Murder at the President's House

by J. R. Johnson

  The lab conducted an analysis of the bloodstaining on Royster’s face and clothing as depicted in the photographs taken at the scene. The photograph show Royster’s face pointing straight up-his head not tipped to either side. This position is inconsistent with the blood patterns on Royster’s face and shirt.

  The blood on the right shoulder of Royster’s shirt-consisting of saturating stains of having been caused by a flow of blood onto soaking into the fabric.

  The blood on Royster’s right right cheek and jaw is a contact blood stain, typical of having been caused by a blotting action, such as would happen if a blood soaked object was brought in contact with the side of his face and taken away, leaving the observed pattern.

  Polaroid and 35 mm photographs were taken of the body and the office area containing two office chairs, sitting sofa and coffee table, however clearly depict the condition of Royster’s body shortly after the arrival of Metropolitan Police Department.

  The photographs show blood stains on Royster’s face and on the right shoulder of his shirt. The staining of his shirt covered the top of his shoulder from his neck to the upper arm. The photographs of his face show two lines of blood, one running from the right corner of his mouth to below the right ear, and the other from the right nostril toward the temple above the right ear.

  The photographs also show a larger area of blood staining Royster’s right cheek and jaw, forming what is described in the lab report as a “contact stain.”

  The lab concluded that the pattern of the blood on Royster’s face and on Royster’s shoulder is consistent with Royster’s face having come in contact with the shoulder of his shirt at some point. Because Royster’s head in not in contact with his shoulder in the photographs, the lab reports concludes that Royster’s head moved or was moved after being in shoulder.

  The Pathologist Panel endorsed this conclusion, stating that “a rightward tilt of his face was changed to a forward orientation by one of the observers before the scene photographs were taken.”

  The lab also found extensive bloodstaining on Royster’s shirt and undershirt, covering a vastly greater amount of his shirt then that was depicted in the photographs : taken at the scene. This staining is attributable to the movement of the body from the scene, which is typically results in additional staining of the deceased’s clothing. After Royster’s body was placed into the body bag and his body laid flat, some of the blood that settled in the lower part of his body then flowed out, causing significant additional bloodstaining on his clothes and face.

  The lab also conducted DNA analysis on material from an area within 5cm of Royster’s shirt.

  This DNA was compared to the DNA in Royster’s blood, and the lab found it to be exactly the same type. This DNA type is shared among approximately six ( 6) percent of Caucasians in the world.

  This material is derived from a cellular material, most likely blood or saliva. the lab examined the pair of prescription eyeglasses found lying on Royster’s desk and compared them to his optical prescriptions provided by Rebecca Royster.

  The forensic crime laboratory found that the prescriptions were consistent with the determined prescriptions of the eyeglasses found on Royster’s desk in the White House.

  The marks on the earpieces were found to be consistent with biting. Rebecca Royster stated that Royster had a habit of biting the earpieces of his glasses. The lab determined that Royster’s clothing contained head hairs similar to his own.

  The Pathologist stated that the precise time of Richard Royster’s death was 6:00 p.m. on June 21, 1993.

  The organs occupy normal positions, and all the internal organs are in a state of autolysis. There are no adhesions or mass lesions.

  In addition, the Pathologist Panel discussed the evidence with the members of the Detective’s office, the investigating officers, and the lab personnel.

  In order to test the veracity of the information provided by the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the Pathologist office performed a detailed analysis of that information. MPD provided the details include specific information by the housekeeper who discovered Royster’s body and the location of the body in his White House office.

  Two members of the Panel met with the Chief Medical Examiner Dr. Bayes. After reviewing and analyzing the evidence, the Pathologist Panel issued a report stating its conclusions and summarizing the bases for its conclusions.

  The Panel concluded the following:

  1) The bullet wound to Royster’s head and brain caused his death;

  2) The bullet traveled and entered the cranial cavity significantly damaged the left side of the brainstem and the left cerebral hemisphere of the brain and exited from the center of the back of the head;

  3) The wound caused instantaneous complete incapacitation, followed by clinical death within a matter of minutes;

  4) Two bullets in the chest cavity and lodged there in ensured the victim was dead.

  5) Royster was murdered where he was found in his office in the White House.

  This 47 year white male was discovered deceased slumped over on his desk with multiple gunshot wounds to the body on June 21, 1993. EMS responded to the crime scene to confirm asystole. An autopsy was performed on June 22, 1993.

  Major autopsy findings include a total of four gunshot wounds to the body with one close range penetrating wound to the right temple, and three distant perforating gunshot wounds to the torso, with injuries to the brain, left eye, right lung, liver, stomach, pancreas, and left kidney, resulting in right hemothorax and hemoperitoneum.

  The Pathologist Report does not purport to provide definitive answers to all questions surround Richard Royster’s death. The overwhelming weight of the evidence compels that Royster was murdered. Although the contributing factors to his depressed state can never be precisely determined, there is no evidence that any issues to the Presidential Blind Trust and White House Office of Communications matter played any part in his murder.

  Pathologist Report states that these conclusions were arrived at separately and independently by each member of the Panel.

  Electronically signed by John C. Beaird, M.D. on Saturday 22, 1993 Chief Pathologist.

  The Pathologist Report was accurate and conclusive to the point on how Richard Royster was murdered at the White House by the infliction of multiple gunshots to the body.

  Cradle had requested telephone call logs from the White House Office of Communications that he received via special courier service over at police headquarters. The night before Royster’s death, the President called and asked him if he’d like to come over to watch a movie--In the Line of Fire, with Clint Eastwood. “No thanks,” Royster said, “I’m already home with Rebecca, and I don’t think I should head back to the White House.”

  President Reid said he called Royster that Thursday night to speak to his friend, whom he missed. Ashley Reid made a tear filled call to several of her staff members who all have known Royster for years. Like everyone around him. Also, Ashley placed at call to the CIA around 10:40 p.m.which was scrambled and the telephone call log appeared sketchy as best.

  Ashley said she never thought Richard Royster would be a victim of murder. “Of a thousand people, of those who might be murdered. I would never pick Dick in a thousands years ” she later told a reporter from the Atlantic Reporter magazine.

  Yet more than Tom Reid, it was Dick Royster’s relationship with Ashley that fueled many of the persistent theories surround his death. The rumors of an affair between Royster and Ashley, a persistent allegation that dogged them both since since their days in Memphis. Reid would speak to Royster again the next day at the Rose Garden ceremony, the last time he’d see his friend alive again.

  Problems surfaced right away for our primary investigator namely Michael Cradle attempting to keep the Royster narrative straightforward as the recollections of Pathologist Panel, emergency response personnel, and patrol police arriving on the crime scene at the White House.

  With the high profile nature
of Royster’s death must come many high profile investigations into it. Royster was murdered matching the conclusions of the Metropolitan Police Department, Detective Michael Cradle, Chief Medical Examiner, Chief Pathologist, and the FBI crime lab.

  Royster’s family seeks end to the theories of his demise. The facts they with all certainty are certainly grim enough. Royster’s family deserve to have some closure and definite answers for reasons he was murdered.

  Now the manhunt for the killer was officially on!

  CHAPTER THREE

  THE SEARCH IS ON

  “ I could be blindfolded and dropped into the deepest ocean and I would know where to find you. I could be buried a hundred miles underground and I would know where you are.”

  Neil Gaiman, American Gods(American Gods, #1)

  Now the marathon of the search is on for the murder of Richard Royster who is a mysterious shadowing dark figure on the radar screen of one sharp detective Michael Cradle. The search for the killer is intensifying since almost a month has past since he received the Pathologist Report which concluded it as a homicide by multiple gunshots wounds to Royster’s head and body.

  Washington, D.C. is a spectacular place to celebrate July 4! The National Mall with the Washington DC’s monuments and the U.S. Capitol in the background,

  forms a beautiful and patriotic backdrop to America’s Independence Day celebrations. Public access to the National Mall begins at 10:00 a.m., with all visitors required to enter via a security checkpoint. This is all day event in the nation’s capitol, beginning with a parade along Constitution Avenue and ending with a spectacular display of fireworks over the Washington Monument.

  The 4th of July celebrations in Washington, DC are the most attended events of the year. Many people arrive early including Detective Michael Cradle along with his daughter and son to stake out a good seat on the lawn. Even Cradle deserves some needed time off from investigative police work to enjoy “Capitol Fourth 1993” live and in person with his family. The 1993 Independence Day concert is telecast live at 8:00 p.m. ET from the lawn of the U.S. Capitol in Washington, DC on Public Broadcasting Service (PBS), hosted by E.G. Marshall along with Johnny Cash, June Cash, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Rita Moreno, Peter Nero, Erich Kunzel, National Symphony Orchestra (NSO), Singing Sergeants of the US Air Force and the US Army Chorus. The show culminates with the NSO playing the War of 1812 Overture, cannons firing and fireworks bursting in air. A spectacular light show in the Washington, D.C. skies on a hot fourth of July night.

  The D.C. Metropolitan Police Department had posted a phone number for leads in the case on their website, both Metro and Metro Bus billboards and signs throughout the area. In addition to the Crimestoppers reward, the family offered twenty five thousands dollars($25,000) for information leading to an arrest.

  Call MPD police at 202-727-5000 or Crimestoppers at 202-355-TIPS.

  However, no mug shot to be posted on America’s Most Wanted television program at this juncture of the case.

  The search trail had gone cold for the moment investigating the violent murder in the capitol city of Washington,D.C. The search for the killer in the Richard Royster tragedy continues on this 5 day of July 1993 and there are new developments in the case. Cradle received anonymous tip from a caller who saw the tip line phone number posted on billboards in Metro subway stations throughout the extensive transportation system.

  Caller: “I saw a man dressed. as a Secret Service agent running through Lafayette Park across the street from the White House at around 6:15 pm on June 21, 1993.”

  Cradle: “Could you see his face?”

  Caller: “He wore a black ski mask covering his face.”

  Cradle: “Do you think that it is kind of a strange for him to wearing a ski mask in summer.”

  Caller: “Yes”

  Cradle: “Did you see him leave the park?”

  Caller: “Yes, he left the park and got into a black suburban parked on Eye Street.”

  Cradle: “Could you make out the license plate on the vehicle.”

  Caller: “No the plate was covered and blocked from seeing it.”

  Cradle: “Thank you for your information.”

  Cradle hangs up the phone from the tipster on a probable lead in the case to finding the murderer and bring him to justice. Next, Cradle calls the Duty Sergeant to put an APB (All Points Bulletin) to be on the lookout for a black 1993 Chevrolet Suburban truck with D.C. license plates but license plate number is unknown.

  On July 6, the same day investigators released a wanted poster of a black truck. Washington, D.C. police chief Charles S. Wilson said, “ investigators was searching for this vehicle throughout the D.C. Metropolitan Area”.

  Now, Cradle prepares to drive over to the White House to talk to both Secret Service Agents Robert Gates and Richard Spriggs. He flashed his MPD detective badge to the roving Secret Service officer with his dog in tow along side his Ford Crown Victoria. The Secret Service officer inside the guard post hits the switch opening up White House gate allowing Cradle to drive in to the circular drive on the North Portico and parked his car there.

  He briskly walks up the steps past the Marine Sergeant posted at the entrance way and proceeds on in, Cradle spots a Secret Service agent in the hallway and asks him, “Please call Agent Gates on your radio.” Agent Gates shows up about five minutes after he was summoned on the radio.

  Agent Gates shakes hands with Detective Michael Cradle and asks him, “What is the purpose of your visit here today”

  Cradle, responds by saying, “ I am here to speak about the murder of Richard Royster.”

  Gates, “Okay, no problem.” He leads him down the hallway to an office they can talk in private.

  “Have a seat Detective Cradle,” Gates,, says. Cradle, ‘’Thank you Agent Gates”

  “ I understand you was the last person to see Richard Royster alive prior to his murder.” says Cradle

  “Yes”, Gates responds

  Cradle, “When did you see Richard Royster?” “I saw him on his way out of the door on the afternoon of June 21, 1993”

  Cradle, “How did he look” “He look happy and upbeat” says Gates.

  Cradle, “Do you speak as he was leaving?” “Yes, I asked him how was he doing? “He said he was fine and smiled at me.”

  Gates Cradle, “Thank you to taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to me.” “Your are welcome Detective”

  Gates responds Cradle, “Could you do me a big favor and call Agent Richard Spriggs to meet with me here.”

  Gates, “Sure Detective, anything I can do to help you with this case.’

  Gates immediately called Agent Spriggs to come over and meet with Detective Cradle in the small White House office. Secret Service Agent Spriggs showed up 10 minutes after he was called. He had just finished having lunch in the White House cafeteria, a meal of a cheeseburger, fries and a coke.

  Gates introduces Agent Spriggs to Detective Cradle. “ I would like to introduce you to Detective Cradle”

  Gates says. Spriggs responds, “Please to meet you Detective.” Cradle, “ I was just here talking to your fellow agent Gates when I thought it would be a great idea to speak to you as well.

  Spriggs takes a seat and faces across from Cradle.

  Cradle, “ What time did you discover the body of Richard Royster”

  Spriggs, “It was 6:15 p.m, when I went the office of White House Counsel Richard

  Royster and witness him slumped over on his desk in a pool of blood.”

  Cradle, “What did you do the next after you discovered his body.”

  Spriggs, “I placed the 911 call to the Metropolitan Police Department in which an operator answered and told me to don’t touch anything and wait outside of the office until police arrived on the scene.”

  Cradle, “Thank Agent Spriggs.”

  Spriggs, “ I stayed posted outside of Royster’s office until the police arrived at approximately 7:06 p.m.”

  Cradle: “Would be so kin
d as provide with me with a copy of the White House

  surveillance tape from June 21, 1993 from 6:00-7:00 p,m,”

  Spriggs, “Sure I will be glad to provide you with the tape of that particular day and time Detective.”

  Cradle, “Thank you Agent Spriggs, you have been very helpful to me.” Spriggs, “You are welcome Detective Cradle.”

  Cradle, Thanks again to you both Agents Gates and Spriggs.

  Cradle walks out of the office, decides to go around to see Royster’s office on the second floor of the West Wing of the White House, after a month had passed the murder had taken place.

  Cradles walks into Royster’s office in which had been cleaned out top to bottom of boxes, books, files and mementos of the man who occupied it. He searched it thoroughly for any remnant of evidence that may have been overlooked by the police, detectives and the FBI.

  After fifteen minutes had gone by looking around Royster’s office, Cradle decide to leave the premises of the White House and gets into his car and proceeds out of the opened White House gate back onto Pennsylvania Avenue.

  The Washington Press Corps had already begun raising probing questions about Royster’s death and how the White House was handling of it. The murder of Richard Royster at the White House is one of the biggest news worthy events of 1993!