The mystery of Shawn Edward’s murder is one of the most gripping in the heartbreaking search for justice. Uncertainty surrounding the tragic loss of life has left a community dealing with grief and unanswered concerns.

Law police, family members, and concerned people are all relentlessly searching for the truth about the events surrounding Shawn Edward’s killing in order to identify the killer and understand why they committed this horrific act.

Who was Shawn Edwards?

A 14-year-old boy named Shawan Edwards resided in Middletown, New York. He was a well-liked high schooler who enjoyed football and was regarded for his kindness. Despite his friends’ assurances that he had few adversaries and few rivals, he used to live in constant fear.

His pals claim that he used to keep a knife in his pocket for safety. But nobody knew what he was terrified of or why. So, what happened on that horrific night of January that made the people of Middletown feel scared for their lives?

The Cold Night of January 1986

Shawn was watching a horror movie in his living room as his mother slept upstairs on a January evening in 1986. When her mother awoke at midnight to check on her son, she discovered that he was gone from the house.

Shawn’s mother and his father were both divorced, and after he went missing, his mother called Melvin, her ex-husband. Melvin went ahead to look for his son in the middle of the night, although a few people believed that he preferred a coffee before the search.

Melvin was unsuccessful in searching for his son, and his mother never understood why he went outside at that hour, especially when he was afraid of his life. The next day, the school janitor found his body beaten and repeatedly stabbed lying outside Middleton High School.

The 40-year-old case saw a rise in popularity again after Crime Junkie featured this incident in their 2022 podcast.

Who Killed Shawn Edwards – The Suspects

Shawn’s father, Melvin, was named as a prime suspect, and police compelled him to take a polygraph test. The police said they did not believe Melvin when he said he had no information related to the crime. Although, authorities had no solid evidence to support their theory.

The second suspect was Mr. Fig, a mysterious person whose car was seen parked near Shawn’s house the day he was killed. As usual, the authorities received no such solid evidence against Mr. Fig to hold him accountable for the killing.

The police were unable to link anyone with Shawn’s murder or understand why someone killed him. Later, a reward was maintained for anyone with information relating to his slaying.

However, it was only the start of a lot more annoyance for the authorities in the years to come.

The Big Confession in Shawn Edwards’s Murder

Six years after the murder, there was a big turn in the case with a confession in 1992. Timothy Fairweather, who was 15 years old in 1986, told the authorities that he was present on the night of the murder’s night. He continued to say that his two friends, Eddie Devlin and Joey Selgado, killed Shawn.

What was the motive? A Columbian drug dealer named Nelson. According to him, his friend Joey had planned to kill Shawn as he was messing with Nelson’s work. It was decided to get rid of him permanently.

Despite the confession, the police could do nothing. They had no evidence to support Fairweather’s theory, and he later changed his statement, saying he was lying to appease the authorities. His lawyer also showed proof that Timothy was not there in the town when Shawn was killed.

At one time, the police did charge Timothy for the murder of Shawn Edwards. However, later, after the proof and polygraph test, his name was cleared of all the charges.

Who Killed Shawn – The Answer

Unfortunately, the Shawn Edwards case has not been solved despite 40 years and numerous tips and leads. His acquaintances claimed that he had no enemies, and the police were unable to find any explanation for the killing.

Nobody came forward with any details on why he was out in the open at unusual hours. Furthermore, nobody told the police whether they had said anything that contributed to the 14-year-old’s awful murder.

Although the lawsuit is still open, the chances of a resolution are extremely slim. To help the NYPD crack the case, the authorities have asked the public to provide any information they can.