ABC 20/20 “New Year’s Evil” December 29 2023 Preview & Case Details

In a special two-hour installment of ’20/20′ scheduled to air on Friday, December 29th, from 9:01 PM to 10:00 PM EST on ABC, the show delves into the enigmatic death of Shele Covlin. Shele, a 47-year-old mother of two and a successful banker, was found lifeless in her apartment’s bathtub on Manhattan’s Upper West Side. Initially, her passing was viewed as a tragic accident, but suspicions quickly focused on her estranged spouse, Rod Covlin. The investigation took a significant turn when authorities exhumed Shele’s remains, revealing that she had been strangled.

Co-anchor Deborah Roberts takes the lead in unraveling this complex case, exposing a tapestry of concealed truths that emerged during the extensive inquiry. These revelations include allegations of domestic abuse and the shocking disclosure that Shele had opted to remove Rod from her multi-million dollar will just one day before her untimely demise, a decision that ultimately led to Rod’s incarceration.

The program offers an exclusive interview with Rod Covlin, the convicted murderer, along with discussions involving key family members of the estranged couple, Rod’s former girlfriend, who provided pivotal evidence in solving the case, the attorney who assisted Shele in her divorce and custody battle, the NYPD detectives who played a role in the investigation, and more.

Be sure not to miss this captivating episode of ’20/20′ on Friday, December 29th, 2023, on ABC, and you can catch it on Hulu the following day. (Rebroadcast. Original Air Date: January 27, 2023)

What Happened to Shele Danishefsky Covlin & Killer Rod Covlin?

In December 2009, the Covlin family faced a tragedy that would ultimately lead to a high-profile murder case. Shele Danishefsky Covlin, a 47-year-old successful banker, was found lifeless in her bathtub in her Upper West Side, Manhattan apartment. Initially, her death was assumed to be an accident, possibly caused by a slip and fall.

However, suspicions began to arise, particularly among Shele’s family members, who found it hard to believe that such a vibrant and successful woman could meet such a grim fate by accident. As details unfolded, it became apparent that Shele’s relationship with her husband, Rod Covlin, had been deteriorating. Rod, 11 years her junior, had been involved in multiple affairs, which ultimately led Shele to file for divorce.

Despite the divorce proceedings, the situation was complicated. Shele had arranged for Rod to live across the hall from her apartment to ensure the ease of co-parenting their two children, Anna and Myles.

On the morning of December 31, 2009, Rod Covlin received a frantic call from their nine-year-old daughter Anna, who had discovered her mother’s lifeless body in the bathtub. Rod rushed to the scene and claimed to have found a horrifying sight, with Shele submerged in bloody water. He immediately called 911 and began performing CPR.

Emergency services arrived promptly but determined that Shele had been deceased for a significant amount of time before their arrival. Rod’s explanation for her death was that Shele had slipped and fallen in the bathroom, referencing a cabinet door that appeared to have been dislodged during the incident.

Due to Shele’s Orthodox Jewish faith and the initial belief of law enforcement that her death was accidental, she was quickly buried without an autopsy.

However, as grief gave way to suspicion within Shele’s family, they began to question the circumstances surrounding her death. A week after her burial, they received her death certificate, which listed the cause of death as “undetermined.” This development led them to push for an exhumation and a thorough autopsy.

The autopsy results were shocking and marked a turning point in the case. Shele was found to have a broken hyoid bone, typically associated with strangulation. Her manner of death was changed to “homicide.”

Despite these findings, it would take nearly five years for investigators to accumulate enough evidence to charge Rod Covlin with Shele’s murder. The case eventually went to trial in the winter of 2019, almost a decade after the tragic event.

Prosecutors presented a compelling case, suggesting that the crime scene had been staged. They relied on photographs taken on the morning of December 31, 2009, to demonstrate that certain elements didn’t align with Rod’s explanation of an accidental death. For instance, the claim that Shele had dislodged a cabinet door during the fall was scrutinized.

During the trial, Rod Covlin was portrayed as a psychologically and physically abusive individual who was motivated by financial gain, given his impending exclusion from Shele’s substantial will. Witnesses testified about his manipulative behavior and his turbulent relationship with Shele.

Ultimately, the jury found Rod Covlin guilty of the murder of Shele Covlin, and he was sentenced to 25 years to life in prison. Despite his conviction, he has consistently maintained his innocence, arguing that Shele’s death was indeed a tragic accident.

The case took another dramatic twist when their daughter, Anna Covlin, publicly expressed her belief in her father’s innocence. In a letter to the District Attorney, she challenged the verdict and claimed that her mother’s death was a terrible accident. She emphasized her father’s love and support for her and her brother.

As of now, Rod Covlin is serving his prison sentence at the Attica Correctional Facility in New York, where he remains eligible for parole in 2040.