Day 3: Bob Mayo Blogs The Wecht Trial In Federal Court

POSTED: 10:04 am EST January 30, 2008
UPDATED: 7:44 pm EST January 30, 2008

Channel 4 Action News reporter Bob Mayo is covering the federal trial of Dr. Cyril Wecht at the federal courthouse in downtown Pittsburgh. He will be posting blogs as often as possible from court. These are the raw notes that were sent on his mobile device.

Wecht Day 3 - Jan. 30, 2008 - 8:30 a.m.

Witness: Daniel T. D'Alessandro, D'Alessandro Funeral Home in Lawrenceville. Been in business 40 years. He received DuMont's body in November 2005.

US Attorney Steve Stallings: "Tell about Charles DuMont."

A: Passed away November 2005. Found by friend in Allentown section by a neighbor, Mr. Davidson...DuMont's good friend. Mr. Kay Sinoway was DuMont's sister, not immediately available. She wanted private service, followed by cremation for brother. Q: Wanted your funeral home to arrange funeral? Yes.

He sent down to coroner's office on Monday, then November 14th, 2005 to get the body.

Normally, if it's a "storage case" they transport from coroner's office to funeral home. In a storage case-- died at home, an attended death-- a doctor signed a death certificate. Coroner's office takes custody of body temporarily until a relative can claim the body.

Q: Is there an autopsy in a storage case? I've never seen one. Always in a coroner's case.

Q: Important to family to know whether autopsy been done. A: Some families don't like an autopsy, in such cases coroner's office will yield to family's wishes. FTC gives funeral directors leeway to do additional charge for embalming.

Q: Is it part of your job to have discussion with family on issues like autopsies? A: Let's them know time delay involved---few hours-- a day-- may be financial consideration.

Q: Case of Charles DuMont. Contacted sister. ? do to obtain body. sent his man down the day after. His man was told body was sent to Pittsburgh Institute of Mortuary Science for embalming, PIMS, which is routine. It's a school that educates people to funeral directors and embalmers. Embalming protects against decomposition. He sometimes provides it and charges for it.

Q: What's the value to family. A: Allows them to be in state restored to prior dignity, so people can say goodbye.

Q: Coroner's office sending body to PIMS for embalming is routine? Why done?

A: Coroner's office goes to great lengths to locate families, PIMS does it for free for education.. it's a savings to family.

Q: What did you do next to claim his body?

A: Got call. Sent his man back down again. Coroner's office couldn't find the body. I said I was called, told to get him. It was very unusual, unheard of, that they could not find the body.

Then later, he got a call to come down to his funeral home, that they obtained the body.

He got call from his man, concerned and confused, 'why was the body autopsied?'

He came and saw himself that body had been autopsied after it had been embalmed. Wide incisions on body.

Q: did you have to do extra processing of body because of autopsy? A: Yes, his body had to be sutured.

US Attorney Steve Stallings introduces two photos as evidence, not to be shown to jury at this time. They are the remains of Mr. DuMont. He took them because he was upset. There was no reason for this man to be embalmed. Something was remiss and he wanted to record it.

Now shows death certificate of Mr. DuMont.

Box 28 A: says body was not autopsied, according to attending physician. Not what he saw on the body. As a funeral director, is it important for you to know whether autopsy was done? Yes. Q: What was your reaction when you saw the discrepancy. A: I knew I needed a new death certificate, because this one was suspicious.

Called the next day. Deputy Coroner told him he would not get a new death certificate. He complained it was fictitious. Deputy says someone in back ordered the autopsy to confirm the doctor's diagnosis. He was told to file the death certificate that he had. So he attached a letter with it when he filed it with the state... with a protest, because he could not change it and had no other option.

Photocopy of letter now introduced as evidence. To Bureau of Vital Records. He said the coroner's office had no jurisdiction, and that autopsy was illegal and unauthorized, and done under cover, because they would not own up to it. Wrote that he expected legal action.

He assumed at the time he wrote the letter that the body was autopsied at the coroner's office.

8:58 AM: Cross-examination by defense attorney Jerry McDevitt.

Q: Did you ever talk to Dr. Wecht about this? No. His dealings with Deputy Chicwak (sp?=must check spelling).

Q: As you sit there today, you now know there was no official autopsy done? A: An autopsy is an autopsy. On the death certificate it still has to indicate. The doctor did not indicate.

Q: To this day, you don't know Dr. Wecht was involved? A: I have no way of knowing.

9:06 AM: end of this witness.

Prosecution calls next witness.

Wecht Day 3 - Jan. 30, 2008 - 9:07 a.m.

Richard Patrick Lorah. Employed at office of medical examiner. coroner's office, since March of 2003. started as intern. became deputy coroner... now called forensic investigator.

If don't know next of kin, use program to locate them, seek police help. Q: how important. A: I was told it was the most important thing.

Q: What are Wecht details. A: errands we would run. Asked by management staff. Varied daily. I didn't do a lot, but when asked to, I did. trips to airport, news media outlets.

Who did you go to airport with? Dr. Wecht. Wecht normally drove. When got to airport, he waited or returned to office.

He also ran errands. Dropped off mail. To family division of courthouse, Duquesne University. the Wecht law firm called it Wecht world.

ever drive members of Wecht family around town? Wecht, Wecht's wife, maybe one of his sons on occasion. not often. believe it was Ben Wecht.

Transported Wecht to studio locations. Was asked by coroner management staff to purchase tickets for a theater show and bring to office. then had to return them for closer seats.

Asked by management staff? Terry Brown, assistant chief deputy coroner, and Joseph Dominick, chief deputy coroner. Also Flo Johnson. She was not a county employee to his knowledge, but he says she parked at coroner's office in spot not available to him.

Says he transported Wecht family because they were going out of town on vacation.

Evidence introduced: a form which had instructions for Wecht details on his locker. This example, a return pickup to get Dr. Wecht at the airport.

Was asked to do Wecht details why he was on duty for county.

When he filled county car with gas, had car washed, it was with county credit card.

**** Tells about case of a woman who backed her car off of an upper level of a downtown parking garage and was killed. Staff discussed whether to send coroner deputy to scene or on a Wecht detail. Claims Wecht said "just let them lay there, they're not going anywhere".

Was once disciplined -- a written reprimand -- he was out of the office, investigating a death and missed recording a program.

Asked about Joe Mancuso. Sign posted in coroner's office to call him. "Any or all calls coming into the office concerning private autopsies, you are to refer to Joe Mancuso".

Question about early 2005, carried fax machine to Eileen Young's office. He saw 20 to 30 large sized boxes. filled with case files. he thought they were private cases. not standard county envelopes. The next day, saw her office the next day: the boxes were gone.

Same say, he got call from Wecht. He wanted to know where Dr. Hollis was. Wanted to see him right away.

Saw Hollis later in the day, moving boxes.

Q: When you did Wecht details, did you do it as a favor? A: I did it because I was told to.

9:27 Cross-examination by McDevitt for the defense.

Did you refer to the coroner's office as a paramilitary organization in your grand jury testimony? It is in structure.

Ever contacted by FBI Agent Orsini? Yes. Q: Remember day search warrant carried out at coroner's office. Agent Orsini contacted him by cell phone, and visited him at his home in Shadyside. They spoke at length.

Did you tell Agent Orsini you transported Wecht family numerous times? Yes. Did you tell the grand jury you did it once. Reads quote, where he used the phrase "on one occasion" Wecht asked him. I've taken them on numerous trips. That occasion where he asked me was one.

The "let her wait" remark. Says other people were in the room.

McDevitt reads from document, concerning Lorah's statement of what happened when woman was killed by driving off a parking garage. In statement:' We were told to run to Duquesne with mail for Ben Wecht'. Shocking comment? Yes. Stuck in his mind. McDevitt questions whether anyone can corroborate.

Asked by defense about transporting Dr. Henry Lee and Dr. Michael Boden (sp?) -- famous forensic pathologists-- from the coroner's office. Contentious exchange about whether he knew why they were here? McDevitt asks if they were here for a seminar. Lorah says he heard them talking about Laci Peters

McDevitt introduces document showing they were speakers at Wecht seminars, dating back to 200. Lorah started in 2003.

Another document on a Wecht seminar for which they were in town: "Solving the Great American Murder Mystery" in 2003, marking the 40th anniversary of President John F. Kennedy's assassination.

Q: Do you think you built a record of achievement during your time at the coroner's office? Yes. Q: Have you been reprimanded? Yes. 5 to 6 times. Been there six years.

Coworker Niki Schwartz claimed he took money from her residence. County Police investigated.

The defense cross-examination and Lorah's testimony continue.

Wecht Day 3 - Jan. 30, 2008 - 10:29 a.m.

Lengthy back on forth on whether Lorah told the investigative grand jury he saw people moving boxes from the Coroner's Office on February 12, 2005.

After Wecht left the coroner's office, when he took a phone call of someone looking to contact Wecht, he told the person they weren't giving out that number any more. When he hung up, he made some profane comments, using the "F" word. Word of it got back to Wecht, and the Lorah was reprimanded.

10:10 AM: Prosecution re-direct questioning.

Asked if Wecht ever used F-word about him.
"He called me an f-ing Neanderthal" because I didn't meet him at a corner where I was supposed to give him a ride. I wasn't on the right side of the street.
So you assumed he wouldn't be offended by that language?

10:15 AM: Recess.

Wecht Day 3 - Jan. 30, 2008 - 10:37 a.m.

Next witness: Darlene Craig

Currently works at Medical Examiners office, formerly known as the coroner's office. There since November 1999, starting as deputy coroner. Now is deputy chief of investigations-- a supervisory capacity, since 2005.

As deputy coroner, would exhaust all efforts to try to find next of kin, use special directories, check hospital records.

Before coroner's office, she was an administrative assistant in city council.

What's the difference between a jurisdiction case and a no-jurisdiction case. Once established no foul play, trauma, etc, released to next of kin. Sometimes it can take weeks, up to a month to find next of kin. If they can't find them, the body is kept in storage at the coroner's office until they exhaust efforts.

Q: What's a Wecht detail. A; When investigators are told to do something for Dr. Wecht, drive him or his family, pick up mail, drive to airport. Regularly. sometimes several times a day.

To law firm to pick up papers. To his home. To airport. Take to interviews. Do you recall a detail involving the Byham Theater? A: Dr. Wecht called, said someone needed to pick him up at the Byham Theater. He'd be getting out a little after 3. His son's jeep was parked in back of the coroner's office. She was to pick up Wecht's son's vehicle and pick him up. She got there, and Wecht was not outside. Because of construction, she had to go across the bridge and back, three times. He still was not there. Then he was out on street, waving her down. He was upset, asking what took her so long. She explained it was her fourth time around.

Another time she transported his wife and their grandchildren, back to the office. Also picked him up at their home in Squirrel Hill. Trip can take 25 to 30 minutes from coroner's office to home. From his home to airport is at least an hour.

Q: Ever asked by the defendant to do these airport trips? A: I was told by the defendant.

Q: Ever took members of Dr. Wecht's family to a Steelers game? A: I took his son to a Steelers game. A note posted at coroner's office said Wecht's son would come to coroner's office and park his car, and then someone would have to take him to the Steelers game.

Did you do any of the Wecht details on your off time, or as a favor? No. I did them because I was told to do them.

*****Once she received a death call at the coroner's office. It was suicide by hanging in Plum. The body was outside. She called upstairs to notify them she was going out on a death call. But she was told to make three deliveries before she went to the call. At Wecht law firm, At Duquesne University, and at an attorney's office.

Asks her about Florence Johnson. Saw her at office just about every day. She would ask employees to do Wecht details. "I thought she worked for the coroner's office". Later learned she did not-- she works personally for Dr. Wecht.

Q: Would you let jury know your salary when you started? A: $20,000 a year. At end of 2005, it was in the thirties.

10:56 AM: cross-examination.

Q: How many times asked to make stops for mail at Duquesne University? A: Maybe three times a week, personally. Q: You didn't look inside, you don't know if the packages were related to the coroner's office, do you? A: No.

Trips to TV Station? Three times in a six-year period.

When you went to the airport, who would drive? Dr. Wecht. Did you discuss coroner's office business? Nothing specific, how things are going. She took it to be small talk. Also politics.

How many times did you drive out to the airport with Dr. Wecht? Doesn't remember. Sometimes she'd have to bring his car to the airport because he was coming in on a flight. Told grand jury once or twice. Q: You don't know if the trips to the airport were related to coroner's office business, do you? A: I have no knowledge.

Q: You testified that you drove Dr. Wecht's son in son's car to the Steelers game-- was it Dr. Wecht that asked you? A: No. It was a note.

Q: Concerning the hanging suicide. You were at the coroner's office when you got the death car. You told the grand jury you couldn't remember where the body was. A: I believe it was in Plum. Q: Did you tell the grand jury you couldn't remember whether or not the body was still hanging outside when you got there. Now you're sure. Your memory gets better over time, then?

It's true Dr. Wecht has an open door policy? A: yes. Q: Did you tell Dr. Wecht that Terry Brown told you to do on a detail before picking up the body? A: no.

Says she was "venting about it", but can't remember who she told about it.

Q: Just to be clear, it wasn't Dr. Wecht who asked you to go on details before picking up the body? No, it wasn't.

Q: You were involved in an incident with two other deputies where, rather than pick up a body from a drug overdose, you went back to the office and left it for another shift? Yes.

11:24 concludes her testimony.

Prosecution is trying to regroup after one of the lawyers who had been asking questions had a family emergency. They're not sure if they'll have a full day in court, or if testimony will end early.

12:36 PM: Next witness.

United States calls Curtis Williams.

Employee of coroner's office since June 1996. Was deputy coroner, now forensic investigator. Goes to death scene, investigates, removes body. notifies next of kin.

Wecht detail? Errand for Dr. Wecht. example? Take Dr. Wecht to the airport. Took Blue Buick LeSabre owned by county. When it needed gas, they used a county gas card. When he took Wecht he was on duty and in uniform.

Terry Brown would come down and tell them they were assigned. Sometimes on paper.

Exhibit: a sheet with his name on it, listing when he was to be at airport. Sheets like this would be posted on the bulletin board in the office. Once, when he was on his way to the airport, Wecht was angry when he showed Wecht that sheet. Wecht said Terry shouldn't be writing things like that down on paper.

Sometimes he would put in for overtime is a Wecht detail required it. Document introduced showing he put in for six hours of overtime to work a Wecht detail.

Another overtime slip showed as evidence. And another for six hours.

Occasions when he was told to take case files up to Eileen Young's office. They were not county files.

Did he do Wecht details as favors? No, I did them because I was told.

12:45 PM cross-examination by defense attorney Mark Rush.

At a homicide scene, police detectives are in charge, his responsibility is the body.

Prepares report with name of decedent, tine reported, who took report, followed by narrative describing death, and if suspicious. Coroner's office calls them "stories".

Q: Can you look up, say a response to a scene in Plum Borough? A: Can look up by name of decedent, or specific date.

Asks about the management style of two supervisors. Answer for one: like Hitler. About another: an enforcer.

Dr. Wecht is a people person, he cares about the people he works for, doesn't he? Yes, sir.

Did you mind doing these for this mind? no sir. Kind of helping him out, a pretty busy guy? Yes, sir.

When you go to airport with Dr. Wecht who drives? He does. Unfair to call it a chauffeur service? Yes, sir. He had an open door policy, didn't he? Yes, sir.

You'd bring the car back from the airport, so it could be used for county business? Yes, sir.

Did you pick up Dr. Lee at the airport? Yes, sir. He's another great doctor, like Dr. Wecht. It was a time I'll never forget. Q: were you happy you had that opportunity? A: Yes, sir.

What did you call the logbook? A: The book of lies. Some deputies would put things in there, like they were busy, and they weren't really busy. They would exaggerate.

Q: Did you tell the FBI the logbook was called the Book of Lies? Yes, sir.

Did you tell federal prosecutor Mr. Stallings that it was called the Book of Lies? Yes, sir.

Did private work on his own time for Mrs. Wecht? Yes, sir. Cleaned out garage. Was paid for it. Given plenty of food. Wasn't a Wecht detail.

Did he on occasion hire coroner's office employees on their own time?

Were you proud to work for the coroner's office when this man was coroner. Q: Good for AC, good for that office, good for residents of PA? Yes, sir.

re-direct questioning:

Did you ever lie in the logbook? No, sir. Can you give any specific example of when another employee put lies in the log book? A: Putting in the book that a call came in at 12:30 when it came in at 12.

Any one else call it that? Bruce Wright.

Asks him about entries in the logbook about his stops at Wecht law office. Were they county business. No, sir. Asks about trips to airport. The Dennis Miller show. Was that county business? No, sir.

On defense comparison to deputy coroners being like fire fighters, with a lot of downtime. Stallings asks: like firefighters, when the call comes in, you have to be there, right? Yes.

When you made entries in the book about dropping off and picking up Dr. Wecht, these weren't lies, were they? No, sir.

1:25 Re-cross questioning by defense.

1:30: His testimony ends.

Next witness: John Smith. Forensic investigator at the medical examiners office. It was coroner's office when he was hired in 1996 as a deputy coroner.

Tell jury what a Wecht detail is? A: A private detail for Dr. Wecht. transporting Flo Johnson from his office to the coroner's office. trips to the airport, things like that.

Made deliveries to what they called "Wecht World"-- the Wecht law firm. Similar testimony to earlier. Drove Wecht in county car, gassed with county card. Wecht details were on a daily basis. He was given comp time by the county for doing Wecht details.

Also transported Wecht family: Daniel and his wife, Anna, and David. Grandchildren and Dr. and Mrs. Wecht to the Benedum Center. On occasion sent to pick up theater tickets. Also transported people for political events. Picked up lawyer at airport, took her to hotel to freshen up, then to Mt Washington for a fundraiser. All while he was in uniform.

Once he was asked to bring a change of clothes and to walk Dr. Wecht's daughter's dog. Asked to transport a couple who were guests at the wedding of one of Wecht's children.

Once had to travel from his own home to transport a Wecht son from Squirrel Hill to the airport.

Dr. Wecht later said "thank you, smitty, and Wecht gave him two dollars. He felt insulted. He was going to approach to give $2 back, and a supervisor stopped him and gave him a half-day of comp time.

Why did he do Wecht details and not complain? I needed my job, sir.

1:43 PM : Defense cross. If you did Wecht details on a daily basis, would I find it in this logbook for 1998? If I do through this book, I'd find 12 for you, wouldn't I? --- Testified that he was paid for Wecht details that he did on his own time.

(Check back soon for more updates.)