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MEMO TO FILE
RE: RONNIE KIMBLE
DATE: September 30,
1997
A great deal of time
has been spent on the Kimble case over the past two weeks. A large
package of discovery became available on September 22, 1997 and I
spent at least 12 hours carefully reviewing the material and meeting
with Ronnie Kimble.
Judge Burke authorized
payment of $2,500 for investigative services and Mike Ingold agreed
to work on the case. Mike's first assignment was very successful
with a quick turn around. He was able to learn from Detective L. E.
Scott that Gary Lyles was the "anonymous" informant that called
former Detective Scott shortly after Patricia died with the
recommendation that the police focus on Ted Kimble on February 29.
Mike Ingold met with
Ronnie Kimble three and one-half hours at the jail. It was a very
productive meeting. Basically the purpose of the meeting was to see
that Mike and Ronnie became acquainted with one another and to
inform Ronnie of the basic posture of the case now that we have had
an opportunity to review the pretrial discovery.
Ronnie understands
that the case against Ted Kimble is extremely compelling and
persuasive. He also understands that Detectives Deberry and Church's
focus on Ted from the very beginning was justified by the
information they were receiving almost from the night Patricia died.
Ronnie also understands that the State's theory that Ted believed he
would be the beneficiary of $200,000 in life insurance is not
ridiculous. Toward the end of our meeting Ronnie almost tearfully
asked us if we thought he was set up by Ted. Of course that question
is impossible to answer but Ronnie does understand that even if Ted
knows who killed Patricia he may not say because that could cook his
goose. Mike and I brought Ronnie's attention to the two paragraphs that obviously refer to Mitch Whidden and his wife. These statements go way beyond anything Ronnie has previously intimated concerning his dealings with Mitch Whidden. Ronnie related to us a couple of recommendations that may be useful: First, he
doesn't believe he
ever had a private conversation with Mitch's wife of any kind and
doesn't believe Mitch's wife was present when he told Mitch about
the dream. Second, Ronnie's recollection of Mitch is that he is
extremely slow speaking and probably slow witted and somewhat easily
led by others.
I promised Mike I
would fund all out of pocket expenses and try to go to the judge and
get an interim payment when his bill hits the $500 - $600 mark. It is imperative that I confer with him as soon as possible about the summaries of statements we have about Mitch Whidden.
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