
Unsolved Cold Case: Mysterious Death Of Middletown Teenager Shawn Edwards
A Promising Teen's Disappearance
On the night of January 15, 1986, 14-year-old Shawn Edwards, a popular and well-liked student from Middletown, New York, vanished from his home. His mother, Cynthia, had heard Shawn mention that his friend Rob was “in trouble” and asked to meet him. However, when Cynthia refused, Shawn watched a movie instead. It was the last time she saw him alive.
The Discovery
The next morning, Shawn’s body was found just outside Middletown High School. A janitor discovered the teen lying lifeless in the snow. Police soon arrived, discovering that Shawn had been brutally beaten with a blunt object and stabbed multiple times. Authorities estimated he had been dead for several hours before being found, but the circumstances surrounding his death remained unclear.
Investigation Begins
Detectives combed through the scene, but the investigation quickly hit dead ends. There were few clues—only a bloody rock and shattered glass near the body—and no apparent motive. Shawn’s friends and family insisted that they had no idea who he might have been meeting or why he left his house that night. No enemies, no signs of conflict—Shawn was the kind of kid who got along with everyone.
Theories and Rumors Surface
As the days passed, rumors swirled. Some suggested a drug connection, with one theory pointing to a man named Nelson, a suspected drug dealer. Others speculated about Shawn’s father, Melvin, whose behavior had raised questions. Yet, these leads proved to be baseless, and the investigation stalled.
A False Confession and New Leads
In 1992, Timothy Fairweather, a former classmate, came forward, confessing to being involved in Shawn’s murder. He claimed two of his friends, Joey Selgado and Eddie Devlin, had killed Shawn over a botched drug deal. However, the confession later turned out to be a fabrication, and investigators found no evidence to support it.
The Case Remains Unsolved
Today, the murder of Shawn Edwards remains unsolved. Despite numerous false confessions and dead ends, the police continue to seek new information, hoping that someday, the truth will be uncovered.
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Gallery Credit: Nick Kessler
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