A Colorado Springs woman is facing second-degree murder charges after police say she reported a man’s death months after he allegedly died, then acknowledged that his remains had been cut up and kept inside the home.
Sheldon “Shelly” Wilson, 62, was arrested after she and her daughter went to the Colorado Springs Police Department’s Police Operations Center on Sept. 19 to report that a man was dead at their home on Tappan Drive. Police responded to the residence and found the man’s remains before detectives began a homicide investigation.
According to arrest documents, Wilson told investigators the man had died in March. She allegedly warned officers that they were about to discover something serious, saying there were “no words” for what they would find.
When officers entered the home, they reported finding two large storage containers upstairs. Investigators said one contained a garbage bag with what appeared to be decomposing human remains, while another bag had been tightly sealed with duct tape. A mattress found behind a fence in the backyard also showed what investigators described as possible blood and biological material.
The investigation has raised questions about what happened during the months between the man’s reported death and Wilson’s decision to contact police.
Police Had Received Earlier Calls About the Home
According to the arrest affidavit, Colorado Springs police had responded to the residence 18 times since December 2024. Some of those calls involved allegations that Wilson had abused the man.
The affidavit also describes a December 2025 incident in which Wilson allegedly made more than 40 phone calls to a family member while expressing a desire to kill the man.
Wilson later allegedly told detectives that alcohol played a role in several incidents involving the victim. She said she had previously found him injured after drinking and acknowledged that she had “done bad things” to him on multiple occasions, according to investigators.
The circumstances surrounding the man’s death remain a central part of the case.
What Wilson Told Investigators About March
Wilson allegedly told police that the man’s death occurred shortly after his birthday in March.
She said she had been drinking the night before and that the two of them were alone at the house. The next morning, she allegedly woke up and found him unresponsive.
According to the arrest documents, Wilson recalled thinking, “What did I do?” after discovering him.
She allegedly covered him with blankets and went to work, hoping the situation might somehow change. When she returned and found him still unresponsive, she said she realized he had died.
The body allegedly remained in the home for roughly a week before Wilson later dismembered it. Investigators say the remains were then placed in containers and kept in different parts of the house for months.
Daughter’s Welfare Check Preceded Police Report
The case came to light after a family member requested a welfare check on Sept. 17 because she had been unable to reach the man.
Two days later, Wilson went to police with her daughter and reported that the man was dead.
The sequence of events prompted detectives to take a closer look at Wilson’s account and the circumstances inside the home. Police subsequently arrested her on suspicion of second-degree murder and tampering with a deceased human body. She also faces a charge involving tampering with physical evidence.
Wilson allegedly told investigators that she had been caring for the man, who had experienced significant health problems and had previously been placed in hospice care. The arrest affidavit also describes him as having suffered strokes and being physically limited.
The man’s identity and the official cause and manner of death were still pending the El Paso County Coroner’s Office’s determination in the latest available reports.
Wilson Remains in Custody
Wilson remains in the El Paso County Jail. Her bond was set at $1 million, according to the latest court reporting, and she had not posted it as of Sept. 22. Her next court hearing is scheduled for Oct. 7.
Investigators are also looking into allegations that Wilson continued collecting the man’s Social Security payments after his death. According to the arrest documents, she allegedly told officers she expected to face additional charges related to the payments.
As the investigation continues, authorities have not publicly established every detail surrounding the man’s death, and the charges against Wilson remain allegations unless proven in court.
