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Posted February 24, 2009
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McGregor, Texas
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Suicide or Murder?
My 19 y/o son, Joshua, was found dead in Amsler Park on February 16, 2006. McGregor PD did not investigate. Autopsy Report: Tardieu spots on the anterior surfaces of the thighs, as well as on the posterior surface of the body. Red-purple parenchyma with pulmonary edema. Suicide/Hanging. Does this make sense to you? Isn't there suppose to be an etiological specific disease or injury on an autopsy report? www.americaiswatching.org (Joshua Robinson) Attached documents.
Update:
Since writing this ireport, there have been new developments.
I did use the FOIA to obtain 'any and all documents' related to the death of my son, Joshua David Robinson. However, I was wrong in assuming that this would include the official time/taped copy of the 911 call, as I was informed that these documents had been destroyed. WHY???
The documents were slow in coming, as if the police dept/City of McGregor had something to hide. First, I only rec'd the statements of former Det. Kory Martin and Sgt. Jeff Freeman with a partial listing of the dispatch logs, beginning with the dispatch to Amsler Park "For Possible Suicide".
I spoke with former Interim Chief Molina on Feb. 22, to inquire into the progress of the investigation. He told me, "We don't begin an investigation until something suspicious is found." I told him the whole thing is suspicious because my son would not kill himself, and he said, 'there were no footprints in the gravel.' I asked him how he would know if there were 5 or 6 kids playing there, and he said, 'it would take two people to get him up there.' Suddenly, out of nowhere, he said, "At ten after one, there was nobody in the park.' This had no meaning until I learned that a McGregor patrol officer was the last person to see Joshua alive in Amsler Park @ 1AM, which has a 10PM curfew!
Approximately two weeks later, I spoke with former Det. Martin. He told me, "As of today, the investigation is over." I asked, "What investigation, Molina told me there wasn't one?" He told me he had interviewed my son, Michael, Josh's girlfriend Kayla, and Mr. Bill Holt, who jogged the perimter of the park everyday. I knew he hadn't, but to be sure, I told him I would call him right back.
In the interim, I asked Michael and Kayla, and I called Mr. Holt. Mr. Holt told me that as he was jogging, he had come across a body, thinking it was his son, Justin, he sped off towards his home, praying that it wasn't his son. He woke Justin, explained to him what he had seen, and Justin called Michael @ 6:29AM, telling him that 'someone was hanging in the park..' Mr. Holt told me that he had not been questioned by any officer, but added that he did return to the 'crime scene', asking why he hadn't been stopped as he ran. He was told, "because we knew who you were, Mr. Holt."
Without thinking, I asked Michael to run to the park (one block away), see what was going on,and come right back. He didn't.
I asked Michael and Kayla. Kayla told me that not one officer had spoken to her. Michael told me he vaguely remembered Martin speaking to him, but was unable to recall the conversation, as he was placed into an ambulance, treated for shock!
I called Martin back, telling him he hadn't spoken to anyone but Michael, and he told me that he found out all he needed to know from him. I told him, "No, I was the last person to see Joshua (or so I thought), had you talked to me, you may have gotten a different perspective!" I asked him for his written notes, and he told me he hadn't written anything down.
Per the autopsy, there is no etiological specific disease/injury to attribute to his death, such as "Asphyxia by Strangulation." I spoke with Dr. Reade Quinton/Medical Examiner/Southwestern Inst. of Forensic Science/Dallas, in August, 2007. He told me he had initially ruled Undetermined until receiving a report from Det. Kory Martin, causing him to change the ruling to Suicide. He also said there was no evidence of strangulation. I asked to see this report, and was told I couldn't. Of course, I once again used the FOIA to obtain a copy of this report, which was orally submitted to former Death Investigator Richard Baer/Southwestern Inst. of Forensic Science/Dallas.
Per Martin's report:
"Reportedly, Joshua was a drug user."
"Joshua and mother fought the previous night."
"App suicide by chain vs neck."
"911 called @ 5:41AM."
Toxicology negative for drugs/alcohol.
Josh and I argued, but had a very loving kinship.
NOTHING is apparent in a death investigation.
After taking notice of the full dispatch logs, the crime scene photos, and the on duty officers' statements, I knew something wasn't right. For one, I did not receive the on duty officers' statements until April 28, 2006, and these had not been generated until April 24! I noticed the discrepancies in their statements. I noted the full dispatch logs, which gave no indication of a 'park check' @ 1:10AM, nor was Molina on duty! So, where did the odd statement come from?
Per the officers' statements, all four, on scene, stated they did not recognize the subject! Former Officer Jared Norris ran a wants and warrants check on the 'unknown' subject only 8 minutes after arriving on scene, without any identification!
Some 45 minutes later, when the 'subject' was removed from the chain, the back of his shirt was pulled down, revealing ROBIINSON tattooed across his upper back. An officer commented, 'because of the proximity to the Robinson's home, they figured he must be a cousin they had never dealt with.' WHAT????
I began to ask questions of McGregor PD, which by now had gotten a new chief:
1) How and why run a wants and warrants check on an unidientified subject with no identification?
2) How is it possible for former Officer Walter Kirby to have been the first officer on the scene, as his patrol car (#1507) was NOT dispatched to Amsler Park?
3) Why was former Sgt. Jeff Freeman called in to work @ 4:37AM?
4) Why wasn't this death investigated? Criminal Investigation 101~All deaths are investigated as a homicide until proven otherwise!
I also posed the same questions to Mayor Jimmy Hering, who is also an attorney. In Jan, 2008, I rec'd a call from Mayor Hering, telling me that Chief Ron Wadkins had sent an email, answering Question #1. "It's not like the officers have drivers license numbers in their heads. A wants and warrants check is done in case there's a warrant, it can be dismissed." I replied, "Who cares, he's dead!"
I contacted the Texas Rangers, specifically Steve Foster/Waco, to request an investigation into my son's suspicious death. He told me that they must be asked by the 'first jurisdiction'/McGregor, however, their website says different. Foster denied my request several times over the course of about 2 years...........NOW, he is Chief of Police/McGregor! Coincidence?
I also asked him Question #1, to which he answered, "The wants and warrants check was not done on Joshua Robinson, it was done on the compainant, Mr. Thornton, Sr. I asked him why there was a crime scene photo of a cigarette butt, because Joshua would NOT smoke. He told me that all of the officers smoked, except one, thus, the cigarette butt! I saw this as possible DNA! Wouldn't an officer know not to take a photo of one of their own cigarette butts?
Chief Foster asked me whether Joshua used drugs, and I told him I had no idea, but I did know that the toxicology screen was negative. He said, "I suppose if I ask 10 of his friends, they will tell me what drugs he used?" I told him I had no idea about what his friends would tell him!
I asked the chief which officer, out of two on duty, had seen Joshua in Amsler Park @ 1AM, and he said, "I can't remember."
I contacted the FBI, as I believe Josh was murdered by McGregor PD, which makes this a federal crime along with several violations of Josh's Civil Rights:
Pattern and Practice
Discrimination of Rights Under Color of Law
Conspiracy Against Rights
I was told there was not enough evidence to get a Grand Jury Inquest. Duh? Without an investigation, there would be NO evidence!!!!
I contacted Justice of the Peace Culpepper (McLennan County, Pct. 5) to request a formal inquest, per the Texas Code of Criminal Procedures, Articles 49.04 and/or 49.18. I was denied. JP Culpepper told me he didn't have the 'power' to do that, and I reminded him that he is a judge!
I requested an Internal Affairs Investigation. Denied.
I requested an Equivocal Death Investigation. Denied.
I rec'd a copy of Martin's report in Dec, 2007. I called SWTMC/Dallas, and spoke with Death Investigator Natasha Kennedy. I explained to her who I was and why I was calling. She told me that 'we have been discussing this case, and feel as if something isn't right, but we don't have the power to go above the doctor's head.'
So, where is the justice for Americans? Without money, there is NO justice!
www.blogtalkradio.com/dennisngriffin Commentary~October 6, 2009. The facts as I know them.
There is a petition attached to the website: www.americaiswatching.org . I have 281 signatures.................Can this many people be wrong???
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