12.William A. Campbell, Jr. — Direct
152 linesWILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR., duly sworn
COURT CLERK: State your name and spell your last name for the record, keep your voice up and speak into the mic so everyone can hear you.
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: My name is William A. Campbell, Jr., C-A-M-P-B-E-L-L.
DIRECT EXAMINATION BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: Good afternoon, Mr. Campbell.
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Good afternoon.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, can you tell us what town you live in?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Medford, Massachusetts.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And who do you live with?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: I live with my wife, my son.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And what's your wife's name?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Patricia.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And I got into trouble the last time I asked this, but how long have you been married?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Thirty-six years.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And tell us about your family.
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: We're very close. We've always been close. We've been like that since me and Patty got married. We decided to have a family two, three years, after being married, and we did so. We're pretty close. We do a lot of things together.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And you were the father of Krystle Campbell, correct?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yes, I am.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. Tell us what Krystle was like.
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Krystle was the light of my life, Billy's life. She was extremely smart, hard-working, beautiful. Every father's dream.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Did you have a nickname for her?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: I miss her a lot.
MS. PELLEGRINI: I'm sorry. Did you have a nickname for her?
MS. PELLEGRINI: What was that?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Her name was "Princess." I never called her "Krystle" unless she did something wrong or something like that, then I'd call her "Krystle Marie," and then she knew I was angry or something. I always called her "Princess."
(Laughter.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Why?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: That's what she was the day she was born.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What was it like being her dad?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: She was really something. She was always willing to do anything for anybody. I mean, she wouldn't hesitate. She just had that way of her. I mean, if you needed a shirt, she'd give you hers. She was just always out there. She was just a perfect young lady. I was very lucky.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Now, when she was growing up, what did she like to do?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Oh, God. Well, she wasn't really a girly girl, okay? I wouldn't ever call her that. But she loved to white-water, she used to love to camp, she liked to play baseball, and she had a good arm on her. She had a good bat. I was very proud of her.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And how about family activities? Anything you guys would do together?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Oh, all kinds, yeah. Yeah. Anything. That's what I meant before. Because I wouldn't know what she was going to come over with the next day because she had a day off, it was like, "Mom, come on. Let's go. We've got to do this. Come on, just give it a shot." I mean, she even jumped out of an airplane. But I just asked her not to tell her mom until she did it and came home, you know? But we did all kinds of things together. We were lucky enough to have a pool that I built in the backyard. All of us built it together, actually. Put it together. And we had some great times together.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, what about your relationship, you and Krystle, just the two of you?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: I just loved her to death. She -- she -- I just loved her to death because she always made me happy. You know, I had troubles with my back and stuff and she would get me out of bed, get me moving, you know. And I thought that was a pretty cool talent because I was just about ready to give up. And she'd come over 7:30 in the morning, "Come on dad. Get up. Do your exercise. Let's go." And I ended up all right, so...
MS. PELLEGRINI: Now, when she got older, how often did you two talk?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Oh, God. Every day she'd call me.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Why would she call you every day?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Every day. Every single day because -- well, we had Rocky. She'd drop him off at four o'clock, five o'clock, six o'clock in the morning, and she would have to come back and pick up Rocky later in the night, because she loved dogs.
MS. PELLEGRINI: I was just going to ask you who Rocky was.
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah, Rocky is her dog. And we'd baby-sit for Rocky. So, you know, we got to see her every single day, twice a day. And we were a really, really close family. Very close family.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How about with other members of your family, grandparents, aunts and uncles?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah, well, when my mom got sick, really sick, Krystle was just about ready to move out on another adventure. And when she found out that Nana was sick, she moved right in with Nana. Never hesitated, nothing. She just moved right in to take care of my mother.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And was she still working at the time?
MS. PELLEGRINI: So how did she do both?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: She did it. She had breakfast with her at six o'clock, she'd call her in the afternoon, she'd come home and spend the nights with her. I don't know how she did it. I really don't.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How about Krystle's relationship with your wife, Patricia?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Oh, that was special. It wasn't like every mother and daughter type. They were like good buddies. I mean, when she'd tell me, you know, Krystle asked her to go out with her girlfriend or something like that, I would just say, "Yeah, yeah, you know, go ahead," because I knew when Patty would come home, she'd be all happy and excited. And, you know, that's what Krystle did for her mother, you know? They were like best of friends. They laughed, they joked. It was amazing to see, you know?
MS. PELLEGRINI: How about her work? What did she do for work and how did she do it?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Her work ethics was unbelievable. She wouldn't think anything of working 10, 12 hours a day or more. I mean, she just never ran out of gas. And yet like I said, she would -- she would work a 12-hour day and then if somebody needed something or wanted something or whatever, she would just be right there. She would just be right there for them.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Did you ever get to see her interacting with her coworkers or people that she managed?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Oh, yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Yeah?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Oh, yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What was that like?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Well, it was funny because I kept telling her that, you know, she couldn't be a boss and be friends too, like you had to be one or the other. But she proved me wrong on that because, you know, somebody needed help and they were at the lower end of the train, she would go in there and help them and then go right on with what she'd have to do. Her coworkers loved her.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How about Krystle with other children?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: She had a knack with kids. She had a knack with kids.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Did she have that all her life?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah, she -- she -- I don't know. That and animals. Young kids and animals. She had a natural knack.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you remember anything in particular about her relationship with kids who might have troubles in their lives?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Well, she had a great relationship with my grandson, and that was every Saturday. And he looked forward to that. He knew Aunty was coming on Saturday morning. And if it was past nine o'clock he actually asked, "Where's Aunty? Where's Aunty?" And he was only four. So the bond that he had with Aunty was very special.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How about keeping in touch with the wider family group? Who did that?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: She would. Krystle did that.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How did she do it?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: She made phone calls, she asked everybody when they're coming down. Aunt Betty lived in New Hampshire, Aunt Lillian lived in Philadelphia. When's the next time we were going to meet, and then she would plan something. And she was -- she drived [sic] by that. She'd get everybody together and pull it off.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Have you been able to keep that up?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: No. No. Nobody could fill that boot now. My sister's moved down to Philadelphia. And it hasn't been the same, no.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, I'm going to ask you about Marathon Monday of 2013 and ask you when you found out what had happened to Krystle.
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: That was a real bad day. I was home watching the marathon and I saw what had happened, the explosion, and I didn't feel right. And my son called me because we really didn't know where she was, whether she was there or at the Red Sox game yet. We didn't know yet. So we waited ten to 12 hours and were talking to the doctors and they were saying they may have to cut off her leg and do things like that, and we said, "Go ahead. You do what you got to do. Just save my baby," you know? And then the doctor asked me to take a walk with him and take a look and see her. I walked through the door, and it wasn't Krystle. And I passed out on the floor. I couldn't remember anything after that till I woke up about five minutes later and I realized that Krystle was gone and they had made a mistake.
MS. PELLEGRINI: What's it been like since Krystle is gone?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Horrible. It's one of the toughest things I think any parent goes through, but I would never wish it on any parent or any person. It's very hard. She was the light of my life. I'm proud of her. She was strong, beautiful, smart, giving. I miss her.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, before coming into court today, did you and I look over some photographs that your family had supplied?
MS. PELLEGRINI: And do you recognize as you looked at these photographs the people who are in them, family members and Krystle?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Your Honor, the government would offer 1601-01, -02, -07, -08, -09, -14 -- I'm sorry -- -12 and -14.
MS. CLARKE: No objection.
THE COURT: No objection? Okay. Then those several exhibits are admitted.
(Government Exhibit Nos. 1601-01, 1601-02, 1601-07, 1601-08, 1601-09, 1601-12, 1601-14, received into evidence.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Thank you.
BY MS. PELLEGRINI:
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, we're going to put up on the screen in front of you --
MS. PELLEGRINI: Can we start, Mr. Bruemmer, first, with 1601-01.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, do you remember this?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah, that was her first birthday. She was a Cabbage Patch. It was when we lived in a small place in Somerville. But she even had a big smile at that age.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And go to 1601-02, please.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Who's this?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: That's mom and Krystle.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And this is Patricia and Krystle?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah, both of them had their pajammies on together.
(Laughter.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: 1601-07, please.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Do you remember this day?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah, that's her First Holy Communion.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And where did this take place? Where is St. Joseph's?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: St. Joe's in Medford.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And so who else is in the photo? Who else is in the photo?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Oh, my God. We've got her nephew, me, Pat, and I think -- I don't know who that other little guy is.
(Laughter.)
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Christopher. Billy, yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How about 1601-08? Now, you said she wasn't a girly girl.
(Laughter.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: So what's happening here?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Well, that's when she -- that's when she was a girly girl.
(Laughter.)
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: But she loved it. She liked to tap. She -- but she gave it up for a baseball bat.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Let's go to 1601-14. -14? Or it might be -19. We'll stay with that one for a second.
MS. PELLEGRINI: How about this photo, Mr. Campbell? Do you remember this one?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah, it was her prom.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Her prom?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Did she go to many?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Actually, she -- yeah, she went to a couple. She was very lucky, yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Yeah?
MS. PELLEGRINI: And as a matter of fact, how about her circle of friends?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: She -- like I said, she just -- she was a very lucky young lady. She had girlfriends, boyfriends. I mean, not in the idea of a boy, but as friends. I mean, she had a lot of friends because she would always -- she liked to do things. I mean, she wouldn't sit around. And, you know, she was always outgoing and would have a plan, and that's why people really liked her.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, we talked to your son about a wedding that Krystle put together on Spectacle Island for Jasper White's nephew. Do you remember that?
MS. PELLEGRINI: And do you remember what Krystle had to do for the next day?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah. It was -- well, she got kind of angry because she wasn't just a maid of honor for that either; she was running the wedding. She was maid of honor, but yet the boss had put up another event for five o'clock that following day and he let her know, like, at ten or eleven o'clock that night. So she ended up sleeping at the ranger station, but she still did it. And that's just the way she was. I mean, sleeping at a ranger's station so that she didn't miss it. A lobster event? I don't know. But that was Krystle.
MS. PELLEGRINI: 1601-10.
MS. PELLEGRINI: All right. So we went from the girly girl?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah. That's when she played baseball. That's before she switched to softball. She played hardball, and that was -- she had a good talent, exceptional talent.
MS. PELLEGRINI: And 1601-09.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Now, you mentioned you had a pool?
MS. PELLEGRINI: Is that your pool in the backyard?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: That's the one we built, yeah.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Yeah? And is that Krystle in the middle of the picture?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Yeah. Well, there's no room in the cooler, so Krystle figured keep the watermelon cool by throwing it in the pool, so that's what we did. It was a good idea.
(Laughter.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Mr. Campbell, what do you miss the most about Krystle?
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: I miss my hug every day. She never left the house without giving me a hug. I miss that the most. I miss her being here. But I miss the hug.
MS. PELLEGRINI: Thank you, Mr. Campbell. I have no further questions.
MS. CLARKE: Thank you very much.
WILLIAM A. CAMPBELL, JR.: Thank you.
THE COURT: Thank you, sir. You may step down. Thank you.
(The witness is excused.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Your Honor, before I leave, I think I had misspoken about one of the numbers. I thought it was -14, but it was that one 1601-10, and I would ask that that be entered appropriately.
THE COURT: Strike -14 and put in -10?
MS. PELLEGRINI: -10. Yes, sir.
THE COURT: Okay.
(Government Exhibit No. 1601-10, replacing Exhibit No. 1601-14, received into evidence.)
MS. PELLEGRINI: Thank you.
MR. MELLIN: The United States calls Nicole Gross.