NC - Kathy Taft, 62, Raleigh, 6 March 2010 - #1

[Noway]

The cops stated they were unsure if the attack occurred Friday night or Saturday. That would infer Dina did not check on her before she called 911.

But you can check on someone without really looking at them.

Open the door to the room, and ask "Kathy, are you awake?"

No response. Guess if she isn't awake she doesn't need any frozen peas or a pillow adjusted.

I don't think when murder is involved, I can accept any inferring.

 

[Just the Fax]

Tiny house.
Kathy was sleeping downstairs and Dina in one of the 2 rooms upstairs.

 

[Just the Fax]

But you can check on someone without really looking at them.

Open the door to the room, and ask "Kathy, are you awake?"

No response. Guess if she isn't awake she doesn't need any frozen peas or a pillow adjusted.

I don't think when murder is involved, I can accept any inferring.

Perhaps. But it turns out her skull was crushed in and there was a lot of blood.
Granted, she was wrapped tightly around her head down around her jaw to support the recent platysmaplasty.
Rest assured, there is something in the 911 call that is potentially incriminating.

 

[Noway]

It's listed as 1.5 stories ... does that mean a split level?

But even stranger that she did not hear anything.

ETA
Don't know if this direct link will work. If it does not, then you can get to it by typing in JG in the link above, and clicking on the Buildings tab.

 

[Noway]

Perhaps. But it turns out her skull was crushed in and there was a lot of blood.
Granted, she was wrapped tightly around her head down around her jaw to support the recent platysmaplasty.
Rest assured, there is something in the 911 call that is potentially incriminating.

Is this again from your personal source versus a public source?

If the surgery was on her neck and her HEAD was bloody, why would her sister think it was complications from the surgery?

The blood would not flow upward to her head (from any incision in her neck). (If indeed her head was to remain elevated after surgery.)

Was that the only surgery she had?

 

[Prancy]

Has anyone heard of any insurance policies she had in place?

Anything is possible. I have a friend who was attacked by a family member not long ago. The man was beaten almost to death by his son who is mentally ill. The son was having delusions.

Does anyone know if they actually confirmed that the house about a block away was actually broken into or was it a possible attempted breakin?

 

[Just the Fax]

Is this again from your personal source versus a public source?

If the surgery was on her neck and her HEAD was bloody, why would her sister think it was complications from the surgery?

The blood would not flow upward to her head (from any incision in her neck). (If indeed her head was to remain elevated after surgery.)

Was that the only surgery she had?

The media has never said anything other than 'minor surgery'.
Yes, I do know from a good source she had this procedure.

 

[Prancy]

I wasn't sure if this view of the house has posted or not. It's a view from the street.

http://maps.google.com/maps?hl=en&s...code_result&ct=title&resnum=1&ved=0CAkQ8gEwAA

You have to click on the address and then onto the Street View.

 

[Just the Fax]

Has anyone heard of any insurance policies she had in place?

Anything is possible. I have a friend who was attacked by a family member not long ago. The man was beaten almost to death by his son who is mentally ill. The son was having delusions.

Does anyone know if they actually confirmed that the house about a block away was actually broken into or was it a possible attempted breakin?

No info on life insurance.
Her 2 boys needed no money, as their father is a very wealthy trial lawyer in Greenville. I seriously doubt the sister was named as a beneficiary.

 

[Just the Fax]

It's listed as 1.5 stories ... does that mean a split level?

But even stranger that she did not hear anything.

ETA
Don't know if this direct link will work. If it does not, then you can get to it by typing in JG in the link above, and clicking on the Buildings tab.

Not a split level, upstairs is just significantly smaller than the main floor.

Here is an e-mail passage from a close friend on this .....

"Dina supposedly heard something during the night and came downstairs. Kathy was sleeping downstairs. She didn't see anything and listened in on Kathy and heard snoring. Now they are wondering if it was moaning. The next day Dina assumed she was sleeping late, due to the surgery and the fact that she was medicated for pain. Didn't get concerned until later that morning, when she went in and found Kathy unconscious and in a pool of blood."

 

[Texas Mist]

Police to conduct checkpoint in Taft murder investigation

Posted: 47 minutes ago
Updated: 8 minutes ago

Raleigh, N.C. — Raleigh police plan to conduct an informational checkpoint Friday night near the home where state Board of Education member Kathy Taft was attacked two weeks ago.

From approximately 11 p.m. Friday until 3 a.m. Saturday, officers will distribute fliers to motorists passing near the intersection of Oberlin Road and Cartier Drive. The fliers contain of a photo of Taft and ask for any information about suspicious activity in the area.
.......................................
Chief Harry Dolan said the assault occurred "some hours before" investigators were called, but the time of the crime hadn't been narrowed down from late March 5 to early March 6.

Police haven't determined if the assault was a random act of violence.

more here

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/7266646/

====================================
ETA:

Raleigh PD To Hold Checkpoint In Hopes Of Gathering Info In Taft Murder

By NBC17, NBC17, 1 hour, 49 minutes ago
Updated: Mar. 19 4:50 pm

RALEIGH, N.C. -

Raleigh Police say they will be holding an "informational checkpoint" at an intersection near the home where Kathy Taft was found severely injured.

Beginning at 11 p.m. Friday night, officers will be handing out fliers to motorists travelling through the checkpoint at Oberlin Road and Cartier Drive. Click here to view informational flier.

Jim Sughrue, spokesman for the Raleigh PD, says the checkpoint is being conducted as part of the department's on-going investigation of the death of Kathy Taft.

more here

http://wake.mync.com/site/wake/news...int-in-hopes-of-gathering-info-in-taft-murder

Link to flier -- http://media.mgnetwork.com/ncn/pdf/100319_taft.pdf

=================================
ETA2

<snip>

The checkpoint will begin about 11 p.m. near the intersection of Oberlin Road and Cartier Drive, said police spokesman Jim Sughrue. Police also will hand out flyers to motorists. The checkpoint will be up about 4 hours, Sughrue said.

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/03/19/397675/police-to-set-up-checkpoint-in.html#ixzz0if5UzMjM

hmmm - the hours that they are doing the flier handouts make me wonder if they're thinking these are the hours that someone may have seen something related to Kathy's murder (or the burglary??).

 

[Prancy]

Just the Fax, did they say which room Kathy was sleeping in? Bedroom on first floor on in recliner or on sofa?

I wonder if house key was left out by the door under a brick or something. People used to do it quite often, but I think they have stopped due to the people who know how to locate the keys and rob your house.

Any idea as to why they sealed the 911 tape? Is it to hide the exact time it was made or because of its contents?

 

[Prancy]

Update on investigation

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/7266646/

 

[laces]

in looking at the area, it is a much smaller neighborhood than i envisioned. The homes are close together, cozy. It doesn't appear to be the type of neighborhood that outsiders could easily move around in without being noticed, and the large German Shepherd that stands watch a few doors down would certainly not be silent with any unusual activity going on. I was surprised but glad to see the crime scene tape still up. They are leaving no stone unturned, evidently. In looking at the area where the Glenwood Grill and Harris Teeter are, it is a small upscale shopping center and again, I think anyone who looked as though they did not belong there, would be noticed.

 

[diphi]

Not checking on Kathy until after 11:30 AM is simply not normal.
Are you kidding me?
Sounds like she either did it late AM after Kathy returned to bed or much earlier and she was waiting on her to die before calling 911 (as Michael Peterson did).

Which Michael Peterson - in Durham?

 

[diphi]

in looking at the area, it is a much smaller neighborhood than i envisioned. The homes are close together, cozy. It doesn't appear to be the type of neighborhood that outsiders could easily move around in without being noticed, and the large German Shepherd that stands watch a few doors down would certainly not be silent with any unusual activity going on. I was surprised but glad to see the crime scene tape still up. They are leaving no stone unturned, evidently. In looking at the area where the Glenwood Grill and Harris Teeter are, it is a small upscale shopping center and again, I think anyone who looked as though they did not belong there, would be noticed.

At this point I'm not buying the intruder theory. But, at that time of night I do think someone could move around the neighborhood unnoticed. The area is heavily shaded/wooded, even now, especially in the back of the house near the shopping center. Of course, a barking dog would help but the owners may have brought him/her in at night just for that reason.

I've done some basic Internet searching on the sister but so far she seems virtually nonexistent. That may not be surprising, depending on her age and background - housewife vs. working person, for example. Still, these days you'd think something would come up fairly easily.

 

[Just the Fax]

Just the Fax, did they say which room Kathy was sleeping in? Bedroom on first floor on in recliner or on sofa?

I wonder if house key was left out by the door under a brick or something. People used to do it quite often, but I think they have stopped due to the people who know how to locate the keys and rob your house.

Any idea as to why they sealed the 911 tape? Is it to hide the exact time it was made or because of its contents?

Kathy was in the downstairs master bedroom.
I understand sealing the SW, but not the 911 tape....unless there was something on the tape that is important to the investigation. We already know what time the call was placed and the family confirmed Dina made the call. Tells me they are certainly investigating her, at least enough so she can either remain a person of interest or be eliminated.

 

[Just the Fax]

Police to conduct checkpoint in Taft murder investigation



hmmm - the hours that they are doing the flier handouts make me wonder if they're thinking these are the hours that someone may have seen something related to Kathy's murder (or the burglary??).

Sounds like the sister said they were both in bed by 11PM
Cutting off at 3AM just makes sense....who is out and about after that hour?

The Cary cops did the exact same thing for days in the Nancy Cooper murder. They handed out flyers to motorists in the area asking if they heard or saw anything suspicious. Of course, the cops already had the husband, Brad in their sights. A good defense attorney always will say "this was a rush to judgement, they never considered anyone else but my client".
This tactic is just good, prudent police work.

 

[diphi]

Sounds like the sister said they were both in bed by 11PM
Cutting off at 3AM just makes sense....who is out and about after that hour?

The Cary cops did the exact same thing for days in the Nancy Cooper murder. They handed out flyers to motorists in the area asking if they heard or saw anything suspicious. Of course, the cops already had the husband, Brad in their sights. A good defense attorney always will say "this was a rush to judgement, they never considered anyone else but my client".
This tactic is just good, prudent police work.

JTF, I thought of the Nancy Cooper case as soon as I heard about the "informational search" tonight. I agree, this is a good practice for the police. I hope they come up with something, but I doubt it.

 

[diphi]

I bet the RPD is consulting with the Cary PD on how to investigate a high profile case. I'm sure they'll get some good ideas.