The Murder of Tammara (Kane) Shaikh
For this case, I watched an episode of Fatal Vows. It’s season 3 episode 3, titled 'Big League Murder.’
A mother of four, and ex-wife of a former NFL player is killed.
Background
Tammara Shaikh grew up in Montreal, Quebec, Canada. She lived with her mom, sister, and two brothers, in a traditional Trinidadian home.
Tammara met Tommy Kane in their small town. Tommy was very good at football, and earned a scholarship from Syracuse University. In 1988, he was drafted to the Seattle Seahawks, in the third round.
Tammara (Kane) Shaikh
A Broken Marriage
While Tommy was in Seattle, Tammara worked as a bank teller, and eventually as manager at a bank in Montreal. She traveled back and forth to be with Tommy.
Three years into their relationship, Tammara became pregnant with their first child, a son. They were both very happy, but it didn’t stop Tommy from seeing other women.
In 1993, Tommy’s career was cut short. He struggled with ongoing Achilles heel and hamstring injuries. He was cut from the Seahawks, but was drafted by the Toronto Argonauts, a team in the Canadian Football League. He only played for a year, and by age 30, his football career was over.
It was hard on Tommy and Tammara, but after a decade together, they decided to plan a summer wedding. They also had three more kids together, but had to move into Tammara’s mother’s home due to money issues.
Tommy tried other careers such as volunteering as a coach at the Montreal Westend Sports Association, and as a sports marketing manager at a nutritional supplements company. He was unmotivated to work, and he soon hit the party scene hard.
A Depressed Man
The area where both Tommy and Tammara grew up was known for drug activity, mostly cocaine. Tommy began using almost everyday.
Tammara had enough, and the couple split after 4 years of marriage. Tommy moved into a condo, and Tammara began to date other people.
Tommy heard the rumors, and began to stalk Tammara. He would call her, and show up at her home very early in the morning. Tammara refused to see him, and he spiraled into a drug fueled depression.
In 2003, Tommy checked himself into a psych ward. He was released only 5 weeks later, and moved in with his mom.
His mom was very concerned, and said that Tommy would walk around and talk to himself. She contacted Tammara to stage an intervention. She believed Tammara was the only one who could talk him into going to a detox program. Tammara eventually agreed, and the intervention was planned for the last day of November.
The Murder
On November 30, 2003, Tammara, and a friend from church, went to Tommy’s mom’s home in LaSalle, Quebec.
Tommy became very angry when he saw Tammara. The friend saw Tommy pull Tammara by her hair, and heard Tammara screaming for her life.
Tommy smashed her face into the floor, and grabbed a knife. The friend was able to grab the knife away from Tommy. However, he grabbed a second one, and stabbed Tammara in the throat. Tammara died in the arms of her friend.
Tommy Kane was arrested, and charged with second degree murder. Their children were taken in by Tammara’s sister.
The Conviction
At his trial, Tommy’s violence was revealed. While he was at Syracuse, he was arrested for assaulting a police officer. The officer had given Tommy a ticket for parking illegally. Tommy got into the officer’s face, and beat them. He was only sentenced to community service, and was able to continue playing football.
Tommy pleaded guilty to manslaughter. He was sentenced to 18 years in prison.
In 2010, Tammara’s family was awarded $590,000 in damages. $125,000 of it went to each child, the rest went to Tammara’s sister, who was granted custody of the children.
Tommy Kane
Other
In 2015, Tommy was awarded day parole for 6 months.
In 2016, he was granted release, but was re-arrested when he refused to take a urine test. He also admitted to doing drugs again, which was a violation of his release.
He was then released again, as long as he agreed to an alcohol-abuse treatment program.
FINAL THOUGHTS
My heart breaks for Tammara’s family, and her children. They not only lost a mother, but a father, who they didn’t have the best relationship with to begin with. Tommy chose drugs over his family, and even if the drugs affected him, he still took Tammara’s life.
While he was convicted and spent time in prison, this case reminds me of O.J. Simpson. Tommy was once a former NFL player, and he killed his wife. Tommy could easily kill again, due to the fact that he has relapsed several times. I truly hope that he is getting the help he needs, and can be a functioning member of society.
Sources
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tommy_Kane
https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2004/oct/05/ex-seahawks-player-who-killed-wife-asks-family/
https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/football-star-kane-s-family-compensated-after-wife-s-murder-1.536386
https://www.cbc.ca/sports/football/ex-nfl-star-tommy-kane-sentenced-18-years-1.482171
