Sheila Leigh Walsh Bellush, a 35-year-old mother of six, was tragically murdered on November 7, 1997, in her Sarasota, Florida home. Sheila's death was the result of a meticulously planned murder-for-hire scheme orchestrated by her ex-husband, Allen Blackthorne. The couple had divorced in 1987, and their relationship had been fraught with accusations of abuse and a bitter custody battle over their two daughters. Sheila had remarried Jamie Bellush in 1993 and had quadruplets two years later.
The family moved to Sarasota to escape Blackthorne's harassment, but he tracked her down using a private investigator.
On the day of the murder, Jose Luis Del Toro, the hired gunman, broke into Sheila's home. He had been hired by Daniel Alex Rocha, who was approached by Blackthorne to carry out the attack. Del Toro shot Sheila in the face with a .45 caliber gun and then slit her throat, all in front of her infant quadruplets. Her body was discovered by her 13-year-old daughter, Stevie, when she returned home from school. The crime scene was horrific, with the quadruplets walking around in their mother's blood, leaving small bloody footprints throughout the house.
The investigation quickly led to the arrest of Del Toro, Rocha, and eventually Blackthorne. Del Toro was captured after a neighbor provided police with his license plate number. Rocha and Blackthorne were both implicated through a series of connections and evidence that pointed to their involvement in the murder plot. Blackthorne, who had a history of abusive behavior towards his previous wives, was found to have orchestrated the murder out of a desire to regain custody of his children and to exact revenge on Sheila.
In the subsequent legal proceedings, all parties involved were convicted. Del Toro was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Rocha received a similar sentence for his role in facilitating the murder. Blackthorne, the mastermind behind the plot, was also sentenced to life in prison. The case drew significant media attention and was later detailed in Ann Rule's book, "Every Breath You Take," which chronicled the events leading up to Sheila's murder and the subsequent investigation and trials.
Sheila's death was a devastating loss for her family and highlighted the extreme measures that some individuals will take in custody disputes and personal vendettas. The case remains a poignant reminder of the dangers of domestic violence and the far-reaching impacts it can have on families and communities.
