Jury acquits Doug Foot in mother's death

(Santa Fe, New Mexico-AP) -- A New Mexico jury has acquitted an Oklahoma man of killing his mother. <br><br>Jurors in Santa Fe, New Mexico ended years of speculation that Doug Foote of Sapulpa killed his

Saturday, April 19th 2003, 12:00 am

By: News On 6

(Santa Fe, New Mexico-AP) -- A New Mexico jury has acquitted an Oklahoma man of killing his mother.

Jurors in Santa Fe, New Mexico ended years of speculation that Doug Foote of Sapulpa killed his mother and buried her under a rosebush in the yard of the Santa Fe home the two shared in the early 1970s.

Foote was also acquitted of tampering with evidence.

Prosecutors contended Foote killed his mother, mutilated her and buried her.

Foote told police his mother moved from Santa Fe, married and died of natural causes in Maryland in 1977.

But there was no death certificate for Donna Foote in Maryland.

A handwriting expert testified that Donna Foote's handwriting on a deed used when the house was sold in 1976 was forged.