Teacher’s Aide Found Strangled in Her Connecticut Apartment

you're not in any trouble we're not looking to make things worse no no listen it don't don't be afraid we don't even want to we don't even have to go into the apartment just come outside and talk to us honey listen you're not in any trouble okay we understand that you know yeah don't be I know don't be afraid don't don't be afraid honey don't be afraid I'm sorry so it's nearing 11 p.m. when Waterbury police arrive at the home of 37 year old Shannon Gritsbach on November 1st 2022 their knock at the door comes three days after police were called to investigate a suspicious robbery and homicide at the apartment in Waterbury Connecticut once inside law enforcement found the body of a woman laying face down on the floor of her own living room so the door was unlocked we have no idea the fire got here first okay the fire was here first it was open for us because the fire was gone the fire was already gone awesome yeah you didn't pull or roll or anything we rolled it so in the fire department yeah what was on her face anything yeah it's like this very sweatshirt thing that's wrapped around her face the other side kind of looks like it goes in her mouth peteek yeah anything like that oh she's got lividity down there but her eyes are kind of rigored shut how long you think so let me ask you this then that thing is wrapped around her neck wrapped around her neck like choking or it's like I mean so you can see but it looks like it goes into her mouth well you can see it's around here too yeah it looks like a sweatshirt or something it looks like it got more in her mouth than around her face yeah it's like a sweatshirt or something it looks like it got more in her mouth than around her face yeah it's like a sweatshirt or something it looks like it got more in her face yeah it's like it got more in her mouth than around her neck around her face yeah it's like it got more in her mouth than around her face yeah it's like it got more in her mouth than around her face the woman is identified as 34 the woman is identified as 34 the woman is identified as 34 year old shelly stamp she worked for the year old shelly stamp she worked for the year old shelly stamp she worked for the waterbury public school system as a waterbury public school system as a waterbury public school system as a paraeducator for children with special paraeducator for children with special paraeducator for children with special needs stamp also has two part-time jobs needs stamp also has two part-time jobs needs stamp also has two part-time jobs as a waitress as detectives comb through as a waitress as detectives comb through as a waitress as detectives comb through the crime scene to try to learn who the crime scene to try to learn who the crime scene to try to learn who would want to hurt a woman who spent would want to hurt a woman who spent would want to hurt a woman who spent her days teaching kids with special her days teaching kids with special her days teaching kids with special needs they discovered that the needs they discovered that the needs they discovered that the circumstances of her death appear circumstances of her death appear circumstances of her death appear strange strange strange i have no idea what happened you said i have no idea what happened you said i have no idea what happened you said so many keys were found outside too so many keys were found outside too so many keys were found outside too yep and they were found keys yesterday yep and they were found keys yesterday yep and they were found keys yesterday outside in the uh outside in the uh outside in the uh and no one thought to check out until and no one thought to check out until and no one thought to check out until today today today probably not all right probably not all right probably not all right well up there i seem to find anybody well up there i seem to find anybody well up there i seem to find anybody that knows her her family member first that knows her her family member first that knows her her family member first he came in here and found her it was uh i he came in here and found her it was uh i he came in here and found her it was uh i think you said her brother all right think you said her brother all right think you said her brother all right yep yep yep detectives knock on doors and gather detectives knock on doors and gather detectives knock on doors and gather information about anything residents information about anything residents information about anything residents to a crime to a crime to a crime sometimes witnesses can break a case sometimes witnesses can break a case sometimes witnesses can break a case wide open and other times they lead wide open and other times they lead wide open and other times they lead investigators in an unexpected direction investigators in an unexpected direction investigators in an unexpected direction what's up do you know like a short what's up do you know like a short what's up do you know like a short spanish lady lives over here in these spanish lady lives over here in these spanish lady lives over here in these apartments apartments apartments yeah i was just getting ready to come yeah i was just getting ready to come yeah i was just getting ready to come up to you guys up to you guys up to you guys oh okay you guys found the keys no it oh okay you guys found the keys no it oh okay you guys found the keys no it wasn't it it wasn't me with downstairs wasn't it it wasn't me with downstairs wasn't it it wasn't me with downstairs oh oh oh okay but uh we have some okay but uh we have some okay but uh we have some because she it was weird she texted me because she it was weird she texted me because she it was weird she texted me in the middle of the night because the camera they have that blue bag downstairs they have that blue bag downstairs they have that blue bag downstairs who does who does who does the spanish lady yep okay the spanish lady yep okay the spanish lady yep okay at this point in the investigation at this point in the investigation at this point in the investigation there's no telling whether the couple's there's no telling whether the couple's there's no telling whether the couple's account will lead law enforcement to account will lead law enforcement to account will lead law enforcement to their suspect but detectives are ready their suspect but detectives are ready their suspect but detectives are ready and willing to listen and willing to listen and willing to listen i came last night it was late so i came last night it was late so i came last night it was late so someone will park on my spot someone will park on my spot someone will park on my spot and i beep so they could move and and and and he told me oh i can't move because i and he told me oh i can't move because i and he told me oh i can't move because i don't have gas don't have gas don't have gas on the car but that was the person that on the car but that was the person that on the car but that was the person that i never seen before here i never seen before here i never seen before here and she couldn't move the car so i took and she couldn't move the car so i took and she couldn't move the car so i took on this pad and i came here on this pad and i came here on this pad and i came here so um she was like beeping her home so um she was like beeping her home so um she was like beeping her home like for someone to come out like for someone to come out like for someone to come out and um nobody came out so she was there and um nobody came out so she was there and um nobody came out so she was there for a long long time for a long long time for a long long time and she another girl came but the girl and she another girl came but the girl and she another girl came but the girl that came came from behind that came came from behind that came came from behind i don't know he's coming from the i don't know he's coming from the i don't know he's coming from the and and and when she came out the girl in the car when she came out the girl in the car when she came out the girl in the car wasn't there she already had that wasn't there she already had that wasn't there she already had that what was that unfamiliar woman doing what was that unfamiliar woman doing what was that unfamiliar woman doing outside the apartment complex outside the apartment complex outside the apartment complex if she didn't live there investigators if she didn't live there investigators if she didn't live there investigators wondered if she might have been waiting wondered if she might have been waiting wondered if she might have been waiting on someone who did on someone who did and the girl left the both of the girl and the girl left the both of the girl and the girl left the both of the girl left and they left a bag a blue bag left and they left a bag a blue bag left and they left a bag a blue bag investigators hit a bump when the investigators hit a bump when the investigators hit a bump when the witness the couple upstairs referred to witness the couple upstairs referred to witness the couple upstairs referred to as the spanish lady doesn't speak as the spanish lady doesn't speak as the spanish lady doesn't speak english english english luckily another resident of the complex luckily another resident of the complex luckily another resident of the complex is willing to translate english english english english what did you do with the with the keys what did you do with the with the keys what did you do with the with the keys when you and the keys in the bag what did when you and the keys in the bag what did when you and the keys in the bag what did you do with them when you got to sit you do with them when you got to sit you do with them when you got to sit with the keys and the bag when i got up with the keys and the bag when i got up with the keys and the bag when i got up in the morning i looked but it was very dark in the morning i looked but it was very dark in the morning i looked but it was very dark so i didn't want to go out and talk so i didn't want to go out and talk so i didn't want to go out and talk so i looked outside and then i threw the outside and then i threw the outside and then i threw the she said that when she saw the bag with she said that when she saw the bag with she said that when she saw the bag with the clothes and keys the clothes and keys the clothes and keys she brought it to the house yeah okay she brought it to the house yeah okay she brought it to the house yeah okay to your house to your house to your house are they still in there are they still in there are they still in there in the end the detectives get their in the end the detectives get their in the end the detectives get their message across and the witness hands the message across and the witness hands the message across and the witness hands the mysterious blue bag over to detectives mysterious blue bag over to detectives mysterious blue bag over to detectives thank you thank you thank you okay that's everything that was in there okay that's everything that was in there okay that's everything that was in there that's it that's it that's it from the outside investigators can tell from the outside investigators can tell from the outside investigators can tell the bag likely belongs to stamp the bag likely belongs to stamp the bag likely belongs to stamp inside the bagger clothing and shoes inside the bagger clothing and shoes inside the bagger clothing and shoes to police it appears that whoever killed to police it appears that whoever killed to police it appears that whoever killed stamp must have also ransacked and stamp must have also ransacked and stamp must have also ransacked and robbed her apartment robbed her apartment robbed her apartment footage captured by witnesses shows a footage captured by witnesses shows a footage captured by witnesses shows a woman holding the blue bag outside of a woman holding the blue bag outside of a woman holding the blue bag outside of a white sedan in the complex parking lot white sedan in the complex parking lot white sedan in the complex parking lot visible in the photo the vehicle's visible in the photo the vehicle's visible in the photo the vehicle's license plate license plate license plate the evidence compiled led investigators the evidence compiled led investigators the evidence compiled led investigators here the home of shannon gritsbach here the home of shannon gritsbach here the home of shannon gritsbach there appear to be multiple units in the there appear to be multiple units in the there appear to be multiple units in the building detectives split up to speak building detectives split up to speak building detectives split up to speak with anyone who's willing to talk with anyone who's willing to talk with anyone who's willing to talk hello hi sorry to bother you hello we're Police officers. Is there an adult or somebody else went home with you? No, my mom's not home. How old are you? Well, I'm 20. Oh, okay, you're an adult. You're like me, you look young. Just had a quick question. We're looking for the girl that was staying in the basement. Have you seen her here lately? Oh, I have not. I don't know. Do you know that there was a girl staying in the basement? Yeah. Okay, all right. We know that police and DCF were out here before and stuff like that in the past, but just wondering if you've seen her here recently. No. Not that you know of? No, I haven't. Okay. Meanwhile, outside the upstairs unit, two other officers are still speaking with Shannon Gritzbach. She finally agrees to meet them out front. Based on Gritzbach's behavior, they believe she may have some of the answers they're looking for. We're detectives and investigators from the Waterbury Police Department. Our word, if we tell you something, we're Waterbury, okay? So listen, you're not in any trouble. Okay. I don't think I've done anything, especially in Waterbury, so. But, you know, I just want you to know how important it is for you to talk to us about certain things, okay? Just because we don't want it to escalate, and we don't want you to put yourself in a position that you shouldn't be in, okay? We're talking to you more as a witness as opposed to a suspect, okay, so to speak, okay? You know, sometimes people put others in a tough situation. Okay. It's up to you to kind of get yourself out of it, okay? Can you tell me what's going on? Gritzbach tells police she's struggling with active drug addiction and awaiting a bed at a local rehab program. But she doesn't appear to have a public criminal record. It's the worst thing I can do is steal a muffin from the guest station. Listen, we're not worried about that. We're not worried about that. You know, we're not worried about anything other than, you know, again, what we kind of talked to you about. We're not worried about any narcotics or anything. You know, we do wish that you get help, and maybe we could. You know, and because your kids need you, right? You know, and don't allow someone to put you again in a spot that could jeopardize that. For now, Gritzbach is considered a witness, and investigators already have an idea of who their prime suspect might be. They just haven't been able to find her. Waterbury police are looking for. For a woman named Heather Anderson, who they're told used to reside with Gritzbach. Anderson is a repeat criminal offender in Waterbury. and a known drug user her public rap sheet dates back to 2016 when she was charged with larceny in 2018 anderson was sentenced to a year in jail for possession of cannabis when she violated her probation in 2020 she was sentenced to 10 more months in jail now police are hoping to speak with her about a much heavier offense murder so do you remember the um the last time oh i didn't know what you're talking about i know what you're talking about i want to let her in my car yeah so so away from my car so listen away from my car so those are some of the things that we would like to talk to you about that's all because again you know i don't know where she is though that's fine she's not allowed here thief i've caught her stealing from me two times okay and then the other night she was getting changed i let her take a shower here she got my father's bra on and my daughter left in the dirty hamper in the bathroom i'm like are you kidding law enforcement eases grits box concerns and asks her to head to the station with them to answer more in-depth questions she agrees yeah that woman is so disgusting she came back to my house you're talking about uh the robber okay um yep yeah i felt bad for her she didn't know where to stay you know she's primarily taking a shower in a while it's kind of slow okay and i let her sleep in my basement yeah because she had stolen stuff from my house i had a camera in my bedroom what was she what was she stealing from um her house she went through my husband's wallet while he was sleeping and took his money and he woke up and he said hey if i haven't heard books in my wallet did you touch it and he's you know looked around sure you don't spend it and he looked at the camera and you can see her crawl on the floor over to his nightstand and go in his wallet yeah how long was she staying with you um a few weeks how long how long have you known her okay a few months like six months maybe i met her gritsbach opens up about her relationship with anderson apparently anderson is no longer staying in her basement and the two haven't seen each other since gritsbach dropped her off in the neighboring city of hartford several days ago two days later on november 3rd police finally tracked down the basement dweller they've been looking for after all this time she's been hiding in plain sight for a long time she's been hiding in plain sight for a long time and she's never been seen again for a long time she's been hiding in plain sight for a long time stop. You're not gonna overpower us so just stop. Yes. For what? For what? Take the purse off of her so we can lock it on her hands. Thank you. For what? What did I do? Oh, what did I do? Go in a lighter, hon. What did I do? What did I do? What did I do? No. Do you have anything sharp on you? No, I do not. Crack pipes? Yeah. Okay, put it on her, please. detectives put the pipes found on anderson's person into her bag but the paraphernalia charge is the least of her worries what did i do you have a warrant we're going to talk about it okay is there a pga is it like there's no bond like let's keep it all right we'll talk we'll talk at the police department okay is there a pga is it like there's no bond like let's keep it all right we'll talk we'll talk on the way to the station Anderson insists that she hasn't been to Waterbury in months but police have video evidence of her going in and out of Stamp's apartment complex for over an hour. After Anderson's arrest, more alleged details of the killing are revealed, slowly. On the evening of October 29th, Shelley Stamp had just left her serving job and returned home to the apartment complex where she was living. That's when Anderson saw her outside. Anderson likely saw her as an easy target and followed her inside. According to the prosecution, her intention was to rob Stamp for however much cash she had on her. But Stamp put up a fight. The two got into a physical altercation that left Stamp injured. Prosecutors said Anderson then strangled Stamp with her own sweatshirt and stuffed part of it into her mouth. The medical examiner determined that Shelly Stamp died from either strangulation or suffocation. Camera footage obtained by police showed Anderson leaving the apartment with Stamp's blue bag of shoes, her wallet, and a container of leftover spaghetti. As far as the cash that made Stamp the random target of such a brutal killing, $70 was all she had on her. Anderson allegedly used the money to buy drugs. Bank statements show that one of Stamp's credit cards was used at a gas station. Stamp's debit card was also used after her death at a Burger King in Hartford, the same city where Gritsbach told officers she'd dropped Anderson off. A week later, on November 7th, police are looking for Shannon Gritsbach again, And this time, it appears they have a warrant. Hello, Shannon? Shannon, it's the police department, you hear? Hello, Shannon? Shannon, you hear? Hello? "Shan, it's the police department. You hear?" "Hello?" That's when police enter the basement for the first time. The place where Gritsbot claims Anderson had previously been staying. "Pull it on." "Shanon!" This is ridiculous. the table, officers can see tinfoil and what looks like a small bottle of alcohol. It appears that whoever was living down here was using the space to do drugs. Because Anderson and Gritsbach are both combating addiction, it's hard to tell who might have been down there last. I wouldn't know what was missing. The base company was worse than what I've seen. Is this a f***ing home company? I don't know. I checked the closet. Oh, did you check? Yep. I checked the closet, underneath that bed. Places that would make us look like f***ing we missed. Oh, this is a mess. What the f***? We were here last week, right? By the following day, Shannon Gritzbach is also in custody. Investigators learned that the unfamiliar woman who one neighbor saw waiting in her car outside, the woman who claimed she couldn't find a new parking spot because she didn't have enough gas, that was Shannon Gritzbach, the getaway driver. All along, Gritsbach seems to be telling half-truths to investigators. Heather Anderson was a thief, and Gritsbach did drive to Hartford. Conveniently, all of Gritsbach's stories left out one key detail. The murder, and how Gritsbach waited outside for it to all be over. Officers charge Heather Anderson with murder, conspiracy to commit home invasion, robbery, and assault. The charges seem to fit the crime, but in November 2023, Stamp's family learns that her sentence might not hold. Just before the holidays, Anderson accepts a plea deal of 30 years in prison. She enters her plea under the Alford Doctrine, not admitting guilt but acknowledging that the prosecution has enough evidence to convict her of the murder of Shelly Stamp. In exchange, she evades a life sentence. Heather Anderson, now 36, is expected to be released from prison in 2054. She will be 66 years old. Shannon Gritzbach is charged with two misdemeanors in relation to Stamp's death. She allegedly missed a court appearance and is not in jail.