...and I read Misskelley confessed sighing first ten minutes and then layer (maybe after interrogation) confessed to his own involvement. A person can spin a story any way they want it through media. I just want to know the facts. And the fact misskelley's early confession and parts that were hurt on boys during crime scene matched up to later autopsy reports was very telling to me. Again, I just wish o knew the true facts..such as what the person gave me before that shows was very mentally ill at the time.
Read "Devil's Knot"
Misskelley's confession was bogus. His first confession said that the murders occurred at 9am and that Damien had sodomized the kids....there was no evidence of sodomy and the murders definitely happened after 6pm
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
I've heard different stories from both sides about the sodomy. And the time frame is a minor discrepancy to me compared to the detailed confession that was given (and by a person of such "low IQ"). But thank you, I will check into this book and also others.
...and I read Misskelley confessed sighing first ten minutes and then layer (maybe after interrogation) confessed to his own involvement. A person can spin a story any way they want it through media. I just want to know the facts. And the fact misskelley's early confession and parts that were hurt on boys during crime scene matched up to later autopsy reports was very telling to me. Again, I just wish o knew the true facts..such as what the person gave me before that shows was very mentally ill at the time.
Read "Devil's Knot"
Misskelley's confession was bogus. His first confession said that the murders occurred at 9am and that Damien had sodomized the kids....there was no evidence of sodomy and the murders definitely happened after 6pm
I've heard different stories from both sides about the sodomy. And the time frame is a minor discrepancy to me compared to the detailed confession that was given (and by a person of such "low IQ"). But thank you, I will check into this book and also others.
...and I read Misskelley confessed sighing first ten minutes and then layer (maybe after interrogation) confessed to his own involvement. A person can spin a story any way they want it through media. I just want to know the facts. And the fact misskelley's early confession and parts that were hurt on boys during crime scene matched up to later autopsy reports was very telling to me. Again, I just wish o knew the true facts..such as what the person gave me before that shows was very mentally ill at the time.
Read "Devil's Knot"
Misskelley's confession was bogus. His first confession said that the murders occurred at 9am and that Damien had sodomized the kids....there was no evidence of sodomy and the murders definitely happened after 6pm
No such thing as a "minor discrepancy, " especially one in a confession that inculpates 2 other co-defendants in a capital murder trial. Either as a defense attorney or average person, my mind instantly questions a witness's/confessor's credibility/honesty when that person misremembers critical components about any event: time, place and/or an order of events. There are too many inconsistencies and impossibilities in Misskelley's confessions that its clear he was either 1) lying or 2) too low-functioning to have an ability to have either participated in the events he describes or be relied upon as an actual witness for such events.
Check the book out. Check out the trial transcripts. Lots of serious concerns about the fairness of this trial. At the very least, a new trial is warranted
1998-06-30 Minneapolis
2003-06-16 St. Paul
2006-06-26 St. Paul
2007-08-05 Chicago
2009-08-23 Chicago
2009-08-28 San Francisco
2010-05-01 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
2011-07-02 EV Minneapolis
2011-09-03 PJ20
2011-09-04 PJ20
2011-09-17 Winnipeg
2012-06-26 Amsterdam
2012-06-27 Amsterdam
2013-07-19 Wrigley
2013-11-21 San Diego
2013-11-23 Los Angeles
2013-11-24 Los Angeles
2014-07-08 Leeds, UK
2014-07-11 Milton Keynes, UK
2014-10-09 Lincoln
2014-10-19 St. Paul
2014-10-20 Milwaukee
2016-08-20 Wrigley 1
2016-08-22 Wrigley 2 2018-06-18 London 1 2018-08-18 Wrigley 1 2018-08-20 Wrigley 2 2022-09-16 Nashville 2023-08-31 St. Paul 2023-09-02 St. Paul 2023-09-05 Chicago 1 2024-08-31 Wrigley 2 2024-09-15 Fenway 1 2024-09-27 Ohana 1 2024-09-29 Ohana 2 2025-05-03 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
I started getting very interested in this case when I heard Eddie was going to perform at the benefit. I've seen both documentaries, and watched a number of interviews, documentaries, and specials on them as well. I haven't read any of the books associated with the case yet but I am very interested in it being a bit of legal junkie and nerd.
My theory on the case is that the convictions are bogus. First of all, at the time of the initial convictions there just wasn't anything there to physically connect them to the murders. Nothing. They had not one piece of conclusive evidence that proved they were even there, let alone conclusively connected the boys to the murders enough to warrant lifetime convictions and the death penalty in Damien's case. I am shocked that they are still in jail, the defense attorneys for the boys did not fully prove that the boys did not do it, but they didn't really have to. The only thing they boys had against them was a skeptical at best confession of a borderline mentally handicapped minor, and hearsay from children in the town. Damien did himself no favors by portraying himself as an arrogant, remorseless, loner, goth-teen who dabbled in "weird" Wiccan and borderline satanic believes. But still through all of that the entire case hinged on a forced confession of a borderline retarded teenager, and hearsay from some children at a baseball game.
The prosecution did nothing to physically prove they performed the murders, all they did were spread a thought of fear about the boys as to if they "could" have committed the murders. In all actuality common sense could tell anyone the boys did not commit the crime. You're telling me that a borderline retarded kid, a 16 year old scrawny kid and an 18 year old unathletic kid, kidnapped these boys, raped, tortured, and murdered them and the police can not find the location where the murders took place, no doubt there would be tons of blood, there is no blood at the dump site where the boys bodies were found, there is nothing...not one thing, not a skin cell, not a hair sample, not a drop of blood, not a thread of clothing, a foot print, nothing found at the wooded, damp, muddy area that connects these kids to the murders? These teenagers are such good killing machines that they've done something virtually 99% of all murderers and serial killers that do things like that for years could not do. Leave absolutely no evidence at the crime scene or on the victims? Really?
There were no weapons found, knife found in a lake behind Jason's house was used in the trial yet the blade pattern did not match the knife wounds and there was no blood or DNA found on the knife. One of the boys fathers has lied about his whereabouts that night, he was abusive to his step-son, the mother was afraid of what he would do, he beat and whipped his child. Further proving the killer was probably someone that knew them is the fact that it would be very difficult to inconspicuously kidnap 3 small boys in the middle of the day..they probably came voluntarily because they knew and thought they could trust the killers. A knife that Stevie Branch always carried his mother said, a little pocket knife that he never went anywhere without was later found to be in the possession of the step dad. Once the case got further reviews a few years later and it was determined that one of the abrasions on the face of Stevie Branch was not blunt force but bite marks, miraculously his dad got dentures within months. Jesse's confession was not supposed to be used in Jason and Damien's trial because Jessie would not testify against them. Yet in the juror notes the Misskelly confession is brought up numerous times and one juror was quoted as saying it was an important factor in their decision..What!? Really? How is that not grounds for a mistrial?
I'm not saying they did not commit the murders, I don't think they did and common sense tells me there is no way they could have pulled something like this off, but at no point in the trial did prosecution PROVE they did. One would think to warrant a life sentence and a death penalty you should have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt someone committed the crimes and it appears to me the boys where convicted in a hasty, scared, seeking justice trial without any real evidence of what this was going to do to the people involved.
Cincinnati 06'
Lollapalooza 07'
Bonnaroo 08'
Columbus 10'
Noblesville 10'
Alpine Valley 11'
Alpine Valley 11'
Music Midtown 12'
Wrigley Field 13'
Cincinnati 14'
Lexington 16'
I've heard different stories from both sides about the sodomy. And the time frame is a minor discrepancy to me compared to the detailed confession that was given (and by a person of such "low IQ"). But thank you, I will check into this book and also others.
...and I read Misskelley confessed sighing first ten minutes and then layer (maybe after interrogation) confessed to his own involvement. A person can spin a story any way they want it through media. I just want to know the facts. And the fact misskelley's early confession and parts that were hurt on boys during crime scene matched up to later autopsy reports was very telling to me. Again, I just wish o knew the true facts..such as what the person gave me before that shows was very mentally ill at the time.
Read "Devil's Knot"
Misskelley's confession was bogus. His first confession said that the murders occurred at 9am and that Damien had sodomized the kids....there was no evidence of sodomy and the murders definitely happened after 6pm
the confession was coerced....when the police realized they had a major problem with some of the facts they did a second "confession" and cleared those points up. Jesse would say whatever they wanted him to say. It is obvious that they "led" him to answer a certain way....Jesse was borderline retarded
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
I started getting very interested in this case when I heard Eddie was going to perform at the benefit. I've seen both documentaries, and watched a number of interviews, documentaries, and specials on them as well. I haven't read any of the books associated with the case yet but I am very interested in it being a bit of legal junkie and nerd.
My theory on the case is that the convictions are bogus. First of all, at the time of the initial convictions there just wasn't anything there to physically connect them to the murders. Nothing. They had not one piece of conclusive evidence that proved they were even there, let alone conclusively connected the boys to the murders enough to warrant lifetime convictions and the death penalty in Damien's case. I am shocked that they are still in jail, the defense attorneys for the boys did not fully prove that the boys did not do it, but they didn't really have to. The only thing they boys had against them was a skeptical at best confession of a borderline mentally handicapped minor, and hearsay from children in the town. Damien did himself no favors by portraying himself as an arrogant, remorseless, loner, goth-teen who dabbled in "weird" Wiccan and borderline satanic believes. But still through all of that the entire case hinged on a forced confession of a borderline retarded teenager, and hearsay from some children at a baseball game.
The prosecution did nothing to physically prove they performed the murders, all they did were spread a thought of fear about the boys as to if they "could" have committed the murders. In all actuality common sense could tell anyone the boys did not commit the crime. You're telling me that a borderline retarded kid, a 16 year old scrawny kid and an 18 year old unathletic kid, kidnapped these boys, raped, tortured, and murdered them and the police can not find the location where the murders took place, no doubt there would be tons of blood, there is no blood at the dump site where the boys bodies were found, there is nothing...not one thing, not a skin cell, not a hair sample, not a drop of blood, not a thread of clothing, a foot print, nothing found at the wooded, damp, muddy area that connects these kids to the murders? These teenagers are such good killing machines that they've done something virtually 99% of all murderers and serial killers that do things like that for years could not do. Leave absolutely no evidence at the crime scene or on the victims? Really?
There were no weapons found, knife found in a lake behind Jason's house was used in the trial yet the blade pattern did not match the knife wounds and there was no blood or DNA found on the knife. One of the boys fathers has lied about his whereabouts that night, he was abusive to his step-son, the mother was afraid of what he would do, he beat and whipped his child. Further proving the killer was probably someone that knew them is the fact that it would be very difficult to inconspicuously kidnap 3 small boys in the middle of the day..they probably came voluntarily because they knew and thought they could trust the killers. A knife that Stevie Branch always carried his mother said, a little pocket knife that he never went anywhere without was later found to be in the possession of the step dad. Once the case got further reviews a few years later and it was determined that one of the abrasions on the face of Stevie Branch was not blunt force but bite marks, miraculously his dad got dentures within months. Jesse's confession was not supposed to be used in Jason and Damien's trial because Jessie would not testify against them. Yet in the juror notes the Misskelly confession is brought up numerous times and one juror was quoted as saying it was an important factor in their decision..What!? Really? How is that not grounds for a mistrial?
I'm not saying they did not commit the murders, I don't think they did and common sense tells me there is no way they could have pulled something like this off, but at no point in the trial did prosecution PROVE they did. One would think to warrant a life sentence and a death penalty you should have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt someone committed the crimes and it appears to me the boys where convicted in a hasty, scared, seeking justice trial without any real evidence of what this was going to do to the people involved.
definitely get "Devil's Knot"....it is the most comprehensive book I've read....I wish it was updated for events over the last 5 years but it is very enlightening
You simply won't believe some of the things in the book...
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
A person in another forum http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&forum=2&thread=1695801&page=3 who has apparently been researching this from the beginning has interesting counterpoints. I still can't get over the confession, not once, not twice but three times. Yes, some things regarding the time line, sodomy etc. of the murders did not match up initially, but Jesse admitted that he intentionally lied to throw the cops off..I understand this also means he could be lying about everything, but three fucking confessions..and confessing to specific things that only a person at the crime scene would know about-pinching of penis, ear bruises from Echols tugs on one kid, chocking etc...he made up shit to throw off the cops, but I have trouble getting over the specifics he described that actually matched up to the physical evidence..
And it's hard for me to rely on biased books and documentaries...the first two documentaries barely even focused on the situation, instead clearly was a witch hunt for Byers....so now that's over with, it must the other step dad..who the fuck knows....but yeah, a fair re-trial would be nice to put an end to all this..
'I want to hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
A person in another forum http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&forum=2&thread=1695801&page=3 who has apparently been researching this from the beginning has interesting counterpoints. I still can't get over the confession, not once, not twice but three times. Yes, some things regarding the time line, sodomy etc. of the murders did not match up initially, but Jesse admitted that he intentionally lied to throw the cops off..I understand this also means he could be lying about everything, but three fucking confessions..and confessing to specific things that only a person at the crime scene would know about-pinching of penis, ear bruises from Echols tugs on one kid, chocking etc...he made up shit to throw off the cops, but I have trouble getting over the specifics he described that actually matched up to the physical evidence..
And it's hard for me to rely on biased books and documentaries...the first two documentaries barely even focused on the situation, instead clearly was a witch hunt for Byers....so now that's over with, it must the other step dad..who the fuck knows....but yeah, a fair re-trial would be nice to put an end to all this..
You should look closer at the "Jesse admitted that he intentionally lied to throw the cops off" line and see if that is true.
You actually think Jesse said that? What Jesse actually said was something to the effect that he confessed because he thought if he told them what they wanted to hear they would stop yelling at him and let him go home. When questioned with his father present he always denied involvement.
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
A person in another forum http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&forum=2&thread=1695801&page=3 who has apparently been researching this from the beginning has interesting counterpoints. I still can't get over the confession, not once, not twice but three times. Yes, some things regarding the time line, sodomy etc. of the murders did not match up initially, but Jesse admitted that he intentionally lied to throw the cops off..I understand this also means he could be lying about everything, but three fucking confessions..and confessing to specific things that only a person at the crime scene would know about-pinching of penis, ear bruises from Echols tugs on one kid, chocking etc...he made up shit to throw off the cops, but I have trouble getting over the specifics he described that actually matched up to the physical evidence..
And it's hard for me to rely on biased books and documentaries...the first two documentaries barely even focused on the situation, instead clearly was a witch hunt for Byers....so now that's over with, it must the other step dad..who the fuck knows....but yeah, a fair re-trial would be nice to put an end to all this..
You should look closer at the "Jesse admitted that he intentionally lied to throw the cops off" line and see if that is true.
You actually think Jesse said that? What Jesse actually said was something to the effect that he confessed because he thought if he told them what they wanted to hear they would stop yelling at him and let him go home. When questioned with his father present he always denied involvement.
But he still said specific things only a person at the crime scene would know, matching up with physical evidence. And didn't his lawyer even advise him not to give the third confession but did so anyway..I'm all for a re-trial, but would be cautious to believe that they are 100% innocent...imagine if we find out for certain that they did it, and all these people were fighting for murderers to go free, many even devoting their entire lives to it..scary..
'I want to hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
definitely get "Devil's Knot"....it is the most comprehensive book I've read....I wish it was updated for events over the last 5 years but it is very enlightening
You simply won't believe some of the things in the book...
I think I'll be reading this as well in a month or so. I've put my detective work on hold for awhile.
But he still said specific things only a person at the crime scene would know, matching up with physical evidence. And didn't his lawyer even advise him not to give the third confession but did so anyway..I'm all for a re-trial, but would be cautious to believe that they are 100% innocent...imagine if we find out for certain that they did it, and all these people were fighting for murderers to go free, many even devoting their entire lives to it..scary..
yeah, you would think that one of them --whether its Hobbs the step-father, or Echols if its him--would have grown a conscious after all this time and realized that the truth will set you free. I have not donated any money towards this cause nor do I intend to, but I do support a re-trial. I hope the entire thing would be televised.
A person in another forum http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&forum=2&thread=1695801&page=3 who has apparently been researching this from the beginning has interesting counterpoints. I still can't get over the confession, not once, not twice but three times. Yes, some things regarding the time line, sodomy etc. of the murders did not match up initially, but Jesse admitted that he intentionally lied to throw the cops off..I understand this also means he could be lying about everything, but three fucking confessions..and confessing to specific things that only a person at the crime scene would know about-pinching of penis, ear bruises from Echols tugs on one kid, chocking etc...he made up shit to throw off the cops, but I have trouble getting over the specifics he described that actually matched up to the physical evidence..
And it's hard for me to rely on biased books and documentaries...the first two documentaries barely even focused on the situation, instead clearly was a witch hunt for Byers....so now that's over with, it must the other step dad..who the fuck knows....but yeah, a fair re-trial would be nice to put an end to all this..
You should look closer at the "Jesse admitted that he intentionally lied to throw the cops off" line and see if that is true.
You actually think Jesse said that? What Jesse actually said was something to the effect that he confessed because he thought if he told them what they wanted to hear they would stop yelling at him and let him go home. When questioned with his father present he always denied involvement.
But he still said specific things only a person at the crime scene would know, matching up with physical evidence. And didn't his lawyer even advise him not to give the third confession but did so anyway..I'm all for a re-trial, but would be cautious to believe that they are 100% innocent...imagine if we find out for certain that they did it, and all these people were fighting for murderers to go free, many even devoting their entire lives to it..scary..
Right....and if you research the case you will see that the police planted these things that "only a person at the crime scene would know".
You will also find out that around 9pm that night the police were called to the Bojangles restaurant to investigate a man that had barricaded himself in the women's room covered in mud and blood. The police actually left the Byers house (when they called to report the missing boy) to go to the restaurant. They obtained blood samples left behind the next day and guess what.....they LOST the blood sample.
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
But he still said specific things only a person at the crime scene would know, matching up with physical evidence. And didn't his lawyer even advise him not to give the third confession but did so anyway..I'm all for a re-trial, but would be cautious to believe that they are 100% innocent...imagine if we find out for certain that they did it, and all these people were fighting for murderers to go free, many even devoting their entire lives to it..scary..
And remember....his initial confession made no sense at all
check this out....see how the police led his statements...and keep in mind that they recorded like 20 minutes of a 3 hour interrogation. They verbally abused this borderline retarded boy until he was ready to say what they wanted him to say.
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
Right....and if you research the case you will see that the police planted these things that "only a person at the crime scene would know".
You will also find out that around 9pm that night the police were called to the Bojangles restaurant to investigate a man that had barricaded himself in the women's room covered in mud and blood. The police actually left the Byers house (when they called to report the missing boy) to go to the restaurant. They obtained blood samples left behind the next day and guess what.....they LOST the blood sample.
yeah, losing a blood sample on a lead. shouldn't that be terms for the police to get demoted rather than all the people that got promoted afterwards. all I know is, those detectives, police, and lawyers really made a mess of the whole thing...and thought nobody would notice. and here we are 18 yrs later trying to sort through their mess.
JESSIE: Jason
RIDGE: Jason had a knife, what did he cut with the knife. What did you see him cut or who did you see him cut?
JESSIE: I saw him cut one of the little boys
RIDGE: Alright, where did he cut him at?
JESSIE: He was cutting him in the face.
RIDGES: Cutting him in the face. Alright, another boy was cut I understand, where was he cut at?
JESSIE: At the bottom? (You need to hear Jessie’s voice – “on his bottom” Is a question, not a statement)
RIDGE: On his bottom? Was he faced down and he was cutting on him, or
JESSIE: He was
GITCHELL: Now you're talking about bottom, do you mean right here?
JESSIE: Yes
GITCHELL: In his groin area?
JESSIE: Yes
GITCHELL: Okay (In Gitchell’s testimony on the stand he states that Jessie knew about the castration of Christopher Byers and that was not public knowledge, when in fact, that was not true. If you will look at John Mark Byers statement of 5-19-93 he describes Todd Moore becoming confused that all boys were castrated and John finding out it was only his son; so there was dicussion between the families and possibly those who knew them. ALSO, the Commercial Appeal, local newspaper, picked up chatter about the murders on their police scanner, hearing about the castration, and printed it in the next day’s paper. This is not something only the police knew)
from the link
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
RIDGE: If you read the caption, the grizzly slain from left, 8 year old Michael Moore,
JESSIE: umm-hmm
RIDGE: Steven Branch and Christopher Byers. Okay, so you saw Damien strike Chris Byers in the head.
JESSIE: Right
RIDGE: What did he hit him with?
JESSIE: He hit him with his fist and bruised him all up real bad, and then ull (phonetic) Jason turned around and hit Steve Branch (You don’t have to be a doctor to know that when someone is hit – child or adult – it doesn’t “bruise them up” until much later. Seeing a “bruised up” photo taken later would explain this statement; a recollection of the events as they were occurring could not).
I thought this was interesting....they discussed this in the book as well. Jesse must have been shown photos of the boys that showed the bruising. Obviously a bruise doesn't appear for quite some time.
Remember the Thomas Nine !! (10/02/2018) The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago 2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy 2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE) 2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston 2020: Oakland, Oakland:2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana 2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville 2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
(In Gitchell’s testimony on the stand he states that Jessie knew about the castration of Christopher Byers and that was not public knowledge, when in fact, that was not true. If you will look at John Mark Byers statement of 5-19-93 he describes Todd Moore becoming confused that all boys were castrated and John finding out it was only his son; so there was dicussion between the families and possibly those who knew them. ALSO, the Commercial Appeal, local newspaper, picked up chatter about the murders on their police scanner, hearing about the castration, and printed it in the next day’s paper. This is not something only the police knew)
from the link[/quote]
Gitchell should have apologized later for stuff like this...that is, if he didn't coerce Jessie. A decent human being would have apologized atleast. What is also scary is the fact that people who are around cases this much, can't even determine what's right or wrong anymore. To me its simple--three 8 yr. old boys and there is still confusion about the verdict. Any decent human being involved would still be concerned with all this stuff that came after. Gitchell, however, does not seemed to be disturbed publicly about any of the events that unfolded. Nowhere is there a public apology about losing the blood at Bojangles, nowhere is there apology about such details as what you have shown above. Gitchell has obviously been a part of the court and judicial system for so long that these poor three 8 yr. old boys are now just numbers to him.--that is really scary, and sad.
But they're not to me, Gitchell--and alot of other decent human beings out there.
An obvious alternative scenario which would explain these 'hangups' on the 'detail' in the confessions (and it certainly wouldn't be the first time!) -is a very vulnerable and affected young person in the hands of some very very corrupt and manipulative coppers who know they have to pin the crime on someone, and quickly.
Pressure on police to put a scary crime like this 'to rest' and make the public feel more at ease is well documented - and seems to be a common feature of miscarriages of justice - since there is immense pressure on the policeforce to pin the blame on someone in gruesome high profile killings with a lot of public and media attention on them - much more than in more low-key, less 'dramatic' crimes. Fitting with this idea - the gruesome nature of this case would certainly lend itself to this possibility. High profile graphic crimes have a higher likelihood of inviting miscarriages of justice to them - is the hypothesis here.
I haven't researched this, but I'm sure somebody will have done - if you plotted the numbers of 'proven wrongful convictions / overturned convictions', against the relative 'drama and gruesomeness of a crime', and the level of 'media interest' in it- I bet you would find it is disproportionately high.
One of the most famous miscarriages of justice over this side of the pond is the 'Birmingham 6' bombers case - where the trial that eventually cleared and released them showed a lot evidence of police desperation to actively pin the blame on someone
Manipulative policemen actively trying to pin the blame on a vulnerable young person, an easy target - would equally account for a lot of anomalous elements of this confession. You have to keep in mind the immense power differences in these interrogation scenarios. If you think any 'normal adult' would remain clear-headed and above manipulation under intense questioning from some corrupt policeman, you probably need to get out more!!
Cancel my subscription to the Ressurection
Send my credentials to the house of detention
What do you guys think of exhibit 500? The celebrities who say this is about a kid being wrongfully convicted for just wearing black, listening to metal and reading Stephen King is just total bullshit.
5/7/92. E. Arkansas Mental Health Center: Client admits to having been suspended seven times this past semester for initiating fights at school and starting fires. States in one fight he almost gouged out the victim’s eyes.
Clinical report based on psychological tests: The behavior of this youngster is characterized by impulsive hostility...the desire to gain power and demean others springs from animosity and a wish to vindicate past grievances. This teenager believes that past degradations may be undone by provoking fear and intimidation in others. Cool and distant, this youth demonstrates little or no compassion for others.
5/19/92. Damien arrested for breaking into a trailer with his 15 year old girlfriend, Deanna Holcomb. Suicide pact if they couldn’t be together. Damien threatening to kill police officers and Deanna’s father when picked up. Convicted of second-degree burglary and sexual misconduct.
5/19/92 to 6/1/92. Craighead County Juvenile Detention Center.
Damien voiced suicide plan to folks at the center. Staff reported that Damien and Deanna planned to have a baby and sacrifice it. Damien knocked a peer to the ground, sucked the blood from the boy’s wounded arm and rubbed the blood on his face. No remorse. Deanna is hospitalized at Mid-South Hospital in Memphis.
Joyce Cureton, Juvenile Director, reported that “it is our opinion that Damien needs mental health treatment.”
6/1/92 to 6/25/92. Charter Hospital of Little Rock. Immediate hospitalization due to suicidal intent.
Admits to a history of violence and attempting to scratch out the eyes of a classmate. There were major concerns that Damien was exhibiting disturbed thinking. He has a history of extreme physical aggression toward others. It was felt that he needed to be temporarily removed from his environment to provide protection for him and protection for others.
Damien states, “I burn myself with lighters. I have huffed gas and paint, used speed, marijuana, glue, and alcohol.”
Progress Notes:
Damien stated that he got ahold of a police officer’s gun, and that if Deanna’s father had acted aggressively, “I would have blown him away and the next time I will eliminate that person.”
Denies having a conscience or feelings of regret.
Stares into space and shows no emotional response to any kind of stimuli.
Verbalized concern that there are surveillance cameras behind his mirror and under the desk in his room. Quite paranoid; he definitely bears watching.
Still drawing witchcraft symbols & continues to speak of bizarre and unusual practices.
Makes an unusual sound with his mouth that sounds like a cat purr.
States that visit with parents didn’t go well, but would not elaborate.
Damien’s mother concerned about her son “not learning to deal with anger and rages.” Thinks Damien is responding to outside stimulation. Voiced fear that “son may be crazy.”
6/25/92. Damien discharged to mother with instructions for continuing care. Family moving to Oregon.
8/13/92 Home Visit Evaluation by Calvin Downey, Oregon Juvenile Counselor:
Damien indicates he did spend approximately 30 days in a psychiatric hospital via court order, because he was suicidal. He feel his prior depression has improved greatly. Denies use of nonprescribed, controlled substances or alcohol.
Mrs. Echols indicates there are no family conflicts with Damien, that he gets along well with the family, that she does not believe he has a behavioral problem & that she does not need any services from this state.
9/1/92. Officer Ortez is called to the Echols’ apartment in Oregon. Damien transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Emergency Room Report: The patient denies suicidal or homicidal ideation. However, in talking with family members, they state that he made it quite clear that he had thoughts of harming other people, i.e. was going to cut mother’s throat, and also made verbal threats to his father here at St. Vincent’s.
Parents state that he has sniffed propane, glue, gasoline and almost any other drug that is possible. Parental concerns regarding satanism, devil worship.
Admission diagnosis: Suicidal/homicidal ideation.
9/4/92. Discharged from St. Vincent’s. Because of Damien’s threats, both parents do not feel that they wish to have him return to their home. They are frightened of him and what he can do, not only to them but to the other children who reside in the home (2 others). Damien is to return to Arkansas by bus.
9/14/92 to 9/28/92. Readmitted to Charter Hospital from Juvenile Detention Center. He admitted to sucking the blood out of a peer’s neck while in the Center. The other peers were afraid of him. Threats to kill both parents (slash throats, eat alive).
Presenting problem: Homicidal and psychosis. Alteration in thought processes evidenced by delusional thinking and inappropriate social behavior.
Progress notes: Belief in devil worship, has agreed to threatening to “kill” others. Bizarre behaviors. Stated he had attempted suicide before and “wasn’t worried about trying again, because I know I can come back.”
Says he’s going to eat father and that he needs to be locked up or he will hurt someone.
Peers complaining of Damien making growling sounds at them.
Continues talk of satanism. Possible deprogramming needed. Could be a danger to others.
Continues laughing strangely and getting peers to feed into his satanism. Tries to keep staff from seeing him do anything other than what’s appropriate according to unit guidelines. Depressed mood, bizarre behavior.
Said he was “happy to be here because otherwise he’d be in jail and this has to be better.”
Spoke with Jerry Driver re: Damien’s discharge to stepfather Jack Echols. Said this was “ok”.
Diagnosis: Psychotic Disorder NOS and Dysthymia. Prognosis: Poor.
1/5/93. Mental Health Center reopens case: Reports self-mutilation, cutting self with knives. Will “trance out” since 5th grade - doesn’t have to deal with what’s going on. Says he thinks a lot about life after death--”I want to go where the monsters go.” He admits being caught with satanic items, but denies cult involvement.
Is interested in witchcraft for the past 8 years. He has tried to steal energy from someone else and influence others’ minds with witchcraft. Describes self as “pretty much hates the human race.” Relates that he feels people are in two classes--sheep and wolves (wolves eat the sheep).
1/13/93: Damien reports that he’s very angry with family members and with other people who have “let him down”. He discussed issues of power & control. He states that he could make things happen. Affect and mood was flat.
1/19/93: Reveals history of abuse as he talked of how he was treated as a child. States, “I just put it all inside.” Describes this as more than just anger - like rage. Sometimes he does “blow up.” Relates that when this happens, the only solution is to “hurt someone.” When questioned on his feelings he states, “I know I’m going to influence the world. People will remember me.”
1/20/93: Damien is an 18 year old, recently discharged from Charter Hospital. He’s had three psychiatric hospitalizations. Each has been associated with anger, thoughts of killing others, and thoughts of killing himself.
1/25/93: Speaks of rituals, drinking blood, more involved in demonology. Damien explained that he obtains his power by drinking blood of others. He typically drinks the blood of a sexual partner or of a ruling partner. This is achieved by biting or cutting. He states, “It makes me feel like a god.”
Damien describes drinking blood as giving him more power and strength. He remembers doing this as far back as age 10. He wants very much to be all powerful. He wants very much to be in total control.
Damien relates that a spirit is now living with him. The spirit was put inside him last year. He indicates that a month ago, the spirit decided to become part of him and he to become part of the spirit. This is reportedly a spirit of a woman who was killed by her husband. In addition, he also reports conversations with demons and other spirits. This is achieved through rituals.
He denies that he’s satanic, seeing himself more as being involved in demonology.
Affect and mood today continued to be bland, although there was more emotion when talking about drinking blood.
2/5/93: Damien is noted to have cuts on his right arm and hand. Related that he cut himself as a way of permanently marking his skin. Related feeling very angry yesterday when running into previous girlfriend. “I controlled it - I can do anything.”
5/5/93: At times he is impulsive and does things that may be harmful to him. He has impulses to do strange and harmful things.
Holy shit that kid was fucked up..
'I want to hurry home to you
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
Here is a frightening high profile case of wrongful conviction in Britain. It also features young people making 'confessions', and police irregularities. The four were all cleared and released in 1989, after spending 15 years in prison. It may be of interest on this 'idea' of confessions and police manipulation. It does happen!
What do you guys think of exhibit 500? The celebrities who say this is about a kid being wrongfully convicted for just wearing black, listening to metal and reading Stephen King is just total bullshit.
exactly! Damien Echols was no saint in the making.
I think I'm really getting to the point where I don't want to be involved anymore. I have a sweet little boy to worry about all the time. There are plenty more educated people out there that can take over this ordeal. I don't really have any influence over anyone anyway to shift an opinion one way or the other--so why the hell am I still looking into this case. My opinion on it is basically null and void. Those 3 in prison are big boys now. Their families are too. They can handle this on their own. Good luck to whomever is innocent! Hope they find the guilty, for sure this time, and put their asses in jail for life.
What do you guys think of exhibit 500? The celebrities who say this is about a kid being wrongfully convicted for just wearing black, listening to metal and reading Stephen King is just total bullshit.
5/7/92. E. Arkansas Mental Health Center: Client admits to having been suspended seven times this past semester for initiating fights at school and starting fires. States in one fight he almost gouged out the victim’s eyes.
Clinical report based on psychological tests: The behavior of this youngster is characterized by impulsive hostility...the desire to gain power and demean others springs from animosity and a wish to vindicate past grievances. This teenager believes that past degradations may be undone by provoking fear and intimidation in others. Cool and distant, this youth demonstrates little or no compassion for others.
5/19/92. Damien arrested for breaking into a trailer with his 15 year old girlfriend, Deanna Holcomb. Suicide pact if they couldn’t be together. Damien threatening to kill police officers and Deanna’s father when picked up. Convicted of second-degree burglary and sexual misconduct.
5/19/92 to 6/1/92. Craighead County Juvenile Detention Center.
Damien voiced suicide plan to folks at the center. Staff reported that Damien and Deanna planned to have a baby and sacrifice it. Damien knocked a peer to the ground, sucked the blood from the boy’s wounded arm and rubbed the blood on his face. No remorse. Deanna is hospitalized at Mid-South Hospital in Memphis.
Joyce Cureton, Juvenile Director, reported that “it is our opinion that Damien needs mental health treatment.”
6/1/92 to 6/25/92. Charter Hospital of Little Rock. Immediate hospitalization due to suicidal intent.
Admits to a history of violence and attempting to scratch out the eyes of a classmate. There were major concerns that Damien was exhibiting disturbed thinking. He has a history of extreme physical aggression toward others. It was felt that he needed to be temporarily removed from his environment to provide protection for him and protection for others.
Damien states, “I burn myself with lighters. I have huffed gas and paint, used speed, marijuana, glue, and alcohol.”
Progress Notes:
Damien stated that he got ahold of a police officer’s gun, and that if Deanna’s father had acted aggressively, “I would have blown him away and the next time I will eliminate that person.”
Denies having a conscience or feelings of regret.
Stares into space and shows no emotional response to any kind of stimuli.
Verbalized concern that there are surveillance cameras behind his mirror and under the desk in his room. Quite paranoid; he definitely bears watching.
Still drawing witchcraft symbols & continues to speak of bizarre and unusual practices.
Makes an unusual sound with his mouth that sounds like a cat purr.
States that visit with parents didn’t go well, but would not elaborate.
Damien’s mother concerned about her son “not learning to deal with anger and rages.” Thinks Damien is responding to outside stimulation. Voiced fear that “son may be crazy.”
6/25/92. Damien discharged to mother with instructions for continuing care. Family moving to Oregon.
8/13/92 Home Visit Evaluation by Calvin Downey, Oregon Juvenile Counselor:
Damien indicates he did spend approximately 30 days in a psychiatric hospital via court order, because he was suicidal. He feel his prior depression has improved greatly. Denies use of nonprescribed, controlled substances or alcohol.
Mrs. Echols indicates there are no family conflicts with Damien, that he gets along well with the family, that she does not believe he has a behavioral problem & that she does not need any services from this state.
9/1/92. Officer Ortez is called to the Echols’ apartment in Oregon. Damien transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Emergency Room Report: The patient denies suicidal or homicidal ideation. However, in talking with family members, they state that he made it quite clear that he had thoughts of harming other people, i.e. was going to cut mother’s throat, and also made verbal threats to his father here at St. Vincent’s.
Parents state that he has sniffed propane, glue, gasoline and almost any other drug that is possible. Parental concerns regarding satanism, devil worship.
Admission diagnosis: Suicidal/homicidal ideation.
9/4/92. Discharged from St. Vincent’s. Because of Damien’s threats, both parents do not feel that they wish to have him return to their home. They are frightened of him and what he can do, not only to them but to the other children who reside in the home (2 others). Damien is to return to Arkansas by bus.
9/14/92 to 9/28/92. Readmitted to Charter Hospital from Juvenile Detention Center. He admitted to sucking the blood out of a peer’s neck while in the Center. The other peers were afraid of him. Threats to kill both parents (slash throats, eat alive).
Presenting problem: Homicidal and psychosis. Alteration in thought processes evidenced by delusional thinking and inappropriate social behavior.
Progress notes: Belief in devil worship, has agreed to threatening to “kill” others. Bizarre behaviors. Stated he had attempted suicide before and “wasn’t worried about trying again, because I know I can come back.”
Says he’s going to eat father and that he needs to be locked up or he will hurt someone.
Peers complaining of Damien making growling sounds at them.
Continues talk of satanism. Possible deprogramming needed. Could be a danger to others.
Continues laughing strangely and getting peers to feed into his satanism. Tries to keep staff from seeing him do anything other than what’s appropriate according to unit guidelines. Depressed mood, bizarre behavior.
Said he was “happy to be here because otherwise he’d be in jail and this has to be better.”
Spoke with Jerry Driver re: Damien’s discharge to stepfather Jack Echols. Said this was “ok”.
Diagnosis: Psychotic Disorder NOS and Dysthymia. Prognosis: Poor.
1/5/93. Mental Health Center reopens case: Reports self-mutilation, cutting self with knives. Will “trance out” since 5th grade - doesn’t have to deal with what’s going on. Says he thinks a lot about life after death--”I want to go where the monsters go.” He admits being caught with satanic items, but denies cult involvement.
Is interested in witchcraft for the past 8 years. He has tried to steal energy from someone else and influence others’ minds with witchcraft. Describes self as “pretty much hates the human race.” Relates that he feels people are in two classes--sheep and wolves (wolves eat the sheep).
1/13/93: Damien reports that he’s very angry with family members and with other people who have “let him down”. He discussed issues of power & control. He states that he could make things happen. Affect and mood was flat.
1/19/93: Reveals history of abuse as he talked of how he was treated as a child. States, “I just put it all inside.” Describes this as more than just anger - like rage. Sometimes he does “blow up.” Relates that when this happens, the only solution is to “hurt someone.” When questioned on his feelings he states, “I know I’m going to influence the world. People will remember me.”
1/20/93: Damien is an 18 year old, recently discharged from Charter Hospital. He’s had three psychiatric hospitalizations. Each has been associated with anger, thoughts of killing others, and thoughts of killing himself.
1/25/93: Speaks of rituals, drinking blood, more involved in demonology. Damien explained that he obtains his power by drinking blood of others. He typically drinks the blood of a sexual partner or of a ruling partner. This is achieved by biting or cutting. He states, “It makes me feel like a god.”
Damien describes drinking blood as giving him more power and strength. He remembers doing this as far back as age 10. He wants very much to be all powerful. He wants very much to be in total control.
Damien relates that a spirit is now living with him. The spirit was put inside him last year. He indicates that a month ago, the spirit decided to become part of him and he to become part of the spirit. This is reportedly a spirit of a woman who was killed by her husband. In addition, he also reports conversations with demons and other spirits. This is achieved through rituals.
He denies that he’s satanic, seeing himself more as being involved in demonology.
Affect and mood today continued to be bland, although there was more emotion when talking about drinking blood.
2/5/93: Damien is noted to have cuts on his right arm and hand. Related that he cut himself as a way of permanently marking his skin. Related feeling very angry yesterday when running into previous girlfriend. “I controlled it - I can do anything.”
5/5/93: At times he is impulsive and does things that may be harmful to him. He has impulses to do strange and harmful things.
Holy shit that kid was fucked up..
I see a lot of talk here, but nothing substantial. How many facts are there, and how many statements are troubled teen's statements? Nobody says that Damien tries to scratch someone eyes out, those are his words. He states that he got a hold of police gun. But he didn't. If they try to separate his girlfriend and him, they will kill themselves. Right.
He realised that satanism is what gives him attention, and he is acting on it. Purring, strange laughter, making odd noises, licking blood, I just rolled my eyes. Drama queen. Stupid, but there you go.
Cutting and burning himself? Not so rare really. Sniffing stuff, dope, alchohol at 17. How horrible.
He hates the whole world? I did at 17. He broke into trailer to be with his girlfriend, not a right thing to do, but how bad is it really?
If he was abused within the family, wouldn't it be a normal consequence that he is aggressive towards the family? And here we are again, it is all verbally.
I see a troubled kid with vivid fantasy here, that's all. And not much to act out in the place he grew up.
As for the case, why would anyone be against a new trial? If justice was done, it would be highlighted again, closed and done, good. If unjustice was done, it will be corrected, good. Where is the problem?
What do you guys think of exhibit 500? The celebrities who say this is about a kid being wrongfully convicted for just wearing black, listening to metal and reading Stephen King is just total bullshit.
5/7/92. E. Arkansas Mental Health Center: Client admits to having been suspended seven times this past semester for initiating fights at school and starting fires. States in one fight he almost gouged out the victim’s eyes.
Clinical report based on psychological tests: The behavior of this youngster is characterized by impulsive hostility...the desire to gain power and demean others springs from animosity and a wish to vindicate past grievances. This teenager believes that past degradations may be undone by provoking fear and intimidation in others. Cool and distant, this youth demonstrates little or no compassion for others.
5/19/92. Damien arrested for breaking into a trailer with his 15 year old girlfriend, Deanna Holcomb. Suicide pact if they couldn’t be together. Damien threatening to kill police officers and Deanna’s father when picked up. Convicted of second-degree burglary and sexual misconduct.
5/19/92 to 6/1/92. Craighead County Juvenile Detention Center.
Damien voiced suicide plan to folks at the center. Staff reported that Damien and Deanna planned to have a baby and sacrifice it. Damien knocked a peer to the ground, sucked the blood from the boy’s wounded arm and rubbed the blood on his face. No remorse. Deanna is hospitalized at Mid-South Hospital in Memphis.
Joyce Cureton, Juvenile Director, reported that “it is our opinion that Damien needs mental health treatment.”
6/1/92 to 6/25/92. Charter Hospital of Little Rock. Immediate hospitalization due to suicidal intent.
Admits to a history of violence and attempting to scratch out the eyes of a classmate. There were major concerns that Damien was exhibiting disturbed thinking. He has a history of extreme physical aggression toward others. It was felt that he needed to be temporarily removed from his environment to provide protection for him and protection for others.
Damien states, “I burn myself with lighters. I have huffed gas and paint, used speed, marijuana, glue, and alcohol.”
Progress Notes:
Damien stated that he got ahold of a police officer’s gun, and that if Deanna’s father had acted aggressively, “I would have blown him away and the next time I will eliminate that person.”
Denies having a conscience or feelings of regret.
Stares into space and shows no emotional response to any kind of stimuli.
Verbalized concern that there are surveillance cameras behind his mirror and under the desk in his room. Quite paranoid; he definitely bears watching.
Still drawing witchcraft symbols & continues to speak of bizarre and unusual practices.
Makes an unusual sound with his mouth that sounds like a cat purr.
States that visit with parents didn’t go well, but would not elaborate.
Damien’s mother concerned about her son “not learning to deal with anger and rages.” Thinks Damien is responding to outside stimulation. Voiced fear that “son may be crazy.”
6/25/92. Damien discharged to mother with instructions for continuing care. Family moving to Oregon.
8/13/92 Home Visit Evaluation by Calvin Downey, Oregon Juvenile Counselor:
Damien indicates he did spend approximately 30 days in a psychiatric hospital via court order, because he was suicidal. He feel his prior depression has improved greatly. Denies use of nonprescribed, controlled substances or alcohol.
Mrs. Echols indicates there are no family conflicts with Damien, that he gets along well with the family, that she does not believe he has a behavioral problem & that she does not need any services from this state.
9/1/92. Officer Ortez is called to the Echols’ apartment in Oregon. Damien transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Emergency Room Report: The patient denies suicidal or homicidal ideation. However, in talking with family members, they state that he made it quite clear that he had thoughts of harming other people, i.e. was going to cut mother’s throat, and also made verbal threats to his father here at St. Vincent’s.
Parents state that he has sniffed propane, glue, gasoline and almost any other drug that is possible. Parental concerns regarding satanism, devil worship.
Admission diagnosis: Suicidal/homicidal ideation.
9/4/92. Discharged from St. Vincent’s. Because of Damien’s threats, both parents do not feel that they wish to have him return to their home. They are frightened of him and what he can do, not only to them but to the other children who reside in the home (2 others). Damien is to return to Arkansas by bus.
9/14/92 to 9/28/92. Readmitted to Charter Hospital from Juvenile Detention Center. He admitted to sucking the blood out of a peer’s neck while in the Center. The other peers were afraid of him. Threats to kill both parents (slash throats, eat alive).
Presenting problem: Homicidal and psychosis. Alteration in thought processes evidenced by delusional thinking and inappropriate social behavior.
Progress notes: Belief in devil worship, has agreed to threatening to “kill” others. Bizarre behaviors. Stated he had attempted suicide before and “wasn’t worried about trying again, because I know I can come back.”
Says he’s going to eat father and that he needs to be locked up or he will hurt someone.
Peers complaining of Damien making growling sounds at them.
Continues talk of satanism. Possible deprogramming needed. Could be a danger to others.
Continues laughing strangely and getting peers to feed into his satanism. Tries to keep staff from seeing him do anything other than what’s appropriate according to unit guidelines. Depressed mood, bizarre behavior.
Said he was “happy to be here because otherwise he’d be in jail and this has to be better.”
Spoke with Jerry Driver re: Damien’s discharge to stepfather Jack Echols. Said this was “ok”.
Diagnosis: Psychotic Disorder NOS and Dysthymia. Prognosis: Poor.
1/5/93. Mental Health Center reopens case: Reports self-mutilation, cutting self with knives. Will “trance out” since 5th grade - doesn’t have to deal with what’s going on. Says he thinks a lot about life after death--”I want to go where the monsters go.” He admits being caught with satanic items, but denies cult involvement.
Is interested in witchcraft for the past 8 years. He has tried to steal energy from someone else and influence others’ minds with witchcraft. Describes self as “pretty much hates the human race.” Relates that he feels people are in two classes--sheep and wolves (wolves eat the sheep).
1/13/93: Damien reports that he’s very angry with family members and with other people who have “let him down”. He discussed issues of power & control. He states that he could make things happen. Affect and mood was flat.
1/19/93: Reveals history of abuse as he talked of how he was treated as a child. States, “I just put it all inside.” Describes this as more than just anger - like rage. Sometimes he does “blow up.” Relates that when this happens, the only solution is to “hurt someone.” When questioned on his feelings he states, “I know I’m going to influence the world. People will remember me.”
1/20/93: Damien is an 18 year old, recently discharged from Charter Hospital. He’s had three psychiatric hospitalizations. Each has been associated with anger, thoughts of killing others, and thoughts of killing himself.
1/25/93: Speaks of rituals, drinking blood, more involved in demonology. Damien explained that he obtains his power by drinking blood of others. He typically drinks the blood of a sexual partner or of a ruling partner. This is achieved by biting or cutting. He states, “It makes me feel like a god.”
Damien describes drinking blood as giving him more power and strength. He remembers doing this as far back as age 10. He wants very much to be all powerful. He wants very much to be in total control.
Damien relates that a spirit is now living with him. The spirit was put inside him last year. He indicates that a month ago, the spirit decided to become part of him and he to become part of the spirit. This is reportedly a spirit of a woman who was killed by her husband. In addition, he also reports conversations with demons and other spirits. This is achieved through rituals.
He denies that he’s satanic, seeing himself more as being involved in demonology.
Affect and mood today continued to be bland, although there was more emotion when talking about drinking blood.
2/5/93: Damien is noted to have cuts on his right arm and hand. Related that he cut himself as a way of permanently marking his skin. Related feeling very angry yesterday when running into previous girlfriend. “I controlled it - I can do anything.”
5/5/93: At times he is impulsive and does things that may be harmful to him. He has impulses to do strange and harmful things.
Holy shit that kid was fucked up..
Whether or not he was fucked up is a consideration independent of whether or not he received and deserves a fair trial. This issue -- Damien's behavior/statements -- is precisely what's so scary about all of this. The fear is that the WM3 were not convicted on the evidence at trial, but rather what kind of people the jury perceived them to be. The jury saw a devil-worshipper and didn't care if he was a murderer or not. In America, the presumption is innocent until proven guilty -- devil-worshipper, fucked up kid or not.
1998-06-30 Minneapolis
2003-06-16 St. Paul
2006-06-26 St. Paul
2007-08-05 Chicago
2009-08-23 Chicago
2009-08-28 San Francisco
2010-05-01 NOLA (Jazz Fest)
2011-07-02 EV Minneapolis
2011-09-03 PJ20
2011-09-04 PJ20
2011-09-17 Winnipeg
2012-06-26 Amsterdam
2012-06-27 Amsterdam
2013-07-19 Wrigley
2013-11-21 San Diego
2013-11-23 Los Angeles
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What do you guys think of exhibit 500? The celebrities who say this is about a kid being wrongfully convicted for just wearing black, listening to metal and reading Stephen King is just total bullshit.
5/7/92. E. Arkansas Mental Health Center: Client admits to having been suspended seven times this past semester for initiating fights at school and starting fires. States in one fight he almost gouged out the victim’s eyes.
Clinical report based on psychological tests: The behavior of this youngster is characterized by impulsive hostility...the desire to gain power and demean others springs from animosity and a wish to vindicate past grievances. This teenager believes that past degradations may be undone by provoking fear and intimidation in others. Cool and distant, this youth demonstrates little or no compassion for others.
5/19/92. Damien arrested for breaking into a trailer with his 15 year old girlfriend, Deanna Holcomb. Suicide pact if they couldn’t be together. Damien threatening to kill police officers and Deanna’s father when picked up. Convicted of second-degree burglary and sexual misconduct.
5/19/92 to 6/1/92. Craighead County Juvenile Detention Center.
Damien voiced suicide plan to folks at the center. Staff reported that Damien and Deanna planned to have a baby and sacrifice it. Damien knocked a peer to the ground, sucked the blood from the boy’s wounded arm and rubbed the blood on his face. No remorse. Deanna is hospitalized at Mid-South Hospital in Memphis.
Joyce Cureton, Juvenile Director, reported that “it is our opinion that Damien needs mental health treatment.”
6/1/92 to 6/25/92. Charter Hospital of Little Rock. Immediate hospitalization due to suicidal intent.
Admits to a history of violence and attempting to scratch out the eyes of a classmate. There were major concerns that Damien was exhibiting disturbed thinking. He has a history of extreme physical aggression toward others. It was felt that he needed to be temporarily removed from his environment to provide protection for him and protection for others.
Damien states, “I burn myself with lighters. I have huffed gas and paint, used speed, marijuana, glue, and alcohol.”
Progress Notes:
Damien stated that he got ahold of a police officer’s gun, and that if Deanna’s father had acted aggressively, “I would have blown him away and the next time I will eliminate that person.”
Denies having a conscience or feelings of regret.
Stares into space and shows no emotional response to any kind of stimuli.
Verbalized concern that there are surveillance cameras behind his mirror and under the desk in his room. Quite paranoid; he definitely bears watching.
Still drawing witchcraft symbols & continues to speak of bizarre and unusual practices.
Makes an unusual sound with his mouth that sounds like a cat purr.
States that visit with parents didn’t go well, but would not elaborate.
Damien’s mother concerned about her son “not learning to deal with anger and rages.” Thinks Damien is responding to outside stimulation. Voiced fear that “son may be crazy.”
6/25/92. Damien discharged to mother with instructions for continuing care. Family moving to Oregon.
8/13/92 Home Visit Evaluation by Calvin Downey, Oregon Juvenile Counselor:
Damien indicates he did spend approximately 30 days in a psychiatric hospital via court order, because he was suicidal. He feel his prior depression has improved greatly. Denies use of nonprescribed, controlled substances or alcohol.
Mrs. Echols indicates there are no family conflicts with Damien, that he gets along well with the family, that she does not believe he has a behavioral problem & that she does not need any services from this state.
9/1/92. Officer Ortez is called to the Echols’ apartment in Oregon. Damien transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital.
Emergency Room Report: The patient denies suicidal or homicidal ideation. However, in talking with family members, they state that he made it quite clear that he had thoughts of harming other people, i.e. was going to cut mother’s throat, and also made verbal threats to his father here at St. Vincent’s.
Parents state that he has sniffed propane, glue, gasoline and almost any other drug that is possible. Parental concerns regarding satanism, devil worship.
Admission diagnosis: Suicidal/homicidal ideation.
9/4/92. Discharged from St. Vincent’s. Because of Damien’s threats, both parents do not feel that they wish to have him return to their home. They are frightened of him and what he can do, not only to them but to the other children who reside in the home (2 others). Damien is to return to Arkansas by bus.
9/14/92 to 9/28/92. Readmitted to Charter Hospital from Juvenile Detention Center. He admitted to sucking the blood out of a peer’s neck while in the Center. The other peers were afraid of him. Threats to kill both parents (slash throats, eat alive).
Presenting problem: Homicidal and psychosis. Alteration in thought processes evidenced by delusional thinking and inappropriate social behavior.
Progress notes: Belief in devil worship, has agreed to threatening to “kill” others. Bizarre behaviors. Stated he had attempted suicide before and “wasn’t worried about trying again, because I know I can come back.”
Says he’s going to eat father and that he needs to be locked up or he will hurt someone.
Peers complaining of Damien making growling sounds at them.
Continues talk of satanism. Possible deprogramming needed. Could be a danger to others.
Continues laughing strangely and getting peers to feed into his satanism. Tries to keep staff from seeing him do anything other than what’s appropriate according to unit guidelines. Depressed mood, bizarre behavior.
Said he was “happy to be here because otherwise he’d be in jail and this has to be better.”
Spoke with Jerry Driver re: Damien’s discharge to stepfather Jack Echols. Said this was “ok”.
Diagnosis: Psychotic Disorder NOS and Dysthymia. Prognosis: Poor.
1/5/93. Mental Health Center reopens case: Reports self-mutilation, cutting self with knives. Will “trance out” since 5th grade - doesn’t have to deal with what’s going on. Says he thinks a lot about life after death--”I want to go where the monsters go.” He admits being caught with satanic items, but denies cult involvement.
Is interested in witchcraft for the past 8 years. He has tried to steal energy from someone else and influence others’ minds with witchcraft. Describes self as “pretty much hates the human race.” Relates that he feels people are in two classes--sheep and wolves (wolves eat the sheep).
1/13/93: Damien reports that he’s very angry with family members and with other people who have “let him down”. He discussed issues of power & control. He states that he could make things happen. Affect and mood was flat.
1/19/93: Reveals history of abuse as he talked of how he was treated as a child. States, “I just put it all inside.” Describes this as more than just anger - like rage. Sometimes he does “blow up.” Relates that when this happens, the only solution is to “hurt someone.” When questioned on his feelings he states, “I know I’m going to influence the world. People will remember me.”
1/20/93: Damien is an 18 year old, recently discharged from Charter Hospital. He’s had three psychiatric hospitalizations. Each has been associated with anger, thoughts of killing others, and thoughts of killing himself.
1/25/93: Speaks of rituals, drinking blood, more involved in demonology. Damien explained that he obtains his power by drinking blood of others. He typically drinks the blood of a sexual partner or of a ruling partner. This is achieved by biting or cutting. He states, “It makes me feel like a god.”
Damien describes drinking blood as giving him more power and strength. He remembers doing this as far back as age 10. He wants very much to be all powerful. He wants very much to be in total control.
Damien relates that a spirit is now living with him. The spirit was put inside him last year. He indicates that a month ago, the spirit decided to become part of him and he to become part of the spirit. This is reportedly a spirit of a woman who was killed by her husband. In addition, he also reports conversations with demons and other spirits. This is achieved through rituals.
He denies that he’s satanic, seeing himself more as being involved in demonology.
Affect and mood today continued to be bland, although there was more emotion when talking about drinking blood.
2/5/93: Damien is noted to have cuts on his right arm and hand. Related that he cut himself as a way of permanently marking his skin. Related feeling very angry yesterday when running into previous girlfriend. “I controlled it - I can do anything.”
5/5/93: At times he is impulsive and does things that may be harmful to him. He has impulses to do strange and harmful things.
Holy shit that kid was fucked up..
I see a lot of talk here, but nothing substantial. How many facts are there, and how many statements are troubled teen's statements? Nobody says that Damien tries to scratch someone eyes out, those are his words. He states that he got a hold of police gun. But he didn't. If they try to separate his girlfriend and him, they will kill themselves. Right.
He realised that satanism is what gives him attention, and he is acting on it. Purring, strange laughter, making odd noises, licking blood, I just rolled my eyes. Drama queen. Stupid, but there you go.
Cutting and burning himself? Not so rare really. Sniffing stuff, dope, alchohol at 17. How horrible.
He hates the whole world? I did at 17. He broke into trailer to be with his girlfriend, not a right thing to do, but how bad is it really?
If he was abused within the family, wouldn't it be a normal consequence that he is aggressive towards the family? And here we are again, it is all verbally.
I see a troubled kid with vivid fantasy here, that's all. And not much to act out in the place he grew up.
As for the case, why would anyone be against a new trial? If justice was done, it would be highlighted again, closed and done, good. If unjustice was done, it will be corrected, good. Where is the problem?
The only argument I'm trying to make is that he was a good suspect. That is all. He showed signs of conduct disorder as a child, and by definition, antisocial personality disorder once he reached the age of 18. Antisocial personality disorder is a far cry from someone wearing black and listening to metallica. A new trial needs to be done, however. And he should be freed.
The only argument I'm trying to make is that he was a good suspect. That is all. He showed signs of conduct disorder as a child, and by definition, antisocial personality disorder once he reached the age of 18. Antisocial personality disorder is a far cry from someone wearing black and listening to metallica. A new trial needs to be done, however. And he should be freed.
I'm glad we ultimately agree that a new trial should be had (and that he should probably be freed), but I'm not sure I agree that he's a good suspect. What makes a good suspect? What was "satanic" about this case, other than what the media/prosecution alluded to? I don't know, but if someone tells a jury that the killings are "satanic," "ritualistic" or "sacrificial" and then you talk about how the killer was interested in "satanism," pagan beliefs, had psychological issues or held unorthodox beliefs, a jury's going to do what a bad investigator does: look only for evidence to fit the predetermined conclusion, rather than weigh the evidence objectively. I think Damien made a good suspect after the notion that these were "satanic" murders was planted and he was profiled as a messed up kid who was interested in the occult etc. This is often the case with police investigation: detectives predetermine who is a suspect -- sometimes justifiably and sometimes not -- and then the investigation becomes trying to prove that person is the culprit rather than trying to objectively determine an actual culprit.
So is Damien a "good suspect?" Maybe, a single white male in his 40s would have fit the bill for this kind of killing just as easily as an 18 year old kid with some issues (think: John Wayne Gacy - couldn't dressing up as a clown and burying children in the dirt of your basement be deemed "satanic" too?). Damien only becomes a "good suspect" once you describe the killings -- arbitrarily -- as "satanic" and then find a defendant wearing all black with unorthodox beliefs. Its like saying a killing is gang-related and then finding a black defendant with a bandana and a grill. The jury's going to unfairly draw conclusions that might be but probably aren't there. The likelihood that those connections aren't there is called "reasonable doubt." This case is chock full of reasonable doubt.
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Lostdogsinthegarden wrote:
'The only argument I'm trying to make is that he was a good suspect. That is all. He showed signs of conduct disorder as a child, and by definition, antisocial personality disorder once he reached the age of 18. Antisocial personality disorder is a far cry from someone wearing black and listening to metallica. A new trial needs to be done, however. And he should be freed.'
I didn't respond to anyone in particular, but if you ask, I recognised some of my peers in Damian, and remembered when we acted out at our age, pretended to be cool, did some stupid things, and got accused of worse things. We grew up in Pleasantville and none of us were abused as far as I know. I don't know anything about disorder names, but how is someone antisocial if he has friends, girlfriend, and won't stop yapping to everybody? Seems social to me.
One can name disorders, but I can read for myself, and all I see is kid trying to look scary and not scared.
I think he was wrongfully convicted, but what I think doesn't matter really, what matters is, if there is no proof of guilt, he shouldn't be on the death row.
Lostdogsinthegarden wrote:
'The only argument I'm trying to make is that he was a good suspect. That is all. He showed signs of conduct disorder as a child, and by definition, antisocial personality disorder once he reached the age of 18. Antisocial personality disorder is a far cry from someone wearing black and listening to metallica. A new trial needs to be done, however. And he should be freed.'
I didn't respond to anyone in particular, but if you ask, I recognised some of my peers in Damian, and remembered when we acted out at our age, pretended to be cool, did some stupid things, and got accused of worse things. We grew up in Pleasantville and none of us were abused as far as I know. I don't know anything about disorder names, but how is someone antisocial if he has friends, girlfriend, and won't stop yapping to everybody? Seems social to me.
One can name disorders, but I can read for myself, and all I see is kid trying to look scary and not scared.
I think he was wrongfully convicted, but what I think doesn't matter really, what matters is, if there is no proof of guilt, he shouldn't be on the death row.
He can be super social and still have anti-social personality disorder. From emedicine:
Antisocial personality disorder: Individuals with antisocial personality disorder display a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others and the rules of society. Onset must occur by age 15 years and includes the following features:
* Repeated violations of the law- check.
* Pervasive lying and deception- check.
* Physical aggressiveness- check.
* Reckless disregard for safety of self or others- check.
* Consistent irresponsibility in work and family environments- check.
* Lack of remorse- check.
He has also killed animals in the most brutal fashion, which is also a sign of a poor prognosis.
The boys were drained of blood. He likes to drink blood. Although that doesn't mean anything, I say lets throw him on the suspect list. Simple.
Comments
Should he have been a suspect? Absolutely. Should he have been convicted? No.
Read "Devil's Knot"
Misskelley's confession was bogus. His first confession said that the murders occurred at 9am and that Damien had sodomized the kids....there was no evidence of sodomy and the murders definitely happened after 6pm
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
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kristal_007@msn.com
No such thing as a "minor discrepancy, " especially one in a confession that inculpates 2 other co-defendants in a capital murder trial. Either as a defense attorney or average person, my mind instantly questions a witness's/confessor's credibility/honesty when that person misremembers critical components about any event: time, place and/or an order of events. There are too many inconsistencies and impossibilities in Misskelley's confessions that its clear he was either 1) lying or 2) too low-functioning to have an ability to have either participated in the events he describes or be relied upon as an actual witness for such events.
Check the book out. Check out the trial transcripts. Lots of serious concerns about the fairness of this trial. At the very least, a new trial is warranted
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My theory on the case is that the convictions are bogus. First of all, at the time of the initial convictions there just wasn't anything there to physically connect them to the murders. Nothing. They had not one piece of conclusive evidence that proved they were even there, let alone conclusively connected the boys to the murders enough to warrant lifetime convictions and the death penalty in Damien's case. I am shocked that they are still in jail, the defense attorneys for the boys did not fully prove that the boys did not do it, but they didn't really have to. The only thing they boys had against them was a skeptical at best confession of a borderline mentally handicapped minor, and hearsay from children in the town. Damien did himself no favors by portraying himself as an arrogant, remorseless, loner, goth-teen who dabbled in "weird" Wiccan and borderline satanic believes. But still through all of that the entire case hinged on a forced confession of a borderline retarded teenager, and hearsay from some children at a baseball game.
The prosecution did nothing to physically prove they performed the murders, all they did were spread a thought of fear about the boys as to if they "could" have committed the murders. In all actuality common sense could tell anyone the boys did not commit the crime. You're telling me that a borderline retarded kid, a 16 year old scrawny kid and an 18 year old unathletic kid, kidnapped these boys, raped, tortured, and murdered them and the police can not find the location where the murders took place, no doubt there would be tons of blood, there is no blood at the dump site where the boys bodies were found, there is nothing...not one thing, not a skin cell, not a hair sample, not a drop of blood, not a thread of clothing, a foot print, nothing found at the wooded, damp, muddy area that connects these kids to the murders? These teenagers are such good killing machines that they've done something virtually 99% of all murderers and serial killers that do things like that for years could not do. Leave absolutely no evidence at the crime scene or on the victims? Really?
There were no weapons found, knife found in a lake behind Jason's house was used in the trial yet the blade pattern did not match the knife wounds and there was no blood or DNA found on the knife. One of the boys fathers has lied about his whereabouts that night, he was abusive to his step-son, the mother was afraid of what he would do, he beat and whipped his child. Further proving the killer was probably someone that knew them is the fact that it would be very difficult to inconspicuously kidnap 3 small boys in the middle of the day..they probably came voluntarily because they knew and thought they could trust the killers. A knife that Stevie Branch always carried his mother said, a little pocket knife that he never went anywhere without was later found to be in the possession of the step dad. Once the case got further reviews a few years later and it was determined that one of the abrasions on the face of Stevie Branch was not blunt force but bite marks, miraculously his dad got dentures within months. Jesse's confession was not supposed to be used in Jason and Damien's trial because Jessie would not testify against them. Yet in the juror notes the Misskelly confession is brought up numerous times and one juror was quoted as saying it was an important factor in their decision..What!? Really? How is that not grounds for a mistrial?
I'm not saying they did not commit the murders, I don't think they did and common sense tells me there is no way they could have pulled something like this off, but at no point in the trial did prosecution PROVE they did. One would think to warrant a life sentence and a death penalty you should have to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt someone committed the crimes and it appears to me the boys where convicted in a hasty, scared, seeking justice trial without any real evidence of what this was going to do to the people involved.
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the confession was coerced....when the police realized they had a major problem with some of the facts they did a second "confession" and cleared those points up. Jesse would say whatever they wanted him to say. It is obvious that they "led" him to answer a certain way....Jesse was borderline retarded
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
definitely get "Devil's Knot"....it is the most comprehensive book I've read....I wish it was updated for events over the last 5 years but it is very enlightening
You simply won't believe some of the things in the book...
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
And it's hard for me to rely on biased books and documentaries...the first two documentaries barely even focused on the situation, instead clearly was a witch hunt for Byers....so now that's over with, it must the other step dad..who the fuck knows....but yeah, a fair re-trial would be nice to put an end to all this..
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
You should look closer at the "Jesse admitted that he intentionally lied to throw the cops off" line and see if that is true.
You actually think Jesse said that? What Jesse actually said was something to the effect that he confessed because he thought if he told them what they wanted to hear they would stop yelling at him and let him go home. When questioned with his father present he always denied involvement.
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
But he still said specific things only a person at the crime scene would know, matching up with physical evidence. And didn't his lawyer even advise him not to give the third confession but did so anyway..I'm all for a re-trial, but would be cautious to believe that they are 100% innocent...imagine if we find out for certain that they did it, and all these people were fighting for murderers to go free, many even devoting their entire lives to it..scary..
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
I think I'll be reading this as well in a month or so. I've put my detective work on hold for awhile.
yeah, you would think that one of them --whether its Hobbs the step-father, or Echols if its him--would have grown a conscious after all this time and realized that the truth will set you free. I have not donated any money towards this cause nor do I intend to, but I do support a re-trial. I hope the entire thing would be televised.
Right....and if you research the case you will see that the police planted these things that "only a person at the crime scene would know".
You will also find out that around 9pm that night the police were called to the Bojangles restaurant to investigate a man that had barricaded himself in the women's room covered in mud and blood. The police actually left the Byers house (when they called to report the missing boy) to go to the restaurant. They obtained blood samples left behind the next day and guess what.....they LOST the blood sample.
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
And remember....his initial confession made no sense at all
http://www.dpdlaw.com/JessieFirstStatement.htm
check this out....see how the police led his statements...and keep in mind that they recorded like 20 minutes of a 3 hour interrogation. They verbally abused this borderline retarded boy until he was ready to say what they wanted him to say.
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
yeah, losing a blood sample on a lead. shouldn't that be terms for the police to get demoted rather than all the people that got promoted afterwards. all I know is, those detectives, police, and lawyers really made a mess of the whole thing...and thought nobody would notice. and here we are 18 yrs later trying to sort through their mess.
from the link
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
1998: Noblesville; 2003: Noblesville; 2009: EV Nashville, Chicago, Chicago
2010: St Louis, Columbus, Noblesville; 2011: EV Chicago, East Troy, East Troy
2013: London ON, Wrigley; 2014: Cincy, St Louis, Moline (NO CODE)
2016: Lexington, Wrigley #1; 2018: Wrigley, Wrigley, Boston, Boston
2020: Oakland, Oakland: 2021: EV Ohana, Ohana, Ohana, Ohana
2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
I thought this was interesting....they discussed this in the book as well. Jesse must have been shown photos of the boys that showed the bruising. Obviously a bruise doesn't appear for quite some time.
The Golden Age is 2 months away. And guess what….. you’re gonna love it! (teskeinc 11.19.24)
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2022: Oakland, Oakland, Nashville, Louisville; 2023: Chicago, Chicago, Noblesville
2024: Noblesville, Wrigley, Wrigley, Ohana, Ohana; 2025: Pitt1, Pitt2
from the link[/quote]
Gitchell should have apologized later for stuff like this...that is, if he didn't coerce Jessie. A decent human being would have apologized atleast. What is also scary is the fact that people who are around cases this much, can't even determine what's right or wrong anymore. To me its simple--three 8 yr. old boys and there is still confusion about the verdict. Any decent human being involved would still be concerned with all this stuff that came after. Gitchell, however, does not seemed to be disturbed publicly about any of the events that unfolded. Nowhere is there a public apology about losing the blood at Bojangles, nowhere is there apology about such details as what you have shown above. Gitchell has obviously been a part of the court and judicial system for so long that these poor three 8 yr. old boys are now just numbers to him.--that is really scary, and sad.
But they're not to me, Gitchell--and alot of other decent human beings out there.
Send my credentials to the house of detention
Pressure on police to put a scary crime like this 'to rest' and make the public feel more at ease is well documented - and seems to be a common feature of miscarriages of justice - since there is immense pressure on the policeforce to pin the blame on someone in gruesome high profile killings with a lot of public and media attention on them - much more than in more low-key, less 'dramatic' crimes. Fitting with this idea - the gruesome nature of this case would certainly lend itself to this possibility. High profile graphic crimes have a higher likelihood of inviting miscarriages of justice to them - is the hypothesis here.
I haven't researched this, but I'm sure somebody will have done - if you plotted the numbers of 'proven wrongful convictions / overturned convictions', against the relative 'drama and gruesomeness of a crime', and the level of 'media interest' in it- I bet you would find it is disproportionately high.
One of the most famous miscarriages of justice over this side of the pond is the 'Birmingham 6' bombers case - where the trial that eventually cleared and released them showed a lot evidence of police desperation to actively pin the blame on someone
Manipulative policemen actively trying to pin the blame on a vulnerable young person, an easy target - would equally account for a lot of anomalous elements of this confession. You have to keep in mind the immense power differences in these interrogation scenarios. If you think any 'normal adult' would remain clear-headed and above manipulation under intense questioning from some corrupt policeman, you probably need to get out more!!
Send my credentials to the house of detention
Holy shit that kid was fucked up..
put on a slow, dumb show for you
and crack you up
so you can put a blue ribbon on my brain
god I'm very, very frightening
and I'll overdo it'
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Guildford_Four
Send my credentials to the house of detention
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kristal_007@msn.com
exactly! Damien Echols was no saint in the making.
I think I'm really getting to the point where I don't want to be involved anymore. I have a sweet little boy to worry about all the time. There are plenty more educated people out there that can take over this ordeal. I don't really have any influence over anyone anyway to shift an opinion one way or the other--so why the hell am I still looking into this case. My opinion on it is basically null and void. Those 3 in prison are big boys now. Their families are too. They can handle this on their own. Good luck to whomever is innocent! Hope they find the guilty, for sure this time, and put their asses in jail for life.
I see a lot of talk here, but nothing substantial. How many facts are there, and how many statements are troubled teen's statements? Nobody says that Damien tries to scratch someone eyes out, those are his words. He states that he got a hold of police gun. But he didn't. If they try to separate his girlfriend and him, they will kill themselves. Right.
He realised that satanism is what gives him attention, and he is acting on it. Purring, strange laughter, making odd noises, licking blood, I just rolled my eyes. Drama queen. Stupid, but there you go.
Cutting and burning himself? Not so rare really. Sniffing stuff, dope, alchohol at 17. How horrible.
He hates the whole world? I did at 17. He broke into trailer to be with his girlfriend, not a right thing to do, but how bad is it really?
If he was abused within the family, wouldn't it be a normal consequence that he is aggressive towards the family? And here we are again, it is all verbally.
I see a troubled kid with vivid fantasy here, that's all. And not much to act out in the place he grew up.
As for the case, why would anyone be against a new trial? If justice was done, it would be highlighted again, closed and done, good. If unjustice was done, it will be corrected, good. Where is the problem?
Whether or not he was fucked up is a consideration independent of whether or not he received and deserves a fair trial. This issue -- Damien's behavior/statements -- is precisely what's so scary about all of this. The fear is that the WM3 were not convicted on the evidence at trial, but rather what kind of people the jury perceived them to be. The jury saw a devil-worshipper and didn't care if he was a murderer or not. In America, the presumption is innocent until proven guilty -- devil-worshipper, fucked up kid or not.
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The only argument I'm trying to make is that he was a good suspect. That is all. He showed signs of conduct disorder as a child, and by definition, antisocial personality disorder once he reached the age of 18. Antisocial personality disorder is a far cry from someone wearing black and listening to metallica. A new trial needs to be done, however. And he should be freed.
I'm glad we ultimately agree that a new trial should be had (and that he should probably be freed), but I'm not sure I agree that he's a good suspect. What makes a good suspect? What was "satanic" about this case, other than what the media/prosecution alluded to? I don't know, but if someone tells a jury that the killings are "satanic," "ritualistic" or "sacrificial" and then you talk about how the killer was interested in "satanism," pagan beliefs, had psychological issues or held unorthodox beliefs, a jury's going to do what a bad investigator does: look only for evidence to fit the predetermined conclusion, rather than weigh the evidence objectively. I think Damien made a good suspect after the notion that these were "satanic" murders was planted and he was profiled as a messed up kid who was interested in the occult etc. This is often the case with police investigation: detectives predetermine who is a suspect -- sometimes justifiably and sometimes not -- and then the investigation becomes trying to prove that person is the culprit rather than trying to objectively determine an actual culprit.
So is Damien a "good suspect?" Maybe, a single white male in his 40s would have fit the bill for this kind of killing just as easily as an 18 year old kid with some issues (think: John Wayne Gacy - couldn't dressing up as a clown and burying children in the dirt of your basement be deemed "satanic" too?). Damien only becomes a "good suspect" once you describe the killings -- arbitrarily -- as "satanic" and then find a defendant wearing all black with unorthodox beliefs. Its like saying a killing is gang-related and then finding a black defendant with a bandana and a grill. The jury's going to unfairly draw conclusions that might be but probably aren't there. The likelihood that those connections aren't there is called "reasonable doubt." This case is chock full of reasonable doubt.
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'The only argument I'm trying to make is that he was a good suspect. That is all. He showed signs of conduct disorder as a child, and by definition, antisocial personality disorder once he reached the age of 18. Antisocial personality disorder is a far cry from someone wearing black and listening to metallica. A new trial needs to be done, however. And he should be freed.'
I didn't respond to anyone in particular, but if you ask, I recognised some of my peers in Damian, and remembered when we acted out at our age, pretended to be cool, did some stupid things, and got accused of worse things. We grew up in Pleasantville and none of us were abused as far as I know. I don't know anything about disorder names, but how is someone antisocial if he has friends, girlfriend, and won't stop yapping to everybody? Seems social to me.
One can name disorders, but I can read for myself, and all I see is kid trying to look scary and not scared.
I think he was wrongfully convicted, but what I think doesn't matter really, what matters is, if there is no proof of guilt, he shouldn't be on the death row.
He can be super social and still have anti-social personality disorder. From emedicine:
Antisocial personality disorder: Individuals with antisocial personality disorder display a pervasive pattern of disregard for and violation of the rights of others and the rules of society. Onset must occur by age 15 years and includes the following features:
* Repeated violations of the law- check.
* Pervasive lying and deception- check.
* Physical aggressiveness- check.
* Reckless disregard for safety of self or others- check.
* Consistent irresponsibility in work and family environments- check.
* Lack of remorse- check.
He has also killed animals in the most brutal fashion, which is also a sign of a poor prognosis.
The boys were drained of blood. He likes to drink blood. Although that doesn't mean anything, I say lets throw him on the suspect list. Simple.