Re: 2/5/00 - Jovin's parents want murder suspect to take polygraph
Jovin's parents want murder suspect to take polygraph
By Randall Beach, Register Staff
NEW HAVEN - The parents of slain Yale University student Suzanne Jovin have challenged James Van de Velde, named by police as being in the "pool of suspects," to take a lie detector test.
In a letter e-mailed to the Register from their home in Germany, Thomas and Donna Jovin also said Yale administrators should show more concern about the unsolved murder because of the prospect "the perpetrator was and perhaps still is on campus."
The Jovins' letter was prompted by a recent request from attorney David Grudberg, who represents Van de Velde, to let Chief State's Attorney John M. Bailey take the case from the New Haven Police Department.
Although Grudberg charged the police are unfairly targeting Van de Velde, who has continually maintained his innocence, Bailey rejected the idea of taking over the investigation.
Van de Velde is the only suspect police have named publicly despite claims that 10 suspects are in the "pool."
The Jovins commented, "It must be highly unusual for suspects in murder cases to make recommendations to the authorities regarding the conduct of an investigation.
"The Jovin family would urge the former Yale college lecturer -- who professes his innocence -- to instead assist the New Haven police, for example, by submitting to questioning and to a polygraph test. He would in this way best advance the cause of justice, the stated goal of his recent statements and actions."
The Jovins disagreed with Grudberg's and Van de Velde's opinions of how New Haven police have handled the case.
Van de Velde in December suggested state and federal authorities get involved in the case because he believed the city police department "clearly exhausted its expertise."
"We can state unequivocally that the authorities are very much on the ball," the Jovins said. "We are satisfied that every attempt is being made to get to the truth of what happened on Dec. 4, 1998" -- the night their daughter was found dying from multiple stab wounds at the corner of East Rock and Edgehill roads.
The Jovins said the killer so far has been "lucky" to have escaped. "However, he will not succeed in evading justice."
The Jovins' idea that Van de Velde take a polygraph test echoes the suggestion made by New Haven Police Chief Melvin H. Wearing last December. Grudberg then rejected the proposal, saying police should have taken Van de Velde up on his offer to take such a test a year earlier.
Grudberg reiterated this point Friday and added that police can't be trusted to give Van de Velde a polygraph test.
"Jim, at the very beginning, spoke with the police unaccompanied by an attorney and answered every single question that they had," Grudberg said.
"He offered to take a polygraph that night," Grudberg said.
Grudberg said his client's life and career have been ruined by police listing him as a suspect and "dragging his name through the mud."
Grudberg said his client won't take a polygraph test administered by the police department.
"It comes down to trust," Grudberg said. "They have given him zero reason to trust them."
Yale did not allow Van de Velde to continue lecturing, claiming his presence in the classroom would have been a "distraction."
In their e-mail letter, the Jovins said, "We would also hope for a more positive stance regarding the investigation on the part of Yale College, particularly in view of the conclusion held by some that our daughter was most probably killed by a member of the Yale community.
"The prospect that the perpetrator was and perhaps still is on campus should be of far greater concern to Yale than is evident from public or private declarations, or in its actions."
For example, the Jovins charged, Yale officials kept them waiting for weeks when the family requested copies of job recommendation letters written for their daughter. The Jovins said the office of State's Attorney Michael Dearington had to intervene to persuade Yale officials that, as the Jovins put it, "their legal arguments were unfounded (apart from being morally and ethically indefensible)."
Yale spokesman Tom Conroy said Friday he had not previously heard about the recommendation letters and had no immediate comment.
As for the Jovins' belief that Yale needs to adopt a "more positive stance" on the case, Conroy said, "Yale has cooperated fully with the investigation and will continue to do so. We certainly wish the Jovins could have the comfort that would come from having the case solved."
The Jovins concluded their letter by decrying "the senseless loss of our daughter" and issued an appeal: "We urge the people of New Haven and Yale University who share our concerns about the implications of such a terrible deed to undertake appropriate action, to make their voices heard."
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