User blog:UnderAPineapple/Hamilton: Live to Tell (Episode 2, Part 2)

This is the second part of the second episode of the show Hamilton. in which you will hear about realistic fictional crime cases, each presented by one of eight hosts. This episode was entitled, Hamilton: Live to Tell. If you haven't seen the first part yet, I recommend you go to Part 1 and read from there. If you have seen the first part, you'll remember that Laurie Cutter was a young high school girl, who suffered from bullying during her teenage years. One of those bullies, was Natalie Cooper, who admitted to having been a part of the group who tormented her for many years. However, by 2004, Natalie seemed to turn a new leaf and befriended Laurie. A few months later, tragedy struck in Laurie's home, that would change her life, and many others' lives around, forever.

'''Warning: A lot of content on this episode will be very disturbing emotionally. It may also be seen as offensive to some viewers, so I apologize in advance for anyone who is offended when it comes to this story in particular - considering one of the victims has a disability.'''



(commercial break)

Story
Bill Cutter (to Hamilton): It is the single worst feeling I’ve ever felt in my life. Nobody wants to lose someone they love but losing them to a violent homicide, and attempted homicide, is gut wrenchingly brutal.

"anarchy"

- Bill Cutter was a loving father of two, and a grandfather of three. His youngest son John was married to a generous and caring woman named Nancy, and they had a daughter, Laurie, who had Down Syndrome. Throughout her years in high school, Laurie was constantly teased and bullied by her fellow classmates, but the school did nothing to prevent it. After one of her bullies decided to befriend her, Laurie began to gain hope. But any chance of that hope being kept alive, was set ablaze on the night of May 16, 2005.

News Reporter (female): 16-year old Laurie Cutter has been rushed to the hospital where she is in severe condition. She suffered third-degree burns and second-degree burns all throughout her body. One of the police officers who arrived at the crime scene stated, he doesn’t expect her to make it.

"anarchy"

- While Nancy, John, and Laurie were at home that Monday evening, the house became engulfed in a horrendous fire that put out the entire house. Everything was burned down, with nothing but the stench of death replacing it. When they discovered the bodies, there were three victims.

Marie McGowan (to Hamilton): The first body was identified as 42-year old Nancy Cutter. Nancy had been bound and gagged, and following this, she burned to death and died from smoke inhalation, which is also associated with carbon monoxide poisoning.

"anarchy"

- Marie McGowan is a medical doctor, who was a coroner at the time of the fire, and before that, was a homicide detective for Suffolk County.

Marie McGowan (to Hamilton): 43-year old John Cutter, was stabbed repeatedly, about 18 times in the head, and the chest region. We determined that one of the head wounds, must've killed him, as the blade of the knife, which was a chef's knife, cut through to his brain. It was obvious that John put up one hell of a fight, when he was being attacked.

Neil Hamilton (to Marie): How about Laurie?

Marie McGowan (to Hamilton): Laurie had been in her room at the time of the fire, we determined. And I, along with all my team, are to believe that she did not hear the screams of her parents, and simply stayed in her room as her house was burning in flames.

Neil Hamilton (to Marie): So you're telling me that Laurie was oblivious to the entire thing?

Marie McGowan (nodding her head): Yes, in addition, her body had been discovered in the area of which her bedroom was at.

"anarchy"

- As seconds turned to minutes, the house began getting more engulfed in the fire. Soon after, a 9-1-1 call came in to Suffolk County.

911 Operator: Suffolk County 911, what is the address of your emergency?

Caller: I’m at 102 Lexington Avenue. I got a house that’s on fire right now, and I need an ambulance quickly.

911 Operator: Okay, do you know who is in the house?

Caller: I believe there’s at least one person in there, but I don’t know.

911 Operator: Okay, we’re sending help right now, but I need you to see if there’s anybody running out of the house.

Caller: Get here quick, people are dying.

Anonymous Man (to Hamilton): I do not want to relive that night again, it just pains me way too much. I can barely even talk about it without choking up.

"anarchy"

- The 9-1-1 caller, who asked us not to disclose his name, face, or shadow, was the Cutter family's neighbor, who just got home from work; he had his golden retriever with him. We will call him Antonio, albeit it is not his actual name.

Neil Hamilton (to Anonymous): How did you first see what was going on?

Anonymous Man (to Hamilton): I saw two people running out of the house, and minutes later it just burst into flames. I lived across from the Cutter home, at the time. I knew there were people in there, because those two people wouldn’t have set the house on fire if there wasn’t anybody there that they either attacked or killed.

Neil Hamilton (to Anonymous): Was one of the people you claim to have ran out of the house a woman?

Anonymous Man (to Hamilton): Yes, a younger girl, and a tall guy.

"anarchy"

- Nancy and John were dead, and Laurie was expected to die very soon after. She was unconscious even at the hospital, and it would take hours of medical work for her to be able to even remotely recover. Detective Arthur Gonzales was assigned to the case.

Arthur Gonzales (to Hamilton): I remember walking into the hospital and just seeing the obvious injuries that Laurie endured. I actually wanted to vomit. I was praying for her to wake up.

Neil Hamilton (to Arthur): To wake up so that she could potentially give you some information?

Arthur Gonzales (to Hamilton): Yes, sir.

"anarchy"

- Fortunately, Laurie did wake up, after 16 long hours. Arthur Gonzales opted not to tell her that her parents were murdered, instead asking her questions about what she knew about what happened that fateful night.

Neil Hamilton (to Arthur): How helpful was Laurie when she first woke up?

Arthur Gonzales (to Hamilton): Not helpful at all. You could tell she had suffered massive brain damage, and she actually told me in the beginning that, she actually thought that it had been an accident. That her house might’ve caught on fire because of something like mishandling of the kitchen stove, maybe someone putting toast in the toaster for too long. She even told me that it might’ve been possible that one of the parents stuck a fork in an electrical socket.

Neil Hamilton (to Laurie): Did you see anybody walk into your room and do something to you, Laurie?

Laurie Cutter (hesitant): No.

Neil Hamilton (to Laurie): So you don’t exactly know, what had happened that night, am I right?

Laurie Cutter (to Hamilton): No.

"anarchy"

- Because Laurie didn't know who had killed her parents, and wouldn't find out about her parents' dead until 2 days after, police detectives looked at the 9-1-1 operator. Arthur Gonzales began questioning Antonio about his whereabouts that night. Antonio allowed Arthur to look at video surveillance footage, a camera located outside of his house on the front porch and they got a stunning break.

"anarchy"

- confessional

"anarchy"

- confessional

"anarchy"

- confessional