Affidavit and Application for a Search Warrant in the Superior Court of Cobb County State of Georgia
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AFFIDAVIT AND APPLICATION FOR A SEARCH WARRANT IN THE SUPERIOR COURT OF COBB COUNTY STATE OF GEORGIA Docket No. _________ The undersigned, Special Agent Wesley Horne, being duly sworn, deposes and says: I am a certified Law Enforcement Officer of the State of Georgia employed by the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. I am charged with the duty of enforcing violations of criminal laws to include crimes against persons and death investigations, and that I have reason to believe that in Cobb County, Georgia, on the person, premises, or property described as follows: (state detailed description of person, property, or location) OHR, Inc. / Medical Dimensions located at , the residence is located in Cobb County in an office park called “75 Wade Green Business Center;” the entrance to the office park is off of Shiloh Road in Kennesaw, Georgia, OHR, Inc. is located in the back of the office park in building 3000. OHR, Inc. is in the suite to the far right side of building 3000 as viewed from the parking lot. The office has a red door and the windows near the door have black shutters. The sign beside the door reads “OHR Medical Dimensions; Drug & Lab Testing by Appt. There is also a sign beside the door which displays the numbers “3050.” The office has one floor and has a brick front. There is now located certain instruments, articles, person(s), or things, namely: (specify evidence, contraband, or person(s) to be searched for) Computer(s) and related storage media, the following forms containing the name of John Celmer or Richard Sartain: Final Exit Network intake interview forms, Final Exit Network First Responder’s Checklist, documentation of First Responder’s evaluation of member, letter written by member giving their reason for a hastened death, Final Exit Network Request for Exit Guide Support Form, Final Exit Network My Instruction on Changing or Not Changing the Appearance of My Body and Bedside which may also read My Wishes Regarding the Appearance of my Body form, Final Exit Network Statement of My Decision Following Medical Consultation which may also read My Decision Following Medical Consultation form, Final Exit Event Log, Final Exit Network Expense and Reimbursement form, Final Exit Network Donation of Expense form, Statement of Mutual Understanding between Final Exit Network and Exit Guides Form, Final Exit Network questionnaire or application completed by the exit guide, John Celmer’s suicide note and all documentation of meeting(s) and conversation(s) with John D. Celmer, Final Exit Network instructor and training manuals to include notes and any paperwork described above related to other victims of assisted suicide, tampering with evidence and racketeer influenced and corrupt organization laws. 1 Which is (name the law being violated) Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations O.C.G.A. § 16-14-1 through O.C.G.A. § 16-14-15; Assisting Suicide O.C.G.A. § 16-5-5; Tampering with Evidence O.C.G.A. § 16-10-94 The facts tending to establish probable cause that a crime has been, or is being committed and the above described instruments, articles or things described above are presently located at the above described premises or property are as follows: _______________________________________________________ Comes now your Affiant, Special Agent Wesley Horne. Affiant is employed with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. Affiant is a P.O.S.T. Certified Peace Officer charged with the duty of enforcing the criminal laws of the State of Georgia. Affiant is currently assigned to the GBI’s Atlanta Regional Office in Conyers, Georgia and has the responsibility of general investigations to include crimes against persons and death investigations. Affiant has been employed with the GBI for more than six years and has been in the criminal justice profession for more than twelve years. The information outlined in this affidavit was provided to Affiant, Special Agent Wesley Horne, by Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) Assistant Special Agent in Charge (ASAC) Mitchell M. Posey who has twelve (12) years of law enforcement experience with the Georgia Bureau of Investigation. ASAC Posey attended the sixteen week (16) GBI Basic Agent Academy. During this academy Affiant learned about criminal investigation to include death investigation, white collar crimes and preparation of search warrants. White collar crimes often involves the search and seizure of documentation on paperwork and computers or other storage related media along with financial records to determine if a criminal act has occurred. ASAC Posey has also attended advanced courses related to death investigation and search and seizures. ASAC Posey has lead and assisted with numerous death investigations and white collar criminal investigation and wrote numerous search warrants that have led to the arrest and conviction of the responsible parties. ASAC Posey is a certified law enforcement instructor. ASAC Posey is able to provide this information to the Affiant of this affidavit and search warrant under the collective knowledge doctrine. ASAC Posey learned from Cumming Police Department Detective Sergeant Scott Burgess that on June 20, 2008 the Cumming Police Department along with Forsyth County Coroner, Lauren McDonald III, responded to John Celmer’s residence at . Celmer was found dead in his bed. Celmer had previously been diagnosed with cancer. Initial observations lead authorities to believe Celmer had died of natural causes. Books titled the Final Exit which discussed assisted suicide were found at Celmer’s residence. An autopsy was competed on Celmer. The cause of death was ruled asphyxia suffocation as a result of the inhalation of helium and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. 2 ASAC Posey learned on Sunday, June 29, 2008 that John Celmer’s wife, Susan Celmer, was cleaning up John Celmer’s residence and found Final Exit Network paperwork on John Celmer’s computer. ASAC Posey learned this organization provided information and support to people who are suffering and wanted to end their lives. Susan Celmer found release forms belonging to Final Exit Network signed by John Celmer. Susan Celmer found a typed letter dated May 1, 2008, that was addressed to Nick Sheridan, Southeastern Regional Coordinator for Final Exit Network. The letter indicated John Celmer desired to pursue a “helium induced methodology… for the purposes of coordinating my demise.” In this letter John Celmer appeared to ask for help from the Final Exit Network in carrying out the helium inducement. John Celmer wrote, “If however, for some imaginable reason(s), you do not feel comfortable in the continuance of your involvement… rest assured that I will have no other choice than to pursue any and all alternative sources of available means of helium inducement including pathetically taking measures into my own hands if necessary.” John Celmer’s 2008 calendar had the following notation on May 7, 2008: Claire here @ 1:30. Susan Celmer found handwritten notes that appeared to be written by John Celmer dated May 7, 2008 about a conversation he had with Claire Blehr. Within the note, John Celmer documented that the procedure required a hood and he had to inhale helium quickly. Within the note, Claire Blehr and Ted Goodwin would help and remove the hood, helium tanks and any related material. It appeared Claire Blehr had assisted one other person commit suicide. Susan Celmer found a receipt dated May 7, 2008, where John Celmer purchased two helium tanks. Susan Celmer found an email dated June 19, 2008 at 4:55 P.M addressed to Claire Blehr. John Celmer said to Claire Blehr that he was unhappy with his two surgeries and was seriously considering “my plan (you know what I mean by that).” John Celmer thanked Claire Blehr for “reinforcing that I can count on all of you to cooperate in assisting me with it should it come to fruition.” Susan Celmer also found two editions of the book titled Final Exit in John Celmer’s residence one of which was the third edition with its addendum. Susan Celmer also found Claire Blehr’s home telephone number of 3 7 cellular telephone number of and email address of at John Celmer’s residence. The telephone numbers and the email address are registered to Claire Blehr at Ted Goodwin’s name and an address of telephone number of was found at John Celmer’s residence. This is not Thomas Edmund Goodwin’s (Ted E. Goodwin) telephone number or address but belongs to another man named Theodore J. Goodwin. GBI Intelligence provided ASAC Posey with Ted Goodwin’s driver’s license photographs, date of births and social security numbers. ASAC Posey verified Thomas E. Goodwin and Theodore J. Goodwin are not the same person and that Thomas E. Goodwin is the person associated with Final Exit Network. Thomas Edmund Goodwin of Final Exit Network is referred to as Ted Goodwin the remainder of this affidavit. Theodore J. Goodwin is not discussed again in this affidavit. On Monday June 30, 2008, ASAC Posey requested John Celmer’s son, Paul Sciandra, to make a controlled telephone call to Claire Blehr. Paul Sciandra was equipped with a recorder and microphone. Paul Sciandra called Claire Blehr on the telephone number 3 found at John Celmer’s residence. Upon calling the number the person answering the phone introduced herself as Claire Blehr. Paul Sciandra introduced himself as John Celmer’s son. Claire Blehr stated that she and Ted Goodwin were with John Celmer when he died. Claire Blehr explained they provide a service to people who are not terminally ill so they no longer have to suffer. Claire Blehr would not tell Paul Sciandra how John Celmer died and would only say that she and Ted Goodwin did what John Celmer asked them to do.