Carl Drew's Blind Justice

Carol Fletcher received immunity in exchange for her compliance in giving what she knew to be false testimony against Carl Drew. Fletcher stated the DA along with the ADA advised her, if she chose not to corroborate their story and testify against Carl Drew, they would see to it she would go to jail and never see her children again.  Years later,  Fletcher signed an affidavit admitting to knowingly giving false testimony against Drew and why.  

 

 

"I first met Carol Fletcher at Pier 14. She was a very small and shy girl. She didn’t talk much. I used to call her Mouse. She didn’t like that. The extent of our conversations was to say “Hi” and go about our business. That is why it blew my mind when I was told I was accused of being implicated in a murder with Carol Fletcher, Robin Murphy, and Carl Davis. Three people I never really associated with.

I never knew Carol got involved and was hanging about with Robin Murphy until I started reading my trial transcripts. Carol was in love with Carl Davis, and she worked the streets under him. It totally blew my mind to read all the stuff that was being said about me. How I was being accused of murdering Karen Marsden with the likes of them. 

It all started to come together when I learned it was Robin Murphy pulling all the Strings. Carol Fletcher was afraid of Murphy. She allowed Murphy to use her to set me up. For years, I hated Fletcher for setting me up. I could never understand why. Why me? That was until I received a visit from Detective Paul Carey.

I was in Bay State Prison when Detective Carey told me Fletcher was ready to tell the truth of what really happened to Karen Marsden, admitting that everything she said on stand while under oath at my trial was a lie!

Fletcher said she never wanted to do it but was told by the Bristol County District Attorney Ronald Pina, and the Assistant District Attorney David Waxler if she didn’t tell their version of the story in court, they would have Murphy as well as the others testify against her. They would put her away forever and Fletcher would never see her kids again. Carol, who had already gotten several beatings at the hands of Murphy, gave in.

Murphy knew how to play mind games. She would get both Carol Fletcher and Karen Marsden high, and the games would begin.  Once, Murphy took both Carol and Karen to a spot on the edge of the Westport woods. Murphy told both if they failed to follow her orders, they would be killed in those woods. These girls were in fear for their own lives, their own freedom. Not only from Robin, but also from the very authority figures who were sworn to protect them!

Here they are telling Fletcher they will protect her, but only if she tells their story when she takes the stand! To lie under oath, to deliberately commit perjury. ADA Waxler told Carol Fletcher she would “go to jail” if she refused to testify against me, Carl Drew.

It was around October of 1980, police officers Fitzgerald and Lowney, along with ADA Waxler promised Fletcher, if she testified to their story of me being present for the murder, she would be granted a judicial immunity order against all charges that arise against her. Fletcher was so upset by what they were putting her through she tried to commit suicide by jumping out of a motel window. Several members of the prosecution team were able to block her, preventing her from jumping. She’d rather take her own life than be threatened in to false testify in a murder trial.

In the end, out of fear Fletcher agreed to testify to the prosecutions story. She was given her immunity.

When Detective Paul Carey came to visit me at Bay State, he brought with him good news. Fletcher was ready to tell the truth.

The truth within the Fall River/ Freetown State Forest as they would have you believe, but one the roof of an apartment complex within the city of Fall River itself.  Carol said the murder of poor Karen Marsden happened on the roof over Maureen “Sunny” Sparda’s apartment at Harbor Terrace.

Fletcher said showed up at Harbor Terrace to see Murphy and Marsden arguing. They were on the roof of the having a heated argument. Robin was going off on Karen. Fletcher stated Murphy began violently assaulting Karen, drawing blood from her face and ripping out poor Karen’s hair. It was at this point Fletcher says Karen seemed to lose consciousness. Murphy pulled out a large knife. Fletcher stated Murphy carried that same knife on different occasions.

It was at this point Fletcher, sick to her stomach from witnessing Murphy’s attack on Karen Marsden, began vomiting and left the scene. At this point, Fletcher did not know if poor Karen was still alive or dead but stated deep down, she had an awful feeling, if Karen was still alive, she wouldn’t be for much longer.

The following afternoon, Carol went by the bar with Carl Davis. While there, they ran into Murphy. Murphy spoke to Davis. Fletcher overheard Murphy complaining she still had some of Karen’s hair under her fingernails. Carl Davis, along with Murphy, took Fletcher’s car keys from her and left the bar. Later, Davis would confess to Fletcher that Murphy admitted to killing Karen Marsden and that he, Carl Davis, had helped Murphy dispose of the poor girl’s body."

 

  -Carl Drew