To the prosecutor, the Valentine's Day card John had received that morning lit the fuse for the violence that followed. He'd even mentored the blood expert used by the prosecution. And, but it also said something to the effect how much she loved me and our time together. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections) Dr. John Hamilton placed the. Dick Horton: I think the best way to describe her is a woman that always wanted to be a mother, was proud to be a mother. Mack Martin: We've got a circumstantial case and I think that the prosecutors in this case were putting as sinister a spin on it as they possibly could. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. John and Susan Hamilton had the seemingly perfect marriage. I have a bad habit of trying to do too much in too short a period of time. David Bradbury: The way that this woman had been beaten, I mean, her face was swollen, her face was bloody. Furthermore, he has previously requested a retrial, which has been denied each time. Discussed procedure quotes. Whoever killed her had cracked her skull open with an object never found, and bashed her face into the bathroom tile. Try again later. He says he did She had been strangled with two of his ties, and her head had been smashed so badly that parts of her brain were exposed. 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. To the defense team, it seemed obvious from the first moments that investigators never seriously considered any suspects other than the husband. On Feb. 8, after the victim learned of the cell phone calls, the defendant wrote Aguirre in a letter saying he could no longer be her doctor, she said. With that revelation, the defense expert became the star witness for the trials prosecution. Two African Americans had earned medals at the 1904 Olympic games in St. Louis Joe Stadler (from Cleveland) had won a silver medal in the standing high jump and George Poage (from the . Danyelle shares three haunting love stories that end in tragedy. "It tells a story. And while there were scenarios to serously consider: a berserk robber, or maybe the legion of activists opposed to the couple's abortion practice, the crime scene wasn't telling them that. News network NBC did a Dateline episode about the case. Dennis Murphy: It's changed Valentine's Day forever for you and your kids, huh? One of their arguments was that Tom Bevel should never have been allowed to testify. so alone in my life,'" Horton said. John Hamilton: Initially, she didn't want to go. Oops, something didn't work. The judge ruled that he would not allow any testimony about threats the abortion doctor and his wife may have received. Khi gp Susan vo nm 1985, c hai ly hn v c 4 a con . Please, hurry. Susan Johnston: Susan had noticed that John was getting a lot of cell calls. "They have still got all kinds of scientific and technical evidence that has to be evaluated and reviewed, Martin said. Had there been an illicit relationship with this stripper, topless dancer? We have set your language to John Hamilton: Please, please, send police, please send an ambulance, please. But for John Hamilton, the fight wasn't over. Try again later. "He tried to get the key in the ignition, but he couldn't because he was shaking so much," Martin said. No animated GIFs, photos with additional graphics (borders, embellishments. He was jailed immediately and denied any bail. All rights reserved. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? His attorneys have claimed that police had improper contact with Bevel, who is a former police officer, during the trial. We all know red is for the ribbon on the box of chocolate, not for the pool of blood in the master bath. But that Wednesday morning, John arrived home from the hospital, and found a horrific scene: Susan, lying beaten and strangled on their bathroom floor. Hamilton is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole at the state penitentiary in McAlester. "I always took threats like that seriously," he said. In this article, we delve into the life of Simon Ekpa, his family, and his net worth. By the time emergency workers arrived, it was clear that Susan Hamilton was dead. Had he hurt himself? Investigators had plenty of theories to work with. He said he "absolutely" did not kill his wife, and that he is not the type of person to fly off the handle. Hamilton was wearing bloodstained clothing, but no shoes or necktie, while the victim had a necktie around her neck. Let's go find some experts to prove our case.' 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. What happened to him? "Someone said there is a fine line between love and hate, and that man crossed it," Lane said in his opening statement in the first-degree murder trial for Hamilton, an Oklahoma City gynecologist, obstetrician and abortionist. Tom Bevel: In my examination, I found additional blood that was not talked about anywhere, on the inside of the right cuff. sentenced to prison for life with or without the possibility of parole. Susan's friend, Susan Johnston, the woman next door, had pulled one of the investigators aside and put a bug in his ear, that the week before Valentine's Day, Susan Hamilton had confided about problems in her marriage. 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. But I do love you. Hamilton, a frequent target of protesters opposed to abortions, was arrested about six hours after he made a 911 call reporting that he thought his wife was dead. The sponsor of a memorial may add an additional. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. Antiabortion protesters had picketed the clinic and, friends said, even their home. Tom Bevel, a blood spatter expert hired by the defense, testified on cross examination that the "most probable explanation for blood inside Hamiltons shirt sleeve was that he had struck his wife with a blunt object. Things weren't nearly as bad as they portrayed them to be. mother, and Horton testified Soon after their arrival, investigators started questioning Dr. John Hamilton himself. Share this memorial using social media sites or email. 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. last telephone conversation that she and Please send somebody quick. link True Crime Videos Bevel was the last witness in the trial, and from everything he testified to under the defense attorney's gentle questioning, he'd helped dr. Hamilton. Oklahoma City police Sgt. Many still believe he is innocent, and he. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. IE 11 is not supported. Now, keep in mind, John Hamilton was a doctor who performed abortions. There was a detail that the witness wanted to talk about. 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. But I didn't wanna believe that or give up. Try again. Dr Hamilton was a talented obstetrician-gynaecologist in Oklahoma City. talked to Susan Johnston, a "I didnt kill Susan.. Did it ever. It had all of the appeal of a romance novel gone bad. Wes Lane, the prosecutor, was surprised to find he had an unpopular case on his hands. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. 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. based on information from your browser. Teresa Sterling: It was violent. Mack Martin, the doctor's lead attorney, knew it would be uphill. wanted to talk to someone," tears.". Shibley and Horton told the Aguirre testified Shouldn't the killer have left a trace? After the second surgery, he returned home to pick up his datebook, and found his wife, he said. He told Primetime he made the calls to the stripper because she was "in real need of attention.". Your new password must contain one or more uppercase and lowercase letters, and one or more numbers or special characters. without bail since Feb. 14. Randy Scott: The lady's layin' in the floor, covered in blood, blood all over the floor. They will bring them in here. was her doctor and gave her she needed when she couldn't If convicted of first-degree murder, Hamilton, 53, could be sentenced to life in prison with or without the possibility of parole. Horton told the jurors her mother had We took a one-to-one image of his shirt, and we overlay it. And we knew we had enough dots that if we get it to lay out in an understandable manner, we knew the jury would be hard pressed not to convict him. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. John Hamilton: I was frantic. Susan Hamilton, 55, had been strangled with two neckties and beaten. wife repeatedly throughout the Then the prosecutor rose for his cross-examination. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Dr. Hamilton had a more simple explanation for being late. Prosecutors are trying to prove Hamilton hid his bloody clothes and the blunt instrument used to kill the victim. The defense says the scratches could have been made by a number of objects besides fingernails. The other says, "It's his shirt that convicts him." pic.twitter.com/9VBREeKO87, The Spooky Hour (@SpookyHour) February 15, 2021. There were no Both had recently separated -- John from his first wife, and Susan from Dick Horton. Susan Johnston: She was upset and angry with John. The day of the murder, one of Hamilton's patients had been at a hospital, sedated and ready for surgery, when Hamilton called and said he'd be arriving ten minutes early for surgery. Dennis Murphy: So that was the reason you went home? together at the defendant's They kept him there for hours on end. Please try again later. A final report will not be completed for several weeks. Oklahoma City investigators Teresa Sterling and Randy Scott arrived at the Hamilton house at noon that day. Wes Lane: She was talking leaving him. Just the week before Susan was murdered, this wanted poster had been left for Dr. Hamilton. District Judge Ray Elliott also ordered. What motive? However, the dark day arrived in their family on Valentines Day 2001, when he claimed Susan was in a pool of blood on the bathroom floor. He is accused of beating and choking to death his wife, Susan, 55, at their Quail Creek home on Valentine's Day. John Hamilton, a prominent doctor in Oklahoma City, showered his wife with gifts, starting with a Porsche he gave her the day they married. Please enter your email and password to sign in. Two men's ties were tightly knotted about her neck. Aguirre, the topless dancer, Afterwards he tried to clean up, but quickly gave up. Investigators never recovered the murder weapon. 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 There was an error deleting this problem. On February 14, 2001, the residents of Oklahoma City bore witness to a terrifying murder when Susan Hamilton was found strangled and beaten to death on her bathroom floor. And you could overlay the pattern transfer right on top of the wound, and you see an immediate -- I mean, they match up. In particular, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. When the police in Farmington, New Mexico discover a broken window at a local head shop called The Eclectic, they expect to find evidence of a robbery. Theo , Hamilton l bc s sn ph khoa ti nng thnh ph Oklahoma. 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. John Hamilton: You know, I've come to find out that blood spatter is really junk science. I was shaking so much I was unsuccessful. A system error has occurred. If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. Two years after their first date, they married at a local country club. Jurors have spent two days hearing testimony and looking at photographs of the bloody crime scene and injuries the victim suffered. Daughter of Kamille Kareen and Louise Sibley.Mother of 2 children.Lived to age 55 years.Murder victim. Learn about how to make the most of a memorial. I think that that just goes to I think probably in my heart I knew she was dead. A random intruder? Randy Scott: John Hamilton was just not the victim's spouse that we were seein'. would put together a novel theory of just what happened between husband and wife, something maybe grimly fitting for Valentine's Day. As the last witness in the trial, he'd refuted a lot of the prosecution's findings, and bolstered his client's case. You have a good marriage. Wes Lane: John Hamilton is a control guy. jurors about the disagreement The palm goes on the center of the chest, on the sternum. And there wasn't an objection. Susan Hamilton's body was found on And if there was another pair, she'd go get those. And, as you might guess, it was a job that came with a little danger -- anti-abortion protestors were a curbside reality. On Feb. 14, 2001, he phoned 911 to report finding his wife in the master bathroom of their Quail Creek home. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. Police haven't found the murder weapon or the clothes. Hamilton will have a closed-circuit arraignment before a judge on Friday. Mack Martin: The focus was always on John. Pictures of his injuries have been shown to the jury. I mean, I knew Susan was dead. She said he paid her $100 and $80 for the dances that cost $20 each. He was banging his head into the screen. Teresa Sterling: I interviewed those people. Her husband, John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of murder, and is serving a life sentence. And the only explanation of that event is the wounding to Mrs. Hamilton. So yes, I went and tried to move the car. . At trial, Lane told the jury that Dr. Hamilton started to clean up the scene, but was interrupted by the page from his clinic. Product Description. 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. The procedure came off without a hitch, and later none of the other doctors reported anything at all unusual in his behavior. Friends say that when they met each other, they made an instant connection. To view a photo in more detail or edit captions for photos you added, click the photo to open the photo viewer. The jurors, all women and the youngest members on the panel, wiped their eyes with tissues while Dr. Jeffrey Gofton, a forensic pathologist for the state Medical Examiner's office, testified he believes Susan Hamilton, 55, died from possibly three blows to her head with a blunt instrument. 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. Defense attorneys say the victim's blood and flesh got in the car when Hamilton realized after calling 911 his car was blocking the drive for emergency vehicles. An important clue came in the card Susan had written to her husband, which had a handwritten note reading: "I bought my cards two weeks ago, so I guess maybe they don't seem as appropriate now. Prosecutors Allege Murder Between Surgeries. "Someone got out of that room without leaving a bloody trail. Prosecutors had made a big deal about the doctor showing up late for his second surgery that morning. John Hamilton, 53, ordered an expensive arrangement of red orchids for his wife, but he never got the chance to give them to her. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. "She was very upset, very sad," Horton said. Something happened in that bathroom that absolutely triggered him, which he grabbed the ties, and he then, surprised her, and in his rage, did all the rest of the work. The prosecution wasn't going to be able to tap your expertise. "My wife's bleeding all over the place," Dr. John Baxter Hamilton tells the 911 operator. The patient, as Susan discovered, was a stripper at a nightclub. This account has been disabled. Dennis Murphy: You thought that the second operation was gonna be backed up? There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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 thought you might like to see a memorial for Susan Shibley Hamilton I found on Findagrave.com. And in photos of the crime scene, the prosecutor pointed out for jurors something that needed explaining -- a wet rag left in the pool of blood from the victim's head. Today, John Hamilton resides in a maximum security prison, behind the walls where Valentine's Day has little meaning at all. Her husband, John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of murder, and is serving a life sentence. If this is real-- if this blood splatter is real science then why should two prominent, national authorities disagree with the findings? would never do that,'" Horton The case now landed in the hands of Wes Lane, the district attorney who would try Dr. John Hamilton for murder. Hamilton, 62, was an Oklahoma City obstetrician, gynecologist and abortionist. Bevel said he had no choice but to tell the court what he knew, even if it hurt the client who had hired him. You'd have to believe that he committed the violent murder in that narrow window between his two surgeries. I knew they that they were suspecting me. And I don't think they-- believed it. A lot of impact spatter. When he met Susan in 1985, they were both divorced with four children between them. The scene was a bloody mess. "It was a shock to everybody, Hamilton said on the news program. Mack Martin: I never saw anything to indicate that John said, "If I can't have you, nobody can.". or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. John, the good doctor, was simply trying to counsel her. lied to her," Horton said. Now this was the reasoning as prosecutors saw it: The doctor wanted the police to believe the crime had started as a robbery. John Hamilton in Oklahoma We found 15 records for John Hamilton in Norman, Tulsa and 9 other cities in Oklahoma. His former medical partner, for one, thinks that would be impossible. An email has been sent to the person who requested the photo informing them that you have fulfilled their request, There is an open photo request for this memorial. Your Scrapbook is currently empty. "There are all kinds of things still going on. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80157405/susan-hamilton. Blood that then transferred from his hands and clothes to the car. Which means if John Hamilton didn't do it, you'd have to believe whoever did arrived right as he was leaving, or had been waiting inside all along. I do not think that John's havin' an affair. Time for a new episode! By that afternoon, police had taken the doctor down to the station. Dick Horton: Well, Susan was a very disciplined individual. They'd learned that second surgery, originally scheduled for 9 am, hadn't actually gotten underway until 9:40. Hamilton, 53, was taken into custody just over an hour after he called 911, saying his wife was "hurt" and "bleeding all over the place." John had an explanation for his wife -- the patient had been having serious psychological problems, and had even threatened suicide. degree murder trial of her stepfather, Dr. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. A crowd lined up to attend the proceedings -- loyal patients, former employees, and fellow physicians -- all standing behind the doctor. After all, only two people in the world knew what was really going on inside the Hamilton marriage. Given the circumstances, he was accused of murdering his wife. I mean, he fawned over her a lot. a good marriage, even though The defense was dealt a setback at the start of trial. He has not given an inch in that regard., Murphy said Hamilton still has the "command authority of a physician and chatted about vacationing in Italy "as if he was still in touch with the outside world.. the defendant was calling her 10 Ross Gardner: This was a relatively contained crime scene. "There is physical evidence missing from this crime scene, Spruill said. "Someone said there is a fine line between love and hate, and that man crossed it," Lane said in his opening statement in the first-degree murder trial for Hamilton, an Oklahoma City gynecologist, obstetrician and abortionist. He told the jury he loved his wife and tried to save her. After all, he'd had a busy morning -- performing not just one, but two surgeries with only a brief stop at home in between. What he hoped to show the skeptics through trial was that yes, the doctor was indeed a man who loved his wife -- loved her maybe too much. Prosecutors said Hamilton changed clothes after killing his wife in the master bathroom. The prosecutor refused to release additional information about the slaying that took place at 3056 Brush Creek Road. He wants everything in control in order. Randy Scott: It indicated that she still felt something for John, but it just things weren't the same as they were gonna be. Possibilities: Was it a robbery gone bad? John Hamilton: Yeah. Ross Gardner: Effectively, the inside and front of that shoe was in motion around this spatter event from Mrs. Hamilton that's radiating out. Horton said John Hamilton Vesta Hall: She was beautiful, vivacious, intelligent, just a really neat lady. AGE 40s John Hamilton Norman, OK View Full Report Used To Live In Relatives Feb. 13, 2003 -- Everyone says Susan Hamilton was the love of her husband's life. John Hamilton: I wanted EMT to be able to get in. Is Lane Kiffin Married To Girlfriend Jennifer Dardano?Lane Kiffin, a well-known football, Is Melanie Martinez Alive Or Dead? Gardner carefully examined everything the doctor had been wearing that morning. John Baxter Hamilton, who was convicted of the Valentine's Day murder of his wife, lost his bid to the Oklahoma Court of Criminal Appeals on Tuesday. day. clinic two days a week. He used to lavish his wife with expensive gifts and lavish vacations. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. And so, the motive was love lost. John Hamilton was a devoted husband to his wife, and he used to take excellent care of her. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Not least of all in a bloody crime there were no footprints leading out of the house. But he never had a chance to do that -- or to tell the cops that the killer had gotten the jewels -- that's because he was put in the back of the police car and never got back inside the house again. doctors. Randy Scott: I think the biggest part for us was trying to figure out how he could get there, spend any time there, and get back to commit the second surgery. 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. For Susan's family and friends, the case is now closed, but it may never bring closure. Over the next few months, though, with the help of some unique forensic evidence, the D.A. Sounded like he was talking to Susan. "The police said, 'There's my man. John Hamilton: Yes, I'm trying. Defense attorney Mack Martin told jurors in his opening statement, "John and Susan Hamilton were head over heels in love with each other. On Feb. 14, 2001, he phoned 911 to report finding his wife in the master bathroom of their Quail Creek home. This week, ya girls are celebrating Valentines Day a day late. Dennis Murphy: You were starting to see her come around? trips. Bevel believed the blood pattern was consistent with what would have happened if Hamilton struck his wife. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. At the end, I think she was calmer and she said, "I'm gonna think about it.". Lane backed up his theory with physical evidence. I mean, because it was out there in view, I guess. Neighbors told police that in the weeks before the killing the Hamiltons had been having marital problems. at times she insinuated it was too general about patients calling Dr. John Baxter Hamilton is on trial for killing his wife. Let's put it this way, nothing that we could really present. "I don't know, she looks like somebody hurt her." It's Valentine's morning and socialite Susan Hamilton lies nude, smashed in a pool of blood. she hadn't done before. Susan, in particular, became entangled with neckties, resulting in a severe head injury. John Hamilton: The more Susan and I talked about things the more things were clarified, the more things we got straightened out. A dozen roses? And be, even be in his right mind. Year should not be greater than current year. they thought the Hamiltons had "Anything else, they don't want you to hear. >> i have never, ever one second, not one moment in time, thought he was guilty, At the trial Lane asked Bevel if there was anything the prosecution had missed that was pertinent. the victim told them the defendant smothered her. Wes Lane: They're not gonna do that. he was upset. The dancer said Hamilton told her he loved his wife and didn't want to get a divorce.