Absolute Madness by Catherine Pelonero

Author:Catherine Pelonero
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing
Published: 2017-04-05T04:00:00+00:00

Joe Cooley and Mel Lobbett returned to the task force with the photograph of Joseph Christopher holding a Sturm-Ruger 10/22 rifle.

The following morning, Tuesday, April 21, Lobbett and state police investigator Thomas Rash boarded a plane for Georgia. An FBI agent met them at the Columbus Airport and drove them to Fort Benning.

They met with CID agents and reviewed Private Christopher’s file. They interviewed the nurses at the psych ward. They spoke with Lieutenant Colonel Levine, staff psychiatrist at the Martin Army Hospital. Dr. Levine told them that Joseph Christopher was a very sick individual, medically and psychologically, and in need of help. Christopher was uncommunicative. He would not answer questions or talk with anybody unless he initiated the conversations. According to Dr. Levine, Christopher avoided direct questions and direct answers. Christopher had once asked him if it was better to lie or tell the truth.

On three separate occasions, Dr. Levine said, Christopher had made homosexual propositions: once to Dr. Levine, another to a psychiatric staff security member, and once to a patient. In the last instance, Christopher had said something to the patient about going to the latrine for a blow job. He had said this in the middle of the ward loud enough for anyone to hear.

All of these propositions had been blatant and out in the open, which could’ve been the whole point of a desperate contrivance. Homosexuality had been declassified as a mental disorder by the American Psychiatric Association in 1973, but it was still grounds for removal from the military. There was no question that Christopher wanted out of the army. He also wanted to stay out of the stockade. Statements such as those he’d made could assure that he remained in the hospital psychiatric ward. Though there were undoubtedly homosexuals in the army, men who really desired sex with other males were hardly open about it. On the contrary, unabashed propositions were almost a sure means of making sure it wouldn’t happen, as any soldier stating such a thing would be separated and closely watched until he received the almost certain discharge.

Lobbett and Rash apprised Dr. Levine of the homicides in Buffalo and showed him the psychological profile prepared by the FBI. After reading it, Dr. Levine expressed amazement at how accurately much of the profile fit Christopher. The doctor then expressed some concern about the security of Joseph Christopher while in the hospital. Later that afternoon, the army moved him from the hospital back to an isolation cell in the stockade.

Christopher’s army lawyer, Major Donald Morgan, informed Lobbett and Rash that they did not have his permission to speak with his client. Further, Major Morgan had visited Christopher and advised him not to answer any questions from either the Buffalo investigators or the CID.

Lobbett and Rash contacted the task force with their findings at Fort Benning thus far. Edward Cosgrove filed for the search warrants on Wednesday morning, and shortly after, police had descended on Weber Avenue and the Ellington cabin.

Hours passed in the gray clapboard house of Therese Christopher.

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