A Georgiana man admitted to the rape and murder of a 72-year-old lady in 2012. Shawn McClain accepted a plea deal and was sentenced to life in prison for first-degree murder and rape. He will be eligible for release in the near future. After being accused with the murder of Dorothy Leatherwood, who was discovered stabbed to death at her house on November 14, 2012, a Butler County grand jury indicted McClain for capital murder in March of 2013.
Dorothy Leatherwood’s body was discovered at her house in Georgiana, Alabama, and her family was in quest of answers. Many people were perplexed as to how such a well-liked member of the community could be murdered.
‘Murder Comes to Town: Dorothy Did Right,’ a documentary on Investigation Discovery, focuses on how the authorities tracked out Dorothy’s killer and how biological evidence was vital in securing a conviction. So, shall we investigate what transpired?
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When and How Did Dorothy Leatherwood Die?
Dorothy Leatherwood grew up in a large family as the oldest daughter. Because her parents were labouring to make ends meet, she was responsible for caring for her nine siblings as she grew up. She moved to New York after graduating college and worked in the medical supply industry for more than three decades.
Following her father’s death in 1996, she returned to Georgiana to care for her sick mother. Dorothy was a Sunday school teacher who had recently lost her spouse a year before the incident.
On November 14, 2012, at 7:30 a.m., Dorothy’s friends came by the house to pick her up for a Bible study session. She did not, however, come to the door. When her companions discovered her on the bedroom floor, they quickly dialled 911.
According to the episode, the 72-year-old was just wearing a bathrobe and was lying in a pool of blood on the floor. Dorothy had been stabbed in the neck and had been sexually raped, according to an autopsy.
Who KilledDorothy Leatherwood and Why?
No traces of forced entry were found at the site, leading officials to believe that Dorothy Leatherwood knew her killer and had let him in. A handwritten note was discovered in the living room during the search and was taken for analysis. Neighbors were interviewed as part of the investigation, and authorities eventually came upon Shawn McClain. He lived close to Dorothy’s house and had previously performed odd jobs for her.
Shawn had developmental difficulties and lived with his family, according to the episode. Dorothy was killed on November 12, 2012, just two days before she was discovered, according to the autopsy. Shawn replied he was at his father’s house that day when asked where he was.
Another piece of evidence was discovered during a search of his home: a T-shirt with what seemed to be bloodstains on it. This was sent in for evaluation. The DNA on it was Dorothy’s blood and Shawn’s DNA, according to the results.
Shawn’s case was strengthened when a handwriting expert determined that the writing on the note was identical to Shawn’s. When questioned, he admitted to the incident. Shawn admitted to being inside the house and stabbing Dorothy with a knife, but then claimed to have blacked out.
According to the show, he claimed that Dorothy owed him money for some past labour. She didn’t have any money at the moment, and the argument escalated to the point where Shawn claimed she hit him, resulting in a fight.
What happened to Shawn McClain and Why?
Shawn McClain, who was roughly 27 years old at the time, was arrested in March 2013. Shawn was said to have an IQ of 53 and reading abilities of a kindergartener. Therefore the prosecution did not seek the death penalty after a court found he was unfit due to his mental handicap.
Instead, he pled guilty to murder and first-degree rape in August 2015 and received consecutive life sentences as a result. Shawn is still detained at the St. Clair Correctional Facility in Springville, Alabama, according to prison records. In December 2027, he will be eligible for parole.
FInal Conclusion in Dorothy Leatherwood Murder Case
Shawn’s IQ was poor, but it is never a reason to murder someone. He even stated that his goal for the day was to collect the money he believed he was entitled to. Dorothy was on a fixed salary and would most likely have to pay him at some point. Instead of being given the chance to make amends, she was brutally murdered and sexually abused. Another reason I feel Shawn understood exactly what he was doing is because of this.