Post by KC on Jun 7, 2006 20:41:55 GMT -5
June 07,2006 - MILLVILLE — Millville Police Sgt. Robert Vanaman agreed to let the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office take a sample of his DNA for its investigation into the fatal shooting of his wife, his attorney Joseph O'Neill said Tuesday.
Vanaman is under investigation after he shot and killed his wife, Barbara, 37, in their home after a domestic dispute the evening of May 11, authorities say.
Nearly a month after the incident, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office has not charged Robert Vanaman, 37, with any crime.
“Any investigation the Prosecutor's Office is conducting will also benefit us. We are being as cooperative as possible with them,” O'Neill said.
O'Neill said Vanaman also consented last month to hand over his hospital medical records. Vanaman sustained several stab wounds to his arms and chest and was hospitalized after the shooting.
The Prosecutor's Office would not comment on whether the stab wounds were inflicted by Barbara Vanaman during the alleged altercation.
O'Neill says he has yet to see the autopsy report on Barbara Vanaman, which he believes the prosecutor has not received.
Prosecutor Ronald Casella would not comment on why his office required Robert Vanaman's DNA. He had previously stated that the investigation would rely on the forensic data.
Vanaman has not given a statement to police, said O'Neill, who had advised him against talking about the incident.
“People who are in a distraught state of mind cannot react as well as they could before the tragic event happened,” O'Neill said.
He said Vanaman, who had been depressed, is doing better and is staying with family, including his sons Dylan, 14, and Dean, 4.
Karin Shaffer, Barbara Vanaman's mother, said her family is waiting for the Prosecutor's Office to conclude the investigation before considering further steps. Shaffer said she has been communicating with Robert Vanaman's mother, Nancy, regarding the grandchildren.
“We are waiting for the prosecution to start or for them to end this tragic ordeal without bringing charges against Robert Vanaman,” O'Neill said.
Vanaman is under investigation after he shot and killed his wife, Barbara, 37, in their home after a domestic dispute the evening of May 11, authorities say.
Nearly a month after the incident, the Cumberland County Prosecutor's Office has not charged Robert Vanaman, 37, with any crime.
“Any investigation the Prosecutor's Office is conducting will also benefit us. We are being as cooperative as possible with them,” O'Neill said.
O'Neill said Vanaman also consented last month to hand over his hospital medical records. Vanaman sustained several stab wounds to his arms and chest and was hospitalized after the shooting.
The Prosecutor's Office would not comment on whether the stab wounds were inflicted by Barbara Vanaman during the alleged altercation.
O'Neill says he has yet to see the autopsy report on Barbara Vanaman, which he believes the prosecutor has not received.
Prosecutor Ronald Casella would not comment on why his office required Robert Vanaman's DNA. He had previously stated that the investigation would rely on the forensic data.
Vanaman has not given a statement to police, said O'Neill, who had advised him against talking about the incident.
“People who are in a distraught state of mind cannot react as well as they could before the tragic event happened,” O'Neill said.
He said Vanaman, who had been depressed, is doing better and is staying with family, including his sons Dylan, 14, and Dean, 4.
Karin Shaffer, Barbara Vanaman's mother, said her family is waiting for the Prosecutor's Office to conclude the investigation before considering further steps. Shaffer said she has been communicating with Robert Vanaman's mother, Nancy, regarding the grandchildren.
“We are waiting for the prosecution to start or for them to end this tragic ordeal without bringing charges against Robert Vanaman,” O'Neill said.