Officer testifies in Blum trial

    The prosecution began its case against James Blum Wednesday morning. Blum is charged with the second-degree murder of his wife Patricia Blum, who was found unresponsive in the couple?s home at 1009 E. Washington St. on Jan. 11, 2010. After calling dispatcher Michael Powers and police officer Chad Huschka to testify, the state summoned its third witness, police officer Brian Van Willigen.

    Van Willigen was on patrol that day. He received a call from the Washington Safety Center to respond to 1009 E. Washington St. He was told to meet the resident, James Blum, at the back door. Van Willigen was accompanied by Huschka and Police Chief Greg Goodman. Van Willigen said he and the other officers did not draw their weapons. He did not ask James any questions, and proceeded into the home in search of Blum?s wife Patricia. He and Goodman found Patricia in the family room. Van Willigen testified that she was lying between the couch and the coffee table.

    Van Willigen checked Patricia?s wrist for a pulse, but not her neck. He said her body was cold and that she had no pulse. Van Willigen and Goodman performed CPR on Patricia. Van Willigen did chest compressions while Goodman did ?ventilation,? which is mouth to mouth resuscitation. When emergency medical staff arrived, they took over the ventilation while Van Willigen continued the chest compressions. Patricia was put on a cot and taken by ambulance to the Washington County Hospital.

    Blum came back inside to change his clothes. He asked Van Willigen to retrieve his keys, which he said were on the desk in his office. When Van Willigen went to get the keys, he saw a notepad on the desk. Van Willigen testified that he looked at the notepad, and said that it read that Blum had killed Patricia. He said he did not read the entire note.

    ?At that point, I knew I didn?t want to read anymore,? said Van Willigen.

    Van Willigen said he did not retrieve the keys as asked because he believed they would be used as evidence. He then informed Goodman of the notepad. Two and a half hours later, Goodman returned with a search warrant. At that time, photos were taken of the residence and of the notepad, which was taken as evidence.

For the full story, see the Jan. 6 edition of The Washington Evening Journal