ERIK SANZENBACH / L’Observateur / July 24, 1999

EDGARD – In the opening day of testimony for a defense motion to throw out alleged serial killer Daniel J. Blank’s confession, several detectivestestified that Blank was not coerced or mistreated during his 12-hour videotaped confession.

Detective Michael Tomey of the Ascension Parish Sheriff’s Department testified that when he first interviewed Blank in Oalaska, Texas, on Nov.

13, 1997, Blank was “alert, cooperative and answered all my question.” Tomey went on to say Blank did not appear to be under the influence of drugs or alcohol.

Assistant District Attorney George Ann Graugnard introduced into evidence copies of a form that Blank signed saying that he was read his rights and that he understood them.

On cross-examination attorney Glenn Cortello tried to show that Blank may not have understood the Miranda rights, but Graugnard poked holes in that defense by showing Blank had passed several training seminars on auto repairs.

Cortello asked Tomey if he had probable cause to arrest Blank.

“We did not arrest Blank because at first, he was just part of an ongoing investigation, but then we arrested him after he made the confession,” Tomey replied. “If at any time he had asked to leave, we would have lethim.”Then Capt. Mike Nettles of the Polk County, Texas, Sheriff’s Office tookthe stand. He was with Tomey and Blank during much of the interview, andthough pressed by the defense he also testified that Blank was not coerced or abused into making a confession.

Nettles said the only time he heard Blank complain was when he said, “I’m freezing my a** off.” The detectives then turned off the air conditioning,Nettles said.

Finally, David Sparks, special agent for the FBI and a polygraph expert, was called to testify. The defense, in its motion, claimed Blank wascoerced into confessing by being intimidated of the polygraph test.

Sparks had administered the polygraph test to Blank in Oalaska, Texas.

Sparks testified that Blank was under no undue stress or injury when he gave the test.

“He was coherent, and not under any stress,” said Sparks. “He never askedfor an attorney or for me to stop asking questions.”Cortello asked Sparks if the polygraph had intimidated Blank.

Sparks replied, “One hundred per cent of people I give the test to are intimidated by the polygraph.”Blank is accused of killing six people in Ascension, St. James, and St. Johnparishes, his motive allegedly to get money to feed his gambling addiction.

He is scheduled for trial Aug. 16 for the Ascension Parish murders and issupposed to go on trial Oct. 11 in St. John Parish. The defense motion hearing will continue until Monday in Judge Sterling Snowdy’s courtroom in Edgard.

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