Dets. Ryan M., Jon L., Megan H.,

Bryan F., Tim M., Karen T.

Jason M., Chris L.

Sgt. Michele W.

Anytown, CO PDMajor Crimes Unit

Cr 13-0000

Offender: Carol “ ” Jane W. (1/1/41) 74 yrs oldNo Criminal RecordRetired from US Treasury DeptActive member of Red HatsDedicated mother and GrandmotherNo history of drugs or alcohol

The Players

Victim: “Wally” Dale W. 11/20/31 84 yrs. oldGiven two citations in the early 1960’sRetired mechanicReportedly drinksJehovah Witness

RP: David Alan W. (02/20/1959)Adult basement dwelling sonNot “employed in the technical sense”Couple of DUI’s

Witness

Married 53 yearsNo history of DVNo history of mental illnessIn the last month CarolJane is described as

being “depressed”, lethargic, withdrawn, & somewhat out of it.

CJ described as being very kind and would never hurt anyone

Background

Time of Call: 10:51 AmRP FOUND HIS 74 YO MOTHER WITH A

HAMMER, DAD IS COVERED IN BLOOD, NOT SURE IF HE IS BREATHING

Officers arrive at 10:56 and locate a male, David W. standing in the front yard.

David reports he last saw mom in the house with a hammer standing over dad.

Additional Officers arrive on scene and make contact with a female at the front door, identified as CarolJane W.

Agents note that Carol has blood all over her clothing

She tells Agents “just started hitting my husband with a

hammer”"I don`t know, went crazy I guess. I just

don`t know.““just wanted to get rid of him"

Officers described her as acting very calm and collected

She was able to answer the “M1” mini-mental questions

She stated she really didn’t know why she hit her husband with a hammer other than “stress” and her not wanting him to drive his “rickety old truck.”

Officers saw some small cuts on CarolJane’s arms. When asked about them she stated "he was trying to fight me.” Officers asked if she was defending herself and she stated "no, we weren`t really talking at all" …just wanted to get rid of him.“ She clarified she wanted to “kill him.”

CarolJane continued

Described hitting Wally Dale W. in an overhand 2 handed downward motion

Believed she hit Wally more than twice but less than a hundred times

Told agents she went into the garage, selected a hammer, came back into the house, and began to hit Wally

When Officers enter the house, “Wally” is still breathing, his face and head were covered in blood.

Victim told Agents he could hear them & told

them his wife hit him with a hammer.

In the ambulance he stated “I don`t want to get into it" when asked what happened.

Patrol officers at the hospital reported it was not looking good for Wally Dale.

Detectives responded to St. Joe’s HospitalDets. responded to the residenceDavid Allen W. (son) and CarolJane W. taken

to PD for interviewsCar ride to PD Carol is silent. Noticeable

blood on face, clothing, legs, and feet.

The Investigation

David - Reports being asleep and hearing his dad call his name

Goes upstairs and sees CarolJane standing over Wally Dale.

WD is on the floor with a large pool of blood around his head.

CJ, holding a hammer, tells David “I had to do it.”

Mom refuses to call 911 because there’s too much blood

David takes phone, leaves the residence, and calls 911

Interviews

CJ: No affectVery calmWithdrawn demeanorRefuses to make a statementStated she understood her rights, where she

was, and what was going to happen to her

Detectives learn CJ had stopped doing the shopping & Wally J was clipping coupons to go the store

Another son, Karl W. who at the time of this incident was somewhat estranged from CJ due to her attitude toward his wife.

Incident Carol Jane used two hammers. Started off

with a small sledge hammer, then moved to a smaller claw hammer

Appeared as if CJ tried to hide or clean up evidence

08/29/00At least 32 strikes to the back of the head,

crown of the head, front of the head, temples, and face

So many strikes Medical Examiner can’t tell them all apart

Hammer strike to the right eyeRuling: Homicide-Blunt Force Trauma

Autopsy

Blood in kitchen & dining roomHammer in the sink-washed offSledge hammer underneath buffet in dining

roomSpatter and spray on walls and ceilingPools of blood on the floorDrag marks along the carpetSmears on the wallsAll contained to a small area

The Scene

CarolJane sent to the state hospital Received three different evaluationsConflicting findings

Trial2 ½ week long trialCJ does not take the standA lot of expert testimony

VerdictGuilty on all countsLife in prison

Mental Health

Did not feel the two doctors who found her insane at the time of the crime due to depression were credible in their findings

Felt the police were able to prove that Carol Jane knew what she was doing and acted in a deliberate manner with clear intent to murder Wally

Civil SuitKarl, estranged son filed a wrongful death lawsuit.David & Karl are fighting over control of the estate

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Questions