She was found dead in her office in New York City's Greenwich Village. Her death was ruled a homicide, as a result of manual strangulation and blunt force trauma to the head.
The case was initially treated as a possible suicide, but a subsequent investigation revealed that Shelly had been murdered by a construction worker named Diego Pillco.
Pillco, who had been working on the building where Shelly's office was located, confessed to the crime and was convicted of manslaughter.
Shelly's death was a tragic loss to the film industry, and her legacy continues to inspire aspiring filmmakers.