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Alan Helmick's sister takes the stand

BY SARA GOLDENBERG
SGOLDENBERG@KJCT8.COM

GRAND JUNCTION, Colo. (KJCT) -- We heard from the sister of the man shot and killed, allegedly at the hands of his own wife, in day six of the Helmick trial.

Alan Helmick's sister, Merredith Helmick-Von Burg, testified on Thursday that his wife Miriam stayed with her for three days after Alan was found dead.

Miriam Helmick was concerned about her finances, but not so upset about the death of her husband just days later, according to Merredith’s testimony. She says Miriam didn't seem too upset over losing her husband.

Merredith said she was friends with Alan's first wife, but not his second, Miriam. She said she didn't know her too well.

“We didn’t get together either, as far as doing any shopping as sisters-in-law. She was very quiet,” Helmick-Von Burg said. After Alan's death, Miriam stayed at her place for three days.

Prosecutor Rich Tuttle asked, “Did she seem very upset in those days after the murder?” Merredith answered, “She didn’t cry a lot, she cried some, not a lot. She talked about her finances.” She said Miriam told her—

“She didn’t kill him, if she had wanted to kill him she could've done it at Lake Powell the week before. Because Alan wasn't a great swimmer,” Helmick-Von Burg said.

Merredith says she was struck by how much Miriam focused on her finances. “She didn’t talk much about missing him, or what they planned for the future, or who could’ve done it,” she said.

Helmick-Von Burg said Miriam mentioned a prenuptial agreement and she didn't know what was in it-- but she thought she was entitled to half. After a few days they went back to the Helmick home. They didn”t realize that the scene of the murder had not been cleaned up yet, and walked in to find a pool of dried blood on the floor.

Merredith said she was shocked, but Miriam didn’t seem so upset. “She looked at it and suggested we cover it up. So we got some towels out,” she said.

Merredith saw her a few more times after that, but then Miriam left town without telling her. Merredith got worried and checked in on the Helmick house. She says the doors were unlocked and the garage was open.

“It looked like it had been left in a real big hurry. The kitchen was showing that. There was food still in the frying pan on the stove, crusted up,” Helmick-Von Burg said.

Merredith soon found out that Miriam Helmick went to Jacksonville, Florida-- where she was later arrested.

Alan's family physician, Dr. Thomas Motz also testified Thursday. He said that Alan was on several prescriptions, from Viagra to Ambien. When questioned by the defense, Dr. Motz said he was not aware that Alan had any heart problems.