GUILTY NC - Kathy Taft, 62, Raleigh, 6 March 2010 - #5

[Just the Fax]

I was shown the police report from this crime (which took place several years ago, in an entirely different but equally-as-affluent part of Raleigh.) I don't recall anything about an assault in the report. That doesn't mean it did or didn't happen - I'm just recounting what I actually saw from a photocopy of the report. JW wrapped a t-shirt around his fist, busted a window and entered the home. The crime took place between 3:00 am and 3:30 am. Police were called and JW was arrested after being found wandering around the area, drunk, not far from the location of the break in. It was explained to me that since the house was occupied, the crime was considered a felony; a very serious crime but it was pleaded down.

He was in fact convicted of felony B&E for this 1991 incident.
So, was this the one where he was so drunk, he thought he was getting into his own house that looked similar?

 

[no1uknow]

Sorry, I don't recall the date. It was the break-in of a home where two females were asleep inside.

 

[Just the Fax]

Sorry, I don't recall the date. It was the break-in of a home where two females were asleep inside.

10-4
So, as far as you know, he did not personally encounter either of the females asleep inside?

Interesting MO
He entered JG's home in the very early hours with 2 sleeping females inside.
Sounds like 3 were very lucky.

 

[aarrgghh]

IMO: My experience that the judicial system is sooo overcrowded that LE cannot handle most "small time" cases. They simply dont have the resources. I have seen so much stuff just dismissed or a slight slap on the wrist for multiple B&E felonies...resititution is set but RARELY paid...so victim is still left hanging.
Probabtion is a nice theory but is a band-aid on a very complex wound. The answer isnt necessarily more money in programs...that would not have saved KT IMO. Personal responsibility/accountability is the only solution but sadly is severely lacking.

 

[no1uknow]

10-4
So, as far as you know, he did not personally encounter either of the females asleep inside?

Interesting MO
He entered JG's home in the very early hours with 2 sleeping females inside.
Sounds like 3 were very lucky.

As far as I know, which is only what I read on the photocopy of what I assume was a police report, he didn't attack anyone. I don't know whether either of the residents saw him/encountered him in any way after he entered the home. One of the residents called the police, he took off and was later found wandering around the area, drunk. That's about all I know other than he broke in by breaking a window.

 

[no1uknow]

no1- I totally respect & understand that. We are all just so curious about JW bc I guess on the surface, he looks like just your average joe. But, you never know what your gut feeling will tell you when you are talking to someone. Maybe he gives off a creepy vibe. If you feel comfortable- will you tell us what he was like when you talked to him? Did he seem like just a regular guy?

As they say, hindsight is 20/20. When I think of the encounters I had with JW since the murder, I can remember things that creep me out. But that's all in retrospect and I imagine my view of him since he was arrested is much darker than it was beforehand.
Basically, he was quiet, polite and very much kept to himself.

 

[susubaby]

Does anyone have any sort of idea how long the process will now be until this case goes to trial, if it does? It seems like it takes years....I think JY and BC are still sitting in jail at this point....and they have been arrainged for quite some time now.

 

[Prancy]

Does anyone have any sort of idea how long the process will now be until this case goes to trial, if it does? It seems like it takes years....I think JY and BC are still sitting in jail at this point....and they have been arrainged for quite some time now.

I have never really kept up with how long it takes, but I would imagine at least one year. No one has mentioned psychological evaluations. I would think he would have those done in light of some of the bizarre buzz about some aspects of the case.

They may want to get their own DNA expert once they are produced their discovery. That will take more time.

His team may contest the validity of the search warrant, so that could involved months of time. The day they released the SW of JW's apt., WTVD reported that there were problems with the SW based on what some local attorneys had reported to them.

I think there was a post here that said JW's court appointed attorney in Greenville was good friends with the victim's family. I'm not sure how that would pan out. Even if JW says he's okay with it, if he is convicted, he could turn around and claim ineffective counsel at his trial and say it was because of that family friendship. Why did they pick someone from Greenville do you think?

 

[caryresident]

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/7511314/

 

[Prancy]

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/7511314/

I can't seem to locate the actual autopsy report. Have you seen it anywhere?

 

[caryresident]

No Prancy. I have not seen it either.

 

[sloothseeker]

wtvd link states a little more but still no actual autopsy report posted.

http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7413663

 

[Noway]

More articles

Autopsy: Taft suffered head wounds

RALEIGH -- Kathy Taft, the state school board member found fatally injured last month, was struck multiple times in the head by a heavy blunt object, according to a state medical examiner's report released today.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/29/459551/autopsy-taft-suffered-head-wounds.html

Taft autopsy shows head injury
The head wound that killed Taft was right next the area where a plastic surgeon made an incision behind her left ear.

The autopsy shows that Taft had a facelift and other surgery just before she died. The medical examiner lists the cause of death as blunt head trauma. The autopsy also confirms Taft was sexually assaulted.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7413663&status=ok

* * * * * * * *
I've looked for the autopsy report but did not find ...

 

[Noway]

The comments under the NO article is where I found the link to the ABC article. It was revised between the comments made in the NO Comments section and me finding it.

 

[sloothseeker]

The only thing new is that it states DH checked on her b/n 7:30 and 8 am. If this is correct, why the 911 call 1 1/2 hours later?

 

[Noway]

If the family asked that the autopsy report not be released to the public, would that request be honored?

 

[Noway]

The only thing new is that it states DH checked on her b/n 7:30 and 8 am. If this is correct, why the 911 call 1 1/2 hours later?

It makes no sense to me.

Some time between 7:30 a.m. and 8 a.m. on March 6, according to the report, Holton checked on Taft again and found her "unresponsive, with obvious bleeding from the head. The bed sheets and her garments were in disarray, according to the report.

Read more: http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/29/459551/autopsy-taft-suffered-head-wounds.html#ixzz0mWXhmVe1
​

 

[Prancy]

If the family asked that the autopsy report not be released to the public, would that request be honored?

I don't think so. I requested and received one on a friend of mine a couple of weeks ago. It's a matter of public record, so I don't think the family even knows a request has been made for it.

They will email you some of it and then mail you some parts. It only takes about a day or two.

Apparently there was no motion to seal it, because the press have it. I wonder why they have not made it available to the public.

 

[Prancy]

More articles

Autopsy: Taft suffered head wounds

RALEIGH -- Kathy Taft, the state school board member found fatally injured last month, was struck multiple times in the head by a heavy blunt object, according to a state medical examiner's report released today.

http://www.newsobserver.com/2010/04/29/459551/autopsy-taft-suffered-head-wounds.html

Taft autopsy shows head injury
The head wound that killed Taft was right next the area where a plastic surgeon made an incision behind her left ear.

The autopsy shows that Taft had a facelift and other surgery just before she died. The medical examiner lists the cause of death as blunt head trauma. The autopsy also confirms Taft was sexually assaulted.
http://abclocal.go.com/wtvd/story?section=news/local&id=7413663&status=ok

* * * * * * * *
I've looked for the autopsy report but did not find ...

The News and Observer article is really shocking. The times for when she was checked on are different than previously reported. Very confusing. Did you read the Comments after the N&O article?

I'm not sure what to make of it. Apparently much more surgery was done on KT than previously believed. I really hope the state has an air tight case here.

 

[sloothseeker]

WTVD will air an interview with DH at 6 pm where she explains why she didn't hear anything. The 5 pm report states 3 blows to the head and that KT had ragged nails indicating she struggled with the attacker.
"extensive cosmetic surgery" to quote ed crump.

now rumored to include breast augmentation.