Lisa McPherson Public Record 181-190
From: Mike O'Connor <mike@leptonicsystems.com>
Message-ID: <mike-722212.02000304072000@news-server.optonline.net>
Date: Tue, 04 Jul 2000 06:00:03 GMT
Report.95-29158
AOA/Death Investigation
December 6, 1995
Page 3
person and was having bad thoughts and doing bad things in her
mind. Lisa said that she had a roommate, but that she (Lisa)
did not do the dishes before going to bed and it was improper.
Lisa told Bonnie that she wanted help and wanted to talk to
someone, and that she had been bad because she had taken her
eyes off of the object. Lisa told her that she was a
Scientologist and the Church Of Scientology had recently found
out she was doing something wrong. However, Lisa indicated that
she did not know what she had done wrong. At this point, Bonnie
offered to transport Lisa to Morton Plant Hospital to get help
as taking off her clothing and walking down the street naked
was not normal behavior. Lisa subsequently agreed to be
transported to Morton Plant Hospital. One of the officers
present at the scene collected Lisa's clothing and took them to
the ambulance before Lisa was transported to the hospital. One
of the officers present at the scene also asked Lisa what [she]
wanted to have done with her vehicle. According to Bonnie, Lisa
gave the officer a name and phone number of an individual to
call to come pick the car up. While being transported to Morton
Plant Hospital in the ambulance, Lisa remembered her local
address and provided that information to Bonnie. Upon arriving
at Morton Plant Hospital, Bonnie told the Emergency Room nurse
(could not remember name) about Lisa's mental condition and the
events that had transpired during the accident investigation.
Bonnie later heard from a nurse at Morton Plant Hospital (could
not remember name) that Lisa died approximately two weeks after
being brought to Morton Plant Hospital.
At this point in the interview, Bonnie Portolano was preparing
to go on duty with a Sunstar Ambulance crew. Therefore, I asked
Bonnie if she would be available for another interview in the
near future and be willing to give a taped statement regarding
her involvement in this case. She stated that she would be
available.
On 3/14/96, at approximately 2130 hours, I met with Ofc. James
Ferro at CPD Headquarters and interviewed,him concerning his
involvement in this investigation. He gave the following
statement:
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Report 95-29158
AOA/Death Investigation
December 6, 1995
Page 4
Ofc. Ferro was investigating an accident at the intersection of
Belleview Boulevard & S. Ft. Harrison Avenue involving a
motorcycle and a Ford Escort driven by an older female. While
investigating this accident, he heard a collision occur on S.
Ft. Harrison near the intersection of Belleview Boulevard and
summoned Ofc. Stonelake to the scene to assist with that
investigation. Ofc. Ferro recalled that the female driver
involved in the second accident was a white female
approximately thirty years old with brownish-blonde shoulder
length hair. He had very little contact with her but did
instruct FD personnel at the scene to ask this female to move
her vehicle from the roadway to facilitate the flow of traffic.
while Ofc. Ferro was in his cruiser completing paperwork
relating to the other accident, he was approached by the older
female driving the Ford Escort from the first accident. She
told him that the woman from the second accident was taking her
clothes and walking westbound on Belleview Boulevard. He looked
in at direction but did not see the female. However, when he
rounded the corner on Belleview from S. Ft. Harrison, he saw
articles of female clothing and picked them up. He could not be
specific about what items he collected but believed he picked
up a pair of jeans, a pullover type shirt (unknown color), and
a pair of panties. By the time he reached the Sunstar
Ambulance, the female had already been loaded into the
ambulance and was being evaluated by paramedics. He did not
hear anything the female said and did not have any direct
contact with her. To the best of his knowledge blue forms were
completed on both accidents at that intersection and no written
reports were made. At the conclusion of my interview with Ofc.
Ferro, I requested that he write a supplemental report
documenting the actions he took that evening.
At approximately 2145 hours, I conducted an interview with Ofc.
Mike Stonelake at CPD Headquarters. He was the primary
investigating officer in the accident involving Lisa McPherson.
He gave the following statement:
Ofc. Stonelake responded to Belleview Boulevard and S. Ft.
Harrison Avenue at the request of Ofc. Ferro to investigate a
second accident at that location. Upon arrival at the scene,
Ofc. Stonelake talked to both drivers
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Report.95-29158
AOA/Death Investigation
December 6, 1995
Page 5
involved in the accident. The driver not at fault was a male
driving a truck that was pulling a boat. The other driver was a
female (Lisa McPherson) approximately 35 years old, 511011,
thin build, with what he believed was dark brown hair. She was
wearing a white sweater and jeans and driving a Jeep type
vehicle. During his conversation with Lisa, she seemed to be
what he thought was "out of it". While talking to him, she was
standing in front of his face with her eyes open wide in a
fixed gaze and appeared to have some type of emotional problem.
He did not recall noticing any odor of alcoholic beverage,
slurred speech, or anything else that would indicate she was
under the influence-of alcohol or drugs. He did not notice any
physical injuries on her. He asked Lisa for her driver's
license registration and insurance card but she appeared to be
unable to formulate the thought process to retrieve these
items. Therefore, he retrieved the driver's license from her
[~] and the registration and insurance information from her
vehicle. When asked Ofc. Stonelake what happened concerning the
accident, he stated that Lisa told him she ran into the rear of
the other vehicle because she had a lot on her mind. When he
asked Lisa to explain this, she told him that people at the
Church Of Scientology told her she was not being a good girl
and was not concentrating. It was at that point that Ofc.
Stonelake started talking with the male driver involved in the
accident and preparing the blue form paperwork.- The elderly
female involved in the first accident approached Ofc. Ferro and
advised him that the female (Lisa) involved in the second
accident was taking off her clothes. Ofc. Ferro and Ofc.
Stonelake then started walking toward the Sunstar Ambulance in
the vicinity of where Lisa was. Lisa had apparently been
stopped by the Sunstar paramedics and placed in the ambulance
before Ofc. Stonelake arrived at that location. She was on a
stretcher in the back of the ambulance and was covered with a
blanket upon Ofc. Stonelake's arrival at that location. He
asked Lisa why she took off her clothes and she did not answer.
one of the paramedics he was talking to continued having a
conversation with Lisa in the ambulance. Lisa provided
Stonelake with the name of a friend (could not remember the
name she gave but believed it could have been Benetta
Slaughter) so he could have the friend come pick up her
vehicle. A male and female in their mid-thirties driving a dark
colored Jaguar subsequently arrived at the scene and took
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AOA/Death Investigation
December 6, 1995
Page 6
custody of Lisa's vehicle. According to Ofc. Stonelake, the CPD
Communications Center had contacted this male and female and he
had no further information regarding their identities. Prior to
the ambulance departing from the scene with Lisa, he asked Lisa
what she wanted to do and she said she wanted the ambulance to
take her to Morton Plant Hospital because she needed help. When
Ofc. Stonelake saw Lisa earlier during the course of the
accident investigation, he noticed that she apparently had some
type of emotional problem. He did not see anything unusual
regarding the contents of her vehicle as everything was neat
and orderly. The vehicle contained books and a briefcase and he
believed there was also a cellular phone inside. Lisa did not
appear to have any injuries and did not complain of any
injuries resulting from the accident that evening. At the
conclusion of the interview with Ofc. Stonelake, I asked him if
he could provide a supplemental report regarding his
observations during the traffic accident vestigation regarding
Lisa McPherson.
On 3/15/96, I attempted to conduct an interview with Paramedic
Mark Fabyanic at his last known address of 3230 Locust Street
N.E., St. Petersburg, Florida 33704. However, upon going to
that address, I found that no one was home. I left my business
card at the address requesting that Mark Fabyanic contact me
concerning this investigation.
Also on 3/15/96, at approximately 1445 hours, I received a
phone call from Attorney Robert Johnson. He advised that Laura
Arrunada was currently in Mexico and would not be available at
this time for an interview. He also stated that he would be
willing to schedule any interviews at my convenience with Paul
Greenwood and Janice Johnson. I advised him that I would
contact him in the near future to schedule the interviews.
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AOA/Death Investigation
December 6, 1995
Page 7
Investigation continues. Case status remains Active.
OFC. REPORTING: Det. Ron Sudler/elq ID NO: 608
DATE: 3/15/96
CASE STATUS: Active
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APRIL
1996
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FLORIDA OFFENSE/ INCIDENT REPORT -SUPPLEMENTAL
CONT INUATI ON. ORIG. SUPP. X
FLO 520300 CLEARWATER P.D. AGENCY REPORT NO. 95-29158
NAME(S): Lisa McPherson ORIG. DATE REPORTED: 12/6/95
INCIDENT: AOA/Death Investigation
LOCATION: 644 Pierce street
PAGE 1 OF 26
INVESTIGATOR: Det. Ron Sudler
This is going to be a taped interview in reference to Report
#95-29158. The interview is being conducted with Bonnie
Portolano ... P 0RT'OLANO ... a paramedic for Sunstar
Ambulance. Today's date is 4/2/96. The time of the interview is
1415 hours. present during the interview is myself (Det. Ron
Sudler) and Bonnie Portola"no.
1 Det. Sudler: Bonnie, as we've discussed previously, on the 14th of
2 March I conducted an interview with you concerning some
3 involvement that you had with a Lisa McPherson. We're
4 conducting a death investigation concerning this case
5 involving Lisa McPherson. And I understand that, on
6 November the 18th, you had an occasion to tend to Lisa
7 McPherson at an accident scene. Is that correct?
8 Portolano: That's correct.
9 Det. Sudler: Okay. Umm on the 14th, we kinda discussed in detail
10 what you did out there how-you you know-became in
11 contact with her through her you know investigation
12 out there. And and I'd like to if you will just kinda
13 take it from the top about how you were at the
14 intersection where this accident had occurred and what
15 transpired while.you were at the scene.
16 Portolano: Initially, my partner and I responded to a motor vehicle
17 accident at the intersection of Belleview and Ft.
18 Harrison. And the Clearwater Fire Department was
19 receiving refusals from the patients there involved
20 in that accident. My partner and I were standing
21 there speaking with the Fire Department when another
22 accident occurred at that intersection. At that time,
23 the Fire Dep43~t~ment asked us. to go ahead and get
refusals from that accident because it was just a
bump. It was nothing serious. obviously, someon~!
26 was paying attention to the accident and not the
27 road. And there was just a little run-in therd.
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Report 95-29158
AOA/Death Investigation
December 6, 1995
interview With Bonnie Portolano
zil 2, 1996
PcLge 2
28 At that point, I ran and umm got a report,out of
29 the.ambulance. And my partner and I walked over,
30 spoke to the man who was Vehicle #1. He was struck
31 in the rear. And he he was he had no injuries.
32 1 rece I retained obtained a refusal from him.
33 Then I went over to the woman. There was a woman
34 she was approximately I guess 51811 51911 of
35 healthy stature, clear complexion, blonde hair
36 umm attractive lady. And I had her I asked her
37 if she had injury any injuries. And umm again
38 1 want to stress at this time that we come across
39 people at high stress times and so their mannerisms
C~l aren't the norm sometimes. They're going through
a lot of emotions. This could be their only mode
42 of.transportation and they're thinking. about the
43 insurance rates and "Oh my gosh look what I did".
44 So we're used to dealing with some unusual behavior
45 from people on,an MVA. And she had clearly run
46- into the back of this this gentleman~ And-she
47 seemed to be sorrowful for what she had you know
48 and she was like "Ilm Ilm sorry". I asked her if
49 she's okay. She said "I'm fine". I said "Do you
50 have any injuries? 'No, I do not". She spoke in
51 a very umm formal programmed type tone. And uh
52 1 was attributing all of this to maybe a shock state
53 of "Oh my gosh look what I did". And umm she
54 she appeared she appeared to be okay at that time.
55 And umm right about then before I had her sign the
56' refusal,*. a police officer came over and- gaia--Se- ne*eded-'*'.*'
her to move her vehicle because they were still in the
center lane umm ... next to the double yellow line in
59 the in traffic. -So I turned to her and I said "Lisa,
60 could you move your car from here to over there?" She
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Report 95-29158
AOA/Death Investigation
December 6, 1995
interview With Bonnie Portolano
2, 1996
Page 4
94 that address". I said "How are you know
95 So I found out that she's new to the area. She told
96 me that, if I mailed it to this Texas address, she
97 would still get it somehow she would get it. Umm
98 although I didn't need to mail her anything. Umm
99 1 said "Well 11 you know "Can you can you
3.UU think can you remember your address where you're
101 at?" "No, I cannot". She said "I can take you there
102 but I don't know what it is". So I thought okay
103 you know she's a transient person she just got here
104 ..umm this will be fine. It was just a refusal. I
didn't need the address for anything ... you know. We
weren't gonna be sending her a bill. So umm ... I went
ahead and ... and got a refusal from her. Umm ... at that
108 point, the police officer comes over and is is . trying
109 to decide umm no, let me think no, that that's not
110 true. That happened later. I got the refusal from her.
My partner and I started to walk back to the ambulance
112 and umm her mannerisms were such they were just a
113 little off but not'enough that would umm you know
114 say take extreme measures at that time just attribute
115 it to the accident. My partner looked to me as we
116 were walking back to the ambulance and says "Well, this
117 is our crazy call of the day" you know. It was like
118 okay, we got that one out of the way cause things were
119 just a little off mainly because the call started out
120 at one thing and ended up to be another. Umm yet it
121 wasn't over yet. We got into the ambulance. We
122 notified head umm our Communications Center that
we were available. And my partner looks in his side
.4 mirror he's the driver. And he tells me "Bonnie,
125 she's taking off her clothes". I said "No, she's not".
126 He goes "I am not-lying" And sure enough, she came
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Report 95-29158
AOA/Death Investigation
December 6, 1995
Interview With Bonnie Portolano
ril 2, 1996
Page 5
127 ... two seconds later she came walking down beside our
128 ambulance walking straight ahead she wasn't stopping
129 at the ambulance without a stitch of clothing on.
130 So my partner in the meantime went ahead to radio our
131 Communications Center and let them know we're not
132 finished here. At that.time, I got'out to get her
133 because she's in traffic without any clothing on.
134 So I brought her as I was bringing her towards the
135 ambulance, I said "Lisa 11 you know "Come here
136 come on". And she followed me I had her arm. And
137 umm I said "What are you doing why did you take
8 off all your clothes?" And she says "Well, you see,
nobody knows this but Ilm.an OT11. And that ... at that
.0 time, we went ahead and we stepped on in the ambulance.
141 1 I had no clue what an OT was. I didn't care and
142 my main goal was to get her out of traffic so we
143 didn't cause another accident and umm to get her in
144 where I could have like some control over the situation
145 ... what was going on. Umm at that point you know
146 1 was just asking Lisa you know "Why did you take
147. off all your clothes what's up?" And she says "Well,
14U I wanted people to think I was crazy because I want
149 help". So, at that point we began talking about help
... you know ... what ... what's wrong and ... you know...
151 just a multitude of questions. And basically her
152 answers were "I'm a bad person". And I asked her
153 you know "Why do you think you're a bad person?"
154 And she says "I because I I found out I'm having
155 bad thoughts. I'm doing bad things -in -my-mind".
And umm. ... so we kinda talked about just very surface
stuff ... you know ... about ... I tried to get "What are
158 you doing in your mind?" and little things and and
159 and wouldn't she wouldn't offer much in that way.
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