King of Pop Passes Off to Queen Ped, Taryn Thoman

Mary Clements
75 Pearl Street
Hyannis, MA 02601

March 9, 2009

Detective Mark Delaney
PO Box B
1200 Phinney’s Lane
Hyannis, MA 02601

Dear Detective Delaney,

Thank you for meeting with me briefly on March 5, 2009. As you are aware, I met Ms. Taryn Thoman when she was involved with the recall effort to remove President Janet Swain Joakim from office last November. Ms. Thoman sought my assistance with a number of initiatives including collecting signatures for Open Meeting of the Voters and the Recall Affidavit. I worked with her on these initiatives and efforts over seven months in spring and summer of 2008. I was introduced to Taryn Thoman in late January of 2008 through Lou Gonzaga for the purposes of developing a grassroots organization to improve the quality of municipal politics. Telephone numbers were exchanged and a meeting was arranged to discuss efforts to improve the quality of municipal government in February of 2008.

During the course of my involvement with Taryn Thoman and Citizens for Open Government (COG),

Ms. Thoman described the details of her difficulties with her neighbors, Christine and Ron Howell and their children. Thoman described ongoing difficulty with a delicate neighborhood dispute that evolved over three years. Ms. Thoman claimed that the police were continually involved and that Chief Paul MacDonald made exemplary efforts to resolve the matter peacefully. Ms. Thoman states that there were several months span of improved conditions on Mountain Ash Road. Ms. Thoman complained that when she began to campaign for a seat on the charter commission, the intensity of antagonistic and malevolent behavior escalated. Police Reports and court documents indicate conditions on Mountain Ash Road were exacerbated in this neighborhood when Taryn Thoman dropped her efforts at litigation in civil court and campaigned for a seat on the proposed charter commission. Members of Citizens for Open Government were attempting to establish a charter commission, and secure elected seats on this commission should this initiative pass. Shortly we were introduced, Ms. Thoman complained about Internet attacks that involved her, her husband, Dennis Wilcox, and their son Aidan Wilcox. Ms. Thoman initially suggested that her reasons for wanting Joakim removed were personal and not political. She emphatically stated that President Joakim and Christine Howell deliberately attacked her family for political reasons. I asked Ms. Thoman to provide me with such notation and documentation and produce such comments. I told her that if she could demonstrate that she and her child were libeled and attacked over the Internet I would assist her in any way possible. She produced such notation, forwarded website links and provided me with a list of comments that were produced in regard to Internet political blog wars. I saved the notation, and told her I would assist.

1) See video tape of comments at town council meeting produced by Thoman on March 6, 2008.

2) Refer to second video of comments at town meeting. March 17. These second set of comments were greatly developed and directed by Thoman.

3) Please consider extensive Internet blog notation and websites developed by Ms. Thoman.


After I became involved with Citizens for Open Government, Ms. Taryn Thoman asked me to accompany her to the memorial service for a mutual acquaintance and former candidate for Charter Commission, Peter Doiron of Barnstable. On April 5, 2008, a small group from Citizens from Open Government attended the service at the South Congregational Church and conversed at the reception. Conversation regarding municipal government and the charter commission ensued. Ms. Thoman began to describe the actions of her neighbors and complained about the problems she faced in her neighborhood at Mountain Ash Road. Many of those in attendance were politically active and aware of the scurrilous and malicious Internet blogging plaguing Barnstable at that time. Ms. Thoman began to discuss the actions of Christine and Ron Howell and spoke openly about the commotion and dissent on Mountain Ash Road. Ms. Thoman was complaining about the interference of municipal political figures in this dispute and their inability to resolve these issues. Thoman described alarming events and claimed to witness behavior that was extremely disturbing.

Thoman claimed to possess evidence of child abuse and footage of her neighbors driving to endanger. She described unusual events such as syringes and needles strewn in Christine Howell’s driveway and front yard. Ms. Thoman suggested that a complaint should be made to The Board of Registration in Nursing. Councilor Greg Milne, former Precinct Six Councilor Joe Pino, Oliver Cippolini and his wife, and former School Committee member Tom Dolby were present when Taryn Thoman complained that the reason for the harassing behavior was caused by her “insane neighbors being “inbred” child molesters”. Ms. Thoman mentioned publicly that she had made multiple DSS reports about a number of abused and neglected children in her neighborhood. She claimed that President Janet Swain Joakim deliberately instigated and provoked the Howell family in an effort to thwart the empanelling of the charter commission. Thoman stated these events ruined her chances at a political career, and essentially destroyed her life. Thoman believed that Joakim’s efforts to protect her own political aspirations resulted in ruining not only her chances for a political career and rightfully improve the quality of municipal politics, but also caused significant harm to her son, Aidan Wilcox.

Ms. Thoman often mentions that Janet Joakim was “Destroying” Barnstable, One Child, One Family, One Village at a Time. Please refer to the image produced by Thoman enclosed.

It was agreed by all attending the service and reception at the Congregational Church that I would formulate a complaint against the nursing license of Christine Howell. Several political candidates in attendance and seated at the table expressed concern over the controversial nature of such during an election year. Councilor Greg Milne, Joe Pino and Oliver Cippolini stated that they would support the effort if the problems could be substantiated. Joe Mr. Pino suggested that Thoman assist me with development of a website to join the team of political Internet bloggers. Immediately after the reception in the church hall on April 5, 2008, Ms. Thoman accompanied me to the adjacent Centerville Public Library to establish my website, www.barnstablesafetynetwork on “Blogger” and established an email account for me, emgc02601@hotmail.com. I have provided documentation of website notations in the past for your review. Ms. Thoman sat an adjacent terminal and began to post comments on her established websites including web pages targeting the Howell family. She stated that she was forced to respond in this manner to protect herself from Internet harassment instigated by Joakim. Please refer to the list of websites Thoman established for your review.

Ms. Thoman spoke with me daily about difficulty with the Howell family and problems with the neighbors throughout the seven month recall effort. Thoman continually held Joakim responsible for instigating problems with the Howells. She stated that Joakim was using the Howells to lobby a scurrilous campaign against her out of revenge for her helping establish the charter commission and campaigning for a seat on the established charter commission. Thoman stated that Joakim was intimidated by her and threatened by her prestige in the community. Taryn Thoman complained constantly that Joakim robbed her of a seat on the charter commission and if it weren’t for Howell’s campaign against her she would have been elected to serve. Ms. Thoman claimed to be a reputable business woman, the proprietor of a novelty shop on Main Street for 21 years. According to The Barnstable Patriot, Thoman came in “just out of the winner’s circle” finishing eleventh in the contest. Thoman maintained that the increase in the Howell’s antagonistic behavior and instigation of such events were politically motivated. Thoman admitted participation in the escalating events at Mountain Ash Road, related at times to her temper problems and occasional alcohol intoxication.

Ms. Thoman asked me to speak with her sister, Therese Marinelli via a conference call in late April of 2008. Please refer to the email communication enclosed between Ms. Thoman and Ms. Marinelli. I indeed spoke to Ms. Therese Marinelli of Ohio State University in a conference call with Thoman on or about April 14, 2008 and she provided me with substantial concern in regard to Howell’s actions. She claimed physicians at Ohio State considered Ms. Howell’s nursing practice questionable. This specifically included the improper disposal of needles and syringes, reckless driving, driving to endanger with children in the vehicle, and sexual abuse of the children. Marinelli also claimed footage of child abuse was in possession of the BPD and that there was substantial cause for the concern for neglect of the Howell children. Ms. Marinelli also stated she was aware of, and had witnessed assaultive behavior and sexual abuse by eight year old Tyler Varnum of the neighborhood. Ms. Marinelli stated that she worked with a number of physicians and specialists at Ohio State that they were aware of this abuse. She claimed that physicians working with her agreed that social services should be contacted on their behalf. Ms. Marinelli also stated that the doctors in Endocrinology with whom she worked were well aware of the outrageous nursing practice of Ms. Christine Howell. Marinelli claimed that physicians at Ohio State thought Registered Nursing practice in this state should be evaluated by a number of oversight boards and governmental committees. Ms. Marinelli also suggested that we complain to Senator Edward Kennedy’s Office about the quality and standard for nursing practice and that there would also be cause to “notify the Feds”.

Ms. Therese Marinelli claimed to be a witness that Mountain Ash Road was indeed replete with child molesters and sex abusers.

4) Enclosed is the extensive documentation provided to sustain and corroborate the complaints against Howell’s license. Several of these documents include affidavits created by Ms. Marinelli.

5) Please consider the photograph of the Howell couple enjoying a backyard barbeque. Ms. Thoman considered this evidence that both Christine and Ron are “in-bred”.

6) Ms. Thoman claimed to have substantial footage of Christine Howell driving recklessly, operating to endanger, presenting crazy behavior demonstrating “no impulse control” (Thoman’s words verbatim).

7) Please consider the footage of Howell campaigning against Thoman. Ms. Taryn Thoman provided me with this on April 15, 2008 when collaborating to make the complaint against Howell’s license. The computer terminal used was a public Internet site in downtown Hyannis. The company is called Net Zone and the organization allowed public Internet use at the time for a rate of $5.00/hr. Thoman always blogged for longer than one hour stating that the technicians wouldn’t notice and charge her only five dollars. Ms. Thoman blogged on barnstablebeat.blogspot.com at this café. I witnessed her harassing Howell on this site after providing me with the footage of Howell campaigning against her. Taryn Thoman stated she liked this specific Internet Café because of the anonymity involved.

Ms. Thoman promised me additional footage corroborating reckless behavior. She stated it was in the possession of the Barnstable Police Department and would request a copy from Paul MacDonald. The footage was never provided.

I spoke with Sean Erickson of the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Nursing in early April in regard to formulation of the complaint against Howell. I explained that Ms. Thoman was never a patient in the care of Howell and that political aspirations of both Thoman and Joakim were a consideration and that Ms. Thoman did state that Ms. Christine Howell and her neighbors had a completely different perspective and version of the events that transpired over this three year span.

In July of 2008, Thoman offered to assist me with my website, www.barnstablesafetynetwork.com . She accompanied me to the Wilken's Memorial Library late in the afternoon in July. Thoman had little patience with me as a student and spent most of her time and energy on an adjacent terminal blogging. Thoman blogged onto a number of political websites posting antagonistic comments toward President Janet Joakim and Christine Howell.

8) I observed Taryn Thoman posting with my name, suggesting that three of the harassing websites were generated by me. Please refer to the comments I made in regard to having only one website. Ms. Thoman posted that I was the author of websites generated by her. Please note the long list of Internet blog rolls set up by Thoman to harass the Howell family.

Ms. Taryn Thoman later admitted in late June that the effort to make a complaint against Howell’s license was to appease her sister, Therese Marinelli of Columbus, Ohio. Ms. Thoman stated that Marinelli had a “good job” and that Christine Howell had made trouble for her sister by complaining about Marinelli’s harassing comments and scurrilous blogging from Ohio State Computer Systems. Once again, note the email address on the correspondence provided to Thoman from Marinelli. Thoman stated she wanted retribution, as Terese had an important job at Ohio State in the Endocrinology Department and worked for a many important and prominent physicians. She stated that Terese was embarrassed and humiliated after being disciplined by the Human Resource Department at Ohio State.

9) Please note the return notice from the Board of Registration in Nursing. Ms. Thoman was angry that Howell’s license was neither censured nor removed. Thoman faulted me for being unable to write a sufficient complaint against Howell.
10) Thoman once admitted that her sister Terese Marinelli often allows her to “ransack” the supply closet at the Endocrinology Thoman Department at Ohio State for “really good stuff”.

11) Ms. Thoman mentioned on many occasions that Christine Howell’s motivation for aberrant behavior was jealousy toward Thoman. Ms. Thoman stated that Christine was obsessed with Dennis Wilcox, and that he was attractive, muscular, and that he rebuffed the advance Christine Howell made toward him. Thoman claimed that Christine Howell constantly exposed herself to her husband, Dennis Wilcox.

Thoman claimed that the Howell children were often found sitting naked in the road, or simply diapered, sitting behind the wheel of her vehicle, a Honda SUV, and that Thoman had nearly backed over one of Howell’s small children. She also claimed that Howell’s children were often fed by Thoman’s babysitters and that many saw the children neglected, unkempt and unclean. I witnessed Christine Howell with her child in early September. Her little boy was clean, well dressed and appeared afraid of Thoman as Howell spoke with Charles Lewis, the Animal Control officer.

12) Taryn Thoman and I had a major disagreement at an informal meeting at the Burger King on North Street after Dennis Wilcox was charged with assault and battery. I disagreed with Thoman’s decision to place the footage of the altercation she obtained from her installed video cameras on a local blog site set to music. I suggested that she supply it to the police department and to public officials. When she insisted on placing the video footage to music on www.capecog.com for entertainment purposes, I suggested that this would likely result in her being charged for Criminal Harassment. I advised her that I could no longer help her with the recall and returned a good number of materials to her at that time. These materials included the summons Dennis Wilcox was served after the altercation with his neighbors, medical reports, and the photograph she took of her husband after the altercation. Thoman replied that I had to respect her decision to “do what was best for her family”.

On the evening of July 17, 2008, Ms. Taryn Thoman spoke before the Barnstable Town Council in regard to the recall effort. Thoman lied to the council claiming to have all of the necessary signatures to meet the requirements of the recall affidavit. I had only obtained approximately 37 and we needed 50. Thoman came to my house after the meeting and her conversation with the Barnstable Patriot, and suggested she needed a drink. She stated she had no money so I offered to take her to one of the local Hyannis restaurants for dinner. She preferred to pick up alcohol (six beers of Heineken, a small bottle of hard liquor and a pack of cigarettes and drank in the parking lot of Fortes Beach.) I had a small glass of wine. Jeannette Chilli telephoned and suggested she bring Aidan home as Thoman was intoxicated. I spoke with Mrs. Chilli and told her I had only one and one-half glasses of wine at 6:30PM and that it was ten o’clock and I would drive Taryn home safely. Taryn asked me at that point if I did drugs, had any prescription narcotics or did I know where to get them. I explained to Ms. Thoman that I have never used narcotics that the local narcotics dealers won’t sell me anything because I have had dealings with the DEA. I also suggested that she call it a night, because we still had signatures to collect, and COG was counting on us to have the affidavit ready for presentation by Friday at 4PM. I drove Taryn home and then drove her car to my house for the night. I returned to Mountain Ash Road by 8:30 PM so Aidan Wilcox could be transported to camp. Ms. Thoman was still ill from intoxication from the previous evening.
Lastly, during the final effort to secure enough signatures for the recall affidavit, Thoman threatened my family with litigation if I did not assist her with the collection of the signatures. She suggested that she would accuse me of molesting Aidan and that she could sue my family for their assets. She suggested that I would be locked away in a hospital without there being any legal recourse or due process for me and that she would litigate for assets. Thoman stated that this would be easy to do, and that she waited until we were in the car to tell me what her plans were so that we would not be recorded. She stated she would instruct Aidan to lie and that this would be something they had to do to provide for his future. When I suggested I would have a lawyer and a hearing, she asked me why I would be so selfish. Shouldn’t I simply want what is best for Aidan? She threatened to throw a Molotov cocktail threw my living room window. She knew I had many of documents and items in regard to Aidan Wilcox, the Howell family and the recall in my possession.

13)When I asked her if she fabricated the story about Aidan being molested she smiled and replied
“I’ll guess we’ll never know”.

14 On Friday, August date, I severed all contact with Thoman and ceased any association with the
effort to recall President Janet Swain Joakim