Release hope for murder suspect Joanna Findlay
A Blairgowrie woman suspected of murdering her husband in the United States could be released from custody, American police have revealed.
- By Kieran Andrews
- Published in the Courier : 17.11.10
- Published online : 17.11.10 @ 10.40am
Joanna Findlay (40) was arrested after the death of Gary Trogdon (55) at their home in Hollywood, Maryland, last last month.
Mr Trogdon called police, claiming his wife had shot him, and officers discovered him dead inside when they arrived at the house.
Findlay is being kept in custody after being refused bail because she was deemed a flight risk.
However, St Mary's County Sheriff's Office have confirmed Findlay's lawyer has launched a bid to free her from detention until her trial is held.
Public information officer Cindy Allen said, "No date has been set for the hearing and she is currently incarcerated, but she could potentially be released."
A source close to Findlay's family, many of whom live in Blairgowrie, previously said they believe she is innocent.
In a phone call to her parents, Findlay apparently claimed Mr Trogdon had shot himself after she threatened to go to police when she discovered child porn on his computer.
However, Ms Allen was unable to confirm if police were investigating that.
"We had enough evidence to charge her with second-degree murder," she said.
"As far as what has transpired with new evidence, I wouldn't be in a position to comment."
Court papers state that Findlay and Mr Trogdon — who met in America 15 years ago — became involved in a domestic dispute.
They say Findlay told emergency services he had been assaulted, but in follow-up calls Mr Trogdon claimed his wife had shot him, and his last conversation with police was "abruptly disconnected."
Findlay initially contacted her grandmother Rose, in Blairgowrie, and told her she was in trouble and to call her parents for help.
The call came shortly after Rose's birthday, with presents sent by her granddaughter arriving from America the next day.
It is understood Findlay regularly kept in contact with her family in Scotland and was planning to visit again next spring.
A former Dundee College student and Aberdeen University graduate, she left Scotland on a student exchange to Nebraska-Lincoln University, where she met Mr Trogdon.
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