Currently, Timothy Shannon remains incarcerated at the Thumb Correctional Facility in Lapeer, Michigan, with the earliest possible release date of 2026.
Hart man charged with open murder for allegedly drowning wife in tub
The Muskegon Chronicle
January 09, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/01/hart_man_charged_with_open_mur.html
HART, MI – A 34-year-old Hart man has been charged with open murder for allegedly drowning his wife in a bathtub.
Oceana County Sheriff’s Lt. Craig Mast said the incident was reported initially as an accidental drowning around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 29 at the couple’s home in the 200 block of Courtland Street in the city of Hart.
Timothy Shannon has been charged with open murder for the death of his wife of six years, Lee-Ann Elizabeth Shannon, 34.
“It is believed the suspect drowned the victim in the tub and attempted to report it as an accidental drowning. After Oceana County detectives interviewed the suspect yesterday evening, he was then lodged for homicide,” according to a press release from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.
Timothy Shannon has been arraigned in Oceana County’s 78th District Court. Bond was denied and he remains lodged in the Oceana County Jail.
The Muskegon Chronicle
January 09, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/01/hart_man_charged_with_open_mur.html
Oceana County Sheriff’s Lt. Craig Mast said the incident was reported initially as an accidental drowning around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 29 at the couple’s home in the 200 block of Courtland Street in the city of Hart.
Timothy Shannon has been charged with open murder for the death of his wife of six years, Lee-Ann Elizabeth Shannon, 34.
“It is believed the suspect drowned the victim in the tub and attempted to report it as an accidental drowning. After Oceana County detectives interviewed the suspect yesterday evening, he was then lodged for homicide,” according to a press release from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.
Timothy Shannon has been arraigned in Oceana County’s 78th District Court. Bond was denied and he remains lodged in the Oceana County Jail.
Councilman charged with drowning wife
'This was a crime of passion'
Wood TV
January 09, 2013
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/nw_mich/man-drowned-wife-in-bathtub
HART, Mich. (WOOD) - A city councilman in Hart has been charged with drowning his wife in the bathtub of their Oceana County residence.
Now, police say a councilman Tim Shannon's extramarital romantic relationship with another woman may have been one precursor to what they are calling a homicide.
Tim Shannon called police to his home at 214 Courtland Street in Hart around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2012. Authorities found Lee-Ann Shannon dead in the bathtub.
"The story that they were given was that this was an accidental drowning in the bathtub of the residence," Lt. Craig Mast of the Oceana County Sheriff's Department told 24 Hour News 8.
Police were skeptical.
"Thirty-four-year-olds in pretty good physical condition don't usually drown in their own bathtub," said Lt. Mast. "That's a pretty extraordinary story."
Both the public and those close to the Shannons began giving investigators tips, the county prosecutor told 24 Hour News 8. That is when the investigation took a turn toward murder. Soon, a suspect was developed: Tim Shannon.
"We took over the investigation because there's a city council member involved in it. Hart police wasn't interested in having a conflict of interest," said Mast.
Oceana County sheriff's detectives interviewed Shannon Tuesday night. At that point, they said, his story changed. Police and the prosecutor stopped short of confirming he confessed.
"After that statement he was placed under arrest," Lt. Mast said.
Tim Shannon, 34, was arraigned Wednesday on an open murder charge. Bond was denied.
Lt. Mast told 24 Hour News 8 Thursday they are hearing that Shannon has since hired an attorney.
The Shannons had been married for six years and had two children. But Tim Shannon had hired an attorney to handle a divorce, Mast confirmed 24 Hour News 8 Thursday.
And, Mast said, Shannon had been having an affair with a woman in her 30s who had been renting a room in the Shannons' home. Mast said that woman appeared to have "had a critical role in their pending divorce."
The woman has since moved away, but had previously been interviewed regarding the death. Authorities are not currently working to find her.
"Things may change because this goofy story has been unraveling quickly," Mast told 24 Hour News 8 Thursday over the phone.
Tim Shannon never denied having a relationship with the woman, Mast confirmed to 24 Hour News 8, and thought the accidental drowning stopry could cover up a "perfect murder."
"This was a crime of passion. You know, it certainly appears to be a crime of passion," Mast said Wednesday. "It seems like the marriage may have been deteriorating. And tempers got the best of them and made some decisions that one party is going to live to regret and the other didn't."
'This was a crime of passion'
Wood TV
January 09, 2013
http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/nw_mich/man-drowned-wife-in-bathtub
Now, police say a councilman Tim Shannon's extramarital romantic relationship with another woman may have been one precursor to what they are calling a homicide.
Tim Shannon called police to his home at 214 Courtland Street in Hart around 11:30 a.m. on Dec. 29, 2012. Authorities found Lee-Ann Shannon dead in the bathtub.
"The story that they were given was that this was an accidental drowning in the bathtub of the residence," Lt. Craig Mast of the Oceana County Sheriff's Department told 24 Hour News 8.
Police were skeptical.
"Thirty-four-year-olds in pretty good physical condition don't usually drown in their own bathtub," said Lt. Mast. "That's a pretty extraordinary story."
Both the public and those close to the Shannons began giving investigators tips, the county prosecutor told 24 Hour News 8. That is when the investigation took a turn toward murder. Soon, a suspect was developed: Tim Shannon.
"We took over the investigation because there's a city council member involved in it. Hart police wasn't interested in having a conflict of interest," said Mast.
Oceana County sheriff's detectives interviewed Shannon Tuesday night. At that point, they said, his story changed. Police and the prosecutor stopped short of confirming he confessed.
"After that statement he was placed under arrest," Lt. Mast said.
Tim Shannon, 34, was arraigned Wednesday on an open murder charge. Bond was denied.
Lt. Mast told 24 Hour News 8 Thursday they are hearing that Shannon has since hired an attorney.
The Shannons had been married for six years and had two children. But Tim Shannon had hired an attorney to handle a divorce, Mast confirmed 24 Hour News 8 Thursday.
And, Mast said, Shannon had been having an affair with a woman in her 30s who had been renting a room in the Shannons' home. Mast said that woman appeared to have "had a critical role in their pending divorce."
The woman has since moved away, but had previously been interviewed regarding the death. Authorities are not currently working to find her.
"Things may change because this goofy story has been unraveling quickly," Mast told 24 Hour News 8 Thursday over the phone.
Tim Shannon never denied having a relationship with the woman, Mast confirmed to 24 Hour News 8, and thought the accidental drowning stopry could cover up a "perfect murder."
"This was a crime of passion. You know, it certainly appears to be a crime of passion," Mast said Wednesday. "It seems like the marriage may have been deteriorating. And tempers got the best of them and made some decisions that one party is going to live to regret and the other didn't."
Hart woman allegedly drowned by husband in bathtub described as 'great, great parent'
The Muskegon Chronicle
January 09, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/01/hart_woman_who_police_say_was.html
HART, MI – Lee-Ann Shannon was a loving mother to her two young children and devoted her time to Hart Public Schools’ Head Start program, an official said.
Those who knew her were “shocked” to learn Wednesday that her husband of six years, Timothy Nathaniel Shannon, 34, has been charged with open murder in connection with her Dec. 29 death.
Authorities say Timothy Shannon drowned his wife in a bathtub inside their Courtland Street home in Hart. Police said the autopsy report lists her cause of death as drowning.
Jodi Munoz, director of Early Childhood Programs for Hart Public Schools, said her staff is “just devastated” at the news. Lee-Ann Shannon worked there with Munoz for more than a year.
“It’s pretty shocking. We’re having a hard time dealing with it,” Munoz said. “She was very involved in paying it forward. She was very involved in her kids’ education. We will miss her. She was a great, great parent and involved with her children. She was all about her kids.”
The couple has a son and daughter, 3 and 4 years old, Munoz said.
Authorities said Timothy Shannon is a member of the Hart City Council. A woman at Hart City Hall declined to confirm that he is a member of the council.
A call to City Manager Stan Rickard wasn't immediately returned Wednesday and other city officials declined to comment.
Martha Ann Piegols of Hart, who identified herself as Timothy Shannon’s grandmother, declined to give a statement about his arrest.
“I have no thoughts on that,” she said.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Chaffin.
Munoz said Lee-Ann Shannon was very hands-on with her children.
“She attended every playgroup that we had on Fridays. She was very involved with her children. She was on our parent committee and represented our program in the Muskegon area,” Munoz said.
Meanwhile, Munoz said the staff is trying hard to provide the Shannon children with some normalcy in the meantime.
“The children were in class today, which is good,” Munoz said. “We are hoping they will continue to attend here. We are trying to keep the children’s lives as normal as possible. We will miss her.”
Detective: Police certain that Hart City Council member drowned wife in bathtub
The Muskegon Chronicle
January 09, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/01/authorities_are_still_investig.html
HART, MI -- Initially reported as an accidental drowning, investigators are quite certain that Hart City Council member Timothy Shannon is responsible for killing his wife by drowning her in the couple's bathtub on Dec. 29.
Lee-Ann Elizabeth Shannon, 34, was found dead in a bathtub in her home in the 200 block of Courtland Street in Hart.
Authorities said the incident was initially reported as an accidental drowning on the day of Shannon’s murder.
As the investigation unfolded, Oceana County Sheriff's Det. Shane Hasty said police became quite certain that Lee-Ann Shannon’s husband of six years, Timothy Nathaniel Shannon, 34, had allegedly drowned her in a bathtub.
“Adults don’t drown in bathtubs,” Hasty said.
He would not comment on whether Timothy Shannon admitted to killing his wife. He has been charged with open murder in connection with his wife’s Dec. 29 death.
Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon said the Hart Police Department called in the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the death once it began looking like a homicide, because the suspect is a Hart City Council member.
“I’m really grateful for the work of the Hart city police force and the Oceana County sheriff’s department for not letting this sift through the cracks,” Bizon said. “They did a wonderful job of investigating this. I just give them a lot of credit for doing a very professional job.”
The couple have a son and daughter, 3 and 4 years old. Hasty confirmed that the two children are under the care of their grandparents.
The Muskegon Chronicle
January 09, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/01/hart_woman_who_police_say_was.html
Those who knew her were “shocked” to learn Wednesday that her husband of six years, Timothy Nathaniel Shannon, 34, has been charged with open murder in connection with her Dec. 29 death.
Authorities say Timothy Shannon drowned his wife in a bathtub inside their Courtland Street home in Hart. Police said the autopsy report lists her cause of death as drowning.
Jodi Munoz, director of Early Childhood Programs for Hart Public Schools, said her staff is “just devastated” at the news. Lee-Ann Shannon worked there with Munoz for more than a year.
“It’s pretty shocking. We’re having a hard time dealing with it,” Munoz said. “She was very involved in paying it forward. She was very involved in her kids’ education. We will miss her. She was a great, great parent and involved with her children. She was all about her kids.”
The couple has a son and daughter, 3 and 4 years old, Munoz said.
Authorities said Timothy Shannon is a member of the Hart City Council. A woman at Hart City Hall declined to confirm that he is a member of the council.
A call to City Manager Stan Rickard wasn't immediately returned Wednesday and other city officials declined to comment.
Martha Ann Piegols of Hart, who identified herself as Timothy Shannon’s grandmother, declined to give a statement about his arrest.
“I have no thoughts on that,” she said.
Lee-Ann Shannon is survived by her mother, Irene Chaffin of Shelby, and brother, Tom Chaffin, in Texas. She was a graduate of Spring Arbor College and had a bachelor’s degree in early education. According to her obituary, she attended First Baptist Church of Hart.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Chaffin.
Munoz said Lee-Ann Shannon was very hands-on with her children.
“She attended every playgroup that we had on Fridays. She was very involved with her children. She was on our parent committee and represented our program in the Muskegon area,” Munoz said.
Meanwhile, Munoz said the staff is trying hard to provide the Shannon children with some normalcy in the meantime.
“The children were in class today, which is good,” Munoz said. “We are hoping they will continue to attend here. We are trying to keep the children’s lives as normal as possible. We will miss her.”
The Muskegon Chronicle
January 09, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/01/authorities_are_still_investig.html
HART, MI -- Initially reported as an accidental drowning, investigators are quite certain that Hart City Council member Timothy Shannon is responsible for killing his wife by drowning her in the couple's bathtub on Dec. 29.
Lee-Ann Elizabeth Shannon, 34, was found dead in a bathtub in her home in the 200 block of Courtland Street in Hart.
As the investigation unfolded, Oceana County Sheriff's Det. Shane Hasty said police became quite certain that Lee-Ann Shannon’s husband of six years, Timothy Nathaniel Shannon, 34, had allegedly drowned her in a bathtub.
“Adults don’t drown in bathtubs,” Hasty said.
He would not comment on whether Timothy Shannon admitted to killing his wife. He has been charged with open murder in connection with his wife’s Dec. 29 death.
Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon said the Hart Police Department called in the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office to investigate the death once it began looking like a homicide, because the suspect is a Hart City Council member.
“I’m really grateful for the work of the Hart city police force and the Oceana County sheriff’s department for not letting this sift through the cracks,” Bizon said. “They did a wonderful job of investigating this. I just give them a lot of credit for doing a very professional job.”
The couple have a son and daughter, 3 and 4 years old. Hasty confirmed that the two children are under the care of their grandparents.
Shocking news for Hart: City council member charged with drowning wife in bathtub
The Muskegon Chronicle
January 09, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/01/shocking_news_for_hart_city_co.html
The Muskegon Chronicle
January 09, 2013
http://www.mlive.com/news/muskegon/index.ssf/2013/01/shocking_news_for_hart_city_co.html
HART, MI – Residents of this small Oceana County town are shocked at the news that Hart City Council member Timothy Nathaniel Shannon has been charged with drowning his wife in the couple’s bathtub.
Shannon, 34, was arraigned Wednesday on a charge of open murder in the Dec. 29 death of Lee-Ann Elizabeth Shannon, 34, his wife of six years. He is being held without bond in the Oceana County Jail.
Oceana County Sheriff’s Lt. Craig Mast said the incident was reported initially as an accidental drowning around 11:30 a.m. Dec. 29 at the couple’s home in the 200 block of Courtland Street in the city of Hart. Police said the autopsy report lists her cause of death as drowning.
Shannon, 34, was arraigned Wednesday on a charge of open murder in the Dec. 29 death of Lee-Ann Elizabeth Shannon, 34, his wife of six years. He is being held without bond in the Oceana County Jail.
Oceana County Sheriff’s Lt. Craig Mast said the incident was reported initially as an accidental drowning around 11:30 a.m. Dec. 29 at the couple’s home in the 200 block of Courtland Street in the city of Hart. Police said the autopsy report lists her cause of death as drowning.
The Hart Police Department initially investigated the death but soon called in the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office because Tim Shannon is a Hart City Council member, Oceana County Prosecutor Joseph Bizon said.
“It is believed the suspect drowned the victim in the tub and attempted to report it as an accidental drowning. After Oceana County detectives interviewed the suspect (Tuesday) evening, he was then lodged for homicide,” according to a press release from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.
As the investigation unfolded, Sheriff's Det. Shane Hasty said, police became certain the case was a homicide.
“Adults don’t drown in bathtubs,” Hasty said.
He would not comment on whether Shannon admitted to killing his wife. Bizon, the prosecutor, also would not comment on specifics of the investigation.
Bizon praised police for their work on the case.
“I’m really grateful for the work of the Hart city police force and the Oceana County sheriff’s department for not letting this sift through the cracks,” Bizon said. “They did a wonderful job of investigating this. I just give them a lot of credit for doing a very professional job.”
The couple have a son and daughter, 3 and 4 years old. Hasty said the children are under the care of their grandparents.
Lee-Ann Shannon was a loving mother to her children and devoted her time to Hart Public Schools’ Head Start program, an official said.
Those who knew her were shocked to learn Wednesday that her husband has been charged in her death.
Jodi Munoz, director of Early Childhood Programs for Hart Public Schools, said her staff is “just devastated” at the news. Lee-Ann Shannon worked there with Munoz for more than a year.
“It’s pretty shocking. We’re having a hard time dealing with it,” Munoz said. “She was very involved in paying it forward. She was very involved in her kids’ education. We will miss her. She was a great, great parent and involved with her children. She was all about her kids.”
City Manager Stan Rickard didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday, and other city officials declined to comment.
Shannon has been on the city council since 2011. He was elected unopposed May 3 of that year, receiving 85 votes.
Martha Ann Piegols of Hart, who identified herself as Timothy Shannon’s grandmother, declined to give a statement about his arrest.
“I have no thoughts on that,” she said.
Lee-Ann Shannon is survived by her mother, Irene Chaffin of Shelby, and brother, Tom Chaffin, in Texas. She was a graduate of Spring Arbor College and had a bachelor’s degree in early education. According to her obituary, she attended First Baptist Church of Hart.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Chaffin.
Munoz said Lee-Ann Shannon was very hands-on with her children.
“She attended every playgroup that we had on Fridays. She was very involved with her children. She was on our parent committee and represented our program in the Muskegon area,” Munoz said.
Meanwhile, Munoz said the staff is trying hard to provide the Shannon children with some normalcy in the meantime.
“The children were in class today, which is good,” Munoz said. “We are hoping they will continue to attend here. We are trying to keep the children’s lives as normal as possible. We will miss her.”
Murder suspect arraigned in Hart
Oceana's Herald-Journal
January 09, 2013
http://www.oceanaheraldjournal.com/news.php?story_id=47642
Hart City Councilman Timothy Shannon, 34, of Hart, was arraigned Wednesday on one count of open murder in connection with the Dec. 29 death of his wife, Lee-Ann Shannon, 34, of Hart.
Oceana County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Craig Mast said sheriff’s deputies and Hart City Police were dispatched to the scene at 214 S. Courtland St., Hart about midday Dec. 29 for a dead on arrival complaint where Lee-Ann Shannon was found dead in the bathtub. Mast said Timothy Shannon attempted to report the incident as an accidental drowning, but following interviews police believe the Timothy Shannon intentionally drowned Lee-Ann and tried to make it look like an accident. Timothy Shannon was arrested late Tuesday afternoon and is being held without bond in the Oceana County Jail.
“It is believed the suspect drowned the victim in the tub and attempted to report it as an accidental drowning. After Oceana County detectives interviewed the suspect (Tuesday) evening, he was then lodged for homicide,” according to a press release from the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office.
As the investigation unfolded, Sheriff's Det. Shane Hasty said, police became certain the case was a homicide.
“Adults don’t drown in bathtubs,” Hasty said.
He would not comment on whether Shannon admitted to killing his wife. Bizon, the prosecutor, also would not comment on specifics of the investigation.
Bizon praised police for their work on the case.
“I’m really grateful for the work of the Hart city police force and the Oceana County sheriff’s department for not letting this sift through the cracks,” Bizon said. “They did a wonderful job of investigating this. I just give them a lot of credit for doing a very professional job.”
Lee-Ann Shannon was a loving mother to her children and devoted her time to Hart Public Schools’ Head Start program, an official said.
Those who knew her were shocked to learn Wednesday that her husband has been charged in her death.
Jodi Munoz, director of Early Childhood Programs for Hart Public Schools, said her staff is “just devastated” at the news. Lee-Ann Shannon worked there with Munoz for more than a year.
“It’s pretty shocking. We’re having a hard time dealing with it,” Munoz said. “She was very involved in paying it forward. She was very involved in her kids’ education. We will miss her. She was a great, great parent and involved with her children. She was all about her kids.”
City Manager Stan Rickard didn’t immediately return a call seeking comment Wednesday, and other city officials declined to comment.
Shannon has been on the city council since 2011. He was elected unopposed May 3 of that year, receiving 85 votes.
Martha Ann Piegols of Hart, who identified herself as Timothy Shannon’s grandmother, declined to give a statement about his arrest.
“I have no thoughts on that,” she said.
Lee-Ann Shannon is survived by her mother, Irene Chaffin of Shelby, and brother, Tom Chaffin, in Texas. She was a graduate of Spring Arbor College and had a bachelor’s degree in early education. According to her obituary, she attended First Baptist Church of Hart.
She was preceded in death by her father, Robert Chaffin.
Munoz said Lee-Ann Shannon was very hands-on with her children.
“She attended every playgroup that we had on Fridays. She was very involved with her children. She was on our parent committee and represented our program in the Muskegon area,” Munoz said.
Meanwhile, Munoz said the staff is trying hard to provide the Shannon children with some normalcy in the meantime.
“The children were in class today, which is good,” Munoz said. “We are hoping they will continue to attend here. We are trying to keep the children’s lives as normal as possible. We will miss her.”
Murder suspect arraigned in Hart
Oceana's Herald-Journal
January 09, 2013
http://www.oceanaheraldjournal.com/news.php?story_id=47642
Hart City Councilman Timothy Shannon, 34, of Hart, was arraigned Wednesday on one count of open murder in connection with the Dec. 29 death of his wife, Lee-Ann Shannon, 34, of Hart.
Oceana County Sheriff’s Department Lt. Craig Mast said sheriff’s deputies and Hart City Police were dispatched to the scene at 214 S. Courtland St., Hart about midday Dec. 29 for a dead on arrival complaint where Lee-Ann Shannon was found dead in the bathtub. Mast said Timothy Shannon attempted to report the incident as an accidental drowning, but following interviews police believe the Timothy Shannon intentionally drowned Lee-Ann and tried to make it look like an accident. Timothy Shannon was arrested late Tuesday afternoon and is being held without bond in the Oceana County Jail.
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