Trial continues in shooting death of Chesapeake woman

CHESAPEAKE

Eric Spencer Baugher told police he didn’t know the handgun was loaded that had killed Karen Kittell hours earlier. He said he loved her, and they were kissing and preparing to create a violent video sex fantasy using a gun as they had done before. He cried and roared and rambled.

But police found no evidence of such homemade videos, or of handcuffs Baugher alluded to during a 25-minute interview. Baugher also never detailed exactly how the gun came to fire, other than saying he didn’t shoot anyone.

Detective Robert Hatchell II read Monday from the often-profane interview transcript to a Circuit Court jury. He questioned Baugher early on Jan. 25.

Prosecutors plan to wrap up their murder case against Baugher this morning, with the defense to follow with its side. Defense attorneys have claimed the shooting was an accident, and that Baugher suffered anyway from “settled insanity,” a form of mental illness caused by long-term substance abuse.

Baugher, 36, is accused of fatally shooting Kittell, 46, in the back of the head in the small first-floor bathroom of her Greenbrier home late the night of Jan. 24. Baugher had rented a room from her, and they also shared a personal relationship, attorneys for both sides have said. Her death came after a day that included drinking and watching National Football League playoff games.

Police witnesses testified that Baugher cooperated and appeared sober after they arrested him without incident at the house. Baugher told Detective Hatchell that he had called 911, and that he and Kittell hadn’t fought that night.

But a friend testified last week that Baugher turned up “stumbling drunk” earlier the same night, venting about an argument with Kittell, and talking about going “Michael Myers” on her, an apparent reference to the murderous character in the “Halloween” horror-movie series.

Matthew Bowers, (757) 222-5221, matthew.bowers@pilotonline.com