Documents Released In Dartmouth Killings
Police documents were released Thursday in
the slayings of two Dartmouth College professors, but they
contained no hint about what might have motivated the alleged
killers.
Watch Jack Harper's Report
The affidavits released in Lebanon District Court outline some
of the evidence that led police to Robert Tulloch, 17, and James
Parker, 16. The Chelsea, Vt., teenagers face first-degree murder
charges in the Jan. 27 stabbing deaths of Half and Susanne Zantop.
The documents confirm, as already reported, that fingerprints
found in the Zantops' home matched the younger of the two teen
suspects.
In addition to the fingerprint evidence, the court documents
also describe two knives Parker bought over the Internet in early
January. Deputy Medical Examiner Thomas Gilson analyzed identical
knives and found they could have inflicted the Zantops' wounds.
"Dr. Gilson compared the exemplar with the stab wounds
inflicted on Half and Susanne Zantop," police said. "Dr. Gilson
told Sgt. (Mark) Mudgett that he determined that stabbing injuries
inflicted upon Half and Susanne Zantop were consistent with having
been inflicted by the exemplar knife."
The documents as released, with some sections blacked out, don't
reveal where police found Parker's fingerprints. But a knife sheath
or sheaths found at the scene reportedly bore one of Parker's
fingerprints and a bootprint linked Tulloch to the home.
The documents contained no information about motive. They also
make no mention of any neo-Nazi materials; according to a broadcast
report last week, such publications were found in Tulloch's home.
The Zantops were said to believe strongly that their native Germany
should face its Nazi past.
"We're still looking around, but we have no motive," Senior
Assistant Attorney General Dan Mullen said Thursday.
Prosecutors had consented on Wednesday to the release of the
information by Lebanon District Court Judge Albert Cirone.
Previously, authorities had fought media attempts in New Hampshire
and Vermont to get judges to release information about the
killings.
Cirone last week ordered some of the paperwork released, but
much of the information was deleted. The documents released
Thursday indicated that more information may be released Monday, but it
was unclear what that would include.
Gregory Sullivan, one of the lawyers for the media, said that he was
pleased with the release, though he had hoped for access to all
documents and will continue seeking disclosure.
"Any material that has been filed with the court in this case
obviously is newsworthy," he said.
Meanwhile, Tulloch waived his right to a preliminary hearing
Wednesday, during which prosecutors had been expected to call
witnesses to support the charges and provide a glimpse into the
case they are building against him and Parker.
Tulloch's case now goes to Grafton County Superior Court, where
prosecutors will seek a grand jury indictment against the teenager
sometime in March or April.
Parker on Monday was arraigned in juvenile court and prosecutors
began the process of certifying him to stand trial as an adult.
Those proceedings are closed to the public.
An arriving dinner guest discovered the bodies of the victims in
the study of their secluded, off-campus home. Authorities have said
they believe the Zantops let the suspects into their home.
Tulloch and Parker were arrested Feb. 19 in Spiceland, Ind.,
following a three-day nationwide manhunt. They were captured while
hitchhiking with truckers, trying to reach California.
Previous Stories:
- March 1, 2001: Dartmouth Murder Documents To Be Released
- February 28, 2001: Murder Suspect Waives Probable Cause Hearing
- February 27, 2001: Adventure Club Questioned In Dartmouth Murders
- February 26, 2001: Dartmouth Murder Suspect Appears In Court
- February 25, 2001: Second Murder Suspect To Appear In Court
- February 22, 2001: Family Of Dartmouth Suspect Speaks Out
- February 19, 2001: Internet Knife Purchases Led To Zantop Suspects
- February 18, 2001: Teen Wanted In Dartmouth Murder
- February 16, 2001: Attorney General Denies Report Of Zantop Affair
- February 6, 2001: FBI Joins Dartmouth Murder Investigation
- February 1, 2001: New Details Released About Dartmouth Murders
- January 29, 2001: Professors' Deaths Jolt Ivy League Town
Copyright 2007 by TheBostonChannel.com. The Associated Press contributed to this report. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.