Raffi Kodikian

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Raffi Kodikian was charged with killing David Coughlin in 1999. Kodikian pled guilty to second-degree murder and served 16 months. He was released in November 2001. [1]

Kodikian and Coughlin, best friends since college,[2] were in their twenties and lived in Boston. Kodikian was an aspiring journalist[3] and Coughlin was a traffic policy analyst.[3]

Contents

[edit] Rattlesnake Canyon

In July 1999, the two set off on a road trip from Massachusetts to California[1] where Coughlin planned to attend graduate school.[4] August 4, they arrived at Rattlesnake Canyon in Carlsbad Caverns National Park and made camp.[2]

After days of hiking, the two were very lost and dehydrated. Kodikian and Coughlin had only brought three pints of water[1] and one pint of Gatorade.[4] One pint of water was used to boil hotdogs during their first evening in the canyon.[1] Although they had a topographical map, neither knew how to properly read the map.[1][2] The two took extreme measures including licking rocks, eating cactus fruit, even drinking their own urine.[4] Kodikian was unable to drink his own urine and abandoned the idea after gagging.[1]

The third night, Coughlin began vomiting, according to Kodikian.[4] August 8 Kodikian wrote in his journal:

“ "I killed & burried (sic) my best friend today. Dave had been in pain all night. At around 5 or 6, he turned to me & begged that I put my knife through his chest. I did, & a second time when he wouldn't die."[3] ”

Lance Mattson, a park ranger who had been searching for the campers, discovered Kodikian badly dehydrated.[1] When the ranger inquired about Coughlin, Kodikian pointed to a pile of rocks and replied "I killed him."[1]

[edit] Investigation and trial

Kodikian's attorney, Gary Mitchell, described the killing as an act of kindness.[3] He further stated that it was part of a death pact between the friends and Kodikian intended to kill himself too, but was too weak to do so.[3] Eddy County sheriff, Mark A. "Chunky" Click claimed that Kodikian was "moderately to severely dehydrated," and wasn't close to dying when Mattson found him.[3] Authorities further noted that Kodikian had buried Coughlin's body under rocks, some weighing more than 70 pounds.[4] The weight of the rocks and the completion of the task seemed remarkable for someone seriously dehydrated.[4][3] The autopsy on Coughlin revealed that while he was dehydrated it didn't appear to be fatal.[4][3]

While one theory was that Coughlin confessed to having earlier fooled around with an ex-girlfriend of Kodikian,[1] Sheriff Click sent Capt. Eddie Carrasco to Boston, but Carrasco discovered nothing.[3]

“ "No one I talked with ever heard a cross word between them. They were the best of friends."[3] ”

At his trial, Kodikian pled guilty to second-degree murder.[1] During the sentencing part of Kodikian's trial, it became clear that Coughlin's vomiting was not indicative of severe dehydration but instead was most likely a reaction to unripe cactus fruit.[1]

While Kodikian faced a possible maximum penalty of 20 years in prison.[5], he was instead sentenced by District Judge Jay Forbes to 15 years with all but a two years suspended.[5] This was to be followed by five years of probation.[5]

[edit] Further reading

  • Journal of the Dead : A Story of Friendship and Murder in the New Mexico Desert Jason Kersten ISBN 0060959223

[edit] References

  1. ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Two Went Out, One Came Back at The New York Times
  2. ^ a b c PANIC! at Backpacker
  3. ^ a b c d e f g h i j Diary chronicles friendship, death in New Mexico at The Topeka Capital-Journal
  4. ^ a b c d e f g Murder or Mercy? Murder Mystery In New Mexico
  5. ^ a b c Hiker gets 2 years for stabbing