Susan Mae Bolling (later Polk) was referred to Dr. “Felix” Polk, a psychotherapist, in 1972 when administrators at her high school recommended she see a counselor to treat her panic attacks. Susan Polk later made the claim that Dr. Polk first had sex with her when she was fourteen and still under his treatment, a taboo, a statutory sexual offense and a violation of professional ethics in the relationship between therapist and patient (also illegal). At the time, Dr. Polk had a wife and two children. The couple divorced in 1982. After graduating from high school, Susan Bolling (Polk) attended Mills College and San Francisco State University. She graduated magna cum laude and married, Dr Felix Polk in 1982, after his divorce went through. Dr. Felix Polk, who was then an instructor at the California Graduate School of Family Psychology, as well as a private practitioner. At the time of their wedding, Polk was 24 and Felix was 50. During their marriage, the couple had three sons. In 2001, Susan Polk filed for divorce. This was a complicated and contentious proceeding during which each contacted police with allegations of domestic violence. When asked by police whether Ms. Polk had made threats or been violent, Mr. Polk said she hadn't. In 2002, while Susan was living in Montana, Dr. Polk was able to petition the courts, ex parte, (without providing Susan any form of official notice in advance). In her absence, the court granted Dr. Polk sole custody of the couple's minor son, Gabriel Polk, and sharply reduced Susan's alimony. Dr. Polk also received sole possession of their house. Susan Polk On Wednesday, October 9, Polk went to the home to retrieve her belongings and complete a dental procedure by having a permanent crown put on her tooth. That Friday, October 11, the eldest son, Adam, came home from UCLA to pick up his dog. On Sunday, October 13, Dr. Polk, Adam, and the youngest son, Gabriel, drove Adam and the dog back to UCLA. Dr. Polk and Gabriel returned home at around 9:30 pm. Dr. Polk, then 70, was found dead the next day, Monday, October 14, 2002. Felix and Susan Polk Authorities found bloody strands of hair in Felix Polk’s hand that were linked to Susan Polk. Susan initially denied killing her multi-millionaire husband, until she was confronted with the evidence. She eventually admitted to killing him but said it was in self-defense. Susan stated he attacked her with a knife by the pool, after she told him she was never coming back to him. However, scientists for the prosecution indicated she had no defensive wounds. Prosecutors argued that a court ruling days earlier, which stripped Susan of custody of Gabriel and a large amount of money in support payments, was the motive. Susan eventually declared she was the victim of a vast conspiracy by her children, her mother, the police, forensic scientists, the Judiciary, and attorneys on both sides. Bizarre trial: Susan Polk was a self-proclaimed psychic. She really should have known how this was going to end. Susan was initially granted bail, but it was revoked after she threatened one of her sons. The court was forced to declare a mistrial in 2004, when the wife of Susan Polk's attorney, Daniel Horowitz, was murdered in an unrelated incident. Pamela Vitale was found stabbed to death inside the Lafayette home the couple was renovating. A teen who lived nearby, Scott Dyleski, was ultimately convicted of torturing Vitale to death and the murder was completely unrelated to Susan Polk’s case. Susan demonstrates how she stabbed her husband. The forensic scientist for the defense, Dr. John Cooper testified that Felix Polk's death was caused by heart disease and that his stab wounds were not life-threatening. Dr. Cooper failed to appear in court the following day to continue being cross-examined. He returned a week later to resume testimony and Dr. Cooper’s theory that Felix died of a heart attack while being stabbed was disproven Susan and Felix's children testified at the trial. The youngest son, Gabriel, who discovered his father’s body, testified that his mother had speculated about means of killing her husband in the weeks before his father's death. Gabriel described his mother as angry and delusional. He stated Susan had talked about throwing Felix in the pool, hitting him with the car, or shooting him. The oldest son, Adam, also testified against his mother, and referred to her on the stand as "cuckoo for Cocoa Puffs". However, the middle son, Eli, testified on Susan's behalf, saying his father Felix was the aggressor, controller, and manipulator. Questions were raised about the relationship between Susan and Eli. During the trial, on May 24, 2006. Eli Polk was convicted of misdemeanor battery against his partner and of violating a restraining order. Eli had two arrests in March of 2006, at the home where his father died. Susan fired her attorneys to represent herself. Her defense included allegations of a history of marital and professional misconduct, including claims that Dr. Felix Polk had drugged and raped her when she was a teenager, brainwashed the couple's children, and threatened to kill her if she tried to leave him. Susan Polk repeatedly requested a second mistrial, lodging accusations of conspiracy against the prosecutor and the judge. There was little doubt she hated Felix in the end. The request for a mistrial was denied. Jurors didn’t believe that the crime was premeditated and found Susan Polk guilty of 2nd degree murder. Susan was sentenced to prison for a term of 16 years to life. She was first eligible for parole in 2018. Susan Polk was transferred to the California Institution for Women (CIW), a dorm-like prison, in Corona (near Chino), CA, in December 2012. On May 29, 2019, Polk was removed from her parole hearing for being uncooperative and was subsequently denied parole. Polk will be eligible again in May 2029. Media surrounds jurors after trial “Susan was clearly schizophrenic, and I had documents showing she was. Had she allowed me to use them, I think the jury would have been sympathetic,” Former attorney, Dan Horowitz said. “But her entire defense was not that she didn’t murder her husband, but that she wasn’t mentally ill. … She was more willing to be convicted of murder than admit she had mental issues. That’s the tragedy of Susan Polk.” This is a sad case of a violation of ethics by a therapist and a mentally ill woman. It’s problematic when a relationship is never equal. + Then add in delusional thought processes by a mentally ill woman, + the hatred generated by a divorce, + and a custody battle. = and you have disaster. Thanks for listening, Frank Trilogy 1 {Murder Book, I-94 Murders & Last Call} Trilogy 2 {Lying Close, Burning Bridges & Black and Blue} The Trilogies now sell for $45 each. They are signed and wrapped. (the 1st 3 in Crime Scene tape and the 2nd 3 in Danger Zone tape.) Black and Blue is coming to you. You can buy it on this website, at the events listed below, or at the following venues: Red’s Auto Pierz, The Shoppes of Little Falls, CatTales Books & Gifts in Brainerd, The Crossing Arts Alliance in Brainerd, Beagle & Wolf Books and Bindery in Park Rapids, or Barnes & Noble in St. Cloud.
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AuthorFrank F. Weber is a forensic psychologist specializing in homicide and sexual and physical assault cases. He uses his unique understanding of how predator’s think, knowledge of victim trauma, actual court cases, and passion for writing true crime thrillers. His Award Winning books include "Murder Book" (2017) "The I-94 Murders" (2018) "Last Call" (2019) and "Lying Close" (September 2020). Archives
April 2024
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