Dateline: Infatuation - What happened to Samantha “Shelley” Nance? Disturbing details of the 2009 murder, revealed 

Among the heartbreaking murder cases on Dateline: Secrets Uncovered is the killing of a 20-year-old art student— Samantha “Shelley” Nance. The crime has been featured in the episode titled "Infatuation," which dives into crucial details about the case.

This goes back to September 11, 2009, when Shelly's parents tried to connect with their daughter, but the youngster didn't respond. After contacting her art school, the couple reached out to Shelly's roommate, Ashley Olvera.

That time, Ashley wasn't with Shelly and went to check the apartment. The moment she opened the door, she made a horrifying discovery—Shelley was lying in her bed, drenched in blood.

Shelly's mother has opened up about her beloved daughter in the Dateline episode, in which she said:

"No parent should have to bury 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 brutality of the crime was startling. As revealed in the Dateline episode, the killer stabbed Shelly 42 times in the back and neck. Another chilling detail was that there were no signs of forced entry.

Then who killed Shelly Nance? The Dateline episode tracked down the investigation, which revealed that a 26-year-old former Navy pastry chef named Daniel Willyam killed Shelly out of jealousy. But what was Willyam jealous of?

Continue reading to find out more about the 2009 murder and the killer's hacking motive.

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Dateline episode features the shocking murder of Samantha “Shelley” Nance

The Dateline: Secrets Uncovered episode described Shelly as a fun-loving and lively girl who came from Italy, Texas. Shelly was away from her parents, studying in an art school, where she started dating a boy named Nathan Shuck.

Per The Dallas Morning News, Shelly and Nathan looked "awkwardly adorable," but not to Nathan's roommate, Daniel Willyam. As mentioned above, Willyam was a gay chef and shared a room with Nathan. However, he didn't immediately become a suspect.

Since Shelly was reportedly thinking about breaking up with Nathan, and he also had some knives, the art student became the first suspect. The Dateline episode further reveals that investigators found a plastic bag stained with Shelley’s blood in Nathan’s bathroom, and this is when he pointed at Daniel Willyam.

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

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Daniel Willyam's conviction and evidence against him

Soon after Daniel Willyam became the key suspect in Shelly's murder, notable evidence emerged. The man was captured on security cameras near Walmart, where he was seen purchasing gloves, hair dye, and soap.

Not only this but a small blue-colored material was later found on Shelly's arm, suggesting it was from the blue gloves Willyam had purchased. To ensure the girl was alone, Daniel Willyam kept messaging her roommate, Ashley Olvera.

However, the most damning pieces of evidence came from Willyam himself. Assistant District Attorney Dewey Mitchell disclosed Willyam's words after he was declared guilty, which read:

"Because I hated her."

During his trial, he constantly claimed to be innocent, but there was enough evidence to prove that he was jealous of Nathan and Shelly's relationship. In the end, Daniel Willyam was charged with first-degree murder and given a life sentence.

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Also Read: Dateline: Unforgettable - Where is Howard Adrian Ashleman now? Fate of James Chambers’ murderer, explored

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