Commonwealth of

KENTUCKY

 

Vs.

 

MICKEY FINN

  

 

INTRODUCTION

The parties at “Club 270” were legendary at Rocky Mountain University, especially the Halloween party. Mickey Finn, along with roommates Ashley Brewer and Dylan Childs,

had hosted several parties at their house at 270 Red Rock Drive over the last two years. They were also collectively known as notorious pranksters around campus. The biggest party each year was on Halloween, when a hooded and masked figure dressed as the

Grim Reaper began ominously distributing drinks to certain guests at precisely midnight. The Grim Reaper became a staple at the Halloween parties and it always seemed like one person got a little too “out of control” after the visit from the Reaper. The odd thing

is, it was always the one person everyone would least expect to lose control.

Nevertheless, the antics seemed to liven up the party. Little did everyone know that Mickey, Ashley and Dylan were spiking one person’s drink during the Reaper “prank” with liquid XTC (liquid MDMA), and watching the effects with glee. Ashley knew where to buy the drug, Dylan would make sure the “mark” would come to the party, and Mickey would dress as the Grim Reaper and make sure to give the “mark” the spiked drink. They would meet about a week before the party to decide who was going to get the drink.

The Halloween party on October 31, 2006 seemed to be no different than the last two Halloween parties. At midnight, the Grim Reaper entered the main room, passed out a few drinks and then disappeared. The “mark” that night was Hollingsworth Morse, a student everyone assumed to be meek and shy – a “science geek”. Very shortly after drinking the cocktail, Hollingsworth suddenly and horrifically dropped dead. After his death, it was discovered that Hollingsworth, while on the surface a loveable “science geek”, had, in reality, a very unsavory habit.

After an investigation and questioning by Detective Jamie Lopez, Mickey was charged with felony murder, Ashley copped a plea to serving alcohol to minors and turned state’s evidence. Dylan was not charged.                

STIPULATIONS

1. All exhibits included in the problem are authentic and accurate in all respects, and no objections to the authenticity of the exhibits shall be entertained. 2. The signatures on the witness statements and all other documents are authentic. 3. The Complaint and Information is accurate in all respects; no objections to this document shall be entertained. 4. Chain of custody for evidence is not in dispute. 5. Stipulations cannot be contradicted or challenged. 6. Hollingsworth Morse, the victim, is male. 7. Hollingsworth Morse's death was primarily caused by an overdose of liquid MDMA (liquid Ecstasy/XTC). 8. The handwriting on Exhibit 6, the party itinerary, is Mickey Finn’s. 9. The handwriting on Exhibit 11, the police report, is Detective Jamie Lopez's. 10. The voices in Exhibit 3 are identified as Charley Bunsen and his/her friend Samantha. 11. Exhibits 1, 2, 8 and 9 are to be treated as part of Detective Lopez's investigative report and all contents thereof are stipulated to be admissible without further foundation, i.e. they are to be treated as certified copies of public records. 12. Exhibits 4 and 5 fairly and accurately reflect the scene, view or geography they purport to depict. 13. Exhibit 7 contains true and accurate photographs of evidence recovered from 270 Red Rock Drive by Detective Lopez. The costume model in Exhibit 7 is not meant to be representative of the size, shape, race or gender of any witness. 14. Exhibits 3 and 11 are kept in the ordinary course of business or as part of the ordinary conduct of an organization or enterprise where it was part of the ordinary business of that organization, business or enterprise, to compile the data or information. The information was made for the purpose of recording the occurrence of an event, act, condition, opinion or diagnosis that takes place in the ordinary course of the business or enterprise, the entry in the record or the compiling of the data was made at or near the time when the event took place, and the recording of the event was made by someone who has personal knowledge of it. Detective Lopez is to be considered the custodian of these exhibits. 15. The Indictment and the Jury Instructions are accurate in all respects; no objections to either the Indictment or Instructions will be entertained. 16. MDMA is a controlled substance. 17. All pertinent Miranda rights were validly waived on all statements.18. All exhibits were obtained in conformity with all pertinent search and seizure requirements.    

   

WITNESSES

— For the Prosecution — — For the Defense —

Ashley Brewer Mickey Finn, Defendant Detective Jamie Lopez Ronnie Kingsley Poulson Charley Bunsen Dylan Childs

All witnesses may be female or male.

   EXHIBITS

Teams in competition may use the following exhibits. They are pre-marked and are to be referred to by number, as follows:

Exhibit No. Exhibit Description 1. Autopsy Report with body drawing 2. Toxicology Report on Hollingsworth Morse 3. 911 Transcript 4. Rear view of “Club 270” 5. Layout of “Club 270” 6. Party itinerary 7. Grim Reaper costume photos 8. Fingerprint Report 9. Toxicology Report on vial and cup 10. Party flier 11. Police Report

MEDICAL TERM GLOSSARY

Adrenals: either of a pair of complex endocrine organs near the anterior medial border of the kidney Aerated: to supply (the blood) with oxygen by respiration Aortic: relating to the large arterial trunk that carries blood from the heart to be distributed by branch arteries through the bodyAtherosclerosis: a common arterial disease in which raised areas of degeneration and cholesterol deposits (plaques) form on the inner surfaces of the arteries Autolysis: breakdown of all or part of a cell or tissue by self-produced enzymes Bilateral atria: the thin-walled chambers of the heart that pump blood into the ventricles Bulbar conjunctiva: the mucous membrane that lines the inner surface of the eyelids and is continued over the forepart of the eyeball Calyces: cuplike divisions of the renal pelvis Capsule: a membrane or saclike structure enclosing a part or organ Chordae tendineae: any of the delicate tendinous cords that are attached to the edges of the atrioventricular valves of the heart Contusion: injury to tissue usually without laceration, like a bruise Coronary ostia: either of the two openings in the aortic sinus that mark the origins of the left and right coronary arteries Crepitant: having or making a crackling sound Cricoid cartilage: a cartilage of the larynx Cyanotic: a bluish or purplish discoloration (as of skin) due to deficient oxygenation of the blood Diffuse mild to focally moderate: mild to moderate Dura matter: the tough fibrous membrane lined with endothelium on the inner surface that envelops the brain and spinal cord Electrocardiographic: relating to an instrument for recording the changes of electrical potential occurring during the heartbeat used especially in diagnosing abnormalities of heart action Epicardium: the visceral part of the pericardium that closely envelops the heart Epididymes: a system of ductules that emerges posteriorly from the testis Epidural: situated upon or administered outside the dura mater Eschars: a scab formed especially after a burn Evisceration: the act or process of removing an organ or the contents of an organ Fibrosis: a condition marked by increase of interstitial fibrous tissue Galeal: over or on the head Gastric lumen: a cavity or channel within the stomach Gastric mucosa: a mucous membrane in the stomach Gastroesophageal: of, relating to, or involving the stomach and esophagus Hepatobiliary: pertaining to the liver and the bile or the biliary ducts Hyoid bone: a bone or complex of bones situated at the base of the tongue and supporting the tongue and its muscles Interventricular septum: the wall between the two ventricles Intraparenchymal hemmorage: a copious discharge of blood from the blood vessels situated or occurring within the essential and distinctive tissue of an organ or an abnormal growth as distinguished from its supportive framework Irides: plural of iris Leptomeminges: delicate layers of the meninges Lesion: an abnormal change in structure of an organ or part due to injury or disease Lobulated: made up of, provided with, or divided into lobules (lobes) Mitral: relating to a valve in the heart that guards the opening between the left atrium and the left ventrical Mucosa: a mucous membrane Myocardium: the middles layer of the walls of the heart, composed of cardiac muscle

Nares: the pair of openings of the nose Nonicteric palpebral: normal eyelids Papillary muscles: one of the small muscular columns attached at one end to the chordae tendineae and at the other to the wall of the ventricle and that maintain tension on the chordae tendineae as the ventricle contracts Parenchymae: the essential and distinctive tissue of an organ or an abnormal growth as distinguished from its supportive framework Patent: being open and unobstructed Petechiae: a minute reddish or purplish spot containing blood that appears in skin or mucous membrane especially in some infectious diseases (as typhoid fever) Pituitary: of or relating to the pituitary gland, an endocrine organ associated with various hormones which directly or indirectly affect most basic bodily functions Pulmonary vasculature: the disposition or arrangement of blood vessels in the lungs Pulmonic: relating to the lungs Punctate: characterized by dots or points Pyramids: an anatomical structure near the kidney resembling a pyramid Serosal stomach: A serous membrane, especially one that lines the pericardial, pleural, and peritoneal cavities, enclosing their contents Striae: a stripe or line (as in the skin) distinguished from surrounding tissue by color, texture, or elevation Subarachnoid: situated or occurring under the arachnoid membrane (a thin membrane of the brain and spinal cord that lies between the dura mater and the pia mater) Subcutaneous: being, living, used, or made under the skin Subdural: situated, occurring or performed under the dura mater or between the dura mater and the arachnoid Subepicardial fat: fat situated or occurring beneath the epicardium Subgaleal: below the surface of the scalp Subxyphoid: midline of the chest Thyroid cornua: a horn-shaped anatomical structure (as either of the lateral divisions of a bicornuate uterus, one of the lateral processes of the hyoid bone, or one of the gray columns of the spinal cord) Trabeculated: transversely barred Tracheobronchial tree: the trachea and bronchial tree considered together Tricuspid: a valve that is situated at the opening of the right atrium of the heart into the right ventricle and that resembles the mitral valve in structure but consists of three triangular membranous flaps Valvular: resembling or functioning as a valve Vasa defferentia: a sperm-carrying duct Vasculature: the disposition or arrangement of blood vessels in an organ or part Ventricular chamber: a chamber of the heart which receives blood from a corresponding atrium and from which blood is forced into the arteries Viscera: of an internal organ in the body Visceral pleurae: either of a pair of two-walled sacs of serous membrane each of which lines one lateral half of the thorax  

STATEMENT OF ASHLEY BREWER

1. My name is Ashley Brewer and I am 21 years old. I live at 270 Red Rock Drive, Metropolitan, Kentucky. I am a junior at Rocky Mountain University. I have known Mickey Finn for over two years. Mickey was one of the first people I met when I started my freshman year at Rocky Mountain University. Mickey and I hit it off instantly because we both like to cut up and party. Mickey and I became close friends, and we’d always hang out together when we were not in class. Mickey and I, along with our other friend and roommate, Dylan Childs, are well known around campus as notorious pranksters and jokers.  2. Mickey is a year older than Dylan and me and has been at Rocky Mountain University a year longer than us. When we first met, Mickey had just moved into this really cool, old house on Red Rock Drive, which is real close to campus. I lived in the dorm first semester of my freshman year, but Dylan and I both moved in with Mickey beginning Spring semester and we've all been roommates since. The house is two-stories with a big deck out back to catch the rays in the spring and summer. It's got a fire escape attached to the side of the building and a giant living room that's great for parties. We rent the house from Philip Newton, an eccentric Viking Literature professor at Rocky Mountain University. This place was definitely built for parties. Mickey nicknamed the place "Club 270" and the name really stuck. If you told anyone on campus there's a party tonight at Club 270, people knew you were talking about Mickey's house. The parties at Club 270 are legendary.  3. Without a doubt, the best party every year at Club 270 is the Halloween party. In the fall of my freshman year, when I still lived in the dorm, Mickey asked me to co-host a Halloween party at Club 270 along with Dylan. The Halloween keg party bash has been an annual Club 270 tradition ever since. We started what we thought was a great prank for the Halloween party. At precisely midnight, a hooded and masked figure dressed as the Grim Reaper would appear and begin ominously distributing drinks to certain party guests. What everyone didn't know was that one of the drinks was spiked with liquid XTC (liquid MDMA).  4. About a week before the Halloween party each year, Mickey, Dylan and I got together to decide who would receive the spiked cocktail. We always picked someone who was kind of nerdy or someone who had ticked us off in some way. I was in charge of getting the drug. I could get liquid XTC from a friend in New Mexico, who told me the drug's potency was real mild and no one could get hurt. Dylan's job was to make sure that "the target" came to the party. Mickey dressed up as the Grim Reaper and made sure to give the spiked drink to "the target." We would then sit back and laugh, as the person got high on liquid XTC and acted like an absolute fool. While the three of us were the only ones who knew

about the spiked drink, all the party guests thought the Grim Reaper's appearance was a hoot, and the Grim Reaper's arrival became the highlight at each year's Halloween party.  5. As a senior, Mickey wanted this year's party to be the best ever. As usual, about a week before the party, Mickey, Dylan and I sat down in the living room at Club 270 where Mickey wrote out an itinerary for the party, and we discussed who should be this year's "stooge" to receive the Grim Reaper's spiked drink.  6. I told Mickey and Dylan that I had spoken to my "New Mexico connection" and that I would drive to Taos, endure some stupid "top ten" jokes about how the Rockies suck, and buy a vial of liquid XTC. Mickey said, "Great, because I want Hollingsworth to get the 'Reaper treatment' this year." "Hollingsworth Morse!!" I said. Then, I asked Mickey, "Why Hollingsworth?" I mean I was shocked by Mickey's choice because Hollingsworth was my Chem. lab partner. Nevertheless, Mickey was adamant. "It's Hollingsworth or nobody," Mickey said. Then Dylan said, "Well, if it's Hollingsworth, then my job's done because you know he'll show." And Dylan was right. Hollingsworth may have less personality than the paint on the wall, but he always showed up on campus when there was a party at Club 270. Sort of a pathetic attempt to be part of the cool crowd, I suppose. So, I then told Mickey, "Fine. If you want Hollingsworth, then it's Hollingsworth. I don't really give a rat's rump." However, to this day I don't really know why Mickey picked Hollingsworth. It's true Hollingsworth was both a nerd and a dweeb, but I couldn't understand why Mickey wanted to make a fool out of someone with zero personality to start with. The only thing I can think of was that incident with Mickey’s car.  7. Mickey had suspected Hollingsworth of backing his car into Mickey’s brand-new Mini-Cooper at the beginning of the semester in the parking lot outside the chemistry lab. Hollingsworth drove a real beater—a lime-green Plymouth Duster from the ‘70s. Hollingsworth’s car had dents all over it, so you’d never know if he’d backed into anything. But Mickey’s silver Mini had a lime-green mark on it where the collision occurred. Mickey was certain it was Hollingsworth because no one on campus had a car that color, except for that Honda Del Sol that Professor Newton drives. Professor Newton is very meticulous about his car and there’s not a scratch on it.  8. On October 31, 2005, the night of the party, I got back to the house from Taos about 7:00 p.m. When I walked in, Dylan and Mickey were decorating for the party. I brought the vial of liquid XTC in with me. As soon as I walked in, Mickey anxiously asked, "Did ya' get the stuff?" I said, "yeah" and handed the vial of liquid XTC to Mickey. Mickey grinned, nodded and said, "Great, I'll put this upstairs with the Grim Reaper outfit until it's Reaper time." Mickey then ran up the stairs vial in hand towards the bedroom and returned a few seconds later without it. About 7:30 p.m., the band Lil' Nemesis T came in and started setting up. Mickey instructed Lil' Nemesis T to "take a set break just before midnight

'cause we've got something special planned for midnight." Mickey, Dylan and I then each went to our rooms to get cleaned up and to change into our Halloween costumes. Dylan wore this dopey looking dog outfit. Mickey and I had these black burglar outfits. Our party guests started arriving about 9:00 p.m. Lil' Nemesis T started the first music set about 9:30 p.m., and the party was packed and kicked into high gear by 11 :00 p.m.  9. About 11:45 p.m., from across the crowded party room, I saw Mickey and Dylan heading up the stairs towards Mickey's bedroom. I kept an eye on the staircase, and I'm sure Mickey and Dylan couldn't have come back down the stairs without me seeing them. Then, at precisely the stroke of midnight, I saw Mickey dressed as the Grim Reaper coming into the party room from the kitchen with a sickle in one hand and a tray of shooters in red cups we bought for the party in the other. Obviously, Mickey put the Grim Reaper outfit on upstairs, went down the side fire escape and re-entered the house from the outside through the exterior kitchen door. Once at the center of the room, the Grim Reaper slowly looked around studying all the guests, occasionally pointing a long, skeletal finger at someone to come forward and take a cup. The Grim Reaper proceeded in this manner until the finger finally pointed at Hollingsworth who was wearing a vampire costume. Hollingsworth came forward and was handed the last cup from the Reaper's tray. All of the selected guests, including Hollingsworth, then raised their glasses in a toast to the Reaper and quickly downed their drinks. The Grim Reaper then sort of waived its arms, turned and quickly exited the party room through the kitchen door while the crowd cheered, clapped and chanted "Reaper, Reaper!!"  10. About 12:15 a.m., I saw Mickey and Dylan coming back down the stairs into the party both with smug grins on their faces. I knew exactly what the smirks were for - Mickey had just gotten Hollingsworth to down the spiked drink. Then, I noticed Hollingsworth acting really freaky--leaping and twirling about, arms waiving wildly in the process. Given this wild, gyrating display, people backed away from Hollingsworth, pointed and laughed. Suddenly, Hollingsworth stopped and stood motionless for a moment. Hollingsworth's eyes rolled back, and he collapsed on the floor and began convulsing. I rushed over to him and I was joined seconds later by both Mickey and Dylan. Hollingsworth was still shaking violently and gasping for air as a bluish color came over his face. The shaking slowly subsided until he laid absolutely still, the bluish hue now replaced by an ashen gray. His open eyes stared blankly at the ceiling. Hollingsworth was dead.  11. The next few minutes seemed like a blur. I remember grabbing Hollingsworth's shirt with both of my hands and shaking the now limp, lifeless body and screaming, "Hollingsworth!!" as if that would do any good. Someone must have called 911 because it seemed like the paramedics were there within minutes. Also, a cop with a detective’s badge was there. At first, the detective herded everyone out of the house and into the front yard where we were told no one could leave. Over the next half hour or so, the detective went in and out of

the house a few times, and finally came out and demanded to know "Who lives here?" Mickey, Dylan and I identified ourselves. The detective ordered the three of us inside and then instructed us to each wait in our rooms until we had given a statement.  12. Eventually, Detective Lopez came into my room and sat down in a chair to question me. I know honesty is the best policy, so right away I told the detective about the prank, the liquid XTC, the Grim Reaper-everything. The detective slapped handcuffs on me and told me to wait. I sat there in my room alone for what seemed like hours until some police officers came in and escorted me downstairs and outside to a squad car where Mickey and Dylan, both in handcuffs, were already sitting in the back seat. An officer opened the car door and put me in the back with my roommates. We were driven to jail. Mickey and I were charged, finger printed, photographed, and booked.  13. I know that Mickey and Dylan are saying that I’m in the meth business, but it's all a big lie. Mickey and I didn't get into a fight that night and Mickey never said "I don’t want to do the prank on Hollingsworth anymore." Also, I never told Dylan that I had something against Hollingsworth. Hollingsworth and I were just Chem lab partners, something I didn't have any say in. The chemistry professor made the lab partner assignments. In fact, I hardly knew Hollingsworth. I certainly didn't know Hollingsworth had a meth lab in the dorm, and I am not and was not a meth dealer. Look, I know I made a mistake buying the liquid XTC for the prank, but I don't use or sell drugs. Mickey and Dylan are just lying to save their own skin, and to cover for each other. After all, Dylan wasn’t involved in this one and was not worried about going to jail. I considered Mickey and Dylan my friends, but I'm not about to go to jail for felony murder for Mickey! Yeah, I was scared, but I told the police and the D.A. the truth. I was originally charged with two felonies related to our party, possessing a controlled substance and furnishing alcohol to minors. My attorney worked a deal where I pled guilty to the alcohol charge, in exchange for the prosecutor dropping the drug possession charge. I was sentenced to three years in jail and a $2000 fine; however, I was told that my sentence would be reduced if I testified completely and truthfully in the case against Mickey.

SIGNED AND SWORN, February 8, 2006

_________________/s/____________________

ASHLEY BREWER       

 STATEMENT OF CHARLEY BUNSEN

1. My name is Charley Bunsen. I received both my Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Chemistry at Rocky Mountain University and now I am pursuing my Ph.D. in Chemistry. I’m not sure if eventually I will go into research full time for a chemical company or continue teaching here. I am not in a hurry and am having fun teaching the undergraduates while I study for my doctorate. I have my whole life in front of me to decide what I want to do “when I grow up”. Teaching at RMU will also give my resume a boost when I do get my doctorate and start applying for a real job.  2. My great, great, great, great grandfather, Robert Bunsen, was the inventor of the Bunsen burner. My mother is a former director of the National Institute of Health [NIH]. My father was a former director of the NIH’s National Institute on Drug Abuse [NIDA]. I have several aunts, uncles, and cousins who work in the field of chemistry and medicine.  3. I have been fortunate enough to travel around the world with my family when they have presented various papers at NIH sponsored conferences. I find Chemistry very exciting. I guess that you could say that chemistry is in my family’s blood. Not everyone in my immediate family is on the research/teaching side of chemistry. When I was a kid, I thought research and teaching was boring. But my older sister is a veterinarian and has an animal clinic where I helped out sometimes.  4. Then, when I was a sophomore in high school my older brother died from an overdose of club drugs. His death really hit me hard. So, at this time, I am focusing my research in the area of club drugs – including 3-4 methylene dioxymethamphetamine, [also known as “Ecstasy”, “XTC”, “X”, “Adam”, “MDMA” – there are hundreds of street names depending on what it is mixed with], Gamma-hydroxybutyrate [also known as “High Boy”] and Rohypnol [also known as “Roofie” or “Roche”]. The research is the basis for my current dissertation. My research has included studying club drug overdose police reports, medical reports, and attending professional seminars.  5. Club drugs are not exactly what you would call “fun drugs.” Although users may think these substances are harmless, research has shown that club drugs can produce a range of unwanted effects, including hallucinations, paranoia, amnesia, and in some cases, death. When used with alcohol, these drugs can be even more harmful. Some club drugs work on the same brain mechanisms as alcohol and, therefore, can dangerously boost the effects of both substances. Also, there are great differences among individuals in how they react to these substances and no one can predict how he or she will react. Some people have been known to have extreme, even fatal, reactions the first time they use. And

studies suggest club drugs found in party settings are often adulterated or impure and thus even more dangerous. Because some club drugs are colorless, tasteless and odorless, they are easy for people to slip into drinks.  6. Liquid Ecstasy is a stimulant and a hallucinogen. Young people may use liquid Ecstasy to improve their moods or get energy to keep dancing; however, chronic abuse of liquid Ecstasy appears to damage the brain’s ability to think and regulate emotion, memory, sleep, and pain. Because it is often created in illegal labs, liquid Ecstasy can be mixed with PCP, methamphetamine, acid or pseudoephedrine, a legal drug found in over-the-counter cold remedies. When a person ingests liquid MDMA, the person may encounter many psychological problems, including confusion, depression, sleeping problems, drug craving, severe anxiety, and paranoia. Additionally, physical symptoms can include muscle tension, involuntary teeth clenching, nausea, blurred vision, rapid eye movement, faintness, and chills or sweating. It also increases the heart rate and blood pressure, a special risk for people with circulatory or heart disease.  7. Both Ashley Brewer and Hollingsworth Morse were in one of my lab classes. I assigned them as lab partners. Morse was a serious chemistry student; I think that he wanted to go to Pharmacology School. Brewer, on the other hand, was a bit of a wild child. I put these two together because I thought that Morse would have a calming effect on Brewer. They seemed to get along when they were in the lab. But you put Brewer together with Dylan Childs or Mickey Finn, and to say that Brewer is easily influenced is an understatement. It reminded me of high school, how Brewer would ignore Morse once Childs and Finn were around. Worse yet was the way that Mickey would treat Morse. Mickey was always making fun of him, calling him “geek” and making fun of his clothes. What was even worse was the look of hurt and disappointment on Morse’s face when Brewer did not defend him.  8. I assumed the reason for Brewer’s attitude change when Mickey was around was because of what Morse had done. At the beginning of the semester I saw Morse parking his old lime green car and dinging Mickey’s brand new Mini. I was surprised no one ever talked to me about it, but I assumed their insurance companies took care of it or they would have let me know they needed some corroboration about the accident. Morse saw me, smirked, shrugged and waved. My parking space was just across from where Mickey was parked that day in the Chem. Lab lot.  9. I have known Mickey Finn for at least three years. RMU is not exactly a large school and Mickey is a couple of years younger than I am. I am not what you would call a classic “lab rat”. Besides majoring in Chemistry, I also lettered in track. I’ve seen Mickey and Ronnie Poulson in the gym. We have always been on friendly terms, cutting up and spotting each other when working out, but we don’t really run in the same circles.  

 10. I’ve been to Club 270 on several occasions. Mickey and friends know how to throw a party. While Mickey was working a part-time summer job cleaning kennel cages at my sister’s vet hospital, I remember complimenting Mickey on the great party -- the band that year was fantastic, not like the lame Lil’ Nemesis T this year. Mickey asked me if I liked the “other entertainment” too. I asked what that meant and Mickey told me “I was the “Grim Reaper” who gave out one spiked cup of punch to a “lucky” recipient that helped change the tone of the party last year.” Mickey was responsible for spiking one of the drinks the “Grim Reaper” doled out with a little “X”-tra something. I kinda laughed it off but it made me feel uncomfortable. I definitely know it wasn’t in my cup. I didn’t really want to believe that anyone would put drugs in a drink. Mickey was not looking forward to retiring the Grim Reaper costume after graduation, but was glad that the “Grim Reaper” still had one more appearance to make before graduation.  11. This year’s Halloween party at Club 270 was even bigger than last year’s. I guess word got around about how great last year’s party was and more people attended this year. The house was bulging with people. The only bad part was the music. I went as the “mad scientist,” my friend Alex went as a test tube, and another friend, Samantha that came with us was dressed as a surgeon. We got there around 11 p.m. I saw Mickey, Ashley and Dylan throughout the night, but didn’t get a chance to talk with any of them one-on-one. Hollingsworth was also there. Mickey and Ashley seemed to have some words; the atmosphere between them was definitely chilly. I couldn’t make out everything that they were saying to one another, but it appeared to me that they were arguing. I also saw Ashley and Hollingsworth having a few words. I heard Hollingsworth say “how could you do that to me?” It could have been over the bad lab grade I gave them earlier in the week, but I told them that they could do some extra credit work to raise their grade. Or, it could have been that Hollingsworth was finally confronting Ashley about the disparate treatment towards him whenever Mickey and Dylan are around. Whatever their argument was about, Hollingsworth stayed at the party.  12. A little before midnight, right before the band took a break, I remember that I saw Ashley out on the dance floor. What a nonstop dancing fool. I don’t know if it was a natural high or what, but Ashley was sweating bullets.  13. Around midnight, I saw Mickey’s final appearance in the Grim Reaper costume. Coming out of the kitchen with a tray of drinks, I had no doubt from the walk and mannerisms that it was Mickey, moving with the same exaggerated care I had noticed when Mickey used to carry water bowls for dogs in the kennel—with unsteady hands, worried about sloshing the water out of the bowls.. Plus, I assumed it was Mickey, based on what I knew about last year. When I called out, Mickey turned towards me and nodded while continuing to pass out the drinks. I know some at the party were speculating that Ashley was the Grim Reaper, but I saw Ashley downstairs close to midnight, dancing by a window, I guess to get some air. I never saw Dylan while the Reaper was in the room.

 14. The Reaper walked through the crowd with the tray of drinks, pointing at the “lucky” guests who would be given a cup from the tray. As the number of drinks on the tray dwindled, many shouted, “Pick me! Pick me!” Of course, none of those guests were picked. I hoped to make an exit after all who received a cup drank the traditional toast to the Reaper. But, almost as soon as the toast was done, Hollingsworth Morse turned as creepy as his vampire costume. At first, he tried to talk up Samantha, my friend who was dressed like a doctor in surgical scrubs, telling her about how much he felt for her being forced into a pre-med major on account of her parents, and then he wanted to give her a hug to console her for what he imagined was a hardship. That was really uncomfortable because I didn’t really know how to tell him to lay off my friend. I don’t think the “doctor” liked Hollingsworth and I heard her tell him to “get lost”.  15. But, what I did know about Hollingsworth really bothered me. At the chemistry lab, Hollingsworth had asked Mickey and me lots of questions about where my sister’s veterinary practice was located. He wanted to know whether my sister used Ketamine for anesthetizing animals and whether he could get a part-time job there next summer. My sister’s clinic has been broken into several times by thieves looking for Ketamine because it can be turned into a white powder that drug abusers call Special K. Fortunately, the thieves never found where my sister keeps it locked up. But it really bothered me that Hollingsworth asked so many questions. I definitely planned on telling my sister not to hire Hollingsworth if he applied for the summer kennel job.  16. About 15 minutes after the Grim Reaper left, Hollingsworth started to convulse on the floor. I guess, everyone looked at me as if I should know exactly what to do because they consider me “faculty.” I was pulled over to Hollingsworth. Everyone seemed to expect me to begin CPR. I told them, “I’m not a doctor,” but they all just looked at me and their faces said, “Do something!” So, I pulled my cell phone out of my pocket and dialed “911”. I told the operator where I was and that there was someone at the party who had fallen on the floor and gone into convulsions. The “911” operator told me that an ambulance was on the way and asked whether the person was breathing. At that point, it didn’t look to me like Hollingsworth was breathing. So I took my friend’s stethoscope that she was wearing as a prop and put it to Hollingsworth’s chest. I didn’t hear anything. That really freaked me out, so I started going through the paces that I learned in First Aid in high school. I made sure that Hollingsworth had a clear breathing passage, I tipped his head back, I pinched his nostrils and I put my mouth over his and blew. Then I started to press on his chest. Thank goodness, the ambulance arrived at that point. Rescue personnel pushed me aside while they worked, fruitlessly it seemed, on Hollingsworth. Then, the next thing I knew, Detective Lopez was asking me to come outside Club 270 and to remain outside so that I could be questioned. Shortly after that, I gave the Detective my statement.

 

SIGNED AND SWORN, February 15, 2006

_________________/s/__________

CHARLEY BUNSEN                                         

 STATEMENT OF DETECTIVE JAMIE LOPEZ

1. My name is Jamie Lopez. I am a detective with the Rocky Mountain Police Department, and I have been in law enforcement for 10 years.  2. Approximately 12:22 a.m., on 1 November 2003, dispatch notified me of a 911 call reporting that an individual at a party being held at 270 Red Rock Drive had become unconscious. Despite being on the way home from my second 18 hour shift in a row, I responded to the call as I was already in the vicinity of Rocky Mountain University.  3. I arrived about the same time as the Rocky Mountain Rescue Squad (RMRS). Upon entering the residence, it was obvious that there was some kind of costume party going on. We were met by an individual who was later identified as Mickey Finn. Finn took us into a large living area where there was a small stage on the side of the room. There was also a great deal of party refuse around the room. We discovered an individual face up on the floor. His face was ashen and he was not breathing. RMRS leapt into action, but there was no use. The area immediately surrounding the body was in severe disarray, with furniture knocked over and many spills. The death appeared to be violent. At that time, RMRS could not find any sign of trauma or injury, although the individual had a red plastic cup clenched in his hand.  4. I ordered everyone out to the front yard so the scene could be secured. I looked through the immediate area but found nothing out of the ordinary. I saw no need to call additional officers to the scene at that time.  5. I then went to the front yard and asked for the persons giving the party. I was again introduced to Finn, along with Ashley Brewer and Dylan Childs. Finn identified the deceased as Hollingsworth Morse, a sophomore at Rocky Mountain University. Finn stated that Morse suddenly become convulsive, eventually collapsing without explanation, since Morse was quiet and usually kept to himself.  6. I spoke to a few other individuals, including Ronnie Poulson and Charley Bunsen. As a result of those conversations, I became aware of a ritual that took place at Finn's Halloween parties. At midnight, someone dressed as the Grim Reaper delivers drinks. It appears that one of the individuals who is given a drink then becomes uncharacteristically wild and boisterous. Several people suspected that at least one of drinks was drugged. Besides Finn, I was told that two other people were involved in this ritual - Ashley Brewer and Dylan Childs. My suspicion was piqued. I called for backup.  

7. I then separated the three suspects and isolated them in separate upstairs rooms. I decided to see what each of them might volunteer before confronting them with the information I had learned. I first spoke with Childs, who admitted knowing of that ritual but denied anything having to do with the Grim Reaper. Childs further denied even seeing the Grim Reaper make an appearance at the party, but admitted not being downstairs at midnight. Childs appeared very nervous during questioning.  8. I then spoke with Ashley Brewer who also admitted knowing of that ritual but denied anything having to do with the Grim Reaper. Brewer also admitted seeing the Grim Reaper make the rounds at midnight, and stated that Morse could have possibly have been given a drink by the costumed individual. Brewer’s demeanor made me very suspicious, as it appeared by body language (nervousness, fidgety, no eye contact) that Brewer was hiding something. I said that I knew all about Brewer’s in the Grim Reaper routine, and it was time to come clean. Brewer began to sob and told me all about the Grim Reaper scheme at two previous Halloween parties.  9. Brewer said that along with Finn and Childs, they had come up with the stunt as part of a practical joke, part revenge at every Halloween party to be played on someone who had irritated one of them. Brewer stated that once the person was selected, Childs was in charge of getting that person to the party. Brewer stated was responsible for getting the drug for the drink, and the drug of choice was liquid MDMA. Finn was the one who would wear the Grim Reaper costume and distribute the drinks at midnight. Brewer stated that Finn had selected Hollingsworth Morse as the target believing that Morse was the one to back into Finn’s brand-new Mini-Cooper at the beginning of the semester in the parking lot outside the chemistry lab. Hollingsworth drove an old a lime-green Plymouth Duster and Finn’s Mini had a lime-green mark on the dent.  10. Brewer also stated that Childs was not involved in this prank, as Morse was already coming to the party when the decision was made. Brewer gave the vial of liquid MDMA to Finn earlier that evening, and assumed all was going according to plan when the Grim Reaper appeared at midnight.  11. When I entered Finn’s room, I immediately administered the Miranda Rights. Finn seemed very surprised that I began reading those rights. I asked about Finn’s whereabouts at midnight, and was advised that Finn and Childs were upstairs in Finn’s room at midnight. I asked for consent to search the room, and Finn agreed.  12. I searched the room while Finn stood in the doorway. My search under the bed uncovered a hastily stowed black cloak, gloves and mask near the foot of the bed. I stood, holding the costume, and said, "Some others have told me about this costume." I asked if Finn had anything else to tell me. Finn then seemed to slump in the doorway, and stated, "Alright, alright. I was the Grim Reaper you

might have heard about." Further investigation revealed a vial with a small amount of clear liquid in it.  13. I recovered the red plastic cup from the victim, inventoried the evidence and returned to the police station where the three suspects were booked for possession of a controlled substance and distributing alcohol to minors. It wasn't until recently I discovered that Brewer dodged the eight ball by rolling on Finn, and the charges against Childs were completely dropped.  14. As the primary detective leading the investigation, I attended the autopsy of Morse. The Medical Examiner (“ME”), Dr. Nicholas Barker, could not immediately find an obvious single cause of death, and ordered a toxicology report. He sent samples of bodily fluids to the toxicologist who happens to be his sister Natalie.  15. When I talked to the ME about the autopsy results, he told me that Morse's death was quite violent, and that his seizures lasted for as much as 5 minutes before he died. The tox report ordered by the ME revealed 23 mg/l of MDA (a metabolite of MDMA) in the system, and the report on the vial and cup revealed that the trace liquids contained high levels of MDMA as well. In fact, the potency of the MDMA was such that it was no surprise that the dose turned out to be lethal. Traces of pseudoephedrine were also found. Pseudoephedrine is a common ingredient in over-the-counter cold remedies. The fingerprint tests for the vial came back with three sets of identifiable prints. The positive prints were identified as those of Mickey Finn and Ashley Brewer.  16. I went to Morse’s dorm room with his parents to gather his personal effects. While his parents were packing away his things, they came across a box that was hidden under his bed. The box contained a blender, bowls, tubing, several lithium batteries, about 30 packages of Sudafed and a small propane canister where the fittings had turned blue. I recognized this at once – it is a home methamphetamine laboratory. I taped off the area and alerted the RM Drug Squad. Once they arrived, I turned the investigation over to Detective Graham Rothschild.  17. It is true that I have been criticized by my sergeant for not calling backup sooner, and for questioning the suspects at the house and not at the station, but I have my reasons for doing what I did. First, I didn’t suspect foul play until I heard the Grim Reaper story, and I immediately called for backup at that time. Second, I didn’t want any of the suspects to get too defensive about being questioned, and I thought the shock of the death might loosen some lips. Third, I was pretty tired.  

SIGNED AND SWORN, February 28, 2006

________________/s/________________

DETECTIVE JAMIE LOPEZ

STATEMENT OF MICKEY FINN

1. My name’s Mickey Finn. My parents, Pops and Kat, named me for the Irish Pub where they first met. Maybe that’s why I love drinking and partying so much.  2. I’m not sure what year I’m in at Rocky Mountain University. I’ve been in no hurry to graduate. I sign up for only a few classes each term, just enough so hopefully RMU won’t give me the boot, but few enough so I have mucho time to drink and party. I do attend my classes because that’s Pops’ requirement for his money to keep flowing to me. What in the world would I do with a degree in Ancient Ceramic Art anyway? Why would I want to rush to get into the working world?  3. I can’t give you a permanent address right now. Pops and his latest love interest are traveling abroad indefinitely. She was his first assistant. She’s had more nips and tucks than any extreme makeover show can even imagine. She knows how to spend $50,000 a day on clothes for herself. I’m sure she wants to be the next Mrs. Finn and spend all of my inheritance before I ever get a chance.  4. Pops still owns an estate home in Cherry Hills and a house in Aspen, but I don’t think my keys work in those locks anymore. I guess we’ve had some issues. I had a few hundred friends over for drinks and merriment at Pops’ places a few times. They didn’t do much damage. Besides Pops can afford it. What’s the big deal?  5. My mom, Kat, joined Cirque du Soleil shortly after the divorce. I think she is in Las Vegas now doing two shows a night and three on Thursday. She sends me a postcard now and then. Maybe Pops and Kat will make it for the trial. Who knows? I don’t think they care. And I don’t care so long as Pops’ checks keep coming – and cashing.  6. Right now, I’m shacking up where I can find some couch space. That’s better than staying at the county jail’s fine accommodations. I can’t go far because my passport has been confiscated, and my moolah is running low because my fine defense does not come cheap.  7. At the time of the last Halloween party, I was renting a pad over on Hodgson with Dylan Childs and that snake Ashley Brewer. In hindsight, maybe Ronnie Poulson, whom I’ve known since elementary school, would have been a better roommate, but it would have been so, so boring because Ronnie is not a partier and is so driven.  8. The Hodgson place had a great location near campus for parties; our parties were the best. But I don’t live there anymore. I got kicked out. The landlord said something about a suspicious death on the premises constituting a material

violation of the lease. Well, all the parties were fun while they lasted and everyone had a great time – until the last one. Nobody’s laughing now, at least not me.  9. What happened that night? You tell me. You ask Ashley. All I know is that the only thing I gave Hollingsworth Morse that night was a handshake when he walked in the door. I did not play the Grim Reaper that night, and I did not spike his drink. I was upstairs with Dylan when an imposter Grim Reaper apparently did the dastardly deed. Earlier that night I made it clear to Ashley and Dylan that I was done with that old Halloween prank where the Grim Reaper delivered a spiked drink to a partygoer at midnight. We all have to grow up sometime, right?  10. Prior to the last Halloween party, the script was always the same. Dylan made sure the “target” was at the party at midnight, Ashley brought the meth to spike the drink, and I played the wicked Grim Reaper who delivered the spiked drink to the unsuspecting partygoer. Then all of the partygoers would roar at the target’s strange, usually way out-of-character behavior. But that’s not what happened the night Hollingsworth died. About a week before that party, I’d told Ashley and Dylan, “Enough was enough.” I was concerned that someone might get hurt one of these years from acting crazy, but I never, ever thought anyone would die. I knew Ashley sold meth, but I never thought Ashley would use it to hurt anyone.  11. Ashley just would not let it go, and was determined for Hollingsworth to be the “mark” and to go ahead with the prank as planned. Ashley raged when I said that I was out and the Reaper’s days were done. Ashley even demanded that I give turn over the Reaper costume so Ashley could give Hollingsworth the fateful spiked drink Ashley had already concocted. I said “no way.” I don’t remember touching the vial; I suppose I could have for just a second when it was shoved into my hand at one point to prove that Ashley already had it. I do know that I wanted nothing at all to do with it, and didn’t really think Ashley would go ahead with it.  12. At first I didn’t really understand why Ashley was suddenly so adamant about making sure the Reaper appeared that night. Then, I began to catch on. Ashley went ballistic when I refused to turn over the “Grim Reaper” costume and when I said to settle any “business disputes” with Ashley’s lab partner, Hollingsworth, on their own time. Yeah, Ashley and Hollingsworth spent a lot of time together in the lab – and at the hardware store. I knew they had something going on, but I followed the house rules: “Don’t ask; don’t tell.” I’m not surprised the police found a meth lab at Hollingsworth place, but I had never been there. House rules aside, I know for a fact that Hollingsworth made it and Ashley sold it. You want to know what really happened that night? Ask Ashley for the answers. I just got the shaft.  13. Anyway I argued with Ashley until 8:00 p.m. that night. From then on, Ashley

gave me the cold shoulder, which was fine with me. The party seemed really sweet with lots of people drifting in. I only spoke to Hollingsworth once that night. I think it was right after he arrived because he didn’t have a drink in his hand yet. It was a short meaningless conversation full of niceties. I was certainly more cordial to Hollingsworth than Ashley was that evening. I was as cordial as I could be given that Hollingsworth was acting spacey, but then he always acted like that.  14. Dylan and I did go upstairs before midnight, but it wasn’t because it was getting close to midnight or anything like that. We were both getting pretty tired. We sat in Dylan’s room chatting for a while, enjoying the relative quiet. I may have gone to my room once or twice, but not for long. Then we went back downstairs just in time to see Hollingsworth start to convulse. Poor Hollingsworth.  15. I didn’t confess to anything when I talked to that cop, Jamie Lopez. When I said “I was the Grim Reaper,” what I meant was that I’d been the Reaper in years past, but not this year. I didn’t even know someone had been downstairs impersonating the Reaper at this year’s party until the cop told me. I admitted that the Grim Reaper costume was mine, and I’d last seen it when I put it in the closet. I don’t know who stuffed it under my bed along with that drug vial. Mayby you should ask Ashley, who must have been the last person in my room before Lopez searched it. Think about it; why would I have consented to a search of my room if I had hidden the evidence so shabbily?  16. I had nothing against Hollingsworth. Sure, I suspected he was the one who dinged my car; it seemed obvious that it must have been him. After all, there are not many cars around with that ugly lime green paint that was left in the dings on my car. When I confronted him, he denied it. I considered taking him to small claims court to pay for having my Mini Cooper fixed and repainted. After all, I had been a pre-law major for half a semester. But it was not a big deal to me; Pops paid to fix it.  17. I’m sorry Hollingsworth died. No one should die that young.  18. On advice of counsel, that is all I’m prepared to state at this time. I didn’t do it. I had no reason to hurt Hollingsworth, and I was done with the Grim Reaper pranks.  

SIGNED AND SWORN, FEBRUARY 2, 2006

_______________/s/____________________

MICKEY FINN

STATEMENT OF DYLAN CHILDS

1. My name is Dylan Childs, and I am a student at Rocky Mountain University. I was there last Halloween when Hollingsworth Morse seized and died; I’ll never forget it. I’m sure Mickey had nothing to do with it. Mickey was upstairs with me at midnight. Besides, we both swore off the old “Grim Reaper” prank. It must have been Ashley.  2. Perhaps I’d better explain. Mickey, Ashley and I rent this cavernous old house just off campus on Red Rock Drive. The bedrooms are upstairs, and there’s this commons/reception room downstairs that we use for entertaining. Being off campus, the place isn’t under supervision like the student social organizations so we’ve “volunteered” to host several pretty wild parties there. We call it “Club 270.”  3. Prior to the last Halloween party, one fixture had been the appearance, precisely at midnight, of the “Grim Reaper.” I don’t know where Mickey originally got that “Reaper” costume, but it was so cool. Or should I say so gruesome?  4. That costume was so much more fun than mine for the last party. I planned to go as a St. Bernard with a keg of brandy around my neck, but that proved to be too complicated. In the end, my costume was just stage make-up, a paper mache nose, felt ears, a collar with a dog tag, and a splotched beige “bag” sort of thing with paws. It looked sort of like the Scooby-Doo costume I saw the “comic relief” guy wearing at some gymnastics competition on TV, but I copied the pattern for the costume’s appliqués – “fur splotches” – from a porcelain statue my family has at home of our late lamented dog, Rags.  5. But I digress. The trademark of our Halloween parties in years past had been the midnight appearance of the hooded, masked “Grim Reaper” to serve a “special” round of drinks. “Special” to our guests meant the ceremony of it all: the high point of the evening. “Special” to the three of us – Ashley, Mickey and me – meant that one of the drinks being passed out was spiked with a drug. Ashley always brought the drug; I think it was liquid XTC (liquid MDMA). My job was to cozy up to our “mark” for the evening, making sure that pre-selected person remained at the party until midnight. Part of the fun was selecting a patsy who was exactly the last person anyone would expect to lose control; that made the contrast between the person’s normal “image” and their post-midnight antics all the more hilarious. I don’t think the guest really knew exactly what was going on; we usually kept the dosage low enough so the person appeared intoxicated, but not drugged.  6. Prior to this last Halloween party, Mickey’s job was to play the “Reaper” and hand out drinks, including the “special” spiked one. It took some slight of hand to

be sure the right person got the right drink without being obvious. Mickey was really good at that. But I know Mickey didn’t do it at this last party, because he was with me. Besides, I heard whoever played the “Reaper” this time was not nearly as talented as Mickey.  7. The Halloween party plans had begun like any other (except bigger, of course). Hollingsworth was a pretty reliable “show-up”; that night he was in no hurry to go elsewhere so my role looked to be easy. And since Mickey told me the prank was off that night, I didn’t really have to do anything. I just hung out with Mickey. What Ashley had done about getting XTC (liquid MDMA) for that night, I don’t know. I do know that the caterer failed to show; that’s what you get for hiring a moonlighter rather than a full-time professional. We had to hustle to cover that lapse with the snacks. When I see that moonlighter, I’d like to give him a piece of my mind, but he’s disappeared to who knows where.  8. And then there was the entertainment! Well, that’s not my fault at all; Mickey hired Lil’ Nemesis T based on reputation. Who knew that they lip-synched everything? I guess maybe I did, but I didn’t tell Mickey. Little Nemesis T’s as fake as their name.  9. About 9 o’clock that evening, I had gone into the back of the downstairs to what was once the butler’s pantry of the house. My job was to discreetly wire Lil’ Nemesis T’s “karaoke machine” into the sound system. There I heard Mickey and Ashley arguing. Mickey had “had enough” with our trademark prank and was not going to do it anymore. I piped up that Hollingsworth was the perfect mark – so shy and so proper – to get the spiked drink, but I didn’t press the point. I was too distracted trying to salvage what looked to become a sinking, dying affair thanks to Lil’ Nemesis T (and on Halloween, too).  10. But, before I finished what I was doing, I was surprised to hear Ashley express real hatred toward Hollingsworth. Who knew anyone had such strong feelings against him. To me, he was so bland, so gray . . . such a cipher. (I mean, that was the point, wasn’t it?) But Ashley was really angry with Hollingsworth about something. When Mickey refused to go through with the prank that night, Ashley got angry with Mickey too. Ashley even offered to wear the costume and play the “Grim Reaper”, but that came to nothing when Mickey refused. Mickey expressed regret for having been part of the “Reaper” prank before (which was strange since I’d never heard Mickey express any remorse). Mickey and Ashley glowered at each other and stomped off. By then, the bulk of our guests had started to arrive so I “circulated” until sometime after eleven.  11. The party was in big trouble. The Halloween decorations weren’t the only things that made the house feel like a mortuary in spite of the keg. I joined Mickey and Ashley in the living room beside the staircase to discuss what to do. Ashley had come from the kitchen and was very concerned about how dead the place felt and how anti-climactic midnight was going to be without the Grim

Reaper. The two of them still weren’t speaking cordially. There was this silent gulf, and they glared at one another through the eyeholes of their respective masks. So, Mickey and I went upstairs to Mickey’s room; while Ashley remained “on duty” and hosted the party, I suppose.  12. That must’ve been a quarter-to-twelve, I guess. After the tension downstairs, once the two of us got up to the second floor, we just collapsed and chilled. I must confess we drank something a bit better for ourselves than the libations we were serving to our guests. There are so many gatecrashers at an off campus party that you just can’t afford the best for all. I don’t even remember what we talked about; I suppose we mostly stared out the window at the ghostly patterns that the tree branches in the moonlight were making on the fire-escape landing. It was all very soporific.  13. I didn’t notice anything unusual at midnight. The grandfather clock by the front door usually chimes, but the hardwood floors are thick so I’m not certain I even noticed it being midnight. When my wristwatch said 12:15 a.m., we stretched and agreed our duty lay downstairs at the party.  14. As Mickey and I headed down the staircase, music was thudding from the reception room. (I think the partygoers had given up on Lil’ Nemesis T and started playing CDs.) That must’ve done the trick because things appeared livelier than when I’d gone upstairs, a half-hour before. People were dancing and there was an animated buzz from the huddle by the buffet.  15. Through the ebullient guests, I noticed Hollingsworth. The boring nerd seemed to have gotten some life after all; maybe that vampire costume was doing him some good! I’d started to walk his way when I noticed a strange expression come over his face. At first, I thought Hollingsworth was acting, getting into character by clenching his body and bugging his eyes. But then I noticed his rasping and wheezing; suddenly I realized he wasn’t that good an actor. Nobody’s that good an actor.  16. I was running towards Hollingsworth before I knew it. I think Mickey was close by and maybe Ashley was too, but I’m not sure. My attention was on Hollingsworth. I was close enough now to see beneath his Halloween make-up. He didn’t look healthy, and he wasn’t breathing normally at all. I tore open his “Dracula” evening clothes costume and tried to start chest compressions. But I don’t know CPR; I’ve only watched it on TV. I could feel his heart leaping inside his chest like a freight train going off its tracks. There was an actual pulse beneath his starched shirt, but we’d discovered it too late. Who knew he was going to die; how unexpected and how sad.  17. I was grateful when Charley Bunsen took over. By then, I think, someone must’ve called the paramedics because I heard sirens shortly thereafter. Lil’ Nemesis T and the dreadful lip synching were long gone, and the guests stood

around silently watching Hollingsworth twitch on the floor as Charley and then the paramedics worked on him. Detective Lopez seemed to arrive with the rescue squad and apparently began to clear the room. After Mickey, Ashley and I were hustled away from each other, I looked at my watch again; it was 12:28 a.m. Time moves so strangely, sometimes quickly, sometimes so, so slowly.  18. I sighed several times and tried to discern from noises filtering up the staircase what the Rescue Squad was doing. I kept checking my watch incessantly for lack of anything else to do. It was 12:40 a.m. when Detective Lopez came to question me. Lopez sent each of the three of us to our respective rooms. Mine is across the landing from Mickey’s and half-way across from Ashley’s; I don’t have a connecting bath, as they do, so I felt pretty isolated while Lopez went to the other two first. About 1:00 a.m., Lopez came out of the doorway across the landing with Mickey’s old “Grim Reaper” costume. Lopez had me escorted downstairs and then taken to the station. Of course, I cooperated; why wouldn’t I? I – we – had done nothing, I thought. I was elated when I was told that all charges against me were being dropped; that certainly was the right result for me.  19. Mickey and I weren’t even downstairs when the “Grim Reaper” showed up that night so I know it couldn’t have been Mickey playing the part. It must’ve been Ashley. Ashley had some gripe with Hollingsworth, and Ashley had vials of liquid XTC (liquid MDMA) before. So, you make up your own mind. I just know that even if the police found a vial in Mickey’s upstairs room, Mickey never left until we went downstairs together after midnight. By then, Hollingsworth already looked horrendously drugged. Hey, maybe Hollingsworth had taken his own drugs earlier that night. The more I hear the more I realize that I really didn’t know much about him. But who would have guessed he would’ve ended up dead that night?  

SIGNED AND SWORN, February 21, 2006

_______________/s/_______________________

DYLAN CHILDS    

 

 

STATEMENT OF RONNIE KINGSLEY (R.K.) POULSON

1. My name is Ronnie Kingsley Poulson, but everyone has always called me R.K. I’m a junior at Rocky Mountain University.  2. I’m the greatest athlete ever to attend this school – male or female – so everyone at school knows me. I’ll be All-American in basketball this year. I’m a point guard for RMU wearing number 3, just like Allen Iverson of the 76ers. I not only love playing basketball, I also enjoy watching professional games (in person or on television). My favorite pro players are Carmello Anthony, and Sheryl Swoops, a forward for the in the WNBA’s Houston Comets.  3. To be a star athlete, my training regime is quite strict. In addition to regular team practices, I get up every morning at 6:00 a.m. to shoot free throws and run sprints. It’s not easy, but I have to be in great shape. Of course, I avoid all alcohol and illegal drugs, including performance-enhancing drugs. Alcohol and illegal drugs are stupid; besides, they would undermine my post-graduation plans to be a star professional basketball player earning mega-dollars from product endorsements.  4. My major at RMU is pharmacy, but that really does not matter. Pharmacy is only a back-up plan, just in case I’m injured and cannot play pro ball. Getting into the pharmacy school was easy for me with my brains, good grades, and all the right connections. I did not have to major in physical education even though most of my other team members had to.  5. Hollingsworth Morse applied to major in pharmacy at RMU, but he was rejected. His “geek” personality would have fit, but his running a methamphetamine lab in the dorm room was not the right kind of credential for pharmacy at RMU. Everyone knew he ran that lab and sold meth. Sometimes I’d visit a friend on the same floor in the dorm where Hollingsworth lived; I could smell the chemicals for making meth in his room every time I passed it. I don’t know why RMU didn’t arrest him and shut down that lab. Everyone also knew that Ashley Brewer was Hollingsworth’s biggest business competitor. Rumor was Brewer had a supplier in New Mexico for XTC (liquid methylene dioxymethamphetamine or MDMA). But, I never bought or used any meth; that would have undermined all my efforts to be the best athlete ever.  6. I have known Mickey Finn since grade school in Denver; Mickey always has been willing to help me whenever I need it. Training for basketball takes so much of my time that I don’t always attend class or study for exams. But my parents expect me to have great grades even if I’m a star athlete. Last term Mickey really helped me with Ethics 101 (one of those required courses at RMU). I hardly ever went to that class because it was so boring. Mickey gave me class notes and helped me with the take-home final in exchange for two RMU jerseys.

I got an “A” in the class. I wanted to attend the Halloween Party that Mickey, Ashley and Dylan give every year to show Mickey my appreciation. While I rarely attend parties, especially with the underage drinking and illegal drugs present, I believe in thanking Mickey for helping me.  7. The Halloween Party that Mickey, Ashley and Dylan give at “Club 270” every year is famous for the appearance of the “Grim Reaper.” Around midnight at each party, Mickey puts on a Grim Reaper costume and gives a drink spiked with liquid XTC to someone who, after a few gulps, usually becomes the hit of the party. Several days before the party this year, I had a heart-to-heart talk with Mickey about the dangers of passing out the liquid XTC to some unsuspecting person and the risk that such a person could end up really hurt or even dead. The night before the party Mickey assured me that there was not going to be any liquid XTC cocktail handed out this year so the party might not be as exciting, but at least no one would get hurt. Mickey told me that Ashley did not take the news well that the prank was off; Ashley really wanted to do it because they, really Ashley, had picked Hollingsworth as the person to get the “special” drink and act the fool this year. Mickey told me that Ashley had become really angry and promised “Hollingsworth won’t get off that easy.”  8. The night of the party, I arrived sometime after 11:00 p.m. I dressed up as the Thunder Cat, RMU’s mascot. I borrowed the huge yellow and orange cat suit with the lightning bolt on the front from the person who wears it at all the RMU games. The party was really pretty lame, especially the entertainment, because Lil’ Nemesis T was lip-synching instead of performing live. I saw Hollingsworth shortly after I arrived at the party; he seemed really fidgety and nervous. He was acting as if he was already high on meth or alcohol or both.  9. My costume was really, really hot and very difficult to drink through the big mask so I went outside for some cool fresh air shortly before midnight. That’s when I saw Ashley with a vial in hand heading into the kitchen. Ashley walked by and commented that this party would not be lame much longer and the Grim Reaper would not let us down this year. I was shocked because I knew that Mickey was not going to perform the Grim Reaper trick this year. Ashley went into the kitchen and came out again, and then went up the fire escape to the second floor. Ashley was almost running and was carrying some sort of black bundle. I didn’t think much of it at the time.  10. I realized that I had not yet thanked Mickey for helping me with the class, so I went around to the front porch to see if I could locate my friend. From the front porch, I saw Mickey going up the main stairs to the second floor with Dylan, just a few minutes after Ashley went upstairs. Mickey had on a black burglar costume and Dylan was dressed like a dog. I didn’t see them in time to talk so I stayed outside a few minutes longer.  11. Once inside again, to my surprise, I saw the Grim Reaper appear and start

distributing drinks. The Grim Reaper gave the last drink to Hollingsworth. Soon after Hollingsworth gulped down the Reaper cocktail, I noticed him staggering around on the dance floor. He looked really confused and anxious, with his eyes darting here, there and everywhere. He started clenching the muscles in his hands, arms and legs and then his teeth started clenching together; he was shivering. I could tell even from a distance that his clothes were drenched in sweat. Then he began moving from person to person, trying to hang on to their shoulder or arm – clutching them in what seemed like an attempt to stay on his feet. It didn’t look as if he could control or stop himself from having the muscle spasms. The look on his face was pathetic – full of fear and confusion about what was happening to him.  12. Across the room I saw Ashley laughing at Hollingsworth. Although inside, Ashley looked like a person who had just finished a workout: all sweaty, hair messed up and the black burglar outfit was a mess. It struck me as strange because Ashley is the type of person who’s always perfectly dressed with not a hair out of place.  13. Next, Hollingsworth started pulling at his vampire costume as though he was trying to get some air. His face had turned a sickly shade of green; there were several people in his path who moved out of the way quickly, dodging his grasps, hoping, I guess, that he wouldn’t vomit on them. I started toward him, thinking I’d help him to the bathroom, but by the time I took two steps, Hollingsworth had fallen to the floor like a dead weight with his arms and legs twitching. His whole body was shaking and jerking, and he appeared to be experiencing tremors throughout his entire body. His eyes were rolled back into his head. His jaws were clenched shut, he appeared to be choking on his tongue, and he had a pinkish froth dribbling from the side of his mouth. Then Hollingsworth became very still and started turning blue. None of this took very long--only about 15 minutes from the time Hollingsworth downed the Grim Reaper’s drink-- until he was lying dead on the floor. Immediately, I realized that the liquid Ecstasy Ashley had put in his drink, together with whatever other meth and alcohol he’d had, was too much. What a tragedy.  14. I screamed for someone to call “911” and then tried to clear the area around Hollingsworth so Charley, who reached Hollingsworth first, would have room to perform CPR on him. After a few minutes, a paramedic showed up and tried to resuscitate Hollingsworth, but it didn’t work.  15. Detective Lopez showed up, cleared the room, separated everyone and began taking down names and addresses so we could be contacted later to give our written statements.  16. Several days after the party, in the school library, Ashley said that Mickey was really in trouble this time, but Hollingsworth was to blame because he was a speed freak and a greedy druggie. I told Ashley that I knew Mickey didn’t give

Hollingsworth the drink. Ashley said, “Well the police think Mickey did it, and no one can prove otherwise.” With Hollingsworth gone, Ashley has no serious competition in selling drugs; that should lead to a price increase and more profits for Ashley. Ashley gets to plead guilty to simple possession and serving alcohol to minors in exchange for testifying against Mickey; that’s a great deal for Ashley. I really think Ashley, not Mickey, is the culprit.  

SIGNED AND SWORN, February 8, 2006

_______________/s/_______________

RONNIE KINGSLEY POULSON