On the surface, Tim and Lee-Ann Shannon, both 34, appeared to have a happy marriage. They met in college and married shortly after graduation.

Tim, born into a prominent family in Hart, Michigan, followed in his physician father's footsteps by entering public service, becoming a respected city council member. Lee-Ann worked part-time as a real estate agent while raising their two young children, aged 3 and 4. She was regarded as a devoted mother who prioritized her children above all else.

When their church pastor asked for help in providing housing for a young homeless woman named Jamie, the Shannons decided to hire her as a full-time nanny.

But this seemingly idyllic life was shattered by tragedy.

Drowning in a bathtub

On 29/12/2012, the family received a call informing them that Lee-Ann had drowned in the bathtub after consuming too much alcohol.

Police arrived to find Lee-Ann in the drained tub, her lips blue. Empty alcohol bottles were scattered around the house, and a toxicology report later revealed a blood alcohol content of 0.23%, indicating severe intoxication.

Within days, the Hart Police Department concluded the death was an accidental drowning.

However, the Oceana County Sheriff's Department took over the case and uncovered unexpected details about Lee-Ann's sudden death. The investigation revealed a scandal involving Jamie Hathaway, the 20-year-old nanny the Shannons had welcomed into their home.

An affair with the nanny

"Tim convinced Lee-Ann to let Jamie live with them to help care for the children," said Detective Shane Hasty of the Oceana County Sheriff's Department, the lead investigator on the case.

Lee-Ann's mother had warned her against bringing another woman into the house, fearing potential trouble. Deborah Lariviere, Lee-Ann's cousin, confirmed concerns about the relationship between Tim, Lee-Ann, and Jamie. According to Deborah, Jamie called Tim and Lee-Ann "mom and dad," even in public, despite being 20 years old. Lee-Ann had even told her mother they were considering adopting Jamie and had consulted a lawyer.

However, the investigation revealed that Jamie was having an affair with Tim. He confessed the affair to his wife, expressing his desire to end their marriage and file for divorce. He asked Lee-Ann to move out, leading to a heated argument.

This betrayal sent Lee-Ann into a downward spiral of depression, alcohol abuse, and other issues.

Police believe that on the night of 28/12/2012, Lee-Ann sought solace in alcohol. They suspect she purchased several bottles of liquor, became intoxicated, and then took a bath, as was her habit.

Before Tim could file for divorce, Lee-Ann drowned in the tub. Was it an accident, or was she murdered?

The prosecutor reviewed the case and noted a critical inconsistency: it seemed impossible for a 127 kg person to submerge themselves in a small, 1.5-meter deep tub with a sloped back.

A plan to eliminate the wife

Tim claimed to have found Lee-Ann in the tub on the morning of 29/12 and called 911. He said he had drained the water. He initially told police that his wife had slipped under the water due to intoxication and that he had found her in that state.

Investigators discovered that Jamie had taken the children out of the house the morning Lee-Ann's body was found. In a recorded interview, Jamie described Tim as one of her best friends. Under further questioning, she admitted to the affair, stating it began in 4/2012. She had moved out of the Shannon home a month later under pressure from Lee-Ann but continued seeing Tim.

Jamie Hathaway in court on 22/1/2013. Photo: Mlive

Jamie Hathaway in court on 22/1/2013. Photo: Mlive

Jamie claimed 29/12, the day Lee-Ann was found dead, was the day she and Tim decided Lee-Ann would move out so Jamie could move in. She insisted Lee-Ann’s drowning was an unforeseen accident.

Police were skeptical and reclassified the case as a homicide. Investigators believed a divorce plan had been in place for some time. When asked if she had ever considered harming Lee-Ann, Jamie replied, "There were times I wanted to slap her, but I didn’t really want to kill her." She denied involvement in Lee-Ann's death.

Jamie revealed she had moved her belongings to the Shannons’ property, storing boxes in Tim’s shed. Inside, police found Jamie’s handwritten documents outlining wedding plans in Las Vegas and a pre-nuptial to-do list. One note mentioned “death of the mother” and “suicide.”

Police believed the motive was to eliminate Lee-Ann so the affair could continue. They also discovered Lee-Ann’s mother’s jewelry, previously missing from the home, and a family photo with Lee-Ann’s image cut out. Incriminating messages between Jamie and Tim were found on a computer, detailing rendezvous locations, intimate encounters, and including nude and explicit photos.

Despite the circumstantial evidence, police lacked concrete proof to charge Jamie with murder. They then turned their attention to Tim.

The confession

Tim didn't deny viewing Jamie as more than a second mother to his children. He admitted to filing for divorce and planning to marry Jamie in Las Vegas. He maintained his wife’s death on the day Jamie was to move in was a coincidence.

After 30 minutes of intense police questioning, Tim confessed: "I didn’t mean for her to die. We were going to get her out of the tub and take her to her mother's house, but she was drunk and hit me, so I sat on her.”

He continued, explaining that as Lee-Ann lay on her back, he tried to lift her, but she grabbed him and pulled him into the tub. He claimed he held her underwater, and when he came to and stood up, she wasn’t breathing.

After drowning his wife, Tim changed and washed his clothes, waiting several hours before calling 911.

Tim Shannon in court on 22/1/2013. Photo: Mlive

Tim Shannon in court on 22/1/2013. Photo: Mlive

Based on his confession, Tim was arrested and charged with murder on 8/1/2013. Despite the incriminating notes and other evidence found in the shed, Jamie was not charged in connection with Lee-Ann’s death. The prosecutor stated there was insufficient evidence to prove premeditation or planning on Jamie's part.

Tim pleaded no contest and was convicted of second-degree murder, sentenced to 13 and a half to 25 years in prison, ineligible for parole until his fifties.

While Jamie became a witness for the prosecution and could not be charged, investigators remained suspicious of her involvement. Tim refused to divulge further details, leading police to believe he was protecting Jamie.

Tue Anh (from True Crime News)