Produced by Lourdes Aguiar, Allen Alter, Ruth Chenetz and Peter Shaw
[This story previously aired on November 16, 2019. It was updated on April 16, 2022.]
On the morning of Sept. 17, 2012, inside a grand dwelling outdoors of Syracuse, New York, a disturbing scene was unfolding as 23-year-old Jenna Neulander frantically referred to as 911:
Jenna Neulander: Is somebody coming?
911 Operator: Sure, they're, they're en route ...
Jenna Neulander: my mother, my mother, my mother ...
911 Operator: Is she transferring ... Jenna, Jenna...?
Jenna Neulander: Oh my god.
Jenna's father, Dr. Robert Neulander, had screamed to her for assist. He stated he simply discovered his spouse on the ground of the lavatory bathe. Inside minutes, paramedics arrived on the home. Leslie Neulander, 61, had suffered a large head wound. She was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
"You get a name, 'fall within the bathe,' you present up anticipating to see the accident sufferer close to the bathe,: "48 Hours"correspondent Jim Axelrod commented to former DeWitt, N.Y. Police Sergeant Scott Kapral.
"That is proper," he replied. "The expectations are that she's going to be there within the bathe or instantly proper outdoors the bathe."
As a substitute, Kapral discovered Leslie Neulander within the bed room, on the ground, near the mattress.
"I stroll into the precise bed room," Kapral continued."...and that is once I catch all of the blood."
Kapral observed blood in several areas of the bed room: pooled on the rug and spattered on the wall subsequent to the mattress.
"My radar's going off -- so far as saying, ' We have to reply why -- why all this blood is right here,'" he stated.
Kapral had loads of questions, however Dr. Neulander appeared to have all of the solutions. Telling investigators that after discovering Leslie on the bathe flooring, he carried her out of the lavatory, some 60 toes into the bed room, the place he might extra comfortably carry out CPR -- one thing he did regardless of Jenna's protests:
Jenna Neulander on 911 name: Daddy, do not transfer her! Daddy, cease transferring her please!
"As he is relaying the story about what had occurred and because the health worker's digesting it and we're all digesting it, his precise story of step-by-step course of ... match the sample of the place you noticed these totally different swimming pools of blood," stated Kapral.
The health worker on the scene examined Leslie's accidents and dominated they matched up with Dr. Neulander's account. The demise: a tragic accident. The report learn, "Blunt power head accidents resulting from fall from standing peak." Leslie Neulander died from hitting her head on the bathe bench.
"The entire thing was odd. The entire thing was out of character with a fall within the bathe," stated Kapral.
"You have been a cop 20 years, had you ever seen a head trauma like that earlier than?" Axelrod requested.
"Effectively not from a fall," Kapral replied. "However as we're listening to the health worker clarify what he feels might've occurred, you know, we're not physicians, we're not forensic pathologists, we're law enforcement officials, we're investigators ... So, we definitely defer to him."
The account of Jenna Neulander, an eyewitness, appeared to again up the health worker's ruling that this was an accident when police interviewed her as a part of their routine investigation:
Jenna Neulander police interview: I see him really carrying her...
Jenna Neulander police interview: He was like placing his resist her to see if she was respiratory.
The demise of Leslie Neulander shook the neighborhood.
Mary Jumbelic was an excellent pal of the Neulanders.
"Everybody knew the Neulanders," she stated. "They appeared like the right couple, the right marriage, the right household actually. ...Leslie was a superb lady. Very vivacious, energetic, unpretentious."
"She was switched on," Axelrod famous.
"Sure," Jumbelic stated. "I do know folks all the time communicate effectively of the lifeless, however actually, this was her character, to be so giving and alive."
Leslie and Robert gave generously - each their money and time. They had been well-known for his or her philanthropy. Their social prominence dovetailed with Robert Neulander's skilled standing as one of the vital extremely regarded gynecologists and obstetricians within the Syracuse space.
"He delivered a number of infants round right here," stated Axelrod.
"Many, many with a number of good emotions towards the care he gave these sufferers for a lot of, a few years," stated Jumbelic.
Julie Crosby, who labored with Dr. Neulander aiding pregnant girls, says sufferers had been drawn to his supportive demeanor.
"My interactions with Dr. Neulander had been joyful -- had been these fantastic issues that had been taking place ... welcoming their child, turning into a household," she defined.
"I discovered Dr. Neulander to be compassionate, variety ... educated," stated Crosby.
That caring manner, say those that knew them greatest, was a defining worth for this tightly-knit household.
The closeness is obvious to see in videotaped birthday tributes for Robert and Leslie, made by their youngsters, Emily and Brian, from Robert's first marriage, and Ari and Jenna from the couple's 28-year marriage. Blended with loving teasing for his or her mom, is a deep appreciation.
"Thanks for being you. I like you," Ari Neulander stated on the video.
The Neulanders' thoughtfulness was one thing Jumbelic skilled firsthand after turning into gravely sick, with an an infection, whereas on trip within the Czech Republic in the summertime of 2012.
"I used to be in a coma after which within the hospital for 3 weeks," she defined.
When she lastly returned dwelling, the primary neighbors to examine on her had been the Neulanders.
"I bear in mind hugging all people and I bear in mind Leslie saying, 'We're so glad that you simply made it,'" Jumbelic recalled.
Simply two days later, Jumbelic obtained the devastating information: Leslie was lifeless -- a freak accident, she'd slipped within the bathe.
"I could not consider that she had simply been to see me and inform me how grateful she is that I am alive, and he or she's lifeless. It was stunning. It was overwhelming," she stated.
"And what did you consider that?" Axelrod requested.
"Effectively on the time I assumed ... I suppose that may occur, even to a 61-year-old very wholesome, athletic individual," Jumbelic replied.
That was the identical conclusion Onondaga County District Lawyer Invoice Fitzpatrick reached when he first heard about Leslie's demise. He believed it was a tragic accident--until just a few months later, when a tip modified every little thing.
ACCIDENT OR MURDER?
Three months after Leslie Neulander's sudden demise, Mary Jumbelic started getting some uncommon calls from pals.
"What are they saying?"Jim Axelrod requested.
"'We do not suppose it was an accident," stated Jumbelic.
And who higher to share their considerations with than a forensic scientist. For 11 years, Dr. Mary Jumbelic was the county's chief health worker till she retired in 2009.
"My focus for my complete profession has been to talk for the lifeless," she stated.
Dr. Jumbelic listened rigorously. There have been questions on all that blood and whispers in regards to the Neulanders' private life.
"Are you listening to a couple of troubled marriage?" Axelrod requested Jumbelic. "Are you listening to about monetary issues?"
"Sure," she replied to each questions.
Lately, Dr. Neulander's thriving apply had been derailed by a battle with an insurance coverage firm and he was now delivering half the variety of infants he had beforehand.
Dr. Jumbelic was reluctant to become involved, however she lastly picked up the cellphone and referred to as her previous colleague, D.A. Invoice Fitzpatrick.
"Did you're feeling ultimately you had been betraying the Neulanders?" Axelrod requested Dr. Jumbelic.
"I felt I used to be responding to gossip," she replied.
Because it seems, the D.A. had additionally been listening to issues. He'd obtained an nameless letter simply earlier than Jumbelic's name suggesting a special facet to Dr. Neulander.
"That he is not the, , the nice man that persons are making him out to be," Fitzpatrick stated. "Leslie was making an attempt to interrupt away from this man."
Jumbelic's preliminary hope was that she might quickly put all of the hypothesis to relaxation.
"And he or she volunteers, , professional bono to try the case, and would I make the file accessible to her, and I stated, 'completely,'" stated Fitzpatrick.
"As you started to take a look at this file, what jumped out at you?" Axelrod requested Jumbelic.
"The severity of the accidents, in comparison with the reason," she replied.
Leslie Neulander had suffered a penetrating wound in the direction of the again of her head so extreme the blood pooled in her eye.
"Had you seen head wounds like this earlier than?" Axelrod requested Jumbelic.
"After all," she stated.
"In what sort of instances?"
"Automobile accidents, falls from 20-story buildings. Beatings," Jumbelic replied.
Requested what would possibly trigger the sort of harm, Jumbelic stated. "A heavy object of some kind."
"You are speaking about getting hit with some object?" Axelrod requested.
"Sure," Jumbelic affirmed.
"What do you inform the district legal professional after reviewing the file?"
"That this can be a murder. Blunt head trauma from an assault," stated Jumbelic.
Half a 12 months after Leslie Neulander's demise, the investigation picked up steam. Police revisited the demise scene to gather extra proof from the now unoccupied Neulander dwelling, which had been bought.
"One of many issues we discover .... is -- blood all around the again of the headboard on the mattress," Scott Kapral stated. "We additionally discovered blood -- spatter on the -- blinds that had been behind the mattress."
Dr. Neulander was dwelling in a brand new condominium which was additionally searched. By now, he had retained among the finest legal protection legal professionals within the metropolis, Edward Menkin.
"This has been an open secret and a topic of gossip and irresponsible rumor now for months. Dr. Neulander has not been charged with any form of offense," Menkin advised a neighborhood reporter overlaying the case.
Menkin assured the D.A. that his shopper had nothing to cover. A lot in order that 15 months after Leslie's demise, Dr. Neulander, now retired, voluntarily sat for an interview with prosecutors and investigators -- even acknowledging there's been issues of their marriage:
District Lawyer Invoice Fitzpatrick: However you had been sleeping individually? OK. What was making that?
Dr. Robert Neulander: We had considered a trial separation.
But, Robert Neulander portrays the house as peaceable and loving, regardless of the problems of their marriage. The evening earlier than Leslie died, the couple, together with their son Ari and daughter Jenna had a household dinner at a pal's dwelling. Afterwards, Ari headed again to his school dorm and Jenna went again dwelling along with her dad and mom.
"We stated good evening to one another and we liked one another and all people kissed and went to their respective bedrooms," Neulander advised the D.A. through the interview.
Dr. Neulander tells the D.A. that early the following morning, he went for a jog at a close-by state park, Inexperienced Lakes, after which introduced Leslie her standard cup of morning espresso when he bought again: "The bathe is on," he stated. "I hear the water operating and I place it on the nightstand."
About an hour later, he says, he returned to examine on Leslie and there she was: mendacity on the bathe flooring. Dr. Neulander says he began CPR and tried to name 911, however the toilet cellphone wasn't working. So he ran towards Jenna's bed room yelling for her to name 911. The time: 8:25 a.m:
Jenna Neulander to 911: OK. My mom, I do not know if she's respiratory. She's laying on the bottom within the bathe.
He stated he then went again to Leslie and commenced to maneuver her."He says he cannot see ... the lighting just isn't excellent within the toilet," Fitzpatrick advised Axelrod.
Jenna Neulander throughout 911 name: Dad put her down! Her neck is likely to be damaged!
He then put Leslie down simply outdoors the lavatory to offer her mouth-to-mouth, earlier than transferring her once more.
Jenna Neulander throughout 911 name: Daddy, do not transfer her! Daddy, cease transferring her please!
"I do not know at what age all of us study that you do not transfer someone with a critical head or neck harm, however everyone knows it. And here is a man that is been practising medication for 30 years," stated Fitzpatrick.
Lastly, Dr. Neulander says he positioned his spouse subsequent to the mattress to proceed CPR.
"There's ... extra pink flags than a bull battle going off in my head once I hear that story for the primary time," Fitzpatrick commented.
Fitzpatrick develops his personal principle that, hours earlier than that 911 name, Dr. Neulander assaulted his spouse within the bed room after which doubtless chased her into the lavatory.
"I feel that he struck her on that bathe bench," Fitzpatrick advised Axelrod. "... she could have already been within the technique of dying at that time."
Fitzpatrick believes Neulander made up the story of discovering Leslie within the bathe and referred to as for Jenna so he'd have a witness as he carried his spouse again to the bed room.
"What do you suppose he was doing when he was transferring her?" Axelrod requested.
"I feel now, he has bought to clarify the blood path from the assault that passed off within the bed room that finally made its manner into the lavatory and he is gotta do it in reverse," Fitzpatrick replied. "...he needed to transfer that physique himself to clarify that blood."
As for the blood spattered within the bed room, the D.A. believes Dr. Neulander did not understand a few of it was there as a result of the violence passed off earlier than the solar was up."And remember he is committing this crime -- it is darkish. He does not know the place all of the blood is," stated Fitzpatrick.
But when Leslie Neulander was attacked in her bed room, why had been the sheets practically pristine? The couple's long-time housekeeper offered a clue to investigators.
"She seemed on the mattress and bought upset and stated ... 'These are usually not the sheets that had been on that mattress that Friday.' She was very assured of that," stated former DeWitt, N.Y. Police Sergeant Scott Kapral.
The D.A. believes that Dr. Neulander removed the sheets and the weapon on that alleged morning run.
"I feel the homicide weapon is on the backside of Inexperienced Lake someplace together with the -- the lacking sheets," stated Fitzpatrick.
With proof now mounting, the health worker modified his authentic report from unintended demise to murder.
Practically two years after Leslie Neulander's demise, her husband, Dr. Robert Neulander, was charged along with her homicide.
"...the defendant ... moved the physique of Leslie Neulander after her demise ... to make it seem as if she had died from an unintended fall within the bathe," D.A. Fitzpatrick advised reporters.
However Dr. Neulander's household says Fitzpatrick has all of it incorrect. Leslie's personal youngsters stand united with the person accused of murdering their mom.
ANALYZING THE BLOOD EVIDENCE
In March of 2015, two-and-a-half years after the demise of Leslie Neulander, excessive drama was about to unfold within the Onondaga County Courthouse.
"It has all the weather....the wealthy defendant ... the gorgeous spouse and the thriller surrounding it," Fitzpatrick stated. "...the weather of was it a murder? Was it an accident? ...So it was big for this neighborhood."
Not solely was a distinguished physician on trial, however he had two formidable attorneys battling over his guilt or innocence.
"Individuals had been stopping you on the road. You realize, 'Hey Fitz...how's it look?' Or 'Go get em' or 'I hope you lose,'" the D.A. stated.
Ed Menkin spoke to native reporters, however declined "48 Hours" request for an interview.
"I've by no means had a shopper whose innocence I consider in additional firmly than him," protection legal professional Ed Menkin advised the reporter.
"48 Hours" requested retired native legal professional Jim Stevens to clarify the protection's case.
"If both of them finds blood within the water, they go proper for it," stated Stevens, a CBS Information marketing consultant who attended the trial.
"It was gonna be riveting," Stevens defined. "It was a top-notch trial all the way in which round."
Every day in courtroom started with the identical scene within the hallways. Free on $100,000 bail, the physician would arrive flanked not solely by his youngsters, however by Leslie's sister and brother.
"He did not do it. That is the message. It was not a criminal offense," stated Stevens.
The State has greater hurdles to cope with than simply photos; prosecutors haven't any weapon and no clear-cut motive.
"Is it dangerous to go to a jury with out these issues?" Axelrod requested Fitzpatrick.
"Positive, certain. I imply juries, , they don't seem to be that totally different than you and I. They need solutions," he replied.
Fitzpatrick believes the evidence--like the blood spatter within the bedroom-- will show
this was no accident and has enlisted the assistance of forensic scientist Karen Inexperienced to make his case.
"Bloodstains can inform you a large number," Axelrod famous to Inexperienced.
"They will inform you a large number and they're related to nearly each crime scene that we go to," she stated.
There have been no cameras within the courtroom so "48 Hours" requested Inexperienced to take us by means of her blood spatter evaluation.
"There was spatter on the headboard, there was spatter on the gadgets on the nightstand simply south of the mattress, there was spatter on the blinds above the mattress, and there was spatter on the south wall that was about seven toes to the south of the mattress," stated Inexperienced.
"Inform us in regards to the south wall, we have been referencing it. What are the 2 spatters which are marked SBD 1?" Axelrod requested.
"That is an space the place we noticed over 100 spatter stains," stated Inexperienced.
The prosecution contends that the spatter was primarily one thing referred to as affect spatter -- created when Leslie was attacked within the bed room. To assist higher perceive the terminology, we constructed a set and provided Karen Inexperienced with stage blood to offer us a rudimentary lesson.
"After we discuss affect spatter, what does that imply?" Axelrod requested.
"So affect spatter is power utilized to liquid blood. So, I'll pour a few of our synthetic blood into my hand, and I am gonna punch it, and that is power going right into a blood supply," stated Inexperienced.
"The power impacts the blood and the blood spatters."
"Sure, and the blood breaks up into smaller drops," Inexperienced demonstrated by punching her fist into her palm, the liquid spattering onto a Plexiglas wall.
"However once more, it is affect ... that is a technique blood will get out," stated Axelrod.
"Yeah," Inexperienced stated as she clapped once more. "You possibly can see the way it's radiating out. Now we have some smaller stains with some directionality as much as the highest."
For the Neulander case, Inexperienced performed varied experiments to recreate the spatter within the bed room - going as far as inserting a rock coated in plastic and a wig on a mattress to simulate Leslie's head.
"I had a location that was much like the Neulander bed room with the slanted ceiling. ...I used all of the measurements that had been within the scene, the approximate peak of the mattress, I had a nightstand. ...After which I put liquid blood and I impacted it," Inexperienced defined. "I simply needed to confirm that an affect on or close to the south facet of the mattress might create spatter six or seven toes away in the identical distribution."
"And will it?" Axelrod requested.
"I used to be capable of recreate with -- an affect occasion, an affect state of affairs -- the entire spatter that I noticed on this bed room," Inexperienced replied.
The protection mocked Inexperienced's strategies, which they stated amounted to nothing greater than "whacking a model over the top."
The protection had its personal blood spatter professional. He testified that it was not attainable to find out if Leslie Neulander's demise was an accident or murder, as a result of the investigation had been flawed: there weren't sufficient close-up footage of the blood. A few of the proof in query -- just like the headboard and the blinds -- had been collected months after the incident and emergency personnel had walked all around the scene. In reality, the protection advised that EMTs could have been liable for among the blood spatter.
"The primary responders most likely had blood on their fingers and that the gloves had been simply peeled off. And in so doing, the blood flies from the gloves and you do not have an affect however you've gotten a solid off," Stevens defined.
The protection additionally argued that the blood might have been solid off by Dr. Neulander himself. The physician stated he'd been sporting an extended sleeved shirt that turned so moist and bloody as he tried to frantically save his spouse's life that he pulled it off.
"And that these spatters by the mattress had been attributable to him eradicating his shirt," stated Stevens.
Fitzpatrick scoffs at these theories, declaring that paramedics are educated to rigorously take away their gloves -- and that no shirt or gloves might account for the quantity of blood in that room.
"Does not clarify any of the blood," he stated. "It is a important quantity of blood."
However the protection insists that it was an accident and that there could have been an excellent purpose why Leslie Neulander fell that morning: she suffered from vertigo, a dizziness dysfunction. Leslie's private coach advised the jury that Leslie's situation had grown worse and her sister, Joanne London-Leslie, testified that it ran within the household and that she herself suffered from it.
"The thought of her sister testifying, is that affecting your view of the case?" Axelrod requested Stevens.
"Positive," he replied. "Why would not she be madder than hell? And why would not she be saying, 'I am not testifying for you. What are you loopy? You killed my sister.'"
To bolster their case of an unintended demise, the protection employed Dr. Daniel Spitz, a health worker working in Michigan, who's seen greater than his share of traumatic head accidents.
"His testimony mainly is that ... the large head wound that brought on her demise was a results of her falling within the bathe towards the stone bench," stated Stevens.
"If Leslie sustained an harm within the bathe by her head putting a stone bench, what does this do for Dr. Neulander's protection?" Axelrod requested Stevens.
"A house run," he replied.
However the prosecution countered that Leslie suffered no less than two blows to her cranium and that the wound was not constant along with her head putting a straight edge like a stone bathe bench.
"It ought to be, like, a easy linear fracture-- with some bleeding beneath of it. However you aren't getting the complicated depressed fracture like this," Dr. Mary Jumbelic advised Axelrod, referencing the picture proven above.
Dr. Jumbelic didn't testify at trial, however consulted with the prosecution. Leslie's different accidents, they are saying, additionally do not add as much as a slip and fall.
"There have been abrasions, scrapes of the pores and skin, on her cheek, bruising on her nostril, extra on the left facet of her cheek as effectively. Bruising and scraping on her neck," she stated.
"If she slipped and fell within the bathe, why aren't there any accidents to her again and legs? Her knees? Her elbows?" Fitzpatrick requested.
Important to the prosecution's case: not simply how Leslie Neulander died, however when. Dr. Spitz estimated Leslie died round 7:30 a.m. However the D.A. makes the case that her demise might have occurred as early as 4:15 a.m., which inserts his principle of a pre-dawn assault.
"The time of demise is completely inconsistent with the defendant's story," stated Fitzpatrick.
There's now only one extra witness left to testify -- the physician's daughter. What did she see that horrible morning?
A DAUGHTER'S TESTIMONY
"The day that Jenna was to testify, the spectators had been lined up in anticipation of what she was going to say," stated Jim Stevens.
Two-and-a-half years after Jenna Neulander's beloved mom, Leslie, died, the now 25-year-old devoted daughter is about to take the stand to defend her father.
"There was little question there was ache in that courtroom when she testified," stated Stevens.
"She's making an attempt to safe her father's freedom and he or she's coping with the demise of her mom," Axelrod famous.
"Proper," Stevens stated. "I do not understand how she bought on the stand to do it."
"She's the one different eyewitness," Invoice Fitzpatrick stated. "She's very, essential to the result of this case.
With all eyes on her, Jenna tearfully describes the mom she misplaced.
"She was genuinely upset and mournful about testifying. The testimony compelled her to carry some recollections to the floor of her mom who she clearly liked very, very a lot," stated Fitzpatrick.
Jenna then tells the jury what occurred within the Neulander's dwelling within the hours earlier than her mom died. She says she was along with her mother in Leslie's bed room till 2 a.m., and Jenna clearly remembers the sheets on her mom's mattress that evening. She says they're the identical ones within the demise scene photographs ... sheets the housekeeper stated had been modified.
"The altering of the sheets was a major concern. I imply why would you modify the sheets? You alter the sheets as a result of there was blood on it," stated Stevens.
"No bloody sheets, there is no affect event--" Axelrod identified.
"Proper, on the mattress," stated Stevens.
Jenna Neulander to 911: I have to go over there to see if she's OK.
Then there's maybe probably the most critically necessary piece of proof. The later a part of the 911 name:
Jenna Neulander to 911: I have to put you on maintain, I am not, it is like a home cellphone.
Jenna put the decision on maintain in her mom's workplace to get nearer to the lavatory the place Leslie was:
Jenna Neulander to 911: Oh my god, there's blood in every single place...
Either side argue Jenna's cry -- " there's blood in every single place" -- is vital and helps their case.
To exhibit the arguments, "48 Hours" made an animation of components of the Neulander dwelling, primarily based on proof the prosecution offered at trial. The prosecution believes, as Jenna was operating into the lavatory, she passes a path of blood that would not but exist until Robert Neulander attacked Leslie earlier within the bed room after which left her within the bathe.
"She has handed the doorway to the lavatory the place there is a important quantity of blood on the wall that would've solely come from Leslie's head," Fitzpatrick defined, "maybe by being pushed towards that wall or maybe being chased.
The D.A. says Jenna then grabbed the landline cellphone within the water closet to reconnect with 911, and yells, "there's blood in every single place."
"You are saying it is a large deal how she even phrased, 'Oh my god, there's blood in every single place?' That her mom's not a part of that sentence?" Axelrod requested.
"Precisely," Fitzpatrick replied. "Her preliminary response ... would have been, 'Oh my God, my mom's bleeding, my mom's on the bottom.' She would have referenced what she was seeing."
Fitzpatrick believes Jenna drops the cellphone and the decision captures, seconds later, the precise second when she first sees her mother: as Dr. Neulander begins to hold Leslie's physique across the nook, out of the bathe and into Jenna's view. It's then she lets unfastened a cry of pure anguish:
Jenna Neulander on 911 name: "Oh my god, oh my god, my mom! My mommy!
"As painful as it's to hearken to, it's inconceivable that that decision is something apart from a declaration of guilt towards her father," stated Fitzpatrick.
However the protection says the identical name proves Dr. Neulander's innocence --that when Jenna runs into the lavatory, there isn't any blood on the partitions but. Jenna testifies she picks up the cellphone by the bathroom, drops it as a result of it is not working whereas speeding to assist her father. They carry her mom to an space proper outdoors the lavatory and Jenna says it's at that time, she takes a cordless cellphone from her mom's dressing room, and reconnects with the 911 operator. Within the protection view, that is when Jenna sees blood on, and round, her mom. That is when she yells, "There's blood in every single place..."
"The protection's tackle that's that her mom is current, in entrance of her, and he or she's reacting to her mom, the blood that is on her mom and possibly blood on the wall and on the ground as effectively," stated Stevens.
"Jenna was requested on the stand, 'Did you see blood in your technique to the water closet?'" stated Axelrod.
"Right," stated Stevens.
"She answered what?"
"She stated, 'No.'"
"That helps the notion that the primary time she noticed blood, she was taking a look at her mom," Axelrod famous to Stevens.
"Right," he replied.
The D.A, although, does not consider Jenna might do every little thing she claims to have carried out through the 13 seconds the 911 name was on maintain. Fitzpatrick tried it himself and says it took him about 50 seconds.
"It is not bodily attainable to do this in 13 seconds. It is not even a detailed query," he stated.
There's one different a part of Jenna's testimony that could be essential. She tells the jury that as her father was tending to her mom within the bed room, she noticed him take off a blood-soaked shirt and throw it to the facet. Now bear in mind, the protection advised that tossing this bloody shirt could have brought on among the blood spatter within the bed room. However the shirt has by no means been discovered.
"There is not a single witness that noticed him with a long-sleeved shirt on apart from Jenna," stated Fitzpatrick.
"If we injected Jenna Neulander with fact serum and stated, 'Did your father kill your mom? '" stated Axelrod.
"She would say no," Fitzpatrick stated. "I do not suppose in her thoughts Jenna believes that her father did this. I feel she's created a protecting world in her thoughts the place mother slipped and fell within the bathe."
However the query now is not what Jenna believes ... it is what the jury believes.
"I am frightened that they are having an emotional response to the agony of this lady. ...They know that this lady needs them to vote not responsible. They usually know that this 60-plus-year-old defendant is unlikely to reoffend," Fitzpatrick defined. "And all of these feelings can play to the detriment of case that to be confirmed past an inexpensive doubt."
THE VERDICT
After eight grueling days of testimony, District Lawyer Invoice Fitzpatrick addressed the jury one final time for closing arguments, asking them to pay shut consideration to the bodily proof -- particularly the blood spatter on the partitions and the accidents to Leslie Neulander's physique.
"As I stated many occasions within the trial, Leslie will communicate to you, girls and gents. It's a must to hearken to her," he advised Axelrod. "And to additionally pay attention rigorously to the phrases of Jenna Neulander in that crucial 911 name."
Jenna Neulander to 911: Oh my god, there's blood in every single place...
"It proves his guilt past any shadow of a doubt," stated Fitzpatrick.
However there's one factor the D.A. couldn't share with the jury: what he suspects was the motive that despatched Robert Neulander right into a murderous rage that morning. Investigators discovered from a pal of the Neulander household that Leslie was planning on signing a lease for a brand new condominium on the day she died.
"Leslie was on her manner out. And this isn't a man that may take care of that," Fitzpatrick advised Axelrod.
However this was not offered at trial, Fitzpatrick says, as a result of the reminiscence of that witness modified. She later stated the condominium was for each Leslie and Robert. Ed Menkin strongly denies these accusations and insists there was no motive.
"Within the summation he did not simply say not responsible, he stated harmless," Axelrod stated to Stevens.
"Harmless. He stated harmless all through," he replied.
The jury would deliberate for 3 days earlier than alerting the choose they'd reached a verdict. Robert Neulander returned to the courthouse as soon as once more arm-in-arm together with his household, the ache etched on his youngsters's faces.
Two-and-a-half years after Leslie Neulander's demise, the jury discovered Robert Neulander responsible of her homicide. A heartbroken Jenna broke the silence of the hushed courtroom-- crying out to her father, "I used to be there. You did not do it"
Exterior the courtroom, a visibly shaken Ed Menkin addressed the media.
"Bob Neulander is probably the most honorable individual I've ever met. This case has been a travesty from begin to end. It's not completed," he advised reporters.
And so, the Neulander youngsters turned to legal professional Gerald Shargel -- legendary for his protection of mob boss John Gotti -- to deal with their father's enchantment. Shargel wasted little time calling for a listening to to throw out Neulander's conviction, alleging there was critical juror misconduct.
Within the highlight is juror Johnna Lorraine. In keeping with an alternate juror, Lorraine had obtained texts and different communications in regards to the case throughout trial - towards Choose Miller's orders to not talk about the case.
A search of the accused juror's cellphone revealed that she had obtained some doubtlessly prejudicial texts, together with one from her father that learn "be sure that he is responsible." However weeks later, the choose upheld Dr. Neulander's conviction declaring that the juror had been undecided within the early phases of deliberations, and in the long run he stated she took her function critically.
Nearly 4 months after the decision, sentencing would lastly begin.
With household photographs on show, the Neulander youngsters returned to the courthouse. For the primary time, cameras had been allowed in courtroom.
Going through a most sentence of 25 years to life, Neulander's household begged the choose for the minimal sentence of 15 years. Leslie's sister, Joanne London-Leslie, spoke on the household's behalf.
"Had any of us, even barely suspected foul play of any kind, we might not be right here immediately on Bob's behalf," she stated.
After which it was time for Robert Neulander to handle the courtroom.
"My head is unbowed by the decision of this courtroom, for an harmless man has been wrongfully convicted. ...I might not and didn't take a life," he stated. "I like my spouse Leslie very a lot, and I mourn her day-after-day, now and endlessly."
The choose sentenced Robert Neulander to twenty years-to-life in a New York state jail.
"Within the jury's eyes, Dr. Neulander, you deliberately murdered your spouse, after which tried to make use of your personal daughter to cowl it up. Your daughter who most clearly adores you, which is as diabolical because it will get," stated Choose Thomas J. Miller.
As Dr. Neulander is escorted out of the courtroom to start his sentence, Jenna referred to as out, "I like you Daddy."
The Neulander youngsters have now misplaced not solely their mom, however their father as effectively.
"I hate what this has carried out to Jenna. That is most likely probably the most painful factor of all," Dr. Mary Jumbelic stated. "He introduced Jenna into that course of. He made her a witness for his personal functions. And that's merciless."
However Jumbelic is aware of she has additionally performed a task of their struggling.
"Do you've gotten any regrets about your involvement within the case?" Axelrod requested.
"No. ...that is most likely the toughest factor I've ever carried out in my complete profession. Nonetheless, it was the best factor to do," she replied. "We're lastly giving Leslie the acknowledgement of what occurred to her."
In October 2019, the New York State Court docket of Appeals granted Robert Neulander a brand new trial resulting from juror misconduct.
On March 1, 2022, Robert Neulander was discovered responsible, for the second time, of killing his spouse.
Neulander's first protection legal professional, Ed Menkin, handed away on March 31, 2022.