anyone want to discuss the cape cod murder trial?

[victims cry]

its being played live on ctv

[SavannahStar]

Ummm, maybe a hint what the case is about?

[victims cry]

Ummm, maybe a hint what the case is about?

Fashion Writer Christa Worthington was found murdered in 2002 in Truro a tiny town. Her two year old toddler was found by her mothers body trying to nurse.

2 main suspects in the murder were the married man who fathered her baby, and her ex b/f Tim Arnold. The cops couldnt get enough on them though. No rape but stabbed through her chest and beaten. Well known writer actually. A book was written called Invisible Eden, and it named Arnold as the murderer

Finally the cops dna'd everyone in town (town of 800) as well as acquaintences and exes. 3 years later. DNA match came back 13 months later and it was to the african american garbage collector.

HOWEVER they then immediately decided it was rape, couldnt be consensual bc the wealthy writer would not have stooped to consensual sex with the african american trash guy (supposedly).

On the face of it it seems open and shut, but it really isnt. In fact it seems just as possible that it was consensual, bc of where the dna was found, (breast and she had a top on, was found naked from waist down) and the fact they dont know when she died. Its actually a fascinating trial and the cast of charachters is like "as the world turns".

2 links

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2003/06/26/48hours/main560613.shtml

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2005/04/15/national/main688478_page2.shtml

Some of the charhacters:

Tim Arnold. Ex b/f. He used to peer into her windows

Cousin Jan Apparently she and Christa didnt gt along they both had an affair with the same married man (not dad to her daughter)

Jackett: Father of Ava, married, and when ava was born his wife decided to get along with Christa and they evne had holiday meals together

Christas Father: Didnt get along with his g/f at the time, who had been involved in ANOTHER murder (well known) and also had been a prostitute

Gloria Van Der Bilts son: an ex of hers

Amazing Tarquin: Well known magician who was an ex of hers

Oh and the emt covered up her body with an afghan that had Arnolds semen on it.

[woebedamned]

Finally the cops dna'd everyone in town (town of 800) as well as acquaintences and exes

---------------------

Wow. Scary thought, IMO. To think an entire town can be made to give DNA samples because a crime was committed. What happened to probable cause?

[duke]

I'm glad someone is discussing this case.

I noticed that the 'boyfriend' says he went back to the house and looked through the window and found her lying on the floor with her child trying to breast feed (both of them covered in blood).

On the surface, it seems pretty solid against the Garbage Collector, but what if she was having a consensual affair with the Black guy (Garbage Collector) and the White guy (supposed boy friend) looked through that door and saw them together, went into a jealous rage, waited for the Black guy to leave, then confronted her and it resulted in 'passionate murder'?

There is no evidence that she was raped by the Garbage Collector, and considering his size, I would think if it were a forcible rape, she would have shown signs of trauma. Especially considering that we are to believe that this forcible rape culminated with a stabbing death.

I have doubts about his guilt.

[SavannahStar]

Thanks VC...that's what I thought it might be. I think I read a book on that case a while back. I'm home from work today, maybe I'll turn CTV on.

[victims cry]

Finally the cops dna'd everyone in town (town of 800) as well as acquaintences and exes

---------------------

Wow. Scary thought, IMO. To think an entire town can be made to give DNA samples because a crime was committed. What happened to probable cause?

It was done voluntarily (well the Amazing Tarquin said that MA cops busted in his NY door and stuck a swab in his mouth illegally) and the defendant had offered his dna way back in 2002 but they didnt take it since they were sure it was one of the ex'es. He gave it voluntarily 3 years later.

[duke]

Did anyone see the 'boyfriend' discussing finding her, on Nancy Grace?

I wonder what is wrong with his eye. . . .
He looked slightly insane to me.

I could just visualize him peering through that door with his one good eye. Gave me chills.

[ShadowFigure]

Finally the cops dna'd everyone in town (town of 800) as well as acquaintences and exes

---------------------

Wow. Scary thought, IMO. To think an entire town can be made to give DNA samples because a crime was committed. What happened to probable cause?

They weren't made...it was on a volunteer basis

[victims cry]

I'm glad someone is discussing this case.

I noticed that the 'boyfriend' says he went back to the house and looked through the window and found her lying on the floor with her child trying to breast feed (both of them covered in blood).


There is no evidence that she was raped by the Garbage Collector, and considering his size, I would think if it were a forcible rape, she would have shown signs of trauma. Especially considering that we are to believe that this forcible rape culminated with a stabbing death.

I have doubts about his guilt.

I had the EXACT same thought! On the stand he kept saying "i dont remember" i dont know etc, and really looked fishy. He has physical issues but not cognitive due to brain surgery, and stated in court its just motor effects. Also the cousin came across really badly on the stand, she sold the story for 60k and if she had a problem with christa over the ex, then isnt it possible she killed too? She has said she knew christa was home alone with her daughter and saw the papers piled up but didnt bother to check. Oh and she is working with HBO on a documentary right now. PLUS she was a part time EMT and told two diff stories, one to the cops and one to others.

I dont like Arnold. The defendant might be guilty but its not open and shut. Im on the fence

[ShadowFigure]

Note to self: Read ALL posts in a thread before replying

[victims cry]

Did anyone see the 'boyfriend' discussing finding her, on Nancy Grace?

I wonder what is wrong with his eye. . . .
He looked slightly insane to me.

I could just visualize him peering through that door with his one good eye. Gave me chills.

To be fair, the eye isituation is that when he had his surgery, he became numb on the left hand side of his body. Both eyes work separately but he has to keep one closed or he gets double vision.

What i found eerie was his writings in his journal after the murder. creepy.

[duke]

Did anyone see the 'boyfriend' discussing finding her, on Nancy Grace?

I wonder what is wrong with his eye. . . .
He looked slightly insane to me.

I could just visualize him peering through that door with his one good eye. Gave me chills.

To be fair, the eye isituation is that when he had his surgery, he became numb on the left hand side of his body. Both eyes work separately but he has to keep one closed or he gets double vision.

What i found eerie was his writings in his journal after the murder. creepy.

I'm sorry I said that about him, then.

I wish I knew as much about this case as you do. Please, what was in his journal?

[ShadowFigure]

What bothered me the most is the daughter laying across her mother's bloody body and saying "mommy won't wake up" when the body was discovered...and wasn't the daughter eating cat food or something.?

[victims cry]

Duke one of the comments was about how he wished she had loved him more, and how she used him to babysit her daughter.

Just creepy. It was in testimony yesterday. Some said it just seemed he was in love but... given the peering in windows and her upset with him, i thought that for writings after she died, there was something creepy.

Plus he found her body, he was "ahem" returning a flashlight.

[duke]

What bothered me the most is the daughter laying across her mother's bloody body and saying "mommy won't wake up" when the body was discovered...and wasn't the daughter eating cat food or something.?

Yes, I agree, ShadowFigure.

Also, it was told on Nancy Grace that the daughter was trying to feed her Mother.

I think, if the boyfriend killed her in a jealous rage, he probably felt bad about the Baby being left alone with her dead Mother, so went back and 'discovered' her body, with his Dad to drive him and be his alibi, I guess.

[victims cry]

What bothered me the most is the daughter laying across her mother's bloody body and saying "mommy won't wake up" when the body was discovered...and wasn't the daughter eating cat food or something.?

Cheerios actually. And she had tried to nurse

[victims cry]

There is strong evidence against the defendant though, with DNA on her breast, and the weird sort of confession. Not that he did it, but that a friend did, yet that seems to have some problems and the Defense attorney has the top expert in the country on false confessions.

[duke]

Duke one of the comments was about how he wished she had loved him more, and how she used him to babysit her daughter.

Just creepy. It was in testimony yesterday. Some said it just seemed he was in love but... given the peering in windows and her upset with him, i thought that for writings after she died, there was something creepy.

Plus he found her body, he was "ahem" returning a flashlight.

Thank you so much, VictimsCry.

This is what I like about Refugees -- for those of us who can't watch CTV or miss out on some testimony, it is great to be able to find information at just one site.

Is Massachusetts biased against inter-racial dating?

Or is it the Social Prejudice of his being a garbage collector that makes it hard for people to accept a consensual sexual affair?

[duke]

What bothered me the most is the daughter laying across her mother's bloody body and saying "mommy won't wake up" when the body was discovered...and wasn't the daughter eating cat food or something.?

Cheerios actually. And she had tried to nurse

I just find that so bizarre, that during the time that this guy was casually dropping off a flashlight and his Dad was waiting for him in the car, he just happened to see this Baby trying to breast feed.

I don't know why but that doesn't ring true to me. I think he may have known the Baby tried to breast feed, but I doubt that it happened in that increment of time that he showed up at her house. I think he was in that house before discovering the body and he knew the Baby was trying to breast feed and that is why he had to go back within a short period of time and 'discover' her. He evidently cared about the Baby, since he baby-sat for her a lot.

[victims cry]

another interesting thing about this case, is its one where both race and class will figure prominently.

The fact that the ME said there was no evidence of rape and it stayed that way for years UNTIL the black garbage collectors DNA was found, is problematic to say the least. The cops and DA have essentially said no way would she have had consensual sex bc of who he was.

Then add the fact she had lived a rather busy "social" life, with numerous partners, it brings into the "blame the victim" aspect. However, its one case where you have to discuss her life, because it does show other possible suspects and isnt "smearing" but a factual depiction of things that are important. In the book "invisible eden" the DA actually disparages her and had to give the case to an assistant

Another tidbit. Tarquin who lived with her in NY (i think - b4 her affair with Jackett) said she used to be a neat freak, but according to friends and exes she had degenerated into a total slob. Fuzzy food on the floor under the piano seat while her daughter played, dishes everywhere, just a mess. So who she might have had a fling with may have changed as well, seems like she had a few issues.

[victims cry]

Christa Worthington:
On January 6th, 2002, Christa Worthington, 46, was found murdered in her home, stabbed in the chest.

Christa, a one-time fashion writer, was from a prominent local family. She had written for Women's Wear Daily, Elle, and the New York Times. In 1997, she moved to Truro, Mass., where her family had spent their summers. She had an affair with local fisherman Tony Jackett, who's also the father of her daughter, Ava.



Tim Arnold:
Tim Arnold, 46, is a children's book illustrator. He and Christa had an affair, and remained friends after their relationship ended. He lived a few hundred yards from her home.

Tim says he discovered Worthington's body when he went to her home to return a flashlight. Just this week, the Boston Herald reported that he's been informed that he's a prime suspect in the murder. Tim's lawyer says his client denies any involvement in Christa's murder.



Christopher "Toppy" Worthington:
Christopher "Toppy" Worthington is Christa's 73-year-old father. A widower and former Massachussetts assistant district attorney, he had allegedly been involved with Elizabeth Porter, a 29-year old prostitute and heroin addict in Boston.

Christa had reportedly been unhappy with the relationship, and was looking into legal ways to keep Elizabeth Porter from getting money from her father. She reportedly asked a private detective to investigate the case. (note Elizabeth Porter was involved with Dr. Grebeinder whose wife was murdered b4 she got involved with Christa's dad)

Tony Jackett

Tony Jackett, 52, is a shellfish constable for the northern part of Cape Cod. He had an affair with Christa Worthington and fathered her daughter, Ava.

After they broke up, Tony told his wife, Susan, about the affair. Susan forgave her husband, became friends with Christa, and grew very attached to Ava.

Tony found himself on the list of possible suspects after Christa's murder. He claims he's innocent and took and passed a lie detector test to prove it.

After Christa's death, the Jacketts assumed they would raise Ava. But Christa had named two longtime friends as Ava's guardians. The Jacketts fought for full custody of Ava but later dropped the case. Under the custody agreement, they now get to see Ava for two days, every other week.

"I know that I'll always be her father, and I'll have a relationship with her," says Tony.



Susan Jackett

Susan and Tony Jackett have been married nearly 30 years. When Tony told his wife about his affair with Christa, and that he fathered her daughter Ava, he expected Susan to divorce him. Instead, Susan says she forgave him, became friends with Christa, and welcomed Ava into her family.

"I have to make up my mind if I'm going to make my marriage work," she says. "People make mistakes. He's only human. I don't want this anger in me. I want to make it all work."

http://www.cbsnews.com/elements/2003/06/25/48hours/whoswho560326_0_15_person.shtml










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[Danse Macabre]

Ummm, maybe a hint what the case is about?

Fashion Writer Christa Worthington was found murdered in 2002 in Truro a tiny town. Her two year old toddler was found by her mothers body trying to nurse.

.

stop. that is all I want or need to hear. i can't handle this one.

[Schmerty]

its being played live on ctv

Thank you for starting this thread,VC!
I have been very interested in this story. My hubby only allows one TV to be hooked up & when CTV is on ,HE has to watch CNBC! I love him dearly but the market is over when CTV has the trials.
So its great to catch up with your updates. When I have enough on this I'll join in the discussion...also going to read 'invisible eden'

[victims cry]

a poster in the area said that there had abeen a HUGE rumor going around that Christa and her cousin Jan (who admitted lying to cops on the stand) were having an affair with a married police officer

Another 2 suspects? the cop, or the cousin, or the wife?

damn its peyton place!