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Lisa McPherson Files - Interview of Gilda Burton

This is an interview with Gilda Burton.


SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION
FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department             Report No.        95-29158
Offense           Death Investigation              Date of Report    4/10/97


Location          644 Pierce Street                Orig Incident Date 12/6/95
Victim            Lisa McPherson                   VI Prosecute      Yes   No
Investigator      Det. Jorge Carrasquillo
Previous Status   Active
Subject           None
Impound Inventory None


Today's date is 4/10/97. The time is 1410. This is an interview with Gilda Kay
Burton concerning the Lisa McPherson investigation. Present during the interview
are Attorney Ronald Cacciatore, Det. James Little, and myself, Det. Carrasquillo.


Det. Carrasquillo:      For identification purposes Gilda, would you please spell your
                        full name for me...your date of birth...social security
                        number...home address...and home phone number please.
Burton:                 Okay. Gilda...G I L D A...Burton...B U R T 0 N. Kay is K A
                        Y.. - in the middle there. Address...
Det. Carrasquillo:      Your date of birth and social security number.
Burton:                 Oh. February 6, 1953. Social security number is
                        XXX-XX-XXXX.
Det. Carrasquillo:      XXXX?
Burton:                 Uh Huh.
Det. Carrasquillo:      And your home address.
Burton:                 XXXXX XXXXXXXXXX Street, Clearwater...34625, which is gonna be
                        changing pretty soon.
Det. Carrasquillo:      Okay. You're moving?
Burton:                 No, the zip code's changing...
Det. Carrasquillo:      Oh, that's right.

                                                                      Page 1 of 37

SUPPLEMENT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300/ Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: 33765 or something... Det. Carrasquillo: Right. Okay. I understand from talking to you real briefly at your door that you've known Lisa for a long time. Is that correct? Burton: NO VERBAL RESPONSE Det. Carrasquillo: Why don't you start off by giving me a synopsis of when you met Lisa...how you met Lisa...and how long you've known her. Burton: Okay. I don't remember exactly when I first met her, but it was in the early 80's I think....82...83...and I met her at the...uh...the Church in Dallas. She was a staff member. And that's just when I became acquainted with her and I would see her there. I knew who she was. And then I didn't get to know her really well until about 88 when she was living in Dallas and I was living in California and going back and forth to Dallas to see my grandmother. Det. Carrasquillo: Then you mentioned something about her being your daughter's godmother. Burton: Godmother.........she was the second godmother. A backup just in case anything ever happened to Brenda. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. When... Burton: Brenda's the first. Det. Carrasquillo: When did that transpire? Burton: I don't remember. Umm...I don't know if it was after we moved to Clearwater or before. After I think. We just talked about it. But I don't really remember the conversation completely but...because she...she'd been somebody else's godmother and I...I expressed some interest or desire for her to...to be Page 2 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Adrian's godmother as, well as Brenda. She said "Okay...well, I'll be her second godmother" Det. Carrasquillo: So you guys were pretty close. Did you socialize a lot? Burton: Sporadically. Det. Carrasquillo: Where did you guys Burton: Shopping usually, or she would come over and eat dinner with us. Umm...shopping...lots of shopping. Concerts...we went to concerts together. Det. Carrasquillo: Like...for example? Burton: Who? Dwight Yokum. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. And what about her shopping taste? Did she buy expensive dresses and stuff like that? Burton: No. She would buy gifts for her mother frequently and she...I'd help her pick those out.......she'd buy dancing outfits like full skirts...you know. Det. Carrasquillo: Uh Huh. Burton: Nothing real expensive. Tee shirts...shorts... Det. Carrasquillo; Okay. Let's talk about you for a minute. How long have you...were you employed by AMC at one time? Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: And how long did you work for them? From what time to what time? Burton: Umm...May of 91 or 92...I don't remember...that was in Dallas...through February of 95. And then I...that was full time...and then I would work sporadically...they had a hard time filling my position when I left. Det. Carrasquillo: What was your position? Page 3 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: I was the assistant to the art director. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. And while...while you were working from May of 91 to February of 91, Lisa also worked there? Burton: You mean February of 95? Det. Carrasquillo: February of 95...correct...I'm sorry. May of 91 through February of 95. Burton: Uh Huh...yeah.... Lisa was there. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Did you have daily contact with her when she was there? Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. What kind of worker was she? Burton: What do you mean? Det. Carrasquillo: Good worker...bad worker? Burton: She was...she was a workaholic...she was real good. She was just...she worked...she worked and worked and worked and worked. Det. Carrasquillo: How many hours a day would you say she worked? Burton: I don't know. It would depend because sometimes she would have something to do afterwards...you know. She'd have an appointment or...or whatever after work. But she usually...umm.... and I mean I always...I wouldn't leave at the same time she would. And I don't go around checking to see if everybody's already gone when I leave or I don't notice when they leave, so.... Det. Carrasquillo: But you said she was a workaholic. Burton: Yeah. She worked on the weekends and she frequently worked...worked late at night. You know...I'd talk to her and Page 4 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department RePort No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 she'd say "Well, I've got some work to do I want to get done before Monday or before whatever." Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. And did you relocate with the company from Texas to here? Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: When you and Lisa lived together in Texas, did you socialize a lot out there also? Burton: I didn't ever live with her. Det. Carrasquillo: I don't mean in the same house...Dallas. Burton: Oh...oh...yeah. Det. Carrasquillo: Lived in Texas...In the same state...in the same city. Did you guys socialize with each other in Texas? Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: Now I...I understood she liked country dancing a lot. Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: Did...at that point in time, did she have a lot of non-Scientologist friends? Burton: I think she had acquaintances. She had some non-Scientologist good friends. Det. Carrasquillo: That she would associate with? Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: And would they go like...I...I understand she liked dancing a lot. Burton: Yeah, but I don't think that girl in Austin ever went dancing with her and I don't think Carlos ever did either. Those were her two closest friends. Det. Carrasquillo: Who's the girl in Austin? Page 5 of 37
SUPPLEMBNT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: I don't know...I don't remember. Carol or Colleen.....Colleen. It seemed like her name was Colleen. I don't know...I never met her...didn't know who she was. Det. Carrasquillo: And you mentioned Carlos. Burton: Carlos....Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: What's Carlos' last name...do you know? Burton: I don't remember. Det. Carrasquillo: Do you know what he does for a living? Burton: He used to work at the Post Office but I don't know if he still does. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. So those are the only two that you know she associated with? Anybody else? Burton: But see...she associated with real closely... Det. Carrasquillo: Uh Huh. Burton: I think she had acquaintances...dance partners that she would...that she would dance with...you know. And then there were guys that she would date that were non-Scientobogists that...they'd kinda come and go. Det. Carrasquillo: So as far as you knew...you knew her when she went through her first divorce or second divorce? Burton: First being the guy... Det. Carrasquilbo: That was a non-Scientologist. Burton: That got killed or something like that? Det. Carrasquillo: Right. Burton: Yeah, that's right. Uh...no, I didn't know her then. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. But you knew her when she was married to Gene? Burton: Uh Huh. Page 6 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. So how did she handle Gene's divorce? Burton: She was upset at first and she was...now you understand I wasn't around her all the time. Back then she was...she had gone and she and Brenda were living together. Det. Carrasquillo: Uh Huh. Burton: Because Brenda offered her a place to live because she was leaving California and she didn't really have any place to go and she didn't want to move in with her mother. Det. Carrasquillo: Brenda Hubner? Burton: Hu....Hubert. Det. Carrasquillo: Hubert...okay. Burton: Which is now gonna be Spencer because she just got married last Saturday. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: Umm....what was I saying? Det. Carrasquillo: That she didn't want to move in with her mother, so she moved in with Brenda. Burton: Oh yeah. And I would come and....from California and bring my daughter and stay with Brenda. And Lisa was there of course and then Lisa and I would sleep in the same room. We always kinda piled up together on the floor with my daughter. So...no....she was...I would see her be upset about her husband...or ex-husband. And...you know...he'd call to talk...to talk to her and she'd be in the other room. And I didn't...I knew it would be upsetting for her because I'd witnessed...every single time she'd talk to him, she'd get upset. So...you know...Brenda and I were like "tell him she doesn't Page 7 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Rel.ort 4/10/97 want to talk to him or something"...you know. So we kinda fended him off. But a couple of times she'd talk to him and she'd be all upset. She'd go through this...this dilemma as to whether or not to go back with him or...you know. And we were trying to encourage her to...to leave him for good. Det. Carrasquillo: But...but she held up pretty good mentally? She didn't have a breakdown or anything like that? Burton: No. Det. Carrasquillo: When you were out in California, was she also out in California at the same time? Burton: Yes. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. So you had contact with her in California? Burton: No. That's before I knew...I knew her well. Det. Carrasquillo: Were you... Burton: I was just acquainted with her at that point. Det. Carrasquillo: Were you in the same city in California? Burton: Yeah. Det. Carrasquillo: And you were going to the same Church in California? Burton: Well, I didn't go...no, I never went down...well, wait a minute...yes, I did. I just didn't go on a regular basis down to where she was. Det. Carrasquillo: She was staff at the time, wasn't she...at the Church? Burton: Yeah, I think so. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: And then she left but I think she...see, I'm not real sure but I think... Page 8 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: Do you know if that's when she signed that billion year contract? Burton: I don't know. I don't know when she signed it. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: The staff contract. Det. Carrasquillo: Do you have any... Cacciatore: Let...let me...let me interrupt because this may put a little bit.. give them some information they may not know. Uh....you're a Scientologist. Burton: Uh Huh. Cacciatore: Are you an active Scientologist? Burton: Well...what do you mean by active? Cacciatore: Go to the Church a lot and participate in their functions. Burton: Yeah, but I haven't taken any courses or received any counseling for quite a while. Umm.... since I was in California...yeah....about in 89...89...something like that. Det. Carrasquillo: So you haven't traveled on either side of the bridge...the administrative side or the personal side...you haven't done anything with that? Burton: No. You guys make me feel bad. Det. Carrasquillo: I'm...I'm just curious. Burton: No...no. Oh, now my husband and I did go through some marriage counseling the first spring that we got here...umm...April or May...May of 94. But that was like a few weeks...but that's it...that's all I've done. And he's...he's done a couple of courses since then. Page 9 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: May I ask what level you reached? Are you clear? Have you reached clear? Burton: No. Det. Carrasquillo: Under...under clear? Burton: Uh Huh. I've...I've called what's...I've done what's called the Scientology...Scientology drug rundown. It addresses when you...what...the drugs that you've taken throughout your life. Det. Carrasquillo: Right. Burton: Medicinal and recreational or whatever. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Do you have any information surrounding the circumstances of Lisa's leave of absence in July or June of 1995? I'm aware you were not working at AMC at that time. Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: But your husband was. Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: Alright. Did...did you have any discussion about Lisa not being at work during that time period? Burton: Umm....I don't think so...not with him. I knew...now I knew that she wasn't there because I was...that's during the time when I was going down there and working occasionally and filling in. And I would notice that she wasn't there. So I asked...I don't know who I asked...umm.... and she was just on an LOA handling some problems that she was having. So...so I found out that she was staying at the Ft. Harrison Hotel. And so I went down there to see her and...anyway, so she... Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. You went down...you went down to see her during...was it June or July...do you remember? Page 10 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300 / Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: Umm...I think it was more like May. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay...May. I'm trying to pinpoint it. You're the first one that's given me a month. So it was around May of 95? Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. So you went down around May of 95? Burton: I mean it may have been June but I'm not sure...I don't know. I know it wasn't in July because we got together for July...no, wait a minute...it was July 4th we went out of town. I'm sorry...that was a different party. In August there was a birthday party. I'm sorry....I just...it was a long time ago and I don't have a great memory. Anyway... Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. So you went...you were working at AMC part-time. You asked "Where is Lisa?" and they said "She's not here." Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: You went down to see her at the hotel? Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: And...and how was she? What was she doing? Burton: She was coming out of a counseling session. Det. Carrasquillo: Uh Huh. Burton: And so I...I was told that's where she was and that she'd be out in a little while. So I just sat down and...and waited for her. And so I saw her come out and she...she saw me. And...and Susanne, the girl that was assigned to stay with her because she had voiced a...a desire to commit suicide...and so they didn't want her to be left alone... Det. Carrasquillo: Who...who had voiced a desire? Burton: Lisa. Page 11 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300 / Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: And who was Susanne? Burton: Susanne was a staff member. Det. Carrasquillo: Do you know her last name? Burton: Schumberger.... it's a German name...something like that. And umm....so I met Susanne and I told her who I was. And I said...you know "I'd like to see Lisa." And she said "Well, she'll be out in a little while." And she said "Well while you're...you know...while you're waiting on her, I'm gonna run and do something." She had something.... a personal errand or something to do. And I said "Okay" and she said "Just...you know...don't leave her alone because..." And I said "I won't" and I knew what was going on...you know. So anyway...so I saw her come out and...and she was...you know...was walking around looking for Susanne and she saw me. And she was all excited. She started crying. Susanne told me not to...not to say anything to upset her...keep everything real light...you know...don't go into anything real heavy for obvious reasons...you know. Det. Carrasquillo: Well, I'm interested...you said that she expressed a desire to commit suicide... Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: What kind of counseling was she taking at that time? Burton: What? Det. Carrasquillo: What kind of counseling was Lisa taking? Burton: I don't know. Det. Carrasquillo: But she was being watched though...monitored....watched.... to make sure she didn't hurt herself? Page 12 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: Right. Det. Carrasquillo: And did anybody else go visit her that you're aware of? Burton: I don't know. Det. Carrasquillo: Your husband? Burton: Uh Uh. Det. Carrasquillo: But you had no problems to get in to see her whatsoever? You could just walk in the front door and say "I want to see her...Lisa" and they allowed you the opportunity? Burton: Sure. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Let me ask you this now. Do you have any information regarding her isolation starting November 18, 1995 until December 5, 1995? Burton: No...I mean I don't know other than what I've read in the paper. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Did you know that she wasn't at work during that time period? Burton: Uh Huh...yeah...I mean I knew...I knew about the bumper bender that she got into and that she had taken her clothes off. So I knew things were really bad because you don't take your clothes off and run down the street unless you're in serious trouble...you know. So that's basically that's all I knew...you know. I didn't know...I was real worried...I didn't know what was...what was happening with her because the last time I'd seen her she was doing pretty good. Det. Carrasquillo: Did you go down and visit her during November? Burton: No. Det. Carrasquillo: How come? Page 13 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300/ Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: Well...like I just said, she...I knew that she was in much worse shape this time than she had been last time. Umm....I didn't feel like it was my place to interfere...not that I would be interfering, but I figured that they were a lot better equipped and trained to help her through what it was she was going through. Det. Carrasquillo: But don't you find it curious that, in June or July, you were concerned for her and you went down to visit her to see how she was doing. In November you were concerned for her but you don't go down. Burton: Well, I'm a little offended about that. Det. Carrasquillo: I'm a little curious because you...you figure if she's a good friend of yours...which she is... Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: You've known her since Texas... Cacciatore: Let me...let me interrupt. Did...did you go someplace on October 10th? Burton: Umm...October 10th? Cacciatore: Did you go out of town? Burton: Well, a couple of days after that, yeah, I went to Texas. So I was gone for several weeks. Cacciatore: That's what I was trying to... Burton: Oh, okay. Det Carrasquillo: Okay. But you came back before November. Burton: No, I was in Texas in November. Det. Carrasquillo: You said October 10th you left for a couple of weeks. 31 days in October. Couple of weeks is 14 and 10 is 24. Page 14 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300 / Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: Well, I'm sorry...three weeks and two days or something. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: I don't...I just remember on my mother's birthday, November 9th, I was in Texas. Det. Carrasquillo: November 9th. But were you back in town by November 18th? Burton: I'm not exactly sure what date I came back. Cacciatore: When's the last day to the best of your... Burton: But close...close to that. Cacciatore: To the best of your knowledge, when is the last day you saw Gilda....saw Lisa...excuse me? Burton: Around the 10th because I wrote...I wrote down on my calendar what days I...I worked at AMC because I...so I could keep my...track of my hours. And the 10th is the last day I have on there. Det. Carrasquillo: So you had contact with her November 10th. How did she seem to you then? Burton: I don't remember. I'm sure she was...that she seemed fine. I probably didn't even see her that much that day. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. But nothing to alarm you...nothing to give you an indication that she was gonna run down the street taking off her clothes? Burton: No. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. So when she did do that...run down the street taking off her clothes...that even seem more absurd to you? Burton: More than what? Det. Carrasquillo: Than not taking off your clothes and running down the street. Page 15 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: Yeah...I'm sorry...I guess I don't understand that question but yeah...that's pretty absurd. Det. Carrasquillo: Well I...I'm going back...I'm going...I want to get back to the point that...you know...in July or June you were...you were concerned and you went to see her. In November you were concerned and you didn't go to see her. Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: Were you told not to go to see her? Burton: No. Det. Carrasquillo: You just elected not to? Burton: I didn't know for a while what had happened. I knew...I didn't know immediately that day... Det. Carrasquillo: Uh Huh. Burton: Or that night...I think it was at night. Det. Carrasquillo: Which night are we talking about so I can follow you. Burton: That she was picked up without her clothes on. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: Umm....my husband told me...no, no, no, no...Brenda told me that...actually Brenda didn't tell me. I had guessed...I guessed it. I said "Well what is happening with Lisa?" you know. And she was...she was not wanting to upset me...just like my husband didn't want to upset me and to say that she had been acting weird in Orlando on their NAILBA trip. But he just...but he figured that he had to because I deserved to know. So he told me...you know...and that's when I started getting worried. Anyway...so...I'm sorry I'm jumping around here... Cacciatore: Well let me... Page 16 of 37
SUPPLEMRNT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: It's hard to remember. Cacciatore: Let me steer you to something that you and I discussed. Burton: Okay. Cacciatore: There...there came a time when your husband called you and said "Can you go with me to see the minister at lunch time" or something? Burton: Yeah. Cacciatore: Is that...okay...why don't you talk about that. Det. Carrasquillo: That was...that... Burton: That was a few days after she died. Det. Carrasquillo: December...after...after her death...December 6th or 7th...somewhere around there? Burton: No, because I had the...I was deathly ill with the flu. Det. Carrasquillo: She died December 5th. Burton: Right. Det. Carrasquillo: In 95. Burton: Right. And I was sick...real sick for several days before that and several days after. And I didn't even know that she had died until 7th ...the 7th I think because my husband didn't want to tell me because I was so sick and he knew it was gonna be devastating. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: So I remember it was a Thursday that he told me...or that he called me and said could he...did I feel good enough to go down to the chaplain because he...the chaplain wanted to talk to me about Lisa. Page 17 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: And you were explaining to me prior to this about you found out the day after she was involved in the accident about her taking off her clothes? Burton: Right. No, I didn't find out the day after. I don't know when I found out about that. It was some days after...maybe a week afterwards. Det. Carrasquillo: Well let me ask you this. You're...I've talked to a lot of people that...that have known Lisa and worked with her. Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: And they were all concerned. They said "Yeah, we were...you know...we were all concerned." But nobody ever went down to see her. Is that normal? Burton: I don't know. Cacciatore: Well, I...I... Burton: I mean...what do you mean by normal? Cacciatore: To begin with, I don't know how she would know what's normal for other people.. Det. Carrasquillo: Well, I'll give you an example... Cacciatore: I mean I think....I think she knows about her. Det. Carrasquillo: I think...when I'm talking normal, I'm talking normal in the workplace. We have over 300 people that work in this building but they're broken off into sections, units, and divisions....almost like AMC....you have divisions. When somebody goes to the hospital...somebody doesn't show up for work...the normal response is for the co-workers to see how they're doing. They call them at home. If they're in the hospital, they go down to the hospital. I'm sure if Mr. Page 18 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Cacciatore has a secretary and she doesn't show up for work for a couple of days, the normal response would be for Mr. Cacciatore to check in on her...call her at home...if she's in the hospital to maybe visit her or maybe send flowers. That's what I mean by normal in that sense. If you have an entire office that works with an individual and they're not there, wouldn't it be normal that you're concerned about that person...to go down and check on them like you did in...in June. Burton: Well I guess...I mean....I don't know what you're getting at. I already told you why I didn't go. And if you're trying to make me feel bad, you're doing a good job of it...I mean... Det. Carrasquillo: No. I'm trying to find out if...if maybe your religious beliefs don't allow you to go down there or if you were told by people at work "We don't want you going down there because we don't want you disturbing her." It just doesn't seem to me normal...to me...to me from my past experience with co-workers...it just doesn't seem normal that nobody went down to see her. Burton: Okay. Well, I can understand that you might feel that way but I already told you I did go down and see her in the summer time...and. Det. Carrasquillo: Right. Burton: So that's not against my religious beliefs. I don't know where you're getting that. But...you know...I mean...when I...when she was there in that time period right before she died, I was actually planning to go down there pretty soon. Umm....I was hoping I would hear some kind of word that she was doing a Page 19 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/ Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 little better and...you know "Why don't you come down and see her"...that sort of thing...you know "She's ready to receive visitors" or something. Not that anybody said "She's not ready to receive visitors." But I knew that when you take your clothes off in the middle of the street and walk down the street, you are in trouble...you know...physically....I mean mentally...spiritually. And I didn't feel like that I should just show up and say "Well, I want to see Lisa." I thought maybe it might upset her...you know. I didn't know what kind of state of mind she was in. She...for Christ sake, you...you take your clothes off and walk down the street...that's insane...you know. Well, is she even gonna recognize me...I don't know. Det. Carrasquillo: Well, that's why I'm asking. Maybe somebody said "This is not a good time to come down." Burton: No, nobody said anything. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay, so...I just wanted to make sure because I've interviewed other care givers that were with her during that time period and they said they would not have allowed anyone in, even if you would've come down. Burton: Well, maybe that was a good thing. Det. Carrasquillo: So that's why I'm trying to find out if...if the word was given "don't come down" and by who. That's what I'm trying to find out. Burton: No...no...no...no. Det. Carrasquillo: I don't want...I don't want to make you feel bad. I'm just trying to put the pieces of the puzzles together. Det. Little: Was your husband able to visit her? Page 20 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: I don't think he went down there to try. You mean in the summer time? Det. Little: No...no...no. When she was there in November of 95. Burton: No, I don't...I don't know that he'd...no, I don't think so...no. Det. Little: We should ask him, right. Burton: Well, I thought you already did. Det. Carrasquillo: We did. Det. Little: We did? Det. Carrasquillo: Yeah. Det. Little: Oh, I'm sorry. Burton: Oh, you weren't there...that's right...okay. Det. Little: Okay. I'm sorry. Det. Carrasquillo: Jim didn't sit in on that interview. Det. Little: No. Cacciatore: Gilda, one of the things that was going through your mind was...in view of what Lisa had told you in the past when you got a call from your...your husband about going down to see the minister, you had a concern that maybe you...you thought somebody was gonna tell you she had committed suicide. Burton: Uh Huh. Cacciatore: Just because of her past history. Burton: Uh Huh. that's what I thought. I thought well, maybe...you know...somebody was assigned to watch her and something happened and they didn't and she got away from them and took off and jumped off a bridge or something...you know. Det. Carrasquillo: Yeah, because of the family's background you're talking about...the father and the brother committing suicide? Page 21 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: No, because of what she had said earlier...that she had considered suicide. Det. Carrasquillo: Right. But you...you knew since you had known her a long time that her father committed suicide. Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: And her brother committed suicide. Burton: Uh Huh. Well, she was never convinced of that. Det. Carrasquillo: Right. She thought he was murdered. Burton: Yeah. Det. Carrasquillo: Right. Det. Little: That's the question...but in the summer of 95 to November....before her death...were you still close enough with her that you would talk with each other and would you share problems or concerns or personal stuff with each other? Burton: Well, to an extent. Again, I knew that she...just from things that she was telling me...that she was having a real hard time. So I wasn't gonna lay anything heavy that I had going on with me on her. Det. Little: Can you explain to me what you mean by hard time? Burton: I'm sorry? Det. Little: I...I...can you explain to me what you mean by that...by hard time? Burton: Well, she was telling me that...she would say...she would say "I don't know what's wrong with me...I'm not interested in anything and into anything...I don't want to do anything...I don't want to go dancing...I don't care about music...I don't want to go to work...I'm just...you know...I don't know what's Page 22 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 wrong with me." And for her to say something like that was completely very odd...completely against what she normally was like. Det. Little: In a depressed despondent type bad mood? Burton: Yeah, she didn't want to brush her teeth. She...you know...pretty much had to be told to take a bath...that sort of thing. Det. Little: Did she give you any idea where this was coming from? Burton: No, she didn't know. Det. Little: Okay. Burton: And that's what was part of her problem. And I wasn't about to get into it with her because again, she was receiving counseling through the Church and I didn't want to run across any lines...you know. And I'm not...I'm not a counselor...you know. I'm not trained or skilled at helping somebody like that other than just being friends. Det. Little: That was strictly...friends expressing concerns between friends...that's all. Burton: Yeah. Det. Carrasquillo: Do you know the circumstances surrounding Gloria Cruz living with Lisa...anything about that? Burton: They were roommates. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Cacciatore: Let me...let me ask you that along those lines. Do you have any knowledge whatsoever that somehow Gloria was assigned to watch Lisa? Burton: No. I think that's weird. Page 23 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: Well, maybe for the same concern that you articulated earlier. She was talking about committing suicide. Somebody might've been concerned for her safety. Cacciatore: Would...would you... Burton: No, she was...she seemed fine...you know. Det. Little: Was she okay with the Church? Burton: Beg your pardon? Det. Little: Was she okay with the Church? Did she plan to leave the Church? Burton: Not that I know of. Det. Little: Did she express any concerns like that to you? Burton: No...no. Det. Little: Okay. Cacciatore: Can you tell us if you know...if you don't know, fine...that in order to watch someone, do you have to be a staff member? Burton: Well, I would assume so...yeah. Cacciatore: Gloria ever a staff member? Burton: No. Cacciatore: Do you know how old Gloria...Gloria is? Burton: Excuse me...how old she is? Cacciatore: Yeah. Burton: In her 20s...23 maybe. Det. Carrasquillo: But neither...you know...neither was Mr. Burton at the time he wrote reports. Neither was Katie Chamberlain when they were in Orlando... Cacciatore: Writing...writing reports I would respectfully submit is substantially different than being assigned to watch somebody. Page 24 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: Well, when you...when you write a report on somebody's activities and their actions, you're watching them. Cacciatore: Have you written a report on me? Det. Carrasquillo: I'm...I'm thinking about it (LAUGHS). No, I haven't. Cacciatore: Okay. Burton: I disagree...I mean I think if...if Lisa had come to me and said in...in the summer...had said Gilda, I'm gonna do it...I'm just gonna off myself. You...you want to watch how fast I'd be writing a report and sending it up to her counselors... Det. Carrasquillo: Okay...and...and.. Burton: I'm not gonna let something like that go by. Det. Carrasquillo: Exactly. And I have no problem with that. I understand that. And the other thing that I was trying to get at was since you mentioned suicide...if she was being suicidal at that time, maybe they...you know...they had Gloria there to make sure she didn't do anything irrational during that time period for her own protection more than anything else. Burton: Well, she wasn't receiving auditing as far as I know. I don't think she was receiving counseling at that time. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: I think she was done with what she was doing. Det. Carrasquillo: Oh, so you...you're saying that Lisa and her were living together...together after the June incident? Burton: Uh Huh...as far as I know. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: Maybe I'm wrong. I don't even know when they started becoming roommates. Page 25 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: I've got a couple more questions for you.... Det. Little: Can you pause a minute? Burton: Is there anyway I can get a drink of water? Det. Little: I was just gonna ask you if I might get you a cup of water. You want me to bring it in here so you can keep it in here? Burton: Please...wonderful. Det. Little: Ron, how about you...would you like some water? Burton: I'd like a cup...yeah. Det. Carrasquillo: The time is 1640 hours...correction...1440 hours is the correct time. SIDE TWO OF TAPE Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. We're on side two and the time is going to be 1445 hours. What was your understanding of the circumstances surrounding the death of Lisa McPherson? Burton: My understanding? Det. Carrasquillo: Uh Huh. Burton: Then or now? Det. Carrasquillo: Both. Burton: Okay. Umm...I don't know but it changed. Det. Little: Since you're pausing, let's stop...let's stop for a second. Burton: Okay. Det. Little: And let me just double check something. Burton: Okay. Umm...I...oh...oh...I went down to...to the Church to see Susanne because I knew Susanne. And so I went and I saw her and...you know, this was like probably a few days after I Page 26 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 had seen the chaplain. So I was feeling a lot better then. But...so anyway...so...you know...of course we started crying and we were hugging each other. And I was asking her what happened. And I knew she was in quarantine for several days after she died because they were...from what I heard, they were afraid she had spinal meningitis...is that right...yeah...meningitis. And they were scared that it was contagious, so her kids and her were quarantined. So then when I knew she was out...you know...I asked her and...and she just said that she...you know...had kinda snapped out of things and was doing better and then got really sick really fast and that they didn't know what was wrong...what had happened...you know...what actually caused her death at that point. Again, this is...you know...a week or so after she had died. Det.Carrasquillo: So we're talking the middle of December 1995? Burton: Yeah. Det. Carrasquillo: And...and as I understand, it changes from then to now? Burton: Well, I mean...there's...there seems to be conflicting accounts or reports or whatever. I heard that she had a staph infection that was all over her body...you know...throughout all of her body and that...and then I heard that she was just dehydrated and...and bed rest...and that's what caused her death and...you know...I don't know. I wasn't there. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. But you did get a copy of her autopsy report. How come? Page 27 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: Because I wanted to know what happened and I wanted to read it for myself...you know. I didn't want somebody to tell me or I didn't want to read it in the newspaper or whatever...you know. Det. Carrasquillo: So you just went out and got it out of curiosity? Burton: Uh Huh. Det. Carrasquillo: Were you surprised they gave you a copy of the autopsy report? Burton: No. I don't know... Det. Carrasquillo: Wasn't supposed to. Its an ongoing investigation, so that's where...where they made a mistake. Burton: Well, I thought it was public record. Det. Carrasquillo: Not at that point in time. Burton: Oh. Well, I just called the...the Medical Examiner's Office and they put my name on the list. But it was...it was forever afterwards. Det. Carrasquillo: Did you tell them you were a family member when you called there? Burton: They didn't ask. Det. Carrasquillo: They just put your name on the list and then they released it to you? Burton: Yeah...no, actually they said send a self addressed stamped envelope. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Burton: And requesting...you know...this... Det. Carrasquillo: When...when did you send that envelope? Burton: In January. Det. Carrasquillo: Of 96? Burton: Yeah. Page 28 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. And they...do you know when they sent it to you? Burton: No. It was...it was a long time after that...months and months and months and months. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. So what you read in the autopsy...does that match what was your understanding of her death? Burton: Well yeah...when I read the autopsy...yeah. When I...I mean....probably not anything you'd want to know...but I was just concerned that she might have some...considering what she had been doing and...you know...acting weird and doing weird things...I thought there was something wrong with her brain. I was actually hoping there was just because that would be an answer...you know. Det. Carrasquillo: Right. Jim, you have any questions? Det. Little: Well, I wasn't clear on one point. Did you say there was a concern that you'd heard expressed about her having meningitis prior to her dying and that's why she was in isolation? Burton: No...no...no...no...no. Det. Little: You didn't say that. Okay. Burton: That they were worried that her symptoms were that of meningitis when she died. Det. Little: And that's why... Burton: And that's why Susanne was quarantined so that, if she came down with it or had the germs, she wouldn't spread it through every...you know...everybody. Det. Little: Thanks. I understand. Page 29 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: I've just got one more that I forgot to ask you. Did...did you ever write a report regarding Lisa McPherson...her activities? Burton: I don't think so. Det. Carrasquillo: So there should be no re.... Burton: Oh, yes I did. Umm...when I went to visit her mother. Det. Carrasquillo: When was that? Burton: April. Det. Carrasquillo: Of what year? Burton: 96. Det. Carrasquillo: And you wrote a report regarding Lisa's mother? Burton: Yeah. That she was upset and still thinking that her friends had stolen things of Lisa's. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Where did that report go to and who did you deliver it to? Burton: Umm... Brian Anderson because I think he's in the Office Of Special Affairs. And I knew he had been talking to her mother... dealing with her mother. So I wanted him to know that she was upset and she...there were things she wanted answers to and he needed to get the answers for her. Det. Carrasquillo: Do you know if they ever responded to that report? Burton: No. Det. Carrasquillo: And that report really dealt with Lisa's mom and not Lisa herself? Burton: Yeah. Det. Carrasquillo: Any other reports you can think of? Burton: No. Det. Carrasquillo: I think that will conclude the interview. Page 30 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Cacciatore: Let me...I think you've asked other people questions along these lines, so I want to explore one small area. Uh...were you over at Lisa's apartment the day or night...whenever it was...that her mother and aunts were in town? Burton: Uh Huh...yes. Cacciatore: And do you have any way of being able to explain why these people thought that somebody would've stolen stuff belonging to Lisa? Burton: Well, they seemed to be really confused. They would go back and forth between one point and another. Umm... Lisa's mother was concerned about her jewelry. And I reminded her that Lisa had been robbed back when she lived in her first apartment after we first moved to Clearwater. Her apartment got broken into and they just.... Det. Carrasquillo: December of 19...January of 1994. I think there was a TV and stereo ...... no jewelry. No jewelry was reported stolen by Lisa. Burton: Oh. Well, I was told jewelry. Det. Carrasquillo: And there were also documents left behind in Lisa's apartment of her buying expensive furniture. The receipts were there. We checked with the store and they were delivered but the furniture was not in the house and it wasn't down in Texas either. Burton: Well, it was there the day I went to see her mother. Her mother was sitting on her couch. That...that red and green...red striped...I've got pictures of it...yeah. her mother was sitting on the couch. Page 31 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/ CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: Were people taking furniture and stuff out of the apartment when you were there? Burton: Gloria was moving. Gloria was moving herself because she had plane tickets to Honduras for the next day that she had bought a long time prior to this. Det. Carrasquillo: Uh Huh. But there was...there was... Burton: She's on vacation to see her grandmother. Det. Carrasquillo: There were items being taken out of the apartment at the time when you were there? Burton: Gloria's...yeah. Gloria's bed and clothes. Det. Carrasquillo: I don't know. I wasn't there. I'm just asking you. Burton: Yeah. Det. Carrasquillo: They were physically removing stuff from inside that apartment? Burton: Yes. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. Cacciatore: But as far as you know, they weren't taking any...whoever was there moving stuff wasn't taking stuff belonging to Lisa? Burton: Uh Uh. Det. Carrasquillo: Now don't...this is not even a Grand Theft investigation because Lisa's not gonna be here to say that's mine or not mine. Burton: Right. Det. Carrasqullo: You know...I'm just... Burton: No, it just makes me...I mean forgive me for being angry but I was there. And then I read in the newspapers that...they said...what did they say Lisa's friends were carting her Page 32 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation DateofReport 4/10/97 belongings off. Excuse me...I was there. Her mother even asked me if there was anything I wanted. So that just makes me really really angry. So ....... Cacciatore: And...and so you will know...and I'm not suggesting that the Clearwater Police Department is involved in any way with Attorney Ken Dandorf, but he has suggested to me about some kind of theft... Det. Carrasquillo: That's not even our jurisdiction down there. That would be Belleair Police Department. That's where she lived. She lived in the city limits of Belleair, so they would have an...an investigation. We're not even gonna be looking at that. We're just doing a death investigation. Cacciatore: Well, I just didn't understand how...if there was a theft...what that would have to do with any claim for wrongful death action or any criminal investigation. Det. Carrasquillo: You're gonna...you're gonna have to address that to Mr. Dandorf. Cacciatore: Yeah. Det. Little: Did she ever express any financial concerns of hers to you? Burton: .....well, when she first moved back to Dallas, I know she didn't have money... she didn't have any... Det. Little: From California? Burton: Uh Huh....yeah. Det. Little: No. I mean any serious concerns say within the last...well, during 95 at all that you recall her expressing in some way? Burton: No, she didn't talk to me about money...no. Page 33 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Det. Little: Okay. Was she ever disciplined at work at anytime that you ever remember? Burton: Oh...oh...I thought you meant like she was self disciplined. Det. Little: No. An employee...you know...doing something minor or whatever. Burton: What do you mean by disciplined? Det. Little: Anything. Did she ever do anything that...just that...violate company policy or anything like that or... Burton: No. I mean even if she was I wouldn't have been privy to it because it was none of my business...you know. Det. Little Yeah. So in other words, you say she was a good employee and never subject to any discipline while she was working at AMC, right? Burton: Yeah... Det. Little: Yeah...that's... Det. Carrasquillo: I've got a question. After you finish these interviews here, do you go back and write a report about any of these? Burton: Well, this is the first interview I've ever done...but no, I don't intend to. Det. Carrasquillo: I'm just curious. Burton: I promise I won't. Det. Carrasquillo: Okay. It doesn't bother me one way or the other. I was just thinking about that. Burton: I haven't thought about it to be honest with you. Det. Carrasquillo: Somebody told me at the very beginning that, if it wasn't written down, it wasn't true.... Page 34 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Burton: Well, its kind of a standard thing so that people don't get the wrong idea about something like "Well, oh so and so said that you're supposed to do this" or...you know. If you just take that and run with it...you know...sometimes it's wrong. Det. Carrasquillo: Anymore questions Jim? Det. Little: No. Det. Carrasquillo: Ron? Cacciatore: No. Det. Carrasquillo: The interview will be terminated at 1455 hours. Burton Oh.. TAPE STOPS TAPE BEGINS AGAIN Det. Carrasquillo: Back on tape. Burton: Sorry. Det. Carrasquillo: Go ahead. Burton: I just wanted to say that...you know...I...I read all this stuff in the papers. I don't know what to believe and what not to believe...most of it I don't believe...about her being held against her will and...and she was planning on leaving the Church and...and that's why they were holding her and...and I don't know where this is coming from. Umm...I mean like I told you earlier, I haven't done any real active services and I haven't got anybody banging on my door or holding a gun to my head...you know. I don't know where that's coming from. Page 35 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATI9N FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation DateofReport 4/10/97 Det. Carrasquillo: Just to make...set you at ease...we're not investigating the Church of Scientology. We...we have never intended to investigate the Church of Scientology. We are not investigating you or your husband. You're not even a suspect. You're not even a witness to this. I just wanted to get background information from you for Lisa. What we're trying to determine is if somebody was neglectful...criminally neglectful for Lisa's physical deterioration. And if somebody was, they should be accountable. If it was just an accident and nobody was, then it's an accident and accidents do happen...you know. I've got no control over what the press prints and what the press states but I can tell you what...what our objective is. Burton: Right. Det. Carrasquillo: Very simple. Was someone crim...criminally responsible for her physical detriment...yes or no. If they...if they were, then we identify it and we take it to the State. If they're not and it was an accident, then that's the end of that. Burton: How do you define that? I don't really know... Det. Carrasquillo: Florida State Statute. You've got a great criminal attorney here who....will define what's a criminal act and what's not a criminal act. Cacciatore: That it? Burton: I think so. Page 36 of 37
SUPPLEMENT/CONTINUATION FL0520300/Clearwater Police Department Report No. 95-29158 Offense Death Investigation Date of Report 4/10/97 Ofc. Reporting Det. Jorge Carrasquillo/elg ID No. 630 Case Status Active Date Cleared ______________ Clearance Type Exception Type 1. Arrest 1. Extradition declined 3. Death of Offender Adult Juvenile 2. AR of primary offense, 4. V/W refused to cooperate 2. Exceptional secondary offense, 5. Prosecution declined 3. Unfounded w/o prosecution 6. Juv/No Custody Ofc. Reviewing Date SAO Info Page 37 of 37