MovieChat Forums > West of Memphis (2012) Discussion > 10 Questions for 'supporters' (Created b...

10 Questions for 'supporters' (Created by Fred Walsh)


Let me state that I hate the terms "supps," "nons," and "fencies" to describe the differing perspectives on the case; "fencie" is one who goes back and forth from guilty to innocent, one who is 50/50, or one who just can't make their mind up which way to lean... I just use them because it's how we all easily identify one's stance and feelings about the case.

Also I must state that these questions were created by long-time case researcher Fred J. Walsh. Fred is a "non," and has literally been following, and researching the case since practically day one back in 1993-1994. Seriously, he probably knows more about the case than anybody... So I guarantee all these questions are thoroughly researched, and fact-checked... But question the veracity of them, and fact-check them if you think there's a hole or error in them, and I'll address it, or ask Fred to!

Well, supporters (nons and fencies can partake too!) I look forward to starting a great debate!




1 - Why did Jessie maintain his guilt to his lawyer for 3 months, from arrest through the summer of 1993?

2 - Why did Jessie offer additional detailed confessional statements after conviction?

3 - Why did Damien/Jason's accounts change from when they were first interviewed by police only days after the crimes?

4 - Why did two of Damien's girl pals say that he was out that night with Jason, contrary to their own accounts? Why was one of the girls told that Damien wasn't home, when she tried to reach him by phone at 8/9 PM, a time he claims to have been at home?

5 - Why did the Hollingworth family insist they had seen Damien near the scene that night in muddy clothes?

6 - Why was Damien telling police that he and Domini were picked up from a laundromat before 3PM and then she was dropped home, at the same time Domini was telling the cops she had gotten dropped home at 7-7:30PM?

7 - Why did Jason's lawyer feel he couldn't field a proper alibi for Jason?

8 - Why did Jason's friend Ken say that he'd left Jason along with Damien behind at Wal-Mart after playing videogames that afternoon, when Jason claims Damien was not present and that it was he who left Ken at Wal-Mart? Ken's account places Jason and Damien together at 5:30PM, near the spot that Jessie claims to have met up with them, and only 1.25 miles west of the crime scene as the hour of the theorized times of the crimes approached.

9 - Why did Damien's (or Jason's) axe necklace have two different types of blood on it? One blood spot matched Jason/Steve Branch's types, and the other matched Damien's type.

10 - Why were three style of knots used in the tying of the victims?

BONUS 11 - Why was there blue candle wax found on Stevie Branch's shirt, and coincidentally a blue candle was found in Domini's bedroom, where Damien often stayed?

And some of my own questions:

12 - Why does Damien continue to say in post-release interviews that his alibi for the murders is "being on the phone with 4 girls," when in fact, we know that none of those four girls can account for him from the hours of approximately 6PM to 10PM?

13 - Why did Damien say on Larry King that he lived 20 miles away from where the murders took place, when in fact he lived closer than 2 miles?

14 - Why did Damien say on Larry King (and others) that he was not familiar with the neighborhood where the murders took place, when in fact he admitted before about constantly walking through the neighborhood? We know he loved to walk, and he was always seen (again, also by his own words) walking in, and around the area?

15 - Why does Damien, and his broad Lorrie continue to lie about the infamous "E-500 (Exhibit 500)" document? They claim it was created by some woman "out to get him," and it was only brought up by Jason's lawyers to attack him and make him look bad. When in fact, the documents were not "created" by any single person, but rather a compilation of various medical doctors, psychologists, correctional officers, social workers, etc. private records of Damien and their observations, notes, and recommendations regarding his mental health. One was even for him applying for social security benefits on account of being mentally ill. And, most importantly, these documents were introduced on the record by DAMIEN AND HIS LAWYERS during his sentencing phase (in hopes of saving his life). SO, WHY WOULD THEY MAKE THESE OUTRIGHT LIES UP?


This is just part one... There will be plenty more to come ;) I think all these questions can have an explanation, but to me, there's so many coincidences, and *beep* you find yourself having to "explain away"... IMO, it's just too much...

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*crickets*

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I'll bite. But before we begin, you are asking a lot of "why did so and such think this or that" questions. Since I am not that person, nor do I represent that person, all I can do is give MY opinion. Which is just that, an opinion.

1 - Why did Jessie maintain his guilt to his lawyer for 3 months, from arrest through the summer of 1993?


It depends on what side of the camp you are on. Do you believe Jessie was slow or do you believe he wasn't? Do you believe that Dr. William Wilkins was correct stating that Jessie was highly suggestible? If you read the first "confession" it's fairly easy to see that he was corrected several times after making a statement, then would change his answer to what the police wanted him to say (time of day of the crime is a prime example). If you do believe he was suggestible, then he may have believed he actually did commit the crime.

2 - Why did Jessie offer additional detailed confessional statements after conviction?


Personally, I do believe that he was told something along the lines of "If you just tell us what we want to hear, we can take care of you" so he kept changing his statements, offering additional details (many of which we know were false) hoping that he would be taken care of. Eating Dog, orgies, sacrifices, satanism, esbats, etc.

Even his "bible confession" which was taken right after his trial had several discrepancies against facts that were presented at the trial. So for me, when you know over 50% of what he says is wrong, that makes me wonder how much of what he said is true, where as others say "He got less than 50% of details correct, so that still makes him guilty". Also, on that note, the information he got correct was common knowledge through out the community.

3 - Why did Damien/Jason's accounts change from when they were first interviewed by police only days after the crimes?


Please cite some examples. I am not sure what you mean by this.

4 - Why did two of Damien's girl pals say that he was out that night with Jason, contrary to their own accounts? Why was one of the girls told that Damien wasn't home, when she tried to reach him by phone at 8/9 PM, a time he claims to have been at home?


It all depends on which alibi you want to believe. The Sanders claim one thing, Damien claims something similar and the 4 girls (Holly, Heather, Domini and Jennifer) claim something a bit different.

5 - Why did the Hollingworth family insist they had seen Damien near the scene that night in muddy clothes?


The HOLLINGSWORTH family is an odd bunch to begin with. At the time of questioning, LG was already on the police radar as a suspect. They also claimed that it was Damien & Domini that they saw near the laundromat (where Damiens family claimed to have picked up Domini & Damien). In all of the statements about the 2 by the laundromat, the times are all over the board. Some place Damien & Domini there around 3:30 (well before the murders) and the Hollingsworth place them there around 10 (well after the murders, BUT people were searching the woods by then, also according to other statements, Damien was already home by that time). One issue that I have always had, is why were the phone records never used to validate an alibi?

6 - Why was Damien telling police that he and Domini were picked up from a laundromat before 3PM and then she was dropped home, at the same time Domini was telling the cops she had gotten dropped home at 7-7:30PM?


See above.

7 - Why did Jason's lawyer feel he couldn't field a proper alibi for Jason?


We are talking about kids who were boarderline drop outs. They didn't work, they didn't have a schedule, they were floundering. Every day was the same to them. Trying to figure out what happened on one day could be a bit hard when your client is of that type.

8 - Why did Jason's friend Ken say that he'd left Jason along with Damien behind at Wal-Mart after playing videogames that afternoon, when Jason claims Damien was not present and that it was he who left Ken at Wal-Mart? Ken's account places Jason and Damien together at 5:30PM, near the spot that Jessie claims to have met up with them, and only 1.25 miles west of the crime scene as the hour of the theorized times of the crimes approached.


Ken is one of the only people who claims that time period, everyone else's statements are a different time. Maybe he was mistaken.

9 - Why did Damien's (or Jason's) axe necklace have two different types of blood on it? One blood spot matched Jason/Steve Branch's types, and the other matched Damien's type.


Not an insult, but are you a guy? If so, how old are you? When I was 16 or 17 and had to shave, it wasn't uncommon to knick myself quite a few times. Hell, I am 35 and still occasionally do it. That is one way to write off the blood on the necklace. Also, for how brutal the crimes were, why was no other blood found on any clothing/shoes that the 3 were wearing? Their mugshots do not exactly paint them out to be those who would practice excellent hygiene.

10 - Why were three style of knots used in the tying of the victims?


I am not sure, I wasn't there.

BONUS 11 - Why was there blue candle wax found on Stevie Branch's shirt, and coincidentally a blue candle was found in Domini's bedroom, where Damien often stayed?


And was the wax tested and matched? I probably have a blue candle in my junk drawer, doesn't mean I killed the 3, right?

12 - Why does Damien continue to say in post-release interviews that his alibi for the murders is "being on the phone with 4 girls," when in fact, we know that none of those four girls can account for him from the hours of approximately 6PM to 10PM?


That isn't exactly true. Go back and read their statements.

13 - Why did Damien say on Larry King that he lived 20 miles away from where the murders took place, when in fact he lived closer than 2 miles?


Just a preface, I haven't seen the entire Larry King interview, so I can't offer much on this aspect of things.

I guess it all depends on where you Damien actually lived at the time of the murders. He claims that he was staying between Jacks place and his grandparents place (if I remember right, it was his grandparents).

14 - Why did Damien say on Larry King (and others) that he was not familiar with the neighborhood where the murders took place, when in fact he admitted before about constantly walking through the neighborhood? We know he loved to walk, and he was always seen (again, also by his own words) walking in, and around the area?


I believe he said he was unaware of Robinhood Hills, but once again, I can't remember.

15 - Why does Damien, and his broad Lorrie continue to lie about the infamous "E-500 (Exhibit 500)" document? They claim it was created by some woman "out to get him," and it was only brought up by Jason's lawyers to attack him and make him look bad. When in fact, the documents were not "created" by any single person, but rather a compilation of various medical doctors, psychologists, correctional officers, social workers, etc. private records of Damien and their observations, notes, and recommendations regarding his mental health. One was even for him applying for social security benefits on account of being mentally ill. And, most importantly, these documents were introduced on the record by DAMIEN AND HIS LAWYERS during his sentencing phase (in hopes of saving his life). SO, WHY WOULD THEY MAKE THESE OUTRIGHT LIES UP?


I think (and once again, this is my opinion) that he is doing everything he can to distance himself from the Exhibit 500.

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9 - Why did Damien's (or Jason's) axe necklace have two different types of blood on it? One blood spot matched Jason/Steve Branch's types, and the other matched Damien's type.
There were 2 small specks of blood on Damien's necklace. One speck contained the same blood type as Damien. The other speck contained a blood type that (at the time) 11% of the world's population had, including Jason and Stevie's blood type.

Now I'd like to ask you a question - why would a state risk letting 3 convicted child murderers out of prison early, free to walk the streets, if they were so confident in their evidence against the three? That's a lot of liability and risk for the state to assume. In other words, it tells me that the state was not confident in their evidence.


if you're bitter still, ask Him to help you carry on ~ Blue October

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Why did Damien say on Larry King that he lived 20 miles away from where the murders took place, when in fact he lived closer than 2 miles?
Damien lived in Marion, Arkansas, which is a rural area right outside the city limits of West Memphis, Arkansas. The driving distance from Marion to West Memphis is 10 minutes (5.1 miles). He told Larry King that he lived about 10 to 15 miles from where the murders took place. The murders took place in West Memphis, Arkansas (woods behind the Robin Hood Hills area, which is near I40 and the South service road). You can see that Marion, Arkansas covers quite a large rural area. So depending on where Damien lived within Marion, it's quite possible he lived a good 10 to 15 miles from where the murders took place.

ECHOLS: Well, I lived -- I didn't actually live in West Memphis. I lived in a small town right outside of West Memphis called Marion. So it was within, I don't know, I'd say about a 10, 15 mile area.

http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0712/19/lkl.01.html

He was originally arraigned at the Marion, Arkansas Courthouse.
Michael "Damien" Echols, 18, is escorted to a Marion, Ark., courtroom Wednesday, August 4, 1993 where he pleaded innocent to taking part in the murder of three 8-year-old boys from West Memphis. The victims were found in a drainage ditch May 6 near their homes.

http://murderpedia.org/male.E/e/echols-damien-photos-1.htm

Map the covers Marion, Arkansas (You may have to zoom out) and West Memphis, Arkansas.
http://wikimapia.org/#lang=en&lat=35.157039&lon=-90.178356&amp ;z=14&m=b



if you're bitter still, ask Him to help you carry on ~ Blue October

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OJ Simpson did it!

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