Testimony Begins In Trial Of Former Warsawan's Alleged Killer
July 28, 2016 at 4:25 p.m.
By BY KRISTIN HOLTZ-
Maddox is charged with killing his estranged wife, Ruth Anne Maddox, a reporter for the Shakopee Valley News, in November 2008 and then hiding her body in the couple’s Prior Lake garage.
A former Warsaw resident, Ruth Anne worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
Two Southwest Newspapers employees and Ruth Anne Maddox’s sister, Amy Cobb, took the stand on the first day of testimony in Scott County District Court in Shakopee. Witnesses testified that Ruth Anne Maddox was fearful of Tony Maddox and upset in the days leading up to her death, and that she and Maddox had not come to terms on their impending divorce.
Southwest Newspapers Publisher Laurie Hartmann said Ruth Anne Maddox first notified her of her intent to file for divorce in September 2008. Hartmann recalled Ruth Anne saying that she expected it to be a difficult divorce.
“She did express concern and fear that [Tony Maddox] may be coming to the office to harm her,” Hartmann said.
Hartmann and Shakopee Valley News Editor Pat Minelli talked about steps their company had taken to protect Ruth Anne Maddox if her husband were to come to the office. Southwest Newspapers installed locks on a back employee entrance, contacted Shakopee police and distributed photos of Tony Maddox to office receptionists and managers, Minelli said.
Hartmann and Minelli also explained what led up to the decision to report Ruth Anne Maddox missing when she failed to show up for work Nov. 11, 2008.
Minelli received a text message from Ruth Anne’s cell phone the morning of Nov. 11 saying she was going to the doctor’s office. When she failed to show up at work later that day, he and Hartmann drove past the Maddox townhouse before going to the Prior Lake police.
Cobb described her sister as her best friend, saying the two spoke by telephone multiple times daily. She recalled a particular phone conversation in which Ruth Anne shared her marital troubles, including a physical encounter and reference to some sexually explicit e-mails she believed Tony Maddox had written.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Frederic Bruno asked Cobb whether she remembered telling an Indiana newspaper shortly after Ruth Anne Maddox’s death that her sister “didn’t feel endangered” by Tony Maddox. Cobb said she didn’t recall saying that.
Prior Lake Police Officer Duane Goldammer also testified Tuesday.
Opening statements
During opening statements Tuesday, Assistant Scott County Attorney Tanya O’Brien told the jury panel of seven women and eight men that “on Nov. 11, 2008, sometime between midnight and sunrise, the defendant intentionally killed Ruth Anne Maddox.”
O’Brien said the medical evidence will show that Ruth Anne Maddox died a violent death. Experts will testify to the massive bleeding and bruises and that what killed Ruth Anne Maddox was a “crushing force to her neck,” she said.
Prosecutors say when police obtained a warrant to search the couple’s home, Tony Maddox told police he killed her and where to find the body. It was found wrapped in a tarp.
The prosecution also plans to show how Tony Maddox attempted to cover up the murder by hiding her body in the garage, scrubbing the crime scene, driving her car to the airport dressed as a woman, and leaving various notes and text messages implying Ruth Anne Maddox was leaving.
O’Brien referenced a list allegedly found in Tony Maddox’s pocket at the time of his arrest. On one side of the list were things to do, such as “bleach out my sink, bleach out her sink … get rid of door.” The other side of the paper had a list of products: bleach, kerosene, makeup, duct tape, bedroom door, garbage bags. It ended with “Help!” O’Brien said.
Bruno countered the prosecution’s opening statements by reminding jurors there are always two sides to every story. “[Mr. Maddox is] here today to show you the state doesn’t have a case against him,” Bruno said.
He described Tony Maddox as a military veteran who served his country aboard a Navy destroyer during the Iran and Iraq conflict. His responsibility was to defend the ship from attack, Bruno said.
Bruno highlighted the couple’s rocky relationship in 2008, in which he said both Tony and Ruth Anne Maddox were having affairs. When Ruth Anne Maddox filed for divorce, the flashpoint between the couple was custody of their two dogs, he noted.
Bruno told the jury the evidence will show that Ruth Anne Maddox initiated the fighting on the night of Nov. 11 by coming after Tony Maddox with a knife and screwdriver. The defense’s position is that Maddox “went into defensive mode to save his life” and that Ruth Anne Maddox died by a blow to the neck from a door, not strangulation as the prosecution contends.
The defense attorney said Tony Maddox went into “detached panic mode” following his wife’s death. “He covered up. Yes, that was a mistake,” Bruno said. “But for that, he’s not on trial.”
Bruno indicated Tony Maddox will take the stand in his own defense.
Hearsay, e-mails
Earlier in the morning, the defense attorney and prosecutors discussed a number of motions regarding hearsay statements referencing the defendant and victim’s state of mind at the time of the alleged murder. Judge Jerome Abrams said if the relationship was tumultuous, the jury has a right to hear some statements Ruth Anne Maddox made to her friends and co-workers, especially since the accused is claiming self-defense.
“It looks like there is plenty of hearsay to go around,” Abrams said. “In other words, the jury will get a complete picture, not a partial picture of what is going on.”
Abrams said he will allow the prosecution to use the explicit e-mails Ruth Anne Maddox had apparently been threatening to show Maddox’s family if he did not agree to her divorce terms. The defense objected, saying the e-mails are highly prejudicial. “The state is really trying to portray the defendant with a brush as some sort of deviant,” Bruno said.
Abrams said he believes Tony Maddox knew about the e-mails and was aware of how Ruth Anne Maddox planned to use them. He’ll likely allow the existence of the e-mails brought into evidence, not necessarily the actual words and pictures.
Ruth Anne Maddox’s daughter, Kelsey Long, is expected to take the stand Wednesday morning when court resumes.
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Maddox is charged with killing his estranged wife, Ruth Anne Maddox, a reporter for the Shakopee Valley News, in November 2008 and then hiding her body in the couple’s Prior Lake garage.
A former Warsaw resident, Ruth Anne worked for the Times-Union from April 1, 1987, to July 8, 2003. During her tenure at the Times-Union, she covered general assignments, as well as police and courts under the bylines of Ruth Anne Lipka and Ruth Anne Long.
Two Southwest Newspapers employees and Ruth Anne Maddox’s sister, Amy Cobb, took the stand on the first day of testimony in Scott County District Court in Shakopee. Witnesses testified that Ruth Anne Maddox was fearful of Tony Maddox and upset in the days leading up to her death, and that she and Maddox had not come to terms on their impending divorce.
Southwest Newspapers Publisher Laurie Hartmann said Ruth Anne Maddox first notified her of her intent to file for divorce in September 2008. Hartmann recalled Ruth Anne saying that she expected it to be a difficult divorce.
“She did express concern and fear that [Tony Maddox] may be coming to the office to harm her,” Hartmann said.
Hartmann and Shakopee Valley News Editor Pat Minelli talked about steps their company had taken to protect Ruth Anne Maddox if her husband were to come to the office. Southwest Newspapers installed locks on a back employee entrance, contacted Shakopee police and distributed photos of Tony Maddox to office receptionists and managers, Minelli said.
Hartmann and Minelli also explained what led up to the decision to report Ruth Anne Maddox missing when she failed to show up for work Nov. 11, 2008.
Minelli received a text message from Ruth Anne’s cell phone the morning of Nov. 11 saying she was going to the doctor’s office. When she failed to show up at work later that day, he and Hartmann drove past the Maddox townhouse before going to the Prior Lake police.
Cobb described her sister as her best friend, saying the two spoke by telephone multiple times daily. She recalled a particular phone conversation in which Ruth Anne shared her marital troubles, including a physical encounter and reference to some sexually explicit e-mails she believed Tony Maddox had written.
On cross-examination, defense attorney Frederic Bruno asked Cobb whether she remembered telling an Indiana newspaper shortly after Ruth Anne Maddox’s death that her sister “didn’t feel endangered” by Tony Maddox. Cobb said she didn’t recall saying that.
Prior Lake Police Officer Duane Goldammer also testified Tuesday.
Opening statements
During opening statements Tuesday, Assistant Scott County Attorney Tanya O’Brien told the jury panel of seven women and eight men that “on Nov. 11, 2008, sometime between midnight and sunrise, the defendant intentionally killed Ruth Anne Maddox.”
O’Brien said the medical evidence will show that Ruth Anne Maddox died a violent death. Experts will testify to the massive bleeding and bruises and that what killed Ruth Anne Maddox was a “crushing force to her neck,” she said.
Prosecutors say when police obtained a warrant to search the couple’s home, Tony Maddox told police he killed her and where to find the body. It was found wrapped in a tarp.
The prosecution also plans to show how Tony Maddox attempted to cover up the murder by hiding her body in the garage, scrubbing the crime scene, driving her car to the airport dressed as a woman, and leaving various notes and text messages implying Ruth Anne Maddox was leaving.
O’Brien referenced a list allegedly found in Tony Maddox’s pocket at the time of his arrest. On one side of the list were things to do, such as “bleach out my sink, bleach out her sink … get rid of door.” The other side of the paper had a list of products: bleach, kerosene, makeup, duct tape, bedroom door, garbage bags. It ended with “Help!” O’Brien said.
Bruno countered the prosecution’s opening statements by reminding jurors there are always two sides to every story. “[Mr. Maddox is] here today to show you the state doesn’t have a case against him,” Bruno said.
He described Tony Maddox as a military veteran who served his country aboard a Navy destroyer during the Iran and Iraq conflict. His responsibility was to defend the ship from attack, Bruno said.
Bruno highlighted the couple’s rocky relationship in 2008, in which he said both Tony and Ruth Anne Maddox were having affairs. When Ruth Anne Maddox filed for divorce, the flashpoint between the couple was custody of their two dogs, he noted.
Bruno told the jury the evidence will show that Ruth Anne Maddox initiated the fighting on the night of Nov. 11 by coming after Tony Maddox with a knife and screwdriver. The defense’s position is that Maddox “went into defensive mode to save his life” and that Ruth Anne Maddox died by a blow to the neck from a door, not strangulation as the prosecution contends.
The defense attorney said Tony Maddox went into “detached panic mode” following his wife’s death. “He covered up. Yes, that was a mistake,” Bruno said. “But for that, he’s not on trial.”
Bruno indicated Tony Maddox will take the stand in his own defense.
Hearsay, e-mails
Earlier in the morning, the defense attorney and prosecutors discussed a number of motions regarding hearsay statements referencing the defendant and victim’s state of mind at the time of the alleged murder. Judge Jerome Abrams said if the relationship was tumultuous, the jury has a right to hear some statements Ruth Anne Maddox made to her friends and co-workers, especially since the accused is claiming self-defense.
“It looks like there is plenty of hearsay to go around,” Abrams said. “In other words, the jury will get a complete picture, not a partial picture of what is going on.”
Abrams said he will allow the prosecution to use the explicit e-mails Ruth Anne Maddox had apparently been threatening to show Maddox’s family if he did not agree to her divorce terms. The defense objected, saying the e-mails are highly prejudicial. “The state is really trying to portray the defendant with a brush as some sort of deviant,” Bruno said.
Abrams said he believes Tony Maddox knew about the e-mails and was aware of how Ruth Anne Maddox planned to use them. He’ll likely allow the existence of the e-mails brought into evidence, not necessarily the actual words and pictures.
Ruth Anne Maddox’s daughter, Kelsey Long, is expected to take the stand Wednesday morning when court resumes.
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