Cops Stand By McNair Death Conclusion

Insist They Were Right in Saying He Died at Hands of Girlfriend in Murder-Suicide; Armen Keteyian Probe Casts Doubts

(CBS)  This week, CBS News Chief Investigative Correspondent Armen Keteyian reported on a three-month CBS News investigation that raised doubts about the ruling by Nashville police that former star quarterback Steve McNair died at the hands of a girlfriend in a murder-suicide double-shooting.

The CBS News reports led Nashville authorities to release more information about the case.

But Keteyian said on "The Early Show" Thursday many questions remain unanswered.

More Doubts about Steve McNair Death Probe
Steve McNair Death Probe Questioned
Exclusive Pictures: McNair's Lover Sahel Kazemi
Exclusive Photos: McNair's Possible Other Lover, Leah Ignagni


Never-before-seen cell phone records obtained exclusively by CBS News revealed McNair's girlfriend, 20-year-old Sahel "Jenni" Kazemi had a much deeper relationship than previously disclosed with the man Nashville police say sold her the 9 mm pistol used to kill McNair, 36, a married father of four who was almost a year-and-a-half into retirement when he was slain.

Records show Kazemi and Adrian Gilliam Jr., a 33-year-old convicted felon, exchanged a total of 203 phone calls and text messages in the three weeks leading up to the deaths.

Gilliam was "absolutely not just someone she met who just sold her a gun," private investigator and former detective Wayne Black observed to CBS News.

And, says Keteyian, the cell phone records show Gilliam was one of the last people to speak with Kazemi alive, in a three-minute call he made on July 4, at 12:02 a.m.

In August, Keteyian I visited Gilliam at a Tennessee detention center. Cameras weren't allowed inside.

Speaking for the first time to a reporter, Gilliam would only say he'd first met Kazemi "downtown." He wouldn't discuss the nature of their relationship, but vehemently denied they were romantically involved.

Hours after Keteyian's first report Monday highlighted mistakes and inconsistencies in their investigation, Nashville police released a 14-page case summary, including information on 50 text messages between McNair and Kazemi in the hours before their deaths.

In one text, Kazemi asks McNair if he loves her. His response: "I love you, Baby."

Later that morning, Kazemi says, "Baby, I might have a breakdown, I'm so stressed." He tells her, "Everything gonna be OK." She then asks him for $2,000.

Kazemi's bank records, obtained exclusively by CBS News, show $2,000 was transferred into her account that same day -- July 3 -- leaving a balance of more than $2,500 -- and, says Keteyian, undermining a major police theory that money problems Kazemi was having somehow triggered the murder-suicide.

Kazemi's sister, Azadeh Kazemi, remarked to CBS News that she doesn't think "$2,000 is enough for someone to go that mad."

The police summary also reveals McNair may have been involved with a 25-year-old woman -- Leah Ignagni -- at the same time he was dating Kazemi.

Family and friends say Kazemi suspected McNair was cheating on her as far back as April -- and took it in stride.

[CompletelyFrustrated]

This is why there is no such thing as a fair trial in the USA anymore. I believe the police were holding onto some information as this investigation is still ONGOING!!!!

The media has no right to intervene and perhaps contaminate evidence or cause another conspirator to flee because they have been tipped off that they will be found out.

This jerk Keteyian should be charged with interfering with an active investigation and evidence tampering!

[badforu]

The reason to keep it as an ongoing Investigation is to keep the records out of my hand. Cant File the "Freedom of Information Act" for release of the police files till the investigation is done.

If this program had never broke out that Gilliam knew Kazime, then we would of never known. Same as if the ATF hadnt stepped in and started looking around and asking questions, then Gilliam would not of been arrested. The police refused to release the history of the gun or the owners name.

DP is fishy. Why did MP buy the gun for DP? If DP is illegal to have a gun, then ..... and when they found out he sold the gun to a convicted felon, why wasnt DP arrested?

In our democratic society we demand transparency .. thats what keeps them honest. When you dont have transperancy.... this is what you get.

[badforu]

One of the reasons Ive been posting on this incident so much is so that maybe someone in the powers that be will see the mulitude of inconstitencys in this case and look into it and demand answers.

I think the police released there report when they did because they knew that this article was coming out and telling people that Gilliam knew Kazime. In there Report which is on the NPD website as a pdf. That is the first time that it has been brought forth that Gilliam knew Kazime and by the amount of text/cell calls its appearent that they knew each other for a while. In the report by the cops, they say that gilliam knew her for a few weeks prior to the murders. I think they only said that cause only 3 weeks of Gilliams phone records was recoverable.

Covering there a$$.

Since this case broke Gilliams story has changed several times. The times of the alleged gun sale has changed. First he sold it to her on Thursday. Using her time card as proof that she had left work for 2 hours on that day. Come to find out that that those 2 hours off work actually happened on Wednsday and not thursday, they conviently switched the day of the alleged gun sale to friday. Strange.

Then theres the part where the cops say he didnt know her, but went to look at her kia to possibly buy it. At the time the case broke one of the main questions asked at the time was ... How did Gilliam come to know the Kia was For sale????? From all that we could find, there was no advertisment for the Kia's sale.

There is also the Question of how well did the Nashville Police deartment know Gilliam. After diggin a little we found he had been arrested on July 2nd 2009 for driving under suspension. Thats as far as we got. But this proves that Gilliam had at least 2 past interactions with the police force. I think the police knew him(Gilliam), and knew who he worked for. Thus the reason for not arresting him on July 5th when they recieved his name as the last owner of the gun found at a double homicide.

Then to top it off with his past convictions of a TRIPLE MURDER in 1992 in florida.... How do they explain taking this convicted felon at his word that he sold the gun and that that is actual fact?

Who is the Nashville police Protecting? I think it is on a local level. Once the Feds (ATF) got the info, they couldnt stop them from arresting Gilliam. So this lead me to believe that it was at a local level, and once the feds got involved they couldnt stop what was to happen, then they went to damage control and have been doing it ever since. Sadly not too good a job. Why to many questions to just be swept under the rug... i hope.

[bubbadubba]

Everyone needs to understand one simply rule - Cops and prosecutors are NEVER wrong, NEVER!
No matter what solid evidence comes up, no matter who confesses, no matter what alibi, once they make up their mind nothing will change it because they are NEVER wrong, NEVER!
I remember where 25 people testified a man was with them at a bar when he was supposed to be killing someone the prosecutor and cops said that was irrelevant.
Must be nice to be perfect and NEVER wrong, NEVER!