On Her Own: Story sources

Personal information about Beatrice Demers:

Interviews with her longtime accountant and friend, John A. Parmelee, who has a copy of her will; her second cousin, Helene Watterson; her trustee and former student, Frederick C. Kilguss Jr.; South Kingstown police Detective Lt. Geoffrey Peckham; a former caregiver, Chava Cohen; R.J. Connelly III, her former guardian; neighbors of Beatrice Demers; Alice Jane Barker, a former caregiver; Russell Brown, the South Kingstown building inspector; a report by Demers' guardian ad litem, Margaret Hogan, which the newspaper obtained from Parmelee; documents and letters that are contained in the now-sealed Demers Probate Court record that were photocopied by Cohen when they were in the public record; documents on file in the Washington County Family Court divorce case of Roger and Alice Jane Barker; Narragansett and South Kingstown police reports; an interview with Beatrice Demers that was conducted in 1977 by a reporter for The Providence Journal when she was forced to retire from the University of Rhode Island; representations made in open court by Demers' lawyers; news stories published by The Providence Journal about Beatrice Demers during her teaching career; land records.

The Department of Elderly Affairs' involvement in the Demers case:

Guardian ad litem's report to Probate Judge Stephen R. White, which contains a chronological timeline.

Beatrice Demers' rescue by cherry picker from her home and her subsequent hospitalization:

Providence Journal news story about the incident; interview with Russell Brown, the South Kingstown building inspector; interviews with John Parmelee and Lt. Geoffrey Peckham; South Kingstown police and fire reports.

Conditions at Beatrice Demers' house:

Interviews with Parmelee, Peckham, Watterson, Connelly, Kilguss, Brown and Cohen; DEA reports as cited in guardian ad litem's report; South Kingstown police reports; photographs of the house that are contained in the now-sealed Demers probate case file which Cohen took pictures of while they were still in the public domain.

Beatrice Demers' finances:

Interviews with Parmelee, Peckham, Watterson and state prosecutor Roger Demers; Probate Court hearings in the Demers guardianship case; South Kingstown and Narragansett police reports; documents in the public divorce file of Roger and Alice Jane Barker in Washington County Family Court; guardian ad litem's report filed by Margaret Hogan.

Paula Goldman's relationship with Beatrice Demers:

Guardian ad litem's report; letter written by Goldman to Probate Judge Stephen White; interviews with Cohen and Roberta Hawkins of The Alliance for Better Long Term Care; representations made in Probate Court hearings; affidavit written by Chava Cohen; letter from Parmelee to Judge White.

Beatrice Demers' medical status:

Guardian ad litem's report filed by Hogan; representations made about her in Probate Court hearings; interviews with Cohen, Watterson, Parmelee, Connelly, Kilguss, Alice Jane Barker and Peckham.

R.J. Connelly's appointment as Demers' guardian and what he undertook on her behalf:

Probate Court transcripts and records; interviews with Connelly, Peckham, Kilguss, Hawkins, Parmelee and Watterson; guardian ad litem's report to the Probate Court.

Connelly's complaint to the Board of Accountancy:

Interviews with Parmelee, Connelly and the lawyer for the board, R. Kelly Sheridan.

Margaret Hogan's investigation in behalf of Beatrice Demers and her recommendations:

The report she filed with Probate Judge Stephen White as Demers' guardian ad litem.

Lt. Geoffrey Peckham's objection to the trustees:

Interview with Peckham, a letter he wrote to Judge White, and South Kingstown police reports.

Information about R.J. Connelly's drunken-driving/assault case:

A story about the incident as reported in The Providence Journal, which was based on a Cranston police report; interviews with Cranston police Maj. Ronald T. Blackmar and with Kilguss.

The Cat Lady:

The play itself; representations made about the play in Probate Court during the Demers guardianship case; information about the play posted on the Web site of HRC Showcase Theatre; interviews with Chava Cohen and Roberta Hawkins.

Chava Cohen's employment as Beatrice Demers' caregiver:

Interviews with Cohen, Parmelee, Watterson and prosecutor Roger Demers; an affidavit written by Cohen that spurred the criminal investigation that is now under way.

Paula Goldman's resignation as Beatrice Demers' temporary guardian for health care matters:

Probate Court hearings.

The criminal investigation that is now under way:

Interviews with Special Assistant Attorney General Roger Demers, Parmelee and Cohen; representations made in Probate Court by Roger Demers and Demers' lawyers; court papers filed by prosecutor Roger Demers.

Tracy Breton