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
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