Cape & Islands News

23 wounds to Beth in Nantucket murder

Special to CCToday by Mary Lancaster of the Nantucket Independent

THE TOOLAN TRIAL: Day 6 - Monday, June 8
Forensic experts testify in today's murder trial session


Elizabeth "Beth" Lochtefeld, 44, was found stabbed in her Nantucket cottage on Hawthorne Lane in October 2004, after breaking up with her boyfriend Thomas Toolan III, 39, a former bank executive in New York. Jurors heard three key testimonies today in the continuing murder trial for Thomas Toolan, III - two testimonies came from forensic experts and another from someone who met Toolan in a substance abuse rehabilitation center eight years ago and remained in touch with him until after he was arrested and charged with the killing of Elizabeth "Beth" Lochtefeld on Oct. 25, 2004.

Dr. Richard Evans, a state medical examiner and forensic psychologist who performed Ms. Lochtefeld's autopsy, stated that he determined the cause of death as homocide, specifically a loss of blood and altered breathing due to multiple stab wounds.

Many wounds penetrated as deep as four and a-half inches. In cross-examination by the defense attorney, Dr. Evans was asked about "frenzy" killings and how damaged parts of the brain affect behavior.

The second forensic testimony came from Dan Pratt, supervisor at the Massachusetts Crime Lab, who investigated the scene of the murder and performed tests on several areas of blood as well as the sweater the victim wore which contained seven tears on the front and at least 10 on the back.

Convoluted alibi offered

TWISTED ALIBI:
Patrick Kegan, who met Toolan at a Hazleton rehab said he called him the night of Sunday, Oct. 24 and sounded depressed and intoxicated. Toolan called Kegan again the night of Oct. 25 to say only that he was in a RI police station after being arrested for driving while intoxicated and asked him to phone the victim "to see if she was okay" but also to ask her to call the police "to straighten this out."Also testifying for the prosecution was Patrick Kegan, who met Toolan at a Hazleton rehab. He said Toolan called him the night of Sunday, Oct. 24 and sounded depressed and intoxicated.

Toolan called Kegan again the night of Oct. 25 to say only that he was in a Rhode Island police station after being arrested for driving while intoxicated and asked him to phone the victim "to see if she was okay" but also to ask her to call the police "to straighten this out."

Kegan said Toolan sounded lucid at the time of that call. Kegan was unable to phone the victim, and when he received a follow up call from Toolan that evening and said he could not reach Ms. Lochtefeld, he said Toolan told him "not to worry about it." Testimonies continue at 9:30 Tuesday morning.

• See report on Day 1 here.
  
• See report on Day 2 here.
• See report on Day 3 here.
• See report on Day 4 here.
• See report on Day 5 here.
  

Pick up Wednesday's Nantucket Independent for complete trial coverage.