Who Is Diego Pillco? Adrienne Shelly Murderer, What Happened To Her? Death Cause
Adrienne Shelly’s murderer, Diego Pillco, made it look like she committed suicide after killing her.
HBO’s ‘Adrienne,’ directed by her husband, filmmaker Andy Ostroy, is a documentary film that analyzes the life, death, and legacy of actress, director, and writer Adrienne Shelly.
After all, it pulls her back into the spotlight by emphasizing her enormous impact in the entertainment business prior to her tragic death in 2006.
Shelly made her film debut in 1989 with “The Unbelievable Truth,” followed by “Trust” in 1990. She co-wrote, directed, and starred in “Waitress” alongside Keri Russell.
Who Is Diego Pillco? Meet Adrienne Shelly Murderer
Diego Pillco was a 19-year-old illegal immigrant from Ecuador in 2006. According to sources, he landed in New York in July of that year and worked tirelessly to transfer money to his parents.
Apart from a few odd jobs here and there, he was a part-time construction worker who shared his employer’s basement accommodations with his brother and cousin.
Diego allegedly did not have a criminal record at the time, and everyone who knew him thought of him as respectful, respectable, and well-mannered. As a result, the fact that he couldn’t speak much English didn’t concern them.
Also Read: Who Are Ankita Bhandari Parents? Father Virendra Bhandari And Mother Soni Devi
Adrienne Shelly Death Cause: What Did Diego Pillco Do?
On November 1, Diego met Adrienne Shelly while working in a third-floor flat (just below her office space) of Abingdon Square in Greenwich Village. Soon after, they got into an argument, and according to his own confession, he ended up murdering the Hollywood celebrity in a fit of terror and wrath.
Later, Diego staged the scene to appear as if Adrienne had committed suicide, but the dusty shoeprint on the toilet cover beneath the shower rod where Adrienne had been hanged proved to be his undoing.
He was detained on the 5th and confessed to his crime the next day.
According to his initial remarks, Adrienne came down to complain about the construction noise when he became upset and hurled his hammer at her.
It didn’t touch her, but when she turned around to return to her office, Diego said he followed in fear that she would call the cops.
He then admitted that he had grabbed her at her door, which prompted her to smack him, forcing him to attack back.
That’s when Diego claimed Adrienne collapsed, hit her head on the floor, and lost consciousness, leading him to feel he’d murdered her when he hadn’t. She died as a result of severe neck compressions caused by the hanging.
Where Is Diego Pillco Now? Arrest And Charges
Diego Pillco was charged with second-degree murder in 2006, but when he appeared in court two years later, he changed his story to claim that there was no noise complaint and that it was all a heist.
He said that he noticed the actress walking into her office after eating, so he followed her steps and entered her office to steal from her purse.
She caught him, but before she could contact the cops, he stole the phone from her grasp and covered her lips to overpower her. Diego testified in court, saying that he found a sheet and decided to choke her, and made it look like she committed suicide.
Diego later pleaded guilty to first-degree manslaughter in exchange for 25 years in prison. As a result, he is currently detained at the maximum-security Coxsackie Correctional Facility in Coxsackie, Greene County, New York, at the age of 34.
His release date is set for April 6, 2028, and his sentence concludes on November 4, 2031. Diego will be deported to Ecuador regardless of when he is released.
Also Read: Who Killed Tania Burgess? Murder Case Update
