Investigators had plenty of theories to work with, but the suspect they brought into custody shocked everyone. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton is on trial for killing his wife. Please contact Find a Grave at [emailprotected] if you need help resetting your password. Oklahoma City investigators Teresa Sterling and Randy Scott arrived at the Hamilton house at noon that day. And, as expected, his take on the story told by the blood put his client, Dr. Hamilton, in a better light. His defense team argued that there was no direct evidence that Hamilton was the murderer, noting that no murder weapon was ever found. However, their investigation continues. He said he'd gotten Susan's blood on him from performing CPR. 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. John Hamilton: It was a shock to everybody. If convicted, he could be sentenced to life in prison with or without the possibility of parole. At the time, many people sided with John Hamilton. a good marriage, even though 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. "He tried to get the key in the ignition, but he couldn't because he was shaking so much," Martin said. Verify and try again. "We talked in Marks made by the victim's fingernails were found on the body. the Hamiltons had over Christmas over the defendant's payment for his son's car repairs Susan, then 39, and John, 37, each had two children from their first marriages. Prosecutors had made a big deal about the doctor showing up late for his second surgery that morning. PDF DISCIPLINARY ACTION REPORT - Tennessee How the case changed, the bottom fell out of everything. Not least of all in a bloody crime there were no footprints leading out of the house. Teresa Sterling: It was violent. Just, you know, just a very light-hearted conversation. All photos appear on this tab and here you can update the sort order of photos on memorials you manage. Instead, he says, he came home between surgeries that morning to pick up his datebook and was horrified to find his wife lying on the bathroom floor in a pool of blood. But when the first responder -- firefighter David Bradbury-- arrived on the scene, he thought there was something odd about the way the doctor was performing chest compressions. Two weeks later he was sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. John Hamilton: His own expert is saying he's guilty. This browser does not support getting your location. I don't have anything to lose. This is the shirt.". Horton said John Hamilton Dr. John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. 0 cemeteries found in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA. "Blood spatter is not an exact science, and Bevel had gone over to the dark side on him. I can only speculate how. ABORTIONIST SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR MURDER, ORDERED TO PAY - LifeSite She denied having an affair or any type of personal relationship with the defendant. Watch Forensic Factor Season 2 Episode 3 - My Bloody Valentine Online Now smashed into the floor. John Hamilton, who had spent every day since his wife's murder in a jail cell, would finally get a chance to testify about the last days of the marriage -- a story he also told to us. Failed to report flower. In this article, we delve into the life of Simon Ekpa, his family, and his net worth. You can customize the cemeteries you volunteer for by selecting or deselecting below. After all, he'd had a busy morning -- performing not just one, but two surgeries with only a brief stop at home in between. Thanks for using Find a Grave, if you have any feedback we would love to hear from you. Her head bludgeoned, surrounded by a pool of blood. It was never on any abortion protesters. GREAT NEWS! Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. Failed to remove flower. Many still believe he is innocent, and he. And the only explanation of that event is the wounding to Mrs. Hamilton. Randy Scott: John Hamilton was just not the victim's spouse that we were seein'. She would've never hidden it in her underwear and all of a sudden the, you know, it just clicks that he's tryin' to make it look like a robbery. or don't show this againI am good at figuring things out. 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. Wes Lane: This had a lot of dots to connect. "The prosecution will present one theory," Martin said. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Is the Media Really Biased in Favor of Abortion? - Human Life International they thought the Hamiltons had We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. Dick Horton: I don't think there was any question she wore the pants. the victim told them the defendant smothered her. They found a disturbing scene that didn't suit a moneyed neighborhood. However, the investigation revealed that the murderer was John Hamilton himself. In fact, she even told her best friend Sharry, "I don't believe John had an affair." Coffey testified that the defendant, also a friend, called her almost daily that last week, talking about the couple's problems. ", Hamilton denies that he was having an affair or that his wife wanted a divorce. Horton said. For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. There was no sign of forced entry in the house and nothing was missing, making it unlikely Susan Hamilton, who was 55, was killed by a burglar. John Hamilton: Yes. Access Restricted - Oklahoma Medical Board He wants everything in control in order. Late that Valentine's Day afternoon, they arrested John Hamilton for the murder of his wife. Tom Bevel: In my examination, I found additional blood that was not talked about anywhere, on the inside of the right cuff. Randy Scott: He has time to get back by the house 'cause their-- their house is very close to in between the two hospitals. Doctor sentenced for wife's killing - NewsOn6 "She didn't know if she could get the trust back.". The Hamiltons' 14-year marriage apparently had been in trouble for some time before the slaying. Maybe they missed it altogether. Wes Lane: All the air in the courtroom was gone. Whoever this woman was, there were way too many calls to and from her. She was strangled with a necktie and then her face was repeatedly smashed into the tile floor in the bathroom of her Quail Creek home. We all know red is for the ribbon on the box of chocolate, not for the pool of blood in the master bath. Like the observation made by detectives at the station that he seemed to be checking out scratches to his shoulder? John Hamilton was a devoted husband to his wife, and he used to take excellent care of her. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton loved his wife to death, District Attorney Wes Lane told an Oklahoma County jury Thursday. John Hamilton, a prominent Oklahoma City gynecologist, has been in jail I had a million thoughts were running through my head. Dr. John Hamilton, though, was ready to explain it all, and his version of the truth would be completely different than the prosecutor's. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton loved his wife to death, District Attorney Wes Lane told an Oklahoma County jury Thursday. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80157405/susan-hamilton. "I didnt do it, he said. She went in the closet and got one and gave it to me. a crowd lined up to attend the proceedings. Friends say that when they met each other, they made an instant connection. But because it was Valentine's Day, I wanted to give Susan her first Valentine's card. Aguirre testified It doesn't always happen that way. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. They do on Perry Mason, but they don't in the real world.". ). Isn't that what Valentine's Day is supposed to be about? Hamilton hired a new attorney, Rob Nigh, to appeal the verdict. And I think she just wanted to have somebody to talk to. The timeline was extremely tight for the doctor to even be considered as a suspect. It had all of the appeal of a romance novel gone bad. On Valentines Day 2001, John Hamilton murdered his wife Susan. This is a carousel with slides. Failed to delete memorial. In particular, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. So he hid his wife's jewelry before the 911 forces arrived, fully intending to get it out of the house sometime later. By the time the prosecutor had wrapped up his case, he'd laid out a theory of what happened -- that the doctor had used the neckties to pull his wife down from to the ground, then bashed her head in with that murder weapon never found. Jurors have spent two days hearing testimony and looking at photographs of the bloody crime scene and injuries the victim suffered. The state of Oklahoma would charge Dr. John Hamilton with just loving his wife to death. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. Photos larger than 8Mb will be reduced. We took a one-to-one image of his shirt, and we overlay it. But Dennis Murphy: Until that Valentine Day morning, there was no-- no anger issues, no histories of this guy hit-- hittin' the switch and flipping out, and-. No affidavit was filed with the formal charges because John Hamilton is in custody. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. 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. Now he would be able to tell his side of the story. without her knowledge. Aguirre, also known as Nina, said she first went to the defendant for an abortion in the early 1990s, but she also saw him at his gynecology office. But the expert looked at John's shoes -- the left one in particular -- and found that to be a different matter. "My wife's bleeding all over the place," Dr. John Baxter Hamilton tells the 911 operator. A neighbor was about to give the cops the dish. Two men's ties were tightly knotted about her neck. Gardner carefully examined everything the doctor had been wearing that morning. Why do you do that? And I said, "Yes, sir.". The prosecution wasn't going to be able to tap your expertise. "There are all kinds of things still going on. As a Finnish lawyer, Simon Ekpa has made a name for himself in the legal profession. Jim E. Hamilton Correctional Center - Department of Corrections Dennis Murphy: A lot of people don't get that. A crowd lined up to attend the proceedings -- loyal patients, former employees, and fellow physicians -- all standing behind the doctor. Susan Hamilton Murder: Where Is Dr. John Hamilton Now? The doctor, according to the prosecution's version, now had to cover up his frenzy by going back to perform his second surgery as though nothing had happened. Horton: Anybody that you ask, nobody that I know that knew John Hamilton would say that he had the capability of doing it. John Hamilton, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Oklahoma City before murdering his wife in 2001, was a well-known obstetrician-gynecologist. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? And the shoe splattered with Susan's blood from different directions as she was being killed? ", Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. He said he performed a surgery around 7 a.m., then came home to exchange Valentine's cards with his wife. She said he would give her samples of medication she needed for depression when she didn't have the money to buy prescription drugs. Home; Memorials; Cemeteries; Famous; Contribute; Register; Sign In; . Karen Reisig: I personally don't believe a physician could do-- a surgery, go commit a brutal crime of murder. Did John Hamilton really kill his wife? : r/UnresolvedMysteries - Reddit Nothing was stolen, and yet, there was this curious story that cropped up in the days after Susan had been murdered. Susan Hamilton died of blunt force trauma to the head and ligature strangulation or strangulation brought on by something being tied or pulled tightly around her neck, according to the medical examiner's preliminary report. 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. John Hamilton: Listen, I'm a doctor, I've been trying CPR. A dozen roses? for immediate release contact: diane denton december 16, 2004 615.741.3111 (office) 615.708.9384 (cell) disciplinary action report 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. "There is a science to blood spatters," Lane said. "I think that in and of itself caused the conviction," said Clark Brewster, an attorney who is preparing Hamilton's appeal. "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. Weve updated the security on the site. But the most damning blood evidence of all, may have been found in the doctor's car. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 2023 www.oklahoman.com. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. 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I mean, he fawned over her a lot. True Crime : Susan Hamilton (Murdered 2001) @Crimedoor They'd learned that second surgery, originally scheduled for 9 am, hadn't actually gotten underway until 9:40. Antiabortion protesters had picketed the clinic and, friends said, even their home. The shoes were found next to Susan's body -- john said they fell off his feet as he was attempting to revive her. Now, courtoom lawyers like to talk about Perry Mason moments when a trial is electrified by unexpected testimony, but it hardly ever happens. Dr. John Hamilton placed the initial 911 call after his wife was strangled and beaten to death in Oklahoma on Valentine's Day 2001. . You have chosen this person to be their own family member. And both John and Susan had received threatening phone calls that week. But eventually, she said, "Yes, I'll go.". "I didn't find any evidence of blood leading up to the front door. was upset and denying he had If you have questions, please contact [emailprotected]. I do not think that John's havin' an affair. Afterwards, the doctor decided to swing back home. Did you understand what she was saying in it? After two hours of deliberation, the jury found him guilty of first-degree murder. "She loved him. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? And that's what had happened to Susan Hamilton on that Valentine's Day morning. At the end, I think she was calmer and she said, "I'm gonna think about it.". Randy Scott: The lady's layin' in the floor, covered in blood, blood all over the floor. But I didn't wanna believe that or give up. He says he did not kill his wife. wife repeatedly throughout the And we kissed. Just putting out brochures all over his neighborhood and his kids' school that, you know, said, "Wanted: Dead or Alive.". Family members linked to this person will appear here. By 10:45, he was on his way home again, which is when he says he discovered Susan in a pool of blood. A name that would shock everybody. Is it possible that here in conservative Oklahoma, she had been murdered by an anti-abortion zealot? Susan Hamilton's blood and skin were found on the steering wheel of the doctor's car, and a prosecution expert testified that his left shoe was spattered in a way that could only have happened while his wife was alive. Theo , Hamilton l bc s sn ph khoa ti nng thnh ph Oklahoma. deny they were having an affair. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. "Ultimately, you take an oath to tell the truth and that overrides any allegiance I may have to any client," he said. 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. Dr. Hamilton had a more simple explanation for being late. Maybe he ends up terminating that to save his marriage. There's no tracks that ran out through the creek bed and behind. 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. Did it ever. Thanks for your help! Was he nervous about what an examination of his body would reveal? He had been up at dawn for a 7 am surgery at an outpatient clinic. I told some people at the clinic, "I wish I had someone that would look at me the way John looks at Susan." 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.