According to The Cinemaholic, Ostroy and other members of Shelly’s family did not believe she had taken her own life. Her career was flourishing and Shelly was a dedicated mother to her small child. At Ostroy’s insistence, police continued their investigation and found footprints left in Shelly’s bathroom (via The Guardian). They were quickly identified as belonging to 19-year-old construction worker, Diego Pillco. The New York Post writes that Pillco was working on another apartment in Shelly’s building. A footprint in that apartment matched the one in Shelly’s bathroom. Pillco was arrested and quickly confessed to the murder.

The Daily Beast reported that Pillco made his way into Shelly’s apartment to burglarize it. She caught him and threatened to call the police. That’s when Pillco attacked and ultimately strangled the 5’2 star. Hoping he wouldn’t get caught, he hung her in the shower using a bedsheet to stage a suicide. 

Of course, Pillco was caught and later plead guilty to first-degree manslaughter. He was sentenced to 25 years in prison. In 2021, HBO released the documentary “Adrienne,” directed by Ostroy. The film focuses on his late wife’s life and death. Per the Daily Mail, Ostroy decided to make the film after realizing most people did not know who Shelly was while watching a stage production of “Waitress.”