Betty Harmon Speaks out for Justice

Betty Harmon Speaks out for Justice

My name is Betty Harmon the daughter of (deceased) Lilly M Harmon, who after 2 ½ years of suffering silently to bring justice for my mother, has now proven, through prominent pathologist out of Lincoln, Nebraska, Dr Matthias Okoye, MD, JD, that my mother was murdered by poison and that she died in the care of Beverly Manor Staff in Fresno, California.

Please read my story, and tell me what you think. I have a mission today that no other individual in the City of Fresno or elsewhere for that matter, should have to go through what I went through in order to get the proper attention from law enforcement when a crime is reported and document proof is given.

Is it because of my ethnicity, status, or was it the age of my mother that caused Det Henry Monreal to turn his back on this reported case. You be the judge.

On 12/23/2004, I notified FPD and FSD that a gross crime or crimes had been committed against my mother, who died on 12/06/2004 in Beverly Manor Nursing Facility. I told them I had a strong conviction that I knew who the person was who had committed these crimes. I reported that money was taken from my mother’s bank account, with a debit card without my mother’s knowledge. I had received my mother’s bank statements and it showed months of debit transactions including a transaction the day after my mother’s death.

I also stated that I had reason to believe that additional crimes had been committed and we needed a thorough investigation into this matter. Initially, I was shuffled back and forth between the departments. Interestingly enough, both departments agreed that the determining factor, who should oversee the case, was based on where the actual crime had been committed. In other words, the jurisdiction in where the crime had been committed should have placed enough substantial burden on the department that covered that jurisdiction to take appropriate action. It was clear, from the very beginning that the crimes, initially reported with documented proof had happened in the City of Fresno.

Additionally, both departments are mandated reporters and according to the California Welfare & Institutional Code 15630 elder abuse should be reported to appropriate agencies within 24 to 48 hours and if knowledge of such elder abuse is withheld, this is considered a crime punishable by law.

(1st Contact) on 12/28/2004 with Det Monreal he refused to take my reported crime.
After explaining to him all of the above, his response was that he couldn’t and wouldn’t do anything. I was in shock. I didn’t know city officials could act like that. I repeated again everything to let him know the seriousness of this crime and there was silence on the phone for a minute and he stated again there was nothing he could do. At this point I felt very humiliated, and I knew this was not professional action. I knew I was being discriminated against based on information I was reporting to him which was status of livelihood, my race, and the age of my mother. Det Monreal acted so callous like it was so very easy to treat me that way, I got the impression that he operated like this on a regular basis.

I made contact with Fresno city council women (Cynthia Sterling) through her employee Rev Ward on all that had transpired since 12/23/2004. Ms Sterling said that she knew Detective Henry Monreal and would discuss the complaint with him and I should expect a call the next day. I waited several days and no contact. I called Ms Sterling several times and there was no resolution. This Detective did not even respect the request of a City Council member.

After waiting weeks, I hired a private investigator Jeffrey Pearce of Fresno and gave him all the documents I had given the FPD and FSD. Detective Henry Monreal, finally called me and acknowledged talking with Ms Sterling, he stated that he would take another look at the case based on Ms Sterling’s request. I was surprised at this statement, but I willingly cooperated, hoping that he would perform his job now. Immediately I faxed over all documents I had obtained. The private investigator also sent over the interview containing the confession he had reported after speaking with suspect Theresa Centeno. I know Detective Henry Monreal received these items because Mr Pearce would not give me a copy until the copy was in Det Monreal’s hands. Mr Pearce did not want to contaminate his investigation, he told me.

After several calls to Det Monreal, I finally spoke with him to confirm he had received the documents and he informed me he’s taking a long 3 to 4 day weekend to move in his new home, he would be calling me when he returns the following week. It was Mr Pearce’s opinion that Det Monreal at the very least would call the suspect in for questioning and then make an arrest. This never happened. Nothing ever happened.

I never heard from Det Monreal again. I was shock that this Detective was just not taking this reported crime serious. This was too easy for him; it seemed he was acclimated to this kind of treatment.

I made contact with my mother’s friends here in the City of Fresno, and they advised me to call Rev Floyd Harris with National Network In Action, a Human Rights Organization. I did. I told Rev Harris everything that happened since 12/23/2004 and my concerns surrounding my mother’s death. He immediately emailed several complaints to a sergeant Newton of the FPD, and forward these emails to me. One of Rev Harris emails stress that this case is a possible homicide case. Sgt Newton in one of his emails states that Rev Harris and I might be jumping to fast and he said he would be forwarding the complaint to Sgt Goertzen and Lt Buellimini.

Sgt Goertzen called me the following week and asked me to go over my problem. I did. Again I explained to him what had transpired since 12/23/2004. Sgt Goertzen was surprised that Det Monreal responded the way I explained. He questioned me after my explanation, a couple of times asking did he say that he couldn’t or wouldn’t. I repeated to Sgt Goertzen that Det Monreal said both. He told me after he reviewed the situation he would call me back. I never heard one word from him or anyone from the FPD or FSD after this.

I filed a complaint and claim on January 23, 2005 with the FPD and FSD because they refused to take the reported crime that I had given them with document proof to investigate. FPD responded 07/26/2005 as being unsustained and rejected claim. FSD responded 06/23/2005 also rejecting the claim and unsustained of wrong doing on the part of their department.

I also, filed a complaint with the Fresno Internal Affairs #20050114 on 07/27/2005 for further investigation into my allegations regarding the refusal and denial of my reported crime. Complaint pointed to Det Monreal’s and Sgt Goertzen misconduct and inaction. I received a letter dated 10/07/2005 stating they received my complaint and investigation is ongoing. Later I received a call from Sgt Judy Luna in 9/2005 to set up an appointment for an interview. This interview where we discussed the complaint was taped. FIA responded 11/15/2005 and conclude that their employees Sgt Doug Goertzen and Det Henry Monreal conducted themselves without violations of their department rules and codes. The allegations that I presented to the FIAO were unfounded and unsustained.

I disagree, the mission of the FPD posted on their website in 2005 in part states that “The mission of the Fresno police department is to provide a professional, effective, and timely response to crime and disorder, and to enhance traffic safety in our community”it also states “Department members who do not have the ability to assist citizens on a particular problem, will make every effort to guide them to appropriate available resource”.

I believe that the FPD not only failed in any type of response but also discriminated against my deceased mother (Lilly M Harmon) and me because of age, race, and social status. Det Henry Monreal’s statements were condescending, disrespectful, rude and clearly unapproachable when the case was being reported to him. Also, I later found out that Det H Monreal failed to inform me of any elder abuse unit that was in place within the FPD at the time.

FIAO mission statement also states “The mission of the Internal Affairs Unit is to investigate complaints from citizens or employees, evaluate and audit the degree of compliance with established policies and rules and assess citizen satisfaction with police service”. “The staff officer’s chain of command then examines the report to determine what corrective action should be taken”. The FIAO is the guardian of the FPD reputation. It is clear in this case, that the direct conflict of interest needs to be addressed when the complaint is being investigated by the party whom the complaint is directed to. Furthermore, the accused officer’s chain of command was all in the same unit, so how could this case have been investigated objectively.

The FIAO, in many cases doesn’t even know about the lower level complaints unless the lower chain of command refers it to them, which happened in my case. This is why that for over 9 years now there are organizations in the community that are pleading for an IPA to be established, eliminating this conflict of objectivity.

Most recently, the Fresno County Grand Jury has recommended the IPA be established, and yet there are still individuals in high seats here in the City of Fresno, who are opposing this necessary function.

There is clearly a problem with the FPD, FSD, FIAO, system and the process in which citizens have a right to complain. The citizens in the City of Fresno are having their right’s violated daily, when you have officers that will respond and take action based on their idea of worthiness and their selectiveness against people of age, race and or social status.

February 2005 I requested the California Department of Justice – BMFEA division to open case on behalf of my deceased mother (Lilly M Harmon) and forward all documents to them that was given to the local authorities. Lorena Andrada called me sometime in March 2005 told me they don’t normally take on these kinds of cases.
I explained to Ms Andrada that I’m requesting their help because local officials refused and are ignoring all supporting documentation related to crime committed against my mother. She told me they would accept the case and would be assigning an investigator.

Shortly, investigator Sal Rizzo contacted me and stated we would be in contact regularly until case is resolved. (Note) in February 2005 letter I go into greater detail about my conviction that my mother had been overdosed by legal and or illegal drug/medication.
I believe my plea and the difficulty to get someone to listen to me regarding homicide against my mother originates from the original report to the local officials when Det Henry Monreal refused to do his job. (Note) To my understanding since 1999 there is a mandate to report elder abuse over 60, at the very least Det Henry Monreal should have taken my crime report and acted on all documents that I provided him with. He did not, Sgt Goertzen did not and the FIAO upholds them in their illegal/inappropriate action.

May 2005 Sal Rizzo informed me Theresa Centeno was being charged with pc368,pc487,pc484. He told me his investigation was over and he would be turning everything over to Fresno local DA – Tim Donavon. I spoke with Donavon regarding my belief and concerns that my mother had been poisoned several times. I provided medical records of pictures of my mother’s wounds and also notations in records that state there was suspicion of abuse. So far my belief and concerns of homicide by arsenic poisoning had not been addressed by local officials.

Theresa Centeno pleaded no contest to felony charges, and was sentenced on 01/04/06 for 3 months local jail time with 5 year probation.

November 2005 I requested the California Department of Justice – BMFEA division to reopen case again for the homicide of my mother (Lilly M Harmon) and to perform an autopsy.

March of 2006 I spoke with a Martha Supenor from the BMFEA and she informed me the investigation has been halted due to Fresno local coroner’s decision. I strongly, disagreed, I believe there was sufficient evidence in medical records/pictures to further investigate – based on pictures of wounds and notations of suspected abuse by medical personnel and recommendation to report this abuse to APS, suspicious activity surrounding mothers death, charges of financial abuse successfully brought against suspect (Theresa Centeno).

September 2006 I was successful in gathering monies by loan and borrowing from friends to perform autopsy on my mother (Lilly M Harmon) and it was scheduled 09/15/06.

March of 2007 I received from the Nebraska Forensic Medical Institute under the direction of Dr Matthias Okoye, confirmation of all my suspicion that my mother (Lilly M Harmon) died of arsenic poisoning acute/chronic recent before her death which is consistent to homicide.

I forward copies to both the Fresno local DA offices to Ben Castellanos and spoke with Martha Supenor from BMFEA.

It was told to me at this time that the Fresno local DA would handle this case. I waited approximately a week to speak with Mr Castellanos to ask what direction this case would be going and he informed me he didn’t know, they were trying to decide if the city or the county would take it. Back to start point again.

It wasn’t until the Fresno local media got involved 2 months later that Mr Castellanos called and told me the FPD would be taking over this case.

This is too much.

I truly believe that the FPD after all of this, their heart would not be in the place needed to find the Truth and Justice for my mother. After 2 ½ years, a case turned cold, Justice for my mother would be living proof of their obvious gross negligence, misconduct, discrimination and unfailing attitude on what they think and how they treat folks on this side of the tracks here in the City of Fresno.

Even now, according to the Fresno Bee Newspaper, the Fresno Police Chief Jerry Dyer, states “If in fact she was poisoned, did it occur over a period of time? Where did it happen?” Shame on FPD. They will hold out to the very end to acknowledge the Truth that there has been a murder and They refused to take on initial crime reported with supporting documents on their desk.

This is an Outrage!!

It’s not as Chief Dyer states in Fresno Bee that it was poor communication that led to the break down. I want the City of Fresno to know the Truth, and the Truth is that Det Henry Monreal willfully refused to take my initial complaint, and even respond to the City Council’s Cynthia Sterling request to look at this case.

And as far as not sustained/ unfounded goes, remember these are all mandated reporters by Federal Law, required to report within 24 to 48 hours of any elder abuse.

So you tell me if the FPD is not responsible for turning this case into a cold case. I say they are directly responsible.

I have filed a complaint with the United States Department of Justice and praying for full Justice not just for my mother but for every other citizen in the City of Fresno. This should never happen Again.
I have requested the Attorney General of the State of California to take over this investigation.

May God continue to keep his most Powerful Hand over this situation Exposing the Truth. I ask for your Prayers in this matter. God Bless

Peace.


Note: Rev Floyd Harris Jr, from the National Network In Action is spear heading
A Lilly M Harmon Fund for Justice set up to defray the costs and relieve the
burden of necessary legal actions that will be required to pursue this case to
it’s fullest.

If any one wishes to donate for this cause, send checks to The Lilly M Harmon Fund for Justice/Betty Harmon.

To comment you may call, email, write:

Betty Harmon
3310 W Beran Way
Fresno, California 93706
612-961-7651
Email: wichakpa18 [at] yahoo.com

Rev. Floyd Harris, Jr
National Network In Action
http://www.nationalnetworkinaction.org
P.O. Box 16127
Fresno, California 93755-6127
Ph 559 803 – 0286
Email: xyfloyd [at] aol.com