It had all of the appeal of a romance novel gone bad. 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. Oklahoma City investigators Teresa Sterling and Randy Scott arrived at the Hamilton house at noon that day. Over the next few months, though, with the help of some unique forensic evidence, the D.A. Shibley and Horton told the without bail since Feb. 14. To add a flower, click the Leave a Flower button. As a Finnish lawyer, Simon Ekpa has made a name for himself in the legal profession. 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." upset about the incident because Susan Hamilton thought If I was the guy they think I am, then, what do I have to lose by telling the truth? Try again later. or more times a day. Jewels. Learn more about managing a 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. Not necessarily a killer's shoe, countered the defense expert, but the shoe of Dr. Hamilton as he gave his wife CPR. Tom Bevel denies lying about his testimony, and the courts didn't buy the argument either. talked to Susan Johnston, a We're going to vigorously, steadfastly and as carefully and conscientiously as possible defend this case to the very end. Investigators had plenty of theories to work with. Susan Hamilton suspected her husband was having an affair with a patient and stripper whose telephone number turned up 60 times on the defendant's cell phone bills. Gardner carefully examined everything the doctor had been wearing that morning. Every avenue was checked. a good marriage, even though It looked like the start of an attempted -- and then abandoned -- clean-up. Bevel believed the blood pattern was consistent with what would have happened if Hamilton struck his wife. "She was really upset that he 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. So the strategy would be to pick apart both the evidence and the logic of the prosecution's case. Still, there was the doctor's seemingly solid alibi. But not pretty doctor's wives in Oklahoma City. 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. A neighbor was about to give the cops the dish. Alliena Aguirre, a topless dancer for eight years, testified she had performed table dances at two Oklahoma City clubs for the doctor. He was banging his head into the screen. I just felt like they were very happy. 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. Wes Lane: So somebody would have had to come in, get enraged, surprised her, and thrown her to the ground, and done the rest. With that revelation, the defense expert became the star witness for the trials prosecution. her mother, Horton testified in the first- Melanie Martinez is a talented singer. And I just don't think that it's true." And I looked at the defense table which was over to my left. Hamilton had told the 911 operator he was performing CPR. "She didn't know if she could get the trust back.". I was never gonna see Susan again. The Hamiltons did have enemies. Pictures of his injuries have been shown to the jury. degree murder trial of her stepfather, Dr. If convicted, he could be One says, "The shoes is what convicts him." And there wasn't an objection. Please ensure you have given Find a Grave permission to access your location in your browser settings. Hamilton hired a new attorney, Rob Nigh, to appeal the verdict. Oklahoma City police Sgt. Oklahoma City, Oklahoma County, Oklahoma, USA. John Hamilton, an obstetrician-gynecologist in Oklahoma City before murdering his wife in 2001, was a well-known obstetrician-gynecologist. Year should not be greater than current year. The case now landed in the hands of Wes Lane, the district attorney who would try Dr. John Hamilton for murder. Karen Reisig: I had gone into the doctor's lounge to dictate the procedure. In the week before she was 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. Or you wouldn't have had time to have gotten it off your clothing. Many still believe he is innocent, and he. And Susan's getting ready you know, trying to get dressed. If I really did it, if it would, if it would clear my conscience, but I didn't do it. And what do robbers take? Randy Scott: There's no burglary prints to obtain downstairs. John Hamilton: You know, I've come to find out that blood spatter is really junk science. Nothing was found. her daughter was taking sides Ever. "It tells a story. Daughter of Kamille Kareen and Louise Sibley.Mother of 2 children.Lived to age 55 years.Murder victim. would put together a novel theory of just what happened between husband and wife, something maybe grimly fitting for Valentine's Day. OKLAHOMA CITY, January 8, 2002 (LSN.ca) - Abortionist John B. Hamilton, 53, was sentenced today to life in prison without the possibility of parole for the murder of his wife Susan on. Remove advertising from a memorial by sponsoring it for just $5. "I didnt do it, he said. It was about that bloody shirt taken from the doctor. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton is on trial for killing his wife. (Oklahoma Department of Corrections) Dr. John Hamilton placed the initial 911 call after his wife was strangled and beaten to death in Oklahoma on Valentine's Day 2001. What Happened To Dr John Hamilton? Failed to delete memorial. What was she like? The defense also hired a respected crime scene investigator, Tom Bevel, as an expert witness. pic.twitter.com/9VBREeKO87, The Spooky Hour (@SpookyHour) February 15, 2021. Randy Scott: He has time to get back by the house 'cause their-- their house is very close to in between the two hospitals. Could a man have loved his wife to death. Her husband was arrested that day and later charged with her murder. 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. We checked every avenue of any burglary similar, remotely close in the neighborhood. Dr. John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. I still had 15 or 20 minutes. I mean, he fawned over her a lot. The cry for help comes from Oklahoma City's most exclusive neighborhood. 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. "You could tell she was crying. John Hamilton: Listen, I'm a doctor, I've been trying CPR. It doesn't always happen that way. It started out negative. John Hamilton: No, she's not breathing, I don't get a pulse. Susan managed john's abortion clinic, working there two days a week. Susan, as it turns out, should also have left by 9:20, because she had a 9:30 meeting at a friend's house ten minutes away. John Hamilton, 53, ordered an expensive arrangement of red orchids for his wife, but he never got the chance to give them to her. A crowd lined up to attend the proceedings -- loyal patients, former employees, and fellow physicians -- all standing behind the doctor. Have a good day. much.". By the time emergency workers arrived, it was clear that Susan Hamilton was dead. 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 unwelcome notoriety. This account has been disabled. ", Hamilton denies that he was having an affair or that his wife wanted a divorce. was her doctor and gave her Their fourteen-year marriage, however, resulted in Susans heinous murder. "The police said, 'There's my man. Her head bludgeoned, surrounded by a pool of blood. It read, "A reward in heaven will be bestowed on anyone contributing to bringing this murderer to justice." Bevel, under oath to tell the truth, told the court about the spatter in the sleeve and said it was consistent with Hamilton beating his wife over the head with a blunt instrument. The scene was a bloody mess. Hamilton is serving a life sentence without possibility of parole at the state penitentiary in McAlester. The doctor was then ushered away, as police wondered who might have committed such a brutal attack. 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. As the last witness in the trial, he'd refuted a lot of the prosecution's findings, and bolstered his client's case. If anything, threats against the clinic, only seemed to bring the Hamiltons closer together. They said the police had focused on Hamilton too quickly, and not paid enough attention to the threats from antiabortion activists. Are you sure that you want to delete this memorial? There were no she hadn't done before. Hamilton, an obstetrician-gynecologist, started performing CPR and called 911. Save to an Ancestry Tree, a virtual cemetery, your clipboard for pasting or Print. Prosecutors are trying to prove Hamilton hid his bloody clothes and the blunt instrument used to kill the victim. As is routine in domestic murders, the detectives would take a look at the spouse -- John Hamilton, himself. Wes Lane: They're not gonna do that. so alone in my life,'" Horton said. 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 . One unanswered question for investigators is how the killer got out of the house at 3056 Brush Creek Road without leaving a bloody trail. Something he'd noted and what would later be regarded as the atomic bomb of the trial of Dr. John Hamilton. Tom Bevel: He jumped out of his loafer shoes, which would have reorientated them, and he jumped over to her side and knelt down to try and assist her and to do CPR. "I didn't find any evidence of blood leading up to the front door. "The prosecution will present one theory," Martin said. Retha Chamberlain, Special Judge Russell Hall's court clerk, said the process to complete the paperwork would delay the appearance until then. Ross Gardner: We took a one-to-one image of Mrs. Hamilton's head -- the injury, the laceration. Her husband, John Baxter Hamilton was convicted of murder, and is serving a life sentence. Include gps location with grave photos where possible. Prosecutors claim the defendant had fingernail scratches on one of his shoulders when he was arrested. Nothing was stolen, and yet, there was this curious story that cropped up in the days after Susan had been murdered. Because Dr. John Hamilton was late. would never do that,'" Horton Tom Bevel, the blood spatter expert hired by Dr. John Hamilton, had wrapped up his questioning under defense attorneys. based on information from your browser. Afterwards, the doctor decided to swing back home. When he met Susan in 1985, they were both divorced with four children between them. If you notice a problem with the translation, please send a message to [emailprotected] and include a link to the page and details about the problem. Someone had to leave. Ross Gardner: Effectively, the inside and front of that shoe was in motion around this spatter event from Mrs. Hamilton that's radiating out. 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? "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: It's changed Valentine's Day forever for you and your kids, huh? We all know red is for the ribbon on the box of chocolate, not for the pool of blood in the master bath. "I don't think it took very long at all. Then came the prosecutor, Wes Lane's, turn on cross-examination. She denied having an affair or any type of personal relationship with the defendant. Close this window, and upload the photo(s) again. Dick: They had to find the stripper. The killer, careful not to step in the blood, changed into clean clothes and concealed the bloody clothes in a plastic bag before carrying them out of the house, Spruill said. His attorneys have claimed that police had improper contact with Bevel, who is a former police officer, during the trial. However, there is no credible evidence that he is still alive or dead. But knew she wasn't one easily rattled or intimidated. By 10:45, he was on his way home again, which is when he says he discovered Susan in a pool of blood. 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 use this feature, use a newer browser. Dennis Murphy: Had there been a fling? We changed it to, instead, that-- Valentine's Day is a day to celebrate love. 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 that's what had happened to Susan Hamilton on that Valentine's Day morning. There were things done that were dangerous. Use Next and Previous buttons to navigate, or jump to a slide with the slide dots. There is 1 volunteer for this cemetery. Johnston said she thought Gibson Paul found himself getting dumped on Feb. 14, 2011, grabbed a gun and opened fire . Horton said. John Hamilton: I'm telling the truth now. If you can get whiplash in a courtroom, that's what happened. Steve Jimerson: She was very strongly pro-choice, and-- and very outspoken about it, about the right of women. Wes Lane: And that's when he started explaining that the blood spatter inside the sleeve. Please check your email and click on the link to activate your account. I gave her her Valentine's card. One of their arguments was that Tom Bevel should never have been allowed to testify. 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. Turn on desktop notifications for breaking stories about interest? The doctor was still in shock, as the judge added his opinion. John Hamilton: His own expert is saying he's guilty. It took the jurors just two hours to reach their verdict. She didn't sound like my mom.". "She said, 'I'm scared and I've never felt 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. 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. There was an error deleting this problem. He was jailed immediately and denied any bail. Bevel and prosecutors have denied those allegations. He was sentenced to life without parole. AGE 40s John Hamilton Norman, OK View Full Report Used To Live In Relatives Previously sponsored memorials or famous memorials will not have this option. And then she decides to eliminate her competition. The investigator testified he thought the killer first took a shower and then let the water run for an extended period of time. I was scared. "She loved to talk to John," general about patients calling she tried to act strong at first. Dennis Murphy: And they thought they were very clever 'cause they took you, in effect, off the market. Add to your scrapbook. Oops, some error occurred while uploading your photo(s). Macy said he will ask that bond be denied for John Hamilton. Her husband was arrested that day and later charged with her murder. The prosecutor tossed out an open-ended question: Wes Lane: Well, Mr. Bevel, is there anything that either the state's experts or the Oklahoma City Police Department missed in their examination of the evidence? Family members linked to this person will appear here. And then there were these curious stains on the doctor's shirt -- the blood expert thought he saw a similarity between their angular shape, and the wound created on Susan's head. Yeah, I'm going to hang up so I can continue. There is a problem with your email/password. And the seemingly inseparable couple became even more so after they married. Karen Reisig: I personally don't believe a physician could do-- a surgery, go commit a brutal crime of murder. The first-degree murder charge accuses Dr. John Baxter Hamilton, 52, an obstetrician and gynecologist, in the beating and strangulation death of his wife, Susan Shibley Hamilton, 55. mother didn't sound like herself, although And if there was another pair, she'd go get those. And I think she just wanted to have somebody to talk to. Dick: Right. IE 11 is not supported. their talk was somewhat unusual because it was something doctors. In 1987, John Hamilton married Susan, and his wife began working part-time at Johns clinic. I think she became particularly alarmed when he didn't answer it. Lane had questioned the other woman. Lane said a bloody imprint of what is believed to be the blunt instrument was discovered on the defendant's shirt. 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. John had an explanation for his wife -- the patient had been having serious psychological problems, and had even threatened suicide. For memorials with more than one photo, additional photos will appear here or on the photos tab. wife repeatedly throughout the Two men's ties were tightly knotted about her neck. The attacker poured cleaning solution in the drain in an attempt to prevent investigators finding blood in the shower, the investigator 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. I had a million thoughts were running through my head. John Hamilton: Yes, I'm trying. John Hamilton: Oh, sure. And so, the motive was love lost. She said he paid her $100 and $80 for the dances that cost $20 each. "There are all kinds of things still going on. Prosecutors may finish calling their witnesses today. Tom Bevel: In my examination, I found additional blood that was not talked about anywhere, on the inside of the right cuff. Vandalizing his home. The defense was dealt a setback at the start of trial. After all -- nothing can bring back the beautiful, headstrong, woman they all loved. His long silence behind bars ended as he prepared to tell the jury -- and us -- what really had happened that Valentine's Day morning. Supervised and trained employees in office duties, computer programs, and phone dialog. So he runs by that house. He was talking on the phone. You'll hear that story.". Horton: Anybody that you ask, nobody that I know that knew John Hamilton would say that he had the capability of doing it. 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. 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. Watching. He is accused of beating and choking to death his wife, Susan, 55, at their Quail Creek home on Valentine's Day. If this is real-- if this blood splatter is real science then why should two prominent, national authorities disagree with the findings? wanted to talk to someone," John Hamilton: Initially, she didn't want to go. 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. Hamilton has been held in the Oklahoma County jail for seven days without bond. Isn't that what Valentine's Day is supposed to be about? 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. said. What motive? We will review the memorials and decide if they should be merged. "The evidence will be she was just as much in love with him.". On Valentines Day 2001, John Hamilton murdered his wife Susan. Feb. 13, 2003 -- Everyone says Susan Hamilton was the love of her husband's life. The timeline was extremely tight for the doctor to even be considered as a suspect. John would have been devastated.". Spruill told jurors he believed the attack happened quickly and the victim fought to free the necktie from her neck. Then, Holly covers the case of Dr. John Hamilton who loved his wife Susan a little too much. But before that valentine's day was over, they would have a suspect in custody. killed, Susan Hamilton also Hamilton, 62, was an Oklahoma City obstetrician, gynecologist and abortionist. The shoes were found next to Susan's body -- john said they fell off his feet as he was attempting to revive her. One thing everyone who knew the couple -- including the neighbor -- seemed to agree on -- was that whoever Susan's killer was, it certainly was not John Hamilton. "I don't just snap," he said. At the end, I think she was calmer and she said, "I'm gonna think about it.". He was -- more suspicion drawn each time that we'd watch something. The palm goes on the center of the chest, on the sternum. The note made police question whether the Hamiltons' marriage was as happy as it had seemed, and they began to regard Hamilton as a suspect. afford them. But A big comfortable house in a top-notch neighborhood, lavish dinner parties, spur of the moment vacations. You need a Find a Grave account to continue. Steve Jimerson: I was afraid for his safety. The appeals made their way all the way up to the u.s. Supreme court, but they ultimately failed. This browser does not support getting your location. Sorry! I don't have anything to lose. But I didn't wanna believe that or give up. He'd even mentored the blood expert used by the prosecution. day. Her husband was arrested that day and later charged with her murder. He told them he had been frantically trying to save her life. Even Susan's children were standing by their stepfather. He said the blood got on the steering wheel when he stopped doing CPR for a moment to move his car before the emergency vehicles arrived. 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. https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/80157405/susan-hamilton. Do Not Sell or Share My Personal Information. Neighbors told police that in the weeks before the killing the Hamiltons had been having marital problems. However, the investigation revealed that the murderer was John Hamilton himself. When police arrived, they observed Hamilton doing chest compressions on . Flowers added to the memorial appear on the bottom of the memorial or here on the Flowers tab. There was a problem getting your location. What made John show his dark side? Horton told the jurors her mother had This memorial has been copied to your clipboard. mother, and Horton testified I can only speculate how. And oh! I didn't notice any blood on his mouth whatsoever. Dennis Murphy: So these things that you say are kind of like out of focus- moving the car, there was the other thing -- the business about moving her jewelry, hiding it in her drawer? District Judge Ray Elliott also ordered. 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. It was the high society doctor, married to the beautiful wife, that were crazy about one another. ". . And I was, you know, I was so nervous. The dancer said Hamilton told her he loved his wife and didn't want to get a divorce. Dennis Murphy: They're gonna accuse you of trying to cover up the scratches that Susan made defensively as you were killing her. Are you adding a grave photo that will fulfill this request? 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. In 1997, Mississippi abortion provider Dr. Malachy Dehenre shot and killed his wife in their . John Hamilton called his Skip to main content. Investigators had to interpret the blood evidence left behind. It did in this case, though. the defendant was calling her 10 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-. Dennis Murphy: So, you'd have to think that the opportunistic robber breaking in to steal some jewelry and the TV--. As for the discovery of Susan's hair and blood tissue in his car, Hamilton explained it this way: he said after calling 911 he realized the EMTs wouldn't be able to get their ambulance past his car out front, so he raced out to move it. loyal patients, former employees and fellow physicians, all standing behind the doctor. He says he did not kill his wife. And go back and do another surgery. When rescue workers arrived they found him hysterical and covered in his wife's blood. Susan Hamilton, 55, had been strangled with two neckties and beaten. But for John Hamilton, the fight wasn't over. He and his wife, Susan, had met in 1985 at a friend's birthday party. His former medical partner, for one, thinks that would be impossible. Tom Bevel, a veteran of almost three decades with the Oklahoma City P.D. Dennis Murphy: So that was the reason you went home? John Hamilton had been imprisoned since 2001 on suspicion of murdering his wife. Are you sure that you want to report this flower to administrators as offensive or abusive? We have set your language to John Hamilton: The more Susan and I talked about things the more things were clarified, the more things we got straightened out. In 2001, Oklahoma abortion provider Dr. John Baxter Hamilton beat his wife and then choked her to death in their home. Susan Hamilton, 55, had been strangled with two neckties and beaten. Two neckties were knotted about her throat. So, you don't have an object to compare it against. The defense's expert, bevel, couldn't go that far. The doctor said he'd even started seeing a therapist on his own, to earn back Susan's trust, and that she, Susan, had decided to go into counseling with him. And there was nothing-- it-- and there-- and there was nothing stolen. jurors about the disagreement Now this was the reasoning as prosecutors saw it: The doctor wanted the police to believe the crime had started as a robbery. If convicted, he could be sentenced to prison for life with or without the possibility of parole. for immediate release contact: diane denton december 16, 2004 615.741.3111 (office) 615.708.9384 (cell) disciplinary action report "I didnt kill Susan.. The medical examiner had determined that Susan had been strangled with two neckties, but her fatal injuries came from being bludgeoned with a blunt object, a murder weapon never found. The only thing that he could think of that it was consistent with was John Hamilton when he was beating her with that blunt instrument that was driving that up inside his shirt. Dr. John Hamilton placed the initial 911 call after his wife was strangled and beaten to death in Oklahoma on Valentine's Day 2001. . Spruill told jurors he has an opinion on how the killer got out of the house without leaving a blood trail even though the evidence doesn't provide an answer. John Hamilton and Alliena The expert, though, was certain that whoever was wearing that left shoe that day was present when Susan Hamilton was being bludgeoned to death. 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