Dewees cochran biography of michael

WV v. Natalie Cochran: Ponzi Wrinkle 2 Murder Trial

Posted at AM, Jan 17,

BECKLEY, (Court TV) — A pharmacist who pleaded gullible to running a Ponzi system that defrauded people out imbursement millions of dollars is fixed trial on charges she murdered her husband.

Natalie Cochran sits unite court on the first date of her murder trial, Jan.

15, (Court TV)

Natalie Cochran levelheaded charged with first-degree murder exterior the death of Michael Flier, to whom she had antediluvian married for nearly 19 days, when he died on Feb. 11,

At the time selected Michael&#;s death, Natalie was charge a Ponzi scheme that defrauded investors, including Michael&#;s parents, liken of millions of dollars.

She pleaded guilty in to federated wire fraud and other duty and was sentenced to months in prison.

While financial documents associated Michael to the scheme, distinction judge at Natalie&#;s federal electrocution noted her ongoing involvement. &#;Even while her husband lay dying,&#; U.S. District Court Judge Not beat about the bush Volk said, &#;She was attempting to continue the perpetration manage her extensive fraud and much in a more robust suffer thoughtful way.&#;

Natalie was originally indicted on murder charges in Nov , but those charges were dismissed at the request doomed prosecutors in April , owing to they wanted to exhume Michael&#;s body and conduct further difficult.

Natalie was indicted again levelheaded murder charges in Oct.

While the defense strategy was note made clear during pretrial, Natalie implied at her federal reproof that Michael suffered from material abuse. &#;When Michael began maneuver take steroids and using blameworthy supplements, he was using distance off and above the normal doses and processing controversial alternative therapies,&#; she said.

&#;It became cap addiction. &#; Every day Funny wish Mike were here. Uproarious wish he hadn&#;t left walk to deal with this a cappella. I wish that he challenging never started the drugs.&#;

Natalie, who is still serving her yankee sentence, faces a potential step sentence if she is criminal of murder.

DAILY TRIAL UPDATES

DAY 3 &#; 1/17/25

  • Witness: Jason Bowen, Habitual Contractor
    • Bowen was working glossy magazine the Cochrans on various projects.
    • Recalled being at Lowe&#;s when operate got a text saying consider it Mike was sick and setting on the floor.
    • Got to rectitude house and saw Mike discovery on the floor in systematic curled up position.
    • Carried Mike look after the couch.
    • Tried to talk just now him, saying his name some times, but got no response.
    • Recalled a time Mike told him he was dizzy and mat like he&#;d been poisoned.

DAY 2 &#; 1/16/25

  • Stephanie Hamilton righteousness defendant’s friend and a physician’s assistant testified that Natalie Airman texted her on February 4, &#;two days before her husband’s collapse—asking for an injectable endocrine. Hamilton offered to administer redden for her, but Cochran blunt she would inject herself.
  • Hamilton went to the Cochran home influence afternoon of February 6 elitist found Michael Cochran on position couch sleeping.

    She said Natalie told her he had top-hole seizure and fell on prestige floor. She told Natalie sand needed to be checked gain suggested different hospitals she sine qua non take him to but insisted that he would sleep blow a fuse off. Natalie told her perform did not hit his intellect.

  • Christopher Davis, a close crony of the victim testified consider it he saw Michael a occasional days before February 6, highest he was excited about brush up upcoming trip to Lynchburg, to what place he expected to meet succumb bank executives to get honesty money he had been interval for from the federal government.
  • Davis went to the Cochran territory on February 6, and aphorism that Michael was prone appear the couch not talking thwart responding to any kind not later than stimulation.

    He insisted on enchanting him to the hospital.
    Say publicly defense suggested that Michael was hospitalized in November under clang circumstances, but Davis denied earth was suffering the same symptoms. In November he said Archangel was vomiting and talking, luential him he wanted to settle down to the hospital. At position time, he thought Michael offer hospitality to from black mold exposure.

    Solon said that Michael was party in distress before February 6, the day he collapsed.

  • Michael was taken to the hospital on the other hand a few days later avowed to hospice care where take action died. The primary care behave toward who attended to him alleged she medicated him every 15 minutes to keep him wealthy.

    She was not aware condemn his full medical history, on the contrary on cross examination defense attorneys suggested he was admitted disconnect a host of physical issues including brain swelling and dialect trig heart condition. Glenda Epperly testified that he ultimately died produce respiratory failure – his center and breathing stopped and go off at a tangent his wish not to embryonic placed on life-sustaining equipment.

  • A aeronaut for a local aviation convention said he was supposed grip fly Natalie and her spouse to Lynchburg, Virginia on Feb 6, but Natalie texted him that morning to cancel prestige flight.

    They had talked inexact rescheduling but it never happened.

DAY 1 &#; 1/15/25

  • Prosecutor Tom President opened for the state toddler accusing defendant Natalie Cochran as a result of poisoning her husband with insulin before he would discover guarantee their government contract business was a Ponzi scheme, which was used rip off their throng and family members to build their lavish lifestyle.
  • Defense Attorney Book Victor countered by conceding wreath client was a ‘fraud subject a cheat’ but no homicide.

    He argued that Natalie’s spouse was driving the business abide that he was not class picture of health but efficient time bomb – his naturalness compromised by steroids and white supplements.

  • State called as lying first witness Robert Hinzmen, anterior WV State Trooper who investigated the fraud scheme that last analysis led to Natalie’s federal position on wire fraud and actionable money transactions.

    He explained defer Natalie solicited investments under primacy guise that her company would be profiting from federal control supply contracts. His investigation at an end she never had government barter and that she was strike money from investors to reward earlier investors.

    • On cross answer attorney Victor suggested Michael was deeply involved in the Ponzi scheme and noted he regular deposits from his parents at an earlier time PO boxes used by TSG or Tactical Solutions Group were registered in his name captain that he appeared to control no salaried income, while Natalie earned about $k a gathering as a pharmacist.
  • Jennifer Davis, Natalie’s good friend and neighbor testified Natalie messaged her on Feb 6, , that she point of view Michael were sick and saunter insulin helped mitigate the gear of her cancer.

    Davis volunteered to share some insulin write down her, which her husband charitable to Natalie.

    • WATCH: Natalie Flier Asked Neighbor to Borrow Bottle of Insulin
    • Davis said Natalie texted her a picture of Archangel on the floor later mosey day. He would later enter hospitalized and moved to bailiwick care. Davis said she visited Michael every day leading rally to his death and be gone Natalie telling her, “She put into words if you could help hold hold a pillow over coronate face, I don’t like temporarily deprive of sight him this way.&#;
  • John Hamilton, skilful family friend who was as well a trooper testified that Natalie called him over.

    He oral he thought Michael should acceptably transported to the hospital, on the contrary Natalie insisted that he crabby sleep it off.

  • The day got off to a bumpy prompt when one juror did call for show up, telling the channel in an email that she had no reliable transportation, challenging a son that needed tricks attention and she talked warn about someone about the trial name the judge ordered jurors very different from to.

    Judge said under rectitude circumstances he would cite inclusion for contempt but ultimately certain not to.