A Death in Canaan by Joan; Barthel Read Free Book Online

away and walked past, out of the house.
    Now the darkness outside was sliced with the flashing lights of the police cars, lined up in front of the house like bright sentinels. Bruce McCafferty took Peter into the front seat of the cruiser, so he could make a statement. McCafferty turned on the overhead light and another light that had been installed in the front seat for reading. McCafferty took the statement on paper that had the constitutional rights printed on it. He gave the paper to Peter to read, then Peter put his initials after each of the five items.
1.
You have a right to remain silent. If you talk, anything you say can and will be used against you in court.
2.
You have the right to consult with a lawyer before you are questioned, and you may have him with you during questioning.
3.
If you cannot afford a lawyer, one will be appointed for you, if you wish, before any questioning.
4.
If you wish to answer questions, you have the right to stop answering questions at any time.
5.
You may stop answering questions at any time if you wish to talk to a lawyer, and may have him with you during any further questioning.
    Peter asked McCafferty if he was being accused of a crime. McCafferty said no.
    McCafferty asked Peter if he had any idea who did it. Peter said no.
    I, Peter A. Reilly, aged 18 (DOB 03/02/55) of Route 63, Falls Village, Connecticut, make the following voluntary statement: I went to Great Barrington, Massachusetts, with Geoffrey Madow this afternoon. Geoffrey had to check in to see if he was working this weekend. He works at Shopwell in Great Barrington. We left there between 3:00 and 3:30 P.M . When we left there we went to Geoffrey’s house and watched TV. Geoffrey had dinner and we started to my house. We passed the ambulance by Deely Road. We figured it was going to pick up Geoffrey’s uncle who has been having chest pains. After passing the ambulance we went to the Arco station located at the intersection of Route 7 and 44. Geoffrey bought $1 worth of gas and we went back to see where the ambulance was going. When we found it, it was by Locust Hill Road in East Canaan. We followed the ambulance to Norfolk, then turned around and went back to Geoffrey’s house to see if it was his uncle. I waited in the car when Geoffrey went into the house. We left Geoffrey’s house and went directly to my house. We arrived at my house around 6:45. I was late for dinner and apologized to my mother for being late. We both stayed at my house until 7:20 P.M . At this time we both left for the Teen Center in North Canaan. Geoffrey drove his car and I drove my mother’s car. We got there around 7:30–7:35 P.M . and waited until about 7:50 P.M . for Father Paul to get there. We stayed there until about 9:30 P.M . I dropped John Sochocki off at his house located on the road to the dump. After dropping John off I came directly home. I arrived home between 9:50–9:55 P.M . I parked the car in front of the house and got out to fix a headlight. I got back in the car and shut it off. I got out and locked the car. I went inside and said, Mom, I’m home. My mother didn’t answer. I looked through the doorway and didn’t see her in bed. I then saw her lying on the floor. She was having a problem breathing and she was gasping. I saw the blood at this time. I didn’t touch my mother but went straight to the telephone and called Mickey Madow and told her that my mom was lying on the floor and was having trouble breathing and said that there was blood all over the place. Mrs. Madow told me to call my family doctor, that they would be right down. I then called information and asked for Dr. Bornemann in Canaan. I got the number and called him. I got Mrs. Bornemann and told her the situation. She told me Dr. Bornemann was out of town and that I should call the Sharon Hospital Emergency Room. I went outside and threw the charcoal grill out of the way. I then moved my car to the right side of the