Daughter of slaying suspect continues testimony
Mary Jo Overly, the natural daughter of accused killer Roberta Gillin, spent several hours on the witness stand Tuesday, offering emotionally charged testimony about the death of her 25-year-old adopted sister, Helen Gillin. Often pausing to wipe her eyes and nose in a long-sleeve gray shirt, Overly told the seven-woman, five-man panel of Fayette County jurors that she was a “stupid moron” for not going to police when she realized her mentally retarded sister was being sexually abused.
“If I’d have done more, she’d be alive today. I have to live with that every day,” Overly testified.
It was the sexual abuse at the hands of her father, James Gillin, that prompted disdain for Helen Gillin in her mother’s eyes, testified Overly.
Helen Gillin was banished to the basement or garage of their former Bear Rocks home, and around July 1992, Roberta Gillin gave her a cocktail of bleach and heart medication in an attempt to kill her, said Overly.
When that didn’t work, Overly testified that Gillin instructed her husband to finish off the girl. When James Gillin’s stomping the 100-pound Helen Gillin didn’t work, Overly testified her mother ran outside with a knife that was ultimately not used because Gillin died.
To cover up the crime, Overly testified that the Gillin parents burned Helen’s corpse. Their son, Timothy Gillin, testified that it was his duty to clean the pit and he did so.
In the wake of Helen Gillin’s death, Overly testified her mother gave her a story to follow. Overly testified she was to say that Helen Gillin ran off with her boyfriend, Steve, a biker.
The problem, testified Overly, was that Helen Gillin neither had a boyfriend nor any friends.
In a 1995 tape played for jurors during the court’s afternoon session, Overly and her parents can be heard discussing Helen Gillin’s death. Roberta Gillin dominates most of the conversation, urging Overly to stick to the story, so that no one gets caught.
Although Helen Gillin died in 1992, the Gillins were not arrested until 1999, when police gathered more evidence in the case. Both were charged with criminal homicide, abuse of a corpse and two counts of criminal conspiracy. James Gillin has already been convicted and is serving a life term for first-degree murder.
Overly spent most of her time on the stand under cross-examination from Gillin’s attorney, Paul Gettleman.
He went over the various statements Overly gave to police from the time they first talked to her in 1995, shortly after she told a friend about Helen Gillin’s death. That friend took the information to police, who in turn talked to Overly.
In several instances, Gettleman pointed out inconsistencies, such as varied time frames when Helen Gillin was allegedly killed, where Overly was when the alleged killing occurred and whether or not she actually saw Roberta Gillin give Helen Gillin the bleach drink.
Overly testified that the trauma of seeing her sister killed has made it difficult for her to gauge time frames accurately.
She also testified that Gettleman was “twisting my words” to make it seem as if she said things she did not.
“You’re nitpicking at little things. I’m not sure (about some things). I was in hysterics, but that my mom mixed (the bleach drink) and what my dad did, that stayed that same,” said Overly.
Overly also testified that she wrote her dad a letter in which she called her mother a “lying coward.”
“Did you also say you wanted to help put her back in prison?” asked Gettleman.
“Yes. I want to defend my sister the best I can now,” testified Overly.
She later testified, under further questioning from District Attorney Nancy D. Vernon that she felt her mother was “as guilty as my dad in my eyes.
Several times during her cross-examination, Gettleman asked Overly why she never called police about the alleged sexual abuse or her sister’s allegedly brutal death.
“I was brought up partially religious to believe you obey your mom and dad, even if they’re doing the wrong thing and it’s your sister,” said Overly one of the times.
Her younger brother, Timothy Gillin, contradicted some of Overly’s testimony – including that her sister was banished to sleep outside at times.
He also testified that among people who know his sister, she has a reputation for lying.
Gillin further testified that he did not initially believe his sister when she told him about what had allegedly happened to Helen Gillin. However, he told Vernon that he changed his mind.
“When police came to my house and started scouting the back yard for remains of my sister, my opinion changed,” he testified.