 |
Important Events in the Life of Jeffrey MacDonald
|
September 8, 1972 |
U.S.
Attorney Warren Coolidge tells the Justice Department that he is declining
to prosecute Jeffrey MacDonald |
|
October 5, 1972 |
The
Justice Department persuades the CID to secretly re-enter the case
and continue to investigate MacDonald. |
|
December 21, 1973 |
Assistant
Attorney General Henry Petersen writes the CID stating the case against
MacDonald is too weak to prosecute. He cites "the exculpatory character
of some of the evidence together with the total lack of evidence as
to possible motive." |
|
January 14, 1974 |
Capt.
Brian Murtagh prepares a draft letter for the signature of his boss,
Col. Tufts, to the Justice Dept., challenging the refusal to prosecute
Jeff MacDonald. Col. Tuft does not sign. |
|
March 4, 1974 |
Alfred
Kassab writes Col. Tufts, stating he intends to file his own personal
criminal complaint against Jeff. |
|
April 30, 1974 |
Alfred
Kassab, Peter Kearns, and attorney Richard Cahn present a citizen's
complaint against Jeffrey MacDonald to US Chief District Court Judge
Algernon Butler, requesting the convening of a grand jury. |
|
Summer, 1974 |
Attorney
Victor Worheide accepts the case for the purpose of a grand jury hearing.
Brian Murtagh asks to be assigned to the case, as does Judge Franklin
Dupree, a subordinate judge. |
| August
12, 1974 |
A
grand jury is convened in Raleigh, N.C. Jeffrey MacDonald waives
his rights and appears for 5 days as the first witness. |
| January
21, 1975 |
MacDonald
waives his rights a second time and appears again before the grand
jury. |
| January
24, 1975 |
Jeffrey
MacDonald is indicted on three counts of murder, 24 days before the
statue of limitations would take effect. Jeff is arrested and
confined in the Orange County, CA jail. |
| January
31, 1975 |
Friends
of Jeff MacDonald make the $100,000 bail, putting up their homes as
collateral. |
| May
23, 1975 |
Jeff
is arraigned, pleads not guilty. |
| May,
1975 |
Requests
for change of venue and a new judge are denied. Judge Dupree
will preside over the trial by jury, and Brian Murtagh has been allowed
to resign his Army commission to accept a post in the Justice Department
to prosecute the MacDonald case. |
| January
26, 1976 |
The
4th Circuit Cout of Appeals dismisses all charges against Jeff MacDonald
on the grounds that a speedy trial has been denied. |
| May
1, 1978 |
The
Supreme Court reverses the lower court's decision, stating that a
trial must be held before a speedy trial complaint becomes valid.
|
| March
19, 1979 |
The
Supreme Court dclines to hear arguments regarding MacDonald's "double
jeopardy" complaint. |
| June
18, 1979 |
The
Long Beach Police Association hosts a $100 per plate dinner to raise
money for Jeff's defense. |
| July
16, 1979 |
Jeffrey
MacDonald goes on trial for murder in Raleigh, NC. |
| August
29, 1979 |
Jeffrey
MacDonald is convicted of the murders of Colette, Kimberley and Kristen.
|
| October
4, 1979 |
Jeff
is denied bail and completes a cross-country trip via bus to the federal
prison at Terminal Island in Long Beach, CA |
| August
22. 1980 |
The
Fourth Circuit court dismisses all charges against Jeff MacDonald,
based on the speedy trial issue. |
| November
1, 1980 |
Jeff
returns to work at St. Mary Medical Center, where his job and office
have been kept waiting for him. |
|
March, 1982 |
Jeff
is engaged to Randi Markwith, a volunteer at the hospital. |
| March
31, 1982 |
The
Supreme Court reverses the speedy trial win. Jeff is rearrested
and returned to prison. |
| August
27, 1982 |
Jeff
is moved from the prison in Long Beach to Bastrop Texas. His
engagement to Randi ends. |
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