The murder case of Peggy Hettrick concerns the unresolved 1987 death of Peggy Hettrick in Fort Collins, Colorado. Timothy Lee's "Team" Masters enrolled in the Navy after a high school career was plagued by police murder charges when he was a student at Fort Collins High School. After eight years in the Navy, he was dismissed with respect. The Masters worked for Learjet as an aviation mechanic until 1997, when he was arrested for the murder of Peggy Hettrick. He was charged and convicted of Hettrick's murder in 1999 and sentenced to life imprisonment without parole. His sentence was vacated in January 2008 when DNA evidence from a crime scene showed that he was not the party responsible. Three years after being released from prison, the Masters was released by Colorado Attorney General on June 28, 2011. To date, no one else has been charged for Hettrick's murder.
Video Peggy Hettrick murder case
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On the morning of February 11, 1987, a cyclist investigated what he thought was a mannequin and found 37-year-old Peggy Hettrick's body in a field in southern Fort Collins. According to the corpse examiner, he died of a stab wound in the upper left, most probably early in the morning. Her body has been "sexually mutilated," with the precise removal of her left nipple and areola, as well as female "circumcision", including what the doctor describes as a partial vulvectomy; procedures requiring high quality surgical skills and equipment to perform.
Before the cyclist found the corpse, 15-year-old Timothy Master saw him walking to school at dawn. Thinking it was the mannequin that remained as a joke, the Masters did not report his body to the police. After the Masters Clyde Masters father told the police the attack that he saw his son deviate from his usual path across the field to the bus that morning, the police pulled the "Toothpick" Masters, then a fifth-grade, 120-pound second year, outside the classroom for questioning.
Maps Peggy Hettrick murder case
Investigation and confidence
At the beginning of the investigation, Fort Collins detective lead researcher Jim Broderick centered on the Masters as a prime suspect for his failure to report bodies found on the way to school. However, there is no physical evidence linking the Masters to the crime.
On February 12, investigators ransacked his home, including a sink for blood, and his school locker. They found 2,200 pages of Master's writing and hard works of art in her bedroom, backpack and school locker, along with a collection of knives and pornography. A local newspaper with a discovery of a corpse was found in his wardrobe next to his knife collection. However, no traces of blood or Hettrick hair were found in the Master's room or among his belongings, including clothing and knife collections.
Despite several hours of police filing without an adult presence, where the police repeatedly told Master that they knew he was carrying out the murder, the 15-year-old Masters maintained his innocence. The teenager was given a lie test after police interrogation; the result is inconclusive.
More than 1,000 pages of hard Masters artwork are recognized as evidence.
Two strands of hair were found in Hettrick, but they did not match the Masters. Researchers also found unknown fingerprints in Hettrick's wallet, but this also did not match the Masters. Without any new guidance, on February 12, 1988, investigators planted an article containing false information in local newspapers, in an attempt to provoke an aggravating reaction from the Masters in consultation with the FBI Behavior Science Unit. 24-hour police surveillance of the Masters showed no reaction. Masters maintain their innocence during regular police interviews during high school and Navy.
In 1992, during an interview with a former high school student, investigators discovered that Master told her friends details of sexual mutilation. Researchers think that this information has never been published or disclosed to the Masters or its defense; they think that only the killer knows the details. Investigators interviewed the Masters again in Philadelphia, where he served in the Navy. He told investigators that a friend in his art class told him about mutilation. The friend had been part of a group of Scout Explorers who helped the police locate the crime scene, and he was notified of the nature of the mutilations at the start of the investigation. Her story is checked. The investigation reached a dead end until 1997.
In 1997, Broderick contacted Dr. J. Reid Meloy, a forensic psychologist from California. Meloy analyzed Master's writings and works extensively and in conclusion, without ever speaking to Master - she could not since the Masters were protected by her Fifth Amendment - that some of the images the Masters represented revived the crime.
In 1999, based on Dr. Meloy and others, as well as Master's own image, including one of which Meloy is defined as a knife that cuts into the vagina and other images of the dragged body, Tuan is punished and sentenced to life imprisonment for the murder. Although some jurors have doubts about his mistakes, his drawings and writings are quoted by the jurors as convincing evidence of him.
Appeal
Immediately after his conviction, Master appealed to the Colorado Appeals Court on the grounds that his picture was unacceptable under court rules, such as the testimony of a confrontation between Master and a teacher before the murder took place. The Masters defense team also objected to Dr. Meloy. The Colorado Appeal Court unanimously reaffirmed its belief on February 15, 2001.
In 2002, the Colorado Supreme Court awarded a certiorari to determine whether the evidence that generated Master's violent nature, which was the basis for prosecution in securing a belief, was not received correctly. Finding that some evidence must, in fact, have been suppressed, the Court, however, determines the error to be harmless, confirms the lower court findings. On December 16, 2002, the Colorado Supreme Court rejected an appeal to try the case again, effectively ending its first appeal.
In 2004, the Master submitted another appeal on the basis of ineffective advice. The state appoints a new defense team that immediately starts investigating the case. The defense team found that the evidence, including the hair found on Hettrick and the fingerprint photographs found in his wallet, was missing. During the 2007 trial, the defendant accused the police and the criminal prosecution in the investigation and trial. The defense counsel argues that Jim Broderick swore falsely himself during the 1999 trial about his involvement in the case, and that the prosecutor allegedly held evidence about his relationship with Dr. Richard Hammond, a potential suspect in the murder.
Release
In early 2008, the special prosecutor assigned to the case agreed that important information was not submitted to the original defense team. On January 18, 2008, defense attorneys issued evidence which further expressed Master's innocence. Defense lawyers have touched DNA tests conducted in the Netherlands on evidence found at the scene, but the samples tested did not include DNA Master. In contrast, DNA results refer to Hettrick's boyfriend. The special appointee assigned to the appeal recommends canceling the Masters penalty as a result of DNA findings. The DNA results were confirmed by the Colorado Bureau of Investigation.
On January 22, 2008, a Colorado judge vacated your Lord's conviction and ordered him to be released immediately. On February 5, 2008, Territorial Attorney Larry Abrahamson and the Eighth Judicial Conferences held a hearing to decide whether to repeat the Masters or to cancel all charges against him. The prosecutor filed a motion to dismiss the murder charges against the Masters on January 26, 2008, although at that time, Larimer District Attorney stated that Masters had not been released for the crime.
In an announcement on June 28, 2011, Colorado Attorney General John Suthers said the Masters were no longer a suspect in the 1987 murder of Peggy Hettrick of Fort Collins and had been released. Suthers stated, "Based on the mandate of the Governor's Office, our team conducted a thorough review of all the Hettrick killings," Suthers said in a statement. "Our team conducted more than 170 interviews and carried out further DNA analysis.Over the past year, the State of the Grand Jury heard evidence and testimony from many witnesses.Based on testimony, forensic analysis and crime scene analysis, the overwhelming conclusion is that Timothy Masters is not involved in the murder of Peggy Hettrick. "
He continued: "The Master worked closely with our investigation, including the Grand Jury process.Because of the nature and extent of the Grand Jury investigation, the time has come for law enforcement to officially release Timothy Masters.The Hettrick case remains open We have made progress which is significant in the investigation.Our team will continue to develop the evidence and we will continue to work on this case until the killer is brought to justice. "Too many lives have been affected by the events of the day and continue to work on the case."
Alternate suspect
Richard Hammond
In 1995, seven years after the assassination and two years before the expert's retention for the Masters trial, Dr. Richard Hammond, an ophthalmologist, was arrested for secretly filming female genitalia, including belonging to his own female relative, through pretense. ventilation vents in bathroom downstairs. The cameras are positioned to allow to see in detail of the female genitals while sitting on the toilet. Researchers also found that Hammond kept thousands of dollars worth of pornography hidden in a locked office and in a storage ward in the city, showing an obsession with female genitals. As a surgeon, Hammond has the skills and equipment to perform the precision mutilations found in Hettrick's body. In 1987, Hammond's bedroom window was facing the location where Hettrick's body was found, and he was home the morning after the killings, although he usually performed surgery that day. Hammond committed suicide in March 1995, a few days after his arrest. Police were summoned to La Quinta Motor Inn in north Denver. There, they found Hammond dead, an infusion needle containing cyanide residue sticking out from his thighs. "My death must satisfy the media's thirst for blood," he wrote in a suicide note.
Although the researchers noted possible links between Hammond and Hettrick's murder, no follow-up investigations were conducted. Broderick ordered evidence in the case of Hammond being destroyed before it could be checked for links with Hettrick on the premise that he had committed suicide and no criminal investigation would commence. Arrests Dr. Hammond, and the ensuing suicide, is an undisclosed piece of information. Meloy and other experts, and the FBI was not informed of the case by Larimer County to reconsider their profile from Mr. Masters from 1987.
Matthew Zoellner
DNA tests that led to the overthrow of Master's belief in 2008 also involve Hettrick's boyfriend, Matt Zoellner, a young used car salesman, who testified in the Masters court. Zoellner was originally a suspect in 1987, but quickly dismissed. Officials are planning to update the investigation.
Aftermath
Colorado law does not have the requirement that evidence be preserved, and protects responsibility to authorities who destroy evidence after a criminal trial is over. Partly as a result of the case, Colorado lawmakers passed H.B. 1397, which requires the preservation of all evidence that may contain DNA collected in cases that result in confidence for Class 1 crimes or sexual offenses. The evidence must be preserved for the life of the accused, after which evidence can be destroyed. If no charges have been filed, DNA evidence must be maintained during the investigation.
In June 2008, after a six-month review of the case, Ken Buck District District Attorney Ken Ken ensured heresy, but not abused. "Buck is responsible for determining whether Broderick violates any law, but in a letter to Chief Justice James H. Hiatt, he says it is important to provide the context of the whole case, which he uses to reach his conclusions." After considering the evidence, I do not find any criminal behavior among the employees of the Fort Collins Police Department or the prosecutor in this case, 'Buck wrote. "Buck also noted that the statute of limitations has expired.
On October 21, 2008, David Lane, a criminal defense lawyer in Denver filed a civil suit in federal district court against Larimer County prosecutors Terry Gilmore and Jolene Blair, and detective James Broderick, accused the Masters of civil rights violations. In their legal summary are the facts about the Masters case, including withholding evidence from Dr. Meloy and other expert witnesses (including consultants of surgeons and criminals), and interference by sharing evidence among expert witnesses that would cast doubt on the Masters' involvement in Hettrick's murder and would point toward other suspects. No information about other suspects, including their whereabouts, is given to experts at the time of their retention. The county is home to the Masters for $ 4.1 million and Fort Collins has $ 5.9 million, totaling US $ 10 million.
The original Masters case was demanded by District Deputy District Prosecutor Terry Gilmore and Jolene Blair, who was appointed district judge shortly thereafter. On September 9, 2008, the Colorado Supreme Court condemned Gilmore and Blair. In a treaty with the Office of the Supreme Court of Justice, Gilmore and Blair admitted to failing to ensure that the Masters' defense attorney received a large amount of information that the Fort Collins Police Department had acquired, including many key sections that pointed to Master's innocence.. In addition, prosecutors failed to collect other information from the police, although there were indications that it existed.
In the November 2, 2010 Election, less than 40% of voters in the 8th Judicial District voted to defend Judge Blair and Gilmore, and their termination ended on 11 January 2011.
On June 30, 2010, Larimer County Grand Jury under the direction of neighboring Weld County Prosecutor Ken Buck was charged by Lieutenant James Broderick on eight counts of first-degree crime of false oaths for false material statements he made in accordance with the arrest and confidence of the Masters. Counting 1, regarding the Masters 'arrest statement, was dismissed by Weld County District Judge James Hartmann on 26 January 2011 in charge,' People v. Broderick, 'in the section titled' Bronston Principles. '
On May 9, 2011, all remaining allegations were dismissed by a decision from Weld County County Judge James Hartmann that the 3-year draft law on false swearing in Colorado was over. Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck, who handles the prosecution of the Broderick case, said he was evaluating a judge's order and "will continue with Broderick's prosecution if it is in accordance with the law" . Buck's choices include a direct appeal to the Colorado Supreme Court as well as a re-appeal with an original judge that will include a timeline clarification in this case.
On July 29, 2011, different Jury Grand County Larimer under the direction of Weld County District Attorney Ken Buck's office again charged Lieutenant James Broderick with nine false oaths. Broderick faces up to six years in prison for every count if convicted. The accusation was also dismissed. In 2013, Broderick resigned, thus deferring internal investigations in his handling of Hettrick's assassination. Fort Collins reportedly spent $ 400,000 to date to defend Broderick.
A detailed forensic study which included the investigative methods used in the Hettrick murder case was published in 2009. In June 2012, Berkley Books published Withdrawn Injustice , a book co-authored by Timothy Masters that tells the story. from his point of view.
Cold File
Serial television documentary series A & amp; E, produced and narrated by Bill Kurtis featuring the 1999 episode, Illustrated Killing , which deals with the Peggy Hettrick case. The episode labeled the Masters a murderer and congratulated the Fort Collins Police Pepartment and the DA's office for a job well done. Since the release of the Master and the controversy surrounding case errors by authorities, this episode has been withdrawn from the circulation of views, although it remains available on DVD. Kurtis declined to comment on the episode.
See also
- Crime in Colorado
- Unsolved death list
- Confidence is reversed in the United States
References
External links
- Coloradoan Fort Collins Summary and links to all Timothy Masters articles
- Rocky Mountain News Special Report: Timothy Masters
- Vague evidence raises doubts
- Withdrawn Injustice: Humiliation Wrong Timothy Masters at amazon.com
Source of the article : Wikipedia
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