WestMemphis3 Question

Lostdogsinthegarden

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.

http://callahan.8k.com/wm3/img/exh500.html

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.

Gern Blansten

and none of that is evidence of any murder

Blah

Lostdogsinthegarden wrote:

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.

http://callahan.8k.com/wm3/img/exh500.html

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.

I missed the part of that exhibit that showed the DNA evidence that Echols committed the murders of those little boys??? Did I miss it?

I don't think 1 person thinks Echols was necessarily a good kid but that doesn't mean he murdered Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore. What you just pasted would make people skeptical but being skeptical isn't proof he committed THIS crime and we shouldn't execute people because some think they MAY have done something.


That exhibit is exactly the point, they convicted them because they considered them punks. They had no proof they did the crime.

Lostdogsinthegarden

Nope. Not a single shred of evidence to be found in there. I'm simply stating that the argument that he was arrested for wearing black and listening to heavy metal is absolutely bullshit, but that's what all the celebrities want you to believe.

I don't know if he did it. He could be totally innocent. I just want people to be a little more informed.

yatahe

...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.

yatahe

Some words came out wrong...wrote on my phone..

yatahe

Sighing supposed to be within. Layer supposed to b later.

yatahe wrote:

...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.

yatahe

Also, the psych reports showing Echols mentally ill and disturbed at the time. This still is not DNA evidence , I understand.

yatahe wrote:

Sighing supposed to be within. Layer supposed to b later.

yatahe wrote:

...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.

Blah

Lostdogsinthegarden wrote:

I don't know if he did it. He could be totally innocent.

Oh so you agree he shouldn't have been convicted! Cool.

tremors

I believe the main questions we should be asking at this point are 'was the original conviction reached fairly and safely' and 'are there grounds for a re-trial'?

It seems a lot of fresh evidence has emerged since the original trial - which would be presented to a new jury to scrutinise, along with all the other evidence, and no doubt completely new arguments.

I'm not a legal expert, but if you believe the American Justice system has any validity, then the questions at this time would seem to be around what we in Britain would call the probability of 'unsafe convictions' or 'miscarriages of justice'. It does seem that there is a lot of evidence being presented now about multiple irregularities in the original trial - and if so, the question would be do the young men convicted deserve a fairer trial? If this comes about, it will be the Jury who determines guilt or innocence in the light of all the previous and subsequent evidence won't it?

Lostdogsinthegarden

Beach Bum wrote:

Lostdogsinthegarden wrote:

I don't know if he did it. He could be totally innocent.

Oh so you agree he shouldn't have been convicted! Cool.

Should he have been a suspect? Absolutely. Should he have been convicted? No.

Gern Blansten

yatahe wrote:

...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

yatahe

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.

Gern Blansten wrote:

yatahe wrote:

...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

vant0037

yatahe wrote:

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.

Gern Blansten wrote:

yatahe wrote:

...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

BMo-643

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.

Gern Blansten

yatahe wrote:

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.

Gern Blansten wrote:

yatahe wrote:

...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

Gern Blansten

BMo-643 wrote:

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...

The Champ

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..

Gern Blansten

The Champ wrote:

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.

The Champ

Gern Blansten wrote:

The Champ wrote:

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..