The Jury voted 9-3 for the death Penalty late last Friday. Gosiminski will get formally sentenced on November 6th by the judge.
I flew home on Saturday with my Grandmother and have been busy trying to destress. I still can't believe that we had to do it all again. Now we have two juries and 18 people who have decided on the death penalty. I hope that this is now enough....
In many ways it feels like the last two weeks were a horrible nightmare. I am so happy to be home again!
We got to meet many members of the Jury after the trial. What an amazing group they were! I am so grateful to each and every one of them.
Thank you to all of my family and friends for supporting me through your thoughts and prayers while I was going through this horrible process once again.
I will let you all know on November 6th what the judge decides.
I just finished putting my Mother's jewelry back into their pretty little boxes.
Tuesday, October 13, 2009
Thursday, October 8, 2009
Death Penalty Phase
Today began the death penalty phase of the trial. Last night we got the verdict at approximately 11:30 pm "Guilty on all counts." I have only been so scared,that my teeth were chattering, and my body was shaking all over uncontrollably two times in my life. Both times right before the verdict was read. I can not tell you how at peace I now feel knowing that Michael Gosciminski will be in jail, and not be able to hurt anybody else. Thank you for all of your prayers and thoughts.
Today we started the morning on a very emotional level. My father, sister, and I got to present out Victim Impact statements to the Jury. It is so hard to write how this has impacted my life. This is what I said to the Jury:
On September 24, 2002 Michael Gosciminski murdered my Mother. He not only destroyed her life and stole her jewelry, he destroyed a part of mine. He stole my mother and a grandmother from my children forever.
On September 25, 2002 my uncle and aunt came to my home at 7:30 in the morning. They looked a wreck. They told me my mother had died. When I finally pulled myself together enough, I called my father in CT. He said the words "Your mother was murdered." The pain I felt and still feel is a pain that doesn't leave. It is a pain that no one should have to feel. I still need my Mom....my children need a grandmother.
My daughter, Lauren, was only 3 1/2 and was very close to my mother. I had to tell her "Grandma went to Heaven." As she has gotten older through the years, she understands more and more what happened to her Grandmother. It breaks my heart to see her try to grasp the reality. The reality that Grandma doesn't get to be with her on her Birthday, come to see her dance on a stage, or be with her Christmas morning. Her first picture she drew in her journal at pre-school was of Grandma in Heaven.
On December 18, 2004 I had a son, Bryce Thomas. On April 10, 2008 I had a daughter, Victoria Joan. She was named after my Mother. They have never gotten to hear her laugh, or feel her hugs and kisses. When they were born, my Mother didn't get to cradle them in her arms. Some day I will have to tell these three innocent souls what Michael Gosiminski did to their Grandmother, and they too will have to live with that horror.
I don't get to talk to, or see my Mother anymore. I can't call her for advice or tell her a funny story about her Grandchildren. I can't hug her or give her a kiss on her cheek. I can't tell her I love her.....
I will publish my sister's tomorrow. After we finished the Jury was a wreck and asked the Judge for a recess. Even the reporters were crying.
Then the defense brought in the doctor that evaluated Michael Gosiminski's mental state. He started with Michael being born C-Section as the beginning of his traumatic life. And all the factors that lead him to be a murderer. It was quite pathetic.....they named things like hurting his knee in football, that he didn't get along with his 6th grade teacher, his hurt foot, high blood pressure, gastro intestinal problems.....and the ridiculous list went on and on for 2 and a half hours. It was crazy.
They decided to not play his mother's tape again to the jury. Even she thought he did it.....
We then left and had a celebratory dinner with all the people that worked on this case here. I was so happy that we got to celebrate.
Tomorrow will be closing arguments and the Jury will decide on the Death Penalty sentence. I will be flying home on Saturday. I can't wait to get my life back to normal!
Today we started the morning on a very emotional level. My father, sister, and I got to present out Victim Impact statements to the Jury. It is so hard to write how this has impacted my life. This is what I said to the Jury:
On September 24, 2002 Michael Gosciminski murdered my Mother. He not only destroyed her life and stole her jewelry, he destroyed a part of mine. He stole my mother and a grandmother from my children forever.
On September 25, 2002 my uncle and aunt came to my home at 7:30 in the morning. They looked a wreck. They told me my mother had died. When I finally pulled myself together enough, I called my father in CT. He said the words "Your mother was murdered." The pain I felt and still feel is a pain that doesn't leave. It is a pain that no one should have to feel. I still need my Mom....my children need a grandmother.
My daughter, Lauren, was only 3 1/2 and was very close to my mother. I had to tell her "Grandma went to Heaven." As she has gotten older through the years, she understands more and more what happened to her Grandmother. It breaks my heart to see her try to grasp the reality. The reality that Grandma doesn't get to be with her on her Birthday, come to see her dance on a stage, or be with her Christmas morning. Her first picture she drew in her journal at pre-school was of Grandma in Heaven.
On December 18, 2004 I had a son, Bryce Thomas. On April 10, 2008 I had a daughter, Victoria Joan. She was named after my Mother. They have never gotten to hear her laugh, or feel her hugs and kisses. When they were born, my Mother didn't get to cradle them in her arms. Some day I will have to tell these three innocent souls what Michael Gosiminski did to their Grandmother, and they too will have to live with that horror.
I don't get to talk to, or see my Mother anymore. I can't call her for advice or tell her a funny story about her Grandchildren. I can't hug her or give her a kiss on her cheek. I can't tell her I love her.....
I will publish my sister's tomorrow. After we finished the Jury was a wreck and asked the Judge for a recess. Even the reporters were crying.
Then the defense brought in the doctor that evaluated Michael Gosiminski's mental state. He started with Michael being born C-Section as the beginning of his traumatic life. And all the factors that lead him to be a murderer. It was quite pathetic.....they named things like hurting his knee in football, that he didn't get along with his 6th grade teacher, his hurt foot, high blood pressure, gastro intestinal problems.....and the ridiculous list went on and on for 2 and a half hours. It was crazy.
They decided to not play his mother's tape again to the jury. Even she thought he did it.....
We then left and had a celebratory dinner with all the people that worked on this case here. I was so happy that we got to celebrate.
Tomorrow will be closing arguments and the Jury will decide on the Death Penalty sentence. I will be flying home on Saturday. I can't wait to get my life back to normal!
Wednesday, October 7, 2009
Guilty on all Counts!
It is with great joy that I can tell you that Michael Gosciminski was found guilty late on Wed night on all counts. Tomorrow we start the Death Penalty phase. I'm exhausted and will write more tomorrow.
Tuesday, October 6, 2009
Trial Update
Today was a really tough day in court. It started with my father having to relive everything on the stand. It was upsetting. Then I had to testify right after him. I had to identify my Mother's jewelry and tell how her jewelry was returned to me after the first trial. How I took my grandmother's diamond ring guard and had my jeweler make it into two seperate rings so that my sister and I would have matching rings. Seeing her jewelry being put back into evidence is just so hard. I will have to fly back down here in a couple of months to get it back again. I wish that the pieces I put aside to give to Lauren and Victoria as rememberances of my mother could stay in the pretty little boxes that were in my jewelry box where they belonged. Today they are in a plastic ziplock bag marked evidence.
I also had to identify my mothers earring backs that were left in evidence after the first trial. She had these flat earring backs that locked onto the earring posts. They were found in the room with her body. The district attorney placed them in my hand and said "are these your mother's earring backs?" I then looked at them in my hand and they still had her dried blood on them. I almost lost it. It was horrible and I have been bursting into tears ever since.
The Medical Examiner came in to testify after me, and I could not stay in the courthouse during that. Some of my family stayed but most of us left.
Then the defense brought their three crazy witnesses and the defense and prosecuters rested.
Tomorrow is closing remarks and then it will be up to the jury. We might have a verdict tomorrow afternoon or evening, but it could go on to the next day.
I also had to identify my mothers earring backs that were left in evidence after the first trial. She had these flat earring backs that locked onto the earring posts. They were found in the room with her body. The district attorney placed them in my hand and said "are these your mother's earring backs?" I then looked at them in my hand and they still had her dried blood on them. I almost lost it. It was horrible and I have been bursting into tears ever since.
The Medical Examiner came in to testify after me, and I could not stay in the courthouse during that. Some of my family stayed but most of us left.
Then the defense brought their three crazy witnesses and the defense and prosecuters rested.
Tomorrow is closing remarks and then it will be up to the jury. We might have a verdict tomorrow afternoon or evening, but it could go on to the next day.
Monday, October 5, 2009
Trial Update
Today was a long day in court. It started early with the cell phone tower expert. He was really good and he told us more about cell towers than we ever needed to know. He showed the jury through Gosciminki's cell phone records, the rat trail he took that day. He told the jury that Gosciminski was on the island that my Grandfather lived on the morning my Mother was murdered. That it was not possible that he was in Fort Pierce dropping off brochures like he told us the last time he testified. He based this on the zone of the tower the calls originated from. The only place that utilized that zone was on the island itself. Last time we couldn't do test calls, or do test runs of his testimony. This time the prosecution could tare it to shreds.....and that is what they did.
They also did test drives with times and mileage of where he said he went that morning. It quickly raveled apart on the defense.
Then they went line by line of his testimony and tore it to shreds.
Gosiminski will not testify this time. He doesn't have to.....they played the last time he testified to the jury. There are so many inconsistencies I've lost track. Here are some of the highlights:
When he was questioned by the police about what he was doing on the 24th of September 2002....He tells the police that he was packing all morning, and then was at work by 11:30. He doesn't offer any information about what he did that afternoon or evening.....just the time of the murder in the morning. He doesn't mention anything about going to the bank, driving all over town ect..... The police didn't ask what did you do the morning of the 24th......It's the only time that he offers an alibi for.
He says that he goes to about 20 different places that morning, but not one person can come forward and say that he was at any of these places. He doesn't even have a name of any person that saw him on one of these regular appointments....they were all unavailable.
When he testified at the first trial he tells about how Debra Thomas wants to go out for a ride in her new car and he takes her by my Grandfather's house.....before the murder. She got her new car three days after the murder and they traded in her old one.
When he is asked about how he told everyone that he was going to buy Celine Dion's mansion on the beach, he said yes....that was one that they were considering. That from a person that only makes $32,000 gross a year after bonuses!
He said that he didn't go home and take a shower that late morning and that he did not go home. That his hair was not wet and slicked back.....
It went on and on and on......
The dress shop lady in Fort Pierce testified that she never allows brochures at her store....she never met Gosciminski and she never opens the door before 10am for security reasons. He said he was filling his display at her store between 9:12 and 9:28 am and that it was a regular stop.
Tomorrow my father testifies and I might have to testify as well. After that, the Medical Examiner will go over every single cut, stab wound and everything that Gosciminski did to destroy my Mother. It is horrifying, and something that even the jury should not have to see. I will not be anywhere near the court room for that..... I want to remember my Mother's face smiling at me.
I am estimating closing arguements possibly on Wednesday and then it will be in the hands of the Jury.
Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers.
They also did test drives with times and mileage of where he said he went that morning. It quickly raveled apart on the defense.
Then they went line by line of his testimony and tore it to shreds.
Gosiminski will not testify this time. He doesn't have to.....they played the last time he testified to the jury. There are so many inconsistencies I've lost track. Here are some of the highlights:
When he was questioned by the police about what he was doing on the 24th of September 2002....He tells the police that he was packing all morning, and then was at work by 11:30. He doesn't offer any information about what he did that afternoon or evening.....just the time of the murder in the morning. He doesn't mention anything about going to the bank, driving all over town ect..... The police didn't ask what did you do the morning of the 24th......It's the only time that he offers an alibi for.
He says that he goes to about 20 different places that morning, but not one person can come forward and say that he was at any of these places. He doesn't even have a name of any person that saw him on one of these regular appointments....they were all unavailable.
When he testified at the first trial he tells about how Debra Thomas wants to go out for a ride in her new car and he takes her by my Grandfather's house.....before the murder. She got her new car three days after the murder and they traded in her old one.
When he is asked about how he told everyone that he was going to buy Celine Dion's mansion on the beach, he said yes....that was one that they were considering. That from a person that only makes $32,000 gross a year after bonuses!
He said that he didn't go home and take a shower that late morning and that he did not go home. That his hair was not wet and slicked back.....
It went on and on and on......
The dress shop lady in Fort Pierce testified that she never allows brochures at her store....she never met Gosciminski and she never opens the door before 10am for security reasons. He said he was filling his display at her store between 9:12 and 9:28 am and that it was a regular stop.
Tomorrow my father testifies and I might have to testify as well. After that, the Medical Examiner will go over every single cut, stab wound and everything that Gosciminski did to destroy my Mother. It is horrifying, and something that even the jury should not have to see. I will not be anywhere near the court room for that..... I want to remember my Mother's face smiling at me.
I am estimating closing arguements possibly on Wednesday and then it will be in the hands of the Jury.
Thank you again for all of your thoughts and prayers.
Saturday, October 3, 2009
Friday Trial Update
The day started with the witness Balderman, I will call him one of the most honest people I know. He was driving to find a job. He was unemployed and looking to find work at a tire shop. Along his route “Nature Called” and he pulled off the side of the road in a heavily wooded area to do his “business”. While he was there he found my Mother’s fanny pack. He said it was filthy and looked like it had been in many rainstorms. He said he was in a hurry so he picked it up and placed it on the floorboard of his truck. He wanted to see if he could get it back to whom it belonged to because he saw credit cards and check books and thought someone would be missing them. He started driving back down the highway and ants started to pour out of it. He pulled off the road again and this time shook it out and found some phone numbers that he tried to call so that he could find who this belonged to. He reached my father at home in CT, and my dad had him call the police. Finding this fanny pack where he did…en route and close to the bank that Gosciminski deposited the money that was in it helps the case tremendously. I will be forever grateful to Mr. Balderman for his honesty and perseverance to do the right thing.
After Balderman, Ben Thomas was next. He is the person that Gosciminski wants the jury to think murdered my mom. It was long and tedious and crazy. Believe me….in no way did Ben Thomas murder my mom. I am sure the jury agrees.
Next was Debra Thomas. She was Gosciminski’s girlfriend…the one he gave my mom’s ring to the afternoon of the murder. She told the police that she saw Gosciminski washing blood off of his arms around lunch time. That he had a pile of his favorite clothes and that it too was covered with blood. That after the murder his clothes and shoes were gone. He said he had to get rid of them. This testimony took a long time and the defense tried to pick at it. They didn’t prove any thing except for the fact that Gosciminski is a big fat liar.
The day ended with the defense cross examining Debra. They asked her if she knew that they made $10,000 at the yard sale. She said "Is that what he told you?" With that the jury and my family burst into laughter. The jury was sent away and my family received an admonishment from the judge. I think that was pretty funny.
I am home for the weekend. I will be leaving Sunday night to go back to Florida. We expect more witnesses next week and hopefully we will have a guilty verdict by the end of the week.
After Balderman, Ben Thomas was next. He is the person that Gosciminski wants the jury to think murdered my mom. It was long and tedious and crazy. Believe me….in no way did Ben Thomas murder my mom. I am sure the jury agrees.
Next was Debra Thomas. She was Gosciminski’s girlfriend…the one he gave my mom’s ring to the afternoon of the murder. She told the police that she saw Gosciminski washing blood off of his arms around lunch time. That he had a pile of his favorite clothes and that it too was covered with blood. That after the murder his clothes and shoes were gone. He said he had to get rid of them. This testimony took a long time and the defense tried to pick at it. They didn’t prove any thing except for the fact that Gosciminski is a big fat liar.
The day ended with the defense cross examining Debra. They asked her if she knew that they made $10,000 at the yard sale. She said "Is that what he told you?" With that the jury and my family burst into laughter. The jury was sent away and my family received an admonishment from the judge. I think that was pretty funny.
I am home for the weekend. I will be leaving Sunday night to go back to Florida. We expect more witnesses next week and hopefully we will have a guilty verdict by the end of the week.
Thursday, October 1, 2009
Trial Update
Today was an easier day in court than the others. We basically listened to multiple witnesses describe Gosciminski's demeanor the day of the murder. How he didn't show up to work. How when he finally arrived at work he was "scrubbed pink". How he told his boss about my mother being Murdered.....he told her at 7am the morning after. The newspapers didn't even have it in print yet. How he showed the women at work when he got in the ring he was going to be giving his girlfriend (my mother's). How he cut all his hair off, shaved his beard, his arm hair ect. and colored what hair he had left a light brown.
We heard from his exwife who told the jury about the jewelry business he ran on the side....out of a briefcase, and how he met clients in bars ect to finalize transactions. How he always went outside pacing and smoking a cigarette when he talked with clients.
We heard from other people who testified that my Mom didn't show up at Hospice to transfer my grandfather. How they called her repeatedly and got now answer that morning and afternoon. We had heard it all before the last time.
Tomorrow, I will be in court until the early afternoon, then I will be coming home for the weekend to return next week. I am so glad to almost have this week behind me. Thank you to everyone for all of your thoughts, prayers, and help with my children while I am gone. It means sooooo much! XOXO Nancy
We heard from his exwife who told the jury about the jewelry business he ran on the side....out of a briefcase, and how he met clients in bars ect to finalize transactions. How he always went outside pacing and smoking a cigarette when he talked with clients.
We heard from other people who testified that my Mom didn't show up at Hospice to transfer my grandfather. How they called her repeatedly and got now answer that morning and afternoon. We had heard it all before the last time.
Tomorrow, I will be in court until the early afternoon, then I will be coming home for the weekend to return next week. I am so glad to almost have this week behind me. Thank you to everyone for all of your thoughts, prayers, and help with my children while I am gone. It means sooooo much! XOXO Nancy
Trial Update
Yesterday was a tough day in court. It started with my Aunt Janet (my mother's twin) giving her testimony. It was difficult to hear my mom's voice again on the recorded phone conversation. She was distraught to say the least that morning. Her father was dying and she had a million things to do. She was really sick with a cold and felt horrible. She almost breaks into tears a couple of times with all the pressure she was under. She tells her sister "God, I really wish you were here" she ends the conversation with that sound in her voice like she was trying to fight back the tears because someone was at the door.
After my Aunt went, the brought on my Uncle Dennis and Aunt Barbara. They went into detail what it was like for them to go into the house and find my mother dead.
Then the testimony of the Detective started and how he interviewed basically everyone on this crazy island, had police dogs and the whole police academy searching for my Mother's ring and anything they could use. How they came up with nothing. Then we started to get into the interviews that he had with Gosiminski. I think I heard about three different stories of what he was doing that morning. We heard his taped interview at the police station. How he hardly knew my mother......and lie after lie...
After the detective was finished, Gosciminski's boss gave her testimony, how Gosciminski was not in the office that morning, the excuses that he gave her..... How he told her that he had a company that he sold for 4million dollars and he didn't really need to work, how he was selling his condo to Celine Dion, and offered to take everyone out on his yacht..........
She also told of the story of how Gosciminski got into the position he was in at the Assisted Living Facility. He was hired as the Janitor, but on the morning that he was going into new hire orientation the person that was hired as the marketing director arrived drunk. They sent her home and promoted him to the marketing director position...... I swear I am not making this up.
Court was done for the day and so was I.
After my Aunt went, the brought on my Uncle Dennis and Aunt Barbara. They went into detail what it was like for them to go into the house and find my mother dead.
Then the testimony of the Detective started and how he interviewed basically everyone on this crazy island, had police dogs and the whole police academy searching for my Mother's ring and anything they could use. How they came up with nothing. Then we started to get into the interviews that he had with Gosiminski. I think I heard about three different stories of what he was doing that morning. We heard his taped interview at the police station. How he hardly knew my mother......and lie after lie...
After the detective was finished, Gosciminski's boss gave her testimony, how Gosciminski was not in the office that morning, the excuses that he gave her..... How he told her that he had a company that he sold for 4million dollars and he didn't really need to work, how he was selling his condo to Celine Dion, and offered to take everyone out on his yacht..........
She also told of the story of how Gosciminski got into the position he was in at the Assisted Living Facility. He was hired as the Janitor, but on the morning that he was going into new hire orientation the person that was hired as the marketing director arrived drunk. They sent her home and promoted him to the marketing director position...... I swear I am not making this up.
Court was done for the day and so was I.
Wednesday, September 30, 2009
Sunrise
We are getting ready for another day at court. We had the most beautiful sunrise this morning. Thank you for all your thoughts and prayers.Tuesday, September 29, 2009
Day 2 of Trial
Today was day 2 of trial. It was a really tough day. They spent the whole mentally exhausting day going over the crime scene. Karen and I had to step out of the court room a couple of times...it was bad. Tomorrow we will hear my Aunt Janet testify. They will play my mothers last conversation and words that she shared with my Aunt Janet. It is bittersweet. I look forward to hearing her voice again but I know it will hurt.
Today, one of the times I left the court room, the victims advocate followed me.....I was crying...she said.."Your mom isn't in those pictures." I said "I know, but she was...."
Today, one of the times I left the court room, the victims advocate followed me.....I was crying...she said.."Your mom isn't in those pictures." I said "I know, but she was...."
Trial Update
Hello everyone. Today I will be attending trial. The jury was selected last Friday and they had opening arguements. They also began going over the crime scene. I flew into town on Sunday with my grandmother. Alot of my family came in over the weekend. We had a relaxing day (as well as you can relax) yesterday because there was no court due to the Jewish holiday. My Aunt Janet and Uncle Dennis met with the DA to go over their testimony. They are the ones that found my mother..... They have told me about that day and all I can say it was horrible.
This morning I am a basket of nerves. I am watching the sunrise over the ocean and it is beautiful. I am just trying to think of all the beauty I have in this world and know that we have alot of people praying and thinking about us. I know that somehow we will all get through this.
This morning I am a basket of nerves. I am watching the sunrise over the ocean and it is beautiful. I am just trying to think of all the beauty I have in this world and know that we have alot of people praying and thinking about us. I know that somehow we will all get through this.
Friday, September 25, 2009
Jury selection continues....
Jury selection is going to continue today. I spoke with Karen late last night and she said that it was really hard being in the court room. She said that the defense attorney was questioning the jury candidates and asking them if they thought they could look at bloody, gruesome, crime scene photos. Needless to say they lost alot of candidates.
Seven years ago today is the day that I found out my Mother was killed. It was the worst day in my life. It started at 7am. My Aunt Lore (my father's sister) called and said that she wanted to bring over something for Lauren before she left for work. At 7:30 she arrived on my door step with my Uncle Eddie' (my father's brother). I thought this was strange. They both looked a wreck. They sat me down and told me my mother had died and that they really didn't know any details...she was dead. I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I felt feelings that no body should have to feel. After I calmed down a little we called my Dad. He told me my mother was murdered. I can not even describe to you how that felt. It is a place I hope you will never have to go.
That day the news rippled throughout my family. Each of us crumbling. The news was too awful to handle. My grandmother (father's mother) had a heart attack when she was told. My mother's father died. Something in all of us died that day.
Seven years ago today is the day that I found out my Mother was killed. It was the worst day in my life. It started at 7am. My Aunt Lore (my father's sister) called and said that she wanted to bring over something for Lauren before she left for work. At 7:30 she arrived on my door step with my Uncle Eddie' (my father's brother). I thought this was strange. They both looked a wreck. They sat me down and told me my mother had died and that they really didn't know any details...she was dead. I felt like I had been hit by a bus. I felt feelings that no body should have to feel. After I calmed down a little we called my Dad. He told me my mother was murdered. I can not even describe to you how that felt. It is a place I hope you will never have to go.
That day the news rippled throughout my family. Each of us crumbling. The news was too awful to handle. My grandmother (father's mother) had a heart attack when she was told. My mother's father died. Something in all of us died that day.
Thursday, September 24, 2009
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
Day 3 of Jury selection
Today was day three of Jury selection. It is going really slowly. I switched my flight to arrive in Florida on Sunday. I was packing my bags and came across some of my Mom's items that I plan to bring with me. Her rosary, and her bible from when she made her first communion. My dad gave me the little Bible for Lauren to carry the day she made hers.All of your thoughts and prayers are so appreciated by our family.
Tonight is the night before the anniversary of her murder. It will be seven years tomorrow.
We learned alot about what she did the night before she was murdered during the first trial.... My Mother met Michael Gosciminski to get my grandfather's items from the assisted living facility. He actually never even stayed there 24 hours. My grandfather was too sick to be ever admitted there and he was quickly moved to hospice.
At Lyford Cove he met her and helped her out to her car with my grandfather's items. Her twin sister and brother were coming into town the next day and she was going to be coming home soon. My grandfather wasn't doing well. Gosciminski learned that night of her plans. He knew she was going to still be alone the next morning, but not any longer and that his window of opportunity was going away. He placed a phone call to her cell phone at 10pm the night before she was murdered. Strange for an assisted living sales director to call that late? I think so.
Tomorrow is going to be a really hard day for my family. It is always a hard day but knowing that my sister and father will be sitting face to face with my mother's murderer in Florida on the anniversary of her death gives me chills. I will say a prayer and know that God will give us the strength to do this again.
Tuesday, September 22, 2009
Day 2 of Jury Selection
Today was exhausting. I thought I was going to be getting on a plane tomorrow to be in Florida for the start of trial. We estimated it would start on Thursday. Jury selection is going at a snails pace. It seems everyone knows about the first trial and those that didn't have been reading the papers about the retrial.
I will be able to spend another day home since now we are now estimating opening statements on Friday at the earliest. I will keep you all posted.
I will be able to spend another day home since now we are now estimating opening statements on Friday at the earliest. I will keep you all posted.
Monday, September 21, 2009
Jury selection starts today...
Today is the beginning of jury selection. Jenny, one of our best friends is joining my sister in the court room today. Jenny was like a daughter to my mom. Karen and I think of her as a sister. As I write this morning I am reminded of all the things this Jury is not going to get to hear....
They will not be even referring to my mom by her name. She will simply be known as "The Victim". They will not hear of the 27 years she dedicated to the Girl Scouts, that she was a PTA mom, that she lit up a room, that she was always the friend that you could turn to, that she was the best mom, friend, wife, sister, ever.
The pictures they will see of her are gruesome. They will not get to see her beautiful face. Michael Gosciminski destroyed it.
They will not hear all the evidence from our civil case. That Gosciminski was arrested weeks before murdering my mother for breaking his girlfriends arm. That numerous patients families had jewelry stolen from the nursing home he worked at. That a hunting knife was taken from a patient, placed in a safe that Gosciminski had access to, and then was missing after the murder.
They will hear of the murderous path Gosciminski took...and the trail he left with his cell phone right to the front door of my Grandfathers house. They will hear my Mother's last words. Her last telephone conversation was captured on her twin sisters trading firm's records. She says goodbye someone is at the door.....
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Our Parents
Our parents were married for 35 years. Yesterday my father arrived in Florida to get ready to attend jury selection with my sister and all of our other family members and friends. I can't believe we are actually going to do this again! He will have to once again take the stand and tell about his conversations that he had with my mother, about Gosiminski remarking about her jewelry. About how he called and called my mom's phone after Gosiminski murdered her....and got no answer.
Our Last Words
I remember my last conversations I had with my mother like they were just yesterday. She was in Florida trying to get my Grandfather comfortable and moved into an Assisted Living Facility, Lyford Cove. She wasn't feeling well and all she wanted to do was to come home. She missed her family and wanted to know all about what we were up to.
She called me because she was trying to figure out how to get my Grandfathers personal items to the assisted living facility. She told me all about meeting Michael Gosciminski. She had arranged for him to come over and move the furniture for her. He was going to do this free of charge since she was a customer. She said he was so nice to do this for her.
She told me that he thought her jewelry was really nice and that he was really into jewelry. She told me that he was going to be getting a two carat engagement ring for his girlfriend just like hers. That his girlfriend liked diamonds and emeralds just like her. He wanted my mom to take a look at the ring before he gave it to his girlfriend to make sure it was a nice diamond......
I thought that this was strange. I told her that deliveries for furniture usually cost $150 for my own Home Furnishings store. I told her how to find a mover that would professionally move the pieces. I thought his interest in her jewelry was strange.
Little did we know but the diamond ring he was referring to was hers. That he would brutally murder her for it.
I told her I loved her and she said that she loved me too, give Lauren a kiss for her, and she would see me soon........
Posted by Nancy Hilliard
She called me because she was trying to figure out how to get my Grandfathers personal items to the assisted living facility. She told me all about meeting Michael Gosciminski. She had arranged for him to come over and move the furniture for her. He was going to do this free of charge since she was a customer. She said he was so nice to do this for her.
She told me that he thought her jewelry was really nice and that he was really into jewelry. She told me that he was going to be getting a two carat engagement ring for his girlfriend just like hers. That his girlfriend liked diamonds and emeralds just like her. He wanted my mom to take a look at the ring before he gave it to his girlfriend to make sure it was a nice diamond......
I thought that this was strange. I told her that deliveries for furniture usually cost $150 for my own Home Furnishings store. I told her how to find a mover that would professionally move the pieces. I thought his interest in her jewelry was strange.
Little did we know but the diamond ring he was referring to was hers. That he would brutally murder her for it.
I told her I loved her and she said that she loved me too, give Lauren a kiss for her, and she would see me soon........
Posted by Nancy Hilliard
Friday, September 18, 2009
Back to do it all over again....
Today I sit and try to remain calm.....
I am preparing to once again attend my Mother's Murder Trial. It still feels so surreal that this has really happened to me and my family. I look at my children and it is so over whelming......my oldest has fond memories of my mother, and the other two never got to meet her. My mother never got the chance to hold them when they were born or share any Birthdays or Holidays. I still have the card that she gave me on my wedding day. She couldn't wait to be a Grandmother.
For the past two days Michael Gosciminski has been broadcasting jail cell videos of himself. It is quite sickening. I can't watch them. He murdered my mother in cold blood and he shows not one sign of remorse. He portrays himself as a wrongly accused victim and that he was framed. He is no victim. He is a murderer, and he needs to stay in jail forever. He preyed on my mother and gained her trust. He went to my grandfather's house and brutally killed her for her jewelry. He proposed with my Mother's Diamond Ring to his girlfriend the same day he murdered my Mother. He couldn't wait to show it off! He valued that diamond more than my Mother's life.
We already went through the pain and agony of the first trial and he was given the death penalty. We now have to do it again....all because the Supreme Court of Florida didn't like the fact that the DA told the jury that Gosciminski didn't even wipe the blood off my Mother's ring that he gave his girlfriend. Well, he didn't wipe the blood off the ring! That is why everyone discribed it as blackened!
I have a knot in my stomach that will not go away. I have to sit in the court room with my relatives and be in the same room as her murderer again.....
Posted by Nancy Hilliard
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