48 Hours and Paradise Lost; West Memphis Three

[Nova]

Great post above.

I'd like to remind those who believe Jesse's confession ----[warning about to be graphic]: if these teenagers were trying to anally penetrate 2nd graders there would be evidence, either DNA, or anal tears. Someone cannot be anally raped without some sort of tissue trauma or damage.

I also notice that when he told the police that they were "screwing and stuff" the police never tried to clarify what exactly was going on. It was vague and they left it that way on purpose imo.

The "sexual assault" claims were part of the info fed to JM by his interrogators. IIRC, investigators originally thought the children had been sodomized because their sphincters were distended. (Sorry, everyone, but that's what they thought.)

Later, better and more experienced forensic specialists explained that such distention is caused by the act of dying, not sexual assault. But by then JM's story was set in stone.

 

[Nova]

In general and not just with this case, I don't understand how people can accept parts of a confession as gospel while just shrugging off those parts that are obviously false.

Clearly, a guilty person might intentionally or unintentionally include false statements in an otherwise true confession. But when confession is inconsistent and/or less than wholly accurate, shouldn't we require some sort of corroboration for the parts we choose to believe?

 

[Pinkhammer]

......and people think he's innocent because?

Sorry I just don't get it. Damien is a classic psychopath from everything I have ever seen of him....I thought this was clearly evident in the Paradise Lost Documentaries by his demeanour in all interviews and by the history presented there, and the above list just seals it.

Guilty as charged IMO. The other two boys were likely less involved, but I believe they were both present.

I agree.

The documentary I saw on TV yesterday left out all references to the psychotic episodes which Echols experienced for many years.

Sounds like a classic narcissistic sociopath to me, with delusions of grandeur and the ability to influence followers like the other two teens.

A lot like Charles Manson.

 

[Nova]

I agree.

The documentary I saw on TV yesterday left out all references to the psychotic episodes which Echols experienced for many years.

Sounds like a classic narcissistic sociopath to me, with delusions of grandeur and the ability to influence followers like the other two teens.

A lot like Charles Manson.

I don't share your ability to diagnose anyone via TV, but assuming you are correct about DE, we still are left with huge differences: we have extensive evidence, including testimony from both within and outside the Family, of Manson's use of narcissisms and delusions to mold and influence the behavior of his followers, even long before the murders.

We have exactly zero evidence of DE exerting the same control over his co-defendants. He was friends with JB and may have had some influence there, but we don't have evidence of DE and JB even spending much time with JM before the murders. When, exactly, did DE weave his spell?

 

[Compassionate Reader]

I agree.

The documentary I saw on TV yesterday left out all references to the psychotic episodes which Echols experienced for many years.

Sounds like a classic narcissistic sociopath to me, with delusions of grandeur and the ability to influence followers like the other two teens.

A lot like Charles Manson.

And, to add to what Nova said, none of this past behavior makes DE a murderer. As I have said repeatedly, there is no physical evidence tying DE, JM or JB to this crime. Three teens could not have committed this crime without leaving any evidence. The physical evidence that has been examined excluded the three imprisoned men and some of it points to one of the step fathers. As I'm sure you all know, murdered children are more likely to be murdered by a parent, step parent or friend of the family. The three imprisoned men did not know the victims to any degree which could be considered friendship. Follow the evidence, not just the psych history of DE, if you want to find the perpetrator of this crime. He also has a violent past and a shaky alibi. And, for some reason, he was not investigated at the time of the crime.

 

[ziggy]

I remember seeing news clips about the trial as it was happening and being so put off by Damien's demeanor and then again in Paradise Lost it was just unbelievable how he behaved. Even so, I can see, when you take into account THE TOTALITY OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES, how he could have been a troubled teen who was narcissistic and probably totally in denial, easy to dislike, and yet, innocent of these particular crimes.

He may be a psychopath, but the other boys were not - and for him to have been able to have that much control over them - to get them to follow him in murder and anal rape of children means, like the Manson followers, that when caught, Jesse never would have folded like a cheap lawn chair (if you believe his confession, then it is inconsistent with someone under the spell of Damien - think carving crosses into your forehead and signing praises to him).

I think he was very caugh up in his teenage self absorbtion and I'm not even sure as an adult I like him much, but I do think there is a HIGH probability that he is innocent of murder and an even higher one that he did not get a fair trial. Because the result was a death sentence - I WANT EVEN MORE for the facts to be checked and re-checked, for procedures to be checked and rechecked - for other possible perps to be investigated, for prejudice to be investigated.

See, I believe that states should have a right to sentence murderers to death. When there is a possibility that an innocent man has been put to death at the hands of our GOVERNMENT, then I have a problem on many levels, but for one - it undermines the arguments FOR the death penalty.

The more innocent people are put to death the less integrity our legal system has and I want our system to be the BEST in the world! It's not worth the reputation to our system to fry one guy when there exists such doubt in the court of public opinion. And when the COPO has such reasonable doubt, it's just worth it to take a second and maybe a third look.

I don't have to like Damien to love our system and want for there to be real justice and not something delivered by way of death to the wrong person.

 

[iluvmua]

Is it just me or does Arkansas have really screwed up Police Departments?

There is a case i've been following out of Russellville for the past 5 years and they screwed that one up too.

Both of these cases are really sad

 

[Mary456]

I don't share your ability to diagnose anyone via TV

Let's back away from the TV.

Summary of Damien Echols' mental health history


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.

5/5/93: Christopher Byers, Steve Branch, and Michael Moore are murdered.

 

[Compassionate Reader]

5/7/92: This entry indicates behavior typical of a teen who is frustrated by his situation in life. It does not mean that he will become a murderer.

5/19/92: He didn't kill his father or a police officer, and he and Deanna didn't commit suicide. This statement represents more teen angst and/or bragadociousness.

5/19/92 - 6/1/92: He didn't commit suicide or sacrifice a baby. I've sucked off my own blood. Maybe I killed the boys. I've seen contestants on the TV show Survivor smear blood on themselves. Maybe they killed the boys. This behavior was to gain attention, not a prelude to murder.

6/1/92 - 6/25/92: During his hospitalization, his statements were, again, cries for attention. His more outlandish actions, or rather statements about actions (like burning himself, etc.), were the beginning of his defense mechanism for dealing with society and were intended to distance himself from others. This is the way he "acted out" his hostility - by doing things and saying things to make others leave him alone.

8/13/92: This report indicates Damien's desire to be left alone. Again, this type of behavior is not rare for someone of Damien's age and temperment. This is not a prelude to murder.

9/1/92: Again, this type of "acting out" is a cry for attention. Obviously, he wanted to return to more familiar surroundings in Arkansas.

9/4/92: He obviously wanted to go back to Arkansas, so he acted in such a way that he was sent back.

9/14/92 - 9/28/92: His threatening behavior, again, is a means to distance himself from others. His statements about Satanism and eating people were meant to shock others so they would leave him alone.

1/5/93: Again, he's making shocking statements. This does not mean that he acted on any of them.

1/13/93: This statement isn't even shocking to me. I've heard that sort of statement regularly from students who were angry. It's meaningless.

1/19/93: This is teen bragadociousness with a twist, given his past as an abused child. Not every adult who was abused as a child becomes a murderer. There is also a certain amount of "shock value" in these statements as well.

1/20/93: He was released, however. Obviously, the professionals didn't feel that he was enough of a threat to himself or others to keep him hospitalized.

1/25/93: Much of these statements are, again, for shock value. The "power" and "control" statements really indicate that he feels powerless and controlled.

2/5/93: Self-mutilation is not rare. Many people who feel powerless do it to show that they have some power. It's a form of OCD. I used to suffer from it, in fact. So, he's angry when he sees Deanna. There's nothing wrong with that. Most people are angry when they see someone that they feel betrayed them in some way.

5/5/93: The two statements for this date represent a nonsequiter. They are only connected in your mind. There is no evidence to support any connection with Damien's past and these murders.

Mary, you seem to be hung up on Damien's past psychological problems. I know that there are cases where people with psychological problems have committed atrocious crimes, even murder. However, to prove this is the case, you need other evidence besides the past psychological problems. Past issues may be a reason to investigate a person, but they are not evidence of guilt. I spent 25 years teaching teens, and I've heard a lot from them. When they're angry or merely frustrated, they often make outlandish statements to shock or to gain attention. Most of Damien's statements fall into one or the other of these categories. I'm not saying that he didn't have some psychological problems; I'm just saying that these problems don't make him a murderer. When you look at the physical evidence in this case, you see nothing substantial that is connected to Damien. The only arrow in the prosecution's quiver against him is these psychological issues, which even Burnett didn't allow into the trial. Please examine the real evidence in this case. Don't be so blinded by these psychological issues that you consider Damien to be guilty based only on his past psychological history.

 

[justthinkin]

CR,

You are taking each incident and separating it out from the context of total behavior. The incidences are not one time, stand alone examples, and thus can't be treated as such.

To come up with the opinions you stated you have to totally ignore or dismiss the credibility of the psychiatric doctors and nurses that attended Echols.

Impulsive hostility
little or no capacity for compassion
sucking blood from another person
trying to gouge out the eyes of another person
homicidal threats
Seven fights and starting fires all in one semester

There is absolutely nothing typical in this kind of behavior. If anything, his history would mark Damien as someone who really needed to be watched closely because his specific background makes him a likely person to commit murder, especially when coupled with the fact that he was a drop-out, and had no future, no positive role models, and had made threats to harm various people.

Whether he did or not, he was exactly the kind of kid who goes onto commit murder or other serious crimes. IMO.

 

[Compassionate Reader]

As I stated previously, his statements and actions in the past may be reason to investigate him. However, to prove he committed these murders, evidence (other than past behavior and/or statements) needs to be shown. This did not happen in this case because there is/was no evidence to prove that he did something that he did not do. If, as you suggest, Damien was a serious threat to himself or others, these psychological professionals that you mention would have kept him in the hospital. They did not. They released him. As I said before, I have heard many of the same statements by angry teens when something in their world doesn't go like they wished it to go. For instance, if they break up with their boy/girl friend, they might make nasty statements about that person. If they had a fight with their parents, they might even say that they want to kill their parents. I have heard alienated teens state similar things as those Damien said. It might not be "normal," but it is not unheard of - and this I know from experience. Is it disturbing? Yes. Did I refer a student who said such things to the counselor? Again, yes. Did any of those students act on any of their outlandish statements? No. What is much more frightening, IMO, is when an adult makes similar statements. Teens do have a habit of saying very outlandish things for attention or to shock. This habit can be very disturbing, especially when you first hear them. I'm not saying that all teens do this, but teens who are alienated or (as I believe is the case with Damien) frustrated by their circumstances are much more likely to say these shocking things. IMO, Damien was frustrated by his poverty because he wanted to do things that required money. This frustration with circumstances is one of the most horrific effects of poverty IMO and the only one that can be truly overcome with money. Unfortunately, many times when these people get money, they don't know how to manage it, and they lose it quickly. I may seem to be rambling here, but I have seen this kind of thing happen on more than one occasion. It was always the most frustrating part of my job because I just wanted to sit the kid down and tell them that everything would be alright. However, I couldn't say that because I didn't know what the future would bring. I see so much of this condition in the Damien of 1993 that it saddens me greatly. However, to bring this back to Damien's psychological history, again I repeat that his past problems are not proof in any way that he committed these murders. Even if he would have been an adult, this type of psychological history may be reason to look at someone as a suspect, but to prove the crime, evidence should be obtained. This type of psychological history is not evidence, especially for a teen - which is why Burnett excluded it from the trial. It is inflamatory material, nothing more.

ETA: Let me state one more thing. On several occasions, former students returned to visit me to thank me for my understanding. Some of these students were some of the ones to which I referred earlier. None of these students who made such outlandish statements as teens went on to become murderers. They were all productive members of society, and they were very ashamed, as is Damien, of their antics as teens.

 

[justthinkin]

Mental hospital personnel can screw up, and let someone out who needs to be there. It happens all the time, esp. when the money runs out or conditions are overcrowded or there is a lapse in professional responsibility.

Damien has confessed to this crime on more than one occasion. The first what the 2 girls overheard him say in the ballpark, and the second to his attorney with his statement, "no more beer," implying that the murders were a result of beer drinking. While the latter did not come up in previous trials, it will be taken into consideration for the evidentiary hearing,
and I believe that is the final thing that will seal his fate.

There is no indisputable, direct evidence that will ever convict Damien Echols or anyone else concerning this case. Do I like that fact? No, but it is all there is to work with.

"In many cases, circumstantial evidence is the only evidence linking an accused to a crime; direct evidence may simply not exist. As a result, the jury may have only circumstantial evidence to consider in determining whether to convict or acquit a person charged with a crime. In fact, the U.S. Supreme Court has stated that "circumstantial evidence is intrinsically no different from testimonial [direct] evidence" (Holland v. United States, 348 U.S. 121, 75 S. Ct. 127, 99 L. Ed. 150 [1954])."

Read more: http://www.answers.com/topic/circumstantial-evidence#ixzz1CaX7Kc00

 

[Compassionate Reader]

I knew about the "no more beer" statement; he was being sarcastic. That is another thing that teens do quite frequently. As to circumstantial evidence, the best the State has is the fiber evidence, which I feel confident will be discounted when the newer testing is completed. Damien has always begged for thorough testing of anything and everything. Would a guilty person make that request? What I've read on that subject is that, when testing is mentioned for a guilty defendant, they generally want to thwart the testing, because they fear what it will reveal. This is not the case here. All three young men have alibis for the afternoon and evening of May 5th which the State wants to discount because the alibis are from family and friends. However, if a person was actually with family and/or friends during a crucial period, then that's where they were and who they were with at that crucial time. Like it or not, those are the facts. Personally, I wish that the original defense team had subpoenaed the phone records to prove Damien's numerous phone calls to girls during the evening of May 5th, but, either due to inexperience, lack of funds or deliberate misleading by the WMPD, these records were not requested. I am also confident that the necklace and shirt, when further testing is completed, will prove not to be connected to the victims of this crime, but will only have biological evidence from the three or their family members, which proves nothing since these items were taken from their homes. While it is true that some crimes have little or no direct evidence, usually these crimes are committed by hardened criminals or at least by criminals for whom the crime was not their first. Three teens, drunk or not, could not have left the crime scene so clean. Of course, I don't believe that the place where the bodies were found is actually the scene of the crime, but that's another discussion. In short, there is not even any convincing circumstantial evidence against the young men in prison because they are simply not guilty of this crime.

 

[ziggy]

There is no doubt with his history he could have been a suspect. There is no doubt he was psychologically troubled as a teen.

But this braggart of a man/child, given his dramatic history, would surely have left evidence. One thing that seems to be overlooked is that he enjoyed scaring the beejezus out of others with his purported blood lust and demonology talk. He may have been a very twisted kid who lived in West Memphis...period. No doubt he could draw attention to himself for being strange, intimidating. I wonder if the professionals ever considered that some of this behavior was a demented act for his amusement and they sucked it up due to the "satanic panic" climate of the time.

Impulsive killers are very disorganized and they leave evidence. He was prone to impulsive hostility.

I still don't see him pulling this off without a trace of physical evidence tying him to the crime. A sicko kid? Sound like it. Capable of violence? Probably so. Guilty of this particular murder/violence? Can't make that connection.

Just because someone is sick, and capable of violence doesn't mean we get to assume that they are guilty of a crime for which there is so little evidence even connecting them - and then sentence them to the ultimate punishment of death.

It's simply not fair (and at this point illogical) to use the psychological reports as evidence when there is no chain that links them to the crime in question.

 

[Mary456]

I spent 25 years teaching teens, and I've heard a lot from them.

Me, too.

And your point is?

 

[Compassionate Reader]

My point is that teens often say outlandish things. They very rarely act on them. Just saying them (to shock or to gain attention) is sufficient for the teen to get out his/her frustrations. The "acting out" is not usually violent, although they often threaten violence. Unless you taught in a parochial or private school, I'm sure that you have heard teens say outlandish things. However, I seriously doubt that any of those teens did the things that they threatened to do. No fair and honest prosecutor or judge or jury would convict someone of murder based on past statements alone. That is my point. The trials were unfair. The convictions were unjust. There is no evidence to support these three young men as killers. They should at least have new trials, and the WMPD should begin to build their case against the real killer of the three innocent little boys who died on May 5, 1993.

 

[iluvmua]

They've had almost 4 years go by since they found that no DNA evidence links them to the crime scene.

So what's the hold up?

 

[Compassionate Reader]

In a word - Burnett. He refused to grant an evidentiary hearing when the DNA was initially presented to him. So, the defense had to appeal to the ASSC. Now that the ASSC has ordered a hearing, the hold up will be finding a court date that is agreeable to all parties concerned. In other words, normal judicial delays. Tentatively, the hearing is scheduled for July, August or October of this year. That's when Laser says he can get court dates.

 

[Nova]

Let's back away from the TV.

Summary of Damien Echols' mental health history...

In addition to CR's excellent rebuttal, let me add that DE couldn't even get his girlfriend to commit suicide with him. Where was that hypnotic power that compelled JB and JM (whom DE barely knew) to commit a triple homicide?

 

[Melanie]

So I have been meaning to post here since I watched the 48 hours show-I knew nothing of the case although I realize it has been followed here for quite some time. It was eye opening-I mean words cannot adequately capture how stunned I was by this case. I am heartened to hear there is DNA available that clearly does not match any of the boys. Uh, men.

Someone is walking around having done this-and my first thought when I watched the show was stepdad only because he was the last to see his step son and he did not call Mom while she was working to say he had not come home. I can envision many scenarios that might have led to their deaths...possibly at his hands. What an incredibly tragic event.

BBM. After watching all 3 videos, I can't wrap my mind around how this crime could be commited by 1 person. I'm not saying I'm convinced it with the WM3, but that more than 1 perp is involved -- has to be.

MOO

Mel