Sheila Davalloo: A Biography

Introduction

Sheila Davalloo’s life and crimes reveal a web of intrigue, passion, and obsession that escalated into deadly violence. Her story, marked by complex relationships, jealousy, and a hidden double life, shocked both her acquaintances and the broader public. Most infamously, Davalloo was convicted of two brutal crimes—the attempted murder of her husband, Paul Christos, and the murder of her former colleague and romantic rival, Anna Lisa Raymundo. Her case garnered widespread media attention, especially because of the disturbing lengths to which she went to cover her tracks. This biography will delve into Davalloo’s early life, her relationships, the details of her crimes, the subsequent investigations, and her trial, painting a comprehensive picture of a woman who concealed a dark and dangerous side beneath a seemingly normal facade.

Early Life and Background

Sheila Davalloo was born on May 11, 1969, in Iran, and later moved to the United States with her family. She grew up in a typical immigrant household, where education and success were highly valued. By all accounts, Sheila was a bright and ambitious young woman, excelling academically and socially. After graduating high school, she pursued a degree in biochemistry, ultimately earning a master’s degree. This academic background led her to a successful career in the pharmaceutical industry, where she held various research positions.

Her colleagues and friends often described Sheila as intelligent, hardworking, and charismatic. She was known to be social and friendly, though some who knew her noted that she could be intensely private about certain aspects of her life. This private side, however, was not initially a cause for concern and was simply perceived as part of her professional demeanor. Over time, though, this secrecy would become central to her complicated and ultimately tragic personal relationships.

Relationship with Paul Christos

In the early 2000s, Sheila met and married Paul Christos, a quiet, analytical man who shared her academic background. Christos, a native of New York, had a similarly successful career in pharmaceuticals, and the two appeared to be well-suited to each other. On the surface, Sheila and Paul were the picture of a stable, career-driven couple. They lived in a comfortable apartment in Pleasantville, New York, and were both deeply invested in their careers.

However, as their marriage progressed, Sheila began leading a double life that Paul was unaware of. She maintained other romantic relationships, often concealing these affairs behind a veneer of professionalism and discretion. Sheila’s ability to juggle multiple relationships without raising suspicion demonstrated her calculated, methodical approach to managing her personal life.

The Affair and Obsession with Nelson Sessler

While married to Christos, Sheila began working at Purdue Pharma, a pharmaceutical company, where she met and developed an intense infatuation with her colleague, Nelson Sessler. Sessler was described as handsome, easygoing, and well-liked, and the two quickly began a passionate affair. Sheila concealed the relationship from her husband and maintained strict control over her personal life to keep it hidden.

However, Sessler was not as committed to their relationship as Sheila was. In fact, he soon began dating another colleague, Anna Lisa Raymundo, which triggered a deep jealousy and obsession in Sheila. To keep Sessler’s attention and remove Raymundo from the picture, Sheila went to great lengths, including lying to her husband about her whereabouts and orchestrating elaborate schemes to monitor Sessler’s interactions with Raymundo.

The Murder of Anna Lisa Raymundo

On November 8, 2002, Anna Lisa Raymundo was found murdered in her apartment in Stamford, Connecticut. She had been attacked with a knife, suffering multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma. Initially, the police suspected a random break-in or robbery, but evidence at the scene suggested a more personal motive. There were no signs of forced entry, and Raymundo appeared to have known her attacker. Furthermore, an anonymous 911 call made by a woman reporting the murder raised suspicion, as the caller sounded strangely calm and knew details about the crime.

As police investigated further, they learned about the love triangle involving Sessler, Raymundo, and Sheila. Despite the emerging motive, authorities initially lacked sufficient evidence to connect Sheila directly to the crime. However, their suspicions were noted, and the investigation into Raymundo’s murder continued as a cold case for several years.

Attempted Murder of Paul Christos

In March 2003, a few months after Raymundo’s murder, Sheila and her husband, Paul Christos, were spending a seemingly ordinary weekend at home. Sheila suggested a game to “spice up” their relationship, which involved a blindfold and handcuffs. During this game, Sheila unexpectedly attacked Christos, stabbing him multiple times in the chest. Christos, though severely injured, managed to survive the attack.

In a panic, Sheila called 911, but her behavior during the call was erratic and unusual. She claimed that her husband had been injured in a game gone wrong, but her explanations were inconsistent and raised questions for the emergency responders. Christos was taken to the hospital, where he survived and later told investigators that Sheila had attacked him in a premeditated manner. It became clear to authorities that the incident was not an accident, and Sheila was arrested and charged with attempted murder.

Connection Between the Two Crimes

While Sheila was in custody for the attempted murder of her husband, investigators revisited the unsolved murder of Anna Lisa Raymundo. The similarities between the two cases—both victims stabbed, both crimes allegedly committed by Sheila—led detectives to connect the dots. Further investigation revealed that Sheila had maintained a romantic relationship with Sessler around the time of Raymundo’s murder, and evidence began to mount against her.

Detectives matched Sheila’s DNA to evidence found at the Raymundo crime scene, and the similarities between the attempted murder of Christos and the murder of Raymundo strengthened their case. The anonymous 911 call reporting Raymundo’s murder was also scrutinized, and it was determined that the voice on the call closely resembled Sheila’s. With this mounting evidence, Sheila was eventually charged with the murder of Anna Lisa Raymundo in 2008.

Trial and Conviction

The trial for Anna Lisa Raymundo’s murder took place in 2012, almost a decade after the crime. During the trial, prosecutors argued that Sheila had been motivated by jealousy and a desire to eliminate her romantic rival. They presented evidence showing that Sheila had orchestrated a well-planned attack, disguising herself to enter Raymundo’s apartment and carrying out the murder with brutal precision.

The prosecution also played the 911 call for the jury, highlighting the similarities between Sheila’s voice and that of the caller. Additionally, Sessler testified about his relationship with Sheila and her obsessive behavior, painting a picture of a woman willing to do anything to maintain control over the people in her life.

The defense argued that there was insufficient evidence linking Sheila to Raymundo’s murder, claiming that the DNA evidence was circumstantial and could have been contaminated. However, the jury found Sheila’s behavior and the mounting evidence against her to be persuasive. Sheila was convicted of the murder of Anna Lisa Raymundo and sentenced to 50 years in prison, to be served consecutively with the sentence for her attempted murder of Paul Christos.

Psychological Profile and Motives

Psychologists and criminologists who have studied Sheila Davalloo’s case often point to her obsessive tendencies and extreme jealousy as primary motivators for her crimes. Her actions reveal a calculated, cold side, and her ability to maintain multiple relationships and manage elaborate lies suggest she may have traits associated with psychopathy or other personality disorders.

Sheila’s determination to eliminate Raymundo as a rival, coupled with her subsequent attempt to murder her own husband, indicate a willingness to go to extreme lengths to achieve her desires. The obsession with controlling her romantic relationships, regardless of the cost, became a defining feature of her personality, one that ultimately led to violence.

Public and Media Reaction

The shocking nature of Sheila Davalloo’s crimes and her unusual methods attracted significant media attention. Her case was covered extensively in true crime documentaries, books, and news articles, capturing the public’s fascination with her complex psychological profile. Shows like Snapped and Deadly Women have featured her case, highlighting the jealousy-driven motives behind her actions. The public’s interest in her case speaks to a broader intrigue with stories of betrayal, obsession, and violence within seemingly ordinary relationships.

Legacy and Cultural Impact

Sheila Davalloo’s crimes left a lasting impact on those involved, particularly the families of her victims. The tragic loss of Anna Lisa Raymundo and the trauma inflicted on Paul Christos underscore the far-reaching consequences of Davalloo’s actions. For true-crime enthusiasts and criminal psychologists, her case serves as a disturbing example of how jealousy and obsession can escalate into fatal violence.

Moreover, her case raised awareness about the dangers of intimate partner violence and the warning signs of obsessive behavior in relationships. Sheila’s ability to manipulate those around her and conceal her double life for so long remains a chilling reminder of how deeply some individuals can mask their darker tendencies.

Summary

Sheila Davalloo’s life and actions tell a story of obsession, jealousy, and violence. Her crimes, motivated by intense romantic fixation and control, led to the murder of Anna Lisa Raymundo and the attempted murder of her husband, Paul Christos. Her carefully constructed lies and ability to manage multiple relationships while hiding her intentions reveal a complex psychological profile marked by manipulation and an almost pathological need for control.

Though she is now serving a life sentence, her case remains one of the most perplexing and disturbing examples of love turned deadly, capturing the public’s attention and serving as a cautionary tale about the destructive power of jealousy and obsession.