GUILTY WV - Michael Cochran, 38, allegedly killed by wife in ponzi scheme, Feb 2019 *arrest*

[arielilane]

@cathyrusson

LIVE: Husband Poisoned Murder Trial — WVA v. Natalie Cochran — Day Five

https://youtube.com/live/-hKpnJP_NNM?si=24bQ6NFN69XVgh-U via @YouTube

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882060381184761906

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Dr. Paul Uribe, forensic pathologist now testifying. He said he did an autopsy of Michael Cochran about 2 years after Michael’s death. He said he was told Michael body was embalmed but if it was it was “not done well” because it had a an extensive amount of decomposition.




Ok so I’m really summarizing here but Dr. Uribe said Michael Cochran died of insulin injecting because it’s the only logical explanation.

 

[arielilane]

There’s no record of any Mr. Olympia winner to have died from a self-inflicted insulin injection. moo

If this is wrong, please provide a link. I wasn't able to locate one. TIA

Judge calls for a break.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth

So I'm fully aware I have a lot to catch up on but that will have to wait until lunch. If we're going by what the prosecutor told me yesterday the last witness they plan to call before resting their case is Timothy Bledsoe from the WV state police (retired)....


...He was one of the lead investigators from the Natalie Cochran Ponzi scheme in investigation.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Back from a break and it looks like the prosecution will call Bledsoe next. However we're again having to wait and having discussions about the defense's expert medical witness listening in on the trial.



11:02 AM · Jan 22, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Prosecutor said she is expecting to question Bledsoe for at least an hour. Meaning that we likely wont get to the cross examination by the defense until after lunch. And given how the defense likes to questions witness (I think it will be Stanley questioning Bledsoe),...

I'd say there's a good chance they won't get to anyone else today.


Retired WV State Trooper Timothy Bledsoe - lead investigator on the #NatalieCochran Ponzi Scheme - on the witness stand.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882098233356472665

Raleigh County Assistant Prosecuting Attorney Ashley Acord presented a document to Bledsoe which goes over charges for the Ponzi scheme which #NatalieCochran plead guilty to....


...Acord asked Bledsoe if Michael is mentioned anywhere in the document. He said no to which she argued that this proves Michael was not involved in the Ponzi scheme.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


They’re going through text message #NatalieCochran sent to family regarding the Cochran’s business Tactical Solutions Group (TSG), which was the one used in the Ponzi scheme and the one Natalie claimed was receiving government contracts to sell firearms (which was a lie)...

...In the text Natalie states she was not fully “transparent” which Michael about all the financing of the business and the expected returns to investors.

You’ll need to zoom in but these are text messages from #NatalieCochran to Michael talking about the millions of dollars expected from the federal government as a result of contracts awarded to Tacticsl Solutions Group which again was a complete fabrication…



…The Cochran’s businesses never received a single government contract.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Bledsoe said when he began his investigation – which I believe was after Michael’s death – they were only investigating the alleged financial crimes that Cochran’s could be involved in...

As the investigation continued, Bledsoe said it turned into a murder investigation in addition to one involving the financial crimes.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


There have been several objections by defense attorney Matthew Victor regarding the questioning of Bledsoe. Victor is arguing that the state is “trying the financial case” and that the questioning has “nothing to do with the murder trial”…


...Prosecutor Ashley Acord said it goes to motive. The judge has sided with Acord and allowed questioning to continue.


We’re finally learning about #NatalieCochran ’s cancer treatment. Bledsoe said he learned nothing in his investigation that would point to Natalie ever having or being treated for cancer...


...If you remember Natalie’s entire reason for getting insulin on the day Michael passed out (Feb. 6 - five days before he died) from her friend was to treat her cancer symptoms.


Lots of objecting going on from the defense.


...Bledsoe said Natalie introduced the claim that Michael was using insulin for body building. She said Michael injected himself on various sites on his body including his back which Bledsoe said he thought was “odd”


Bledsoe is talking about the three times he interviewed #NatalieCochran in 2019 after Michael died. He said Natalie’s story changed each time – in one Michael just collapsed in the kitchen, in another Michael hit his head when he collapsed and in the final version…

Prosecution has concluded its questioning of Bledsoe. Exactly noon just as they predicted. Nice. We're breaking for lunch. Back at 1:15 p.m.

 

[arielilane]

Another gem from Judge Kirkpatrick that I’m going to continue to document. Before the break, defense attorney Stanley Seldon asked it was ok to tell his first witness to come in at 2:30 p.m. – leaving an hour and a half for the defense to cross Bledsoe…


...Kirkpatrick joked back – you sure you don’t want to tell them 4:30. Defense attorney Matthew Victor then said well I’ll be crossing Bledsoe (which we all interpreted to mean it would not take as long because, to put it lightly, Stanley is very long winded and slow taking…

...Victor is his opposite in every way.


@Jozy_Elizabeth

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


You know it’s cold when your ice coffee that you made but didn’t finish and left in your car is frozen when you go back out to get it.Also if you’re wondering - yes the courtroom is freezing, that’s why we’re all wearing sweaters.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882130151523365038

 

[arielilane]

Court is back in session.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


For those asking, #NatalieCochran ’s mom, Daphne Jessup, is now in the courtroom and has been all morning. She’s sitting in the bench right behind NatalieDaphne was subpoenaed to testify for the defense and all the previous witnesses who have been subpoenaed...

...have not been allowed in the courtroom and have also been barred for listening to any testimony prior to their own.Michael’s own mother, Donna Bolt, was removed from testifying for the state because she listened to testimony prior to being called...


...I’m assuming Daphne’s presence in the courtroom signifies that she will not be testifying but I have not had a chance to verify that with the defense attorneys.


Defense has added a name to its previously filed witness list (filed at the end of December which I have). The name was not publicly disclosed.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


We are back from lunch with defense attorney Matthew Victor cross examining Timothy Bledsoe - retired wv state trooper who led the #NatalieCochran Ponzi scheme/ murder investigation



1:32 PM · Jan 22, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Matthew Victor is trying to make the point that Michael Cochran knew and was involved in the Ponzi scheme.Victor said Michael’s name is not in #NatalieCochran indictment because he had been dead for several months by then.Victor also pointed to the forfeiture proceeding...

...documents (which he has done several time) which listed assets that belonged to both Natalie and Michael Cochran. He said this further proves that they were both involved in the financial scheme.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


#NatalieCochran and Michael Cochran had two businesses - Technology Management Solutions (TMS) and Tactical Solutions Group (TSG).The technology businesses provided IT work (I'm generalizing here) and the tactical business was the one which was suppose to be getting the...

..government contracts for firearms. There's a lot of speculation on whether it was Natalie or Michael who were more involved in 1 business or the other. It has previously been stated in testimony that Michael looked for government contract for TSG and Natalie applied for them...

These photos I've attached are from the WV SOS.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882138266952175655

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Victor – Do you think Michael would have been indicted (in the Ponzi scheme) if he did not die?

Bledsoe – No, I do not believe Michael would have been indicted

Victor – REALLY?!?!

Bledsoe - Yes

2:00 PM · Jan 22, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


In federal documents – the Cochran’s assets were listed at over $500 million?!?! Yes you heard/read that right.



2:05 PM · Jan 22, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


They’re now debating the validity of the possibility that #NatalieCochran had cancer.Victor said Bledsoe can not prove that Natalie did NOT have cancer.Bledsoe said he could not prove that she DID have cancer.



2:20 PM · Jan 22, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Victor – Did you interview the children of Michael and #NatalieCochran ? (Victor said the kids are now 17 and 20 - subtract 6 and that was their age when Michael died)Bledsoe – NoVictor – Well why not, they would have been an “invaluable source” of information to attest to…


...the family dynamic. Victor then asserts that Michael was the "dominant" one on the relationship and that Michael took Natalie's phone before he died and he was the one texting people from Natalie's phone about business investments…


***please note, I am paraphrasing unless it’s in quotes.


Defense attorney Matthew Victor has been cross examining retired WV State Trooper Timothy Bledsoe for just over an hour.


Victor is basically claiming that the theory that #NatalieCochran killed Michael is absurd.Victor is claiming that if Natalie “jabbed” Michael with a syringe full of insulin, Michael would have realized and acted accordingly because insulin takes 15-30 mins to take effect….


...Bledsoe said Michael was asleep for a time that morning of Feb. 6, 2019, when he was alone in the house with Natalie. Victor is also stating that Natalie would essential be stupid to have text her friend and request the alleged “murder weapon” or the insulin.


It sounds like Victor is starting to lose his voice. He's been at this cross for a whiiiiiile now.


We’re taking a break. Finally. With the way this is going, I don’t think the defense will have time to start calling its witnesses today.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1882156075874729988