Jennifer Amell

As we know from three separate witnesses, Heidi started jogging between 11 and 11.30 a.m. She would have been accosted on Martinsville Road no later than noon. So the state is saying that for two whole hours, Heidi was either running from or hiding from her killer. It's possible, but improbable. In fact, at trial, this gap in the timeline was never actually addressed. But I digress.

As we know from three separate witnesses, Heidi started jogging between 11 and 11.30 a.m. She would have been accosted on Martinsville Road no later than noon. So the state is saying that for two whole hours, Heidi was either running from or hiding from her killer. It's possible, but improbable. In fact, at trial, this gap in the timeline was never actually addressed. But I digress.

So the state police took Tallman into custody for a few reasons. Number one, he was placed near the crime scene by a witness. Two, he had a prior conviction for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor when he was 16.

So the state police took Tallman into custody for a few reasons. Number one, he was placed near the crime scene by a witness. Two, he had a prior conviction for lewd and lascivious conduct with a minor when he was 16.

I'm not sure why his juvenile record wasn't sealed, as Tallman was also a minor, but the troopers thought that they were investigating a sex crime on that first day, so this criminal history seemed relevant at the time. This was before the medical examiner could actually make the determination during an autopsy that there was no evidence of sexual assault.

I'm not sure why his juvenile record wasn't sealed, as Tallman was also a minor, but the troopers thought that they were investigating a sex crime on that first day, so this criminal history seemed relevant at the time. This was before the medical examiner could actually make the determination during an autopsy that there was no evidence of sexual assault.

Number three, Tallman was known to carry a knife. And number four, Trooper Jeff Cable even told the Burlington Free Press that he heard rumors that Tallman had been seen in, quote, a bizarre sex act with a dog in public. Yeah, it gets worse. And weirder. Once in custody, Tallman was quickly interrogated by Mike and Ted LeClaire.

Number three, Tallman was known to carry a knife. And number four, Trooper Jeff Cable even told the Burlington Free Press that he heard rumors that Tallman had been seen in, quote, a bizarre sex act with a dog in public. Yeah, it gets worse. And weirder. Once in custody, Tallman was quickly interrogated by Mike and Ted LeClaire.

And after only an hour, Delbert Tallman confessed to murdering Heidi Martin. There's some very important context to this confession. Tallman's attorney at trial was Robert Kiner, and I put the question to him directly. What were the circumstances of this confession, and do you think it holds up to scrutiny?

And after only an hour, Delbert Tallman confessed to murdering Heidi Martin. There's some very important context to this confession. Tallman's attorney at trial was Robert Kiner, and I put the question to him directly. What were the circumstances of this confession, and do you think it holds up to scrutiny?

And was this, I guess, interrogation between these officers and Tallman recorded in any way?

And was this, I guess, interrogation between these officers and Tallman recorded in any way?

According to the American Psychiatric Association, "...a full-scale IQ score of around 70 to 75 indicates a significant limitation in intellectual functioning." So if Tallman scored in the low 60s, he was functioning below even this modern standard. Though they were just doing their job, the LeClaire brothers placed a vulnerable person in a stressful situation.

According to the American Psychiatric Association, "...a full-scale IQ score of around 70 to 75 indicates a significant limitation in intellectual functioning." So if Tallman scored in the low 60s, he was functioning below even this modern standard. Though they were just doing their job, the LeClaire brothers placed a vulnerable person in a stressful situation.

He was seated with his back to the wall in a 5x10 room with no windows. The brothers sat between him and the door and did a kind of like good cop, bad cop routine. According to Trooper Shortsleeve, either Mike or Ted held Tallman's hand during the investigation and said, quote, It's a warm hand, and you can trust me. And if the hand turns cold, you can always leave.

He was seated with his back to the wall in a 5x10 room with no windows. The brothers sat between him and the door and did a kind of like good cop, bad cop routine. According to Trooper Shortsleeve, either Mike or Ted held Tallman's hand during the investigation and said, quote, It's a warm hand, and you can trust me. And if the hand turns cold, you can always leave.

Psychologist David Edgar weighed in on this to the Rutland Herald, quote, Having an articulate person sit one foot from your face and say, I don't believe you, is incredibly intimidating. Tallman suffered from emotional deprivation in that he lacked love and reinforcement.

Psychologist David Edgar weighed in on this to the Rutland Herald, quote, Having an articulate person sit one foot from your face and say, I don't believe you, is incredibly intimidating. Tallman suffered from emotional deprivation in that he lacked love and reinforcement.

To compensate, Tallman attempted to go out of his way to please people and to often pretend that he was smarter than he actually was. The defense called the LeClaire brothers coercive.

To compensate, Tallman attempted to go out of his way to please people and to often pretend that he was smarter than he actually was. The defense called the LeClaire brothers coercive.