The discovery began with a 9-1-1 call, one where Cavalieri calmly explained that he had hurt himself with a knife the evening before, cutting himself several times in the neck and the abdomen. The self-injury to the abdomen was severe enough, that Cavalieri claimed to be able to see his intestines, although the wounds were later found to be non life-threatening.
The jury also listened to a digital tape recording of Cavalieri’s initial admission of guilt, made while at Fairfax Hospital to Investigator Mark McCaffrey. Sounding lucid and controlled, Cavalieri spoke with the investigator, cooperative but unaware that the recording was being made. In it, he described placing her in a “sleeper hold.” Speaking to the officer, Cavalieri calmly described his panic and shock when he discovered that he had killed her.
Cavalieri sat quietly in the courtroom as he listened to the audio conversation from the date of his arrest. Now with no obvious signs of his prior injuries, his conversation with McCaffrey claimed multiple suicide attempts after Harper’s murder.
Harper’s body was found by Deputy David Hill beneath a guest bed in Cavalieri’s apartment. According to Cavalieri, he washed the body and wrapped it in a blanket, a shower curtain and several layers of trash bags. Hill, relatively new to the Loudoun County Sheriff’s Office, was on his fourth day without an accompanying Field Training Officer.
From the outset, defense attorney Lori O’Donnell informed the jury that Cavalieri was not disputing that he killed Harper or the manner of her death. However, the defense told the jury it intends to show that the crime was not planned or premeditated but was instead the result of an alcohol-induced argument lasting several hours.
Scheduled for five days, attorneys expect a jury finding in the Cavalieri trial by Friday, Feb. 5.
Prior Coverage
New Details in Ashburn Murder, Suspect told others victim died weeks before arrest
Geddie,
Just when I thought you had finally written a worthwhile news article, it just stopped. It reminded me of when I was in the second grade, our teacher assigned the class a writing assignment. We were to write a two page story. I had a great idea but due to my other priorities when I had completed two pages I abruptly ended the story with no logical conclusion. That is what you just did. I did not pursue a writing career!