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Hamilton Murder Case: Valentine’s Day Murder

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The Happy Couple

It appeared Dr. John Hamilton and wife Susan had the perfect marriage. During the 14 years they were together he proved to be quite the romantic. A Porsche for his beautiful bride on their wedding day was just the beginning of his extravagant gifts. He doted upon Susan with expensive presents, luxurious holidays, and amazing vacations.

Susan and John Hamilton. Picture property of Investigative Discovery.

After meeting in 1985 they soon married two years later. After their marriage Susan began working at Dr. Hamilton’s practice. He was a highly regarded OB/GYN in the community. From the outside looking in, life appeared to be perfect for the couple.

Susan Hamilton

The Crime

It was Valentine’s Day 2001 when Dr. Hamilton left the office between surgeries to exchange Valentine’s Day cards with his wife. However, when he arrived home he made a gruesome discovery. In the bathroom he found his wife laying in a pool of her own blood, deceased.

Paramedics observed Susan had been strangled with two of her husband’s neckties. She was also repeatedly bludgeoned on the head with a blunt instrument. The object has never been found. The injuries were so severe that parts of her brain were exposed and her face was unrecognizable.

The Investigation

From the start there were many indicators that lead police to make Dr. Hamilton their number one suspect. There was no forced entry into the home, no items were stolen from the house, and despite the amount of bloodshed there weren’t any bloody prints at the scene.

The Not So Perfect Marriage

While investigating the home the police found a Valentine’s Day card from Susan to John. It read “I bought this two weeks ago, so I guess maybe it doesn’t seem as appropriate. But I do love you. Have a great day, Susan.”

Could this message have indicated turmoil in the relationship? Maybe their relationship wasn’t as picture perfect as it seemed.

Another clue that the marriage may have begun to sour was when Susan found John had been making phone calls to a topless dancer. In fact, there were dozens of calls to this woman on his cell phone. Did she catch him in an affair? Friend’s of Susan said she accused him of such, and she began to think about asking for a divorce.

The Trial

At trial the good doctor had many supporters. The community refused to believe Dr. Hamilton was capable of such a crime.

At trial it all came down to blood evidence.

Dr. Hamilton was observed by paramedics covered in his wife’s blood. However, despite his claim of preforming CPR on Susan, there was a lack of blood on his mouth and face. Not having a trace of blood on his face was impossible given the severity of Susan’s injuries to her head and face. Paramedics also observed him preforming chest compressions incorrectly. For a doctor they found this incredibly strange.

Blood was also found on the steering wheel of Dr. Hamilton’s car. He claimed to have moved it for first responders before they arrived at the house, but this created doubt throughout the courtroom.

Lastly, the defense brought in a crime scene investigator, Tom Bevel, as an expert witness. They had him testify on the blood evidence, an area he specialized in.

Expert witness, Tom Bevel

Bevel claimed the blood found on Dr. Hamilton was indeed consistent with his story of trying to save his wife. However, Bevel noticed something the authorities and the prosecutor’s expert did not. Bevel found blood inside the right sleeve of Dr. Hamilton’s shirt sleeve.

The defense attorney concluded with asking Bevel if there was anything the prosecution missed that was important to the case and for the jury to know. Bevel couldn’t keep to himself the conclusions he had drawn from the crime scene. He said the blood found inside Dr. Hamilton’s shirt was consistent with Hamilton beating his wife to death with a blunt instrument.

The courtroom fell silent. A defense witness testified against his own client, very well condemning him to prison.

Later Bevel claimed he had to tell the truth, despite the fact it hurt John Hamilton who hired him to keep him out of prison. “Ultimately, you take an oath to tell the truth and that overrides any allegiance I may have to my client.”

With Bevel’s testimony it took the jury only two hours to find the doctor guilty of first degree murder. Dr. Hamilton was sentenced to life in prison.

Dr. John Hamilton

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Strange and Unusual

Man Arrested for Allegedly Taking a Severed Leg From Crash Site And Eating It

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A local California news station reported late last month that a man was being held in custody for allegedly taking the severed leg of a deceased train wreck victim and eating it. Be warned, this is a very disturbing and graphic story.

It happened on March 25 in Wasco, Calif. in a horrible Amtrak train accident a pedestrian was struck and killed and one of his legs was severed. 

According to KUTV a man named Resendo Tellez, 27, stole the body part from the impact site. 

A construction worker named Jose Ibarra who was an eyewitness to the theft revealed to officers one very grim detail. 

“I’m not sure from where, but he walked this way and he was waving a person’s leg. And he started chewing on it over there, he was biting it and he was hitting it against the wall and everything,” said Ibarra.

Caution, the following picture is graphic:

Resendo Tellez

Police found Tellez and he willingly went with them. He had outstanding warrants and now faces charges of stealing evidence from an active investigation.

Ibarra says Tellez walked past him with the detached limb. He describes what he saw in lurid detail, “On the leg, the skin was hanging. You could see the bone.”

The Burlington Northern Santa Fe (BNSF) police arrived on the scene to begin their own investigation.

According to a follow-up report by KGET News, Tellez was known throughout the neighborhood as homeless and non-threatening. A liquor store employee said she knew of him because he slept in a doorway near the business and was also a frequent customer.

Court records say that Tellez took the detached lower limb, “because he thought the leg was his.”

There are also reports that a video exists of the incident. It was circulating on social media, but we won’t provide it here.

The Kern County Sherriff’s office had no follow-up report as of this writing.


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News

Woman Brings Corpse Into Bank To Sign Loan Papers

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Warning: This is a disturbing story.

You have to be pretty desperate for money to do what this Brazilian woman did at the bank to get a loan. She wheeled in a fresh corpse to endorse the contract and she seemingly thought the bank employees wouldn’t notice. They did.

This weird and disturbing story comes via ScreenGeek an entertainment digital publication. They write that a woman identified as Erika de Souza Vieira Nunes pushed a man she identified as her uncle into the bank pleading with him to sign loan papers for $3,400. 

If you’re squeamish or easily triggered, be aware that the video captured of the situation is disturbing. 

Latin America’s largest commercial network, TV Globo, reported on the crime, and according to ScreenGeek this is what Nunes says in Portuguese during the attempted transaction. 

“Uncle, are you paying attention? You must sign [the loan contract]. If you don’t sign, there’s no way, as I cannot sign on your behalf!”

She then adds: “Sign so you can spare me further headaches; I can’t bear it any longer.” 

At first we thought this might be a hoax, but according to Brazilian police, the uncle, 68-year-old Paulo Roberto Braga had passed away earlier that day.

 “She attempted to feign his signature for the loan. He entered the bank already deceased,” Police Chief Fábio Luiz said in an interview with TV Globo. “Our priority is to continue investigating to identify other family members and gather more information regarding this loan.”

If convicted Nunes could be facing jail time on charges of fraud, embezzlement, and desecration of a corpse.

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Trailers

HBO’s “The Jinx – Part Two” Unveils Unseen Footage and Insights Into Robert Durst Case [Trailer]

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the jinx

HBO, in collaboration with Max, has just released the trailer for “The Jinx – Part Two,” marking the return of the network’s exploration into the enigmatic and controversial figure, Robert Durst. This six-episode docuseries is set to premiere on Sunday, April 21, at 10 p.m. ET/PT, promising to unveil new information and hidden materials that have emerged in the eight years following Durst’s high-profile arrest.

The Jinx Part Two – Official Trailer

“The Jinx: The Life and Deaths of Robert Durst,” the original series directed by Andrew Jarecki, captivated audiences in 2015 with its deep dive into the life of the real estate heir and the dark cloud of suspicion surrounding him in connection with several murders. The series concluded with a dramatic turn of events as Durst was apprehended for the murder of Susan Berman in Los Angeles, just hours before the final episode was broadcast.

The forthcoming series, “The Jinx – Part Two,” aims to delve deeper into the investigation and trial that unfolded in the years after Durst’s arrest. It will feature never-before-seen interviews with Durst’s associates, recorded phone calls, and interrogation footage, offering an unprecedented look into the case.

Charles Bagli, a journalist for the New York Times, shared in the trailer, “As ‘The Jinx’ aired, Bob and I spoke after every episode. He was very nervous, and I thought to myself, ‘He’s gonna run.’” This sentiment was mirrored by District Attorney John Lewin, who added, “Bob was gonna flee the country, never to return.” However, Durst did not flee, and his arrest marked a significant turning point in the case.

The series promises to showcase the depth of Durst’s expectation for loyalty from his friends while he was behind bars, despite facing serious charges. A snippet from a phone call where Durst advises, “But you don’t tell them s–t,” hints at the complex relationships and dynamics at play.

Andrew Jarecki, reflecting on the nature of Durst’s alleged crimes, stated, “You don’t kill three people over 30 years and get away with it in a vacuum.” This commentary suggests the series will explore not only the crimes themselves but the broader network of influence and complicity that may have enabled Durst’s actions.

Contributors to the series include a wide range of figures involved in the case, such as Deputy District Attorneys of Los Angeles Habib Balian, defense attorneys Dick DeGuerin and David Chesnoff, and journalists who have covered the story extensively. The inclusion of judges Susan Criss and Mark Windham, as well as jury members and friends and associates of both Durst and his victims, promises a comprehensive perspective on the proceedings.

Robert Durst himself has commented on the attention the case and the documentary have garnered, stating he is “getting his own 15 minutes [of fame], and it is gargantuan.”

“The Jinx – Part Two” is anticipated to offer an insightful continuation of Robert Durst’s story, revealing new facets of the investigation and trial that have not been seen before. It stands as a testament to the ongoing intrigue and complexity surrounding Durst’s life and the legal battles that followed his arrest.

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