Susan Polk The client who fired Dan Horowitz and how it relates to Pamela's murder
According to author Carol Pogash in her book "Seduced by Madness -- the True Story of the Susan Polk Murder Case", Dan Horowitz went to visit Susan at the West County Detention Center where she awaited trial and convinced her he could provide a great defense. He promised to hire experts and tell Susan's story the way she wanted it to be told. Susan never denied stabbing her husband, however she vehemently denied it was murder, but instead an act of self defense. Horowitz and his partner Ivan Golde became convinced Susan was innocent and Dan declared such to the media on a daily basis. Dan strategized how Susan's case would catapult him to stardom. "She is innocent", Horowitz told reporters, "She's not crazy...... Her IQ is genius." He went on telling reporters that Susan's husband Felix was "a violent monster and Susan Polk his victim." He claimed the night Felix died Susan had walked "into a death trap" where her rageful husband wreaked vengeance on his long- suffering wife. He said "The constant theme of this case has been 'Crazy Susan', when you dig into it, it turns out she is right on the facts.... Once again, she's not crazy. It's people working her over trying to marginalize her."
On September 19, 2005 jury selection began in Susan's case. That day a thirty-two year old prospective juror named Valerie Northrop was eliminated from the jury. The next day Northrop returned to court and expressed that she intended to write a book about Susan to "champion her cause." According to Pogash, with grand flourish Horowitz handed her a CD of Polk case information. Pogash continued -- This overly generous gesture did not go unnoticed by spectators, who wondered why Horowitz would be so magnanimous with a person who didn't come across as a serious writer.
On October 11, 2005 Susan Polk's trial began. After court a reporter questioned Horowitz about Susan's state of mind. Horowitz responded "The state of mind of Susan Polk varies from day to day just like everybody else. I find her rational, cogent, and brilliant and that's what the jury will find out."
Four days later, October 15, 2005 Pamela Vitale was murdered. On October 17, 2005 a mistrial was declared in Susan's case. Two weeks later Horowitz returned to the case. At that time he hired the young, attractive former prospective juror Valerie Northrop.
How does this relate to Scott Dyleski?
In late December 2005, Susan Polk made some startling accusations. According to Pogash, Susan called a reporter from jail and confided, "I don't feel that I can be silent about this," Ever since Pamela died she said she had "wondered whether Dan murdered his wife." One of Susan's claims was that Horowitz told her Pamela had had an affair. The other was that after Pam's death Horowitz told Susan "Everybody loves me now. And you'll win your case. Everybody loves me." Susan also claimed that immediately after Pamela's death Horowitz and Northrop became inseparable. Apparantly Susan was not comfortable with that, nor was she comfortable with what Dan Horowitz said to her when she suggested that maybe Scott Dyleski was being framed. According to Susan, Dan Horowitz said these words:
Quote:
"I've got (Dyleski). I did a better job on him than they did on you and that little fucker isn't going to get out of this."
At this point it should be noted that although Horowitz denied having an affair with Northrop, within weeks it could no longer be denied. They were an open item and because of that Horowitz became estranged from Pamela's adult children. In late summer 2006, before Scott Dyleski went to trial Dan Horowitz and Valerie Northrop moved into the mansion that Pamela built.
Horowitz and Northrop are now married.
(BEGIN VIDEO CLIP)
POLK: Essentially, there`s been a complete breakdown in communication between me and Mr. Horowitz which has increased since the death of his wife, Pamela.
Aside from that issue of possibly being a witness in the defense of Scott Dyleski, I have other issues with Dan`s representation, representation of me which I think that anybody who was aware of them would agree that their representation should end.
(END VIDEO CLIP)
GRACE: But Daniel, she says that you made comments to her that suggested you had something to do with Pamela`s death and that Vitale (sic) is going to walk. Excuse me, that her perpetrator is going to walk.
HOROWITZ: I know, but realistically, we all know and I`m just telling you now, I did not talk to Susan Polk or any client about Pamela. I mean, it`s none of her business.
And it does -- I mean, her putting herself into my business or my personal life is not comfortable. But as defense attorneys, Nancy, you know this, this happens to us a lot. But it doesn`t usually happen in such a public way.
COSBY: Yes, and Ivan, real quick, how did she react to the news, Susan Polk? I bet she was so upset for Daniel.
GOLDE: Of course, she was devastated. Of course, she was devastated. Susan is part of our family. Susan, Dan, myself, we‘re all very, very close. She was completely devastated. She couldn‘t bear to hear what happened. So it‘s—it‘s just grieving from all circles. It really is.
COSBY: Absolutely. And Ivan, thank you for being here tonight. I know it‘s very tough for you personally. And of course, we love Dan so much. Thank you so much.
"The constant theme of this case has been 'Crazy Susan', when you dig into it, it turns out she is right on the facts.... Once again, she's not crazy."
Dan Horowitz October 11, 2005
This website is not about the case of Susan Polk. However, since she fired Dan Horowitz in part because of concerns she had involving Dan in Pam's murder and the framing of Scott Dyleski, for those interested, click on the following link for a recent interview done by CBS5.com on Susan's own case. Interview
