A violent murder in 1855 has provided a wealth of stories in the North Coventry area. At the time of her murder, Hannah Shenkel (often spelled as Shingle in early records) was in her early 60's and had been living alone, a spinster, for years. In her early years, she was said to have been very attractive to the local young men, but she chose instead a solitary life and developed a reputation for being eccentric. On October 21, 1855, one of the few neighbors she trusted, Mr. John Miller, came by the house to check on her, but got no answer at her door.