Accused Serial Killer's Ex Girlfriend Says She was Afraid of Him

A Florida woman testified this morning that accused serial killer Joseph Naso choked her so he could have sex with her while she was unconscious during their relationship.

During the live transmission from a Pensacola, Fla., courtroom, Betty Matheson, 80, said she informed Reno, Nev. police about the incident in a letter on Jan. 17, 1995. Matheson said she did not recall when the choking incident occurred.

Matheson said she broke up with Naso because she was afraid of him.

Naso, 78, is charged with killing four Northern California women between 1977 and 1994. At least two of the women were strangled.

Naso is serving as his own attorney during a preliminary hearing that is in its fourth day and is expected to continue until at least the end of next week in Marin County Superior Court.

Matheson is among many women who posed in hosiery, garters and red high heels for photos found in Naso's Reno home and in his safety deposit box in a Reno bank.

Matheson said she did not recall posing for the photos.

"Was he the only one who would take a picture like that?" Deputy District Attorney Rosemary Slote asked.

"Yes indeed," Matheson replied.

Matheson also said Naso sent her "trashy letters" and copies of the photos he had taken of her.

She also recalled asking a postmaster to try to stop the mail.

During his cross-examination of Matheson, Naso asked her if she recalled their good times together in California.

"You still look good Betty, after all these years. You still look good to me," Naso said.

Naso reminded Matheson that he visited her twice in Florida but she was unable to remember some of the details of the visit.

"We had a lot of fun together, didn't we," Naso asked.

"Yes," Matheson said, as she and Naso shared some laughter.

"Did I ever harm you?" Naso asked.

"I do not remember," she replied.

"I wish I could remember better," she said at the end of her 90-minute testimony.

"I do too," Naso said.

Marin County Superior Court Judge Andrew Sweet acknowledged Matheson appeared to be suffering from a medical condition exhibited by shaking hands and slow speech during her testimony.

Bay City News Service