Taped conversations introduced at Welton trial

PALMER -- In the fourth week of the Suzette Welton murder trial, jurors listened to several taped conversations between Welton and her teen son, Jeremiah Welton, that showed an atmosphere of suspicion in the months after the tragic death of 14-year-old Samuel Welton.

Jeremiah and Welton's 6-year-old daughter were removed from Welton's care after the Sept. 15, 2000, residential fire that resulted in Sam's death. Her former husband, Dennis Welton, was able to gain custody of them soon after, while Welton was being investigated for arson and murder. She was not arrested until Nov. 21, 2000, and was allowed only supervised visits while on the Kenai Peninsula, where they now live.

The conversations between Jeremiah, then 16, and Welton took place with Alaska State Trooper Investigator Leonard Wallner at the boy's side. The teen was asked to secretly make the taped discussions in order to ask his mother questions about his brother's death and a $100,000 life insurance policy she took out on both sons.

"Oh, I'm so glad you called me," she said. "It's been so long since I've seen you. When are you coming to see me?"

Welton's voice in the conversations with Jeremiah sounds like a mother delighted to hear from her son. She tells him about a snowboard she put on layaway, hoping to have it paid off in three weeks. He asks her about the mutual funds she invested in, wondering when he could receive money from it.

While she didn't correct Jeremiah in calling the insurance policies mutual funds, she did tell him how it worked.

"I told you it was a hundred thousand dollars (and) at 25 you guys borrow off of it. It was a special plan that you borrow off, to buy a home," she said.

"Did I sign papers… it was all, like mutual funds on you or what? I still don't understand," Jeremiah said.

"No, you are the beneficiary on everybody," Welton said.

"Oh, when people die then I get it, or something?"

"Yeah, you knew that, too," she said.

Jeremiah denied knowing this, though in his own testimony he told the jury he did sign the insurance papers with the understanding it related to mutual funds that would eventually allow him to buy a car. Welton asked him if he believed she would ever hurt him or his brother and sister.

"Ah, I don't know mom, I don't think so. I wouldn't think you would," he answered. "I'm just confused."

"Then please, in your heart, you know that. It doesn't matter what's said or done, sweetie, it doesn't matter. Okay?" she said. "It doesn't matter what (your dad) says. You know in his heart he knows I would never have hurt you guys either."

Dennis Welton also took the witness stand this week, though he was not asked whether he believed his former wife set the fire. Much of his testimony centered on Sam's personality. Welton's defense attorneys contend Sam's writings reveal a depressed teen who may have set the fire himself.

Welton, a systems analyst for Agrium Inc. USA, testified that Samuel's favorite comedians were Robin Williams and Jim Carrey, that the boy had writing talent and had penned scripts and plays -- that he wanted to become a director when he grew up.

Welton's testimony refuted the theory that Sam was a disturbed teen. He described his son more as a practical joker who was only naturally sad that his parents' new divorce resulted in moving far from his Nikiski and Kenai friends.

"He was a thinker, a smart kid," Welton said. The boy's computer abilities to program games and enter "back doors" in computer systems showed he was above average. "I never saw him down. Life didn't get him down," Welton said.

In earlier testimony, division of family and youth services investigator Susan Arth testified that Samuel, during a visit, described himself as having more in common with his dad than others in the family. The two of them liked computers and writing, they both "thought more alike than others in the family."

Arth also testified the boy had not seemed depressed when she interviewed him a month prior to the fire. "He didn't melt back into the couch, but sat forward, easy to engage in conversation," she said.

Suzette Welton's boyfriend, Mike Minzlaff, took the stand this week, as well. He testified that he didn't know Welton had purchased the insurance policies on herself and her sons. He also didn't know he was named as the trustee. "I think it's something we should have talked about, but we didn't," he said.

Since Welton has no relatives in Alaska, Public Defender Greg Heath asked Minzlaff if he was the one person closest to her? Minzlaff agreed that was the case and therefore it was logical that Welton wrote him down as the trustee. He said he continues to have a relationship with Welton.

If there is an insurance pay off of $100,000 on Sam's life insurance, the money would go to Jeremiah with Minzlaff acting as trustee over the money until Jeremiah's 21st birthday.

Minzlaff said he would have no problem handing over the trusteeship to an accountant or Jeremiah's dad for safekeeping. "I have no interest in the money. It's just another chore, another headache I need to deal with," he said.

Much of the testimony in the trial has dealt with Welton's finances. Palmer District Attorney Roman Kalytiak called numerous witnesses from banks and former employers who showed Welton was in debt. One was a used car company that had sold Welton a 1989 Nissan Pathfinder for more than $16,000. The defense was able to show that is $11,000 more than the blue book value on the vehicle.

Ray's Day Care owner, Natalie Ray, testified that Welton worked 40 hour weeks at the Bogard Road day care, and made about $700 a month.

In the divorce settlement with Dennis Welton, Suzette was awarded $1,200 a month in child support, he testified. All their property and his retirement were split down the middle in the settlement, with her taking on half the debt as well. But soon she had defaulted on many of those payments, he said. That meant he had to assume responsibility for the debts, causing him to file bankruptcy.

The prosecution is expected to rest its case this week, with the defense presenting its case in next week. The trial continues Monday before Anchorage Superior Court Judge Milton Souter.