Disturbed Ground
Page 38
APPENDIX I
TOXICOLOGY REPORTS
Trace amounts of drugs found in the bodies’ tissues, given in milligrams per kilogram. Any asterisk indicates prescribed drugs. And “<” is the symbol for “less than.”
#88-3372: LEONA CARPENTER
Age 78, approx. 100 lbs., 5’2”
Drugs Brain
Flurazepam* 0.04
Metabolite 1 0.13
Metabolite 2 0.84
Diazepam 0.74
Codeine 0.50
#88-3374: DOROTHY MILLER
Age 65, approx. 120 lbs., 5’7”
Drugs Brain Liver
Flurazepam 0.03 0.07
Metabolite 1 0.06 0.09
Metabolite 2 0.97 0.83
Carbamazepine 54.00 68.00
#88-3381: BERT MONTOYA
Age 54, approx. 180 lbs., 5’5”
Drugs Brain Liver
Flurazepam* 0.95 0.88
Metabolite 1 0.09 0.06
Metabolite 2 0.41 0.35
Diphenhydramine <0.50 1.50
Loxapine <2.50 <7.70
Amitriptyline 0.10 0.49
Carbamazepine <3.00 <5.00
#88-3382: BENJAMIN FINK
Age 55, approx. 155 lbs., 5’8”
Drugs Brain Liver
Flurazepam 0.00 0.04
Metabolite 1 0.02 1.30
Metabolite 2 1.80 0.66
Loxapine 5.30 15.50
Amitriptyline 3.80 21.60
Nortriptyline .50 22.00
#88-3384: JAMES GALLOP
Age 64, approx. 132 lbs., 5’10”
Drugs Brain Liver
Flurazepam* 0.29 0.36
Metabolite 1 0.19 7.73
Metabolite 2 0.90 5.97
Pheyntoin* 8.50 13.50
Amitriptyline <0.50 1.10
Nortriptyline 0.50 0.70
#88-3394: VERA FAYE MARTIN
Age 65, approx. 100 lbs., 5’2”
Drugs Brain Liver
Flurazepam 0.15 1.60
Metabolite 1 0.35 0.75
Metabolite 2 1.60 0.13
#88-3395: BETTY PALMER
Age 79, approx. 79 lbs., 5’1½ ”
Drugs Liver
Flurazepam* 1.50
Metabolite 1 3.31
Metabolite 2 1.28
Haloperidol* 2.17
Doxylamine <1.00
Amitriptyline, an antidepressant, is commonly sold as Elavail.
Carbamazepine, an anticonvulsant, is commonly sold as Tegretol.
Codeine, a narcotic, is often combined with other medications.
Diazepam, a tranquilizer, is commonly sold as Valium.
Diphenhydramine, an antihistamine and depressant, is a common ingredient in medications such as Benadryl and Sominex.
Doxylamine, an antihistamine and hypnotic, is an ingredient in Unisom and other mediations.
Flurazepam, a sedative, is commonly sold as Dalmane; its two metabolites are N1-hydroxethyl-flurazepam and N2-desalkyl-flurazepam.
Halperidol, an antipsychotic, is commonly sold as Loxitane.
Nortriptyline, an antidepressant, is commonly sold as Aventyl.
Phenytoin, an anticonvulsant, is commonly sold as Dilantin.
APPENDIX II
PRESCRIPTIONS FOR DALMANE (FLURAZEPAM)
AVAILABLE TO DOROTHEA MONTALVO PUENTE
(30 pills, 30 mg. unless otherwise noted)
Date Pharmacy Doctor Patient
10/29/85 McAnaw’s Herrera* Dorothy Montalvo
12/16/85 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothy Montalvo
01/24/86 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothy Montalvo
02/20/86 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothy Montalvo
02/26/86 McAnaw’s Leona Carpenter
04/11/86 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothy Montalvo
06/09/86 McAnaw’s Doody** Dorothea Puente
07/02/86 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
07/24/86 McAnaw’s Doody Dorothea Puente
08/22/86 McAnaw’s Doody Dorothea Puente
09/08/86 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
09/19/86 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothea Puente
09/19/86 McAnaw’s Leona Carpenter
11/10/86 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothea Puente
11/28/86 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
12/29/86 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothy Montalvo
01/24/87 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
02/13/87 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
02/19/87 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothy Montalvo
03/25/87 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
04/20/87 McAnaw’s Herrera Dorothy Montalvo
05/20/87 McAnaw’s Mesic James Gallop (15 mg)
06/15/87 McAnaw’s Doody Dorothea Puente
07/15/87 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
08/12/87 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
09/01/87 McAnaw’s Doody Dorothea Puente
09/25/87 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
10/29/87 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
12/01/87 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
01/22/88 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
03/15/88 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
04/13/88 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
05/24/88 McAnaw’s Doody Dorothea Puente
06/28/88 McAnaw’s Doody Dorothea Puente
07/11/88 McAnaw’s Doody Bert Montoya
07/27/88 McAnaw’s Doody Dorothea Puente
08/24/88 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
09/26/88 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
11/01/88 Payless Doody Dorothea Puente
_______
/*Dr. Jose Herrera has stopped practicing medicine.
/**Dr. Thomas Doody was too ill to testify at Puente’s trial, according to his attorney.
AUTHOR'S NOTE
Writing nonfiction crime, one is continually struck by how subjective the "truth" can be. Like those proverbial blind men describing the elephant, each person has a singular version of reality. The writer's task, in my view, is to distill the facts down to the essential truth, presenting the reader with an account that flows with authenticity.
Any errors in this text are doubtless due to my own misunderstanding of the elephantine "truth."
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Over the years of researching and writing this book, countless people have shared information, and I owe them all a debt of thanks.
First and foremost, my deep appreciation to Judy Moise, whose personal thoughts and feelings about this case, and most especially about Bert Montoya, not only helped shape the manuscript, but compelled me to undertake this story.
Warmest thanks to Reba Nicklous, to William Clausen and the entire Clausen family, and to Jerry Hobbs for sharing their views, feelings, and sometimes painful memories.
I owe special thanks to the attorneys: the always illuminating prosecutors, George Williamson, and Assistant Chief Deputy District Attorney John O'Mara; and the unfailingly gracious defense attorneys, Kevin Clymo, and Supervising Assistant Public Defender Peter Vlautin.
Special thanks also to the Honorable Michael J. Virga and to his able court clerk, Barbara Beddow, for their unmatched kindness and strong coffee.
Recognition is also due many saintly souls in social services, most particularly: Bill Johnson and J. D. Ridgley at the Volunteers of America; Mary Ellen Howard at the Department of Welfare; Lucy Yokota at the Chest Clinic; and Michael Coonan, whose comprehensive report, "Sins of Omission," was an early compass for this project.
At the Sutter County Sheriff’s Department, many thanks to Lieutenant Wilbur Terry, Lieutenant Steve Sizelove, and Sergeant Loren Felts for their time, honesty, and refreshing openness.
At the Sacramento County Coroner's Office, my thanks to Coroner James A. Moore; to Deputy Coroners Edward Smith and Laura Synhorst; to forensic toxicologist James Beede; and most especially to forensic pathologists Dr. Robert Anthony and Dr. Gary Stuart.
At the California Department of Justice, a nod of thanks to Supervising Toxicologist William Phillips, and to Senior Document Examiner Da
vid Moore.
Long-distance thanks to Dr. Janet Warren of the Institute of Law, Psychiatry, and Public Policy at the University of Virginia, and to Roy Hazelwood of the FBI's Behavioral Sciences Unit.
Thanks also to Deputy District Attorney Janice Hayes; to former Deputy District Attorney Bill Wood; to Parole Officer Jim Wilson; to Deputy Pete James at the Sacramento County Main Jail; to court reporter Mary Corbitt; and to bartender Marjorie Harper. And special gratitude to the aptly named Mr. John Sharp.
A bow to my many colleagues in the news media, always a source of inspiration, and most particularly ace reporter Wayne Wilson of The Sacramento Bee.
Thanks also to the long-suffering, hardworking jurors for understanding that this book differs from the accounts presented at trial, since some things simply didn't make it through the legal filter into the courtroom.
Profound thanks to my family and friends, who stood by me during more than four years of work, and to my photographer, George Fardell.
Lastly, thanks to Liza Dawson, the astute editor who guided me through the writing of this book, as she did with Perfect Victim.