Dr Phil: Why Would a Father Hire a Hitman To Murder His Own Daughter?

Dr Phil: A Family Divided Over An Unsolved Murder

A murder mystery has become a looming unanswered question in the lives of Penny and Ted. Shannon, Penny’s 40-year-old sister, was murdered in 2009, and the crime has been unsolved ever since. But Penny’s theory is that their father Ted hired a hitman to murder Shannon.

Though it was initially investigated as an accident, neither Penny nor Ted thought this was the case. Shannon was discovered dead in her SUV, which had been in an accident. Ted’s theory is that one of Shannon’s business rivals killed her and staged the crash.

Dr Phil: My Dad Murdered My Sister

At the time of her murder, Ted did not have a great relationship with his daughter Shannon. But was that motivation to kill her? Ted admitted that Shannon had named him in a lawsuit, but insisted that this disagreement was not serious enough to result in murder.

Penny said she felt instantly that her father was involved, as soon as she heard that her sister’s car had gone over a cliff. “In her garage, they found evidence of a struggle,” Shannon recalled of the early stages of the investigation. She also said her father has mentioned before that he knew how to have someone taken care of.

Dr Phil: Father Hired Hitman?

Penny also thinks her father’s motive was the potential to inherit her sister’s business. “I truly believe that my father has paid someone to kill my sister and make it look like an accident,” Penny said. She also recalled the incident where her father fired shots at her sister’s place of business after her murder.

Dr Phil made sure not to tell Ted that he was coming on the show to be accused of murder. “He knows I know, but he thinks I’m too weak to stand up and confront him,” Penny said. She hoped that publicly accusing him could keep him from coming after her.

Dr Phil: Father and Daughter Are Each Other’s Alibi

At the time of Shannon’s murder, Ted was actually out of town on a family trip with Penny and her daughter. That meant that Penny and Ted were each other’s alibis, but she now believes that was all by design. Dr Phil wondered why Ted would push for a murder investigation if he was behind it. But Penny believed in her gut that she was right, despite a lack of solid evidence.

Ted came onstage later, and he teared up while recalling learning the news of Shannon’s death in 2009, which he was initially told was an accident. Later, authorities phoned again with additional details.

Dr Phil: Pathological Liar Vs Devastated Sibling

“I have been cleared by the sheriff’s department,” Ted said, redirecting the focus back toward Penny. But she did not let up, calling him a pathological liar and predicting that he would eventually be caught in his own lie. No matter how the homicide investigation plays out, it’s hard to imagine that Penny and Ted will be close after this stunning accusation.

With so many questions and so few answers about the case, authorities are looking for all the help they can get. If you know anything that could help in the investigation, call the Sevier County Sheriffs Department at 865-453-4668. If your tip leads to an arrest and conviction, you could receive a $45,000 reward.

Dr Phil: Experiencing Grief

The loss of a family member is a difficult emotional experience regardless of the circumstances. What is important to remember is that everyone grieves differently. There is no one right or wrong way to go about it. Make sure to give yourself time and space to process what you are going through.

Remember that a life-altering experience like the death of a loved one can bring up a lot of big questions and even make you reconsider some of your most deeply held beliefs. It is also very normal to feel guilt, imagining that you could have done something to intervene or regretting losing the opportunity to have one last moment together.

Don’t be afraid to ask for help if you need it, and let yourself go through the process at your own pace. More advice on managing your grief can be found in Dr Phil’s book Real Life: Preparing for the 7 Most Challenging Days of Your Life.