Anatomy of Murder: Beyond Cold (Shannon Graves)

Podcast: Anatomy of Murder by Audiochuck
Episode Title: Beyond Cold (Shannon Graves)
Date: December 23, 2025
Hosts: Anna-Sigga Nicolazzi & Scott Weinberger
Guest: Detective Sergeant Michael Lambert

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode dissects the tragic case of Shannon Graves, a young woman from Youngstown, Ohio, whose disappearance in 2017 led to a disturbing murder investigation. Through exclusive interviews with Detective Michael Lambert—the lead investigator—and the hosts' legal and investigative insight, the episode reveals how a seemingly cold missing person’s file unraveled into a gruesome homicide, the complexities of solving such a crime, and the challenges in pursuing justice when motive and method are shrouded in secrecy.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Shannon Graves: A Portrait of the Victim

• [04:04] Shannon described as a "free spirited 28 year old" who worked as an exotic dancer to pay bills while attending beauty school.
• [04:50] She was deeply connected to her family, particularly her sister Debbie, despite sometimes going long stretches without contact.

2. Disappearance and Initial Search

• [06:12] Family concern rose after Shannon missed her half-sister’s birthday and left her beloved dog behind—hyper-uncharacteristic for her.

• [07:03] A missing person’s report was filed months after her last sighting, which complicated the investigation.

  Michael Lambert [07:16]:
  “That was several months, you know, four months, almost five months before we were notified. But according to family, this was typical behavior for Shannon... when she came back, it was like nothing happened.”

3. Early Suspects and Dead Ends

• Both her current boyfriend (Arturo Novoa) and an ex-boyfriend (recently released from prison) were questioned.

• [09:27] The ex-boyfriend’s eagerness to help was suspicious but ultimately turned out to stem from genuine concern.

  Michael Lambert [09:27]:
  “It was one of those cases where you wonder if this guy's like, a little too willing to help you out, you know?”

4. Suspicion Surrounding Arturo Novoa

• [10:43] Detectives’ failed efforts to contact Arturo directly created suspicion. Eventually, a conversation was facilitated through his mother.

  Michael Lambert [10:57]:
  “He dismissed it as they fought ... she met somebody at this club she worked at and left. Just totally left them. But ... she’d come back for the dog, but he didn’t know when.”

• [11:52] Family surveillance revealed another woman (Katrina Layton) and her two children living in Shannon’s apartment.

5. Digital Forensics Paint a “Pattern of Life”

• [12:45-14:00] Detective Lambert used phone and public assistance card records to plot Shannon’s routines. An abrupt shift occurred after February 2017, suggesting someone else was using her accounts and phone.

  Michael Lambert [14:09]:
  “...the card is all of a sudden being used in places where it's never been used before, buying things that she didn't normally buy.”

• [15:05] The “stranger” answering Shannon’s phone was identified as Katrina Layton.

6. Strange Evidence and Bonfire Revelations

• [15:24] Katrina was using Shannon’s belongings and had been seen burning the victim’s possessions with Arturo at a bonfire.

  Michael Lambert [15:46]:
  “Basically...help him get rid of the last of her crap that she left there. ...into the fire went some clothing and an engraved bracelet with her name on it.”

7. Search and Subcultures

• [17:11] Search of the apartment uncovered books on witchcraft and evidence of an “Insane Clown Posse” (Juggalo) fandom, but no significant forensic breakthrough.

  Ashley Flowers [17:45]:
  “Not everyone’s cup of tea, for sure, but also not against the law...posters of insane clowns wielding machetes is not exactly a good look when police come knocking...”

8. The Freezer Discovery: The Turning Point

• [21:02–25:20] After police pressure, Arturo convinced friends (the Eshambaughs) to store his locked freezer, claiming his power was out—raising their suspicions. Upon opening the freezer, the couple discovered dismembered remains.

  Michael Lambert [25:20]:
  “He opens it up, only he pulls open the bag and he sees a foot.”

9. Jurisdiction, Identification, and Escalation

• [27:37] Shannon’s body was identified by her tattoo. The remains were incomplete, making cause of death difficult to determine.

  Michael Lambert [30:14]:
  “We have what we need for identification, but we don't have what we need for cause of death.”

10. Arrests and Initial Charges

• [31:03–32:59] Arturo Novoa was arrested for abuse of a corpse. Katrina Layton was linked by financial records as having purchased the freezer and joined him in being charged.
• [33:04] Both denied involvement; Layton’s interview:
  • Michael Lambert: “Did you kill her?”
  • Katrina Layton: “Hell, no.”
  • Michael Lambert: “Did you take her apart?”
  • Katrina Layton: “No.”

11. The "Chicken Man" and Chemical Disposal Plot

• [34:52–36:45] Walmart employee connected the dots and alerted police to suspicious purchases of sulfuric acid, intended for disposal of the body.

  Michael Lambert [34:58]:
  “...ordered a pickup at the store order for, like, 16 bottles of sulfuric acid drain opener...they had it shipped to Chicken Man...”

12. Pressure Tactics, Cooperation, and Plea Bargains

• [39:56–43:37] Prosecutors offered immunity to Layton for truthfully sharing what happened. She admitted only to the cover-up, not the murder, breaking her agreement by contacting Novoa from jail. Her immunity was rescinded.

  Michael Lambert [42:59]:
  “But in this case, we went down that road, and we actually got the deal tossed out. So Katrina lost her deal...”

13. Conspirators Flip; Novoa Confesses

• [45:11–46:32] Threat of broader conspiracy indictments prompted others to cooperate. Novoa, seeing his allies flipping, finally confessed in detail.

  Michael Lambert [46:32]:
  “Once he came to our side, it was like night and day. He gave us everything we could possibly need.”

14. The Gruesome Truth

• [47:20–50:03] Novoa’s account inserted blame on Layton for the murder (hammer blows during a personal confrontation), though messages suggested Novoa may have killed Shannon in a rage. Dismemberment and attempted acid dissolution were inspired by “Breaking Bad” but failed disastrously, resulting in weeks of freezer-shuffling before discovery.

  Michael Lambert [49:39]:
  “Herman comes over...dismembers the body...He goes, ‘Well, do you ever watch Breaking Bad? ...you’ll see what you do.’”

15. Legal Outcomes

• [52:43–53:12] Novoa pleaded guilty to murder and received life in prison (later reduced to 48 years to life due to sentencing errors). Layton and accomplice Herman were each sentenced to 12 years for their roles.

  Ashley Flowers [52:59]:
  “In 2022, Novoa was resentenced... while his conviction was upheld, his sentence was reduced to 48 years to life.”

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “It's much more difficult than you think to get away with murder...what catches killers isn't the moment, it's the mess they make hiding it.”
  — Scott Weinberger [02:43]

• “There can still obviously be major jealousies, control issues, and anger that just boils over like it clearly did here. No matter which way the truth actually played out, at no point did anybody need to get killed.”
  — Ashley Flowers [48:08, 48:36]

• “At the end of this whole trail, though, you're not 100% what happened. You're as close to the truth as you're ever going to get, because nobody's going to say, oh, this is absolutely what happened.”
  — Michael Lambert [52:33]

• “A young woman loved, reduced to evidence in a refrigerator...yet the motive that would make it emotionally understandable is often missing or unknowable. So we leave the why with the killer, and we keep Shannon's name with us.”
  — Scott Weinberger [53:12]

• “She was working to get through school and make a life for herself that she wanted to lead. So to Shannon, this AOM community wants you to know, wherever your spirit is today, that we remember you and say justice is important for all.”
  — Ashley Flowers [53:53]

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |------------|--------------------------------------------------------| | 04:04 | Introduction to Shannon Graves’ life | | 06:12 | Family reports her missing; key clues | | 11:52 | Reveal: Katrina Layton has moved in | | 14:09 | “Pattern of life” in digital forensics | | 15:24 | Bonfire—burning evidence | | 17:11 | Search of apartment; subculture mentions | | 21:02 | Discovery and opening of the locked freezer | | 25:20 | Discovery of human remains (graphic) | | 30:14 | Coroner’s difficulty: no cause-of-death evidence | | 32:59 | Layton questioned; denials | | 34:52 | Walmart lead: sulfuric acid purchase | | 42:59 | Layton loses immunity deal | | 45:41 | Pressure yields new cooperators | | 46:32 | Novoa confesses | | 47:20 | Novoa’s story: blame-shifting, cover-up narrative | | 52:43 | Sentencing and case closure | | 53:12 | Reflections on “why” and remembering Shannon |

Takeaway & Tone

The episode weaves detective narrative, victim tribute, and legal complexity into a compelling, earnest portrait of a crime that slipped beneath national headlines but left an indelible scar on a family and city. The hosts emphasize the importance of pursuing justice regardless of a victim’s lifestyle or circumstances, and close with a heartfelt reminder:

• “Justice is important for all.” [53:53]

For listeners seeking a clear account of complex crimes and heartfelt advocacy for the forgotten, this episode offers both the minutiae of casework and the enduring impact of loss.