Reasonable Doubt

1 Pages 285 Words

“GOT A PROBLEM DOWN HERE.” That is what headquarters heard on November 7th, 1983 as the Bloomington, Illinois police officers began arriving on the scene of 313 Carl Drive, the home of David Hendricks, his wife Susan, and their three children Rebekah, Grace and Benjamin. The home turns out to be a horrific crime scene where the entire family is brutally murdered except for David Hendricks who was away on a business trip or was he?

Medical facts played a huge role in the trial. A psychologist was hired to help chose the jury. One of the largest issues raised was on the emptying of gastric contents after a meal and what factors might affect it such as: pyloric stenosis, osmolarity, exercise, whether the food was bolted like children sometimes do, migraines, fainting and brain tumors. Forensic pathologist testified on such issues as: rigor mortis, livor mortis, chemical changes in the eyes, and when digestion stops after death. Autopsy’s details were discussed including descriptions of lacerations, skull injuries, blood loss, brain hemorrhage and vertebrae injuries.

I would not have wanted to be a jury member for this trial, after reading the entire book I can’t even begin to decide what happened that terrible night. He was believed by his neighbors to be an outstanding member of the community, extremely religious, and a devoted husband and father. He also had another side that showed some sexual perversions and some illegal business deals. David Hendricks, the defendant on trial is eventually convicted of this crime but even the judge goes on record to say, “he was not convinced in his heart beyond a reasonable doubt of the defendant’s guilt”....