Sorry for the long post but I thought it might be important to see it all together what some of the witness had to say on the stand. I re-watched some of the trial again and gathered some information in regards to what each attending to JC had to say on the stand. I may have misunderstood or misspelled names..sorry about that. The defense also did cross examination relying a lot on the attendants/witnesses written statement and I made note of that also on some. I may try and finish other witnesses who had contact and talk to Jessica later today...maybe. BTW I did not put all of the witnesses statement, just what was said between the attendant and JC and her condition at that time. MOO.
Cole H volunteer fire fighter arrived with Jody M. Cole testifying he couldn't understand JC well at all. He asked her her name and thought she said Jessica Tambers. He somewhat knew JC therefore he was able to make the connection she was JC. He said her voice was very garbled, he could barely understand her and she kept asking for water. He asked her what happened and she told him she was set on fire. Some words you could tell plainly what they were, but they were not clear. He asked her who did this to you and he could not make out anything she said. He claims the only time he heard a name was when Derek C, med stat and a deputy were there. They kept pushing Jessica for a name and finally he heard "them" say Eric. Cole said he wasn't asking her many questions because he realized it was hard for JC to talk and she kept fading in and out on him. Cole also stated the fire was contained to the inside of the car. Cross: In his statement December 7th/14, the day after attending the crime scene he wrote he asked JC what happened and she said someone set her on fire. Then he asked her who set her on fire and she said what sounded like Eric. He claims he was in a daze at the time of writing his statement and for weeks afterward. Upon further cross he said he could "barely" make out what she was saying. He also said JC said "I'm going to die." On the stand he said he didn't personally hear Eric but he was just going off of what others (Derek C) attending to JC said. Cole said on the stand, to know there are people out there that cruel he is still scared to leave his house. He is no longer on the Courtland fire department.
Jody M volunteer fire fighter of eight years, at the time of incident. Now resigned. Claimed fire was contained to car interior, flames coming out of passenger side. He had Seth C attend to the fire. Asked JC her name in the presence of Cole and she said Jessica Chambers. Asked if anyone else was in the car with her and she said no. He asked her what happened and she said Eric set me on fire. He mentions JC's sinus cavities were hanging out of her nose and she was having trouble breathing. Lips and tongue charred and third degree burns to her face. Her voice was deeper than his (Jody has a deep voice). Defense has him read from his statement "I kept asking her her name and what happened and she told "us" (Jody and Cole) Eric had set her on fire.
Seth C volunteer fire fighter for Courtland fire department. Gave testimony flames were contained to interior, can't recall fire coming from under hood or trunk compartment. Driver's door was open about half way. Claims car was parallel to fence and truck was pulled into lane way close to the car. Seth was in the passenger seat of fire truck and when he went to retrieve his jacket from the back, opened the door and saw a figure coming from the wooded area on his right, 30 to 40 feet on the north side. Then he said he bumped Jody on the arm motioning toward the figure, said he didn't know what it was walking down the road toward them. Jody backed truck up onto road to aim lights at figure. Saw female with frizzed out hair and as she got closer he could see she wasn't wearing any clothing just panties. Cole attended patient and Jody pulled the truck back into the lane way. Seth attended fire while Jody and Cole attended to JC. He knew JC from school. W Turner showed up and helped Seth with fire. Cross: asked Seth where he saw JC and he said coming out of the woods to the road on North side.
Derek C director of emergency operations of Panola county, fire department, he wears many "hats." Received phone call to attend scene of fire. Pulled upon scene to see female patient sitting on ground with two people attending to her. When he tried to speak to her it was real difficult, seemed as if her tongue was real thick, her lips were constricted. Tried to communicate with JC and it took multiple attempts, we got "Jessica" but it didn't sound like Jessica to him, sounded like Katina, Katrina, Courtney. Very chaotic, noisy, diesel truck, madhouse. She didn't speak loudly. Some things she said were clearer than others. He doesn't think he asked her what happened, perhaps who did this, not sure which question he asked her. The more questioned they asked, she would start out strong but she would get extremely breathy, very difficult to understand. Finally got her name and then when "they" asked who did this it took multiple attempts but he did hear "Eric did this to me." At one point Derek got frustrated because he couldn't hear JC and he believes she was frustrated also by the repeated questions. Very chaotic scene, people stepping over people, nervous people, people worrying about their own safety. Went with Darby to notify JC's parents. Cross: Detailed written statement and things JC said to him he put in quotations. He is reading from statement. I asked patient who she was and she stated "Jessica". I asked her "Jessica who", and after a couple times of not hearing her she said "Chambers." I then asked her what happened and she said "Eric set me on fire." Asked her again and she said "Eric set me on fire" multiple times. Asked for Eric's last name and she said she didn't know. He didn't ask again because she was shrugging her shoulders. Didn't put the names Katrina, Courtney in written statement because written within 12 hours of a very chaotic scene, saying he would have waited longer to process/write statement but was asked to get report done and handed in ASAP. He had another opportunity to talk to JC and that was in the ambulance. Two paramedics present (Casey A). He asked her again, "who did this" and JC responded with "Eric did this, he set me on fire." He asked "Eric who" and she gave him the same response like she didn't know. Three paramedics were present and acknowledge what she had said, he left the ambulance. Breathing laboured, speech struggled hard to get out but some things she said were clear. He gave same information Eric set JC on fire to law enforcement Edward D, Daryl H, Maurice M, Barry T (Barry T via phone). **Suspicious person on scene, older black person reported also.**
Brandy D EMS/volunteer fire fighter since 1994. First EMS to arrive upon scene. Arrived upon scene to find JC standing and told others (Cole) JC needed a blanket around her. Blanket put on JC and he put his jacket over her and laid her down behind the fire truck. He talked to her and asked her her name and she said "Jessica" and he asked Jessica who and she said "Chambers." He explained to her it was a crime scene and asked her "who did this to her" and she answered "Eric." He was able to keep her talking although he realized her health status was poor. He knew she was in distress and said she was a fighter trying to answer questions. Cross: Brandy wrote statement December 8th. In statement he wrote he asked her her name and she said JC. He asked her who did this to you and she said Eric. He asked what's Eric's last name and she replied Eric. In his mind, he thought, that she thought, he knew who Eric was. He then asked her again who did this to you and she replied Eric again. She was doing her best to answer. When Jessica was placed into the ambulance he went to the car and saw a can of **Freon on the passenger side, rear floor.** Redirect; Sandra EMS in attendance with Brandy.
Shane M Courtland fire department three years responded to fire. When he approached Cole was knelled down beside JC.
Cole, Seth and Jody on scene. He knew JC. Cole was holding JC's hand telling her to hang on, help was coming. Shane never
spoke directly to JC. Fire fighters arrived in droves and people were everywhere including "rubber neckers" on scene. Med stat arrive and he did his best to assist. Lots of people, vehicles and noise. Shane was present when Cole was speaking to JC but he couldn't understand what she was saying as he was standing and she was very faint in speaking. Cross: Claims he didn't write a very good statement the next day.
Will T volunteer fire fighter for Courtland. Came upon scene and helped get JC on ground. He saw her walking and described her walk as that of a zombie. Those in attendance were Cole, Jody, Daniel/(Derek C?) and Brandy. Did not know JC. Tried to talk to JC but because of too much commotion he moved away. **Spoke to suspicious middle aged black male, who seemed to stare right through Will. Will told him he had to leave. Male never responded but was looking at the car and the woods. As he walked away he looked back over his shoulder toward the trees. Initially he was wearing a blue shirt and (by the time he got out of his sight he had a white t-shirt on.) They got a tag # on him. ???** NOTE: Just had to bold this as it doesn't make sense the part in the bracket IMO. If the guy was out of sight how could Will tell what colour the guy's shirt was?? AND who is this mystery man?? Could he have been Eric? Perhaps an accomplish to QT?
Mrs. Haley volunteer for Pope fire department/EMS. Attended fire with husband (also a volunteer) and three grandchildren. Told grandchildren not to get out of car. Arrived at site where JC was on stretcher. She said she met JC at the ball field when JC was a child. She did not pay attention to what JC looked like, chaotic scene of noise and people around including "rubber necker."
Brandy asked Mrs. Haley what patient's name was and so Mrs. Haley asked what her name was but couldn't hear her. Second time she bend down low and asked again. JC said "Jessica." Mrs. Haley then told Brandy she said her name was Jessie, Jessica Chambers. She then asked who did this to you? Jessica responded "Eric" but claims you still couldn't hardly understand but you had to listen carefully.
Casey A EMS paramedic for about a year at the time of incident and part of Pope fire department. Arrived at scene and went straight to patient lying behind fire truck to do an assessment. Soon after he arrived the ambulance arrived. Did not know JC and didn't really talk to her until they were in the ambulance because of surrounding noise. Casey tried to ask her her name and JC kept saying "I'm cold, I'm cold," asked her who did this to you and the sound he got was "Eric or Derek"...hard to understand her. Slightly gargled, hard to understand. Mentally shocked repeating herself, wouldn't answer questions, asked her questions like who done it, skin colours, last night, she would just answer "I'm cold." Each question he asked she would just say "I'm cold." Once helicopter crew arrived Casey left care to air vac EMS. Cross: Daniel C also in ambulance may have asked Jessica her name also.
Mellisa Rogers Pope fire department EMS. When she arrived Cole was with JC and the others were at the car fire. She believe someone told her JC's name.
David G Volunteer fire fighter Pope fire department for 18 years. Arrived and found JC was on the ground. He heard people
asking her who did this and her response was Eric. The burns to her face and body, it was hard to understand what she was
exactly she saying. Her hair was singed, her face, mouth lips charred, when she breathed her nose skin came in and out as she tried to breath. Cross: Statement wrote CD1 asked name and she said name, asked who did this and she said "Eric."
Bradley D med stat employee EMT assistant and driver. Attended with paramedic Josh P. (Arrived at scene 8:29pm
departed 8:42pm, arrived at church 8:44pm waited for helicopter) Arrived to find JC lying on ground. Lips were leathery almost charred, face third degree burns, no eye lashes, eyebrows, singed hair. Said Daniel C got into ambulance with him and Josh and was asking JC questions. First time asked was hard to hear because of oxygen on her, her voice raspy, had trouble understanding what she was saying. He understood her to say "Eric." Other words were "thirsty" and "cold." Thirsty sounded like hirsty and cold sounded like code.
Josh P paramedic of two years at the time of incident. Did not know JC. Said she was able to tell them her name. Severe
burns from head to toe needed a helicopter. When they got her into the back of the ambulance they were trying to establish
information. She was able to tell them her name, garbled sounding, soot in airway. He heard her say "Eric or Derek" or something that sounded like that. Transferred to church parking lot to await for helicopter arrival and people continued to talk to her.
opcorn:
