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Dr. Balis:
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Hello, I'm Doctor Balis; who's this please?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Hi. I'm Detective-sergeant Tracy Keefe, from the San Francisco Police Department. I understand you've been treating a Mr. Peter Hossfeld on an outpatient basis?
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Dr. Balis:
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Sgt. Keefe, haven't we spoken before?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Yes, I believe we have. We spoke about Joseph Mazurka, if you recall.
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Dr. Balis:
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I do remember. Okay, about Peter...yes, I've been seeing him on and off for the past six months or so. Is he in some kind of trouble?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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I suppose you could say that. He walked into the station a couple of nights ago, asking us to lock him up. We get a lot of this, people thinking they can use our jail as a hotel, you know? We usually tell them to get lost, unless they've got a crime they want to get off their chests--that generally clears the place out. But this guy was all wrought up, and he starts telling the desk sergeant how he did this murder. I heard the tape they made in the interview room, it was like a horror movie. How he stalked this woman and followed her into her room, then killed her with his teeth and claws like some kind of wild beast. He wanted us to lock him up before he could kill again, so we complied; these guys sometimes turn out to be for real, you know? But he's a little sketchy on the details, and so far we haven't come up with a body or any other evidence at all for this crime aside from the alleged perpetrator's story, which some of us are starting to have problems with. Like we checked him pretty good for bloodstains, which you would expect in a homicide of this nature, and came up dry, although I suppose he could have cleaned up real good. So when he told us he'd been getting treatment for his psychological problems, I thought you could maybe help us cut to the chase, as it were.
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Dr. Balis:
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Is he under arrest, or undergoing psychiatric evaluation, or what is his status right now? Can I talk to him?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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We've got him scheduled for a doctor next week, but the guy's pretty busy--this full moon brings all the bugs out of the woodwork, you know what I mean? And no, he hasn't been formally arrested, we're holding him pending investigation. But we've got to arraign him if we're going to keep him, and if it looks to a judge like he's just another nutcase with a story, then he's out on the street. So I just thought I'd check with you to see if you thought that was a good idea. And no, you can't talk to him right now because I haven't got him here. But I'll tell him to give you a call next time I see him.
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Dr. Balis:
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Can I come down and see him...where, at the jail?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Yeah, he's down in San Bruno now, but they're really not set up for visitors. Let me see what I can do, though. So do you think this guy is dangerous or what? So far he's been real quiet; we can't 5150 him unless he seems to be a threat to himself or others, and aside from the story, he comes off pretty much okay--a little on the spaced-out side of normal, maybe. But I'm no expert...
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Dr. Balis:
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Look, I honestly don't know if he's dangerous or not. I don't think he really committed murder, it was probably just a fantasy. But I'd really like to see him, if that can be arranged. I think if I talked to him, I can get him into a private facility voluntarily.
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Sgt. Keefe:
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You mean he's got insurance? That sounds great. So listen, I'll tell you what. If nobody shows up chewed to death in the next 24 hours, I'll set you up for a date with Peter and the Wolf, okay?
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Dr. Balis:
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Peter and the Wolf?
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Oh sorry, that's just a station-house nickname that seems to have stuck in my mind. It's been a long weekend. Nice talking to you, Doctor Balis, I'll get back to you about the interview with Mr. Hossfeld.
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Dr. Balis:
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Thanks for the call, Sergeant Keefe. I'll be looking forward to it.
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Sgt. Keefe:
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Goodbye then.
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Dr. Balis:
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Goodbye.
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###
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Doctor Balis' Notes on this Telephone Call
Transcripts of Peter Hossfeld's Communications
