Death Certificate
Multiple stab wounds and blunt force trauma are listed as Felix Polk's official cause of death.- Suicide Files
Felix Polk's apparent suicide attempt while in the military was documented by the U.S. Navy. - Autopsy Report
Felix Polk's fatal injuries and toxicology results were detailed in this report. - Felix's Letter to Gabe
Just months before he was stabbed to death by his estranged wife, Felix Polk wrote this letter to his son Gabriel in an apparent effort to improve their relationship. - Felix Polk's Resume
This resume was retrieved by investigators from Felix Polk's desk after he was stabbed to death by his estranged wife, Susan Polk. - Properties Letter
Before she fatally stabbed her husband Felix, Susan Polk wrote this letter as the couple was going through a divorce to discuss financial matters and various properties the Polks owned - Ottoman Analysis
Investigators sought to recover from an ottoman residue of pepper spray, which Polk claimed she used on her husband. - Saab Report
Criminalists also analyzed Felix Polk's 1999 Saab, on which they found blood stains. - Diary Excerpt
Polk describes her self-proclaimed psychic abilities, her theories about the Middle East and her husband's alleged ties to the Mossad in this journal entry. - Letter to Dr. Cooper
These excerpts from Susan Polk's letters to her defense expert, Dr. John Cooper, include a narrative of the killing and a map. - Crime Scene Report
Forensic evidence gathered from the crime scene is itemized in this official report. - Incident Report
This 7-page report from the Contra Costa County Sheriff's Dept. details the night Felix Polk was killed. - Eli's Letter
The only child of three to support his mother, Eli Polk wrote this letter to Susan Polk behind bars. - Guardian's Letter
Dan Briner wrote this letter updating her about her son, Gabriel, while she was behind bars. - Cooper's Letter
Controversial defense witness Dr. John Cooper wrote this letter to the judge explaining why he would not return to conclude his testimony. - Son's Declaration
Eli Polk's divorce court declaration was full of praise for his mother, Susan Polk. - Secret Letter
In this two-page letter dated 2001, Susan Polk says her husband beat, drugged her. - Dispute Report
Police documented responding to a domestic dispute before Felix Polk was killed by his wife, Susan.
MARTINEZ, Calif. — Accused killer Susan Polk claims she is a maliciously maligned psychic who was abused by her therapist husband, and is now being abused by the justice system for her decision to represent herself at trial against a first-degree murder charge.
Polk even called a psychic detective to the stand Wednesday to bolster her claim that psychics — and fairies — are real.
But a prosecutor introduced evidence in court Wednesday suggesting to jurors that Polk is no medium, but merely a textbook example of someone who suffers from delusions of persecution and resorts to violence against the object of their obsession.
"Can you describe for the jury what a delusional disorder is?" Assistant District Attorney Paul Sequeira asked defense witness Dr. Linda Barnard, an expert in intimate-partner battering, who testified that Polk suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder as a result of her abusive 30-year relationship with the victim, Dr. Felix Polk.
Barnard said individuals with delusional disorders may seem out of touch with reality, have false beliefs and hallucinate. She referred the prosecutor to the psychiatric reference book, Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, fourth edition, or DSM-IV.
Sequeira had a copy of the manual handy and flipped to a passage on "persecutory type delusional disorder."
He read out loud in a calm voice: "This subtype applies when the central theme of the delusion involves the person's belief that he or she is being conspired against, cheated on, spied on, followed, poisoned or drugged, maliciously maligned, harassed."
Sequeira paused to ask Barnard if that fit her understanding of a persecutory-type delusional disorder.
Barnard agreed it did.
Sequeira continued: "Small slights may be exaggerated The focus of the delusion is often some injustice that must be remedied by legal action ... And the affected person may engage in repeated attempts to obtain satisfaction by appeal to the courts."
He paused again, reading the final sentence with gravitas: "Individuals with persecutory delusions are often resentful and angry and may resort to violence against those they believe are hurting them."
Barnard agreed it was an accurate description of the disorder.
"Thanks. No further questions," Sequeira said.
Barnard was not asked if the condition fit Polk's behavior, but the implication was clear.
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