PINELLAS COUNTY, Fla. (WFLA) — An emotional scene unfolded in court as Shelby Nealy’s sentencing trial continued on Friday. Nealy had been convicted of murdering his ex-wife’s parents and brother, following the killing of his ex-wife.
While on the stand, Renee Splitt tearfully recounted a cherished memory involving her father. The court presented a voicemail from Richard Ivancic, Splitt’s father, for the jury’s listening.
“Hi sweetie, this is dad. Wanted to say happy birthday. I’d sing happy birthday to you, but I won’t get (inaudible)…. hope you had a good day sweetie, bye,” Richard stated in the voicemail.
Splitt told the jury that recording is all she has left. Richard, her brother Nick, and stepmother Laura were brutally murdered by Shelby Nealy.
Nealy faces a life or death sentence, and he sat still in court Friday while Splitt gave her victim impact statement.
“This storm that has stretched over six and a half years to get to this day, today. And the grief that we bear, it isn’t just emotional, at times it feels really physical; it seeps into our bones, it’s aged us. It’s broken us in many ways. And it’s stolen so much from us,” Splitt said.
The state attorney called medical examiners and law enforcement to the stand. They recapped the gruesome crime scene at the family home.
“The first thing I noticed was several holes through the skull,” said Pasco County Sheriff’s Office Sergeant Joseph Schlotter. “Had what appeared to be blood splatter on the walls of the bathroom.”
Splitt shared family photos. She told the jury her father was everything a father should be. She said Laura was a sweet soul. Splitt said her brother Nick was young and full of life.
She said she and her remaining family members will have no peace in the end.
“We’ve been irreparably shattered by the murders of our family members,” Splitt said.
Court will reconvene at 8:30 a.m. Monday, July 21.
