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Susan Polk

January 01, 1970

Susan Polk (born Susan Mae Bolling in 1957) is an American woman convicted in June 2006 of second degree (unpremeditated) murder for the 2002 death of her husband Dr. Frank "Felix" Polk.[1][2] Polk's trial, described by one correspondent as "circus-like", drew extensive media attention with its sensationalist elements.[3][4]

Her case is featured on the show Deadly Sins, and the episode is titled "Deadly Desire".

Background edit

Susan Polk met Dr. Polk, a psychotherapist, in 1972 when administrators at her high school recommended she see him to treat her panic attacks.[3][5] Susan Polk later made the "undisputed" claim that Dr. Polk first had sex with her when she was 16 and still under his treatment, a violation of professional ethics in the relationship between therapist and patient, which is now illegal in California.[5][6] At the time, Dr. Polk had a wife and two children,[5] but the couple divorced in 1982.[6]

After graduating from high school, Polk attended Mills College and San Francisco State University, graduating magna cum laude. In 1982, she married Dr. Polk, who was then an instructor at the California Graduate School of Family Psychology and an occasional consultant as well as a private practitioner.[6] At the time of their wedding, Polk was age 24 and her husband age 50.[7] During their marriage, the couple had three sons.[8] In 2001, Susan Polk filed for divorce, a complicated and contentious proceeding during which each contacted police with allegations of domestic violence. When asked by police whether Ms. Polk had made threats or been violent, Mr. Polk said she hadn't.[1][6][9] In 2002, while Susan was living in Montana, Dr. Polk was able to petition the courts, ex parte, without providing Ms. Polk any form of official notice in advance. The courts then granted Dr. Polk sole custody of the couple's minor son Gabriel Polk and sharply reduced Susan's alimony. Dr. Polk also received sole possession of their house.[10]

On Wednesday, October 9, Polk went to the home to retrieve her belongings and complete her dental procedure by having a permanent crown put on her tooth. On October 11, the eldest son Adam came home from UCLA to pick up his dog. On Sunday, October 13, Dr. Polk, Adam, and the youngest son Gabriel drove Adam and the dog back to UCLA. Dr. Polk and Gabriel returned home at around 9:30 pm. Dr. Polk, then 70, was found dead the next day, Monday, October 14, 2002.[10]

The trial edit

At trial, prosecutors sought a conviction of murder in the first degree, contending that Susan Polk planned the murder of her multimillionaire husband for money.[3] Susan Polk claimed self-defense, asserting that, after years of abuse, beginning with his therapy sessions, in which Dr. Polk performed "guided visualizations" (i.e., hypnosis), he brandished a kitchen knife against her.[3][6] She stated that she took control of the weapon and stabbed him instead.[5] As an expert witness for the defense, forensic pathologist Dr. John Cooper testified that Felix Polk's death was caused by heart disease and that his stab wounds were not life-threatening and were evidence that Susan Polk delivered them in self-defense.[11][12] Dr. Cooper failed to appear in court the following day to continue being cross-examined and to present documents he claimed to have received from Susan Polk, sending a written explanation to the judge.[12] He returned with the letters a week later to resume testimony.[13] Prosecuting attorneys dismissed Susan Polk's claim, arguing that she had no defensive wounds from her husband's alleged attack, which was disputed by expert testimony for the defense from Dr. Cooper.[3]

The court was forced to declare a mistrial when the wife of Susan Polk's then-counsel Daniel Horowitz was murdered in an unrelated incident. Susan fired her attorneys to represent herself.[9][10] She supported her defense with allegations of a history of marital and professional misconduct, including claims that Dr. Felix Polk had drugged and raped her when she was a teenager, brainwashed the couple's children, and threatened to kill her if she tried to leave him.[9] Susan Polk repeatedly requested a second mistrial, lodging accusations of conspiracy against the prosecutor and the judge.[10]

Each of Susan and Felix's children testified at the trial. The youngest son, Gabriel, who had found the body, testified that his mother had speculated about means of killing her husband in the weeks before his father's death.[5] The oldest son, Adam, also testified against his mother, receiving widespread media coverage when he referred to her on the stand as "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs".[14] The middle son, Eli, testified on Susan's behalf, that Felix was the aggressor, controller, manipulator and that he was responsible overall.[9]

Jurors, obeying the judge's jury instruction order, disagreed that the crime was premeditated, finding her guilty of second degree murder.[3] Susan Polk was sentenced to prison for a term of 16 years to life. Her appeal was denied.[10][15][16] Susan Polk was transferred to the California Institution for Women (CIW), a dorm-like prison, in Corona, California in December 2012, and she was eligible for parole in 2018. On May 29, 2019, Polk was removed from her parole hearing for being uncooperative, and she was denied parole. Polk will be eligible again in May 2029.

Further reading edit

  • Crier, Catherine (February 20, 2007). Final Analysis: The Untold Story of the Susan Polk Murder Case. William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-06-113452-4.
  • Pogash, Carol (May 29, 2007). Seduced by Madness: The True Story of the Susan Polk Murder Case. William Morrow. ISBN 978-0-06-114770-8. Retrieved 2007-05-21.
  • Smith, Carlton (July 31, 2007). Mind Games: The True Story of a Psychologist, His Wife, and a Brutal Murder. St. Martin's True Crime. ISBN 978-0-312-93906-9.

References edit

  1. ^ a b McKinley, Jesse. (June 17, 2006) Conviction concludes bizarre trial for murder. The New York Times. Retrieved 30-01-08.
  2. ^ CBS 5, San Francisco. (June 16, 2006) Jurors find Susan Polk guilty Of 2nd Degree Murder 2007-12-08 at the Wayback Machine cbs5.com. Retrieved 30-01-08.
  3. ^ a b c d e f AP. (June 16, 2006) Woman guilty of slaying husband-shrink CBS News. Retrieved 30-01-08.
  4. ^ Lee, Henry K. (February 23, 2007). Murderer Susan Polk loses bid for new trial. San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 31-01-08.
  5. ^ a b c d e Pogash, Carol. (September 18, 2 A California murder case raises troubling issues The New York Times. Retrieved 30-01-08.
  6. ^ a b c d e Pogash, Carol. (June 15, 2003) No ordinary murder 2006-08-11 at the Wayback Machine. Originally published in Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine. Hosted at pogash.com. Retrieved 31-01-08.
  7. ^ Sweetingham, Lisa. (February 23, 2007) Susan Polk, defiant at sentencing, gets maximum term for fatally stabbing her husband 2008-01-25 at the Wayback Machine Court TV. Retrieved 31-01-08.
  8. ^ Tatko-Peterson, Ann. (March 9, 2007) New Crier book dissects Polk murder case. Oakland Tribune. Hosted at bnet.com. Retrieved 31-01-08.
  9. ^ a b c d Sweetingham, Lisa. (June 16, 2006) Polk guilty of killing therapist husband. CNN. Retrieved 31-01-08.
  10. ^ a b c d e Morrison, Keith. (May 19, 2007) Dateline NBC transcript. Hosted by msnbc.com. Retrieved 30-01-08.
  11. ^ Dearen, Jason. (May 5, 2006) Expert witness: Polk not guilty "Oakland Tribune". Retrieved 18/03/08.
  12. ^ a b Court TV News. Dr. John Cooper's letter to the judge 2006-07-12 at the Wayback Machine courttv.com. Retrieved 18/03/08.
  13. ^ Dearen, Jeff. (May 16, 2006) Missing pathologist returns Oakland Tribune. Retrieved 17/05/08.
  14. ^ Associated Press. (June 16, 2006). Jury finds Polk guilty of 2nd-degree murder. NBC News. Retrieved 31-01-08.
  15. ^ "Susan Polk loses appeal in husband's slaying". 2011-03-30.
  16. ^ "FindLaw's California Court of Appeal case and opinions" (PDF). Findlaw.

January 01, 1970
susan, polk, born, susan, bolling, 1957, american, woman, convicted, june, 2006, second, degree, unpremeditated, murder, 2002, death, husband, frank, felix, polk, polk, trial, described, correspondent, circus, like, drew, extensive, media, attention, with, sen. Susan Polk born Susan Mae Bolling in 1957 is an American woman convicted in June 2006 of second degree unpremeditated murder for the 2002 death of her husband Dr Frank Felix Polk 1 2 Polk s trial described by one correspondent as circus like drew extensive media attention with its sensationalist elements 3 4 Her case is featured on the show Deadly Sins and the episode is titled Deadly Desire Contents 1 Background 2 The trial 3 Further reading 4 ReferencesBackground editSusan Polk met Dr Polk a psychotherapist in 1972 when administrators at her high school recommended she see him to treat her panic attacks 3 5 Susan Polk later made the undisputed claim that Dr Polk first had sex with her when she was 16 and still under his treatment a violation of professional ethics in the relationship between therapist and patient which is now illegal in California 5 6 At the time Dr Polk had a wife and two children 5 but the couple divorced in 1982 6 After graduating from high school Polk attended Mills College and San Francisco State University graduating magna cum laude In 1982 she married Dr Polk who was then an instructor at the California Graduate School of Family Psychology and an occasional consultant as well as a private practitioner 6 At the time of their wedding Polk was age 24 and her husband age 50 7 During their marriage the couple had three sons 8 In 2001 Susan Polk filed for divorce a complicated and contentious proceeding during which each contacted police with allegations of domestic violence When asked by police whether Ms Polk had made threats or been violent Mr Polk said she hadn t 1 6 9 In 2002 while Susan was living in Montana Dr Polk was able to petition the courts ex parte without providing Ms Polk any form of official notice in advance The courts then granted Dr Polk sole custody of the couple s minor son Gabriel Polk and sharply reduced Susan s alimony Dr Polk also received sole possession of their house 10 On Wednesday October 9 Polk went to the home to retrieve her belongings and complete her dental procedure by having a permanent crown put on her tooth On October 11 the eldest son Adam came home from UCLA to pick up his dog On Sunday October 13 Dr Polk Adam and the youngest son Gabriel drove Adam and the dog back to UCLA Dr Polk and Gabriel returned home at around 9 30 pm Dr Polk then 70 was found dead the next day Monday October 14 2002 10 The trial editAt trial prosecutors sought a conviction of murder in the first degree contending that Susan Polk planned the murder of her multimillionaire husband for money 3 Susan Polk claimed self defense asserting that after years of abuse beginning with his therapy sessions in which Dr Polk performed guided visualizations i e hypnosis he brandished a kitchen knife against her 3 6 She stated that she took control of the weapon and stabbed him instead 5 As an expert witness for the defense forensic pathologist Dr John Cooper testified that Felix Polk s death was caused by heart disease and that his stab wounds were not life threatening and were evidence that Susan Polk delivered them in self defense 11 12 Dr Cooper failed to appear in court the following day to continue being cross examined and to present documents he claimed to have received from Susan Polk sending a written explanation to the judge 12 He returned with the letters a week later to resume testimony 13 Prosecuting attorneys dismissed Susan Polk s claim arguing that she had no defensive wounds from her husband s alleged attack which was disputed by expert testimony for the defense from Dr Cooper 3 The court was forced to declare a mistrial when the wife of Susan Polk s then counsel Daniel Horowitz was murdered in an unrelated incident Susan fired her attorneys to represent herself 9 10 She supported her defense with allegations of a history of marital and professional misconduct including claims that Dr Felix Polk had drugged and raped her when she was a teenager brainwashed the couple s children and threatened to kill her if she tried to leave him 9 Susan Polk repeatedly requested a second mistrial lodging accusations of conspiracy against the prosecutor and the judge 10 Each of Susan and Felix s children testified at the trial The youngest son Gabriel who had found the body testified that his mother had speculated about means of killing her husband in the weeks before his father s death 5 The oldest son Adam also testified against his mother receiving widespread media coverage when he referred to her on the stand as cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs 14 The middle son Eli testified on Susan s behalf that Felix was the aggressor controller manipulator and that he was responsible overall 9 Jurors obeying the judge s jury instruction order disagreed that the crime was premeditated finding her guilty of second degree murder 3 Susan Polk was sentenced to prison for a term of 16 years to life Her appeal was denied 10 15 16 Susan Polk was transferred to the California Institution for Women CIW a dorm like prison in Corona California in December 2012 and she was eligible for parole in 2018 On May 29 2019 Polk was removed from her parole hearing for being uncooperative and she was denied parole Polk will be eligible again in May 2029 Further reading editCrier Catherine February 20 2007 Final Analysis The Untold Story of the Susan Polk Murder Case William Morrow ISBN 978 0 06 113452 4 Pogash Carol May 29 2007 Seduced by Madness The True Story of the Susan Polk Murder Case William Morrow ISBN 978 0 06 114770 8 Retrieved 2007 05 21 Smith Carlton July 31 2007 Mind Games The True Story of a Psychologist His Wife and a Brutal Murder St Martin s True Crime ISBN 978 0 312 93906 9 References edit a b McKinley Jesse June 17 2006 Conviction concludes bizarre trial for murder The New York Times Retrieved 30 01 08 CBS 5 San Francisco June 16 2006 Jurors find Susan Polk guilty Of 2nd Degree Murder Archived 2007 12 08 at the Wayback Machine cbs5 com Retrieved 30 01 08 a b c d e f AP June 16 2006 Woman guilty of slaying husband shrink CBS News Retrieved 30 01 08 Lee Henry K February 23 2007 Murderer Susan Polk loses bid for new trial San Francisco Chronicle Retrieved 31 01 08 a b c d e Pogash Carol September 18 2 A California murder case raises troubling issues The New York Times Retrieved 30 01 08 a b c d e Pogash Carol June 15 2003 No ordinary murder Archived 2006 08 11 at the Wayback Machine Originally published in Los Angeles Times Sunday Magazine Hosted at pogash com Retrieved 31 01 08 Sweetingham Lisa February 23 2007 Susan Polk defiant at sentencing gets maximum term for fatally stabbing her husband Archived 2008 01 25 at the Wayback Machine Court TV Retrieved 31 01 08 Tatko Peterson Ann March 9 2007 New Crier book dissects Polk murder case Oakland Tribune Hosted at bnet com Retrieved 31 01 08 a b c d Sweetingham Lisa June 16 2006 Polk guilty of killing therapist husband CNN Retrieved 31 01 08 a b c d e Morrison Keith May 19 2007 A murder trial that grew more bizarre with every turn Dateline NBC transcript Hosted by msnbc com Retrieved 30 01 08 Dearen Jason May 5 2006 Expert witness Polk not guilty Oakland Tribune Retrieved 18 03 08 a b Court TV News Dr John Cooper s letter to the judge Archived 2006 07 12 at the Wayback Machine courttv com Retrieved 18 03 08 Dearen Jeff May 16 2006 Missing pathologist returns Oakland Tribune Retrieved 17 05 08 Associated Press June 16 2006 Jury finds Polk guilty of 2nd degree murder NBC News Retrieved 31 01 08 Susan Polk loses appeal in husband s slaying 2011 03 30 FindLaw s California Court of Appeal case and opinions PDF Findlaw Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Susan Polk amp oldid 1200455735, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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