Chappaquiddick on Bayou St. John – New Orleans, La.

Michelle M. Haensel Memorial Web Site

• Parkway Tavern - February 17, 1995 (12:10 AM) - LSU Medical School student Christopher C. Nabors ordered to leave tavern by NOPD Officer Justin Crespo after confrontation with Michael Blanco. Mr. Nabors tell Officer Crespo, "You better never show up at Charity Hospital." (trial transcript Vol. 4, pg. 112).

• Canal Boulevard - February 17, 1995 (1:30 AM) - Mr. Nabors departs Parkway Tavern in his Eagle Talon at high rate of speed

• Fredricks Street in CITY PARK - February 17, 1995 (1:34-1:52 AM) - Mr. Nabors and victim, Michelle Haensel, apparently  parked for 16 minutes. Becomes the Fredricks Street Mystery   

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (1:52 AM) - Nabors vehicle strikes curb on Wisner Boulevard. Upon hearing noise from the impact, Glen Jackson, Moss Street resident, looks to see Mr. Nabors vehicle "flying in mid-air" across Bayou St. John. (trial transcript Vol. 4, pg. 214)

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (1:53 AM) - First 911 call logged. Call placed by Donna Wood, a Moss Street resident

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (1:54 AM) - Eyewitnesses Glen Jackson, David Cushman, Donna Wood, and Peggy Scott on bank of bayou asking Mr. Nabors if he was OK and if anyone else in vehicle. (trial transcript Vol. 4, pgs. 217-237)

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (1:55 AM) - Officer Lawrence Zeller (SOD) observed red vehicle sinking in bayou and asked Mr. Nabors if anyone else was in vehicle. (trial transcript Vol. 5, pg. 440)

• NOPD SOD - February 17, 1995 (2:00 AM) - NOPD dive team notified that a vehicle was in Bayou St. John. The NOPD dive team must drive approximately 30 miles from Mandeville, La. to New Orleans, La. to begin the 'rescue'

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (2:02 AM) - Mr. Nabors rescued from bayou by NOPD officer Donald Cloger.

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (2:02 AM) - NOPD officers rescue attempts for victim - None

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (2:02 AM) - NOPD dive team rescue attempt for victim - None  

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (2:02 AM) - First EMS unit arrives at crime scene.

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (2:03 AM) - Second EMS unit arrives at crime scene.

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (2:18 AM) - First EMS unit leaves bayou with Mr. Nabors bound for Charity Hospital.

• EMS unit - February 17, 1995 (2:19 AM) - radio message to Charity Hospital emergency room stating that LSU Medical Student, Mr. Nabors, was being transported to the hospital

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (2:26 AM) - Juan Campos and Raul Douviller of New Orleans EMS deliver Mr. Nabors to Charity Hospital emergency room

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (2:26 AM) - Charity Hospital Doctor Jean Alice Friday greets Mr. Nabors.

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (2:28 AM) - Broadcast made over emergency room communication system that Mr. Nabors, an LSU Medical Student, was being treated

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (2:30 AM) - Charity Hospital triage nurse M. Haik treats Mr. Nabors. She later provides information that Mr. Nabors attorney, Michael Carbo, arrived at the emergency room shortly thereafter.

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (2:30 AM) - Juan Campos and Raul Douviller, New Orleans EMS, placed Mr. Nabors in room 5 or 6. Charity Hospital Doctor, Leland Cornelius Lenahan, III, orders everyone but the patient, to leave the room. The EMS technicians state they had never before been ordered to leave the room when helping with a patient. 

• Charity Hospital- February 17, 1995 (2:55 AM) - NOPD Office Joe Waguespack observes Mr. Nabors say to EMT's and hospital staff "Leave me alone. I have to get out of here. I have to go to work tomorrow because I have to raise my prices because I have to buy a new Car."  (pg. 20 of NOPD report and trial testimony, page 250).

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (3:00 AM) - Charity Hospital RN Betty Euper treats Mr. Nabors.

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (3:00 AM) - Charity Hospital Doctors Leland Cornelius Lenahan, III and Daniel Salvatore Diaco treat Mr. Nabors. Blood samples obtained by doctors for blood alcohol and controlled substances to be tested in Charity Hospital lab experience mysterious "lab accident" while being transported to lab (Trial pgs. 491-492)(State brief to Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals). 

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (3:20 AM) - NOPD Officer Brian Frere sent to Charity Hospital to obtain blood sample from Mr. Nabors (Trial pg. 492).

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (3:55 AM) -  NOPD blood sample of Mr. Nabors obtained by Charity Hospital Doctor Leland Cornelius Lenahan III. During the criminal trial, this sample was described as "tampered with" by Judge Waldron and Mr. Nabors' defense attorney, John Wilson Reed. Additionally during hearings and trial testimony, Doctor Monroe Samuels testified that the NOPD blood sample appeared to have been diluted by IV fluids. He further stated that  a second year medical student is taught how to properly take a blood sample so that it is not diluted by an IV. (State brief to Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals).

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (4:20 AM) - NOPD Officer Steve Koch asked Mr. Nabors "Was someone else in the vehicle at the time of the accident?" Mr. Nabors provided no answer.

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (4:25 AM) - NOPD dive team enters water for salvage operation on Mr. Nabors vehicle

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (4:48 AM) - NOPD dive team locates Mr. Nabors vehicle on bottom of bayou

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (5:15 AM) - Charity Hospital Doctor Francine Morrison meets with Mr. Nabors

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (5:25 AM) - Mr. Nabors vehicle dragged to west edge of bayou by tow trucks 

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (5:45 AM) - Charity Hospital Doctor Shammi Kataria issues a "do not" resuscitate the victim order by radio to EMS staff at crime scene

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (6:00 AM) - Mr. Nabors admitted to Charity Hospital patient room

• Bayou St. John - February 17, 1995 (6:00 AM) - Second EMS unit leaves Bayou St. John

• Orleans Coroners Office - February 17, 1995 (6:10 AM) - Shelly Haensel pronounced dead by Coroner

• Orleans Coroners Office - February 17, 1995 (6:20 AM) - Rev. Melvin Lee representing the Orleans Parish Coroner's office makes a telephone call to Haensel family residence in Metairie, Louisiana to advise of their daughter's death

• Charity Hospital - February 17, 1995 (6:35 AM) - Officer George Urban ask Mr. Nabors "Is the vehicle in the bayou registered in your name." Mr. Nabors responded, "You must be specific. Which vehicle are you talking about?" (pg. 16 of NOPD report).

• University Hospital - February 17, 1995 (8:00 AM) - Kimberly Meng, Mr. Nabors roommate, visits Mr. Nabors

• University Hospital - February 17, 1995 (9:00 AM) - Francine Morrison, MD, visits Mr. Nabors in hospital

• University Hospital - February 17, 1995 (9:18 AM) - RN's E. R. Monroe and Hamilton treat Mr. Nabors

• University Hospital - February 17, 1995 (9:30 AM) - Jack Kruse, MD, visits Mr. Nabors in hospital

• Coroner's Office - February 17, 1995 (9:30 AM) - Michelle Haensel's autopsy performed by LSU Medical School teaching professor, Dr. William Newman,  who works part-time for the coroner's office  and was an instructor in Mr. Nabors medical program at LSU Medical School

• University Hospital - February 18, 1995 (Noon) - Mr. Nabors discharged from hospital

• University Hospital - February 18, 1995 (2:15 PM) - Mr. Nabors Arrested - Charge: Violation of La. R. S. 14:32.1  

• Orleans Parish Prison - February 18, 1995 (3:57 PM) - Mr. Nabors Booked by Sheriff - Charge: Violation of La. R. S. 14:32.1

• Orleans Parish Prison - February 18, 1995 (5:47 PM) - $100,000 Bond requested by Orleans District Attorney. Magistrate Andrew Sciambre released Mr. Nabors on an unsecured signature bond with no commercial or other security bond, no cash bond, no visible or known assets, and a native of Pennsylvania.

• New Orleans - March 8, 1995 - Mr. Nabors purchases his SPLASH truck

• Orleans Criminal District Court - March 30, 1995 (Michelle Haensel's birthday) - Bill of information filed on Mr. Christopher C. Nabors, D.D.S., PhD - Charge: Violation of La. R. S. 14:32.1 (Vehicular Homicide)

• Orleans Criminal District Court - March 31, 1995 - Court assignment made to Section 'F', Judge Dennis J. Waldron presiding.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - April 3, 1995 - Mr. Nabors arraignment. Mr. Nabors did not appear in court for his arraignment. Attorney Michael Carbo appeared representing Mr. Nabors. Judge Waldron orders his staff and Mr. Carbo to have Mr. Nabors to appear in court the next day.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - April 4, 1995 - Neither Mr. Nabors or his attorney appears in court for the 2nd arraignment attempt. Judge appears upset and compels his staff to contact Mr. Carbo to have Mr. Nabors appear. Mr. Nabors and Mr. Carbo appear in court later in the day. Mr. Nabors pleads not guilty to the charges.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - April 28, 1995 - Mr. Nabors appears in Criminal Court with new attorney, John Wilson Reed.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - May 12, 1995 - Mr. Nabors and his attorneys appear in Criminal Court for motion hearing.

• UNO Keifer Arena (New Orleans) - May 20, 1995 - LSU Medical School awards Medical degree to Dr. Nabors.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - May 26, 1995 - Criminal Court hearing. Defendant not in court.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - June 2, 1995 - Defendant and his attorneys appear in Criminal Court for motion hearing.

•  Charity Hospital - June 20, 1995 - Dr. Nabors admitted into LSU Medical School residency program at Charity Hospital and receives a salary of $25,000 from the State of Louisiana.  

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - June 23, 1995 - Mr. Nabors and his attorneys appear in Criminal Court for motion hearing.

• On July 5, 1995, NOPD officer Donald Clogher receives service medal and cash bonus for rescuing Dr. Nabors from Bayou St. John on February 17, 1995 (see Times-Picayune article) .

•  Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - July 10, 1995 - Mr. Nabors and his attorneys appear in Criminal Court for motion hearing.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - July 19, 1995 - Dr. Nabors and his attorneys appear in Criminal court for motion hearing. Trial set for September 11, 1995.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - September 11, 1995 - Criminal court motion to set trial for October 16, 1995.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - October 16, 1995 - Criminal court motion to set trial for November 27, 1995.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - Monday, November 27, 1995 - trial begins with jury selection this date (8:30 am - 4:00 pm). Dr. Nabors and his attorneys in court. Jury selection process occupies the morning. A petit jury consisting of six (6) members is seated at 12:35 pm. Opening statements occupies the balance of the day. Dr. Nabors remains free on bond.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - Tuesday, November 28, 1995 - trial continues (8:50 am - 5:45 pm). Dr. Nabors and his attorneys in court. Testimony continues.  Dr. Nabors remains free on bond.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - Wednesday, November 29, 1995 - trial continues (8:30 am - 6:00 pm). Dr. Nabors and his attorneys in court. Michael George Sunseri, accident reconstruction expert for the State of Louisiana, testifies that he estimated that Dr. Nabors Eagle Talon vehicle was travelling between 52 and 65 MPH when it struck the curb on Wisner Boulevard on February 17, 1995 (trial transcript Vol. 5, pg. 353). Robert Watts, PhD, PE, Tulane professor, testifies on behalf of Dr. Nabors. He states that Dr. Nabors vehicle probably rolled into the bayou at 20 to 30 MPH and floated 105 feet before it sank in the center of the bayou (trial transcript Vol. 5, pg. 523). John Regal, retired Louisiana State Trooper, also testified on behalf of Dr. Nabors. He stated that he examined Mr. Sunseri's calculations and assumptions. He did not interview any witnesses. Incredibly, he concluded there was insufficient information to reconstruct the accident. Dr. Nabors remains free on bond.

• Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court - November 29, 1995 - State applies for supervisory writs - Granted.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - Thursday, November 30, 1995 - trial resumes at 8:40 am. Dr. Nabors and his attorneys in court. Dr. Nabors attorney, John Wilson Reed, in closing arguments, reminds the jury of testimony by witnesses of Dr. Leland Cornelius Lenahan's statements in the Charity Hospital emergency room at 2:26 am, "Clear the room, nurses out, everyone out". Reed said the statements were made prior to the New Orleans Police arriving at 3:55 am with their blood sample kit. Samples obtained by Dr. Leland Cornelius Lenahan were later described as contaminated and incompatible with human life. Jury receives deliberation instructions from Judge Waldron at 2:25 pm. Jury deliberation begin at 2:40 pm. Jury Verdict returned at 5:35 pm: GUILTY OF VEHICULAR HOMICIDE. Judge Waldron orders a presentencing investigation from the Louisiana Dept. of Corrections. Dr. Nabors remained free on bond.

• WWL Newscast of jury trial GUILTY verdict - New Orleans, La. - November 30, 1995

• LSUMC - Thursday, November 30, 1995 - Dr. Christopher C. Nabors dropped from residency program at LSU Medical School/Charity Hospital per Chancellor Mervin Trail, MD. Based on the fact that a guilty verdict was returned at 5:35 pm, Dr. Trails action to drop Dr. Nabors from the residency program must have occurred at 5:36 pm, a truly incredible occurrence considering no one from the LSU Medical School leadership or community attended the trial. There was no news media (print, radio, or television) report of the conviction until the following day, December 1, 1995. Also, text messaging and social media was virtually non-existent in 1995. Oddly, even though Dr. Nabors was enrolled at LSU for over six years, was graduated from the LSU Medical School, and was admitted to the LSU Medical School residency program, no written termination record to corroborate Dr. Trails statement of termination was ever offered or found to exist. This type of termination from a 7 year medical program would not have been a casual action such as a telephone call or casual conversation over a beverage. Another truly unbelievable LSU Medical School leadership event. In fact, on December 5, 1995, Dr. Nabors attorneys told Criminal Court Judge, Dennis J. Waldron, that Dr. Nabors was sill in the residency program at LSU Medical School and if remanded to jail, may have to drop from the program. Another in a series of truly remarkable if not unbelievable statements and events orchestrated by the LSU Medical institutions.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - December 5, 1995 (8:10 am) - In open court, Dr. Nabors Bond is Revoked - Dr. Nabors is handcuffed in open court and remanded to Orleans Parish Prison.

• Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court - December 6, 1995 - Dr. Nabors attorneys apply for supervisory writs - Denied.

• Orleans Parish Criminal Court (Section 'F') - February 7, 1996 - Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety presentencing report delivered to Court. In the document, Dr. John Kent, chairman of the Oral Surgery Dept. at LSU Medical School states, "Barring my retirement, I would accept Mr. Nabors back into the residency program." Dr. Kent used LSU Medical Center public stationary in a letter sent to the district court judge in an attempt to use LSU institutional influence to pressure the judge into minimizing Dr. Nabors sentence. Sometime later, LSU Medical Center Chancellor, Dr. Mervin Trail, said he reprimanded the authors of the letters.

• Louisiana Supreme Court - December 7, 1995 - Dr. Nabors attorneys apply for supervisory writs - Denied.

• John Wilson Reed, Esq. - February 13, 1996 - submits presentencing memorandum to Judge Waldron in which he blames the victim, Shelly Haensel for her own homicide.

• Orleans Parish District Court: Sentencing - February 15, 1996 - Fifteen years imprisonment at hard labor without benefit of probation, parole or reduction of sentence . Dr. Nabors testifies that Charity Hospital Doctors Leland Cornelius Lenahan III,  Daniel Salvatore Diaco, and Jean Alice Friday treated him when he arrived at Charity Hospital on the morning of February 17, 1995. Oddly, neither Dr. Friday nor Dr. Diaco were mentioned at trial. Their names were not contained in any records supplied by LSUMC or Charity Hospital in response to subpoenas by the Court. Only Dr. Nabors had this information at trial. Incredibly,  not one member of Dr. Nabors family testified on his behalf at the sentencing even though many family members were present in the packed courtroom. Also, a large group of the LSU Medical/Dental Schools leadership were in attendance apparently in an attempt to intimidate and influence the judge's sentencing decision. Dr. Nabors roommate, Kimberley A. Meng, DDS and a friend, Dr. Jack Kruse, testified on behalf of Dr. Nabors. They testified that Dr. Nabors' actions and personality are the result of the rigorous training they must endure as physicians. They also testified that they were not aware of the connection between the SPLASH truck and the homicide in Bayou St. John. The judge delivered a lengthy, blistering statement in support of his decision. According to the Times Picayune newspaper report, Dr. Nabors father, David Wallace Nabors, stormed out of the courtroom shouting "oh my GOD" as Judge Waldron announced the maximum jail term sentence. The Judge said he would clear the courtroom if there were any further outburst. Dr. Nabors remanded to Orleans Parish Prison.

•  WWL Newscast of sentencing administered in district court - New Orleans, La. - February 15, 1996

• Orleans Parish Clerk of Court - March 1996 - court records reveal that many leadership from the LSU Medical School, LSU Dental School, and Charity Hospital wrote letters to Judge Dennis Waldron urging leniency for Dr. Nabors in the sentencing. Many in the leadership wrote their letters on official LSU letterhead in an attempt to mislead the court. The individuals who wrote the letters were outed in a Time-Picayune article on March 10, 1997.

• District Court Motion to Reduce Sentence - April 4, 1996 - appeal to Judge Waldron. Judge ruled from bench and denied the motion. Dr. Nabors remained in jail. 

• Angie, Louisiana - April 29, 1996 - Dr. Nabors transferred to Washington Correctional Institute

• Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court Appeals - June 18, 1996 - Criminal trial record transcript delivered to court.

• Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court Appeals - November 19, 1996 - Dr. Nabors attorneys file an appeal with assignment of errors.

• Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals Hearing  - May 7, 1997 - Oral arguments for the appeal.

• Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court Appeal Decision- June 12, 1997 - Ruling: Conviction and sentence affirmed.  

• Louisiana Fourth Circuit Court Hearing en banc - July 1, 1997 - Ruling: Conviction and sentence affirmed.

• Louisiana Supreme Court - August 12, 1997 - Dr. Nabors attorneys submit an application for review of the Fourth Circuit rulings.

• St. Tammany Parish, LA - November 15, 1997 - In early November, Warden Ed Day selects Dr. Nabors for a speaking tour in the St. Tammany Parish middle schools. Complaints and news articles show that Dr. Nabors was no longer describing his victim as the bitch. He had rearranged the facts and now referred to his victim as his good friend. St. Tammany Parish Sheriff Jack Strain said Dr. Nabors was using the speaking events to put down the justice system. The sheriff sent a letter to Warden Ed Day requesting that Dr. Nabors not be sent to any St. Tammany Parish schools to speak. Louisiana Governor M. J. Foster sent orders to the state prison system that Dr. Nabors name be removed from the list of those eligible to speak outside the confines of the prison grounds.

• Louisiana Supreme Court - March 20, 1998 - Denies Dr. Nabors application to review lower court ruling.

• Louisiana Dept. of Public Safety (DMV) - April 30, 1998 - withdraws Dr. Nabors driving privileges for one year.

• United States District Court - October 16, 1998 - Dr. Nabors files a Habeas Corpus civil action against State and his friend Warden Ed Day.

• Dr. Nabors submits an application to the Louisiana Pardon Board for a commutation of sentence - December 3, 1998.

• Dr. Nabors application to the Louisiana Pardon Board is denied - February 2, 1999.

• United States District Court - October 28, 1999 - Judgment in Habeas Corpus suit in favor of State and Warden. 

• United States District Court - November 15, 1999 - Denies Dr. Nabors request for a certificate of appealability on Habeas Corpus suit.

• United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals - December 27, 1999 - Dr. Nabors submits a brief in support of his request for a certificate of appealability.

• United States Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals - June 29, 2000 - Denies Dr. Nabors request for a certificate of appealability.   

• Dr. Nabors released from prison in 2003.

• November 2004 - Dr. Nabors attempt to enter University of New Mexico residency program is denied. Several newspaper articles in November and December of 2004 also document the university's actions.

• Today - Investigation into the blood test cover-up at Charity Hospital in New Orleans on February 17, 1995 by LSU Medical School doctors and Charity Hospital nurses continues.

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