Opinion ID: 1793050
Heading Depth: 2
Heading Rank: 3

Heading: Summary of the Videotape Recording

Text: The interview room appears from the videotape to be a square room approximately eight to ten feet wide and deep, with a single door. The recording equipment was located just to the immediate left of the doorway; thus, the door itself is not visible. The perspective of the interview room in the recording is as it would appear to a person entering the room from the doorway. No windows are visible. A small, wooden rectangular table or desk was located against the back wall in the left corner of the room. Officer Uher sat in a chair on the front side of the desk, facing the defendant and the back wall. The defendant sat in a chair next to the desk, near the back corner of the room on the right, facing the door. Officer Boucher sat in a chair near the middle of the room, slightly to the left of Officer Uher's chair, facing the defendant. The officers were not then seated directly between the defendant and the door. Officer Uher conducted the interview (Phase I). He advised the defendant that he did not have to be there, that he did not have to talk to the police, and that the police appreciated the defendant talking to them. Officer Uher began the interview with general background questions which the defendant answered. Officer Uher then questioned the defendant about his mother's physical condition. The defendant explained that his mother had been in poor health for several years, that she had been basically bedridden since March of 1999, and that he had been her primary caregiver for nine years. The defendant freely responded to Officer Uher's questions and explained that he and his mother had argued frequently during the previous six months because he had tried to convince her to see a doctor for her declining physical health and for depression, but she had resisted his suggestion. Officers Uher and Boucher appeared cordial and empathetic, and they spoke in conversational tones. Officer Boucher asked the defendant if he had ever considered a health care center for his mother, and Officer Uher asked whether the defendant had seen a doctor recently. The defendant acknowledged that he had seen a doctor because he had not been sleeping well. However, approximately nineteen minutes into the interview, the defendant asked Officer Uher, Did I do something wrong? Please tell me. I need to know. Officer Uher responded, I didn't say you did anything wrong. I'm just asking you. We're just trying to find out what's going on because you've been under a lot of stress yourself. Officer Boucher offered the defendant a soft drink, and the defendant requested water. The defendant then assured Officer Uher that he would change places with his mother if he could. The defendant said, I don't understand what is the meaning for this [sic]. After Officer Uher explained that the interview was standard practice when someone had died, the defendant asked, How did she die? Officer Uher indicated the police were still waiting for the autopsy report to determine the exact cause of the death. The defendant then asked, What started the fire? Officer Uher responded, I don't know. Maybe smoking in bed. After Officer Boucher returned to the room with the defendant's water, Officer Uher resumed questioning the defendant. Approximately thirty-two minutes into the interview, the defendant became visibly upset and asserted, I would never hurt her. I wouldn't. The defendant then asked the officers, Do you think I had something to do with this? When Officer Uher responded, I didn't say that, the defendant became even more upset and stated, Don't tell me you didn't say that. I want to know, do you think that? Officer Uher again responded, I didn't say that, did I? Calm down. Officer Uher stood and told the defendant, I want you to get your bearings back just a little bit and let us talk. We'll be right back. As the officers were leaving the room, the defendant was talking to them. Although some of the defendant's remarks are inaudible, the defendant can be heard asking the officers to get someone on the phone. During this five-minute break the defendant paced and drank water. When the officers returned to the room (Phase II), Officer Boucher moved his chair so that he was seated between the defendant and the door. Officer Uher stood near and somewhat over the defendant. Officer Uher advised the defendant that police investigators, fire department and arson investigators, and forensic experts at the University of Tennessee had reviewed the facts and circumstances surrounding Mrs. Payne's death and had concluded that something suspicious had occurred at the apartment. Officer Uher further advised the defendant that the circumstances surrounding the case clearly indicated the defendant had some knowledge of what happened at the apartment. Officer Uher informed the defendant that he believed something else may have happened where your mom was injured, maybe your mom got hurt. Officer Uher said, I think it was an accident. It was a mistake. I think you may want to talk about it. I think you're afraid. The defendant responded: I'm not afraid. I wouldn't dare hurt her. Officer Uher then told the defendant that his mother had an injury consistent with how you describe trying to help her, trying to clean her, trying to do things for her. You need to think of what happened yesterday. It affects your life too. The defendant asked, What is the injury? and commented, I swear I'm not keeping nothing. I don't know. Either that or I just can't remember. After further discussion, the defendant admitted that he and his mother had argued on the day of her death because she had accused him of hurting her arm and leg. The defendant demonstrated how he had lifted and cleaned up his mother, who was incontinent. The defendant admitted he could have accidentally bruised his mother's shoulders when lifting her, but he denied injuring her neck, stating I know I didn't hurt her neck. I didn't touch her neck. Officer Uher told the defendant that he believed an accident had happened and that he did not believe the defendant had hurt his mother on purpose, stating: I've looked at the facts and evidence in the case and the facts and evidence dictate that [that] is true. The defendant responded, I honestly don't know. I want to see the report. The defendant maintained that he did not know how he would be able to go on living without his mother and explained that they had planned to move to San Diego in October because of her health. Officer Uher then commented, Your mom was dead before the fire started. So was there an accident? Maybe a candle tipped over or something? Appearing frustrated and upset the defendant replied, Nothing tipped over while I was there. She was okay. I'm not lying to you. I'm not. I didn't do anything. At this point, Officer Uher, appearing angry and frustrated, stated in a loud voice: Bill, I don't want to hear the no anymore because there's two things happened here, okay, two things. Either this happened purposefully or an accident happened at your house. And that's it. Two things happened. Now either it happened purposefully or an accident. And I don't think you're a malicious person. I don't want to hear no anymore because I know better. The case indicates better. The facts and evidence are better than that. Something happened. Your mom lost her life. We're trying to help. I don't think you're a malicious person. I think an accident happened. If it was just an accident, let's get it done, let's write it up, it was still an accidental death. Nobody meant to hurt anybody, but the way its looking right now, I can't write it up as accidental death. Now you need to shoot straight with me, Bill, no matter how bad it hurts. After again asserting his innocence and stating that he would like to change places with his mother, the defendant asked, How did she die? How did she die? Tell me. Officer Uher responded, I'll tell you everything I know if you tell me what happened in the accident. Officer Uher admonished, It's time to talk about the truth, and repeatedly urged the defendant to talk to me, tell me about this accident and pressed the defendant to talk to me, talk to me now. Approximately one hour into the increasingly overbearing interrogation, the defendant said, I may have accidentally hurt her neck when I was trying to help her sit up and stuff. Officer Uher questioned: And then what happened? Did you get scared? She was unconscious wasn't she? Bill, tell me the truth? The defendant replied, She may have been I don't know. Officer Uher continued: She was unconscious yesterday. Were you scared? Did you run out of the house? The defendant responded, I didn't run out. At this point, Officer Uher demanded in a loud voice, Bill, talk to me, talk to me now! Look at me and talk to me! What happened to her neck? The defendant again conceded that he could have accidentally hurt his mother's neck as he was lifting and positioning her to wash her back. The defendant demonstrated how he lifted and positioned his mother and indicated how his arm may have been placed accidentally around her neck. Officer Uher again then admonished the defendant: Tell me everything. Tell me everything Bill. Or, I'll tell you what it looks like. So you tell me everything. No, you tell me everything, because you won't like what it looks like. You won't like at all what it looks like, I promise you. Your mother was unconscious when you left, so what happened next? The defendant claimed that he simply had left the apartment and gone back to work, but Officer Uher disagreed, declaring emphatically: Bill you got scared. You got scared yesterday. Your mother was passed away when you left. And you knew it. And it was an accident. And you tried to cover it. I understand that. I understand it Bill, tell me about it so it doesn't look like you intentionally killed your mom. Bill, talk to me now! Look at me and talk to me! You started the fire. Bill, with what, a match? Did you just light the blanket and leave? Talk to me Bill! Did you pour something on the bed and do it, or did you just light it? Bill its time to get it off your chest right here right now so we know it was an accident and you just got scared. What was it? The defendant replied, in a soft voice, A match, I guess, you know, a match. Officer Uher asked, A book of matches, or a match? The defendant replied, A match. Officer Uher stated, One match out of a red book of matches. And where did you light the bed ... toward the middle? When the defendant answered, Yeah, I guess, I mean, you know, Officer Uher replied, That's what we thought happened, okay. I don't think you'd hurt your mom on purpose Bill, but I think you got scared. And that's what we thought all along. I respect you for telling me the truth, okay. We're all human and we all make mistakes, Bill. Do you hear me? I'm gonna give you a few minutes to get it together. I want you to sit and think. As the officers stood to leave the room, the defendant in an unsteady voice inquired, What's gonna happen to me? Officer Uher responded, We're just gonna talk some more. We're just gonna talk. We're just gonna talk. You're gonna be fine. Officer Boucher advised, Just get your composure and we'll be right back, okay. Officer Uher instructed the defendant, Just relax for a few minutes. After the officers left, the defendant paced the room. He walked towards the door on several occasions, and on three occasions he appeared to attempt unsuccessfully to open the door to leave the room. Although the door itself is not visible on the video recording, the defendant can be seen reaching towards the door knob, and the sounds on the recording indicate that he was trying to open the door. Furthermore, when the officers returned to the room just after the defendant's third attempt to open the door, the officer's comments confirmed that the door was stuck, if not locked. Officer Uher knocked, entered the room and stated, That door hangs up. Officer Boucher agreed, stating, Yeah, we've got to get someone in to shave this. Officer Uher stated, I didn't want to hit you. That's why I knocked first. You've got to shove that door real hard. Officer Boucher commented, It's been shaved once or twice. Officer Uher then resumed the interview (Phase III), stating, Bill, there's a couple of things we still need to talk about. A couple things that still don't make sense. Both officers were seated facing the defendant, with Officer Boucher's chair between the defendant and the door. Officer Uher then asked, When you left the second time, you didn't close the front door all the way, did you? The defendant, becoming increasingly agitated, said, I honest to God thought I did. I'm not lying. What reason do I have to lie? When Officer Uher urged the defendant, Listen to me now and calm down, the defendant commented, I'm totally confused. I honest to God don't understand this. Officer Uher reassured the defendant, I'm trying to help you, okay. Now, I want you to relax and pay attention to me. Like I said, enough has been lost already. Officer Uher then asked whether the defendant's mother had been resisting the defendant's attempts to wash her, and the defendant agreed she had. Officer Uher asked, Did you grab her throat with your hands Bill? In a soft voice, the defendant denied doing so. When Officer Uher responded, Bill, listen to me, the defendant leaned back in his chair, hit the desk with his hand, and requested, I want to talk to my sister. This is ridiculous. Officer Uher leaned forward in his chair, struck the desk with his hand, and demanded in a very loud voice: Pay attention to me! This isn't ridiculous. Now you can knock that off. I told you when you walked in this room there was gonna be no more no's. I know what happened there. Now, did you know that William Bohannon [sic] invented a machine that uses super glue to where [sic] we can get thumb and finger prints off the human body? Did you know that? That if I grab your arm like this and let it go, [Officer Uher grabs the defendant's arm] my finger prints are on your skin. How would your thumb print and your finger prints get around your mom's neck?! How?! I don't like raising my voice. Please don't raise yours anymore. I want to know if your mom was laying down when you grabbed her neck or if she was sitting up? Tell me right now! When the defendant indicated he simply had placed his hand on his mother's neck so that he could clean her, Officer Uher disagreed stating, No, you put your hand on her neck. No, you squeezed her neck. Was she lying down or was she sitting up when you squeezed her neck. I'll know if you're lying. When the defendant responded, I honest to God remember her sitting up, Officer Uher stated: She was lying down on the bed because of the hemorrhaging. Now, do you want to quit lying to me. You got frustrated and you put your hand around your mom's neck, did you not? Yes you did. Tell me, yes or no. Yes you did. I know, okay I know what you're going through, and I'm trying to help you with it, because if you lie, Bill, its only gonna be worse. Do you understand that? If you lie, and we can prove you lied, it only gets worse against you. Okay? It makes you look like a cruel and malicious person. You acted out of character. Are you sorry for what happened? Visibly shaken, the defendant, pointing toward the door, replied, My God yes, I wish it were me in there! Officer Uher responded, I know you're sorry for what happened. I can tell. Then you need to tell the world you're sorry for what happened. And lying don't do it. Do you understand that. The defendant emphatically stated: I am sorry! Officer Uher replied: Lying don't do it though, Bill. What made you, I don't think you're a mean person, what made you choke your mom? The defendant explained, She just kept saying over and over `I hate you, I hate you,' and I just snapped. At Officer Uher's request, the defendant used Officer Uher's wrist to demonstrate how he had choked his mother. The defendant explained that his mother had gone limp after he had grabbed her and had shaken her for a second. Officer Uher commented: It didn't take much because your mom was frail. And that's what scared you because I don't think you meant to do it, did you? With his head in his hands, the defendant replied, You know damn well I didn't. Officer Uher then replied, You're right, I know damn well you didn't. Is that why you started the fire, because you were scared? As the defendant continued to look down with his head in his hands, Officer Uher commented: I know you're sorry. I know you're sorry. The defendant leaned his head on the table and said: Oh God, I just want to die. Patting the defendant's shoulder, Officer Uher stated: I know you're sorry, Bill. I know you're sorry. Then, Officer Uher asked, Did you go back to work, Bill, after that happened? The defendant replied, I did, and then asked, What's gonna happen to me? Officer Uher replied, I don't know, tonight Bill you're probably gonna have to go to jail. The defendant said: I want to call my sister. I want to call my sister. Officer Uher replied: We'll let you make a phone call here in a little bit, but for right now you are in custody, okay. You are no longer free to go anywhere. You understand that. The defendant again put hand on his head and looked down. Officer Uher then stated: Listen to me Bill. There's something I do want you to see if you want to do. I'm going to create some forms and put some forms here on the table, paper work. And you're a pretty good writer. You do a lot of computer stuff. And I want you to tell me the truth about something because this is something that's bothering me, okay. I can see you're remorseful, alright, but I know you've also had a hard time with your mom the last nine years. Are you really sorry for what happened? In a whisper, the defendant replied, My God, yes. Officer Uher inquired, Truthfully, sorry? The defendant reiterated, You're damn right I am! Officer Uher then explained: I want you to tell the attorneys that are gonna work your case that you're sorry, okay. Because you're gonna have a prosecutor and your own defense attorney and a judge. Those are three attorneys. I want you to write down everything that happened and how it happened. Upon hearing this, the defendant again stated, I want to talk to my sister! Officer Uher replied, Your sister's not coming here right now. Gesturing with his hand, the defendant emphatically stated, I want to talk to my sister by phone! I know my rights. I know my rights! Officer Uher then replied, And is there anywhere in your rights that says we have to allow you a phone call to your sister? The defendant replied: I know my rights under Miranda .  Officer Uher acknowledged, You're allowed a phone call. The defendant reiterated, I know my rights under Miranda .  Officer Uher responded, What are they Bill? I want you to explain them to me. Approximately one-hour and twenty-seven minutes into the interview, after the defendant had attempted unsuccessfully to enumerate his Miranda rights, Officer Uher advised the defendant of his rights. After doing so, however, Officer Uher stated: And I'll let you call your sister, alright. Now Bill I want to tell you something. Now is not the time to get irate over what happened because you want to know what you're doing? I'm gonna explain something to you. You're not showing me that you're sorry for what happened to your mom. You're showing me somebody that's full of bottled-up anger. Do you understand that? When the defendant replied, I feel like I'm in a damn nightmare, and I can't wake up. Officer Uher replied: You've been living it a long time, haven't you Bill? Haven't you? I know you have, and I feel for you, okay. I'm the one who's sitting here trying to help you, okay.... I don't think you planned this. You didn't plan this for two weeks, did you? No! It just happened, Bill. Like you said you went nutso [sic] for a minute, okay. You lost it, isn't that what you said? Then give me a statement, that's all I ask you to do. You've already given me a statement. You've already talked to me, but I want it on paper. The defendant again asked, But what will happen to me if I do that? Officer Uher replied, Nothing more than will happen if you don't. The only thing that can happen is that statement will help you. After summarizing his understanding of the defendant's verbal statement, Officer Uher urged the defendant to provide a written statement, admonishing the defendant: If you don't, do you know what it looks like? You planned to kill your mom and almost got away with it. Now its up to you. Give me the statement. You can make the phone calls. You can call your lawyer. You can do whatever you want. You can call your sister. Whatever. Are you willing to give me a statement? The defendant indicated his willingness to provide a written statement by requesting paper. The officers provided the paper, and before leaving the room, Officer Uher cautioned the defendant, Bill, look at me. This is the most important thing. Don't make up any lies in this statement. Officer Uher warned, If this case ended up in a courtroom, if they proved you're lying, it isn't gonna help you. Do you understand that? The defendant then asked, I just want to know what's gonna happen to me? Again, Officer Uher advised the defendant that he would have to go to jail, but possibly would be released on bond. When the officers returned to the room approximately fifteen minutes later, Officer Uher read aloud the defendant's statement. Officer Uher disagreed with that portion of the statement which indicated the defendant was cleaning up his mother when he grabbed his mother's neck. When the defendant asked Officer Uher to tell him what to say, Officer Uher refused, stating: I'm not gonna tell you what to say. I'm not gonna tell you what to say. You told me that you snapped. You said that you snapped, and you stood up and grabbed my arm like you grabbed her neck. I'm not gonna tell you what to say. I want you to make sure you're not lying and tell me the truth. Officer Uher then inquired of the defendant: Was she lying down? and Are you sorry for what happened? Officer Uher advised, You need to write it down. Put your initials at the end of it. Officer Boucher then left the room At this point, approximately one hour and fifty minutes into the interview, appearing listless and exhausted, the defendant again asked Officer Uher, What point do I have to live? Officer Uher responded: Sign right here. The defendant countered: Before I do, please tell me what reasons I have to live? Officer Uher replied: You've got a lot of reasons to live. We all make mistakes Bill. Not everybody has been through what you've been through. Do you understand that? It's not easy my friend. What you've been going through for several years with your mom is not easy. The defendant appeared to be crying when he signed and initialed the statement. As the interview concluded at 9:46 p.m., the defendant again asked: Please let me talk to my sister. The officers agreed, but they told the defendant he would not be left alone to make the telephone call. The officers checked the defendant for weapons and then left the room, concluding the video recording.