Friend says teen gave him knives to stab mom
Jason...@virgin.net
Matricide suspect remains in Dallas jail
10/23/99
By Ben Tinsley / Arlington Morning News
DALLAS - A Grand Prairie teenager charged in the robbery-slaying of his
mother allegedly gave his friend some knives to fatally stab the woman,
according to the friend's statement to police.
Max Tamplin, 17, who is charged with capital murder in the death of
Cynthia Tamplin, allegedly handed the 16-year-old two of the four knives
used during the Oct. 3 attack, the younger teen told investigators.
The 16-year-old's statement was read into the court record during an
evidentiary hearing Friday. Judge Daniel Clancy of Dallas County
Criminal Court 1 determined that there is enough evidence to keep Mr.
Tamplin jailed. He remained in the Lew Sterrett Justice Center in Dallas
in lieu of $500,000 bail.
Mr. Tamplin declined to testify during the hearing. But his attorney,
Rick Harrison of Dallas, questioned investigators' motives in the case
because of the time it took them to get statements after the arrests.
Mr. Harrison described the 16-year-old as a suspect in an unrelated
slaying, but Arlington police later said the juvenile was never
questioned or charged in that case.
In his statement to police, Mr. Tamplin told investigators that he
vandalized his mother's bedroom at the time she was killed.
Grand Prairie police Detective Michael Gudgel testified that the
16-year-old told investigators that he killed his friend's mother. The
boy is not being identified because he is a minor.
Ms. Tamplin's body was found in her South Grand Prairie home in the the
3400 block of Racquet Club Drive. The 51-year-old woman was stabbed
several times in the face, chest and back.
Police recovered two pairs of bloody latex gloves, four knives and the
victim's stolen credit cards and identification, Detective Gudgel said.
Some items were found at Ms. Tamplin's home while others were retrieved
from a trash bin.
The 16-year-old, who is undergoing psychological testing, remained in
custody Friday night at the Dallas County Juvenile Detention Center,
officials said.
Prosecutors could seek to certify the 16-year-old as an adult.
Dallas County Assistant District Attorney Bob Dark said no decision has
been made on whether to seek the death penalty against Mr. Tamplin.
Capital murder is a first-degree felony, punishable by life in prison or
the death sentence.
As Mr. Tamplin entered the courtroom Friday morning, he waved to his
sister and his mother's fiance. Both declined to discuss the case with a
reporter.
Police initially said they believed Mr. Tamplin helped stab his mother
during the robbery. However, they changed their minds when they
discovered the 16-year-old had wounds on his hands consistent with a
knife attack. Mr. Tamplin had no such hand wounds, police said.
Detective Gudgel testified that he believed the suspects entered Ms.
Tamplin's home to rob her, but not necessarily to kill her.
"I can't tell you whether or not they planned to murder the complainant,
but I can tell you they went there to rob her," the detective said.
The detective said he reviewed a videotape from a bank ATM machine that
shows Mr. Tamplin withdrew money from his mother's account twice after
the slaying. Mr. Tamplin used a towel wrapped around the back of his
head as a possible disguise, Detective Gudgel said.
Mr. Tamplin told police that he knew his friend had a weapon and would
do "whatever it took" to rob her, the detective said.