Random things about this case...

[Cher Lockhomes]

JMK. The key that opened the door.


Userid:

The one thing that I have trouble with is the bible confession -- which Misskelley made after being convicted; i.e. separately from the original confession he made. Before he made the bible confession, he was also confessing to the cops in the squad car as he was being transferred from the court, after just being convicted. Once he arrived at the jail, his lawyer took out a bible and made Jessie place his hand on it the whole time, in order to ensure that he would tell truth this time. There were no police present (or at least, none directly interrogating him this time) during this confession; it is just his lawyer (Stidham, I believe, who has been his lawyer throughout). Arguably, he had nothing to gain or lose in making this bible confession, in that it, for all intents and purposes, follows the same script and implications as the original confession.

In the bible confession, he explained (paraphrasing here) that the reason there were so many inconsistencies in his original confession was because he was purposefully trying to throw the interrogating cops curve balls, in order to create confusion. This (according to him) is why he originally stated the murders took place at noon; why he said they were tied with rope, etc. You can read that any way you want, but one interpretation would be that only a guilty party would be compelled to create confusion, in this instance.

As I said, this is just food for thought. I'm not stating this proves guilt on anyone; I'm just providing you with the other side's point of view.

Userid you’re in for a bashing here!

The JMK "confession" was the biggest farce in this case. There have been many farces, but this was certainly the biggest IMO. Before I start to lament about it, when I hear the words "JMK confession" I think of this:

My next door neighbor often talks to her dog in a very serious way. Now tell me, is the dog stupid because it can't understand her? Or is she stupid because she can't understand that the dog can't understand her?

My sister has worked with mentally handicapped children all her life, and we also have a brother with down syndrome. Jesse was very reminiscent of a lot of youngsters I have met through my sisters work. To say he had an IQ which matched a 7 year old is simplifying something much more complicated. It is possible to initially condition a person like this, and keep them going in one direction until they are reconditioned. JMK was conditioned on his first "confession" and was sent in the appropriate direction from there on.

Mr Stidham was not able to recondition him, because he did not have the knowledge of how these people work. JMK's only aim, was to get home to his dad. He would have made numerous confessions, on the holy bible, on whatever you like, to whom ever you like. The defense was very dilettantish, and the police and the prosecution made mincemeat out of a defenseless kid. I did not see one specialist in the defense, (only the specialist for false confessions) who had knowledge of dealing with a person like JMK.

Along with the fact that he had no lawyer with him on that day of initial conditioning, this was all very scandalous. If a new police officer had walked in after his fifth confession, and had asked JMK "who killed the little girl that was with the three boys" he would have a made up a good story, he would have made a lot of contradictions, but then again "Jesse get's confused".

Out of all the people who were involved in this case, I have great admiration for 2 people. One of them is Mildred French for her civil courage in trying to protect PH and her child, and the other is JMK Senior, for his unconditional love towards Jesse. To say I will not desert my son, even if he is a child murderer, is a sign of deep affection. Jesse was the biggest framing of all time, and he was the key that opened the door.

 

[Userid]

I know I'm in for a bashing, even though that's the last thing I want to happen, really. I'm just trying to show both sides here, which is unfortunately frowned upon here.

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

Userid:

I know I'm in for a bashing, even though that's the last thing I want to happen, really. I'm just trying to show both sides here, which is unfortunately frowned upon here.

That was the quickest bashing ever!!

There are no "both sides" in this matter. :jail:

 

[Userid]

It isn't bashing if it's the truth :crazy:

Anyways, yes, I see your point -- although, it's just as speculative to claim he was "conditioned" as it is to say he was "leaned on by prosecutors" as it is to say "he did it to clear his conscience." No one has any proof to back up their claims, one way or the other.

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

Graznik posted a link to an analysis of JMK's first questioning in this thread. post #275

Here's another good analysis of JMK's initial "confession"

http://www.dpdlaw.com/JessieFirstStatement.htm

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

Just a couple of nice things found during research.

‘Not a soul in there’
John Fogleman asked juries to sentence three teens to death. Now voters will judge his career.
By Mara Leveritt:

April 22, 2010 Arkansas Times http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/not-a-soul-in-there/Content?oid=1013168



Judging Burnett
Was he a judge, a retiree, a candidate or all three?
By Mara Leveritt

April 22, 2010 Arkansas Times http://www.arktimes.com/arkansas/judging-burnett/Content?oid=1013236

 

[Xara]

Graznik posted a link to an analysis of JMK's first questioning in this thread. post #275

Here's another good analysis of JMK's initial "confession"

http://www.dpdlaw.com/JessieFirstStatement.htm

Thank you for posting this. Its been a few years since I last read his statement.
Still so infuriating though. How anyone could read/listen to this and take it seriously is beyond me.

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

Xara:

Thank you for posting this. Its been a few years since I last read his statement.
Still so infuriating though. How anyone could read/listen to this and take it seriously is beyond me.

Yes, it's the sad truth. Shameful!!

 

[Compassionate Reader]

I'll add my two cents here, too. I taught high school in a major US city for 25 years. During that time, I taught many "Jessies" as well as "Damiens" and "Jasons" and each of these three personalities is different. I know from personal experience with them that those with low IQs simply want out of the situation and will say whatever they think will make the interrogation stop. I don't know how to "prove" this as it is based on my personal experience. You can either believe me or not.

However, as was pointed out by another poster, none of the defense attorneys or even wmpd officers who questioned him were adequately trained in the manner of interrogation required of someone like JKM, Jr. Even after his lead attorney came to believe in his innocence, JKM, Jr. would not always tell the truth. It was only after he was allowed to speak to his father (who had a lifetime of "training" in dealing with him) that JKM, Jr. made the final decision - that he would not lie for any reason. So, he refused to testify at the E/B trial. For anyone with experience dealing with those of a low IQ, this fact is monumental. Only JKM, Sr. could get his son to tell the truth, and the truth was that he (JKM, Jr.) knew nothing about the crimes.

As to how JKM, Jr. knew some of the information he knew, my guess is that he heard it around town. That's just how things work in a small town. The rumor mill is very active.

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

I made a mistake in post #281 this thread, as it's not possible to edit the post, I will correct myself here.

I wrote:

Out of all the people who were involved in this case, I have great admiration for 2 people. One of them is Mildred French for her civil courage in trying to protect PH and her child,

TH's wife was not PH at that time, it was in fact Angela H. Sorry about that, just want to keep the facts right.

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

Here two interesting links:

The first is an analysis of the crime from an astroligical point of view. Highly debatable, but interesting nonetheless. Takes about 20 minutes to read.

http://forensicastrology.blogspot.de/2010/03/west-memphis-three-from-wikipedia-three.html

The second is a database of Methamphetamine Contaminated Properties in Arkansas. In other words: A list of properties believed to be contaminated by the illegal manufacture of drugs.

This might be interesting for "sleuths" investigating other crimes too.

http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/hazwaste/branch_programs/clcc_list.aspx

 

[Compassionate Reader]

Just wanted to add another person to the list of admired people in this case: Judge Dan Stidham. He is the only "original" attorney that stuck it out, so to speak, and he has a book coming out (don't know when) about the case. He promised JLM, Jr. that he would stay with the case - and he did, even though his involvement had to be limited once he became a judge. For that, IMO, he deserves kudos, too!

However, if we started a list of people who should hang their heads in shame over their actions in the case, IMO, we'd have quite a lengthy list! I'd put the entire wmpd on the list along with Burnett, Fogleman, Davis and several others! Just so we have both sides (people who did a good job and people who didn't) covered!

 

[Satch]

To this day,

I think there is so much confusion in this case that you could find 50% who believe in the WMT innocence and another 50% who think they are guilty. I don't know what to think anymore. I think key evidence with whoever did this is long gone and sadly it may never be known what happened here. What is certain is that the interrogation process was horrible, evidence was not properly handled, and the small-town's general population belief's of "Satanic Panic" convicted these kids. I sit on the fence quite often on this case. There have always been things about Damien that make me feel very uneasy. The same can be said about Mark Beyers and Terry Hobbs.

Do you believe that we are going to get some concrete evidence through DNA or something that is going to determine who did this once and for all?

Satch

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

Satch:

I think there is so much confusion in this case that you could find 50% who believe in the WMT innocence and another 50% who think they are guilty. I don't know what to think anymore.

Yes it's all very confusing. I suppose it's a decision of the heart, because you can't really wrap your head around the investigation. One thing I could see where my head and heart agreed, was the fact that DE JB, and JMK, did not get a fair trial.

As far as new evidence goes, evidence these days seems to be handled differently compared to 1993-94. When someone said, "I heard Damien saying he killed the three kids" at that time, they were up in the witness box straight away. When very concrete evidence comes up these days, it's either, "can't believe those criminals", "those girls got mixed up", or "people will say things". Even if there is a confession, LE would probably say, "shut up and don't mess my case up"

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

Compassionate Reader:

However, if we started a list of people who should hang their heads in shame over their actions in the case, IMO, we'd have quite a lengthy list!

Yes we should make a list of the good, the bad, and the ugly. I think the outcome would be very individual. A lot of figures even wandered from the bad side to the good side and maybe vice-versa.

I agree with you, Mr. Stidham has to be admired too.

 

[Compassionate Reader]

<respectfully snipped>

Even if there is a confession, LE would probably say, "shut up and don't mess my case up"

Just wanted to address this. At one point, it was said that Gitchell (or was it Fogleman?) said almost those exact words to Pam Hicks when she tried to discuss the possibility of a different killer. I didn't know if it was well-known that the incident occurred, and this seemed to be a good time to point it out.

 

[Miranda!]

I am pretty sure it was to Gitchell!

For me, I am have been thinking for quite a while that the way Davis 'pushed' Fogelman centre stage and remained in the background quite a lot has fascinated me. I think he is an arch manipulator and Fogleman is one of those he 'maniulated'!

I ahve been told, by people in Arkansas, that Foglleman is a very fair Judge and always gives the Defence a fair chance! Not like Burnett and have not heard anything similar for Davis!

 

[Xara]

Here two interesting links:

The first is an analysis of the crime from an astroligical point of view. Highly debatable, but interesting nonetheless. Takes about 20 minutes to read.

http://forensicastrology.blogspot.de/2010/03/west-memphis-three-from-wikipedia-three.html

The second is a database of Methamphetamine Contaminated Properties in Arkansas. In other words: A list of properties believed to be contaminated by the illegal manufacture of drugs.

This might be interesting for "sleuths" investigating other crimes too.

http://www.adeq.state.ar.us/hazwaste/branch_programs/clcc_list.aspx

I found that forensic astrology link interesting, thank you for posting.

OT: there is also a chart done for Holly Bobo on that site. It was done shortly after she disappeared.
Now THAT is an interesting read, considering what we know now. (or think we know)

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

I found that forensic astrology link interesting, thank you for posting.

OT: there is also a chart done for Holly Bobo on that site. It was done shortly after she disappeared.
Now THAT is an interesting read, considering what we know now. (or think we know)

Thank you for saying thank you:happydance: I am pleased you found this link interesting. There is a science deep down in astrology, pity it's not always used well. This site certainly strengthened my theory on the motive behind this crime.

 

[Cher Lockhomes]

Just wanted to address this. At one point, it was said that Gitchell (or was it Fogleman?) said almost those exact words to Pam Hicks when she tried to discuss the possibility of a different killer. I didn't know if it was well-known that the incident occurred, and this seemed to be a good time to point it out.

I am pretty sure it was to Gitchell!

Yes it was Gitchell. Can't remember exactly where I saw it, but I'll put a link in, if I come across it again.( If I remember correctly it was, "shut up and don't ruin my case").

<snip> I ahve been told, by people in Arkansas, that Foglleman is a very fair Judge and always gives the Defence a fair chance!<snip>

Fogleman was co-responsible for building the guillotine, and up until now he hasn't done anything to help dismantle it. Others (JMB, PH, VH) who had far more reason to build it, are now doing their part in dismantling it.