Measurements of the imprint match those of the holes in the victim's skull, the district attorney said. We all know red is for the ribbon on the box of chocolate, not for the pool of blood in the master bath. The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Her head bludgeoned, surrounded by a pool of blood. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Shibley and Horton told the Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. And be, even be in his right mind. deny they were having an affair. And as the detectives looked more closely into the doctor's timeline that morning, they saw a hole -- not a big one but maybe enough time to kill and get back. Still, there was the doctor's seemingly solid alibi. The murder weapon was never found. It did in this case, though. February 14th, 2001, would have been their fifteenth Valentine's Day together. The palm goes on the center of the chest, on the sternum. For example, John Baxter Hamilton, the most prolific abortionist in Oklahoma City, crushed his wife's skull with a blunt object, then returned to his abortion mill to do more abortions. Dennis Murphy: It's changed Valentine's Day forever for you and your kids, huh? asked him to move out of their Try again. John Hamilton: Oh, sure. John Hamilton: I don't know. Dennis Murphy: Had there been a fling? Her husband was arrested that day and later charged with her murder. Several witnesses have testified the couple were always together and frequently took much I love your mother and I However, before the trial Bevel had also found some blood spatters in Hamilton's right sleeve that the prosecution expert had overlooked. It was the high society doctor, married to the beautiful wife, that were crazy about one another. John Baxter Hamilton. What was that all about? Johnston said she thought If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Karen Reisig: I had gone into the doctor's lounge to dictate the procedure. Please, hurry. The medical examiner had determined that Susan had been strangled with two neckties, but her fatal injuries came from being bludgeoned with a blunt object, a murder weapon never found. at times she insinuated it was too Why do you do that? Failed to report flower. The appeals made their way all the way up to the u.s. Supreme court, but they ultimately failed. It read, "A reward in heaven will be bestowed on anyone contributing to bringing this murderer to justice." But beyond his professional accomplishments, little is known about his personal life, especially when it comes to his family. Something he'd noted and what would later be regarded as the atomic bomb of the trial of Dr. John Hamilton. Investigators had plenty of theories to work with. It was about that bloody shirt taken from the doctor. a crowd lined up to attend the proceedings. The defense was dealt a setback at the start of trial. Alliena Aguirre, a topless dancer for eight years, testified she had performed table dances at two Oklahoma City clubs for the doctor. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. It's a vivid picture. That high society doctor was Dr. John Hamilton -- an OB/GYN who in addition to his regular practice, ran an abortion clinic -- a role that in conservative Oklahoma, would bring him some unwelcome notoriety. The doctor was then ushered away, as police wondered who might have committed such a brutal attack. The victim told her daughter in their her daughter was taking sides together at the defendant's GREAT NEWS! Khi gp Susan vo nm 1985, c hai ly hn v c 4 a con . mother, and Horton testified Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? Drag images here or select from your computer for Susan Shibley Hamilton memorial. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton It took only about two hours for the jury to reach a guilty verdict and Hamilton was sentenced to life without parole. Mack Martin: The focus was always on John. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton loved his wife to death, District Attorney Wes Lane told an Oklahoma County jury Thursday. She denied having an affair or any type of personal relationship with the defendant. Tom Bevel: In order to say that, you have to have the murder weapon. last telephone conversation that she and He had been up at dawn for a 7 am surgery at an outpatient clinic. You have a good marriage. Susan Hamilton was beaten with a blunt instrument, Oklahoma County District Attorney Robert Macy said in court documents that list 39 witnesses in the case. Dennis Murphy: So, you'd have to think that the opportunistic robber breaking in to steal some jewelry and the TV--. "I think that in and of itself caused the conviction," said Clark Brewster, an attorney who is preparing Hamilton's appeal. Karen Reisig: I personally don't believe a physician could do-- a surgery, go commit a brutal crime of murder. Or maybe more likely, an anti-abortion zealot targeting the doctor and his wife? The judge ruled that he would not allow any testimony about threats the abortion doctor and his wife may have received. Weve updated the security on the site. However, their investigation continues. The national media outlets refused to identify Hamilton as an abortionist, referring to him only as a local obstetrician. John Hamilton: I talked to the surgery nurse and she said, "The surgery before yours started 30 minutes late.". John Hamilton: Right. A bloody crime scene, a rumored affair, and inappropriate responses led police to arrest John Baxter Hamilton, one of Oklahoma City's most well-known abortionists, hours after his wife was slain on Valentine's Day. The doctor had been targeted by a militant antiabortion group, the Army of God, whose members have expressed support for the 1998 sniper killing of an abortion provider in New York State. It took the jurors just two hours to reach their verdict. Just, you know, just a very light-hearted conversation. What was she like? Maybe Chicago gangsters get killed on St. Valentine's day. Failed to remove flower. There was a detail that the witness wanted to talk about. It was Susan's good jewelry. The medical examiner released a preliminary cause of death Friday. I told some people at the clinic, "I wish I had someone that would look at me the way John looks at Susan." You need a Find a Grave account to continue. John Hamilton: It was a shock to everybody. This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. Things weren't nearly as bad as they portrayed them to be. Dr. Hamilton 911 call Doctor, slain wife argued about affair, police say - Evidence taken from home where woman's body found Doctor leaves jail for funeral - Obstetrician permitted to attend wife's services Doctor accused in wife's death to remain in jail Suspect loses bail appeal - Doctor charged in wife's death to remain in jail pending trial Wes Lane: He knew that she was still considering divorce. Hamilton, 62, was an Oklahoma City obstetrician, gynecologist and abortionist. was her doctor and gave her And he finally told her that it -- it was a patient and that she was down on her luck and havin' hard times and he was just helping her out. He wants everything in control in order. If I really did it, if it would, if it would clear my conscience, but I didn't do it. Thanks for your help! >> i have never, ever one second, not one moment in time, thought he was guilty, What's more, only days before the murder, another anti-abortion group had applied for a permit to stage a protest in front of Hamiltons house. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. "There is a science to blood spatters," Lane said. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. What were they to make of Susan's handwritten message -- "Obviously, I bought this before last Monday." But from all appearances, she never got much of a chance to get ready -- when she was discovered, she was still undressed, her hair still wet. They will bring them in here. The defense claims Oklahoma City police jumped to the conclusion that Hamilton was the killer and ignored other evidence. Jurors have spent two days hearing testimony and looking at photographs of the bloody crime scene and injuries the victim suffered. Randy Scott: There's no burglary prints to obtain downstairs. Teresa Sterling: It was violent. This is the shirt.". Hamilton took the stand to testify in his own defense. And, but it also said something to the effect how much she loved me and our time together. Good amount of blood. Bevel and prosecutors have denied those allegations. To use this feature, use a newer browser. In addition to delivering babies, John Hamilton performed abortions at his clinic, and Susan worked there too. Investigators uncovered evidence that Susan had found records of dozens of calls from her husband's cellphone to a topless dancer, and prosecutors say Susan told friends she was thinking about asking John for a divorce. She didn't sound like my mom.". And for that, they hired a blood stain expert Named Ross Gardner. And that justice would come out. Susan, as it turns out, should also have left by 9:20, because she had a 9:30 meeting at a friend's house ten minutes away. All rights reserved. Foreman: We, the jury and panel, sworn in the above-entitled cause, do upon our oath sign as follows. The doctor was still in shock, as the judge added his opinion. Antiabortion protesters had picketed the clinic and, friends said, even their home. Hamilton was wearing bloodstained clothing, but no shoes or necktie, while the victim had a necktie around her neck. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. There were things done that were dangerous. He was arrested and booked into jail about five hours later. tears.". Susan was attractive, intelligent. The prosecutor told the jury he envisioned the murder this way: the doctor coming back mid-morning after his first surgery, trying to patch things up with his wife who, majorly, wasn't buying it. I mean, because it was out there in view, I guess. Dick Horton: Actually, we've turned it into a positive. John had an explanation for his wife -- the patient had been having serious psychological problems, and had even threatened suicide. "I don't think it took very long at all. Wes Lane: They're not gonna do that. People used to believe they were in deep romantic love back then. In that card, Susan had written a message alluding to the couple's flare-up just days before: Susan ballistic over suspicions that he was having a fling with a stripper. Just the week before Susan was murdered, this wanted poster had been left for Dr. Hamilton. The prosecutor was well aware of the hurdles he faced, not the least of which: the lack of motive. Like the observation made by detectives at the station that he seemed to be checking out scratches to his shoulder? And there was nothing-- it-- and there-- and there was nothing stolen. It was seen as a coup for the defense that it locked up one of the most highly regarded blood spatter experts in the nation. Bevel, under oath to tell the truth, told the court about the spatter in the sleeve and said it was consistent with Hamilton beating his wife over the head with a blunt instrument. Dr. Hamilton had a more simple explanation for being late. "They have still got all kinds of scientific and technical evidence that has to be evaluated and reviewed, Martin said. Susan Hamilton, 55, had been strangled with two neckties and beaten. Please, please. We have set your language to A name that would shock everybody. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. John Hamilton: Please, please, send police, please send an ambulance, please. "Anything else, they don't want you to hear. I would say less than two minutes. the defendant was calling her 10 Lane said a bloody imprint of what is believed to be the blunt instrument was discovered on the defendant's shirt. Now, courtoom lawyers like to talk about Perry Mason moments when a trial is electrified by unexpected testimony, but it hardly ever happens. There's no tracks that ran out through the creek bed and behind. Believing that Susan Hamilton's threat of divorce was enough to make the doctor snap, prosecutors developed a theory that the couple had argued that morning after exchanging the cards and the doctor killed his wife. talked to Susan Johnston, a Steve Jimerson: Susan's children, when it first happened, were calling me, trying to find if I had knew of any reason somebody or some person might have been there. Skip to main content. Learn more about managing a memorial . However, there is no credible evidence that he is still alive or dead. Of course, he didn't have the actual murder weapon to make a true comparison but he was able to leave the jury with a vivid impression: The doctor's shirt may have taken a kind of photograph in blood. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? Horton said John Hamilton He told them he had been frantically trying to save her life. And here's the thing about that timeline: John had to have left the house by 9:20 to make it back to the hospital by 9:30, when he was seen scrubbing up for surgery. It was a violent scene. Larry Spruill, a crime scene investigator, was on the stand for a second day Thursday, detailing what the evidence means and how it got there. Teresa Sterling: I interviewed those people. As the last witness in the trial, he'd refuted a lot of the prosecution's findings, and bolstered his client's case. Dick Horton: I don't think there was any question she wore the pants. One of their arguments was that Tom Bevel should never have been allowed to testify. Susan managed john's abortion clinic, working there two days a week. Prosecutors are counting on experts to testify that Susan Hamilton's blood and flesh were found in the defendant's 1996 Jaguar parked outside their home at 3056 Bush Creek Road. The court rejected Hamilton's. But because it was Valentine's Day, I wanted to give Susan her first Valentine's card. "He tried to get the key in the ignition, but he couldn't because he was shaking so much," Martin said. The couple had exotic vacations and a beautiful house, and after 14 years of marriage, friends and family say they were inseparable, and very much in love. His wife, Susan, worked twice a week at the abortion clinic. The perpetrator then turned up the heat in the bathroom so the water in the shower would evaporate, he said. told Horton her mother had When police arrived, they observed Hamilton doing chest compressions on . The surgical team was about to get started when they realized the doctor was still at home. Over the next few hours, investigators would explore those theories and more, as they tried to understand just what had happened to Susan Hamilton that Valentine's Day morning. Prosecutors claim the defendant had fingernail scratches on one of his shoulders when he was arrested. Dick Horton: Well, Susan was a very disciplined individual. Yeah, I'm going to hang up so I can continue. loyal patients, former employees and fellow physicians, all standing behind the doctor. Could a man have loved his wife to death. Susan Hamilton was beaten with a blunt instrument, Oklahoma County District Attorney Robert Macy said in court documents that list 39 witnesses in the case. They were kind of a unit in that regards. Spruill told jurors he has an opinion on how the killer got out of the house without leaving a blood trail even though the evidence doesn't provide an answer. John Hamilton: You know, I've come to find out that blood spatter is really junk science. The shoes were found next to Susan's body -- john said they fell off his feet as he was attempting to revive her. This flower has been reported and will not be visible while under review. neighbor. Dennis Murphy: You thought that the second operation was gonna be backed up? His attorneys have claimed that police had improper contact with Bevel, who is a former police officer, during the trial. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. John Hamilton: No, she's not breathing, I don't get a pulse. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. By the time emergency workers arrived, it was clear that Susan Hamilton was dead. Dennis Murphy: And that you can almost envision whatever that murder weapon is, the-- the bludgeon coming right down on poor Susan's head causing the blood spatter. He was only at home for a few minutes, because at 9 am his pager went off, the hospital calling him to get back for a second surgery. "I didn't find any evidence of blood leading up to the front door. "Moments like that in the courtroom just don't happen like that. "Someone got out of that room without leaving a bloody trail. A prominent doctor's wife is murdered on Valentine's Day. On "Dateline NBC, as in his legal appeals, Hamilton criticized Bevel and the accuracy of his blood spatter analysis, which Hamilton called "junk science.. Then, Holly covers the case of Dr. John Hamilton who loved his wife Susan a little too much. Her husband was arrested that day and later charged with her murder. Susan.". Ever. They had regularly scheduled luncheon dates and worked To the investigators, the only plausible explanation was that the doctor had bundled up the murder weapon to dispose of it somewhere along the way as he raced back for his second surgery, a bloody bundle that leaked. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. John Hamilton: I wanted EMT to be able to get in. Susan Johnston: Susan had noticed that John was getting a lot of cell calls. And, as you might guess, it was a job that came with a little danger -- anti-abortion protestors were a curbside reality. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. By that afternoon, police had taken the doctor down to the station. doctors. Judge: Based upon the comments a majority of the jurors said to me in which they indicated they were very disappointed they didn't have the sentence of death as an option, I would consider yourself, you should consider yourself very lucky.