Obsession

More than two years since 24-year-old Michelle Herndon was discovered dead in her home, more than two years since they realized the harmless guy who had a crush on Michelle was anything but.

Oliver O’Quinn, who had evaded police by fleeing to Europe and Africa, was finally back in Florida, in a courtroom facing trial for murder in the first degree.

Prosecutors James Colaw and Tim Browning set out to paint a picture of a man obsessed, spurned, then driven to murderous, calculating rage.

James Colaw: He called the victim 43 times, spoke to her every single day for nine straight days preceding her death.  Never calls her on 9th, never calls her on 10th, never calls her on the 11th, or the 12th because he knows there's no one there to answer...

They called Michelle’s friends to the stand to show how Oliver zeroed in on her.  Jessica Seipel was first.

Tim Browning: Did you ever meet any woman he was dating?

Jessica Seipel: No.

Tim Browning: Had he ever introduced you to anyone he characterized as a friend?

Jessica Seipel: No.

Tim Browning: What do you recall him saying about Michelle?

Jessica Seipel: I recall him saying he found her interesting, had never met anyone like her before.

When Jason Dearing, Michelle’s boyfriend, took the stand he told the jury how they had decided to officially take their relationship to the next level -- a sort of pre-engagement.

Jason Dearing: We decided that I would move up closer to Gainesville and we would make an attempt at a more serious, stable, committed relationship from there.

Michelle’s tearful mother, Belinda, said her daughter couldn't wait to tell everyone.

Belinda Herndon: She was crazy about him she was on top of the world.

Prosecutors alleged that when Michelle shared this news the next day with Oliver, who had grown dangerously infatuated with her, he snapped and delivered the fatal injection with pinpoint accuracy.

James Colaw: Did you examine the tissue beneath that puncture wound?

Dr. Martha Burt: Yes... underneath was very minimal amount of hemorrhage.

James Colaw: The person who created the puncture wound would have been someone with some skill or precision in knowing how to do that?

Dr. Martha Burt: It is very suggestive of that.

Next prosecutors called Oliver O’Quinn’s own father to the stand.

In the early days of the investigation, Beecher O’Quinn told Detective Douglas that Oliver told him a girlfriend of his had died of a drug overdose. 

But at that point, the toxicology reports weren't back yet so no one knew that key detail.  Not Detective Douglas, not even medical examiner Martha Burt. 

But now when asked to testify against his son, he denied that previous, on-the-record statements...

James Colaw: You do you recall talking to them that day?

Beecher O’Quinn: I didn't say say anything about a girlfriend or a drug overdose... he did not tell me a girlfriend died of an overdose.

James Colaw: You do understand you're under oath.  Is it your testimony that you didn't say that?

Beecher O’Quinn: I don't remember that.  My son didn't make that kind of statement when he was home.  If he had told me anything about this, I would have contacted our local authorities...

Prosecutors could not get Beecher O’Quinn to incriminate his own son, but they didn't take the stunning reversal lying down.

They followed up with Oliver’s half-sister who said not only did Beecher O’Quinn tell her the overdose story, he also asked her not to cooperate with investigators.

James Colaw: Did he say anything about what you should do if law enforcement contacted you?

Leslie: He said don't tell them anything,

James Colaw: What was your response to that?

Leslie:  That I always tell the truth.

With Oliver’s feelings for Michelle, his motives and his premature knowledge of the cause of death documented, it was time to show he had the know-how.

Tim Browning: Did you find him proficient in administering IVs to patients?

Sallustio: Yes.

James Colaw: Was he tested on the dosage calculations for all these drugs, but specifically including propofol?

Marker: Yes it's in the test questions.

James Colaw: Did he pass the test?

Marker: Yes he did.

Next prosecutors focused on Oliver’s sudden trip to Ireland two weeks after Michelle’s death.  They said it was the desperate, last-ditch effort of a guilty man.

James Colaw: When he starts to find out on November 21 that there must be something because law enforcement is now persistent in seeing me, and speaking to me, things change.  And he begins to go about saying his goodbyes.

Oliver’s ex-wife, Stacy O’Quinn, testified that Oliver came to see her and their daughter at the end of November 2005.  He said was going away for two weeks but promised to take a special trip when he returned.

James Colaw: Did he come back for President's Day or MLK day to take your daughter to Disney?

Stacy O’Quinn: No.

James Colaw: Did he ever come back to take your daughter to Disney?

Beecher O’Quinn: No.

Now all that was left was the proverbial "smoking gun". 

Back in 2005, when Detective Douglas and his team found the plastic grocery bag behind Michelle’s house, filled with empty drug vials and needles, they knew it could be an important clue, but they didn't know how important. 

Det. Mike Douglas: I gave it to my crime lab guy. Well, his wife happened to be a nurse.  And he says, "You know, I've seen my wife gives shots.  And when she does, she puts the needle in her mouth and bites the-- the plastic tip off so she can use her hands."  And he says, "I think this would be a really good place to look for DNA."  I said, "Please, do it.  By all means."

And when those results came back from the lab, the state's experts said the DNA left behind on those needle covers and syringes found in the trash at Michelle’s house could only belong to one person.

Leigh Clark: The DNA on my exhibit matched the DNA profile of defendant Oliver O’Quinn.

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