It was one of those moments. One year later, a battered body is found tossed into a canyon, the eyes and genitals gouged. And I didn't want any obstruction. Tom Bevel, a veteran of almost three decades with the Oklahoma City P.D. Link in bio. Resend Activation Email, Please check the I'm not a robot checkbox, If you want to be a Photo Volunteer you must enter a ZIP Code or select your location on the map. They claim the defendant took from the house his bloody clothes and the blunt instrument used to beat the victim after she was strangled with a man's necktie and her face repeatedly smashed into a tile floor. She had been strangled with two of his ties, and her head had been smashed so badly that parts of her brain were exposed. "She loved him. Wes Lane, the prosecutor, was surprised to find he had an unpopular case on his hands. The court rejected Hamilton's. And, as you might guess, it was a job that came with a little danger -- anti-abortion protestors were a curbside reality. After all, he'd had a busy morning -- performing not just one, but two surgeries with only a brief stop at home in between. It took the jurors just two hours to reach their verdict. And we're thinkin' that maybe he was having an affair. And then she decides to eliminate her competition. Lane backed up his theory with physical evidence. Mack Martin, the doctor's attorney, said, "We're going to enter a plea of not guilty, obviously. He was sentenced to life without parole. Larry Spruill, a crime scene investigator, was on the stand for a second day Thursday, detailing what the evidence means and how it got there. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma Area Effectively managed high-volume of product sales. John Hamilton: Right. And go back and do another surgery. Dennis Murphy: There were people that thought this guy was being sandbagged, railroaded. cemeteries found within kilometers of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Here there might be a spark of life in your wife and you're giving her CPR, "Oh, I've gotta move the car.". By the time emergency workers arrived, it was clear that Susan Hamilton was dead. 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. They kept him there for hours on end. A judge earlier ruled there was probable cause to detain Hamilton pending formal charges being filed. would put together a novel theory of just what happened between husband and wife, something maybe grimly fitting for Valentine's Day. What Happened To Dr John Hamilton? Try again 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. It read, "A reward in heaven will be bestowed on anyone contributing to bringing this murderer to justice." It was seen as a coup for the defense that it locked up one of the most highly regarded blood spatter experts in the nation. But for John Hamilton, the fight wasn't over. 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. Investigators never recovered the murder weapon. Susan Hamilton, 55, had discovered on her husband's telephone bills This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. He told the jury he loved his wife and tried to save her. When he met Susan in 1985, they were both divorced with four children between them. Did you understand what she was saying in it? John R. Hamilton Jr. John Ray Hamilton, Jr., 72, passed away at North Mississippi Medical Center in Tupelo on Friday, January 6, 2023. It had all of the appeal of a romance novel gone bad. "I didn't find any evidence of blood leading up to the front door. Steve Jimerson: She was very strongly pro-choice, and-- and very outspoken about it, about the right of women. Hamilton reportedly had come home from the hospital where he worked to get his planner and discovered his wife, 55-year-old Susan Hamilton, lying. deny they were having an affair. some 60 cell phone calls to a stripper. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. However, their investigation continues. And we kissed. The doctor stopped giving his wife cardiopulmonary resuscitation and went to move the car, but he was shaking so badly he couldn't get the key in the ignition, defense attorney Mack Martin said. Their fourteen-year marriage, however, resulted in Susans heinous murder. Her husband was arrested that day and later charged with her murder. Hamilton, 62, was an Oklahoma City obstetrician, gynecologist and abortionist. 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. Right away, detectives started asking: Who could be responsible? would never do that,'" Horton You may not upload any more photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 20 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 5 photos to this memorial, This photo was not uploaded because this memorial already has 30 photos, This photo was not uploaded because you have already uploaded 15 photos to this memorial. And I just don't think that it's true." Had there been an illicit relationship with this stripper, topless dancer? However, before the trial Bevel had also found some blood spatters in Hamilton's right sleeve that the prosecution expert had overlooked. 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. Prosecutors claim the defendant had fingernail scratches on one of his shoulders when he was arrested. How did it get there? John Hamilton: Yeah. free samples of anti-depressants He told them he had been frantically trying to save her life. "I think that in and of itself caused the conviction," said Clark Brewster, an attorney who is preparing Hamilton's appeal. The distraught doctor managed to give police an account of his movements that morning. If convicted, he could be sentenced to prison for life with or without the possibility of parole. Wes Lane: And that's when he started explaining that the blood spatter inside the sleeve. The blood spatter expert on the stand -- on the payroll of the defense -- hesitated before answering. The patient, as Susan discovered, was a stripper at a nightclub. Try again later. City obstetrician charged in fatal beating of wife - The Oklahoman To investigators, that delay opened up the doctor's window of opportunity by up to an hour. When rescue workers arrived they found him hysterical and covered in his wife's blood. And the seemingly inseparable couple became even more so after they married. Dennis Murphy: It's changed Valentine's Day forever for you and your kids, huh? The conviction of Oklahoma City resident Dr. John Hamilton in the 2001 Valentine's Day murder of his wife Susan Hamilton will be examined on "True Crime with Aphrodite Jones" in an episode titled "Loved to Death," airing at 9 p.m. Monday on Investigation Discovery. cemeteries found within miles of your location will be saved to your photo volunteer list. Becoming a Find a Grave member is fast, easy and FREE. The group had faxed Hamilton a "wanted" poster the same week as the murder, and the doctor told Primetime he and his wife had both received threatening phone calls the week she was killed. I thought you might like to see a memorial for Susan Shibley Hamilton I found on Findagrave.com. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. The Valentine's Day Mystery - NBC News Prosecutors said Hamilton changed clothes after killing his wife in the master bathroom. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80157405/susan-hamilton. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton loved his wife to death, District Attorney Wes Lane told an Oklahoma County jury Thursday. Vesta Hall: I have never, ever, one second, not one moment in time have I ever thought he was guilty. John Hamilton: I talked to the surgery nurse and she said, "The surgery before yours started 30 minutes late.". Time for a new episode! On Feb. 14, 2001, he phoned 911 to report finding his wife in the master bathroom of their Quail Creek home. Detective Teresa Sterling: He's supposed to be there. News network NBC did a Dateline episode about the case. "There is physical evidence missing from this crime scene, Spruill said. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. And he was in there. her daughter was taking sides Watch Forensic Factor Season 2 Episode 3 - My Bloody Valentine Online Now His theory was that the stains on the shirt were left by the murder weapon as it came in contact with the garment. He was acting bizarre. John Hamilton: It was a shock to everybody. When Susan's ex-husband learned of her murder -- and the domestic melodrama about the cell phone log -- he thought he knew right away what had happened. On this day, Valentine's Day, in 2001, abortionist John Baxter Hamilton bludgeoned his wife, Susan, to death in their Oklahoma home. "John said she had said something about divorce," Coffey said. It was about that bloody shirt taken from the doctor. The timeline was extremely tight for the doctor to even be considered as a suspect. MSNBCW : January 8, 2022 2:00am-3:00am PST - Internet Archive On Feb. 14, 2001, he phoned 911 to report finding his wife in the master bathroom of their Quail Creek home. And finally, there was the story told by blood. neighbor. We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. He did not think it could have come from giving CPR. And I think she just wanted to have somebody to talk to. After arriving at the crime scene, investigators placed john in the back of a police car. Inmate John Baxter Hamilton is currently incarcerated in Oklahoma Department of Corrections (OK DOC) located at 3400 N Martin Luther King Ave, Oklahoma City, OK. Connect with john using InmateAid. There isn't any greater love. However, the investigation revealed that the murderer was John Hamilton himself. John Hamilton: You know, I've come to find out that blood spatter is really junk science. without bail since Feb. 14. "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. But Hamilton was late, not arriving until 9:30. On the steering wheel and driver's side seat and door sill, crime scene investigators recovered strands of susan's hair and a piece of her flesh. As a Finnish lawyer, Simon Ekpa has made a name for himself in the legal profession. Daughter testifies slain woman was scared, upset - The Oklahoman ABORTIONIST SENTENCED TO LIFE FOR MURDER, ORDERED TO PAY - LifeSite His wife, Susan, worked twice a week at the abortion clinic. Randy Scott: John Hamilton was just not the victim's spouse that we were seein'. Are you sure that you want to remove this flower? the Hamiltons had over Christmas over the defendant's payment for his son's car repairs not kill his wife. Sounded like he was talking to Susan. degree murder trial of her stepfather, Dr. Horton said John Hamilton He was -- more suspicion drawn each time that we'd watch something. lied to her," Horton said. 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. Then came the prosecutor, Wes Lane's, turn on cross-examination. We all know red is for the ribbon on the box of chocolate, not for the pool of blood in the master bath. And the shoe splattered with Susan's blood from different directions as she was being killed? All photos uploaded successfully, click on the Done button to see the photos in the gallery. Martin described the victim as being jealous of her husband's time away from her. he was upset. A Valentine's Day Murder in Oklahoma - ABC News On Tuesday, District Judge Virgil Black allowed the doctor to attend his wife's graveside service under the supervision of sheriff's deputies. Prosecutors are trying to prove Hamilton hid his bloody clothes and the blunt instrument used to kill the victim. "She loved to talk to John," You'd have to believe that he committed the violent murder in that narrow window between his two surgeries. Susan Johnston: He just couldn't have done it. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. Now, courtoom lawyers like to talk about Perry Mason moments when a trial is electrified by unexpected testimony, but it hardly ever happens. Tom Bevel: I would believe that they thought that, yes. her mother, Horton testified in the first- Was he nervous about what an examination of his body would reveal? Use Escape keyboard button or the Close button to close the carousel. You are only allowed to leave one flower per day for any given memorial. John Hamilton: Yes. But the most damning blood evidence of all, may have been found in the doctor's car. On re-direct, Hamilton's lawyer tried to diffuse the bombshell testimony by suggesting that the spatter could have resulted from the doctor performing cpr. I told some people at the clinic, "I wish I had someone that would look at me the way John looks at Susan." I mean, trying to set fire to his clinic. The expert, though, was certain that whoever was wearing that left shoe that day was present when Susan Hamilton was being bludgeoned to death. I mean, he fawned over her a lot. Failed to report flower. You can always change this later in your Account settings. Found more than one record for entered Email, You need to confirm this account before you can sign in. One says, "The shoes is what convicts him." "He was just obsessed with her," District Attorney Wes Lane later told Primetime. 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. And oh! Susan Hamilton Murdered 2001 Murdered , Bludgeoned , Strangled On the morning of Feb. 14, 2001, Dr. John Hamilton phoned 911 requesting urgent help for his wife. Dick Horton: Actually, we've turned it into a positive. Many people have been searching the internet for his date cause. Knowing that they were about to put his patient under anesthesia, Hamilton returned to the clinic, performed the surgery, and then came back home to finish cleaning up, Lane said. In 1987, John Hamilton married Susan, and his wife began working part-time at John's clinic. Her husband was arrested that day and later charged with her murder. What made John show his dark side? His attorneys have claimed that police had improper contact with Bevel, who is a former police officer, during the trial. "I always took threats like that seriously," he said. "You could tell she was crying. There is a problem with your email/password. I knew they that they were suspecting me. Susan Hamilton Murder: Where Is Dr. John Hamilton Now? 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. If this is real-- if this blood splatter is real science then why should two prominent, national authorities disagree with the findings? John Hamilton: Yes, I'm trying. Neighbors told police that in the weeks before the killing the Hamiltons had been having marital problems. And she gets very suspicious of it and confronts John about it. Dr. Hamilton had a more simple explanation for being late. She said he paid her $100 and $80 for the dances that cost $20 each. A random intruder? For an optimal experience visit our site on another browser. After all, only two people in the world knew what was really going on inside the Hamilton marriage. "His face showed "Blood spatter is not an exact science, and Bevel had gone over to the dark side on him. John Hamilton: If Susan had scratched me wouldn't you assume that they would have found tissue, blood, DNA of some sort under her fingernails? We don't have a weapon. "She said, 'I'm scared and I've never felt Randy Scott: He has time to get back by the house 'cause their-- their house is very close to in between the two hospitals. A system error has occurred. "He tried to get the key in the ignition, but he couldn't because he was shaking so much," Martin said. Dennis Murphy: And that you can almost envision whatever that murder weapon is, the-- the bludgeon coming right down on poor Susan's head causing the blood spatter. There were no Hamilton hired a new attorney, Rob Nigh, to appeal the verdict. John Baxter Hamilton, Abortionist and Wife-Killer - Blogger 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. Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. 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. Rob Nigh: I've been doing criminal trials and appeals for 22 years and I've never seen a case like Dr. Hamilton's where the defense expert offered the most compelling evidence against the defendant. The doctor refuted the prosecution's case against him point by point. I mean, because it was out there in view, I guess. As John Hamilton told it, by Valentine's Day the couple had already patched up the raw wounds of that ruckus over his unorthodox relationship with a stripper. IE 11 is not supported. It was up inside the sleeve. Are you sure that you want to delete this photo? Online Bill Pay Boards, Committees, and Agencies Coronavirus Reporting Child Abuse requires every health care professional Click here for more information Statewide 24-Hour 1-800-522-3511 Posted on 06/17/2021 STAY CONNECTED! her husband were working on their John Hamilton, an obstetrician-gynecologist, called 911 on Valentine's Day, 2001, to report that he had arrived to find his wife, Susan, apparently dead in a pool of blood in the bathroom. husband was having an affair with a patient. much.". He was born on April 23, 1950 in Phenix City, Alabama. she needed when she couldn't On "Dateline NBC, as in his legal appeals, Hamilton criticized Bevel and the accuracy of his blood spatter analysis, which Hamilton called "junk science.. We changed it to, instead, that-- Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love. "She was very upset, very sad," Horton said. ", Hamilton denies that he was having an affair or that his wife wanted a divorce. Bc s John Baxter Hamilton thnh ph v nh gia ca phu thut mang theo hoa v tm thip cho v, nhn ngy l tnh nhn 14/2/2001. And be, even be in his right mind. "I don't think it took very long at all. John Hamilton was a devoted husband to his wife, and he used to take excellent care of her. And-- my children started, "Well, I'll never celebrate it again." And I looked at the defense table which was over to my left. We actually believe that-- that-- John Hamilton was trying to clean things up before he got paged. Karen Reisig: I had gone into the doctor's lounge to dictate the procedure. 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. There are no volunteers for this cemetery. Your California Privacy Rights / Privacy Policy. 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. 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. This account has been disabled. Dennis Murphy: And they thought they were very clever 'cause they took you, in effect, off the market. So, you don't have an object to compare it against. Failed to delete memorial. 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. "He (Hamilton) was really clinging to the defense lines that the blood result was not the way it was interpreted, Dennis Murphy, a "Dateline NBC reporter, told The Oklahoman on Wednesday. Dennis Murphy: Because then you know the history of the phone calls. 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. 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. Jurors have spent two days hearing testimony and looking at photographs of the bloody crime scene and injuries the victim suffered. Aguirre said the defendant The email does not appear to be a valid email address. Drag images here or select from your computer for Susan Shibley Hamilton memorial. "Ultimately, you take an oath to tell the truth and that overrides any allegiance I may have to any client," he said. Teresa Sterling: It was violent. Investigators had to interpret the blood evidence left behind. Dick Horton: She calls us and says, "I found the jewelry in her underwear.". What was she like? And so, the motive was love lost. felt deceived.". 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.. For example, John Baxter Hamilton, the most prolific abortionist in Oklahoma City, crushed his wife's skull with a blunt object, then returned to his abortion mill to do more abortions. Late that Valentine's Day afternoon, they arrested John Hamilton for the murder of his wife. Your California Privacy Rights/Privacy Policy. You have chosen this person to be their own family member. 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. Afterwards, the doctor decided to swing back home. Maybe Chicago gangsters get killed on St. Valentine's day. John Hamilton, 53, is on trial in the Valentine's Day slaying of his wife at their Susan Johnston: She was upset and angry with John. Then came Valentine's Day 2001. Detective Teresa Sterling: He was acting very upset. John Hamilton in OK - Address & Phone Number | Whitepages "There is a science to blood spatters," Lane said. It was looked for extensively. Taping him on the surveillance camera. Horton told the jurors her mother had Ever. A lot of the blood on his clothing could be explained by his attempt to administer CPR. A prominent doctor's wife is murdered on Valentine's Day. He said he performed a surgery around 7 a.m., then came home to exchange Valentine's cards with his wife. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton is on trial for killing his wife. We're going to vigorously, steadfastly and as carefully and conscientiously as possible defend this case to the very end. And that's what happened here. Defense attorney Mack Martin told jurors in his opening statement, "John and Susan Hamilton were head over heels in love with each other. John Hamilton: Right. The doctor was still in shock, as the judge added his opinion. If so, how? loyal patients, former employees and fellow physicians, all standing behind the doctor. Teresa Sterling: I interviewed those people. When police arrived, they observed Hamilton doing chest compressions on . Good amount of blood. On Valentines Day 2001, John Hamilton murdered his wife Susan. Steve Jimerson: Oh, they were la-la. He's crazy about you. The appeals made their way all the way up to the u.s. Supreme court, but they ultimately failed. jurors about the disagreement One blow crushed her skull, Gofton said. He was arrested and booked into jail about five hours later. And, as expected, his take on the story told by the blood put his client, Dr. Hamilton, in a better light. Possibilities: Was it a robbery gone bad? 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. He left in a hurry, obviously, the first time that he was at the house. Penn's varsity track team, 1905 Dr. John Baxter Taylor, 1908 . "She didn't know if she could get the trust back.". Violence against Pro-Lifers - Why Pro-Life? Wes Lane: We could tell that-- that the blood had been moved around. tears.". For Susan's family and friends, the case is now closed, but it may never bring closure. home at 3056 Brush Creek Road. Given the circumstances, he was accused of murdering his wife. Ross Gardner: This was a relatively contained crime scene. mother, and Horton testified They have got DNA, fingerprints, lab reports that haven't even been looked at yet. Was he, in fact, late -- they theorized -- because he was killing his wife during those moments then trying to figure out what to do next?