Guilty Plea in Adrienne Shelly Killing

By SAMUEL MAULL, AP

Posted: 2008-02-14 18:03:16

Filed Under: Movie News

NEW YORK (Feb. 14) - A construction worker who admitted strangling actress Adrienne Shelly while robbing her apartment and then hanging her body to make it look like a suicide pleaded guilty Thursday to manslaughter.

Getty ImagesDiego Pillco, 20, admitted he killed Adrienne Shelly, 40, in her Manhattan flat after going through her purse. He was promised a sentence on March 6 of 25 years in prison.

State Supreme Court Justice Carol Berkman said Pillco, who is from Ecuador, South America, and is in the United States illegally, is subject to immediate deportation upon release from prison.

Shelly, born Adrienne Levine, appeared in the 2005 movie "Factotum" with Matt Dillon. She made her directorial debut with "Sudden Manhattan" in 1996, and she wrote, directed and co-starred in "Waitress," which also featured Keri Russell.

With Shelly's mother, brothers, other relatives and friends present, Pillco explained to the court how he killed her on Nov. 1, 2006. His story differed considerably from the account he initially gave police.

The defendant first said he was renovating a third-floor apartment in Greenwich Village when Shelly came down and complained that he was making too much noise. Shelly used the apartment in that building as an office.

Pillco initially said she called him names, they fought and he killed her accidentally. He said he then hanged her with a bed sheet to make her death look like suicide.

On Thursday, Pillco admitted to the court that he was in fact robbing her when he killed her. He said he had eaten his lunch in the basement and was walking back up the stairs to resume working when he saw Shelly going up to her flat.

"When I saw her I decided to rob her," Pillco told the court.

He said he saw her fourth-floor apartment door was open so he stepped in and grabbed her purse.

"When I was trying to put back the purse, the lady came out of the room," Pillco said through a Spanish language interpreter. "I don't speak English, but the lady was signing that I give back her purse."

He said she went through the purse and saw something was missing and she was going to call the police.

"I took the phone from her," he said. "Out of desperation I covered her mouth. I was scared and didn't realize what was happening. I saw a sheet, and I decided to choke her."

The judge asked, "And you tied the sheet around her neck and strung her up?"

"Yes," Pillco replied, "and I made it look as if she had committed suicide."

Pillco was arrested in Brooklyn after witnesses told police they had seen him working near Shelley's apartment in the building.

"I just want to ask forgiveness from her family," the defendant said.

"I doubt if you'll get that, sir," the judge said.

Shelly's relatives didn't speak in court and declined to comment after the proceeding.

Shelly also appeared in "The Unbelievable Truth" in 1989 and "Trust" in 1990.

Yet again we see the true cost of illegal labor. It's lucky the guy was even caught before he could make a run for the border. How many Americans must die to keep everyone's wages depressed?

wow...came across this site on a search about her death...True Sadness. And so much anger -the same kind of anger that causes people to complain (about other people, about situations we don't like,etc.)is the same anger that causes people to kill. We all have anger in us at different times. We also all have compassion in us. For some it's buried very deep - but it IS within our grasp. My compassion goes out to all of you - for your sadness, for your anger, and for the family and the precious little girl who has lost her mother. And even for the man who couldn't find his compassion --may we all find ours.

-A mom

Yes "goose" it's all her fault.

The fact that he made sure she was dead after punching her in a fit of rage really shows that he meant to kill her. This is ridiculous that it's only 2nd degree.

What do you bet Shelley was some stupid liberal who believed in grey thinking and ope borders? Will people ever learn?

"Moochie" are you f&*%ing kidding me! You know the PC double stds work in your favor-oh the outrage if some blogger made these generalizations about non whites. And you know what happened, you were there right? You seem to be suggesting that racial stereotypes should help us "understand" a murder. I hope you and your racial self-righteous BS rot in hell.

Gee Kassandra, maybe this murderer shouldn't have broken the law by coming here illegally in the first place!!! Just a thought. BTW holding someone accountable for murder and realizing that this didn't have to happen is not racist! Also it is not difficult to become a citizen, I can't think of any other country with more lax immigration laws and enforcement than the US. Do you have any idea what the Mexican gov't does to its illegals! The way you twist things around is disgusting-you are lacking in intelligence and conscience.

Only 2nd degree murder! He should fry! I actually read some blog where some reverse racist was feeling sorry for this illigal murderer and another called her a rich white bitch asking for it. Gee another reason the US should enforce it's exceptionally lax immigration laws. This is so disgusting.

Just googling for stuff on Hal Hartley and came across this devastating newsthread. Why isn't this story getting the same kind of coverage as Britney's divorce? My heart is with Ms. Shelly's family and collaborators.

I'm astonished that this event has prompted such a lynch-mob mentality, as if white nth generation Americans never kill or maim anyone. The comment about "short-person's mentality" is just weird, and sexist (as what it really translates to is "women should just shut the hell up & leave us men to do our jobs.") But seriously -- how can this one incident justify the kind of racism displayed here? Perhaps if it were easier for immigrants to the US to become legal, then Mr. Pillco would not have made such a stupid, injurious decision due to the thought of losing his job and housing.

The murderer of this women is probably a graduate of the public school system and has never been taught ethics, morality, and the golden rule. He probably thinks he has done something noble. He needs to be taught Texas justice. I hope he is prosecuted to fullest extent of the law!

Damn, what a scumbag. Needs to be dealt with and made an example of. Murderers suck. The trolls on this board are pretty pathetic, by the way. I agree with the overwhelmin sentiment here, God bless the family, I hope the lady departed is in a better place now.

David in NJ

Get Dr. Michael Baden on the case. He is by far the best. There has got to be more to this than meets the eye.

The kid probabily felt disrespected. White people, when they address people a shade darker, talk down to people. And the dude's a pretty proud guy. She probably came downstairs and was mouthing-off to the kid . . . he's not black he's Spanish, and the Spanish are a proud people, their spirits haven't been broken by slavery. If some white chick with a short-person's mentality starts going off the deep-end she's going to get whacked. The due's fist hitting her face probably sounded like a BLAP! She probably twitched a little like she didn't know what hit her . . . she probably still doesn’t know she's dead.

The article forgot to mention the fact that Diego Pillco is an illegal from Mexico.

Some of the nasty sentiments expressed here seem to be of the same viciousness as the very act that killed this poor girl. Do you think that no one here legally ever killed someone by stupidly punching them in the head? And you can kill someone if you punch them in the head hard enough - it is why you shouldn't punch someone in the head if you care what happens to them.

Tasteful ad you've placed on this page. I don't think it would be possible to be more insensitive

Link to advertising image I saw

I am so sadend by this event, I am sad for the little girl, I am sad for the husband , I am sad for the family, and mostly I am sad for the cruelty and evilness that one can have.

You took away so much talent, you took away a mother, you took away a great human being.

I've been so sadden by Adrienne Shelly's death. She was a favorite actress of mine. "Trust" and "The Unbelievable Truth" are some of the best indie films ever. My thoughts are with her family at this tragic time.

I think its unsensitive to racial slur (people of all nationalities commit murder). She was a great atist. Your thoughts should be with that little girl without her mom.

This is yet another reason to close the borders not just to Mexico but at both ends . As I understand this guy was undocumented and his employer was found to be funding his stay here in the states {They own the apartment this guys living in}. My thoughts are what if it wasn't a case of some illeagl just looking for work to support himself . What if this was a another case of terrorism . It's time to get serious here and do the right thing people . I undersatnd that you all don't want to do the jobs that these people do . They work for damn near peanuts, This is one of them things that has to be done . We have to stop being lazy and get our act together before these radical nutcases get the nerve to try something else sinister .

This is the best part of the story ! Now we findout how, and who killed her . I'll continue to check in for updates.