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

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Time is up...Stanley asking for "one more minute."
Judge - "alright one more minute"



11:01 AM · Jan 28, 2025



One more minute is up. The jury is being brought in.



11:03 AM · Jan 28, 2025

 

[arielilane]

The defense rests.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


The defense has rested.



11:04 AM · Jan 28, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Prosecution calling rebuttal witness - retired West Virginia State Trooper Robert Hinzmen, who investigated the Ponzi scheme case.

Stanley standing and ready to object. He’s now asking for copies of the documents Truman is handing Hinzmen. Stanley just said Victor will do the cross examination. Then why are you the one insisting on copies Stan?!




Judge “with our luck the copier ran out of paper.”

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884272830990409981

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Truman asking Hinzmen why he did not interview the Michael and #NatalieCochra’s children in 2019
Hinzmen said both children were between the ages of 10-13 and they would have needed a parent or attorney present to interview them and law enforcement typically don't interview...

... people under 18. He added they were looking into the Cochran’s businesses so why would they interview the children

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884274745774055517

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Truman questioning Hinzmen about texts sent from Natalie to Stephanie Hamilton, friend and physician assistant.
In the texts #NatalieCochran is asking Stephanie to invest in her Ponzi scam business. There is also a text from Natalie to Stephanie in April 2019, months after...

...Michael died, asked for her investment in the business. Truman says this proves Natalie was operating the Ponzi scam business without Michael despite what her kids testified to which was that it was all Michael not Natalie



11:21 AM · Jan 28, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Truman now showing texts Natalie sent to her sister Wendy and to friend Chris Davis about fake contacts from her Ponzi scam business from Feb. 2019. Hinzmen said this shows that #NatalieCochran continued to operate the “illegal business” after Michael was dead.

I think we're about to see texts from Natalie to Michael!!! Finally!!! Hinzmen said he has texts from Natalie to Michale from August 2018 to Feb 5 2019.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884277784878711077

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


August 27 (2018) text from Natalie to Michael about contracts they were getting and what they would be paid



11:40 AM · Jan 28, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Natalie to Michael - 2018 I think. Saying she “just got off the phone” with government contract people



11:41 AM · Jan 28, 2025

 

[arielilane]

Defense attorney: "listen carefully"

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Truman just pulled up a text that Michael sent to a friend name Matt at 1:39 p.m. on Feb 6, 2019.
Truman – could Michale have sent the text?
Hinzmen- no
Truman – why?
Hinzmen – Because we have a picture of Michael that #NatalieCochran send around 1 p.m. of Michael on the floor...


...of his kitchen unconscious. There were also witnesses who arrived around 1 p.m. that state Michale was unconscious. There was no way he could have texted.


Matthew again arguing that we all know #NatalieCochran was a “bad girl” and that she was involved in the Ponzi scheme. Sarcastically asking if Hinzmen really believes Michael was not involved in the scheme
Hinzmen - yes

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884282113090080927

 

[arielilane]

There are texts from #NatalieCochran to Michael in early 2018 stating that they are expecting millions of dollars to come in from government contract. Matthew is asking if Michael knew money was coming in and then it doesn’t, how could he not know what going on


Matthew – “Show me the documents” that prove Michael is surprised when the millions don’t come into their accounts. He was expecting $4 million in Sept. 2018

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884283347243036715

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Hinzmen – just pointed to several instances where Michael is asking about where the money is. Hinzmen said Natalie provided an excuse every time.

On Feb 4, 2019 (texts not show) Hinzmen said Natalie texts Michael about there being delays in getting their million Michael's response– “S**t”

I want to see ALL these text messages! Please and thank you!

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884284941514756222

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Matthew is now arguing that Michael could not be involved after he death because he was dead but that he was involved prior because he was spending all the money from the scheme (I feel like we're going in circles here)...

..Hinzmen – this supports the fact that it was Natalie’s scheme because she continued it on after Michael's death

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884286327807697272

https://x.com/Jozy_Elizabeth


Hinzmen has been excused


Prosecution says they have no other rebuttal witnesses to call.


Defense says they have no rebuttal witnesses to call.

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth


Lunch break till 1:30 p.m. Judge said when we get back he will given the jury their jury instructions.That will be followed by closing arguments. I got those two items reversed in my earlier posts.



12:16 PM · Jan 28, 2025

 

[arielilane]

@Jozy_Elizabeth
https://x.com/Jozy_Elizabeth
Going back through the Hinzmen testimony In a text from #NatalieCochran to Michael in August 27, 2018 she told him they should be receiving over $245 million from government contracts. This was completely fabricated of course…


August 27, 2018 Natalie to Michael (First text) 3.45 million should post tonight at midnight from PaySimple 300,000 should post Wednesday 1.5 million DOD Thursday (8/30) 724,000 Monday next week (9/3) May not show due tot the holiday 2.56 million next Friday…



…August 27, 2018 (Second text) 108 million around 10/12131 million around 12/2180,124 around 12/3135,108 around 9/21


Oct. 25, 2018 - #NatalieCochran tells Michael there were delays from audit which is now complete and they should be receiving more contacts and funds soon.

Oct. 25, 2018 Natalie to Michael (First text- I tried my best to read thwm. They were blurry in court too.)…




…Just got off the phone with them (meaning a government agency). Audit is complete. I has been (illegible)….All accounts will be released….(illegible)…(Second text)They have been holding the ones I was awarded so we wouldn’t be passed over. These are available if…


…we want them Hurricane Temp Shelter ReplacementTent and Cots71, 835 return29,824 30 days Ammo and Guns for next quarter122 million return 189 Million 60 days Dell Mini Drives and Towers 39,846 return 22,293 30 days
Drag Bags 12,834 return 7,924 30 day

They are talking about closing arguments now.Each side will have 45 minutes The jury instructions to be read are 18 pagesGiven that I don't think the jury will be left much time in the day to deliberate. They might just elect to go home and start deliberations tomorrow…


...That's what I'd vote for.


…



#NatalieCochran and Michael’s son testified about watching and helping his dad with a contract to sell 50 caliber guns. Hinzmen said this was the only texts he found about a 50 caliber gun order Oct. 28, 2018 Natalie to MichaelThey want to double the 50 (caliber) order…


…244 return 378 million Hinzmen, explaining Natalie’s text, said she’s saying the government entity the contract is with wants to double to order on the 50 caliber guns and it would cost them $244 million and field a return of $378 million.


They're now saying they want an hour each for closing.


Judge giving jury instructions - it’s 2:09 p.m.


Judge to the jury: To find Natalie Cochran guilty of murder in the first degree the jury must find that Natalie feloniously, willfully, maliciously, deliberately, unlawfully and premeditatedly did slay, kill and murder Michael on Feb. 11, 2019.

Not sure what page the judge is on but he's been going through the jury instruction for 20 minutes


Jury instructions over. Took about 25 minutes. Short break and then on to closing remarks.


Prosecution preparing for closing statements. Guess they’ll have a PowerPoint for the jury.




Ashley Acord doing closing arguments for the prosecution


Focusing too much on closing - will recap in my story.

I will say Ashley's closing is delivering all the receipts and timelines I've been waiting for.

Ashley – next Thursday will be 6 years since #NatalieCochran dosed Michael with the insulin that killed him. The family has waited long enough for justice.(Ok that gave me chills)


Matthew Victor delivering the closing for the defense.


Matthew – there is no way to determine what killed Michael. The medical experts could only give you their “best guesses”


Did Matthew just say slap a "tick"...or something else…

My brain every time they talk about the steroids form Mexico

Defense has 20 mins left

Matthew is winding down with his closing. Ashely will then get 15 minutes to rebut the defense's closing. This is the typical format for closings in a trial

Actually Tom Truman is doing the rebuttal

Tom- the defense has this much evidence to prove its theories about Michael’s death…zero. Yes Tom printed out a huge 0 to show the jury.



Closing arguments are complete

Judge is asking the jury if they want to start deliberations now or if they want to go home and start fresh tomorrow.

A chorus of "tomorrow" from the jury. Judge said that would be his choice. Good, it's mine too.

Done for the day - back at 9 a.m.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884356934461247818

 

[arielilane]

dbm

 

[Snoopster]

@Jozy_Elizabeth
x.com
Going back through the Hinzmen testimony In a text from #NatalieCochran to Michael in August 27, 2018 she told him they should be receiving over $245 million from government contracts. This was completely fabricated of course…


August 27, 2018 Natalie to Michael (First text) 3.45 million should post tonight at midnight from PaySimple 300,000 should post Wednesday 1.5 million DOD Thursday (8/30) 724,000 Monday next week (9/3) May not show due tot the holiday 2.56 million next Friday…

View attachment 561048

…August 27, 2018 (Second text) 108 million around 10/12131 million around 12/2180,124 around 12/3135,108 around 9/21


Oct. 25, 2018 - #NatalieCochran tells Michael there were delays from audit which is now complete and they should be receiving more contacts and funds soon.

Oct. 25, 2018 Natalie to Michael (First text- I tried my best to read thwm. They were blurry in court too.)…

View attachment 561051


…Just got off the phone with them (meaning a government agency). Audit is complete. I has been (illegible)….All accounts will be released….(illegible)…(Second text)They have been holding the ones I was awarded so we wouldn’t be passed over. These are available if…


…we want them Hurricane Temp Shelter ReplacementTent and Cots71, 835 return29,824 30 days Ammo and Guns for next quarter122 million return 189 Million 60 days Dell Mini Drives and Towers 39,846 return 22,293 30 days
Drag Bags 12,834 return 7,924 30 day

They are talking about closing arguments now.Each side will have 45 minutes The jury instructions to be read are 18 pagesGiven that I don't think the jury will be left much time in the day to deliberate. They might just elect to go home and start deliberations tomorrow…


...That's what I'd vote for.


…



#NatalieCochran and Michael’s son testified about watching and helping his dad with a contract to sell 50 caliber guns. Hinzmen said this was the only texts he found about a 50 caliber gun order Oct. 28, 2018 Natalie to MichaelThey want to double the 50 (caliber) order…


…244 return 378 million Hinzmen, explaining Natalie’s text, said she’s saying the government entity the contract is with wants to double to order on the 50 caliber guns and it would cost them $244 million and field a return of $378 million.


They're now saying they want an hour each for closing.


Judge giving jury instructions - it’s 2:09 p.m.


Judge to the jury: To find Natalie Cochran guilty of murder in the first degree the jury must find that Natalie feloniously, willfully, maliciously, deliberately, unlawfully and premeditatedly did slay, kill and murder Michael on Feb. 11, 2019.

Not sure what page the judge is on but he's been going through the jury instruction for 20 minutes


Jury instructions over. Took about 25 minutes. Short break and then on to closing remarks.


Prosecution preparing for closing statements. Guess they’ll have a PowerPoint for the jury.

View attachment 561049


Ashley Acord doing closing arguments for the prosecution


Focusing too much on closing - will recap in my story.

I will say Ashley's closing is delivering all the receipts and timelines I've been waiting for.

Ashley – next Thursday will be 6 years since #NatalieCochran dosed Michael with the insulin that killed him. The family has waited long enough for justice.(Ok that gave me chills)


Matthew Victor delivering the closing for the defense.


Matthew – there is no way to determine what killed Michael. The medical experts could only give you their “best guesses”


Did Matthew just say slap a "tick"...or something else…

My brain every time they talk about the steroids form Mexico

Defense has 20 mins left

Matthew is winding down with his closing. Ashely will then get 15 minutes to rebut the defense's closing. This is the typical format for closings in a trial

Actually Tom Truman is doing the rebuttal

Tom- the defense has this much evidence to prove its theories about Michael’s death…zero. Yes Tom printed out a huge 0 to show the jury.

View attachment 561050

Closing arguments are complete

Judge is asking the jury if they want to start deliberations now or if they want to go home and start fresh tomorrow.

A chorus of "tomorrow" from the jury. Judge said that would be his choice. Good, it's mine too.

Done for the day - back at 9 a.m.

https://twitter.com/x/status/1884356934461247818

So sad that Natalie convinced her kids that the Ponzi scheme was all Dad's.
What a manipulator!
I'm happy that the prosecution brought out texts that showed that that was clearly not the case and that he was in the dark on the fraud.

Those poor kids have been manipulated as well.

 

[Snoopster]

Natalie's massive smirk and 2:27:00 in the video tells me everything I need to know. If you were falsely accused of your husband's murder and you are mourning his death, would you be smiling like this??

 

[Snoopster]

My drink almost came out of nose when the defense asked the LEO the following question:

Q: "...there are some conversations that happen after Michael's death, right? ...so he can't contract anything, right? ...And Natalie continued the scheme and it had nothing to do with what Michael knew or didn't know, right?"
A: "No, it supports the fact that it was her scheme and Michael was dead and Natalie continued the scheme." [approximate wording...definitely not exact]

go to @3:17:43 in the following video for the exact exchange.

Defense almost choked to death on the response. He had to regroup. (Well known not to all attorneys...don't ask questions you don't know the answer to.)