Final Analysis (39 page)

The coroner’s report from Felix’s autopsy

Felix Polk’s death certificate

Taken by the police, this photo shows the edge of the pool house and the pool.

The interior of the main house kitchen photographed by police during their sweep of the premises on October 15.

An alternate police sketch of the Miner Road estate

A police sketch of the bloodstained chair in the living room of the pool house

A police sketch of the crime scene from overhead

A
nonfiction book is always the work of many dedicated individuals; those who research, compile, review, and of course, those who give their time and recollection to help develop a meaningful narrative. Cole Thompson again took the lead in uncovering and gathering critical information, while Lisa Pulitzer spent countless hours organizing and structuring material that covered several generations. Dr. Keith Ablow generously reviewed the relevant histories of the Polk family members and shared his psychiatric insights. Lisa Sweetingham was often my eyes and ears in the courtroom during Susan Polk’s trial and offered her own invaluable reflections on the proceeding. Without the generous time offered by many of the people integrally involved in these events, it would have been impossible to examine the very personal details necessary to fully present this story.

Jan Miller, my friend and agent for many years, shepherded the project. Judith Regan and my editors Cal Morgan and Matt Harper had faith, once again, in the relevance and fascination of a true crime story that seeks to go beyond the “who” and delve into the complex “why” behind family violence. I want to acknowledge my wonderful staff at Court TV for their support. Very special thanks to my assistant, Barbara Stansell for being there twenty-four/seven and D. J. Haverkamp for keeping the trains running on time. Finally, love and gratitude to Scott Carney, who kept me focused and grounded throughout this project.

Andersen, Eloise

Argosy University

Barnard, Linda

Berg, Paul

Bodfish, Margaret

Bolling, David (Susan’s brother)

Bolling, Helen Avanzato (Susan’s mother)

childhood/adolescence

co-owned property with the Polks

in court

at bail hearingat

the trial

as witness

described

Eli’s future, planning for

Felix’s dislike for, and banning from home

life-and-death encounter

marriage/divorce

murder investigation and

reaction to Felix’s murder

and Susan as adolescent

and Susan as adult

Bolling, Rita

Bolling, Theodore (Susan’s father)

Borkenhagen, Bob

Bradley, Edwin

Bradley, Elizabeth

Brady, Larry

Brady, Laurel

indirect connection to incident

jury selection/opening statements of prosecution

mistrial

prosecution’s case

Susan’s testimony

Susan’s witnesses

verdict

Briner, Andy

Briner, Dan

Briner, Marjorie

Burns, Sheila

Byron Boys’ Ranch

Carin, Deputy

Castro-Shelly, Laura

Catherine Crier Live

Chamblee, Melvin

Chertkow, Nancy

Clark, Roger

Coleridge, Peter

Contra Costa Times

Cooper, John

Costa, Kirsten

Costa, Mike

investigating murder

at crime scene

finding Susan’s diary/written materials

Kobrin interview

Kuntz interview

opinion of Susan’s guilt

Pyne interview

search of Felix’s office

Susan Polk interview

as witness at trial

Cristwell, Lisa

Croen, Robin

Deakins, Roger

De La Salle High School

Del Oro High School, Orinda

Disneyland trip

Dyleski, Denika

Dyleski, Scott

Eaton, Merle

Erhard, Werner

Fullerton, Linda

Funk, Jack

Golde, Ivan W.

Golde, Stanley P.

Good Morning America

Grace, Nancy

Grossman, Elizabeth

Gruenheid, Roxanne

Hansen, Kenneth (interview with Susan)

Harbison, Officer

Harris, Chris

Harris, Valerie

fired by Susan

as Horowitz’s assistant

at jury’s announcement of verdict

sitting at lawyer’s table

as Susan’s case assistant

after trial

Hebel, Jeffrey

Henderson, Ricky

Hoehn, Charles

Holocaust/Nazis

Horowitz, Daniel

Susan dismissing

as Susan’s lawyer, first trial

wife’s murder

Johnson, Mark

Johnson, Randee

Jones, Jim

Kaiser Mental Facility

Kelly, Shannon

Kobrin, Neil

Kochly, Robert J.

Kolin, William

Kuntz, Janna

Laing, R. D.

Landes, Steve

Lawrence, Dan

Lemmon, Nancy

Leslie, Heidi

Lucia, Kathy

Lynch, Joseph William

Mackenzie, Bud

Maddock, Thomas

Mann, Sharon (Felix’s first wife)

apology from Helen (1981)

apology from Susan (2001 letter)

children

See also
Polk, Andrew; Polk, Jennifer

doctoral studies

interview requests denied

keeping books for Felix

marriage to Felix

reaction to Felix’s death

remarriage

separation/divorce from Felix

Martin, Annette

Mills, Bruce

Miramonte School

mistrial

Montana

Mooney, K.

Morris, Barry

Mossad/Israeli intelligence (Susan’s suspicions)

Moule, Jeff

Nelson, John

9/11 prediction claim

O’Connor, Tom

O’Malley, Mary Ann

Orinda, other murder cases in

Osterhoudt, William

Otterstadt, Mr.

Paris trip

Peters, Alan

Peterson, Brian

Peterson, Scott (murder case)

Piedmont

Pizarello, Pat

Polk, Adam

birth

Briners and

day care abuse allegations

family turmoil/conflict and

at Felix’s funeral

future plans

misconduct

after murder

before murder

police interview

relationship with Felix

relationship with Susan

nd Susan’s bail

at Susan’s trial

UCLA

view of parents’ relationship

view of Susan

wrongful death civil suit

Polk, Andrew

Polk, Eli

birth

custody issues

family incidents

at Felix’s funeral

future plans

interview at Byron Boys’ Ranch

letters written by

misconduct/arrests

at Byron Boys’ Ranch for parole violation

drugs/marijuana

high-speed car chase

misdemeanor battery of girlfriend

racist and homophobic remarks

shooting passing motorist with pellet gun

Susan’s jail sentence for contempt of court over

Paris trip

psychological issues

siblings and

on Susan’s innocence

at Susan’s trial, testifying

Thailand trip

view of parents’ relationship

view of/relatonship with Felix

view of/relationship with Susan

Vitale investigation interview

wrongful death civil suit

Polk, Eric Ernst (Felix’s father)

Polk, Evelyn (Felix’s sister)

Polk, Gabriel

birth

Briners and

custody issues

at Felix’s funeral

future plans

on “liars” list

misconduct/troubles with law

after murder

in Adam’s custody

discovering body

police interview/communication

and Susan

before murder

relationship with Felix

relationship with Susan

schools

at Susan’s trial

at verdict

as witness

Thailand vacation

view of parents’ relationship

view of Susan

view of Susan’s guilt

Vitale investigation interview

wrongful death civil suit

Polk, Jennifer

Polk, Johanna Hahn (Felix’s mother)

Polk, John (Felix’s brother)

Polk family

confidential report

dogs

financial issues

prenuptial agreement

reduced spousal support

Polk family
(continued)

Susan’s management of

trust fund

neighbors

Orinda residence

court order

description

photos/diagrams

squeeze play/legal maneuvering

police incidents

turmoil/conflict

Polk murder

crime scene

day after

discovery of body

forensic evidence

footprints

hair

jeans

knives

pepper spray

shoes

Susan’s injuries

heart attack theory

media attention surrounding

night of

police report

roots of

Polk murder mistrial

Polk murder trial

closing arguments

death penalty not sought

defense of battered woman syndrome refused

defense of insanity refused

judge.
See
Brady, Laurel

jury selection

opening remarks, defense

opening remarks, prosecution

prosecutor.
See
Sequeira, Paul

self representation (Faretta motion)

Susan’s direct testimony/self-defense story

Susan’s requesting to move trial

testimony of defense witnesses

testimony of prosecution witnesses

verdict

Power of Attorney

Presidio Child Development Center

Price, Sergeant

Protti, Bernadetti

Pyne, Thomas

Rivera, Maria

Roland, Pat

Russo, Dan

Ryan, Dan

Saeger, Karen

San Francisco Chronicle

Schneider, Doug

Schraeder, Jeffrey

Sequeira, Paul

cross-examination and objections

final arguments/rebuttal

jury selection

opening remarks

presenting prosecution’s case

statement to media

at verdict

Simon, Justin

Somesse, Kathy

Sweetingham, Lisa

Taflya, Alex

Thailand vacation

Thompson, Cole

Townsend, David

UCLA

Vaulfer, Ernst

Vitale, Pamela

Warne, Steve

Weiss, Peter

Wesley, Gary

Wicks, Song

Wills, Max

Wilson, Pete

Yosemite, Susan’s suicide attempt at

Zigler, Mark