Deputy Brzozowski, SC Sheriff

PROSECUTION:
How long have you served as a Santa Cruz County Sheriff?
10 years with Santa Cruz, prior to that, 15 years with Scotts Valley.

Please explain your duties during the year 2006?
I was a patrol in San Lorenzo Valley during the day, covering Santa Cruz City limits to the Summit.

What were your specific duties?
Respond to calls for service, taking crime reports.

Did you have any contact with anyone regarding Asha Veil during 2006?
Yes, September 12, 2006 I was contacted by Ben Lomond Market's Human Resources person about a missing persons case regarding Asha Veil.

Had you ever seen Asha Veil before?
No.

What time did you reach Ben Lomond Market?
11:00AM, september 12, 2006.

What did you do when you arrived?
I met with Mrs. Barbara Loeffler, Ben Lomond Markets Human Resources person.

What information did you gather from your conversation from Mrs. Loeffler?
We were starting a missing person investigation. Asha's situation was addressed, her separation from her husband Richard, as well as her pregnancy. I got Asha's new address, but her roommates had not heard from her in days.

Did you also get a second address?
Yes, Richard Veil's address.

What information did you gather upon speaking to Richard Veil?
That they were recently separated, and no longer living together, she was pregnant and I was given the number for a Tauna Mcginnis.

Based on your experience, was Mr. Veil helpful? **Bunch of objections and rewording, obvious that Defense does not want it to be know that he cooperated fully.
Based on my experience, yes he was helpful.

What info did you obtain from Tauna Mcginnis?
She did not answer her phone, so I left a message. She later called the dispatch number I left her, the call was routed to me later that day by dispatch.

What info did you gather from her?
That Asha believed the father of her unborn child was her manager, a married man with 3 children.

How many days had she been missing at this point?
Only a few. [She disappeared on the 9th, he is doing this investigation on the 12th, 3 days had elapsed].

Is the only reason you spoke with Michael McClish was because of the info given to you?
Yes, the info I was given on the 12th.

Was Ben Lomond Market's Human Resources person, Mrs. Barbara Loeffler, present that day when you talked with Michael McClish?
Yes, she was present.

Did you, at this time, think it was a homicide?
No, at this point it was still just a missing persons case. [Her body wasn't found for another 2 days].

Take us through your conversation with Michael McClish that day.
I explained the reason I was there, investigating a missing persons report.
~I asked how did he know Asha, he said not very well except for work.
~I asked if there was anything else I should know? He explained McClish had worked for a year at Ben Lomond Market.
~I asked again if there was anything else I should know? He divulged he worked on her car, gave her a ride home, nothing else.
~I asked if he knew about her pregnancy councilor? He said no he did not.
~I asked why does it all point to him as the father. He said he was an alcoholic, and things get cloudy when he drinks, that things don't seem clear.
~I asked him if he was ever intimate with Asha. He said "things happen."

Was there any involvement with a vehicle?
Yes, a 1979 BMW - PPA300 (LP#)

Did you ever see this vehicle?
Yes, department found it near love creek.

How far from Ben Lomond Market was it?
About a quarter mile.

How was it parked?
Off the road, parallel to the road, unlocked.

Did you go through the car?
Yes, Officer Christianson and I did at that time.