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Dateline, on August 5, 2025, the case of Shirley Skinner is still remembered in Illinois and beyond. Nearly seventeen years have passed since a night in November 2008 changed two families forever. What began as a court-ordered custody visit ended in tragedy, and the ripple effects are still felt today.
Steven Watkins went to his estranged wife’s family home on Horseshoe Drive in Ashland, Illinois, to pick up his young daughter. Instead of a routine exchange, he was shot in the back of the head and killed. His death quickly drew investigators, divided relatives, and set off a trial that would later capture national attention.
Shirley Skinner, the grandmother of that home that evening, was at the heart of it all and was accused and later found guilty of pulling the trigger. The case presented in court raised issues concerning family loyalty, missing links in the investigation, and the application of justice in situations where emotions and blood ties are deep.
As the show reexamines this case in 2025, the focus remains on where Shirley Skinner is today and how the events of 2008 shape lives connected to it.
The conviction and sentence remain in force, as shown in Dateline
A jury found Shirley Skinner guilty of first-degree murder in May 2010. The court sentenced her to 55 years in prison. The trial was moved to a different county because of media attention and local connections.
The court documents describe the death as a single gunshot wound and record the steps that led to the charge and conviction. Dateline reviewed the court opinion and reported on the verdict.
Inmate records show location and projected release window
Prison records list Skinner as an inmate at Logan Correctional Center in Broadwell Township, Illinois. The records give a projected parole date in 2064 and a maximum discharge date in 2067.
These dates mean any release would be many years away. Dateline checked the Illinois Department of Corrections entry for the inmate file to confirm the information.
A clemency plea was denied despite health concerns
In 2014, a request for clemency noted Skinner’s advanced age and health problems, including strokes and cancer. Legal advocates asked state officials to consider a commutation so she could leave prison for medical reasons.
The petition did not succeed; state officials declined the clemency request, and no commutation was granted. Dateline reviewed coverage of the prisoner review board hearing and the governor’s decision.
Family ties and custody issues continued after the trial
The shooting left a child at the center of custody questions. Steven Watkins’s parents later won visitation and eventual custody arrangements with their granddaughter.
Other family members reported ongoing disputes and some legal actions that followed the trial. The show notes those outcomes in public records and reports. Dateline found no record of a successful appeal or a change that would alter Skinner’s status.
Shirley Skinner remains in custody, and the legal result from 2010 stands. The show also notes that clemency efforts have not changed that outcome.
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Shirley Skinner is serving a long sentence at Logan Correctional Center, with projected release dates decades away. Dateline will report new facts if official records or court actions change the situation. The show has relied on court records, state inmate files, and local reporting to present this account.
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