Witness testimony continues in Cochran trial, mother of victim no longer expected to testify

BECKLEY, WV (WOAY) – Witness testimony continued today in the trial of former Beckley pharmacist and convicted white-collar criminal Natalie Cochran.

Cochran is accused of murdering her husband, Michael Cochran, with insulin in February 2019. During the trial so far, her defense attorneys have asserted that the evidence doesn’t indicate that insulin did not kill Michael Cochran and argued Michael Cochran’s prior health conditions, hospital visits, and body-building supplements are alternative causes of his death.

During today’s proceedings, the state brought the judge a letter provided by Michael Cochran’s stepfather, indicating that Michael Cochran’s mother, Donna Bolt, was no longer able to testify.

The contents of that letter were not read publicly in court. Bolt eventually came and sat in the courtroom later during proceedings.

The first witness called today was Stephanie Hamilton, a physician’s assistant who was friends with the Cochran family.

She is also the wife of Corporal John Hamilton, the state trooper who took the stand yesterday as a private citizen to testify about his relationship with the Cochrans.

Stephanie Hamilton testified that she prescribed Natalie Cochran medicine for pneumonia, and she told the state that she offered it to Natalie Cochran in a pill form.

However, Hamilton said Natalie Cochran pressed her and asked for the medicine in a form that had to be injected.

On the day that Michael Cochran collapsed and went into a coma, Hamilton said she was summoned to the Cochran house by her husband, who wanted her help convincing Natalie Cochran to take Michael Cochran to the hospital.

According to Hamilton’s testimony, Natalie Cochran gave her Michael Cochran’s vital signs, and Hamilton said she did not take them herself.

Hamilton said she took his temperature, which she said was normal, and he turned his head towards her.

She also said she suggested several hospitals they could take Michael to for treatment, but Natalie declined all of them.

When Michael Cochran did eventually go to the hospital, she was still receiving updates from Natalie Cochran. As a physician’s assistant, Hamilton said she knew how dire things were for Michael Cochran once she learned of his blood sugar level.

“Twenty-one, what does that mean?” Raleigh County Prosecuting Attorney Tom Truman asked.

“Nobody should ever have a blood sugar of 21,” Hamilton replied.

“What’s going to happen if they do?” Truman asked.

“They’re in a coma,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton also said she lost money in the Ponzi scheme that Natalie Cochran is currently serving a federal prison sentence for.

The second witness called today was Court Nexsen, a former Bank of America employee who testified about details about Natalie Cochran’s fraudulent business.

He also verified that Natalie Cochran canceled a meeting with Bank of America in Virginia the night before Michael Cochran collapsed.

The third witness called today was Joshua Kearns, who was the pilot supposed to take the Cochrans to Virginia to meet with Bank of America about their business.

He testified that Natalie Cochran canceled that flight early the morning that Michael Cochran collapsed.

The fourth witness called today was Christopher Davis, the husband of Jennifer Davis, a witness called yesterday, and a friend of Michael Cochran’s.

During lengthy questioning, Davis testified that in the days before his death, Michael was excited about getting money from the federal government for his business.

He also testified that Michael Cochran never told him he was taking steroids.

Davis testified that he dropped off a flu package at the Cochran house the day Michael Cochran passed, but didn’t know what was inside.

That’s the same package that his wife said she packed for the Cochrans, including insulin.

Davis was called back to the Cochran house by Natalie Cochran after Michael Cochran collapsed. He attempted to wake Michael Cochran up, and when he wasn’t able to, he took action.

“He was going to the hospital. I don’t want to say that I forced that on anyone but I remember [Natalie Cochran]’s question of ‘Does he really need to go,’ and I said “Yes, he needs to go, and he’s going to go now.’ And that’s what I did,” Davis said.

During cross-examination, the defense pressed Davis on Michael Cochran’s previous hospital visits. Davis testified that Michael told him he hated hospitals.

The final witness was Glenda Epperly, the hospice nurse who cared for Michael Cochran in his final hours. She testified that Michael Cochran was still unresponsive when he entered, and there was nothing more that could be done for him.

“I was told that we were going to get a transfer from Charleston Area Medical Center. The patient was a younger person,”  Epperly said. “There was nothing else they could do, and he was coming to hospice to pass away.”

The trial resumes tomorrow at 9 a.m.

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