mysteriew
11-27-2005, 06:45 PM
Days after 86-year-old Jean Balashek was found strangled in her New Scotland home last March, sheriff's investigators began hauling in friends and associates of Balashek's daughter, Corianna, who was their suspect in the murder.
The cops were searching for a break, hoping one of the friends, many of whom were admitted drug addicts, might have some information that could help them make an arrest.
To nudge their cooperation, the investigators left a copy of a reward poster on the table as potential witnesses were peppered with questions about Corianna Thompson's habits and movements around the time of the killing. The flier offered $150,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case, but also had a small disclaimer at the : "This is not real, you stupid crackhead."
It didn't matter.
According to sources close to the investigation, the promise of a large reward apparently stirred interest from within the seedy circle of friends kept by Thompson, including her boyfriend, Kevin B. Glover, 46, of Cohoes.
Four weeks after the murder, just before dawn on a Sunday morning, Glover called investigators and told them that Thompson had confessed to killing her mom two days after the slaying.
"I did it. I killed Mommy," Thompson had said, according to Glover.
That Sunday morning, Thompson had called 911 and told a dispatcher she'd found her mother dead on the floor after driving from Cohoes to check on her. Sources closes to the case said a bag was found next to the body, and initially it appeared to have been a suicide.
But sheriff's investigators said their suspicions were aroused when marks began appearing on Balashek's neck as they combed the scene trying to piece together what had happened.
A day later, an autopsy confirmed their theory of foul play when it was determined that a small bone in the throat of Balashek had been crushed, which is a telltale sign someone has been choked to death.
Investigators immediately shifted their focus to her younger daughter, who underwent a sex change operation several years ago. Police believe Thompson killed her for money after the elder woman threatened to cut her off financially because of her drug problem.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=423475&category=REGION&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=11/26/2005
The cops were searching for a break, hoping one of the friends, many of whom were admitted drug addicts, might have some information that could help them make an arrest.
To nudge their cooperation, the investigators left a copy of a reward poster on the table as potential witnesses were peppered with questions about Corianna Thompson's habits and movements around the time of the killing. The flier offered $150,000 for information leading to an arrest in the case, but also had a small disclaimer at the : "This is not real, you stupid crackhead."
It didn't matter.
According to sources close to the investigation, the promise of a large reward apparently stirred interest from within the seedy circle of friends kept by Thompson, including her boyfriend, Kevin B. Glover, 46, of Cohoes.
Four weeks after the murder, just before dawn on a Sunday morning, Glover called investigators and told them that Thompson had confessed to killing her mom two days after the slaying.
"I did it. I killed Mommy," Thompson had said, according to Glover.
That Sunday morning, Thompson had called 911 and told a dispatcher she'd found her mother dead on the floor after driving from Cohoes to check on her. Sources closes to the case said a bag was found next to the body, and initially it appeared to have been a suicide.
But sheriff's investigators said their suspicions were aroused when marks began appearing on Balashek's neck as they combed the scene trying to piece together what had happened.
A day later, an autopsy confirmed their theory of foul play when it was determined that a small bone in the throat of Balashek had been crushed, which is a telltale sign someone has been choked to death.
Investigators immediately shifted their focus to her younger daughter, who underwent a sex change operation several years ago. Police believe Thompson killed her for money after the elder woman threatened to cut her off financially because of her drug problem.
http://timesunion.com/AspStories/story.asp?storyID=423475&category=REGION&BCCode=HOME&newsdate=11/26/2005