Accused testifies at murder trial

Aug. 06--HARTFORD -- Debra A. Calloway, on trial for murder in the 1993 disappearance of her ex-sister-in-law Patsy Calloway, testified Tuesday she was not involved in the woman's death but believes her late husband, Vernon Calloway, killed her.

Meanwhile, a witness told jurors he saw Patsy Calloway's body wrapped in trash bags in the back of a truck Vernon and Debra Calloway were cleaning out the day Patsy Calloway disappeared.

Patricia "Patsy" Calloway is believed to have been killed because she threatened to tell law enforcement what she knew about a 1991 arson at the home she shared with her husband, Larry Calloway. Patsy Calloway has not been seen since March 3, 1993.

Vernon Calloway died in July 2013. A witness testified Monday that Vernon Calloway confessed to the killing shortly before his death.

The second day of the trial opened with Larry Calloway, Vernon Calloway's brother, telling jurors Debra Calloway was present when Larry and Vernon Calloway discussed burning the house and collecting the insurance money.

"She was there when the deal was made, and she was there when I paid" Vernon, Larry Calloway testified.

Although Larry Calloway pleaded guilty to arson in 1995, Vernon Calloway was found not guilty of the charge at trial in 1996.

Witnesses said Monday they saw Patsy Calloway and Larry Calloway arguing March 3, 1993, at the nursing home where she worked. Witnesses said Patsy Calloway threatened to go to the authorities because she discovered Larry Calloway -- to whom she was divorced but still living with -- had filed a marriage license to marry his girlfriend.

Patsy Calloway's co-workers testified Monday that the last time they saw her, Patsy Calloway was leaving the nursing home, where she worked, with Vernon Calloway in his vehicle about 10:30 a.m.

James Calloway, another brother of Vernon Calloway, testified Tuesday that he went to Debra and Vernon Calloway's home March 3. He testified he saw Debra and Vernon Calloway cleaning out Vernon Calloway's truck, and saw something covered with trash bags in the back of the truck.

James Calloway testified he tore away a section of the bags and saw Patsy Calloway with her throat cut. Debra and Vernon Calloway did not see him, and he left.

"I went home, got scotch tape and taped it back up," James Calloway said. When asked why, he said, "I didn't want to get killed, too."

Defense attorney John Austin said James Calloway is facing criminal charges and has already pleaded guilty. Although he was charged with burglary in 2005 and pleaded guilty in exchange for a 12-year sentence, he has not yet been formally sentenced so he could remain free until he testified at Debra Calloway's trial.

"You didn't say anything about seeing Patsy's body when you talked" to Kentucky State Police detectives at the time Patricia Calloway disappeared, Austin said.

James Calloway said he told law enforcement to "get it off my chest," and not because he had been charged with the 2005 burglary.

Ricky Calloway, Larry Calloway's son and Debra Calloway's stepson, testified his wife had a baby March 3, 1993. He testified Debra and Vernon Calloway came to the hospital to see the baby about "lunch time," and left after about an hour. Ricky Calloway also testified that afterDebra Calloway was charged in 2012, she called him and his then-wife and asked them to dig up something she claimed Vernon Calloway buried in his backyard.

The item was found to be a box containing a letter with Vernon Calloway's signature. The letter, which was read in court, said: "I killed Patsy. No one had nothing to do with it but me. Not Debbie, not nobody."

KSP Sgt. Bryan Whittaker testified that James Calloway's statement jibed with a search another KSP detective did of Vernon Calloway's truck, where the carpet was found to have been removed and the truck thoroughly cleaned.

Whittaker testified Debra and Vernon Calloway always maintained that Patsy Calloway "walked off" and disappeared after learning Larry Calloway was planning to marry someone else.

Debra Calloway testified she knew nothing of the 1991 arson until after Patsy Calloway disappeared. She also said that on that day, she only saw Vernon Calloway in the morning, when he came to her work; after that, she didn't see Vernon again until late afternoon.

On Monday and Tuesday, witnesses testified seeing a woman they initially believed was Patsy Calloway walking along U.S. 231. The witnesses said, on closer inspection, it was a woman wearing a similar trench coat to one owned by Patsy Calloway, with hair color similar to Calloway's. A witness testified Monday she saw such a wig and trench coat in Debra Calloway's house, and another witness identified the woman walking on the road as Debra Calloway.

On the stand, Debra Calloway testified Vernon Calloway would make her wear the wig when he forced her to have sexual relations with other men. Debra Calloway also testified she became suspicious Vernon Calloway had killed Patricia Calloway in early 2013, when she saw him burying something -- which was later determined to be the box with the letter.

"After that time he done that, he never let me go to town by myself," Debra Calloway said. "... He never let me call anybody. He kept me in his sight all the time."

Vernon Calloway became increasingly paranoid and was afraid the police were following him, Debra Calloway said.

At the time Vernon Calloway allegedly confessed to the killing, he was very ill and unable to speak, Debra Calloway testified.

Under cross-examination, Commonwealth's Attorney Tim Coleman questioned Debra Calloway about Ricky Calloway's statement that she and Vernon Calloway came to the hospital to see the new baby about lunch time that day, and how that didn't jibe with her statement that the only time she saw Vernon Calloway between morning and late afternoon was when he came briefly to her work.

"You gave at least two or three different versions" of what happened that day, Coleman said. "Which one is true?"

"I don't remember the exact time I stayed at the hospital, or if we went home and then started looking for Patsy and then went to the hospital" to see the baby, Debra Calloway said. "I don't remember exactly which way it was done."

Attorneys will give their closing argument at 9 a.m. Wednesday in Ohio Circuit Court.

James Mayse, 691-7303, jmayse@messenger-inquirer.com

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