TIMELINE
II. Investigative Events: February 11- Current
Linda spent five weeks of the last two months of her life with her sister, Meg. With her marriage deteriorated, Linda retreated to Meg's house in Los Angeles for refuge from what she described as a miserable situation. Then Meg went with Linda to Linda's house in Fresno where she stayed for two weeks, leaving just ten days before Linda died. Linda's parents also traveled to Fresno and stayed with Linda twice during the last month of her life. Linda's parents were with Linda and Meg ten days before Linda's death. During their last time together, Linda told her parents and her sister that if anything happened to her they should make sure to look into it, and she reminded them of her psychologist's warning to her. Not realizing how dire Linda's predicament was, they comforted Linda and tried to assure her that everything would work out.
February 11:
Linda’s husband is at the hospital while the Emergency Room
staff works heroically to save her. After she is pronounced dead,
the doctor asks her husband if she had any previous symptoms. He
says she did not. Linda ‘s husband and Warren Paboojian, who is
also at the hospital, then go in and view Linda. Approximately 30
minutes later, Linda’s husband tells the doctor that he now
remembers Linda “complaining of chest pain for the last 2 – 3 days
and with radiation down the left arm.” The doctor documents this in
the emergency room medical record.
February 11:
The Emergency Room doctor calls Linda’s family physician at
approximately midnight. Linda’s family physician describes Linda as
very healthy with no risk factors. He can provide no explanation
for Linda’s sudden death.
February 11:
The Emergency Room doctor calls the Coroner’s office and asks them
to investigate Linda’s death.
February 11:
Linda’s parents are in San Francisco when they learn of Linda’s
death. They depart San Francisco shortly after midnight. They go
to Linda’s house and then to the Emergency Room because they want to
view Linda. At the Emergency Room, they talk with the emergency
room personnel. They are told that Linda suffered a major
catastrophic event and that it will be readily apparent on autopsy.
February 12:
The
Coroner’s office responds, and Albert Siu, M.D. performs the first
Autopsy at 9:45 a.m. Linda's family physician is present for the
autopsy. The autopsy reveals a healthy 37-year-old woman – there is
no explanation for Linda’s death.
February 14: The Yost & Webb Funeral Home Director tells the family that the Coroner's office is not issuing a Death Certificate because they cannot determine the cause of Linda's death. This shocks Linda’s family. There is no evidence of a primary cardiac, pulmonary, or vascular event. There is no evidence of a major catastrophic event. Linda's husband inquires about his life insurance policy on Linda.
February 17:
Linda
is buried at Ararat Cemetery in Fresno, CA.
February 25:
Dr.
Siu informs Linda's family that microscopic analysis of Linda's
tissues does not reveal anything that would cause Linda's death.
There is no disease process or evidence to explain why she died.
Dr. Siu tells David and George Dalition and Mike Townshend that he
remains unable to find an anatomical explanation for Linda's death
and needs additional time to test. Further, he suspects that a
toxin might have caused Linda’s death.
March 5:
Nellis A.
Smith, M.D. from The Cardiovascular Medicine and Cardiac Arrhythmias
Medical Group issues a medical opinion stating that Linda's
presentation and EKG's are bizarre and not
consistent with a primary cardiac event. Dr. Smith states that
Linda’s presentation suggests a generalized systemic disorder.
March 23:
William Edwards, M.D. of The Mayo Clinic receives Linda's heart for
evaluation from the Fresno County Coroner's office.
March 31:
Dr.
Edwards of the Mayo Clinic issues his report stating that "the immediate cause of Linda's death is not readily
apparent from his examination of Linda's heart."
May 22:
Eric Pfeifer, M.D. tells David Hadden, M.D. that he is making the
Mayo Medical Laboratories and Pathology Department available to the
Coroner's office at
no charge.
In addition the facilities of AFIP (Armed Forces Institute of
Pathology) are available to conduct testing as needed. Dr. Pfiefer
has not received any fees for his work on Linda’s case because his
employment agreement with the Mayo Clinic prohibits him from
receiving compensation for work outside the Mayo Clinic. Dr.
Pfeifer is currently the Coroner of Olmstead County, Minesotta.
May 24:
Unable to find any explanation for Linda’s death, the Coroner
petitions the Fresno Superior Court to Exhume Linda’s remains.
Warren Papoojian files court documents setting forth his and his
client's opposition to the
exhumation.
May 26:
David Hadden, M.D.
(Former Fresno County Coroner) &
Venu Gopal, M.D.
(Chief Forensic Pathologist) are deposed at the request of Warren Papoojian and Daniel Bacon, attorneys representing Linda’s husband.
June 1:
Fresno Superior Court Judge Kane signs court
order for exhumation.
June 2:
Linda’s remains are exhumed from Ararat Cemetery in Fresno.
June 3:
A second autopsy is performed. Mr. Paboojian retains pathologist,
Dr. Steven Avalos, to participate in the second autopsy along with
Dr. Pfeifer. Dr. Siu is in charge of the second autopsy. Dr. Gopal
is also present. During the second autopsy, Dr. Pfeifer retrieves
specimens for toxicology testing at the world renowned Mayo Clinic.
June 14:
Channel 47’s reporter, Melanie Kim, covers Linda’s mysterious death
on the evening news.
Click here to read the
transcript.
July 2000:
Not allowed to see or speak with their grandchildren, Linda’s
parents have their attorney, Mr. Melikian, try to arrange for
visitation. Mr. Paboojian tells Mr. Melikian that his client is not
open to any visitation between the Dalitions and their
grandchildren.
July 30:
Channel 47 airs second news story -
Click here to read the
transcript
July 31:
Mr.
Paboojian tells the Coroner's office to close Linda’s case
within 72 hours. He says he is prepared to pursue every legal
remedy if the Coroner does not comply. Further, he insists that the
case be closed as a cardiac disorder. Click
here
to read Mr. Paboojian’s letter to the Coroner.
August 6: Fresno Bee Article, Woman's Mysterious Death Haunts Fresno Family (August 6, 2000)
August 12: Fresno Bee Article, Husband Denies Role in Wife's Death (Aug 12, 2000)
August 16: San Mateo Times Article, Daughter's Death Remains a Mystery (Aug 16, 2000)
September 3:
Meg,
Linda’s younger sister, goes to her brother-in-law’s house to see
her nieces and nephew. Linda’s husband refuses to let her into the
house. Meg waits outside – he calls the police. When the police
arrive, Linda’s husband tells them that he wants his sister-in-law
off of his property.
September 4:
Meg, who has known Mr. Paboojian for more than 15 years, goes to Mr.
Paboojian’s law office and asks him why her brother-in-law won’t let
her see the children, and why he is trying to close the
investigation into Linda’s death. Mr. Paboojian becomes irate,
yelling at Meg in front of numerous people in the law office. He
tells his assistant to call the police. The police arrive at the
law office and prepare a police report.
Sept 9: Renowned Stanford Cardiac Pathologist, Doctor Berry, examines Linda’s heart and finds no evidence that Linda's heart caused her death. There is no evidence of an acute or evolving heart attack. Stanford University Medical Center's Cardiac Pathology Report, September 12, 2000.
October 7:
Channel 24 airs second news story -
Click here to
read the transcript.
October 10:
Mr. Melikian writes a letter to Mr. Paboojian to follow-up on
visitation for Linda’s parents. Linda’s husband continues to refuse
to allow her parents to see their grandchildren.
October 13:
Channel 26 airs a
news report.
Read the Transcript
October 14:
Channel 26 news report
transcript
November 21:
Attorney Allan Melikian writes to the Coroner expressing his concern over the lack of medical-legal
investigation into Linda’s death.
Click to read Melikian's Letter to Hadden
January 12, 2001:
The Director of the Kentucky Regional Poison Center, a selenium
expert, evaluates toxicology results and concludes that Linda died
from Selenium poisoning.
Poison Center
- Poisoning Killed Linda,
January 2001:
Linda’s husband goes to Monterey and pays for a
polygraph.
Mr. Paboojian says the polygraph shows that his client did not
poison Linda.
TV News transcript
January 31:
Fresno Bee
article. "Selenium Blamed In Fresno Death - Someone
Poisoned A Woman who Collapsed At An Ice Show Last Year A
Toxicologist Says"
February
1: Mr. Paboojian goes on Channel 26
and attempts to discount the selenium poisoning findings.
February 1:
San Jose Mercury
story
"Ex-San Carlos Woman Was Poisoned, Official Says." (AP)
February 1:
KMPH Fox 26 TV
News story, Feb 1, 2001
February 1:
San Diego
Union Tribune article
,"Woman
Reportedly Poisoned."
February 2:
- Fresno Bee story
"Test On
Dead Woman Conflict"
February 2:
San Francisco Chronicle
article ,"Rare Poison Implicated In Mom's Sudden
Death."
February 6:
Mr. Paboojian writes to Mr. Melikian threatening to sue him
for statements made to the media about the circumstances surrounding
Linda's death.
February 9:
Mr.
Paboojian writes to Ackerly Broadcasting Group, demanding a
retraction and threatening legal action.
February 11:
On the one-year anniversary of Linda's death, Mark Adanalian holds a
press conference to deny killing his wife, but the first question
was enough to rock him, according to the Fresno Bee.
February 12:
Fresno Bee
article, "Riddles Still Cloud Clovis Woman's
Death."
February 12, 2001: Final Report of the
Mayo Clinic’s Forensic Pathologist
concludes that acute selenium poisoning caused Linda’s death
February 13:
San Francisco Chronicle
article, "Man Denies Role In Wife's Death."
February 28:
Channel 24, news
report.
March 1:
Channel 26
news report.
March 2:
Channel 47 news report.
All content contained herein is based upon factual records and/or verifiable information