Natalie Morales

I just want to remind you, to all of our listeners, if you haven't listened to the 48 Hours episode yet, you can find the full audio just below this episode in your podcast feed. Go take a listen, then come back and join us for our conversation. So, Anne-Marie, this story is a little bit unusual in that we start with a survivor's story instead of a murder.

Can you tell us a little bit about that decision of starting with CeCe Opanowski's story and how she survived that frightening attack by Doyle back in 1996 when she was just 18 years old?

Can you tell us a little bit about that decision of starting with CeCe Opanowski's story and how she survived that frightening attack by Doyle back in 1996 when she was just 18 years old?

Can you tell us a little bit about that decision of starting with CeCe Opanowski's story and how she survived that frightening attack by Doyle back in 1996 when she was just 18 years old?

Speaking of, you know, how that attack took place, let's talk about her friend, Shannon, who was so instrumental. I mean, truly, perhaps saved her life. So Shannon was calling Cece over and over again. And when Cece wasn't picking up, the alarm bells were going off with her. Something wasn't right. And so then she finally gets through. Cece answers the phone and says,

Speaking of, you know, how that attack took place, let's talk about her friend, Shannon, who was so instrumental. I mean, truly, perhaps saved her life. So Shannon was calling Cece over and over again. And when Cece wasn't picking up, the alarm bells were going off with her. Something wasn't right. And so then she finally gets through. Cece answers the phone and says,

Speaking of, you know, how that attack took place, let's talk about her friend, Shannon, who was so instrumental. I mean, truly, perhaps saved her life. So Shannon was calling Cece over and over again. And when Cece wasn't picking up, the alarm bells were going off with her. Something wasn't right. And so then she finally gets through. Cece answers the phone and says,

She hears Cece, you know, putting away the dishes and the dishwasher, but they're having this somewhat stilted conversation, it sounds like. And she got to the point where she said, you know, is Sean there with you now? And Cece, you know, was able to tell her, yes, he is here now. I just wanted to know about their relationship now. I mean, are Cece and Shannon still friends? Are they in touch?

She hears Cece, you know, putting away the dishes and the dishwasher, but they're having this somewhat stilted conversation, it sounds like. And she got to the point where she said, you know, is Sean there with you now? And Cece, you know, was able to tell her, yes, he is here now. I just wanted to know about their relationship now. I mean, are Cece and Shannon still friends? Are they in touch?

She hears Cece, you know, putting away the dishes and the dishwasher, but they're having this somewhat stilted conversation, it sounds like. And she got to the point where she said, you know, is Sean there with you now? And Cece, you know, was able to tell her, yes, he is here now. I just wanted to know about their relationship now. I mean, are Cece and Shannon still friends? Are they in touch?

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah.

So in the hour, CeCe talked about when the police did arrive at her house, she thought that she would then be protected from Doyle. Instead, she said she didn't feel safe because she said they put her in the backseat of that same squad car with Doyle. And then later, she said they questioned them together in the same room. I mean, how unusual was that back in 1996?

So in the hour, CeCe talked about when the police did arrive at her house, she thought that she would then be protected from Doyle. Instead, she said she didn't feel safe because she said they put her in the backseat of that same squad car with Doyle. And then later, she said they questioned them together in the same room. I mean, how unusual was that back in 1996?

So in the hour, CeCe talked about when the police did arrive at her house, she thought that she would then be protected from Doyle. Instead, she said she didn't feel safe because she said they put her in the backseat of that same squad car with Doyle. And then later, she said they questioned them together in the same room. I mean, how unusual was that back in 1996?

And everybody has learned to treat domestic violence very seriously because we know how much these things can escalate, as it did in this case with Sean Doyle. Now, CeCe didn't want to relive the trauma by testifying against Doyle, but... He struck a deal and he received a sentence of three years probation. But then in 2000, Doyle violently attacked then 23-year-old Sarah Vollmer.

And everybody has learned to treat domestic violence very seriously because we know how much these things can escalate, as it did in this case with Sean Doyle. Now, CeCe didn't want to relive the trauma by testifying against Doyle, but... He struck a deal and he received a sentence of three years probation. But then in 2000, Doyle violently attacked then 23-year-old Sarah Vollmer.

And everybody has learned to treat domestic violence very seriously because we know how much these things can escalate, as it did in this case with Sean Doyle. Now, CeCe didn't want to relive the trauma by testifying against Doyle, but... He struck a deal and he received a sentence of three years probation. But then in 2000, Doyle violently attacked then 23-year-old Sarah Vollmer.

Thank goodness her mom walked in at that time. Absolutely. Absolutely saved her life. I'm curious then why Doyle was able to get yet another three years probation for that second attack instead of facing a more serious sentence.