| Revision as of 20:16, 27 February 2006 edit24.182.34.149 (talk)No edit summary← Previous edit | Revision as of 20:19, 27 February 2006 edit undo24.182.34.149 (talk) →First Encounter with Felix PolkNext edit → | ||
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| In 1972, Susan Bolling was a gifted student growing up in suburbs of ]. Her parents were divorcing and her mother wondered if Susan was trying to shut out the emotional turmoil of the divorce. Later, a school counselor at ] in ] recommended therapy for Susan after she refused to attend classes. He suggested an expert in adolescent behavior, Felix Polk. | In 1972, Susan Bolling was a gifted student growing up in suburbs of ]. Her parents were divorcing and her mother wondered if Susan was trying to shut out the emotional turmoil of the divorce. Later, a school counselor at ] in ] recommended therapy for Susan after she refused to attend classes. He suggested an expert in adolescent behavior, Felix Polk. | ||
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==Life with Felix Polk== | ||
| Felix Polk began treating Susan in 1972 when she was 15 years old. Within a year, however, the doctor-patient relationship changed. Susan claimed that they first had sex when he drugged and raped her. Felix was, at that time, a married father of two. | Felix Polk began treating Susan in 1972 when she was 15 years old. Within a year, however, the doctor-patient relationship changed. Susan claimed that they first had sex when he drugged and raped her. Felix was, at that time, a married father of two. | ||
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| Susan went to ], an all-girls' school nestled in the Oakland hills, before moving to ] where she graduated from. She stopped seeing Felix as a therapist, but the personal relationship continued. | Susan went to ], an all-girls' school nestled in the Oakland hills, before moving to ] where she graduated from. She stopped seeing Felix as a therapist, but the personal relationship continued. | ||
| In 1982, Polk divorced his wife Sharon Mann and married Susan, a woman literally half his age. According to Susan, her husband was a domineering, manipulative husband who was obsessed with controlling her life. Susan and Felix eventually had three sons |
In 1982, Polk divorced his wife Sharon Mann and married Susan, a woman literally half his age. According to Susan, her husband was a domineering, manipulative husband who was obsessed with controlling her life. Susan and Felix eventually had three sons: Gabriel, Eli and Adam. | ||
| In 2001, Susan Polk filed for divorce. She was looking for a place to live in ] when her husband went to court and received control of the house and custody of their three sons. | |||
| ==Murder charges== | ==Murder charges== | ||
Revision as of 20:19, 27 February 2006
Susan Mae Polk (born Susan Bolling in 1958) is a mother of three, who is accused of murdering her husband, Dr. Frank "Felix" Polk. Dr. Polk was a prominent Berkeley psychologist, who was found with five stab wounds in the pool house at the couple's upscale San Francisco home in 2002. She is being held without bail at the Martinez Detention Facility.
Background
In 1972, Susan Bolling was a gifted student growing up in suburbs of Oakland, California. Her parents were divorcing and her mother wondered if Susan was trying to shut out the emotional turmoil of the divorce. Later, a school counselor at Clayton Valley High School in Concord, California recommended therapy for Susan after she refused to attend classes. He suggested an expert in adolescent behavior, Felix Polk.
Life with Felix Polk
Felix Polk began treating Susan in 1972 when she was 15 years old. Within a year, however, the doctor-patient relationship changed. Susan claimed that they first had sex when he drugged and raped her. Felix was, at that time, a married father of two.
Susan went to Mills College, an all-girls' school nestled in the Oakland hills, before moving to San Francisco State University where she graduated from. She stopped seeing Felix as a therapist, but the personal relationship continued.
In 1982, Polk divorced his wife Sharon Mann and married Susan, a woman literally half his age. According to Susan, her husband was a domineering, manipulative husband who was obsessed with controlling her life. Susan and Felix eventually had three sons: Gabriel, Eli and Adam.
In 2001, Susan Polk filed for divorce. She was looking for a place to live in Montana when her husband went to court and received control of the house and custody of their three sons.
Murder charges
Currently, Susan Polk is charged with first-degree murder in connection with the October 13, 2002, death of her husband in a cottage on the couple's $2 million estate in Orinda, California. If convicted, she faces 25 years to life in prison.
Prosecutors claim the murder of Polk was a cold, calculated attempt by his wife to gain control of his multimillion dollar estate, but defense attorneys claim Susan Polk had long been controlled, abused and battered by her husband and she acted in self-defense when he flew into a rage and attacked her.
Susan's former defense attorney, Daniel Horowitz, claims that she had long been a battered wife under the physical and emotional control of her husband.
Trial
The trial began on October 17, 2005, but was declared a mistrial, because of the murder of the wife of her lead attorney, Daniel Horowitz.
On January 20, 2006, a judge removed her lawyer Daniel Horowitz after he said he had a conflict of interest. Polk, who has fired three other attorneys who have represented her, said recently that she wanted Horowitz off her case . On January 31, 2006, after a two-hour hearing, Judge Laurel Brady set Polk's trial date for February 27, 2006.
On February 27, 2006, jury selection began in a jury assembly room where 300 prospective jurors arrived. Judge Laurel Brady has said the trial may last as long as 2 1/2 months.