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WASHINGTON, D.C.—GEORGE University Hospital
MPD Detectives put in a bout of late-afternoon meetings and brainstorming sessions with their captain at the Daly Building. They planned how to bring David Thurman to justice.
Gas chamber.
Electric chair.
Firing squad.
They used the time to complete affidavits and warrant drafts for AUSA Shai Brown to obtain authorization for them to execute. They agreed to meet at the D.C. Jail later that night. What a Thursday.
Walking into the Georgetown University Hospital, the staff knew that something was up when badges were pressed into their faces. They requested and was directed to the Critical Care Unit, before they were asked to wait for department head, Dr. Jack Cardo.
“Thanks for meeting with us on such short notice,” Detective McGee said, extending her hand to the doctor when he appeared before her and Detective Bald Eagle.
They shook hands. Dr. Cardo said, “So nice to finally meet you, Detective McGee. I was a fan of The Westwood Beat before they retired the show.” He then turned to Detective Bald Eagle and shook her hand, “Thank you for your service.” He began walking down the corridor and they followed.
Settling into his office, he said, “Let’s get right to it because there’s not much to cover.”
“Right,” Detective McGee said, “we need her official injuries to determine charges.”
Detective Bald Eagle gladsomely added, “Like attempted murder or assault,” with a grin.
“Both if you’re asking me,” the doctor said. “Definitely, the killer may not have intended to kill her. But surely, he knew, any sane person would know, the result of a stomping foot on the face could result in death. But I assume that’s the kind of intent finding for a jury.”
“You assume right. But you’re saying this wasn’t a punch?”
“Definitely not. We have a boot print on her face.”
“Un-freakin’-believable,” Bald Eagle said, shaking her head.
“Very,” the doctor replied. “Let me walk you through what I can testify to in court.”
“Please.”
“My residents were consulted shortly after, Joanne Weston, perceived preliminary CT scans and I ordered additional scans, which showed multiple broken bones in her face. Joanne’s top jaw was broken off of her skull, and her cheekbone was broken into her top jaw. Given the location of the fractures. The sensory nerve runs under the eye and gives sensation to the face, lip, nose, front teeth and gums.”
“How’s this all being treated?”
“Well, that’s a work in progress. Having seen the CT scans, we first provided antibiotic coverage to prevent infection and then to take nasal precaution to keep Joanne from blowing her nose and causing bacteria from the nose to blown into the tissues. Thereafter, I surgically wired the jaws together, taking care to align them anatomically, and then installed plates and screws to stabilize the segments.” Before continuing, he sipped from an I ♥ New York mug, and pulled a photo from a folder on his desk, showing his captive audience. “Joanne had one incision on her face,” he pointed at it, “one large incision in her mouth, with a plate at the left orbital rim to secure the top jaw back to the sill. Her jaw will remain wired shut for a few weeks to prevent the bones from moving, allowing them to heal and preventing infection.”