MI MI - Sally Mercer, 31, Okemos, 27 February 1968

[Reader]

Evidence handling scrutinized in Mercer’s preliminary hearing
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061102/NEWS01/611020350

Tissue samples collected during the autopsy were sealed in plastic bags and packed in dry ice, Ingham County sheriff's Detective Lt. Roy Holliday testified Wednesday. He said police never directly handled the samples.

Charles Mercer's attorney, Chris Bergstrom, asked Holliday why he didn't tell officials at a forensic laboratory in Philadelphia, which in 2003 analyzed Sally Mercer's tissue, about a doctor who said he examined Sally Mercer for a meningitis-like illness shortly before her death.

Holliday responded by saying that investigators did not believe what the doctor said in the 1995 interview.

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Mercer's tissue had presence of pain-killer
http://www.lsj.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20061104/NEWS01/611040336

MASON - A chemical analysis of tissue samples taken from the exhumed remains of Sally Mercer showed the presence of propoxyphene, a pain-killing drug, a lab analyst testified Friday.
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Welch said the drug was present, but said she was not involved in calculating amounts of the drug found in 53 samples that were tested.

Other personnel from NMS Labs involved in the testing and handling of the tissue samples are expected to testify by phone on Monday.
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Both said the drug was likely injected into Mercer's body rather than being swallowed.

 

[chicoliving]

Murder charges have been dismissed against an Okemos doctor accused of killing his wife in 1968.

Ingham County Judge William Collette says the passage of time hindered both the prosecution's case as well as Charles William Mercer's right to a fair trial.

http://www.9and10news.com/category/story/?id=120100

 

[SadieMae]

I feel terrible for her family. I am really hoping this is not a case of a murderer going free.

 

[concernedperson]

Durn, I had high hopes for this case to be solved. There will be justice in the end maybe not here on earth but there will be.

 

[Richard]

Obituary of their daughter:

Cindy Sue Mercer, daughter of Dr. Charles William and Sally Sue (Wiseheart) (1936-1968) Mercer, was born 26 April 1959 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Cindy graduated from Okemos High School in 1977. She died 26 January 1998 in California and was interred Pinckney Cemetery, Pinckney, Livingston County, Michigan. Cindy's mother was interred Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, Shelby County, Illinois. Note: Cindy was also identified by the surname of Madary.

Lansing State Journal (Lansing, Michigan) Thursday, 29 January 1998

MERCER, CINDY SUE

OJAI, CA

FORMERLY OF OKEMOS

Cindy Sue Mercer died as a result of an accident on January 26, 1998 in Southern California where she was residing. Cindy was born April 27, 1959 in Chicago, IL to Dr. C. William Mercer and the late Sally Sue Wiseheart Mercer. Cindy graduated from Okemos High School in 1977. She opened C. J. Video in Haslett in 1989. Cindy was known for her generous spirit and her intense love of animals, especially cats. She was preceded in death by her mother, Salle Wiseheart Mercer; her parental grandparents, Dr. and Mrs. Walter Mercer; and her maternal grandfather, Dr. Gil Wiseheart. Cindy is survived by her father, Dr. C. William Mercer of Okemos, her sister, Sara (Jim) Roman; nephew, Kelen Roman of Troy, MI; maternal grandmother, Irene Wiseheart of Shelbyville, IL and former husband, Paul Merrifield of Haslett.

In 1968 Cindy, age 8, came home from school one day to find her mother's body lying on the floor of their Okemos home with her 2 1/2 year old sister, Sara, sitting nearby. Sally Sue's death was originally ruled as a death by natural causes, then re-filed as a death from "acute bulbar poliomyelitis." But in 1995 police reopened the case and in 2001 the death certificate was changed to record Sally as a victim of homicide. The Mercer case became well known in the early part of the new century as it wound its way through the Michigan judicial system to the State Supreme Court. Dr. Charles William Mercer was charged with his deceased wife's 1968 murder by injection with a lethal dose of pain medication. As of December 2008 "prosecutors sent a letter to the Michigan Supreme Court, saying they would not appeal a decision in August by Ingham County Chief Circuit Judge William Collette, who found there was no evidence a crime had been committed." (synopsis of Lansing State Journal "Prosecutors won't pursue Mercer case" article Wednesday 12/31/2008)

 

[Richard]

Sally Mercer's daughter:

Cindy Sue Mercer, daughter of Dr. Charles William and Sally Sue (Wiseheart) (1936-1968) Mercer, was born 26 April 1959 in Chicago, Cook County, Illinois. Cindy graduated from Okemos High School in 1977. She died 26 January 1998 in California and was interred Pinckney Cemetery, Pinckney, Livingston County, Michigan. Cindy's mother was interred Glenwood Cemetery, Shelbyville, Shelby County, Illinois. Note: Cindy was also identified by the surname of Madary....

LINK:

Cindy Sue Mercer (Deceased), Okemos, MI Michigan last lived in Haslett, MI USA

 

[Richard]

Sally Sue (Wiseheart) Mercer (1936-1968)

 

[Richard]

Sally Sue Wiseheart Mercer
BIRTH 28 Mar 1936
DEATH 27 Feb 1968 (aged 31)
Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan, USA
BURIAL
Glenwood Cemetery
Shelbyville, Shelby County, Illinois, USA

 

[Richard]

Sally Sue Wiseheart Mercer, 31
Murdered 27 February 1968
Okemos, Michigan

LINK:
Sally Sue Wiseheart Mercer (1936-1968) - Find A...

 

[Richard]

LINK:

1968 Death of Former Shelbyville Woman Has Case Reopened In Michigan

 

[Richard]

Sally Sue (Wiseheart) Mercer (1936-1968)

BIRTH 28 Mar 1936
DEATH 27 Feb 1968 (aged 31) Okemos, Ingham County, Michigan, USA
BURIAL Glenwood Cemetery Shelbyville, Shelby County, Illinois, USA

LINK:

Sally Sue Wiseheart Mercer (1936-1968) - Find a...

Remembering Sally http://www.shelbyvilledailyunion.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_184095914.html 1968 Death of Former Shelbyville Woman Has Case Reopened In Michigan http://www.shelbyvilledailyunion.com/siteSearch/apstorysection/local_story_164131509.html Note: If someone there...

www.findagrave.com

 

[Richard]

Bumping this thread up...