Sandy Shaw spent 21 years in prison and 15 years on parole before she was pardoned for a murder she says she didn’t commit. Three years after her name was legally forgiven, Shaw is speaking out about her experience of being accused of murder. Life & Style breaks down everything to know about her case, as well as where she is today.
What Crime Was Sandy Shaw Accused Of?
When she was 15 years old in September 1986, Shaw planned to lure 21-year-old James “Cotton” Kelly into the desert outside of Las Vegas with the intention of having her childhood friend Troy Kell have him stop stalking and harassing her.
However, 18-year-old Kell ended up shooting Kelly six times in the head and neck and robbed him with another teenage boy.
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Shaw was arrested for her alleged involvement, though she testified that she didn’t shoot Kelly or tell Kell to pull the trigger. Her reputation became more infamous when she was dubbed the “Show and Tell” killer after prosecutor Dan Seaton allegedly falsely claimed she took people to view Kelly’s body after he was shot.
She was found guilty in 1987 of first-degree murder for her alleged involvement in Kelly’s death, and she received two life sentences, according to Justia U.S. Law.
When Was Sandy Shaw Pardoned?
Despite insisting she was innocent, Shaw spent 21 years behind bars and another 15 years on parole before she was pardoned in 2022. According to People, officials decided to pardon her by citing her character.
While she was pardoned, Shaw’s verdict was not set aside and she’s still fighting to dispute the murder charge, per People.
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Where Is Sandy Shaw Today?
Shaw will open up about her experience in her new memoir, Life Without: The Wrongful Conviction of Sandy Shaw, which is set to be released on October 16, 2025.
“This literally ruined my life,” she told People of the experience, adding that she’s “determined not to let it define me” by sharing her side of the story in her new book.
Shaw also told the outlet that she’s had a hard time processing the “surreal” twists and turns her life has taken, though she’s grateful to now be out of prison. “My blood pressure is high, my anxiety is off the charts, and I’m always in a state of tension,” she told the outlet. “But I’m finally in a good place, and I feel very blessed.”
