Hide Article Text (OCR)
Mother collapses at son’sBy Jim O’HaraStaff WriterRoland Patnode’s mother collapsed to the floor today in court during the reading of her son's graphic confession about the slaying of transvestite prostitute David McLaughlin.’County Court Judge Patrick J. Cunningham had Syracuse Police Investigator John Brennan stop reading the eight-page document for about five minutes as court attendants and relatives revived the woman and escorted her from the courtroom to an adjacent jury room. Mrs. Patnode was attempting to leave, when she collapsed at the back of the courtroom.McLaughlin's mother, who also was in the courtroom, sat crying quietly and covering her face throughout the brief delay.After Mrs. Patnode was removed from the courtroom, Cunningham had Brennan finish reading the confession and the judge then gave the jury of nine men and three women an early lunch break.In the confession, the 23-year-old Patnode described how he stabbed McLaughlin last Oct. 1 after learning the victim was a man and not a female prostitute. McLaughlin was dressed as a woman and working as a prostitute that morning and had just had a sexual act with the defendant.“I got real mad and accused him of being a guy, Patnode said in the statement read by Brennan. “He then bit me in my left hand, and I punched him in the head.Patnode then related to Brennan how he saw an open knife in the victim’s purse, so he grabbed the weapon and stabbed McLaughlin at least once.He said that McLaughlin escaped from the pickup truck in which they were sitting, adding he (Patnode) got out and dragged the victim back into the vehicle and drove off.Patnode then detailed how he buried McLaughlin’s body several hours later in a 2-foot-deep grave he dug inside a barn in the Madison County community of West Eaton.After I finished digging the hole I went out to the truck and got the guy, Patnode said in the statement. “I carried him into the barn and dropped him in the hole. He was still wearing his dress. I filled in the hole and completely buried the guy. After I finished filling in the hole, I put some boards over the grave.It was at that point that the defendant's mother began leaving the courtroom with a companion. As she stepped off the bottom step at the rear of the courtroom, she collapsed in a heap onto the floor.The defendant, a resident of Massena, is charged with second-degree murder and fourth-degree criminal possession of a weapon in connection with the slaying of the 22-year-old McLaughlin last Oct. 1.The jury in the case was expected to hear additional testimony from Brennan today as well as testimony about the gruesome discovery of McLaughlin’s body Nov. 10.Cunningham today ruled Chief Assistant District Attorney John Duncan could show the jurors a video-tape made by law enforcement officers at the barn where McLaughlin’s body was unearthed.It does not show anything grotesque, Duncan told the judge. It shows a form somewhat identifiable as a possible human form.Cunningham said the tape could be shown despite an objection from defense attorney James Meggesto. But he cautioned Duncan to make sure the tape is turned off before it gets to the point where McLaughlin’s body actually is removed from the shallow grave.Duncan was expected to wrap up the prosecution case later today. Meggesto has said he expects to have Patnode testify in his own defense, possibly as early as Friday.trialConfession■ PATNODE, Page B3
Newspaper Details
Syracuse Herald Journal
Syracuse, New York, US
Thu, Jul 23, 1987
Page 37
Full Page
Clipped by
Chad G.
USA 01 May 2023
Other Publications Near Syracuse, New York
Syracuse Journal
Syracuse Evening Herald
Syracuse Herald Journal
Syracuse Daily Courier and Union
Syracuse Daily Courier
