Kathy Augustine: Unusual Poison Makes Mystery of a Murder

Last week’s blog post presented the case of Barbara “Bloody Babs” Graham. California executed Graham and two men for murdering an elderly widow in 1953. This week, we look at Chaz Higgs and the murder of his wife, Nevada politician Kathy Augustine.

Kathy Augustine

Kathy Augustine was born into an Italian-American family in Los Angeles. After college, she worked as a flight scheduler for Delta Airlines and, briefly after 1988, as a flight attendant. She had two short marriages, both ending in divorce, before she married Delta Airlines pilot Charles Augustine in 1986.

Kathy Augustine in Politics

In 1992, Kathy entered politics (she had a master’s degree in public administration), running for the Nevada Assembly. She won despite criticism that some of her campaign literature had a racial slant (her opponent was African American). After completing one term in the Assembly, Kathy defeated incumbent Lori Lipman Brown for a seat in the Nevada Senate. This campaign also drew criticism for inaccurate claims made about Brown’s positions on issues.

In 1998, Kathy won election as Nevada’s first female state controller.

Kathy’s career suffered a setback when, in September 2004, she faced charges that she violated state ethics laws. The state Ethics Commission fined her $15,000 for using state personnel and equipment for her personal reelection campaign. The Nevada Assembly impeached her, ultimately convicting her on one charge but acquitting her on three others. The Assembly censured her, but she was allowed to stay in office.

Kathy Augustine and Chaz Higgs

In August 2003, Charles Augustine suffered a stroke and died on August 19. Charles “Chaz” Higgs was one of the critical care nurses caring for him in the hospital.

Three weeks after Charles’s death, Kathy Augustine and Chaz Higgs married.

Kathu Augustine and Chaz Higgs (Forensic Files) — Kathu Augustine and Chaz Higgs (*Forensic Files*)

The Murder of Kathy Augustine

On July 8, 2006, Kathy was found unconscious in her Reno home. She died three days later, on July 11, without regaining consciousness.

Early reports stated that Kathy’s cause of death was a heart attack. Police soon suspected foul play, however. For one thing, Chaz Higgs allegedly made suspicious remarks to a co-worker about how to kill someone undetectably. FBI forensic tests later found trace amounts of the paralyzing drug succinylcholine in Kathy’s system. Succinylcholine leaves the body very quickly and is often difficult to detect.

On July 14, Higgs attempted suicide by cutting his wrists in the couple’s Las Vegas home. He survived and remained free for two months until police arrested him in Hampton, Virginia, on September 29, 2006. He was extradited back to Nevada to stand trial for murder.

Epilogue

On June 29, 2007, a Reno jury convicted Chaz Higgs of murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with a chance for parole after twenty years. In May 2009, the Nevada Supreme Court upheld his conviction. Today (summer 2023), Chaz resides at the Northern Nevada Correctional Center in Carson City, Nevada.

Chaz Higgs prison mugshot (Nevada Department of Corrections) — Chaz Higgs prison mugshot (*Nevada Department of Corrections*)

You can read more about the Kathy Augustine murder in Gary C. King’s An Almost Perfect Murder.

The true crime television series Forensic Files featured the Augustine case in a 2008 episode titled Political Thriller.

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2023/07/242023/07/24

Barbara Graham: Robbery Complete Fail Makes for Murder

In my blog post last week, Green Beret doctor Jeffrey MacDonald murdered his wife and two daughters. The case generated tremendous public interest. This week’s blog details the murder for which Barbara Graham, dubbed “Bloody Babs” by the press, went to the California gas chamber.

Barbara Graham

Barbara Graham, born Barbara Elaine Ford in 1923 in Oakland, California, didn’t have much chance in life. Her mother, Hortense, was an unmarried teenager who supported herself through prostitution. When Barbara was two, her mother, still in her teens, was sent to reform school, and Barbara went into foster care. Hortense was able to leave Ventura State School for Girls when she turned 21, but she refused to let Barbara live with her.

Extended family and strangers raised Barbara. Although intelligent, she had little formal education. Arrested for vagrancy, she ended up in the same institution where her mother had been.

After reform school, Barbara tried marriage and a traditional lifestyle, but it was not to be. Married and divorced three times, she became a sex worker like her mother. During World War II, She ran with a crowd that included gamblers, drug addicts, ex-convicts, and career criminals.

Barbara eventually served a five-year prison term for perjury at the California Women’s State Prison at Tehachapi. She had given false alibis to a pair of petty criminals.

After prison, she moved briefly to Nevada before returning to Los Angeles and prostitution. She married Henry Graham, a bartender at one of her hangouts. But Graham was a drug addict and a hardened but low-level criminal. Through him, she met the people that ultimately caused her conviction and execution.

Barbara Graham and the Mabel Monohan Murder

Mabel Monohan was 64, a widow, and a retired vaudeville performer. Her former son-in-law, Luther Scherer, was a mover and shaker in Los Vegas gambling circles and suspected of having mob ties. Even though Mabel’s daughter had divorced Scherer and married another man, he and Mabel remained close. Somehow, this led to a rumor that Scherer kept $100,000 ($1,142,730 in 2023) of Scherer’s money in a safe in Mabel’s home.

Mabel Monahan's home at 1718 Parkside Drive in Burbank looks much as it did in 1953 (lamag.com) — Mabel Monahan’s home at 1718 Parkside Drive in Burbank looks much as it did in 1953 (*lamag.com*)

Henry Graham’s friends, Jack Santo and Emmett “The Weasel” Perkins, both career criminals, heard the rumors. Together with Barbara, John True, and Baxter Shorter, a safecracker, they planned to steal the stash of cash from Mabel’s home.

Mabel Monohan (lamag.com) — Mabel Monohan (*lamag.com*)

On the evening of March 9, 1953, Barbara Graham knocked on the Monohan door. She asked to use the phone, saying she had car trouble. When Mabel admitted her, Perkins, Santo, and True pushed in after her. In his subsequent confession, Shorter claimed he entered the home later and saw Mabel moaning and bleeding on the floor. After the five left and Shorter was alone, he claimed he dialed “O” and requested an ambulance (there was no 911 in 1953). However, he neglected to tell the operator that the Monohan house was in Burbank instead of Los Angeles. It was two days before Mabel’s gardener found her body.

The robbery was a complete bust. Mabel had no safe and no $100,000. The “robbers” found little of value.

Barbara Graham Tried and Convicted

On March 26, 1953, police arrested and questioned five men. Three were known associates of L.A. gangster Mickey Cohen, and one was Baxter Shorter. Although police released the five for lack of evidence, Shorter decided to confess and get a deal rather than face the gas chamber.

Shorter made a complete confession. However, news of it leaked out, and when police released him, he was kidnapped and murdered.

Enter William Upshaw. Upshaw testified before the grand jury, claiming to have been in the car with Graham, Perkins, Santo, True, and Shorter the night before the murder. The six were casing Mabel’s home. He said he dropped out of the robbery, fearing retribution from Luther Scherer.

Jack Santo (L), Emmet Perkins (C), and Barbara Graham (R) (murderpedia.org) — Jack Santo (L), Emmet Perkins (C), and Barbara Graham (R) (*murderpedia.org*)

Besides Upshaw, John True agreed to testify for the prosecution in exchange for immunity. He testified against Barbara, who continually proclaimed her innocence.

Barbara had no alibi. She doomed her case by offering to pay $25,000 ($285,683 in 2023) to another inmate and a “friend” to provide a false alibi. However, the inmate was out to reduce her own sentence, and the “friend” was a police officer. The “friend” recorded the conversation between the three and got Graham to admit she’d been at the murder scene. This attempt to suborn perjury and her previous perjury conviction torpedoed Barbara’s credibility in court.

Graham was convicted, while the informant had her sentence reduced to time served and was released.

Epilogue

Barbara Graham died in the California gas chamber on June 3, 1955. Joe Feretti, one of the men assisting in the execution, told her to take a deep breath, and it would go quicker and easier for her. Barbara responded, “How the hell would you know?”

In 1958, a sympathetic and highly fictionalized version of Barbara’s story, I Want to Live!, earned Susan Hayward an Academy Award for Best Actress. Lindsay Wagner portrayed Graham in a 1983 television movie of the same name.

Over the years, anti-death penalty advocates have used Barbara Graham’s case to promote their agenda. Proof of Guilt: Barbara Graham and the Politics of Executing Women in America by Kathleen A. Cairns examines this phenomenon.

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2023/07/172023/07/17

Jeffrey MacDonald: Horrific Murder is a Big Media Case

In my last blog post, a doctor poisoned his wife, Rosemarie “Rosie” Essa, with cyanide, then fled the country. This week, I examine the case of Jeffrey MacDonald. MacDonald was an Army doctor accused (and convicted) of murdering his wife and daughters.

Jeffrey MacDonald

The Jeffrey MacDonald case is one of America’s most perplexing and controversial criminal cases. The brutal murders on February 17, 1970, shocked the nation and led to a long, convoluted legal battle. Jeffrey MacDonald, a Green Beret doctor, stood accused of killing his pregnant wife, Colette, and their two young daughters, Kimberly and Kristen, in their Fort Bragg, North Carolina, home. The case received widespread media attention, sparking debates about MacDonald’s guilt or innocence. Decades later, the MacDonald case continues to intrigue and divide people.

Jeffrey MacDonald was a respected Army officer and physician. He claimed that a group of intruders, whom he described as “hippies” and “drug-crazed individuals,” broke into their home and attacked his family while he was asleep on the living room couch. MacDonald himself was injured in the alleged assault. However, investigators began to suspect MacDonald’s involvement due to inconsistencies in his story and evidence at the crime scene.

Colette MacDonald with daughters Kristen and Kimberly

Forensic evidence argued strongly against MacDonald’s account. Investigators discovered that the murder weapon, a knife, belonged to the MacDonald household and showed no signs of anyone else using it. Also, bloodstains suggested that someone had staged the crime scene to look like a violent intruder attack. These factors led to MacDonald’s arrest and subsequent trial.

Jeffrey MacDonald on Trial

Jeffrey MacDonald went on trial in 1979, nearly a decade after the murders. The prosecution argued that MacDonald had killed his family in a fit of rage. They pointed to inconsistencies in his story, his motive due to marital issues, and forensic evidence seemingly contradicting his account.

Ft. Bragg MPs stand guard as workers prepare to leave the site of the MacDonald murders at 544 Castle Drive on Fort Bragg on June 7, 1984. The apartment was being cleaned out and repaired. (Cramer Gallimore/The Fayetteville Observer) — Ft. Bragg MPs stand guard as workers prepare to leave the site of the MacDonald murders at 544 Castle Drive on Fort Bragg on June 7, 1984. The apartment was being cleaned out and repaired. (*Cramer Gallimore/The Fayetteville Observer*)

MacDonald maintained his innocence throughout the trial, asserting that intruders were responsible for the murders. He claimed that the Manson family, a notorious cult, may have been involved. MacDonald’s defense team suggested that the initial investigation was flawed and failed to pursue alternative suspects adequately.

Jeffrey MacDonald is led out in handcuffs after being found guilty of murdering his family in 1970 at the federal courthouse in Raleigh on August 29, 1979 (Cramer Gallimore/The Fayetteville Observer) — Jeffrey MacDonald is led out in handcuffs after being found guilty of murdering his family in 1970 at the federal courthouse in Raleigh on August 29, 1979 (*Cramer Gallimore/The Fayetteville Observer*)

After a lengthy trial, the jury found MacDonald guilty of murder, resulting in three consecutive life sentences. However, the case did not end there. Over the years, numerous appeals and legal proceedings followed, highlighting the many controversial aspects of the trial.

Critics argue that the prosecution relied heavily on circumstantial evidence and failed to establish a clear motive. They claim that investigators mishandled the forensic evidence and, therefore, it was unreliable. MacDonald’s defense team maintains his he did not kill his family and contends that prosecutors either ignored or suppressed crucial evidence supporting his innocence

Prison photo of Jeffrey MacDonald (U.S. Bureau of Prisons) — Prison photo of Jeffrey MacDonald (*U.S. Bureau of Prisons*)

The MacDonald case received renewed attention in the 1980s, thanks to journalist Joe McGinniss’ bestselling book, Fatal Vision, which presented a damning portrayal of MacDonald. However, subsequent investigations and interviews raised doubts about the book’s accuracy and alleged bias.

Legacy of the Jeffrey MacDonald Case

The MacDonald case remains a subject of intense debate and analysis within true crime circles. The case has inspired numerous books, documentaries, and podcasts, each presenting different perspectives on the events and raising questions about the validity of the conviction. The case’s enduring legacy underscores the complexities of the criminal justice system and the impact media can have on public perception and legal proceedings.

In recent years, new DNA testing techniques have emerged, offering the possibility of reevaluating crucial evidence from the crime scene. MacDonald’s legal team continues to fight for a new trial, arguing that advancements in forensic science could exonerate him.

Epilogue

Decades after the murders, the question of MacDonald’s guilt or innocence continues to haunt those familiar with the case. With ongoing legal battles, emerging scientific advancements, and a passionate community of supporters and skeptics, the MacDonald case serves as a constant reminder of the complexities and uncertainties that can surround high-profile criminal trials.

There are many books about the MacDonald case. The best-known is Fatal Vision, published in 1983 by journalist Joe McGinniss. MacDonald hired McGinniss to write a book proving his innocence. However, his research led McGinniss to conclude that MacDonald was guilty, and Fatal Vision reflects that conclusion. McGinniss also authored Final Vision as a rebuttal to the writers who contend MacDonald is innocent.

In 1997, Jerry Allen Potter and Fred Bost published Fatal Justice, a critical response to Fatal Vision. Also firmly in the “MacDonald is innocent” camp is A Wilderness of Error by filmmaker Errol Morris.

Janet Malcolm’s The Journalist and the Murderer studies MacDonald’s lawsuit against Joe McGinniss for breach of contract. In it, she accuses McGinniss of “betraying” MacDonald and excoriates the entire journalism profession.

Today (July 2023), Jeffrey MacDonald is 79 years old and resides at the Cumberland Federal Correctional Institution in Cumberland, Maryland.

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2023/07/022023/07/02

Rosie Essa: A Cold Heart Plots a Daring Murder

In my last blog post, jealousy led Patricia Rorrer to murder Joann Katrinak, her ex-lover’s new wife. This week’s case is equally tragic. In 2005, Rosie Essa died after a minor traffic accident, but the accident didn’t cause her death. Her husband, Yazeed Essa, had poisoned her.

Rosie Essa

Rosemarie “Rosie” Essa trained as a nurse and worked at the former Mount Sinai Hospital in Cleveland, Ohio. While working there in 1995, she met Yazeed Essa, an emergency room doctor, and businessman. The two married on September 11, 1999. By 2005, the couple had a son, Armand, and a daughter, Lena.

Family and friends described Rosie as a loving mother and thought she and Yazeed were happy in their marriage.

Rosie Essa Dies Unexpectedly

On February 24, 2005, Rosie left her house around 2:00 p.m. to meet her sister at a movie theater. Before going, Yazeed gave her a calcium supplement, which she took. During the drive, she began to feel sick, calling a friend, Eva McGregor, and telling her she suspected the calcium pill had caused her illness.

Rosemarie "Rosie" DiPuccio Essa — Rosemarie “Rosie” DiPuccio Essa

After speaking with McGregor, Rosie called her husband but failed to reach him. Shortly afterward, she collapsed behind the wheel. Her car grazed an SUV before rolling to a stop. Despite the low speed of the impact (about 10 miles per hour), Rosie was barely responsive when first responders arrived. She then vomited and slipped into unconsciousness.

Paramedics rushed Rosie to a hospital, but she was pronounced dead at 3:02 p.m.

Rosie Essa Didn’t Die from the Accident

Immediately after Rosie died, family and friends suspected Yazeed had something to do with her death. His behavior wasn’t what one would expect from a grieving husband. Instead of accepting help from family, he hired two nannies to look after the children. Later, Gary McKee, a detective investigating the case, determined that Yazeed was having an affair with both women.

On March 17, McKee asked Yazeed about the calcium pills. Yazeed explained that, given her age, Rosie should be proactive regarding osteoporosis. McKee asked for the pills, and Yazeed complied.

Later that day, Yazeed threw a lavish party some described as a going-away party. In the wee hours of the following morning, he called his sister and asked her to watch the children for a few days, saying that an out-of-state friend had been in an accident. That was the last anyone saw of Yazeed Essa for a very long time.

Four weeks later, laboratory analysis showed that the “calcium” pills contained potassium cyanide.

Yazeed on the Lam

Yazeed Essa traveled to Detroit and Toronto before booking a flight to Heathrow Airport in London. From there, he flew to Cyprus and then to Beirut, Lebanon. Once in Lebanon, Yazeed took advantage of the fact that the United States had no extradition treaty with Lebanon. He lived there in ostentatious style harbored by Jamal Khalife, a family friend.

Yazeed's arrest photo — Yazeed’s arrest photo

On October 7, 2006, almost twenty months after Rosie Essa died, Yazeed boarded a flight to Cyprus. Cypriot police arrested him immediately after he got off the plane. Although Cyprus does (and did) have an extradition treaty with the US, it took over two years of legal wrangling to get Essa back to Ohio to stand trial for aggravated murder and another year to get him to trial.

Epilogue

A jury convicted Yazeed Essa of aggravated murder on March 8, 2010, five years after Rosie’s death. Judge Deena Calabrese sentenced him to life in prison with no chance of parole for twenty years.

An officer handcuffs Yazeed Essa after the jury returns its guilty verdict in Essa's trial for murdering his wife, Rosie Essa (Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer) — An officer handcuffs Yazeed Essa after the jury returns its guilty verdict in Essa’s trial for murdering his wife, Rosie Essa (*Marvin Fong/The Plain Dealer*)

Today (2023), Yazeed Essa resides at the Ohio State Penitentiary year Youngstown, Ohio. His first shot at parole will be in November 2029.

Yazeed Essa in an undated prison mugshot (Ohio Department of Corrections) — Yazeed Essa in an undated prison mugshot (*Ohio Department of Corrections*)

In 1994, Dateline NBC aired an episode titled “Bitter Pill,” devoted to the Rosie Essa murder.