4.Allison Ozga — Direct/Cross
176 linesMR. REDDINGTON: Yes, Your Honor. Ms. Ozga, please.
THE COURT: Ozga. O-Z-G-A.
COURT CLERK: Thank you. You may take a seat.
THE COURT: Good afternoon.
ALLISON OZGA: Hi. Good afternoon.
THE COURT: Could I ask you, speak into that microphone. Keep your voice up, okay?
ALLISON OZGA: Okay.
THE COURT: Great. Thank you. Counsel.
MR. REDDINGTON: Thank you, Judge. Afternoon. Tell us your name, please, and spell it.
ALLISON OZGA: Allison Ozga. A-L-L-I-S-O-N. Last name is O-Z-G-A.
MR. REDDINGTON: You know Lindsay?
ALLISON OZGA: I do.
MR. REDDINGTON: How do you know her?
ALLISON OZGA: Lindsay is my sister.
MR. REDDINGTON: And can you tell us, are you close to Lindsay? Are you—do you live near each other? Do you socialize? What type of relationship have you had with her?
ALLISON OZGA: We're very close. We have not lived in the same state for about 10 years now. But we do communicate, and I do think we're very close.
MR. REDDINGTON: And do you text with her on a regular basis?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And you talk on the phone, do you?
ALLISON OZGA: Occasionally.
MR. REDDINGTON: Directing your attention to the fall of—well, actually, heading into, like, Thanksgiving and Christmas of 2022. Do you remember that timeframe?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And did you have occasion to see your sister during that period of time?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And let's direct our attention to, let's say, Thanksgiving 2022.
ALLISON OZGA: Mm-hmm.
MR. REDDINGTON: Had you noticed any change in Lindsay's personality or any observation of how she appeared to you?
ALLISON OZGA: I will say on Thanksgiving, in particular, is when the first time I saw her in person after quite some time. I had known she had not been doing well via text message communication that we had. I think on Thanksgiving, she—you know, her mood did not look good, her energy. You know, she didn't seem very energized. It definitely seemed off from how I've seen her in the past.
MR. REDDINGTON: And were you aware that carried through from November into December, around the holiday season, if you had stayed in touch with her?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And can you tell us what you observed about her around the holiday season as it related to her, from your observations in your texting and your communications with Lindsay? How did she appear to you at that point?
ALLISON OZGA: The beginning of December, it seemed like she very much decompensated. I do remember her saying at one point at the beginning of December, something along the lines of, "I'm in a really tough spot." And knowing what she had shared with me previously about how her mental health had been struggling, I had this gut feeling that something was off and that she was really struggling, and I asked her if she was safe.
MR. REDDINGTON: What did she say?
ALLISON OZGA: She said yes at that point.
MR. REDDINGTON: And you knew her husband, Pat?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And you knew the kids?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: Obviously. Do you recall around Christmas itself, and perhaps a little bit thereafter, that you spoke with her and that she indicated basically, "I'm not doing okay"?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: Can you tell the jury what you observed about her demeanor or her symptomology when you said she was decompensating around that time? What were the symptoms, in your mind, of-
ALLISON OZGA: Mm-hmm. Based on communication with Lindsay, and I started communicating with Pat directly at that time, she was reporting her mood was worsening, as she described as depression. Her, she was having more suicidal thoughts. Her, she was—insomnia continued to be an issue. She was really not feeling like herself.
MR. REDDINGTON: And did you know that during that period of time where she was telling you about the suicidal thoughts and the issue of depression, that she was seeing doctors?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And what did she tell you about seeing the doctors and if she was on any medication, and if so, what effect did they have on her?
ALLISON OZGA: So the first thing she said about the doctors was back in October, when she said that she saw a doctor for Zoloft and had a very awful reaction to that Zoloft.
MR. REDDINGTON: Would that be Dr. Tufts?
ALLISON OZGA: I don't believe she shared that specific with me.
MR. REDDINGTON: Didn't share the name? Okay.
ALLISON OZGA: No. And then I think throughout our communication over the couple months of October to December, she did share with me that she was going to doctors, she was getting different prescriptions, kind of all the things that they were trying, and different treatments they were looking at.
MR. REDDINGTON: And do you recall, when you were talking with her about her symptoms, towards the end of December, that she had, in your words, "decompensating significantly," and stated to you that she felt nothing and that she was scared, things of that nature?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: What else did she tell you, if you recall?
ALLISON OZGA: At the end of December, so I think it was more along the same of, you know, that she is really not feeling well, her mood is down, she's feeling numb, she's feeling hopeless. I believe at the very end of the month she told me she had had suicidal ideation every day for a month.
MR. REDDINGTON: Do you recall, towards the end of the month, around New Year's, that she voluntarily admitted herself somewhere?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: Do you know where she admitted herself?
ALLISON OZGA: McLean, McLean Hospital.
MR. REDDINGTON: And while she was at McLean Hospital, ultimately do you know how she got out of McLean Hospital?
ALLISON OZGA: It was my understanding that she was weaning off of some medication that she was on, and then was eventually discharged five days later.
MR. REDDINGTON: Now, did you see her or talk to her after she left McLean Hospital, trying to wean herself off of whatever medication it was? 'Cause you don't know what the medication was, right?
ALLISON OZGA: I believe it was Seroquel.
MR. REDDINGTON: Seroquel?
ALLISON OZGA: Yep.
MR. REDDINGTON: Did she tell you anything to the effect that when she got out of the hospital that she felt as though this was a step in the right direction? Did she seem as though she was trying to be positive about her life?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And tell us about that. 'Cause up until this point you had observed her decompensating and—
ALLISON OZGA: Mm-hmm.
MR. REDDINGTON: ...having these symptoms, and suicidal ideation, and depression, and feeling nothing, and scary.
ALLISON OZGA: Mm-hmm.
MR. REDDINGTON: When she got out of McLean, what did she appear to you and what did she say to you?
ALLISON OZGA: I believe she said she felt that that was a good plan and that she was starting to feel better.
MR. REDDINGTON: So was your sister, in your opinion, granted she's your sister and you're biased obviously, but was she a complainer?
ALLISON OZGA: No.
MR. REDDINGTON: And obviously she didn't share with you in detail her doctors, and medicines, and things of that nature. Is that fair?
ALLISON OZGA: No.
MR. REDDINGTON: But you were aware of the struggles and the hurt that she was going through?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And then, through the month of January, did you have occasion to see her, or were you... 'Cause where, you still live in different states?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes. Yes, I did have an occasion to see her in January.
MR. REDDINGTON: When?
ALLISON OZGA: We went to Cora's birthday party.
MR. REDDINGTON: And that was at the trampoline park?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: How did she appear at that?
ALLISON OZGA: I think she looked like she was going through the motions of putting together a birthday party for her daughter. But she looked tired. She looked like she was still struggling.
MR. REDDINGTON: So there was a difference in your observation of what you had known your sister to have as a personality?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And then of course, the horrible day, were you aware or did somebody call you and tell you that the children had been killed—
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: ... and that one of them still survived and ultimately passed?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And do you recall who told you that?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: Who was that?
ALLISON OZGA: My mother.
MR. REDDINGTON: And as a result of getting the call from your mother, what did you do?
ALLISON OZGA: I jumped in a car, packed a bag, and I sped up to South Shore Hospital, which is where I was told she was.
MR. REDDINGTON: Did you see her in South Shore Hospital?
ALLISON OZGA: No.
MR. REDDINGTON: Did you know that she was then transferred to another hospital after South Shore?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And what hospital was that?
ALLISON OZGA: I believe it was Brigham and Women's.
MR. REDDINGTON: And were you able to visit her in Brigham and Women's?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And did it take some time before they would allow you to visit with her?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: How long, if you know?
ALLISON OZGA: I think it was approximately two weeks.
MR. REDDINGTON: Okay. And then you were able to see her pretty much on a regular basis?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: And where does Mom—where does your mother and father live?
ALLISON OZGA: In Connecticut.
MR. REDDINGTON: And are you close to them?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: Can you tell the jury, from the time of this incident in January 24th of 2023 up until now, 2026, where has your mother and father been living?
ALLISON OZGA: My parents have been spending the majority of their time up here in Massachusetts.
MR. REDDINGTON: Why?
ALLISON OZGA: So that they could visit Lindsay as much as possible.
MR. REDDINGTON: Almost on a daily basis?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MR. REDDINGTON: Was that at a bed and breakfast, or a bed and bath, or was it a hotel? Or where were they staying?
ALLISON OZGA: They've been living out of hotels.
MR. REDDINGTON: Thank you. That's all.
THE COURT: You can inquire.
THE COURT: Commonwealth.
MS. SPRAGUE: Thank you. Good afternoon.
ALLISON OZGA: Hey.
MS. SPRAGUE: Now, when Lindsay was at McLean Hospital and she was discharged, did she tell you that she asked to be discharged early to go to Cora's birthday party?
ALLISON OZGA: I can't recall.
MS. SPRAGUE: And do you recall speaking to the police on January 25th, just a day after this all happened back in 2023?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MS. SPRAGUE: And do you recall telling them that you saw Lindsay two weeks prior to the 24th, roughly around the birthday party time, and that she seemed okay?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MS. SPRAGUE: Do you recall telling the police that you spoke to her in call, phone calls many times after she was discharged to McLean, and that her tone of voice in those calls seemed better?
ALLISON OZGA: I did not speak to her on the phone. Most of our communication was via text.
MS. SPRAGUE: So you don't recall saying that to the police, that the tone of Lindsay's voice in our phone conversations was better the last couple weeks since she had been released from the hospital?
ALLISON OZGA: I believe when I said that I meant her tone, her tone via her text messages.
MS. SPRAGUE: And so her tone in her text messages was better?
ALLISON OZGA: A bit.
MS. SPRAGUE: And do you recall telling police that you spoke to Lindsay on Thursday, January 19th, 2023, and she seemed okay?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MS. SPRAGUE: And that was a phone call, correct?
ALLISON OZGA: That was text message.
MS. SPRAGUE: Text message, okay.
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MS. SPRAGUE: So when you were saying "spoke to" to the police, it was—you were referring to text messages?
ALLISON OZGA: Correct.
MS. SPRAGUE: And so in that text message she seemed fine?
ALLISON OZGA: She seemed okay.
MS. SPRAGUE: So she had just been released from McLean Hospital at the beginning of January, and all of your communications after the birthday party were text message. Is that correct?
MR. REDDINGTON: I think the dates were on—
ALLISON OZGA: I believe so, yes.
MS. SPRAGUE: Just so we make sure we have the date correct. After she was discharged from McLean—
ALLISON OZGA: Mm-hmm.
MS. SPRAGUE: …in January of 2023, up until January 24th, 2023, all of your communications were via text?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MS. SPRAGUE: Did you visit her at her home that month?
ALLISON OZGA: No.
MS. SPRAGUE: You didn't reach out or call her at all, correct?
ALLISON OZGA: I reached out and called, yes. I did not visit her at her home, no.
MS. SPRAGUE: When you called, did she respond? Did she answer the phone?
ALLISON OZGA: I'm sorry, let me backtrack. I can't recall whether I made a phone call. I can recall the majority of our communication between January 1st and January 24th was via text message.
MS. SPRAGUE: So there could have been some phone calls?
ALLISON OZGA: I cannot recall any phone calls.
MS. SPRAGUE: You are a licensed social worker, correct?
ALLISON OZGA: Correct.
MS. SPRAGUE: And you're a mandated reporter, correct?
ALLISON OZGA: Yes.
MS. SPRAGUE: And at any point in time between January 1st, 2023, and January 24th, 2023, did you have enough concern about the safety of the kids or the safety of your sister to file a report as a mandated reporter?
ALLISON OZGA: No.
MS. SPRAGUE: Thank you.
THE COURT: Mr. Reddington.
MR. REDDINGTON: That's all I have, Judge. Thank you.
THE COURT: Okay. Thank you, ma'am. You may step down.