Finding Our Voice, Sharing Our Vision

Ending Violence Against Women and Children

CASE IN FOCUS

Kathleen

Kathleen's husband was a former police officer in Umatilla County, Oregon. In the small town community, his former fellow officers did not want to admit that one of their own could be an abuser or could be a threat to the safety of the community. They refused to take any complaints from Kathleen.

Kathleen, her mother and her two boys suffered extreme abuse at the hands of Walt, her husband. Walt isolated and held Kathleen captive in her own home. He molested the two boys and was sexually abusive to Kathleen. He would hold her down, cuff her and/or hold a gun to her head.

On April 5, 2001, Kathleen asked Walt for a divorce... and her nightmare began the following morning at 2:00 AM.

Kathleen was watching her mare who was due to foal. Walt went down to the barn and roped her feet. He yanked her feet out from under her, startling her and knocking the wind out of her. He took her back to the house. He pinned her to the bed, screaming that she would never leave him nor humiliate him. Walt knew that she intended to expose the abuses that occurred in the home. He ranted about killing her mother and her children so she could see how it feels to lose them. Walt had his service revolver loaded, cocked and aimed at Kathleen.

Kathleen describes Walt at that moment as crazed. His eyes were dilated and he was sweating. He was in her words, "literally out of his mind."

Walt finally got off of Kathleen and set the gun down. She saw her chance to grab the gun and began retreating out of their bedroom. Walt began his tirade again and then realized that Kathleen had the gun. He then began to pursue her in an attempt to take the gun and threaten her life and the lives of her family. In the course of retreating through the house and trying to keep ahold of the gun, the gun went off three times while in Kathleen's hands. A semi automatic revolver reloads itself and Kathleen did not know how to disarm it.

Walt was hit twice in the shoulder and once in the jaw. He bled to death in pursuit of Kathleen and the gun.

Kathleen left in a daze, and "woke up" driving away in an effort to get to her mother and her children.

The officers who were sent to investigate the shooting were Walt's close personal friends. They tampered with evidence, planted evidence and rendered some evidence unusable.

Kathleen was arrested without Miranda Warnings, and was coerced into a polygraph test under sedation.

Kathleen learned many things about her husband after her arrest. Walt's internet activities were discovered, as was allegations in his nephew's suicide. Internet activity showed sexual deviancy and a severe porn addiction. The nephew left a suicide note stating he could not live with the sexual abuse he had endured at Walt's hands.

A violent past emerged as well. Walt had used his badge to intimidate others and had been repeatedly warned about the excessive use of force. A sexual assault charge filed by a court clerk was also uncovered, though the case was dismissed as unfounded. There were many willing to testify that Walt was indeed a violent man.

Defense attorneys in Kathleen's case believed they could "win" by using an Extreme Emotional Disturbance argument. A self defense argument was never presented. Defense attorneys also would not question those who could attest to Walt's violent temperament. Kathleen was deemed not fit to testify and was not allowed to speak on her behalf.

The prosecution's argument included money from a life insurance policy that did not name Kathleen as the beneficiary. This argument was used throughout the trial.

Kathleen was convicted of Felony Murder and sentenced to life in prison. Under Oregon's Measure 11, she will not be eligible for parole until she has served 25 years in prison.

Voices Set Free is currently working with an attorney to help bring justice for Kathleen. If you would like to help, please donate using the icon at left and specify how you would like your donation to be used. All donations are tax deductible. Thank you for your support.