Dateline: Infatuation - 5 harrowing details about Samantha “Shelley” Nance's murder, explored

The brutal murder of Samantha "Shelly" Nance in 2009 remains one of the most terrifying cases featured on Dateline: Secrets Uncovered. The episode titled Infatuation reveals major details about the 20-year-old college student who moved out to complete her studies.

As detailed in the Dateline episode, Shelly was an incredibly talented student at an art institution. She met Nathan Shuck in college. The two began dating, and while many found them adorable, Shuck's roommate, Daniel Willyam, was completely against their relationship.

Little did anyone know that Willyam's jealousy would soon turn into hatred and that he wouldn't hesitate to take Shelly's life. Since Nathan and Daniel were roommates, investigators first suspected Nathan, who eventually proved his innocence.

Danile Willyam had unintentionally left evidence inside the bathroom. The DNA reports confirmed that the blood found at Willyam's place was Shelly Nance's, followed by other key evidence which proved that the girl was stabbed over 40 times.

The murder was so brutal that the detective working on the case, also featured on the Dateline episode, couldn't hold his tears.

Continue reading to explore more about Shelly and her killer's motive and final conviction.

Five harrowing details about Shelly Nance's murder featured on Dateline: Secrets Uncovered

As mentioned earlier, the Dateline episode about Shelly Nance's murder gained notable attention on the internet and remains one of the most startling cases linked to hatred and resentment. While Daniel Willyam disliked Shelly, the art student was a beloved member of her family.

Her mother Cynthia Nance talks about Shelly in the Dateline episode, explaining how the family was devastated to learn about their daughter's murder. She said:

"She was my youngest daughter, one of three. She was everything. I just need people to know that she was alive and she had dreams for the future, and that we’re not going to forget her and I don’t want anybody else to forget her."

Nance also confronted Daniel Willyam after his conviction and expressed her hatred for the killer. Here are five harrowing details about the case:

1) Daniel Willyam had a history with violence

Shelly Nance's grave (Image Source: Find a Grave)

After watching the Dateline episode, many might wonder how a man who served in the Navy and later worked as a chef could take such a horrifying step. However, this wasn't Willyam's first time showing signs of violent behaviour.

He struggled with violent thoughts and actions in the past. Per Veterans Affairs medical records, Daniel Willyam often had thoughts about attacking his superiors with knives and other deadly tools. Per The Dallas Morning News, Willyam expressed his concerns to a psychologist:

"He was so upset with superiors that he might be tempted to use pots and pans or hot grease and knives to hurt them..."

Not only this, but the records further revealed that:

"He [Daniel Willyam] reports nightmares, general anxiety, and one rageful outburst, though he was typically more mellow and calm."

Shockingly, he once destroyed his brother’s room with a Samurai sword and was later surprised to learn about his actions. His medical history suggests that Daniel Willyam had been facing deep-seated issues with rage and impulse control, which possibly led him to commit a murder.

Also Read: 5 harrowing details about the murder of Rob Limon on Dateline, explored

2) The chilling words that sealed Daniel Willyam's fate

Shelly had two sisters (Image Source: NBC)

One of the harrowing details about Shelly Nance's murder is the reason Daniel Willyam gave. Since he was the prime suspect, prosecutors left no stone unturned and found that Willyam had told his friends that the police would come for him.

After he was proven guilty of first-degree murder, he was sentenced to life-in-prison. In his statement, he said:

"I hated her."

These words were Willyam's final blow against himself, which contributed as evidence to prove that he killed Shelly Nance in September 2009.

3) Daniel Willyam faked an alibi to escape justice

The DNA reports made it easy to solve the case (Image Source: NBC)

Since Daniel Willyam's actions were questioned, he lied about being attacked by a black man on his way to Shelly's apartment. He mentioned that the attacker kept him at knifepoint, but security footage eventually revealed the truth.

The footage showed Willyam around Walmart, where he purchased nitrile gloves, hair dye, and a few other items. When Shelly's body was found, there was a small blue-colored piece on her hand, which was possibly from the gloves Willyam used while stabbing her.

4) Shelly Nance's death left her family shattered

Shelly's beloved family members (Image Source: NBC)

The entire Nance family, especially Shelly's mother, found it hard to accept that their once lively and genius daughter had passed away. Shelly's untimely demise came as a shock for her loved ones.

Cynthia Nance opened up about Shelly on the Dateline episode, where she can be heard recalling memories and reminding people to know her daughter like never before. Nance stated:

"I never knew how serious she was about what she wanted to do with her life... She was as serious as they come because she knew what she wanted to do and had her mind set on it. And she had all her hard work taken away like that."

She also mentioned:

"No parent should have to burry their child. It’s rough to have to put her in the ground at such a young age. It tears at my heart every day. It hurts that she’s gone, and it’s still as bad as it was the first day."

The 20-year-old student's father also expressed his pain and mentioned feeling less emotions after Shelly's death. Shelly's death eventually made him so numb that he couldn't even cry when their dog passed away.

5) Rage and obsession resulted in Shelly's murder

Jealousy was the reason Shelly was brutally murdered (Image Source: NBC)

Jealousy is often the cause behind cold-blooded murders. It takes no time for jealousy to turn into hatred and obsession, and Shelly Nance's case was no exception.

A gay man, Daniel had an unhealthy obsession with his roommate and Shelly's boyfriend, Nathan Shuck. He was furious to learn that Shuck had started a serious relationship and reportedly disliked that Shelly was consuming most of Nathan's time.

As a result, Danile Willyam's obsession became so intense that he constantly asked Shelly's roommate Ashley Olvera if she was with her roommate. Once he confirmed that Olvera was far from the apartment, he rushed to their place and stabbed Shelly Nance to death.

The Dateline episode highlights how Samantha "Shelley" Nance’s murder was not just a crime of passion but a cold-blooded act fueled by jealousy, obsession, and deep-seated rage. From Danile Willyam's past actions to his confession of his rage against Shelly, every detail about this murder is unsettling.