On December 31, 2009, nine-year-old Anna discovered her mother Shele Danishefsky‘s body in her home. Anna then immediately called her father. Her father, Rod Covlin, tried saving the Manhattan-based banker by giving her CPR but couldn’t bring her back to life. Eventually, he called 911 and told the authorities that his wife slipped in the bathtub and died.
During the initial investigation, the police believed that it was a tragic case of accidental death. However, Danishefsky’s family had doubts about it and wanted to know the truth. They took the permission to exhume the body and send it for examination. After conducting an autopsy, the medical examiners found that Danishefsky’s death was not an accident but a murder. In the report, they found the victim’s hyoid bone to be fractured, meaning the victim was strangled to death. Now, the family wanted to know about Shele Danishefsky’s killer.
In 2015, the authorities finally concluded their investigation and arrested Rod Covlin for the murder of his wife, Shele Danishefsky. Almost four years after the arrest, the authorities presented Covlin in the court and began the trial. In March 2019, the jury found him guilty on second-degree murder charges and sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison. According to the New York State Department of Corrections, Covlin is currently serving his sentence at the Attica Correctional Facility.
Dateline NBC will re-examine the brutal murder of Shele Danifshefsky and reveal every detail about the case. It will air on the network on Friday, December 22, at 10 p.m. ET.
Shele Danishefsky’s killer: How was Rod Covlin caught and convicted?
On the night of Shele Danishefksy’s death, Rod Covlin told the police that he took his wife out of the bathtub and performed CPR before calling 911. Initially, Danishefsky’s parents didn’t want an autopsy. However, things changed when they got to know that Danishefsky had decided to cut Covlin out of her will. The couple was going through a rough divorce and were engaged in a custody battle. So, her family eventually went for an autopsy and found that someone murdered Danishefsky. The authorities began building their case and arrested Covlin for the murder of Shele Danishefsky.
The autopsy played an important role in convicting Rod Covlin. The prosecutors presented sufficient evidence to prove that Covlin was Shele Danishefky’s killer. During the trial, the prosecutors called this case a “staged” crime and presented photos to support their claims. The prosecution team also told the jury that the crime took place because Covlin was afraid that he would be cut out of a $5.3 million will. Apart from the evidence, the impact statements made by the family members of Danishefksy also played an integral role in convicting Rod Covlin. The victim’s brother called Covlin an “evil predator.” Meanwhile, the couple’s children also addressed the court and called their father “one of the most caring and loving people” they know.
Despite such impactful statements, the prosecution continued to paint a picture that proved Rod Covlin showed no remorse for his actions. As the trial progressed, the jury also got to know about the emails Shele Danishefsky had written to her sister about Covlin’s out-of-control anger. The trial saw some more key witnesses taking the stand and alleging how Covlin wanted to kill his wife. Eventually, the jury found Rod Covlin guilty of murder and sentenced him to 25 years to life in prison. As mentioned above, Shele Danishefsky’s killer is currently serving his sentence at the Attica Correctional Facility.
