Vashti Seacat, Found Deceased 4/30/2011

Published: 5/28/2013 9:08 PM | Last update: 5/29/2013 7:03 AM


(Mike Hutmacher/The Wichita Eagle) Brett Seacat, 37, listens Tuesday to testimony and a video recording of his interrogation, in Kingman County District Court.

Defendant eyed case 'like a cop'

Jury hears Seacat say in videotaped interview he understood why agents deemed him suspicious in wife's
death

By Darcy Gray - The Hutchinson News

KINGMAN - After his wife was found shot to death following a fire at their Kingman home, former Kansas police instructor Brett T. Seacat - now on trial on charges he murdered his wife - analyzed the case like a law enforcement investigator.

Seacat, 37, charged in the April 30, 2011, death of his wife, Vashti, told Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents in a videotaped interview that he understood why they thought he was suspicious and agreed there were "a lot" of red flags in the case.

Read more:

http://hutchnews.com/Todaystop/A1-Wed--seacat-final

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Did cop shoot wife after she filed for divorce?

By HLNtv.com Staff
updated 8:15 PM EDT, Wed May 29, 2013

•Ex-cop accused of shooting wife, setting house on fire
•Hubby claims wife committed suicide
•Gun found underneath dead wife’s body



A former cop is facing life in prison after police say he shot his wife to death and set their house on fire to cover up the crime just days after he was served with divorce papers.

http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/05/29/brett-vashti-seacatt-murder-shooting-fire-divorce-kansas

________________

Brother of dead mom: She wasn't depressed

By HLNtv.com Staff
updated 8:32 PM EDT, Wed May 29, 2013

•Ex-cop accused of shooting wife, setting house on fire
•Hubby claims wife was depressed, committed suicide
•Victim's brother insists she was not depressed



A former cop accused of murdering the mother of his children and setting their home on fire claims his wife was depressed and committed suicide.

“She was not depressed,” Richard Forrest, the victim’s brother told HLN’s Nancy Grace Wednesday.

http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/05/29/vashti-brett-seacat-shooting-murder-fire-victim-brother?clusterId=1400#videoplayer

Seacat marriage counselor testifies in murder trial

By Adia Hamer
KWCH 12 Eyewitness News
1:19 p.m. CDT, June 3, 2013


(KINGMAN COUNTY, Kan.) — Jurors heard testimony from Seacat's marriage counselor Monday morning. Seacat is accused of killing his wife Vashti and setting their Kingman home on fire in April 2011.

Connie Suderman is a therapist at the Adult Parenting & Couseling in Wichita. Suderman was the Seacat's marriage counselor from November 2010 to April 2011. She told jurors hours after Vashti's death, Brett called her to tell her what happened.

"He said, I killed her, Vashti is dead and it's my fault, that's what he said," she said.

Suderman says during their 15 minute conversation Seacat was calm and didn't get emotional. She also met with Vashti 11 days before her death. Vashti told her that she was happier than she had ever been but was concerned about her husband because he wasn't taking the divorce well.

Read more:

http://www.kwch.com/news/crimewatch/kwch-jab-brett-seacat-trial-coverage-20130603,0,3682668.story

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Investigators find gasoline on Seacat's pants

http://www.kwch.com/news/crimewatch/kwch-jab-testimony-resumes-in-brett-seacat-trial-20130531,0,6956887.story

Burnt hard drives discussed during Seacat's trial

http://www.kwch.com/news/crimewatch/kwch-jab-brett-seacat-murder-trial-continues-in-kingman-20130530,0,386879.story

________________

More information about this case on the previous page.

Jurors hear testimony that Vashti Seacat was scared for her life

By Justin Kraemer
Updated: Monday, June 3, 2013, 6:11 pm
Published: Monday, June 3, 2013, 12:48 pm



KINGMAN, Kansas — On Monday jurors in the trial of Brett Seacat heard testimony that suggests the victim, Vashti, was scared for her life as she filed for divorce.

Jurors heard from a KBI handwriting expert, who says the suicide note was a fake, and a marriage counselor, who says Vashti was worried for her safety as she filed for divorce.

Day eight started with defense attorneys grilling a KBI handwriting expert. He says the suicide note found in Vashti Seacat’s journal was a forgery and was slowly traced or faked by looking at other entries in her journal.


The defense has their own expert that claims Vashti wrote the note. They say stress and depression can affect handwriting.

The state believes Seacat forged it using a overhead projector pulled out of storage at the Law Enforcement Training Center.

Read more:

http://www.ksn.com/2013/06/03/jurors-hear-testimony-that-vashti-seacat-was-scared-for-her-life/

________________

Related Videos/Articles:

http://www.ksn.com/tag/brett-seacat/

Prosecution rests case in Brett Seacat murder trial

June 4, 2013

By Amy Renee Leiker
The Wichita Eagle

KINGMAN — Prosecutors on Tuesday morning rested their case against Brett Seacat after a fire investigator testified he saw no fire damage to parts of the former police instructor’s body, which would have been closest to flames when he reportedly lifted his wife’s body from her burning bed the night she sustained a fatal gunshot wound and the couple’s house was set ablaze.

Read more here:

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/06/04/4273018/prosecution-rests-case-in-brett.html#storylink=cpy

________________

Defense begins effort to clear Brett Seacat

By Justin Kraemer
Updated: Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 7:29 pm
Published: Tuesday, June 4, 2013, 12:43 pm



KINGMAN, Kansas — The prosecution rested its case in the Brett Seacat trial Tuesday morning, but not before making one final effort to break down the defendant’s story.

The former Sedgwick County deputy is accused of the shooting death of his estranged wife Vashti Seacat and of burning their Kingman home.

Seacat claims Vashti set the fire and committed suicide.

He told investigators he went to Vashti’s burning bedroom, where flames on the bed and floor were a foot or two high, and tried to lift Vashti off the bed before realizing she was dead.

Read more:

http://www.ksn.com/2013/06/04/defense-begins-effort-to-clear-brett-seacat/

Law enforcement experts to testify Wednesday afternoon in Brett Seacat murder trial

June 5, 2013
BY AMY RENEE LEIKER
The Wichita Eagle


Sedgwick County coroner Jaime Oeberst points out bullet fragments in an X-ray of Vashti Seacat's head and neck area during the trial of Brett Seacat trial on Monday. (June 3, 2013)

KINGMAN — More law enforcement agents are among a series of defense witnesses set to testify Wednesday afternoon – the 10th day of testimony in the first-degree murder trial of Brett Seacat.

Five witnesses were called to the stand during the first part of Wednesday’s proceedings, including two Kansas Bureau of Investigation agents who previously testified, a practitioner of integrated medicine who prescribed Vashti Seacat a hormone used to promote weight loss, and one of the Seacats’ neighbors, who was questioned on whether he saw Vashti’s Volkswagen parked in the Seacats’ driveway in the days following the fire that charred their Kingman home.

Prosecutors also spent part of Wednesday morning trying to discredit the testimony of Avis Odenbaugh, a Kansas City handwriting expert called as a defense witness.

Read more here:

http://www.kansascity.com/2013/06/05/4274492/handwriting-expert-continues-testimony.html#storylink=cpy

Seacat jurors hear from experts and neighbors (Video)

6/5/13 4:18 PM

(KINGMAN COUNTY, Kan.) -- The defense heard experts and neighbors testify Wednesday on topics from Vashti Seacat's diet to the suicide note found in her car. Brett Seacat is accused of killing his wife Vashti Seacat and setting their Kingman home on fire in April 2011.

The defense called their own handwriting expert to talk about a suicide note found in Vashti's car. She testified the letter was written by Vashti, which is the opposite of what the prosecution's examiner said about the letter.

Jurors also heard from a physician assistant Kathleen Mason Morton from Oklahoma. Morton prescribed HCG to Vashti, but she did not address the issue of depression, which is a listed side-effect of the drug.

Read more:

http://mobile.kwch.com/display/3908/story/4883ab4fba47d8af0c7b381c05830451

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Defense attorneys in Brett Seacat murder trial call into question security of crime scene

By Amy Renee Leiker
The Wichita Eagle

Published Wednesday, June 5, 2013, at 8:45 a.m.
Updated Friday, June 7, 2013, at 5:36 p.m.

KINGMAN — Attorneys for Brett Seacat on Wednesday questioned crime scene security in the hours immediately following a fire set at the home he shared with his estranged wife, Vashti Seacat – citing a log police kept to track who was at the scene that was not started until about 17 hours after the first law enforcement officer arrived.

Displaying a photocopied, handwritten document dated April 30, 2011, for the jury, attorney Val Wachtel asked Kingman Police Chief Marc Holloway to read the first time recorded on it.

“It would appear 2100 hours (9 p.m.) April 30, 2011,” said Holloway, the first of several witnesses asked to comment on the significance of keeping a crime scene log.

“Which would have been after the fire was extinguished?” Wachtel asked.

“Yes, it would.”

Read more:
http://www.kansas.com/2013/06/05/2833225/handwriting-expert-continues-testimony.html#storylink=cpy

We need a thread for Seacat and to move these posts to that thread.

Like Arias, Seacat took the stand in his own defense.
He bombed. Royally! Flat affect, inappropriate laughter, jury lost interest and would not look at him, etc.. Back on the stand tomorrow.


Cop accused of killing wife takes the stand
By HLNtv.com Staff
updated 7:48 PM EDT, Thu June 06, 2013




http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/06/06/cop-accused-killing-wife-takes-stand

SEACAT, Brett.
Kingman, KS

"...
Murder or suicide? A look at Brett & Vashti Seacat
Murder or suicide? A look at Brett & Vashti Seacat
Expert: No burns on Brett Seacat's hand, arm
Brett Seacat is accused of murdering his wife, Vashti

After days of "Will he or won't he?" speculation, Brett Seacat took the stand Thursday to defend himself against charges that he murdered his wife.

The ex-cop says Vashti Seacat is the one who shot herself and burned their home down. But prosecutors say a looming divorce was the motive for Seacat to kill Vashti and then set her body on fire.

Several co-workers testified earlier in the trial about Brett Seacat’s odd behavior the day before his wife’s death -- that he burned hard drives, discarded cell phones and asked for an overhead projector. When Seacat took the stand, he was ready with answers to explain everything.

Seacat said he asked a co-worker for the projector to work on a fraud exercise.

“I don’t want to say I was making a false social security card – but I was showing how a false social security card was made. I was going through the steps I was told about to see if they were actually applicable,” said Seacat.

Read more: Did Kansas cop kill wife, burn down their home?

He testified that he only used the machine for about an hour and that he never even turned it on. Prosecutors have suggested that he borrowed the projector to forge Vashti’s suicide note. ... "

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/06/06/brett-seacat-trial-takes-stand-testimony-vashti

Thanks for this thread! As I mentioned on JA's thread, this guy is her identical twin. What initially got me interested was just watching the courtroom/trial protocol, and how the attorneys act, etc. They move things right along in Kansas! This guy is a psychopath. imo. Same song, 2nd verse of these eraser killers. Makes me sick. We've got trashing the victim (suicide, affairs, divorce), a trained LE/CSI who knew how to hide evidence (fire), and blown pupils - today I finally figured out the reason for that! The prosecutors found a tackle box in the garage with a recipe for steroids....roid rage, blew her brains out, tried to cover it with fire. imo

It is being covered by Wildabouttrial, but I have been watching on www.kwch.com....I believe closing arguments are next week. should be a slam dunk, but who knows.

I sincerely hope there is a backlash movement to stop defense strategies from victimizing victims that we've seen in so many recent cases....

Accused Killer Brett Seacat's Allusion to a Suicide Delays Trial

By GIO BENITEZ and ADAM SECHRIST
June 7, 2013



The Kansas judge hearing the murder trial of Brett Seacat called a recess today after the former police investigator who is accused of killing his wife apparently alluded to his belief that the woman was suicidal.

"On several occasions I stopped her [wife Vashti Seacat] from doing things I'm not allowed to talk about," he testified this morning.

Prosecutors immediately asked to approach the bench before Judge Larry Solomon called a recess and ordered all attorneys and Seacat to his chambers.

Read more:

http://abcnews.go.com/US/accused-killer-brett-seacats-allusion-suicide-delays-trial/story?id=19345197

Brett Seacat testifies in his own defense

By HLNtv.com Staff
updated 5:06 PM EDT, Fri June 07, 2013



The former cop accused of killing his wife and trying to make it look like a suicide continues his shocking testimony. Brett Seacat told jurors today that his wife Vashti was having multiple affairs, and even said that she had tried to kill herself several times before. CNN correspondent Ted Rowlands, in court today, tells Jane how Vashti's family reacted to today's testimony. Then Jane and a panel of experts discuss whether it was the right decision for Seacat to take the stand.

http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/06/07/brett-seacat-testifies-his-own-defense

________________

CNN TRANSCRIPT

JANE VELEZ-MITCHELL

Seacat Trial

Aired June 7, 2013 - 19:00 ET

http://edition.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/1306/07/ijvm.01.html

UPDATE: Defense Rests In Seacat Murder Trial

By: Associated Press / KAKE News

Friday, June 7, 2013

(VIDEOS)

The defense has rested in Brett Seacat's murder trial. Closing arguments are set to begin at 1 p.m. Monday.

Jason Tarr will have live updates from Kingman County on KAKE News at 5 and 6.
____________

His voice cracking at times, a former Kansas lawman told jurors that it was his fault his wife is dead but that he didn't kill her.

Brett Seacat returned to the witness stand Friday in his first-degree murder trial in the April 2011 killing of 34-year-old Vashti Seacat. The 37-year-old Kingman man also is charged with aggravated arson and two counts of child endangerment.

The defense contends his wife set the fire before killing herself.

Seacat testified he went to the burning master bedroom and found Vashti with blood coming out of her mouth and blood on the bed. Brett Seacat said he believed his wife was dead and turned his attention to getting the couple's two sons out of the home.

Earlier Seacat told jurors he threatened his wife the last evening she was alive when he realized she wanted to go through with a contested divorce. He testified he told her he would get her fired from a cable company by exposing her affairs with two managers. He also threatened to publish private photographs of her.

Read more:

http://www.kake.com/home/headlines/Seacat-Sister-Testifies-About-Weight-Loss-Supplement-210433311.html

48 HOURS

Ex-Kansas cop accused of killing wife



1 of 13

Brett Seacat and his wife, Vashti, in an undated personal photo. Brett Seacat, 37, is charged with murder in the April 30, 2011, death of 34-year-old Vashti Seacat. Prosecutors allege Brett Seacat, angry over being served with divorce papers just days before his wife's death, shot her in the head and tried to cover it up by setting their Kingman, Kan. home on fire. The defense, meanwhile, counters she was depressed and set the fire herself before committing suicide. He is currently on trial.

Author: Stephanie Slifer
Credit: KWCH

Photo Gallery:

http://www.cbsnews.com/2300-504083_162-10017061.html

Throwing the victim under the bus:

Seacat blames his wife for her death;
says she had multiple affairs, was depressed during their marriage.He has NOT discussed his state recognized common-law marriage where he FAILED to get a divorce BEFORE marrying Vashti. (This came to light AFTER the death of Vashti when the common-law wife FILED for divorce hoping to avoid the camera lens and knowing it would be focused on BS. )

Now, the question of insurance on a house titled ONLY to Vashti:

1. Not legally married to Vashti:
Her children would receive 100% of insurance payments IF she did not start the fire;
2. Legally married to BS:
He would receive 100% of insurance payments IF he did not start the fire;
3. IF BS started the fire and murdered Vashti:
The boys would receive 100% of insurance payments


Brett Seacat testifies in his own defense
By HLNtv.com Staff
updated 5:06 PM EDT, Fri June 07, 2013


http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/06/07/brett-seacat-testifies-his-own-defense

Brett Seacat Gets Emotional in Court

Former police investigator, accused of murdering his wife, breaks down in court.

02:23 | 06/08/2013

http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/video/brett-seacat-emotional-court-19354675

TODAY:

" ...Today, we expect jury instructions at 11:00 and closing arguments at 1:00. We plan on carrying both proceedings live here at www.kwch.com. (see the window below) ..."

http://www.kwch.com/news/kwch-jab-brett-seacat-trial-jury-instructionsclosing-arguments-20130610,0,5016138.story

Brett Seacat:

http://thesop.org/story/20130609/brett-seacat-murder-trial-has-some-strange-qualties-a-former-csi-cop-as-perpetrator.html

Video: "adversarial divorce" BS would do everything in his power to destroy Vashti
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZRHwLxiUoxA

June 7, 2013
Vid
26 mins
Commentary and review of what BS stated to authorities



https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WLPxeM1vflk

Tough decision for jury in ex-Kan. lawman's trial

Updated: 5:32 p.m. Sunday, June 9, 2013 | Posted: 5:32 p.m. Sunday, June 9, 2013

By ROXANA HEGEMAN
The Associated Press

KINGMAN, Kan. — Jurors have a tough decision to make when they begin deliberations Monday in the case of a former Kansas lawman accused of killing his wife and setting the family's house on fire to destroy evidence, all while their young children slept down the hall.

Prosecutors have portrayed Brett Seacat as a cunning killer who used his law enforcement training to forge a suicide note before shooting his 34-year-old wife, Vashti Seacat, in their home during the early morning hours of April 30, 2011, just 16 days after she filed for divorce. But defense attorneys have presented compelling evidence of suicide that may raise enough reasonable doubt for an acquittal.

Closing arguments are planned for Monday afternoon in the polarizing case that has drawn national media attention.

Read more:

http://www.ktvu.com/ap/ap/crime/jury-faces-tough-decision-in-former-lawmans-trial/nYGX3/

Well, things move along quite swiftly in Kansas! Judge began right on time this morning reading the jury instructions. There are 4 charges against BS - murder one, aggravated arson, aggravated endangerment of child #1, aggravated endangerment of child #2.

Early lunch recess and back promptly at 1 pm for closing arguments.

Closing arguments are set to begin at 1:00 p.m. CST - 2:00 p.m. EST.

The case can go to the jury as early as today.

The court just broke for lunch.

Seems obvious to me - but I didn't follow the entire case, nor did I get all the facts. Just the salacious ones.

Wonder if he'll be convicted. The one article above indicates the defense team was able to put forth some compelling evidence to bring about reasonable doubt?

What evidence was that?

Closing arguments in Brett Seacat’s murder trial scheduled for today

By Amy Renee Leiker
The Wichita Eagle

Published Monday, June 10, 2013, at 9 a.m.
Updated Monday, June 10, 2013, at 9:10 a.m.

~Snipped~

Five men and eight women, including alternates, have sat through 12 days of testimony. Two jurors were dismissed last week.

In addition to the murder charge, Seacat also faces a count of aggravated arson and two counts of aggravated child endangerment for allegedly setting fire to the couple’s Kingman house while their sons – then 2 and 4 – slept down the hall. Seacat maintains his wife, depressed and indecisive about the couple's pending divorce, told him by phone to get the kids out of their house on April 30, 2011, ignited her bedroom and then shot herself.

Read more here:

http://www.kansas.com/2013/06/10/2840703/closing-arguments-in-brett-seacats.html#storylink=cpy

Split closing for prosecution; defense is not allowed to split their closing. Should be in jury hands by 4:30.
(Prosecution will start with 45 minute closing.)

Prosecution:
==Vashti wanted out of marriage; she had counseling, filed papers; two days after filing, she was killed; he had to be out by Sunday so he needed to destroy everything before Sunday.

==BS torched the cell phones and the computer hard-drives at his work, the PD station

--Vashti texted with her friend between 6-7 PM the night she died; 11"11 PM Vashti is on fb;

Prosecution:

--Vashti had signed up for a parenting class for the following week' she bought a money order that Friday at noon to pay for the parenting class; she had booked a hotel room and purchased two tickets for a concert for May;

-- BS has threatened Vashti and she has told her friends: he promised to kill her, burn down the house and make it appear Vashti had committed suicide; BS woke her one night and informed he had a dream in which he killed her--- that is an indirect psychological threat.

--BS knows Connie S, the counselor, knows of the threats; BS is not aware of 5 other friends ALSO knowing of these threats.

--BS does admit to telling Vashti IF she filed for divorce, he would take the kids and she would never see them again.

--BS made a threat to expose Vashti by her sposedly having an affair with her boss; BS was planning to destroy her career;

--BS admitted the day before Vashti died, he destroyed the hard-drives, the cell phones; they ended up with a hard-drive tossed in the shop' the other hd and two cell phones he tossed at his work; this was 24 hours before Vashti died;

--The fire: More than one fire; SW storage area; outside master bedroom in the hallway; fires lit separately; also another fire lit in the bedroom; the hottest was the one in the SW storage area; SW fire lit first; BS said the bedroom was on fire when BS was trying to get Vashti--- firemen said NO; the bedroom was NOT ablaze when he got there; fire in master bedroom WAS lit but not major; BS had only two lightly singed places on his calves. NO burns on his arms, etc., despite BS stating he had reached THRU the flames. No singeing. A minor bluster on BS' left foot. No burns on his right foot despite his saying he was barefoot.

Prosecutor closing:

-- The gun:
44 magnum Luger; big gun; firearm damaged in fire; two hands to shoot; big kick; awkward; Vashti HAD fired it but did not like guns; size, gripe, angel, load, all results in how gun is fired; a 25 cal Raven was on the dresser; why the heavier gun that required strength just in pulling the trigger when there was a lighter gun available? How did gun get under her? Why did the recoil NOT send it flying across the room? How did a right handed person put this to her temple, pull it, and then placeed the gun UNDER her self?

== Bullet angle:
R/L, downward, front to back.
Angle is consistent to shooting a sleeping person; path of bullet

---Autopsy:
Gas fires burn dirty; debris settles quickly; no soot in Vashti's lungs, airways; no smoke, no smoke debris; NO soot in lungs; 380 ml of urine in Vashti's bladder--- it was FULL. A normal person would have been racing to the bathroom NOT killing herself!

--BBU's:
Gasoline found on def's pants; some spilled onto his pants; BS knows he will be interviewed--- he destroyed his other clothing which would have been bloody. LE found the gas on the pants.

---Arson:
Was to cover and burn the evidence; BS stated to day care provider :I heard the pool table from 3rd floor is in the basement..." But it didn't! The house was NOT completely destroyed and plenty of evidence was collected.Crime scene NOT destroyed.

--Journal and other writings:
Using overhead projector, BS faked journal entries and placed those in outside vehicles so they could be produced even if the house burned to the ground. (BTW, BS also put his keys in his truck BEFORE the house burned. What cop leaves his keys in the ignition of his truck?)

Wow, Freckles....you are a rockin' transcriber! Thanks a bunch. I thought the prosecutor laid out a concise and logical closing/part one. I liked her use of the time line of the night showing Vashti was anything but depressed; talked to friends, on FB, planned next week's parenting class, etc. She really nailed each bit of evidence including emphasizing over and over again that Brett is manipulative and controlling, and tried to use his LE background to control the evidence, even changing his statements when more evidence was revealed to him.

Mari - the defense tried to say that Vashti was using a diet drug, HCG, which contributed to her feelings of depression. They need her depressed to make the suicide work! I watched the entire defense cic and didn't buy what they were selling...the huge gun and trajectory pattern alone flies in the face of suicide imo.

Now defense has 1 1/2 hours all at once, then the state gets their last 30 minutes to close out the arguments. Then it's the jury's turn, and I hope they wipe that smirk clean off his face.

Defense is closing:
(This is hard because so much of this is... BS ?)

== BS says Vashti called him and told him to come get the boys; he hears a pop; BS goes up stairs to get the boys, to go to the master bedroom; fire on two sides of him as he went to the bedroom.


---Could the fire have been lit from anywhere on this trail? Well, yes, theoretically. BS sees the firs; the door was closed; he sees fire in bedroom; some despute as to WHERE the fire was; BS went to bed and attempted to lift Vashti from the bed; BS knew she was dead so he dropped her; (WHERE IS THE BLOOD ON BS? It would have been ALL OVER BS. ) Says this is how Vashti ended up on top of the gun.

---BS realizes house is on fire; BS needed to get the boys; he puts both boys in the car; sees the two dogs following so throws them into the car, too. BS re-enters the burning home.

---BS runs down stairs to wet dishtowel as he can't make it with all the smoke. He can't retrieve Vashti. He now calls 911; 3:54 to 911/ This is 3 minutes after Vashti sposedly had called him.

---911: Tells them he can't get to Vashti. BS heads outside to his boys; hangs up the 911 and calls his parents to come and get the boys. Sgt. calls out to BS.
Sgt Sowers is told Vashti had shot herself, her head is gone, blood is everywhere. Where is the blood on BS?

--Blood on BS is a two edged sword.
IF BS is standing near bed and BS is reaching over the bed to shoot Vashti then there would be blood all over BS. There is no blood on BS.

-- Pants are at bed level. 44 cal magnum would have left blood on the pants, the BBUs. There is none. No blood on his pants or on him. Pool of blood beside her on the bed. Blood flowing from her mouth. Shot went thru and thru, counsel states. States Vashti was lying flat; only 3/4 of an inch angle. States BS, standing, would have angled it more.

--Coroner:
States 3,000 autopsies. Can't determine if it was suicide or homicide. (Call in the ME, folks!) Submitted more than 5 months AFTER autopsy was complete. She had been reviewing ALL the LE papers to try to determine manner of death! (Read the reports of OTHERS? wow.)

(Does this atty drink or is he just rather slow at speech? Appears ungainly as he is talking. Sing-song delivery.)

---Suicide note: yellow post-it note found in purse in kitchen. In Vashti handwriting, note in kitchen had info on funeral costs, mortgage costs, etc.. Life ins was 720,000. (I wonder if this was forged OR if Vashti was writing down what SHE anticipated BS would "inherit" for debts/credits after she was dead at his hands?)

Atty says it is reasonable doubt.

Defense in closing:

--Gas charts:
--Duct tape is hyrdo-carbon base. The evidence for the collected gases had been in a bag for 22 months that had been sealed with this duct tape. There was a hydro-carbon base which is not part of the charts for gasoline.
--Evidence lost due to improper packing.

---Says "no quantification test" completed on the BBU pants. Gas could have been a drop or fumes transferred.


BS' Story:
--LE interviewed him at the station. No interviews available for that room. No recordings from the chief. SGT Sowers recorded extensively but nothing from the chief? What was said to Chief Holloway? Whatever was said was NOT inconsistent with what BS has said on the stand, atty says. BS gets LEC shortly before LE arrives; says BS was "singular" in purpose and was trying to figure out what to tell his" boys--- ages 2 and 4 years old. BS called his parents again to see if they were on their way; BS called Vashti's family member; BS made notes and carried those notes with him; it had Vashti's family members numbers; notes were made to help BS in working with his boys; staying "calm" was for his sons, not for him.

Defense: Closing

---Does it matter if a person ran thru fire or around fire?
Atty says it doesn't think it matters;

--BS waits 2 days and goes to daycare and speaks to the people there; BS said, because it was a suicide, BS did not believe there would be life ins and he would not be able to keep the boys in day care. (Did Vashti pay for the day care?)

--AXIS 1: Vashti was 296.3. This would mean a major depressive disorder, not episode. The counselor said it would be "major depressive" episode going all the way back to hs.

-- Statement of May 12:
-- Anything inconsistent to what BS told Chief Holloway after 7 hours of questioning? No. Rights were read. BS declined atty; he answered all questions.

-- Said state wants you to find Vashti was not depressed; atty doesn't believe Vashti KNEW what she wanted. The IM's from Vashti on Aoril 19--- "Last night I told BS I filed." Vashti said BS was floored, angry, said, BS would not pick up the divorce papers; said it would cost too much; take too long, didn't know if Vashti would file at that time as BS would not agree.

-- Vashti said she was going to keep the paperwork just in case; Vashti did not know if things can change or not; Vashti states she is unsure of the divorce; Vashti said BS seemed ready to change;

Defense: closings

--- April 28th
-- Vashti was working on other options for divorce;
wants the kids placed first;

Atty continues to read from the evidence. States the messages show Vashti was in agreement on wanting to work on the marriage still.


Collection of evidence:
-- Great deal collected; number of persons involved; crime scene log was NOT started until 9 PM that evening.
Integrity of investigation was corrupted. Said evidence has become worthless' no log for 17 hours.

--BS changed his story: BS admitted he threatened to expose Vashti's affairs, to send out pictures. Atty said BS was feeling guilty because HE felt responsible for Vashti taking her life, NOT that he had actually killed her by his own hand!

---Says how the firemen fought the fire caused the sheet-rock to fall and land on Vashti, possibly causing Vashti's body to flip on the side with the gun under her.


-- 4 rounds were fired from the gun. Two rounds went from legs into thigh such as cased by the sheet-rock falling and triggering the gun. Of course, this is after the first round he says Vashti used to kill herself.

-- Atty tells jury to remember all the little pieces to the case. Said there was a party planned for April 30th according to a neighbor. Say BS and asked BS about the party and what he could bring; BS told him there was to be no party and that Vashti had filed for divorce.

--Vashti said BS said if Vashti was with anyone else he would kill her; BS was "aware" Vashti had 4 other affairs;
BS did not kill her over the first 3 affairs so why over the 4th?

-- Atty says: Vashti was a survivor of child sex abuse; HCG abuse; diagnose of depression; atty says they ALL cause depression! Vashti wore one face at work but showed another face to her counselor and friends... Counselor considered putting Vashti on medication for her depression; Vashti declined but continued to "shoot up" (sic) the HCG.

--Prosecution wants you to believe Vashti was only putting drops under the tongue; the ingredients are listed and HCG is first item listed!!!

---Looping back:
---The notes by Vashti;
---Counselor's recommendations ignored for depression:
---HCG cause depression according to atty;
--- Coroner reviewed ALL these notes and can't figure out manner of death is proof beyond a reasonable doubt;
---No crime scene log put up in timely manner;
---Evidence collection/storage in error;

NOT GUILTY in two charges of endangerment;
arson;

Gov't has failed to "tear down" the brick wall.
They have failed in their jobs.
Says he doesn't get to refute the prosecutor;
what the atty says is NOT evidence!
Says jury gets to decided what the evidence means.
Says IF they talk about anything new it is because HE doesn't get to refute it!


Finding errors and trying to correct them. My "oops!"

I may be wrong but this to me looks like a slam dunk for the state. He is guilty of murder. I hope he is found guilty in a very short time too. He is an arrogant narcissistic BULLY. Of course IMOO.

Prosecutor: Closing-pt 2:

--Gun
--Not as you were shown by def atty; it was UNDER her body completely tucked under her L/side.
--Some tape but NOT a mountain of sheet-rock; not a vol of water washing the gun up and under Vashti;

911 call:
-Def had not thot this one thru; he memorized details as to when he grabbed the dishcloth but could ot explain HOW he was holding the cell phone while getting the dishcloth, wetting it, running back upstairs HOLDING the cloth over his face... while holding a cell phone? Def said he was outside when he made the calls to 911 but you can't hear his footsteps on the stairs, nor doors opening and slamming, no muffled noises as if the dishcloth was over his mouth; BS had to drop to his hands and knees BUT it CAN'T be heard on the 911 call. Why?

--Mistakes made:
Attacking the investigation.
Evidence showed what she thot was a suicide note; she examined it; uncertified, untrained; differences in writing! That was the def expert!!!! May be a nice lady but she went ALL in stating Vashti had written the note. But she is NOT tested, not certified!!! When she HAD been certified, those organizations have disbanded and no longer exist!

--Another def expert testified and put himself out as an arson expert--- with NO training since 1999. Had a ONE week course.

--Duct tape: Did it have any impact on the examination? How?

--Suicide:
--Counselor stated Vashti had NO evidence of depression; she was looking forward to many things; she was in the best of mental health; Vashti NEVER asked what would be a good gun to kill herself with.

Suicide note:
--Vashti being prudent and was totaling up what she needed and she was listing them;

BS and Bad luck:
--BS is practicing forgery, torching cell phones/ hard drives 24 hours before Vashti dies;
--BS just happened to have bad luck with the projector;
--Vashti left no prints in the journal;
--Bad luck with a "tree branch" falling and neighbor thinking that when it was a gunshot;
-- BS could not take any more; he could not control Vashti or manipulate her any more;

Over 10,000 pages of discovery; 7 expert witnesses in DNA, arson, hand writing, all different labs. No stretch of evidence. It has been filled in with the expert witnesses.
Even the VW NEVER moved as we showed in photos.

The def's dad was the LE's best friend; he worried if he could be fair in investigation because of the def's father being his friend.

Thirteen days ago you came in. Probably wondered about evidence for motive, opportunity, suspicious behavior the day before; Vashti was happier than ever; she was moving on.

The def planned and murdered his wife. He is controlling, manipulative and guilty. Find him guilty as charged. Thank you.

--- Judge talks to jury. Tells them they can order in, if they want to deliberate now. Pick a foreperson. They can stay as late as they want but the judge needs to know what they plan to do. They are welcome NOW to begin conferring with each other.

ON VERDICT WATCH.

Pianist wrote:I may be wrong but this to me looks like a slam dunk for the state. He is guilty of murder. I hope he is found guilty in a very short time too. He is an arrogant narcissistic BULLY. Of course IMOO.

I like this judge. No nonsense. He is in control of his court. No grandstanding. He also admonished them at breaks by TELLING them they were NOT to discuss, etc.. Not just a blanket statement.

IMO, I am glad this cop is NOT on duty! A bully cop is NOT needed.

Judge will recess jury for the night.
Admonishing them.
Telling them to report to the jury deliberation room at 8 AM in the morning.

Freckles wrote:Judge will recess jury for the night.
Admonishing them.
Telling them to report to the jury deliberation room at 8 AM in the morning.

AWESOME job Freckles!!!

Thank you sooooooooooooo much for the recaps.

Jury heads home for the day after hearing closing arguments

By AP Published: Monday, June 10, 2013



ARTICLE:

http://www.ksn.com/2013/06/10/closing-arguments-set-in-seacat-trial/

Brett Seacat's fate now in hands of jury

By Graham Winch
updated 5:56 PM EDT, Mon June 10, 2013

•Brett Seacat is accused of killing his wife Vashti in 2011
•Defense says Vashti shot herself and started the fire that burned the couple's house
•On Monday, attorneys gave their closing arguments in Seacat's trial


Former Kansas Cop Brett Seacat is inching closer to learning if he will spend the rest of his life in prison for allegedly killing his wife on April 29, 2011.

Seacat is charged with first-degree murder for allegedly shooting Vashti Seacat and trying to cover it up by burning down their house.

On Friday, Seacat took the stand on his behalf and testified Vashti set the house on fire and shot herself in the head, forcing him to save their young boys from the house.

Attorneys from both sides gave their closing arguments Monday, their last chance to convince the jury to either convict or acquit Seacat.

During her closing argument, prosecutor Amy Hanley said Seacat was full of uncontrollable rage because his wife had filed for divorce and was kicking him out their house.

“He was like a burning fuse,” said Hanley. “That’s why he was reckless.”

Read more:

http://www.hlntv.com/article/2013/06/10/prosecutor-seacat-was-burning-fuse

Jury gets case in ex-Kansas lawman's trial

Published: June 10, 2013 Updated 6 hours ago

By ROXANA HEGEMAN — Associated Press


Defendent Brett Seacat, left, talks with his attorney Roger Falk as they look over evidence before the start of his trial on Friday, June 7, 2013, in Kingman, Kan. Seacat is charged with first-degree murder and aggravated arson in the shooting death of his wife, 34-year-old Vashti Seacat.
THE HUTCHINSON NEWS, TRAVIS MORISSE, POOL — AP Photo

KINGMAN, Kan. — Jurors began deliberations Monday in the first-degree murder case against a former Kansas lawman accused of killing his wife and setting their house on fire while their young sons slept down the hall.

~Snipped`

The prevailing argument will determine whether jurors can reach a verdict on charges of first-degree murder, aggravated arson and two counts of child endangerment in the April 30, 2011 shooting death of 34-year-old Vashti Seacat. Jurors met for a half hour Monday and are expected to resume deliberations Tuesday.

Read more:

http://www.idahostatesman.com/2013/06/10/2611029/closing-arguments-begin-in-ex.html#storylink=cpy

Kansas Mom's Death: Suicide or Murder by Her Ex-Cop Husband?

By Jeff Truesdell
06/10/2013 at 05:05 PM EDT


Brett and Vashti Seacat
Wichita Eagle/MCT/Landov

They were Kansas sweethearts who tied the knot at a beach wedding in Belize. But after seven years of marriage and two young boys, the union of Brett and Vashti Seacat had crashed on the rocks.

On April 14, 2011, Vashti filed for divorce. She was depressed, says her husband, when she apparently set the house on fire 16 days later before killing herself.

Investigators allege something else: Murder.

Now, jurors in a historic courthouse in small-town Kingman, Kan. (pop 2,900) are weighing which version to believe: Did Vashti Seacat, 34, a devoted mom who had just planned a vacation to Mexico with her sister, leave her two children behind in a suicide?

Read more:

http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20707157,00.html

Published 12/16/2011

Woman seeks to divorce Seacat

She'd separated from murder suspect years ago; ability to testify an issue

By Darcy Gray - The Hutchinson News

A woman who says she was the common law wife of a Kansas police instructor charged with murdering his wife and setting fire to their Kingman home is seeking a quick divorce from the man - more than eight years after the couple separated.

Legal experts say the request, if successful, could eliminate a defense challenge to the woman testifying against Brett T. Seacat, who is charged in the April shooting death of his wife, 34-year-old Vashti Seacat.

Shara J. Burkett filed a petition Dec. 5 in Sedgwick County seeking a divorce from a common-law marriage to Brett Seacat. Her petition, filed through Wichita attorney Stephen M. Turley, states the two were married in 2001 under common law in Kansas.

Read more:

http://www.hutchnews.com/Localregional/Brett-Seacat-former-fiancee-files-divorce-petition--1

HLN just said jury ordered in pizza for a working lunch

http://www.hlntv.com/video/2013/06/10/prosecution-seacat-trial-use-common-sense

Weeziethm wrote:HLN just said jury ordered in pizza for a working lunch

I'm wondering how long the jury will deliberate.

BRETT SEACAT TRIAL

http://www.hlntv.com/clusters/seacat-trial-brett-vashti-death-murder-suicide-mystery

Alessandra_Deux wrote:

Weeziethm wrote:HLN just said jury ordered in pizza for a working lunch

I'm wondering how long the jury will deliberate.

That's a good question! They only had about 30 minutes yesterday and had to select a foreperson and schedule, so even if they did a straw poll to see where everyone tentatively stood, no real deliberations probably occurred. They set their hours at 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT.

And they are working through lunch today. I'll put my wager on later today or sleep on a decision and announce it tomorrow.

Weeziethm wrote:

Alessandra_Deux wrote:

I'm wondering how long the jury will deliberate.

That's a good question! They only had about 30 minutes yesterday and had to select a foreperson and schedule, so even if they did a straw poll to see where everyone tentatively stood, no real deliberations probably occurred. They set their hours at 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT.

And they are working through lunch today. I'll put my wager on later today or sleep on a decision and announce it tomorrow.

My thoughts exactly.

Weeziethm wrote:

Alessandra_Deux wrote:

I'm wondering how long the jury will deliberate.

That's a good question! They only had about 30 minutes yesterday and had to select a foreperson and schedule, so even if they did a straw poll to see where everyone tentatively stood, no real deliberations probably occurred. They set their hours at 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT.

And they are working through lunch today. I'll put my wager on later today or sleep on a decision and announce it tomorrow.

I find Seacat's story very hard to digest, when you look at the evidence, it defies logic.

I listened to him testifying on his own behalf, he sounded callous, cold and calculating. Even though I couldn't see his facial expressions while he testified, it was very obvious that he still has a lot of anger and animosity toward Vashti.

He couldn't tolerate the idea that she was divorcing him, not because he loved her, but because of his over inflated ego, he is arrogant and controlling.

He threatened to expose her about her alleged affairs, he threatened to destroy her if she divorced him, he threatened to take the children away from her if she tried to leave him. And, he threatened to kill her. In my opinion, he carried out his threat.

I hope the jury goes through the evidence with a fine tooth comb, and exercise common sense.

hopefully good news and the right verdict!