Bechtold Police Report, Feb 21 1992

To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Maryland Public Information Act, I hereby request the following records:

All reports pertaining to the deaths of Dorothy and George Bechtold at their home on Green Forest Drive, Silver Spring, Maryland, on February 21, 1992, including the incident report from the first responding officers at the crime scene and any reports made by subsequent investigators.

The requested documents will be made available to the general public, and this request is not being made for commercial purposes.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 calendar days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Mikita Brottman

Mr. Parker,

Thank you for your response. I'm currently working on a book about the incident, with the co-operation and assistance of Brian Bechtold, the victims' son. Brian is currently a patient at Clifton Perkins Forensic Hospital Center in Jessup, Maryland, and unable to request the records himself. However, I could obtain a letter of permission from him allowing me to obtain the records on his behalf. Alternatively, perhaps there is a form I could take to him to fill out and sign? Please let me know the best way to proceed.

Sincerely,
Mikita Brottman

Thank you. I'll ask Brian to write a letter requesting the documents and I'll put it in the mail.
Mikita Brottman

Dear Ms. Parker,

You should have received a letter from Mr. Bechtold requesting the documents in this case file (CR# S-92-036421), and asking that they be sent to my address. If there is a fee, please let me know and I can send you a check.
I actually have most of the documents. The material I still need from the case file is as follows:
- 35mm photographs of the crime scene
- sketches and measurements of the crime scene
- two cassettes of taped confessions
Please let me know the cost of sending me these documents. Or I can come and collect them in person, if that is more convenient.
Many thanks,
Mikita Brottman

Dear Ms. Parker,

According to the Maryland Public Information Act, "The Maryland State Police shall permit the inspection of records by requestors who are named in the record." If you don't feel as though you can release these documents to me despite receiving permission to do so from Mr. Bechtold, you can send them to him, since he is named in the record, and he can give them to me himself. Please let me know if you'd like his address.

Again, all I need are the photographs and cassettes, which are public records. "A public record is defined as the original or copy of any documentary material in any form created or received by an agency in connection with the transaction of public business. Included in this definition are written materials, books, photographs, photocopies, firms, microfilms, records, tapes, computerized records, maps, drawings and other materials."

Crime scene photographs from 26 years ago should be still in the archive. I find it difficult to understand why or how the photographs would have been destroyed.

If you are denying my request despite having permission from Mr. Bechtold to release the files, please provide me with a written explanation that includes the reason for the denial, the legal authority justifying the denial, and my appeal rights.

Many thanks,
Mikita Brottman

Ms. Parker,

I haven't received a "denial letter." When did you send it, and to what address?

Mikita Brottman