St of Fl vs Delores Laster

[awakening2lite]

ORLANDO, Fla. -- A longtime elementary school teacher charged in a 21-year-old murder investigation is out of jail.

Delores Laster, 61, was released from the Orange County Jail on Thursday.

Laster is under no bond, but she will continue to be monitored by GPS.

The 40-year Orange County public schools employee was indicted in March in connection with the 1988 killing of her husband, Charles Laster.

Delores Laster told investigators someone broke into their home and killed her husband.Orange County detectives reopened the case last summer after re-interviewing two of her children, who are now adults. They were 10 and 12 years old at the time of the murder.

The state has ordered transcripts of their testimony.Delores Laster’s trial is set for July.

http://www.wesh.com/news/19140396/detail.html

[awakening2lite]

Report: Wife Made Children Move Husband's Dead Body

Gruesome New Details Released In Delores Laster Murder Trial


POSTED: 9:37 pm EDT April 24, 2009
UPDATED: 10:07 pm EDT April 24, 2009


OCALA, Fla. -- Gruesome new details were released on Friday in the case of Delores Laster.Orange County detectives said Laster shot her husband in the back of the head and then recruited his children to drag his body out to the garage.

The public school teacher is charged with first-degree murder in the death of her husband in 1988.

The document released on Friday is more than 900 pages, but right off the top there are chilling statements from Laster's two children about what happened in the house 21 years ago.

The children, now adults, told detectives what they said their mother asked them to do.

Delores Laster, 61, has always maintained that she did not kill her husband, Clarence. But a newly released report not only suggested that she shot her husband in the back of the head, but it also showed she asked her children -- ages 10 and 12 at the time -- to help her move his body.

"I always felt in my heart that she done it, but now we know," said the victim's son, Juan Laster. "It's going to be a closure to the family. We're very upset about it.

Juan Laster is the victim's oldest son. He said, at one point, though they didn't live together, all the children were close.

"For some reason, when this did happen, she just the took kids away from us," he said.

On the morning of March 19, 1988, Laster's daughter told investigators that her mother woke her up to ask for help moving her dad into the garage.

Kristy Dandridge stated that her father was too heavy, so she was told to wake her brother, Clyde, to help.Clyde Laster, who is now 32, told detectives that his sister woke him and told him his dad was hurt and they needed his help. He said that when he walked into his parents' bedroom, he saw his father lying on the floor with blood on the back of his head.

The document said Clyde Laster's mother told him that his father had been drinking, fell down and struck his head on the night stand.

Clyde Laster said that his father was semi-coherent and was left in the garage covered in plastic when they left for a trip to visit his grandparents in Gainesville, the report said.

The victim's eldest son said he just wants to know why this happened."She was still a teacher and being in front of those kids, acting like it was nothing," Juan Laster said.

The newly released documents also said that the children were told to take off their clothes and put them in a plastic bag. They then left for their grandparents' home.

The report said that they stopped at a shopping plaza just off Interstate 75 in Ocala, where Laster's daughter said she saw her mother pull behind the stores and throw the bag containing their bloody clothes into the Dumpster.

The state said Delores Laster applied for retirement earlier this month -- a week before the school board was scheduled to vote on firing her.

Starting May 1, she is eligible for a state teacher's pension of $2,983 a month for her 40 years of service in the Orange County School System. But the state said there's a chance that pension could be forfeited if she is convicted of murder.

Delores Laster's trial is set for July.

http://www.wesh.com/news/19276765/detail.html

[awakening2lite]

Wife Pleads Not Guilty In Husband's '88 Slaying

Detectives Say New Evidence Proves Laster Lied For 21 Years

POSTED: 11:30 am EDT March 24, 2009
UPDATED: 12:10 pm EDT March 24, 2009


PINE HILLS, Fla. -- The local teacher accused of keeping a deadly secret for 21 years turned in a written plea Tuesday, claiming she did nothing wrong.

Delores Laster, charged with first-degree murder in her husband's slaying, went before a judge last week.Investigators said Laster, a first-grade teacher, shot and killed her husband Clarence in March 1988.

At the time, Laster told detectives she returned to their Pine Hills home with her children and found her husband dead.

Detectives said new interviews with the couple's children helped them piece the case together and charge Laster with the crime.

http://www.wesh.com/news/19001571/detail.html

[awakening2lite]

Case Calendar

7/27/2009 0930 MANUAL - TRIAL ROOM 12-D ON THE TWELFTH FLOOR
7/16/2009 0900 MANUAL - PRETRIAL CONFERENCE ROOM 12-D ON THE TWELFTH FLOOR
myorangeclerk.com

[awakening2lite]

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/photo/2009-04/46500433.jpg
Delores Laster (ORLANDO SENTINEL FILE / April 25, 2009)


Delores Laster wrapped a towel around the .22-caliber revolver, pulled the trigger and put a bullet into the back of her cheating husband's head 21 years ago.

Then, unable to lift his 215-pound body by herself, she recruited her 10- and 11-year-old children to help carry Clarence Laster from their bedroom to the garage.

Those are among the accusations made public Friday in 900 pages of evidence from the State Attorney's Office case against the Orange County schoolteacher, details that portray a family with a slew of secrets.

Recent interviews by detectives with the couple's children, now adults, revealed information that helped Orange County homicide detective Cpl. Duwana Pelton close the cold-case murder last month.

Laster, 61, was indicted on a first-degree-murder charge last month in the March 1988 killing.

Pelton, a seasoned homicide investigator, was shocked to learn from the children that Delores Laster included them in a cover-up of the killing.

"If you're going to kill your husband, why involve your kids?" Pelton asked.


'I didn't do it'



Laster denied shooting her husband in 1988 and repeatedly denied it to cold-case detectives.

"I didn't do it," Laster told detectives who peppered her with questions after her arrest, records show. "I didn't kill him. I did not kill him ... I had no reason to."

Earlier this month a judge released Laster from jail without paying bail. She must wear a GPS monitor and stay away from her two older children, both of whom testified before a grand jury about their mother, according to police. She remains out of jail.

No one answered when an Orlando Sentinel reporter knocked on her door seeking comment to Friday's evidence.

Clarence Laster's slaying was reopened last year. Detectives identified it as one of about 80 cold cases that had a strong likelihood of being solved because of available forensic evidence and because of the ability to re-interview witnesses, sheriff's officials said.

Kristy Dandridge, Laster's daughter, was 11 when her father died. She refused to tell investigators what happened that night, but investigators told Laster that Dandridge broke down while telling a grand jury last month how she helped carry her father's body.

Grand-jury testimony, which is not public, was not part of Friday's evidence.

But within minutes of talking with detectives, Dandridge's brother, Clyde Laster, told them he had some memories from that night that are clear. Questions also lingered. He always wondered how his father died, records show.

According to the state attorney's evidence, the Laster family had a foundation of secrets:

•Delores Laster learned after marrying Clarence that he had fathered more than nine children with three women.

•Dandridge and Clyde Laster learned recently from investigators they were adopted as children.

•Delores Laster refused to let her husband's other children see her youngest adopted son, who is mentally disabled.

But the details investigators learned about the hours near Clarence Laster's death surprised them.

Laster's children described her as a strict mother who showed little affection.

She is "not ... a very enthusiastic person," Dandridge said. "She's just, there's really no emotion to my mom."


Final moments

It was still dark when Clyde Laster was awakened from his bed on the couch that night. His sister told him their father was hurt and needed help.

Clyde, then 10, walked into his parents' bedroom and saw blood smeared across a white nightstand. His half-nephew, a baby, was crying.

Clarence Laster was on the floor, semiconscious and reeking of alcohol, Clyde told investigators. Delores Laster told her son that his father had fallen out of bed and hit his head on the nightstand.

"We tried to ... get him out in the garage or whatever," Clyde Laster remembered, according to a statement he gave to police. "He just said, 'Leave me alone.'"

Delores Laster instructed her children to grab their father's legs, while she lifted him from under his arms. Clarence Laster continued to mumble, telling his son to leave and assuring him he would be fine.

Then Clarence Laster threw up. His final moments were spent facedown on his garage floor, blood seeping from a gunshot wound in the back of his head.


She maintains innocence

A clear plastic tarp used to cover a motorcycle was pulled loose and wrapped partially around Clarence Laster's body. Delores Laster and her children removed their bloodied clothing in the garage and put it in a plastic bag, records show.

Within an hour, Laster and the three children were on their way to Gainesville (http://www.orlandosentinel.com/topic/us/florida/alachua-county/gainesville-PLGEO100100401010000.topic) to visit her parents for the weekend.

When they returned the next night, Delores Laster pulled up to the garage and saw the body. She went to a neighbor's house for help.

Then, as now, investigative records show, Delores Laster's story has not changed. She had nothing to do with her husband's death, she said.

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/local/orange/orl-asecfla.rop.a_f042509apr25,0,7374669.story?page=1

[awakening2lite]

Sheriff's interviews

http://www.orlandosentinel.com/media/acrobat/2009-04/46489483.pdf

[awakening2lite]

EXCERPT ~ myorangeclerk

4/8/2009 A ORDER / THE COURT ALLOWS PD OFFICE TO WITHDRAW. THOMAS EGAN AND ROGER WEEDEN(CO-COUNSEL) AS ATTORNEY OF RECORD. DEFENSES MOTION FOR RELEASE IS HEREBY GRANTED WITH THE FOLLOWING CONDS; RELEASED ON GPS MONITORING. NO MONETARY BOND ASSESSED. NOT CONTACT WITH VICTIM. ANY CONTACT TO BE REQUESTED IN WRITING. DEFT ORDERED TO REMAIN IN ORANGE COUNTY WITH THE EXCEPTION TO TRAVEL TO ALACHUA CO. UPON NOTICE TO GPS

4/9/2009 A MOTION FOR PRE-TRIAL RELEASE FILED

4/9/2009 A NOTICE OF APPEARANCE FILED (CO-COUNSEL) ROGER L. WEEDEN ESQ

4/13/2009 A NOTICE OF APPEARANCE FILED (AS CO-COUNSEL) ROGER L WEEDEN

4/17/2009 A STATE'S RESPONSE TO DEMAND FOR DISCOVERY

4/24/2009 A NOTICE OF PROVISION OF SUPPLEMENTAL DISCOVERY

4/27/2009 A NOTICE OF PROVISION OF SUPPLEMENTAL DISCOVERY

4/29/2009 A SEALED REPORTS FILED (GRAND JURY TRANSCRIPT)

Pre-Trial set for 7.16.09
Trial set for 7.27.09

[awakening2lite]

Pre Trial hearing today

[awakening2lite]

Orange County Clerk Docket:

6/19/2009 A MOTION TO COMPEL DISCOVERY FILED
6/23/2009 A WAIVER DEFT'S ATTENDANCE AT PRETRIAL CONF
7/9/2009 A NOTICE OF TRIAL RTN:<11/23/2009> 09:00 A.M.
7/9/2009 A ORDER ON DEFENSES MOTION TO CONTINUE GRANTED *CASE IS SET FOR TIME-CERTAIN TRIAL TO START AT 9:00AM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2009. *CASE SET FOR JURY SELECTION (ONLY) ON MONDAY, NOVEMBER 16,2009 AT 9:00AM
7/10/2009 A DEFENSE MOTION TO CONTINUE
7/10/2009 A WAIVER OF SPEEDY TRIAL FILED
(http://www.myorangeclerk.com/myclerk/Details.aspx?SessionID=ebe22e83-140e-4a8f-b3d1-5ec7d1b8435f&CaseID=6276360#Top)

[awakening2lite]

Orange County Clerk Docket:

8/27/2009 A ORDER PREV DATES REMAIN AS SET, JURY SELECTION 11/16, TIME CERTAIN TRIAL 11/23/09, SEPTEMBER STATUS HEARIG TO BE SET BY JA, DEFENSE MOTION TO MODIFY CONDITIONS OF PRE TRIAL RELEASE GRANTED AS FOLLOWS: DEFT TO REMAIN ON GPS, HOWEVER COST OF SUPERVISION IS REDUCED TO $20 PER MONTH, GPS OFFICE IS TO NOTIFY COURT IF THERE IS AN ISSUE W/REDUCTION OF SUPERVISION

[LiveLaughLuv]

Orange County Clerk Docket:

8/27/2009 A ORDER PREV DATES REMAIN AS SET, JURY SELECTION 11/16, TIME CERTAIN TRIAL 11/23/09, SEPTEMBER STATUS HEARIG TO BE SET BY JA, DEFENSE MOTION TO MODIFY CONDITIONS OF PRE TRIAL RELEASE GRANTED AS FOLLOWS: DEFT TO REMAIN ON GPS, HOWEVER COST OF SUPERVISION IS REDUCED TO $20 PER MONTH, GPS OFFICE IS TO NOTIFY COURT IF THERE IS AN ISSUE W/REDUCTION OF SUPERVISION


Thank you Lite, for following Laster and all your hard work.

I see there is jury selection oon November 16, with trial starting on November 23. She remains free with a GPS monitor she must pay $20 monthly..

IS this televised?

I await the outcome...how does a mother have her children help move her near dead husbands body? She just left him there to die while she went to Gainsville, visititing???

Are there transcripts anywhere? Why have no press followed this one?

Disturbing for a school teacher....:madranting94dp:

[Al Boe]

Jury selection is set for today.

[awakening2lite]

Trial date changed:




11/12/2009 Notice of Provision of Supplemental Discovery
11/13/2009 Notice of Taking Deposition
11/13/2009 Motion DELORES RICHARDSON LASTERS MOTION IN LIMINE
11/23/2009 CANCELED Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob) Cancelled
TIME CERTAIN TRIAL
12/16/2009 Hearing (10:00 AM) () STATUS
01/27/2010 Hearing (9:30 AM) () JURY SELECTION
02/15/2010 Trial (9:30 AM) ()

http://myclerk.myorangeclerk.com/CaseDetail.aspx?CaseID=6361720

[awakening2lite]

Thank you Lite, for following Laster and all your hard work.

I see there is jury selection oon November 16, with trial starting on November 23. She remains free with a GPS monitor she must pay $20 monthly.. See previous post - trial date changed IS this televised?

I await the outcome...how does a mother have her children help move her near dead husbands body? She just left him there to die while she went to Gainsville, visititing???

Are there transcripts anywhere? Why have no press followed this one?

Disturbing for a school teacher....:madranting94dp:

Here are some of the transcripts:

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS RELEASED APRIL 2009:
» Delores Laster: March 23 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271659/detail.html)
» Clyde Laster: Oct 28 2008 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271702/detail.html) | Nov 5 2008 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271688/detail.html)
» Amber Laster: March 25 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271752/detail.html)
» Allegra Crawford Thompson: January 23 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19272864/detail.html)
» Kristy Dandridge: February 10 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19272894/detail.html)
» Juan Laster: March 25 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271749/detail.html)

http://www.wftv.com/news/20588895/detail.html


------------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpt - same link as above

Laster got out of jail without posting a dime and Thursday the judge lowered the cost of her GPS monitoring from $84 to $20 per month.

"Something ain't right about this. I don't understand it. That's what I'm angry about why she's out," Juan Laster said.

Since Dolores Laster was already retired after she was arrested, she's getting more than $3,100 per month in retirement benefits from the state. The checks began four months ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Special note: Juan Laster is the adopted son of Delores and asserts that at the age of 10, he and his then 12 year old sister were forced, by Delores, to move the murdered body of their father. Delores would not allow investigators to question the children back in 1988.

[awakening2lite]

update

11/23/2009 CANCELED Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob) Cancelled
TIME CERTAIN TRIAL

11/24/2009 State's Witness Listsupplemental

11/30/2009 Motion (1:30 PM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob) IN LIMINE

12/16/2009 Hearing (10:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob) STATUS

01/27/2010 Hearing (9:30 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob) JURY SELECTION

02/15/2010 Trial (9:30 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob)

[awakening2lite]

02/15/2010 Trial (9:30 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob)

02/19/2010 Status Hearing (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob)


ref: Orange County Clerk

[awakening2lite]

update

02/15/2010 Notice of Taking Deposition
02/17/2010 Notice of Provision of Supplemental Discovery
02/17/2010 Notice of Taking Deposition
02/17/2010 Notice of Provision of Supplemental Discovery
02/19/2010 Status Hearing (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob)


source: Orange county clerk

[awakening2lite]

update

02/19/2010 Status Hearing (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob)
02/19/2010 State's Witness ListSupplemental
02/22/2010 Notice of Provision of Supplemental Discovery


source: Orange county clerk

[awakening2lite]

update


02/22/2010 Notice of Provision of Supplemental Discovery

02/24/2010 State's Witness ListAmended

02/26/2010 Notice of Taking DepositionSubpoena

06/10/2010 Pre-Trial Conference (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob)

06/21/2010 Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob)
source: Orange County Clerk

[LiveLaughLuv]

Here are some of the transcripts:

INTERVIEW TRANSCRIPTS RELEASED APRIL 2009:
» Delores Laster: March 23 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271659/detail.html)
» Clyde Laster: Oct 28 2008 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271702/detail.html) | Nov 5 2008 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271688/detail.html)
» Amber Laster: March 25 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271752/detail.html)
» Allegra Crawford Thompson: January 23 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19272864/detail.html)
» Kristy Dandridge: February 10 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19272894/detail.html)
» Juan Laster: March 25 2009 (http://www.wftv.com/blank/19271749/detail.html)

http://www.wftv.com/news/20588895/detail.html


------------------------------------------------------------------
Excerpt - same link as above

Laster got out of jail without posting a dime and Thursday the judge lowered the cost of her GPS monitoring from $84 to $20 per month.

"Something ain't right about this. I don't understand it. That's what I'm angry about why she's out," Juan Laster said.

Since Dolores Laster was already retired after she was arrested, she's getting more than $3,100 per month in retirement benefits from the state. The checks began four months ago.
----------------------------------------------------------------------

Special note: Juan Laster is the adopted son of Delores and asserts that at the age of 10, he and his then 12 year old sister were forced, by Delores, to move the murdered body of their father. Delores would not allow investigators to question the children back in 1988.


I don't understand why this woman's GPS monitoring was lowered so much when she gets that huge check every month.

What a horrible memory this adults now have when they were children and aided in moving their deceased father..

[LiveLaughLuv]

06/21/2010 Jury Trial (9:00 AM) (Judicial Officer Wattles, Bob)
source: Orange County Clerk


So the trial will take place on June 21, 2010..wonder if this will be televised?