Friday, June 8, 2012

The Death of Janet Christiansen Abaroa

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On April 26,2005 police received a call from Raven Abaroa that his wife was injured. When they arrived at the home, they discovered Janet Abaroa dead on the bedroom floor with large amounts of blood on the floor, the wall and a side door of the home. She had been stabbed in the chest. Their 6-month-old son was uninjured. Her husband, Raven, told them he’d come home from a soccer game and found her. Police began investigating the murder, and retained a search warrant to seize numerous items from the home. Including knives, the clothing Raven was wearing, financial statements, a pawn shop ticket and a check book. The autopsy showed Janet was pregnant.

Within a week, Raven retained an attorney.

Police continued to investigate the murder but remained more quiet than open to the media about progress. A few months later Raven Abaroa was offered a plea deal on another matter, embezzlement from the company he and Janet worked. A charge had been lodged against him in Feb of 2005. In September of that same year, Raven accepted the plea deal and pled guilty. He was sentenced to two years probation plus had to pay back near 10 thousand dollars. The police also began searching through the Abaroas’ email accounts. In the meantime Raven was mum about his wife’s murder and a few weeks after Janet’s death Raven moved to Utah to raise his son. Over a year after Janet was killed, the police began looking into a new lead involving computers, one was missing from the home. Police believe Janet had known her killer since no evidence of a break in was discovered.

Two years later, Raven met a woman named Vanessa Pond. In 2008 he asked her to marry him. But on the day of her bridal shower Raven became violent with her. He threw her down and pushed her around. Vanessa did an internet search on him and discovered a video of him opening a knife in front of Janet while talking about how he liked to collect knives. Vanessa was disturbed by the video. Raven told her he didn’t collect knives or have a fascination with them. Vanessa continued with her plans to marry Raven. Her parents confronted Raven asking if he’d killed his wife but all he’d say was he loved his wife. He didn’t deny or directly admit it.

Vanessa said on their wedding night, Raven was drunk and talked about how mad he was after Janet died. She said he kept saying how mad he was. She said he then cuddled up close to her and said, 'I promise I'll never hurt you.' Vanessa stated she didn't know how to take that. During the marriage, Raven had mood swings, he’d curse and call her names telling her how he hated her and didn’t care if she died. One comment he allegedly said to her is very telling to me.

He said, ‘you know what, I want to hit you so bad, and I can't get in trouble for it any more.’ She said she was in the bathroom and he pushed her and wouldn’t let her out. Vanessa said when Raven left, he grabbed Kaiden (his and Janet’s son) and said, come on, we have to go. Mommy doesn’t want us anymore.

It would be 2010 before police in NC would arrest Raven Abaroa for the murder of his wife, Janet Christiansen Abaroa. Raven fought extradition from Idaho but that is a battle he couldn’t win. Raven was brought back to Durham and Judge Stephens set a 5 million-dollar bond on him.

The police decided they needed Janet’s body exhumed for further testing. Allegedly they wanted to take fingerprints, casts of her hands and to see marks made on her skeleton by the weapon and to check if she was wearing contact lenses.

Raven Abaroa refused to sign the consent but Janet’s family did give permission and a Chambersburg, Pa., Judge ordered her remains exhumed.

Raven Abaroa’s trial has been set for Oct 2012. He still maintains he was at a soccer game when his wife was attacked and murdered.

 

17 comments:

  1. I have questions about the new autopsy - Why didn't orginal ME notice whether she was wearing contacts? (family allegedly said she always took hers out before going to bed. Raven said she was in bed when he last saw her before he left for soccer game) So, did they look for her contact lens when investigating at the home and not find them?) Why didn't the original ME take her fingerprints and a cast of her hands? Also, is the need for examination of her bones for weapon striations so they could check to see if the knife in the video Vanessa mentioned the weapon used. Did they find the actual weapon used at the crime scene?

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  2. These are all good questions and we'd all like to know the answers, but they don't process the information till after the pictures were taken of the crime scene and once the evidence is gone over. The main question is "why" on everyone's mind and is always the question in a murder. When they bring him in for questioning her body and the crime scene are being looked over so they don't know the information right off the bat on what to look for. They don't know about finger prints or casts that need to be taken the second her body goes in to have an autopsy. The only thing they check for when her body is brought in is how she died and time of death. Just little things like that.

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  3. Finally this case comes to trial. Jury selection is scheduled for April 22, 2013.
    Also the judge ruled that the evidence Janet's sister secured after her death can be used at trial. It has been a long road for justice in Janet's death. I hope that justice is finally victorious.

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  4. I know you are stating your opinion, but your facts are all wrong. Vanessa was very, very drunk at her wedding. Raven was drinking apple juice. You sure her story is accurate? She is known for her tall tales. Also, she is known for her pot smoking and wild antics. She kept everyone waiting for an hour at her bridal shower - were was she? Not getting pushed around by Raven, but asleep hung over in her bed. Her sister had to call her and wake her. Raven came to the bridal shower later. Vanessa likes to tell a story and you all obviously want to hear it and believe everything you hear. You want Raven to be guilty and I think Vanessa knows it, so she has played up to the innocent victim. If you knew how she plays men, you might think again about believing her.

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    1. Since I do not personally know any of these people as you apparently do, I can not say anything of a personal note on them except what I read and what I see on news. From what I gather you are an avid Raven fan. I, on the other hand, am a fan of Justice for victims. If Raven did not kill Janet then I hope he is found not guilty. I can't decide that in a way that counts except in my own mind. Neither can you. I do not bash victims though.
      Thank you for commenting. I do appreciate all comments, yay or nay for state or defense.

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  5. Prosecutor Bumm gave no reason for Janet's death in his opening. He said nothing about evidence against Raven. He simply told jurors the witnesses would come from all over state of NC and the case may not seem to be organized but each witness held a piece of the puzzle. He asked the jurors to be diligent and pay attention to all that happened leading up to April 2005. He told jurors their job was to figure out how all the facts of the puzzle fits.

    Amos Tyndall talked about evidence in his opening, honing in on the blood on the doorframe leading out to garage and emphasizing how a profile came back to Janet but not to Raven. He talked about the dogs picking up a trail leading to a creek then stopping... guess he thinks the alleged burglars he mentioned simply disappeared into midair at that point. He pointed out that investigators focused on Raven as killer and no one else. He talked about a coin that was found near creek and how a jar of coins in the car was disturbed.

    Janet died as a result of a stab wound near her throat. We heard from several witnesses before lunch. Her mom, 911 dispatcher, an officer and a paramedic. Second officer who was first on scene was on stand when lunch recess was called. Janet's mom said they didn't talk often but did stay in touch. Janet had told her to call her at work because when they talked at her home, Raven would be there. She said she usually called and left message for Janet or texted Janet because she didn't think it appropriate to call her at work. She did say Janet said Raven was verbally abusive and she'd tell her she needed to stand up for her rights when he did that.

    Officer Williams said when Raven came to door when they arrived he had tears and was holding a baby with a blue blanket. He said Raven didn't say anything so he asked what happened. Raven told him his wife was hurt and where she was. To me the 911 Call was interesting. Raven's heavy breathing seemed forced. Operator mentioned too that he seemed to be more interested in them getting his priest there than anything else. The defense had mentioned something about the sound of a shot in 911 call. I didn't hear that, what I heard sounded like a door slamming.

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  6. Today a forensic investigator was on stand all day. Ms Jackson showed the crime scene video she'd made then Pros took her through every picture taken. It was tedious listening and watching. She had to show the defense every picture and then the judge before the jury viewed them and it was time consuming. The vid was off while they showed the office with the body but we could hear. I felt sad for her family having to sit and listen to all that information and knowing pictures of her deceased body was being shown on screen. The last hour or so dealt with the Durango. Sadly, I'd grown tired (sinus infection) and fell asleep so I'll have to relisten to that last part about Durango. There was a mention of a jar of coins that had been disturbed in the car so I want to hear that... Thing is I can't see a robber who breaks into vehicles to steal coins only taking a few from a jar full of them and leaving rest.

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  7. I want to make a couple points. The jar of money I'd orginally thought was in Abaroa's vehicle wasn't in their car. Apparently that was in Mrs. Sealy, a neighbor's car. Also Raven told investigator Amanda Craig that when he came home he walked to side door and noticed storm door was shut but wood door was ajar, then he went inside. If he went inside via the side door why wasn't there footprints on the small porch? The porch was covered in polen and it appeared undisturbed.

    A few more pieces of puzzle:

    Janet told mom Raven and she had heated arguments.

    Janet told mom Raven was verbally abusive

    Raven appeared antisocial to neighbors: IE Mr. Farmer, he introduced himself and Raven advised of his name but Raven didn't appear to 'be in mood' for further conversation so Farmer didn't push for any.

    Neighbor Sealy said she could hear loud arguments from Araboa home.

    Neighbor Sealy witnessed Janet clinging to hood of car as Raven drove. She stopped and asked if everything was okay and both said yes. (But remember, Mom said Janet was quiet person, kept personal stuff to herself for most part so unless she'd want LE involved, which is unlikely, she'd have denied anything was wrong.) Like Mrs Sealy, I wonder where was baby?

    Investigator Amanda Craig said Raven told her when he arrived home Janet was crouched down on floor of office with hands under her head and head on floor. He called out to her but she didn't answer. Raven turned lights on, called out again more loudly and it woke baby. He said he saw blood and tried to stop the bleeding. (This means he had to move body, lay her flat on back, put arms over head and straigten out legs.

    Raven told Amanda Craig he and Raven talked and joked that morning because she was a week late with her cycle. He was laughing and smiling when talking about the missed cycle.

    Raven said she had baby and he folded laundry then she went to put baby down while he washed dishes. Janet told him, 'I can't do this again' - when asked what she meant by that Raven didn't answer. She asked again and still no answer. She asked a third time and he said, 'put the baby down again' He said they embraced.

    In 911 call he is breathing too hard and you're barely able to understand what he says.

    In 911 call he speaks clearly when mentioned Church people he wants notified.

    Why if, as he told Amanda Craig, Janet had gone to bed, was she still wearing her shoes when body was discovered?


    He speaks clearly when Officer Williams arrives.


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    1. I wondered the same thing about the clothing she was wearing. I want someone to ask him what she typically wears to bed since she was supposedly in bed when he left. Are the "warm up" pants and t-shirt typical of her to wear to bed? I'm interested to know the answer to that.

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    2. Good catch, Anonymous! The guy from church who visited prior to Raven going to soccer game could answer the question of what was she wearing when he was there.

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  8. Day 3 was a bust in the trial. A juror called in ill so court was dark.

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  9. Janet died of a stab wound to the neck that cut the right subclavian artery. This wound punctured her right lung, causing her to bleed into her chest cavity, about 2 liters of blood. This artery is a major artery beneath the collar bone.

    Her HCG levels were consistent with early preganancy. Of interest is the defense tried to counter this pregnancy with asking about miscarriages. He asked if her HCG levels would still show as higher if she'd recently had a miscarriage. Dr Clark said yes if the miscarriage was recent. That line of questioning was unusual since Raven had told Investigator Craig he and Janet had joked that morning about her being pregnant, she was late with her monthly cycle.

    We also heard State counter Janet being in fetal position when Raven arrived home. Pros asked Dr. Clark if Janet's blood would continue to flow if she was found in that position and deceased. He said she would have died fairly quickly. So, if she was dead when Raven arrived home and lying in fetal position on her stomach with head on floor and knees pulled up under her, hands under head how did the blood pool around her head so heavily after he straightened her body? (He said he had tried to stop the bleeding so he had to move her.) The blood pooled around Janet's head appeared very dark, thick and congealed to me.

    I'm just a little perturbed with defense lawyer. His questioning of Investigator Jackson and Dr. CLark is confusing. In a way it appeared he was attempting to contradict what his client told Investigator Craig? That makes me think he thinks his client is a liar. Another sin Raven is wearing on his shoulders?

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  10. Friday was a confusing day for me with defense. I just can't wrap my mind around their strategy with questioning witnesses. But I have been able to write a synop of my views of the day for state.

    I think we heard some more pieces of the puzzle Friday.
    Although Raven was antisocial with neighbors, he was social conversationalist with Church members and babysitter. He led and Janet was quiet and submissive
    Couple was in deep financial trouble
    Janet asked Jeffery Bickert to call her at work if he wanted to talk to her. (she'd asked her mom to do same because Raven would listen)


    State showed how deep in debt the Abarao's were. So much so Raven pawned a stereo system the day before Janet died and their landlord agreed to lower their lease so the two could stay in the home. Also a lady from church told how they had applied for help with family food. The babysitter said the Church had paid her for caring for the Abaroa's son once.

    Of interest: All the church people and the sitter said Raven was the one who led conversation and spoke for the family. Janet was submissive and quiet. Mr. Eckhoff, sitter's husband, said he was caring for Kaiden when they came for him on 26th because his wife had taken their daughter to doctor. He said on 26th, Janet was the one who came in and asked questions about Kaiden's day. He thought that odd since Raven usually asked all the questions with Janet ocassionally adding to conversation. Also church lady,Debbie Petersen, said Raven was one who showed her around the kitchen, helped with meal planning and making out the food list they needed. Janet sit quietly at table. She also said Janet was a member of the lady's organization at church and once a month the lady's had a lady's night. Men didn't attend these meetings although they could if desired. Men cared for the children at home on those nights but for the ones whose husbands couldn't keep children, they had men volunteer at church who watched children in nursery. She said Raven was to be one of those men one night. But, Raven attended the candy making class that night. She said Janet wasn't in that class because she had Kaiden and he was too young for nursery, Janet was in another class.

    Michael Guzman from the Church said he sit with Raven on porch of another church member's porch on 27th and Raven made phone calls and talked some. He stated that Raven said when he came home Janet was on floor upstairs and he immediately grabbed her and she asked him 'Why am I hurting so bad?' Raven said he told her 'I don't know.' This surprised Guzman because the assumption up to that time was that Janet committed suicide, they didn't find out until later on 27th that she was murdered.

    Jeffery Bickert was Janet's brother-in-law and old school friend. He visited the couple in Feb of 05 during a business trip to Durham and said Janet wasn't her usual fun outgoing self. He said once when Raven wasn't there (Raven had a soccer game) was she more like her old self. He said Janet told him she kept doors locked when Raven wasn't home. He saw her lock door when Raven left for soccer game and asked her about it. And he said when he left usually through side door Janet would let him out and door would be locked. He said he heard the lock when she shut door too. Janet confided in him about her and Raven's marriage and separation due to his being unfaithful.

    Of note: Jeffery did not stay at Abaroa's home during this visit, he'd asked them to house his puppy during his stay and would go there during day while Janet and Raven worked and let puppy out for a few and usually had dinner with them in evenings.

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  11. For the last 2 days we've only heard from witnesses who testified in morning session of court with this trial. Weather hindered filming the afternoon sessions.
    Several witnesses have given evidence of how much trouble the Abaroa's marriage was in. The pieces of the puzzle are coming together in a full colored picture. What we heard is powerful and shines for the state's case. We heard how Janet was afraid of Raven and he flirted with her friends. Janet told a friend he refused to go into therapy and that when he was on his meds he was a good person but off them he was mean. We heard about his screaming at her as she talked on phone and how she drove to another friends home one day because she was scared. The month Janet died, Raven appeared unconcerned about the possibility of losing his job.
    Janet said he was mean. When they were separated she was pregnant, he wouldn't help her with finances or support her in any way. She said he didn't want a baby and she'd said she could allow her sister to adopt the child but he told her no. He didn't want her to abort the child either, their religion was against that. Those character flaws, the ups and downs with behavioral changes described in court reek of bipolar. The witnesses we heard from seemed credible and wasn't just telling tales because they didn't like Raven. They seemed geniunely concerned for Janet (if not feeling guilty because they didn't do more-) and upset with her death. Sadly, there wasn't more they could have done.

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  12. One more piece of that puzzle concerns the dogs. Back in Jan.of 05 Raven and Janet were gone to a soccer game and her friend went over to feed the dogs. The weather wasn't good and hail was expected. The friend called Janet and asked if she could put the dogs in the shed for protection from weather. Janet asked Raven and he gave an emphatic no. He said the landlord still had property in the shed. The friend brought the dogs kennels into the kitchen which is where they used to sleep. The next morning she went over and cleaned up their mess and put them back outside. Janet had told her Raven got mad if the dogs made a mess in house.
    Also the neighbor said the dogs usually were in the yard at night and he'd hear them barking at deer roaming the woods near the property border. The night Janet died he saw deer but the dogs weren't barking. He thought that odd. Come to find out Raven had confined the dogs to the shed in their kennels. What happened to the alleged property belonging to the landlord?

    Another thing about dogs. Janet liked having one of them inside with her when Raven wasn't home because it made her feel safer.

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  13. We heard a lot about Raven this week including evidence from his ex-wife, Vanessa Pond. She talked about how he was physically abusive on her bridal shower night. Including why she was over an hour late. She also said she has a minor heart condition so that disputes the commentor talking about her being an alcoholic and druggie. She couldn't discuss anything that happen during their marriage because of the spousal law. Three women told jurors what he had told them and how he seduced them. Of interest but what jurors couldn't hear was a voir dire of one where she mentioned Raven having sex with an underage girl and she became pregnant. Allegedly the child was given up for adoption. Anyway, they all said he was very charming but he told differing stories about the night Janet died. He told one he came home from a soccer game and found Janet in bed of the master bedroom lying in a fetal position. The only constant is the fetal position. He has had diffewring stories about her being cold and starting to become stiff too. One he told he hugged her and she was warm then cold. But the blood forensics on his sweat shirt showed he couldn't have held her because the front ofJanet's shirt was completely soaked with wet blood and what was on his shirt wasn't light smears not soak through stains. Investigator Sole brought up the issue yesterday of the sweat shirt.He said it just seemed inconsistent with the other clothes he was wearing and he wasn't wearing it in the store video. So why did he change into a hoodie sweat. Also bothering Investiagtor SOle was his videos where he talked about the investigation. In one he had a knife and said it was out in plain site in the home but it wasn't. I noticed as he talked he kept playing with the knife. He seemed to be unable to keep his hands off it.

    You can go here: http://www.wral.com/news/local/asset_gallery/12434938/
    and listen to day 10 of testimony: Annabel Haviza, MacKensie Folster, and Vanessa Pond's testimony. Each witness testimony is listed separately.

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  14. Sadly I missed the state's CA and verdict watch due to family emergency and being out of state with that. But I am unhappy with the mistrial. With 11 for guilt and only 1 NG I feel state must have done a fabulous job in CA wrapping evidence they presented in a neat package to remind jurors it takes more than one event. I believe Raven is guilty as charged and hope a new trial will prove a new jury feels same way.

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