CA CA - Susan Keegan, 55, Ukiah, 11 Nov 2010

[burblestein]

Volume 3 of the indictment: http://theava.com/archives/73662

I am fascinated by the fact that the grand jurors are identified only by number. (My guess is, by voter registration numbers.)

 

[Mamamerced]

Here's Volume 2 of the Grand Jury transcripts: http://theava.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/people-v-keegan-8-2-17.pdf. Once again, from the AVA.

Some interesting facts are emerging. One is that Susan Keegan had a BAC of .16 when she died. So, despite the protestations of sobriety from her friends, she was drunk when she died.

In another turn of circumstances, the Keegan sons (both adults), wrote the AVA a letter backing their father's story of their mother dying accidentally. Source: AVA, 21 September 2017, http://theava.com/archives/73718#16 Just below it is a letter from Susan's cousin, pleading for an evenhanded trial.

I will be posting more transcripts as I read them.

This article is behind a paywall.

 

[burblestein]

Sorry. I didn't realize these links were paywalled. I have been mentioning the regnant facts contained in the Grand Jury transcripts, and they will be part of the trial evidence.

 

[burblestein]

I don't know if this is any help, but all six volumes of the Grand Jury transcripts are linked to the 17 September 2017 Anderson Valley Advertiser: http://theava.com/archives/73493#1 Although that may also be a paywalled link.

 

[Mamamerced]

I don't know if this is any help, but all six volumes of the Grand Jury transcripts are linked to the 17 September 2017 Anderson Valley Advertiser: http://theava.com/archives/73493#1 Although that may also be a paywalled link.

I'm almost finished with #5. Fascinating story all the way around. PK is quite full of himself, no?
I read the GJ testimonies from this link....no paywall: http://theava.com/archives/73493#1

 

[Mamamerced]

Here's Volume 2 of the Grand Jury transcripts: http://theava.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/people-v-keegan-8-2-17.pdf. Once again, from the AVA.

Some interesting facts are emerging. One is that Susan Keegan had a BAC of .16 when she died. So, despite the protestations of sobriety from her friends, she was drunk when she died.

In another turn of circumstances, the Keegan sons (both adults), wrote the AVA a letter backing their father's story of their mother dying accidentally. Source: AVA, 21 September 2017, http://theava.com/archives/73718#16 Just below it is a letter from Susan's cousin, pleading for an evenhanded trial.

I will be posting more transcripts as I read them.

But.....what about the missing blood? Hope the jury stays focused on facts and not staging and/or emotions.

 

[Mamamerced]

I believe the paywall lasts one week only, then articles are available to all.

 

[tmar]

I'm almost finished with #5. Fascinating story all the way around. PK is quite full of himself, no?
I read the GJ testimonies from this link....no paywall: http://theava.com/archives/73493#1

Thanks Marmacerd. You introduced me, to this case, from another site.
PK certainly 'wants to be in charge'. A horrid man.
He belittles people, here, as not qualified!!!
He lists drugs a 'dying man' must take.
Half a dozen of these, many 'health conscious' folk, take routinely, and they aren't 'dying'.

Only started reading, and am keen to learn more.
Thanks:
Hope his 'illness', the sympathy, does not spare him, in the future outcome

 

[burblestein]

Volume 4: http://theava.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/people-vs-keegan-8-7-17.pdf

In this session, the Grand Jury considered Attorney Norm Rosen's role as a marriage counselor to the Keegans. Notable was his lack of claim of attorney-client privilege. There was speculation that Rosen's claim of legal privilege stalled prosecution for years.

Volume 5: http://theava.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/people-vs-keegan-8-8-17.pdf

Doctor Peter Keegan appears by his own request, disregarding his lawyer's advice. While giving explanatory and exculpatory testimony, he also submitted his exculpatory evidence to the jury. The pathologist who was instrumental in changing Susan's cause of death from "accidental" to "homicide" gave his medical observations that led to the change.

Volume 6: http://theava.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/people-vs-keegan-8-9-17.pdf

Jury deliberations, and return of a true bill for arrest warrant.

 

[burblestein]

Unmentioned thus far is the role of the Anderson Valley Advertiser in this affair. It has relentlessly and repeatedly called for this trial.

Local observation here: Bruce Anderson, the AVA editor/publisher is notorious for his hobbyhorse campaigns. Although, to give him credit(?), once he makes one of his Trumpian pronouncements, he does carry through. And through. And through. I keep hard copy files of articles, etc. concerning the cases I write up for WS. While printing out AVA articles concerning the Keegans, I accumulated a couple of inches of unsorted (and unread) repetitive articles on this case before I decided to conserve my printer's ink. I predict that this media hounding will be a part of the defense case. Don't be too surprised if a change of venue is requested.

 

[burblestein]

To clarify: the AVA is a weekly; about half the issues for seven years contained articles calling for Doctor Keegan's prosecution.

 

[Mamamerced]

To clarify: the AVA is a weekly; about half the issues for seven years contained articles calling for Doctor Keegan's prosecution.

Many thanks to Bruce Anderson and staff at the AVA. No thanks to the Ukiah Daily Urinal. This homicide may have been forever ignored if not for Bruce/staff, although DA Eyster vowed to investigate thoroughly, but, egads! it has taken 6 1/2+\- years to convene a grand jury. Bruce has his critics but I am not one of them and I don't wear rose-colored glasses.....I just appreciate his thorniness, I guess.
And thank you, Burblestein, for bringing this to the table on WS.

 

[burblestein]

I rather expect the overwhelming extent of AVA coverage could be grounds for a defense request for a change of venue. At least, it seems Keegan's lawyer would plump for it. However, Keegan seems hellbent on clearing his name before his departure from life, so maybe not.

Bruce Anderson's veracity will also probably come under attack. Given his penchant for pushing his own agenda on certain subjects regardless of reality, he is a tempting target for the defense lawyer. And the Keegan affair is one of those journalistic hobbyhorses he loves to ride. Like the "vacant" Willits Justice Center and the "useless" Mendocino County Office of Education.

While I depend on the AVA for a great deal of my research, I always keep in mind that Anderson may sometimes believe that too much fact gets in the way of a story's drama.

 

[Mamamerced]

You won't get much in the way of an argument about Bruce and the AVA, except to say I'm grateful to have had his needling perspective for these past 25-30 years. (I do agree with his assessment of MCOE, for the most part)
So, what do you think about the "missing" blood in the bathroom?

 

[tmar]

You won't get much in the way of an argument about Bruce and the AVA, except to say I'm grateful to have had his needling perspective for these past 25-30 years. (I do agree with his assessment of MCOE, for the most part)
So, what do you think about the "missing" blood in the bathroom?

Mamamercid.
To remove blood, body would have to be moved.
This would be evident at autopsy ie deposition within dead body.
As ?? not suspicious initially , was this 'looked for' or noted?
Body also cremated shortly after death!!

 

[burblestein]

As I recall, there was some testimony leading to suspicion of the body being moved. It seems that lividity indicated that her hands had been turned over. However, with three pathologists involved in this case, giving three differing autopsy reports...this trial looks like it will have a heavy quota of gruesome testimony.

No one has yet said this, but that Deputy Rainwater at the death scene seems to have been the only LE that thought Susan's death was suspicious. She noted the paucity of blood at the scene. Everyone else was giving the good old family doctor all kinds of slack.

 

[Mamamerced]

The investigation stumbled at the starting gate. Guess I should go back and reread all the testimony as my recall isn't what it used to be. I thought most investigators and the various coroners believed there should have been a copious amount of blood loss due to the scalp injuries.......but there wasn't any that was apparent. Hmmmm. Question: If Susan's heart stopped
upon impact, would there be minimal bleeding?
One coroner testified that Susan's body was likely moved (from where, not said) by the waistband of her pajama bottoms because of the contusions/abrasions seen around Susan's waistline. I wish the prosecutor and jurors had asked more questions, and hoping the detail is revealed at trial.
There is confusion about the condition of Susan's hands. Is it lividity or bruising due to defensive actions? Due to the edema, to me it seems like bruising. I don't recall talk of lividity in other parts of her body, though. Anyone else?
We need more sleuths on board for this discussion.

 

[burblestein]

The Grand Jury transcripts are going to be introduced as evidence in the trial. Don't think for a moment the transcript won't be questioned and explored. Stoen's questioning limited the answers given to the GJ.

I recall reading testimony about both edema and lividity of Susan's hands. It will be interesting to see what evidence/testimony will be given about her hands. If she was moved, lividity will likely tell the tale.

Deputy Rainwater believed there should have been more blood at the scene. Unfortunately, it seems as though she was overridden by her seniors because she was relatively junior in rank. Unfortunately, those seniors initially neglected investigating this suspicious death.

Common sense based on personal experience tells us that even minor scalp wounds will bleed copiously. In my case, I see the reminder high on my forehead every time I face my shaving mirror.

 

[Mamamerced]

Looks like I'll be forced to reread the GJ testimonies. :gaah:
I was under the impression a number of people connected with the investigation thought there should have been more blood.
Do you know the answer to my question above? If Susan died upon impact of the blow to her head, or if she died due to asphixiation JUST before the blow, would her scalp have bled profusely? If she was moved, would she have been killed in the house or outside? I don't remember how extensively or where luminol was used. Also wonder if the guest bedroom had carpet. So many questions.....mainly, where's the blood?

 

[tmar]

The Grand Jury transcripts are going to be introduced as evidence in the trial. Don't think for a moment the transcript won't be questioned and explored. Stoen's questioning limited the answers given to the GJ.

I recall reading testimony about both edema and lividity of Susan's hands. It will be interesting to see what evidence/testimony will be given about her hands. If she was moved, lividity will likely tell the tale.

Deputy Rainwater believed there should have been more blood at the scene. Unfortunately, it seems as though she was overridden by her seniors because she was relatively junior in rank. Unfortunately, those seniors initially neglected investigating this suspicious death.

Common sense based on personal experience tells us that even minor scalp wounds will bleed copiously. In my case, I see the reminder high on my forehead every time I face my shaving mirror.

Sorry Burblestein, to hear of scalp accident, leaving a scar, often reminding you of the incident.