WATERBURY, Conn. — It’s been just over a year since the family of a Waterbury educator had to endure the worst day of their lives when 34-year-old Shelley Stamp was murdered during a home invasion at her apartment. Ever since, they continued to show up to every court appearance involving the woman charged with her murder, Heather Anderson.
“We face her every month, and it’s continued. And then 30 years for the life of a 34-year-old woman who worked with special needs children who was the light of our lives, the light of our family,” said Kathy Daversa, Shelley Stamp’s mother.
Anderson was on the court docket Wednesday morning at Waterbury Superior Court. Despite Stamp’s family showing up, and reading victim impact statements in open court, the case was continued to Dec. 20.
Stamp’s family spoke with reporters outside the courthouse after reading their statements. They were asked how they found the strength to continue to advocate for their loved ones.
“It’s my relationship that I’ve always had with my sister. I’ve always been her protector, I’ve always been the one that would take over confrontation for her, because she was not confrontational,” said Laura Tajildeen, Stamp’s sister. “I do it because this person, these people, deserve to rot for the rest of their lives.”
Stamp was found dead with a piece of clothing wrapped around her neck in her Newbury Street apartment in October of 2022.
In court documents, Waterbury Police said Heather Anderson of Naugatuck ransacked her apartment, stealing her credit cards, along with Shannon Gritzbach. Grtizbach was later released on misdemeanor charges. However, Anderson faces charges of murder and more. Prosecutors have offered Anderson a 30-year plea deal.
“To hear they’re offering 30 years for this murder when they left her there to die in a puddle of her own blood? Hearing the death rattle, it says in the police report, she heard the death, rattle she knew my daughter was dying,” Daversa said.
Daversa said initially, prosecutors were setting Anderson’s sentence at 36 years. For her, that wasn’t enough, but it was acceptable. Thirty years, she feels, is not.
“I will not stop voicing my opinion. I will speak on the 20th, I will speak at sentencing, I have been invited to speak in Hartford at the legislature in the spring over stricter sentences for violent offenders because this has got to stop,” Daversa said.
Stamp’s family read aloud impact statements, while Anderson looked straight ahead, crying.
“I don’t care that she was crying. I need her to also feel the impact on my family,” Tajildeen said.
A family that has struggled every day to live without Shelley.
“There’s no replacing that relationship. and there’s just an emptiness constantly that I don’t think will ever go away,” Tajildeen said.
So for now, they fight, in her honor.
“She was a very, very strong-willed Irish woman. and that’s how Shelley was and I do it for her. And, it(‘s), a mother's love. You know, you’ll never love anyone like you love your children,” Daversa said.
Stamp’s family wants Anderson to be put away for life.
Anderson has another court date on Dec. 20, where she’s expected to accept or deny the plea deal. If she denies it, the case goes to trial.
Julia LeBlanc is a reporter at FOX61 News. She can be reached at jleblanc@fox61.com Follow her on Facebook, X and Instagram.
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