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

[sloothseeker]

i had the same face surgery (and from what i hear, by the same surgeon, who imo is excellent). head was bandaged almost mummylike, i couldn't chew anything, and was uncomfortable until the pain pill put me to sleep. big bandage off the following day, with some expected swelling; bruising more pronounced on second post op day. lucky for me i had caretakers who looked in on me hourly for the next three days. hard to find comfortable position for head.
stitches out i think on day four.

Would you have been able to stomach Ritz crackers or cereal upon returning home after the surgery or perhaps the next morning?

(thinking back to the SW and the 2 cereal bowls and sleeve of crackers)

 

[sloothseeker]

When you request them they have 3 boxes. They offer the Investigation Report, Toxicology and the Autopsy REport.

The toxicology report was emailed and it was two pages. I really want to see KT's to determine if her meds had been taken.

One part is on a form entitled North Carolina Dept. of Health and Human Services Office of the Chief Medical Examiner, Chapel Hill, NC and is entitled
REPORT OF INVESTIGATION BY MEDICAL EXAMINER It is a form and the information is handwritten such as name, address, date of death, Probable Cause of Death, OGME Review, Medical History, Means of Death, Activity of Decedent, Description of Body, Diagrams of Body, and a narrative summary of the circumstances surrounding death. It is signed by the MD.

Then there is a separate typed report that gives the details of the autopsy. in the categories of Pathologic Diagnoses, Cause of Death, Contributing Causes, External Description, Evidence of Injury, Evidence of Medical Attention, Microbiology, Internal Exam, Microscopic Exam, and a Summary and Interpretation. It's about 9 pages total, excluding the Toxicology.

In any of these reports does it give an estimated time of when the actual injuries occurred? We all know the time discrepencies but I was wondering if anything could point to how long KT had suffered before the first 911 call - ie, pinpointing when the intruder was actually in the house. IMO, brain death occurred at the point of the attack and "bodily death" on the 3rd day probably when KT's family perhaps finalized things and made the painful decision to remove her off life support.

 

[wheaten]

Would you have been able to stomach Ritz crackers or cereal upon returning home after the surgery or perhaps the next morning?

(thinking back to the SW and the 2 cereal bowls and sleeve of crackers)

the only thing i ate that day was about half of a small wendy's frosty that a friend brought that night -- sipped through a straw. couldn't (and didn't want to) chew anything. can't think that kt was the one eating the crackers or much of anything else.

 

[Noway]

From Autopsy Report, page 5 of PDF.

She checked her in the early a.m. and could hear her breathing, but did not turn on the light. At approximately 7:30-8:00 a.m., she checked her again and found her unresponsive, with obvious bleeding from the head area, and her bed clothes and garments in disarray.

According to media reports, 911 call was made at 9:31 a.m.

http://www.charlotteobserver.com/2010/04/09/1366440/police-believe-taft-was-sexually.html


I don't know whether the media is off or the notes from the ME are off or whether there really was 1 1/2 hours in between DH finding her sister and calling 911.

 

[Prancy]

This time discreptancy is an issue. This time line will have to be worked out.

I don't know how it would play into the hands of the defense if it goes to trial. I guess it's possible that someone was mistaken with the time or who ever wrote down the earlier time was mistaken.

 

[sloothseeker]

This time discreptancy is an issue. This time line will have to be worked out.

I don't know how it would play into the hands of the defense if it goes to trial. I guess it's possible that someone was mistaken with the time or who ever wrote down the earlier time was mistaken.

Here are a few other "mistakes" that bother me about this case and the timeline and as a "juror" would have to know the answers...

http://www.wral.com/news/local/story/7184836/
Relatives and neighbors said that Taft often stayed at the house, which belongs to a friend, while she was in town for state Board of Education business. They said her sister found her inside the home after she missed a planned breakfast date Saturday.

Perhaps this was early on when the KT story was first reported and friends/relatives weren't aware of KT's surgery...


http://www.raleightelegram.com/2010041503.html
The source at the shopping center said that the night before Taft was discovered beaten in the Cartier Drive home by her sister, workers from the Harris Teeter grocery store discovered a car running -- with the keys still inside -- when they left the building after closing that Friday night.

“The car was running with the keys in it and no one was inside,” they said.
No one knew how long the vehicle had been running, said the worker.
Diana Arnold Holton, Taft’s sister, was later found to be the owner of the vehicle, claimed the worker.
According to the shopping center worker, the police were called to the scene after they reported the unattended car.


I guess LE had no way to know why the vehicle was left in the HT parking lot running and no way to track down DH if not @ home in Oriental. The call from the HT employees and HT receipt gives them a starting point for the timeline. Another unknown to the public is if DH walked back to JG's house (would require being familiar with the neighborhood), took a cab or accepted a ride from a stranger. Could the attack on KT have happened while DH was at HT? However this would mean KT was not checked on upon DH returning. Last thought - perhaps the 3 am time as stated by DH (when she heard the deep breathing but did not open the bedroom door) may not be accurate.


Then there is the matter of the baggie corners and handwritten notes - 1 from the Durango and the other from JG's house.

 

[diphi]

Apparently, DH's actions (or inactions) do not matter at this point. Based on DNA evidence, they have their man.

I agree she did some weird stuff (based on what we know) and there are lots and lots of unanswered questions. Clearly, she is not a very credible witness, victim or not.

But, what's left now? Try to link her to JW? I just don't see how that is possible.

We may never know the true story to this...

 

[diphi]

Re: the handwritten notes.

Could they be notes KT wrote to DH because she couldn't talk because of the surgery? Just askin'...

 

[diphi]

OT

So many cases on WS related to children...how tremendously sad...I cannot bear to look at them. Kudos to any of you who are actively engaged in trying to solve the cases...

 

[wheaten]

Apparently, DH's actions (or inactions) do not matter at this point. Based on DNA evidence, they have their man.

I agree she did some weird stuff (based on what we know) and there are lots and lots of unanswered questions. Clearly, she is not a very credible witness, victim or not.

But, what's left now? Try to link her to JW? I just don't see how that is possible.

We may never know the true story to this...

sad to say, i think you're right. many questions will go unanswered forever. there is more to this story, and we will likely never know what it is.

 

[Prancy]

Apparently, DH's actions (or inactions) do not matter at this point. Based on DNA evidence, they have their man.

I agree she did some weird stuff (based on what we know) and there are lots and lots of unanswered questions. Clearly, she is not a very credible witness, victim or not.

But, what's left now? Try to link her to JW? I just don't see how that is possible.

We may never know the true story to this...

What I am afraid of is that despite the DNA evidence, that the state says they have, the defense could use the discrepancies to build a defense. I'm not sure how, but it could cause some doubt in at least one jury member. And, if for any reason, the DNA is excluded, then what's left of the case? How would the state's case stack up then? I think it would be a case with lots of holes and unanswered questions. How would it stand up to the scruitny of cross examination?

I am terrified that a dangerous, violent person could be released because of "problems" that were not sorted out and reconciled with evidence. That's all I'm saying.

 

[sloothseeker]

?

I am terrified that a dangerous, violent person could be released because of "problems" that were not sorted out and reconciled with evidence. That's all I'm saying.

Or the insanity defense used and the culprit be released or admitted to a pysch institution until "better"

 

[Prancy]

Or the insanity defense used and the culprit be released or admitted to a pysch institution until "better"

I don't know his psych background. I guess it's possible. I can't see that going over well with a Wake County jury, but you never know.

 

[sloothseeker]

I don't know his psych background. I guess it's possible. I can't see that going over well with a Wake County jury, but you never know.

i was just referencing JW's behavior in the previous crimes, which probably won't be admissible in court and his chemical dependency or perhaps chemical imbalance as possible "defenses" for this crime.

 

[Just the Fax]

With the apparent rock solid DNA evidence, I will be shocked if there is not a plea deal offered and accepted. No trial....MOO

 

[Noway]

If the evidence is rock solid, I would hope they wouldn't offer a plea. JMO

 

[Prancy]

Does anyone know if KT was in favor of the death penalty or not? I would think the family would honor her position and that the state would take that into consideration in making their decision.

 

[Just the Fax]

If the evidence is rock solid, I would hope they wouldn't offer a plea. JMO

A jury will have a hard time with 1st degree murder and possibly the death penalty. Can it be proven JW intended to kill?
After all, he left the scene with KT obviously breathing...actually "snoring" (death rattle???)
The defense will likely be drugs/alcohol and no memory.
The "rock solid DNA evidence" basically seals a guilty verdict for 1st degree burglary / rape and 2nd degree murder. The DA may well posture w/ the DP and the defense will ultimately agree to a plea deal. No trial, imo.

 

[Topsail Girl]

JTF did you review the autopsy report or photos?

 

[Just the Fax]

JTF did you review the autopsy report or photos?

Hey TG.:sunshine:
I considered reviewing KT's autopsy photos, but decided to pass.
On the other hand, I felt compelled to see the photos of Michelle's remains so I could put in perspective how a husband/father could inflict such a cruel, vicious beating on his loving wife and unborn son.:furious: