Murder in Massachusetts

Throw Momma From the Train

Amanda's second interview with police was an incredible indictment of Patricia's guilt. Law enforcement felt confident the facts of the case were finally coming together.

Patricia Olsen

During her arraignment on February 3, at the Berkshire District Court, Patricia entered a not guilty plea. Looking quite withdrawn, her dirty blonde hair wildly frayed and apparently unwashed, Patricia wept during most of the proceeding. She was dressed in a bright red prison jumpsuit, both her hands and legs shackled together as if she were a flight risk. The local media, along with a few national news organizations, had been waiting inside the courtroom, video and camera lenses pointed directly at Berkshire County's most famous female alleged murderer. Patricia tried desperately to keep turning away so the media couldn't get a shot, but she was photographed and pimped on the news that night and the next morning looking like she had lost total control of her life and emotions.

Leonard Cohen

It was during that first arraignment when Patricia was appointed her counsel, Pittsfield's own Leonard Cohen, a rather well known trial attorney, and later, Lori Levinson, another local lawyer. Quite interestingly, several members of Neil's family were in court supporting Patricia. They couldn't believe what was happening. They knew Patricia. Loved her. Christopher, many believed then, must have made up this terrible story about her to cut a deal with prosecutors.

Lori Levinson

During the short hearing, David Capeless told the court quite sternly that Patricia Olsen "cajoled and prodded her twenty-year-old son to kill her husband."

Hearing that, Leonard Cohen could only bow his head at the allegation and begin to prepare the best defense he could manage.

Capeless was adamant about his conviction that Patricia was the mastermind of her husband's murder.

"She provided him [Christopher] with money to stay at motels nearby her house," Capeless explained to the court, describing some of the evidence his investigators had uncovered. "... Patricia Olsen provided [her son] with money, in fact, to purchase the rifle, which was ultimately used to murder Neil Olsen."

Cohen, reminding the judge that certain members of Neil's family were in the courtroom to support Patricia, said, "I think that it's a factor the court should perhaps take into consideration—that the family of Mr. Neil Olsen, the victim in this case, would like to see her released."

Undeterred by the presence of Neil's mother, Ruth Olsen, the judge ordered Patricia held without bail. If she chose, Patricia could argue the decision at a later date.

The following day, Christopher was formally indicted. He, too, was ordered held without bail.

With Patricia and Christopher now locked up, law enforcement could begin to build cases against what appeared to be a mother and son team of murderers.