’48 Hours’ looks at murder of Palms cocktail waitress Tiaffay — VIDEO

By Christopher Lawrence Las Vegas Review-Journal

10 years ago

Convicted murder George Tiaffay enters the courtroom during sentencing at Regional Justice Court, 200 Lewis Avenue, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. The former firefighter received a life sentence without parole in the first degree murder of his wife Shauna Tiaffay. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

George Tiaffay appears during his sentencing hearing on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015, where he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole in the murder-for-hire of his 46-year-old wife. Jeff Scheid/Las Vegas Review-Journal. Follow @Jlscheid

A Clark County marshall motions to convicted murder George Tiaffay after being sentenced at Regional Justice Court, 200 Lewis Avenue, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. The former firefighter received life sentence without parole in the first degree murder of his wife Shauna Tiaffay. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Paula Stoke Richards, sister of murder victim Shauna Tiaffay, wipes a tear during sentencing of onvicted murder George Tiaffay, after sentencing at Regional Justice Court, 200 Lewis Avenue, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. The former firefighter received life sentence without parole in the first degree murder of his wife. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Convicted murder George Tiaffay,left, and his attorney Robert Langford exit after he was sentenced to life without parole in Regional Justice Court, 200 Lewis Avenue, on Friday, Sept. 4, 2015. The former firefighter was convicted of first degree murder of his wife Shauna Tiaffay. JEFF SCHEID/LAS VEGAS REVIEW-JOURNAL Follow him @jlscheid

Former Las Vegas firefighter George Tiaffay walks out of the courtroom before being found guilty of paying a homeless man to kill his wife during his trial at the Regional Justice Center Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @CSStevensPhoto

Paula Stokes-Richards, whose sister, Shauna Tiaffay, was murdered by a homeless man hired by her husband George Tiaffay, speaks with news media following the verdict declaring Tiaffay guilty of 1st degree murder and other charges at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Stokes-Richards‘ husband, John Richards, stands left. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

Paula Stokes-Richards, right, whose sister, Shauna Tiaffay, was murdered by a homeless man hired by her husband George Tiaffay, hugs her friend Lori Ralphs following the verdict declaring Tiaffay guilty of 1st degree murder and other charges at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

Bernadette Holmes, in white, is consoled after her brother, George Tiaffay, was found guilty of 1st degree murder, at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Tiaffay hired a homeless man to murder his wife, Shauna. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

George Tiaffay, who hired a homeless man to kill his wife, enters court before being found guilty of 1st degree murder and other charges in his murder trial at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

George Tiaffay, who hired a homeless man to kill his wife, exits court after being found guilty of 1st degree murder and other charges in his murder trial at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

Paula Stokes-Richards, right, whose sister, Shauna Tiaffay, was murdered by a homeless man hired by her husband George Tiaffay, walks with her husband John Richards to speak with news media following the verdict declaring Tiaffay guilty of 1st degree murder and other charges at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

George Tiaffay, who hired a homeless man to kill his wife, enters court for the verdict, which had to be fixed due to a clerical error, to be reread after being found guilty of 1st degree murder and other charges in his murder trial at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

Paula Stokes-Richards, whose sister, Shauna Tiaffay, was murdered by a homeless man hired by her husband George Tiaffay, reacts as the verdict, declaring Tiaffay guilty of 1st degree murder and other charges, is reread following a clerical error at the Regional Justice Center in Las Vegas on Thursday, Sept. 3, 2015. Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal Follow @csstevensphoto

Former Las Vegas firefighter George Tiaffay was convicted last month of having his estranged wife, Shauna Tiaffay, murdered.

That shouldn’t come as much of a surprise to Las Vegans, as both the case and trial received extensive coverage.

For everyone else, though, the story is being presented as “Vengeance in Vegas,” this week’s episode of “48 Hours” (10 p.m. Saturday, CBS).

After returning home Sept. 29, 2012, after her shift as a Palms cocktail waitress, Shauna Tiaffay was murdered with a hammer in her Summerlin apartment. But her husband had a solid alibi: He was at work at the time.

“We were all so scared,” fellow waitress Siana Nikolav tells “48 Hours” correspondent Peter Van Sant.

“Was somebody stalking her? Was someone obsessed with her?” co-worker Lacey Green asks.

“She was his world,” Maria McGrew says of her brother, George. “That was his, his life. And then, when their daughter came around, they were just the cutest trio ever.”

In addition to members of Shauna Tiaffay’s and George Tiaffay’s families, the episode includes interviews with investigators and maintenance man William Pennix, whose tip eventually led police to George Tiaffay.

Contact Christopher Lawrence at clawrence@reviewjournal.com. On Twitter: @life_onthecouch.