tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-39499536628686364772024-02-20T11:45:52.974-06:00Justice Shall PrevailWelcome to the blog that talks about justice... or the lack there of. Open discussions regarding court cases past and present, criminal law and procedure. From the most frivilous to the most infamous: Get your fix of court room drama and my take on it right here!LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-78037190590630242292013-11-09T23:16:00.000-06:002013-11-09T23:16:20.569-06:00When an Accident Becomes NegligenceHello Fellow Bloggers, Readers and Passers-by, <br />
<br />
It has been well over a year since I've written and I am ashamed of that. Having five children is no laughing matter, homeschooling them takes even more of my time and I'm in the last 36 hours of my bachelors -- I'm tired, give me a break, will ya? <br />
<br />
In all seriousness, things have happened in the world that are beyond compare. School shootings, marathon bombings, crazy hostage situations and the list goes on and on. What I do find the most appalling however, is the fact that four legged creatures have become more protected and cared for than children. <br />
<br />
LaVonda, you've lost your mind! <br />
<br />
No! No, I say. And I can prove it. <br />
<br />
In the last few days, a story has come out in the news about a little toddler. A four year old. For the sake of the family, I will leave names out of it, but I can tell you the event happened right here in the good ole' USA. This story is one of tragedy and heartbreak. So much so, that I am hesitant to write about it. But dad-nab it, someone has to speak up for the children and if the cowards of this country won't do it, by golly I will. <br />
<br />
In a state in the US, in my own country, a four year old child was mauled to death and later died. Not by a bear! Not by a mountain lion! Not by an alligator. No. This child was wondering along near a fence in his OWN yard. He happened into the fence in his OWN yard and unknowingly became the main course for three, brutal and ruthless Pit Bulls. <br />
<br />
Now, don't jump on the defense yet. I realize that not ALL pit bulls are dangerous. Any dog can bite given the right circumstances. However, 60% of ALL dog bites are Pit Bull related. Next would be Rotts and third Dobermans, closely followed by Chow Chow. <br />
<br />
"If they are raised properly, they do not bite", "The owners must have mistreated them", "They were probably fight dogs."... Ummm, hell-friggin-O... This is a four year old child. None of these defenses will bring back his life. Not one of your many feeble excuses will right the devastating wrong that has occurred. Not even killing the dogs can bring back that little child... But it can ease a little bit of burden. Who would want to keep dogs that killed someone? <br />
<br />
Yes, accidents happen. But as my wonderfully bright husband said, "they [the owners] had three loaded guns with the hammers cocked and ready to fire just sitting inside that fence." That little boy did not know they were dangerous. Why? Because he was a child. Trusting in every facet of the word. <br />
<br />
So my question to you, dear readers, is this: When does an accident become negligence? When a mom forgets to buckle the car seat because she is running late? When a man leaves a loaded gun unsecured in the cab of his truck and it is accidentally set off by his child who is trying to climb into the cab (true story by the way), or when a loving child is mauled to death because his parents wanted to harbor vicious dogs and keep them in a fenced location? <br />
<br />
The answer: All three are negligence. Knowing an accident could occur and failing to act upon correcting the situation in a timely manner. The woman who forgets to buckle the infants car seat breaks the law and is sited for it. The man gets shot at the hands of his son who will now face the memory of this for the remainder of his life. And the parents of the child that was mauled face zero charges as they begin preparing for their child's funeral service. *Side note: The dogs are not being put down as of this post. <br />
<br />
My prayers go out to the family of this child. May Jesus (or other respective deity) welcome this little soul into their arms and erase all memory, sadness and pain that he may have. And may society wake up and realize, two legged, upright creatures are more important that dogs... period! <br />
<br />
Until Tomorrow, <br />
LaVonda<br />
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LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-80440940839618727732012-07-31T23:08:00.002-05:002012-07-31T23:13:28.726-05:00Just Plain Crazy?!?Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
<br />
If you are a facebook friend, you will appreciate the time I've taken to investigate the initial aspect of this post. If you are not a facebook friend, my dear, you are truly missing out on one heck of a great social friend! <br />
<br />
I do not want anyone to think I'm am putting a 'hero' title on this because I am not. I do not want anyone to think I am excited, pleased or otherwise entertained by the aspect of this case because I am not. I am, for lack of a better term, curious into the human psyche. I am curious about what makes a human behave the way they do. What makes them tick or fail to keep time? What drives a person to do what they do, albeit illegal, immoral, or unhealthy at times? I am a criminology major and I see the system fail time and time again -- so I hope to one day change it. But in the mean time, I will research cases, inspect the system as it is, throw a little bit of opinion in and prove some facts based on the classes I've taken and the peer reviewed articles I've read. <br />
<br />
Kick back, lay back or throw back, either way, I hope you enjoy this post for the educational points and again, please do not think I am glorifying this case -- simply intrigued by humans. <br />
<br />
James Eagan Holmes lived in apartment number 10 in a complex on Paris Street. He was a recent college graduate and was working on his doctorate in <a href="http://www.universities.com/edu/Doctors_degrees_in_Neuroscience.html" target="_blank">neuroscience</a>, a program that focuses on the interdisciplinary scientific study of the molecular, structural, physiologic, cognitive, and behavioral aspects of the brain and nervous system. Includes instruction in molecular and cellular neuroscience, brain science, anatomy and physiology of the central nervous system, molecular and biochemical bases of information processing, behavioral neuroscience, biology of neuropsychiatric disorders, and applications to the clinical sciences and biomedical engineering. <br />
<br />
According to news reports, Holmes had begun purchasing ammunition for weapons around the same time the masses were gearing up for a summer full of blockbuster releases such as The Avengers, The Amazing Spiderman and The Dark Knight Rises. It wasn't until May or June that he would actually purchase his weapons. An AR-15 assault rifle, a shotgun, and 2 Glock handguns. He would also purchase tactical gear and products used to make explosives. But again, according to news outlets, his neighbors regarded him as a quiet, college student who didn't create a fuss. <br />
<br />
On or about July 20, 2012, Holmes would send a package to Dr. Lynne Fenton, a psychiatrist at the University of Colorado, Denver, however, the contents of the package is unknown, though speculation that the package contained a notebook detailing specific events such as killing. As of this blog post, defense attorneys for Holmes have requested the contents remain sealed to protect doctor-patient privilege. <br />
<br />
On or about the same date, July 20, 2012, theaters across the country began their midnight premiere of The Dark Knight Rises, which portrays characters as Batman, Cat woman and other comic book heroes. On this same night, movie goers had no idea that crime would be a reality and they would be the victims. <br />
<br />
James Eagan Holmes entered the Century 16 Theater and opened fire killing 12 and wounding 58 people. To read more about the events that occurred, click <a href="http://cnn.com/video/?/video/bestoftv/2012/07/20/exp-lavandera-co-shooting.cnn" target="_blank">here.</a> I plan on posting a memorial blog for those whose lives were tragically stolen in the near future. But for this post, I want to focus on the behavior. <br />
<br />
Some say he was insane. Others say he was crazy. Others say he is faking and knew exactly what he was doing. All of these could be true statements, but lets look at the insanity defense. <br />
<br />
Insane. Different from competent in that insanity, a judge or jury must evaluate the defendants state of mind at the time of the offense. To be incompetent to stand trial, a "...low level standard is used to determine if the defendant can stand trial. The defendant must understand the proceedings against him in that:<br />
1.) He/she is being tried for a crime, <br />
2.) He/she must understand the roles of the prosecutor, defense attorney, judge, jury, and<br />
3.) assist his defense attorney in showing his innocence. <br />
<br />
Many believe if a person is found incompetent to stand trial they are merely getting away with murder, literally. On the contrary, competency renders the case on hiatus until competency is restored, the the case/trial resumes. <br />
<br />
Fact: Insanity defense is raised in less than 1% of felony cases and only successful in a fraction of those.The vast majority of successful insanity defenses are met through plea bargains. <br />
Of the United States, only three states do not allow an insanity defense: Montana, Idaho and Utah. The remaining states fall into two typical categories of insanity pleas:<br />
1.) M'Naughten Rule, or<br />
2.) Model Penal Code Rule<br />
<br />
Colorado uses a modified version of the M'Naughten Rule with the Irresistible Impulse Test. In addition, the burden of proof is on the State in which the state must prove sanity beyond a reasonable doubt. Irresistible Impulse Test is often used to absolve a defendant who can distinguish right from wrong but is nonetheless unable to stop himself from committing an act he knows to be wrong. Most often referred to as "The Police at the Elbow" test... Would the defendant have committed the crime even if there was a police officer standing at his elbow? <br />
<br />
Class, let's look at some definitions! <br />
A.) Beyond a Reasonable Doubt: facts proven must, by virtue of their probative force, establish guilt.<br />
B.) Probative force: an item of evidence that tends to prove a fact that is at issue in the case. Various pieces of evidence have different amounts of force during trial. For example, DNA from a rape case which matches the defendants DNA carries a strong force. A witness who identified the rapist based on a fleeting glance carries a weaker force. <br />
C.) Burden of Proof: Prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty of the alleged charges by producing credible evidence which proves the facts of the case. <br />
D.) Direct Evidence: evidence based on personal knowledge or observation of the person testifying. No inference or presumption is needed. <br />
E.) Inference: conclusions drawn from facts, but not established as with direct evidence. <br />
F.) Burden of Persuasion: defense has the opportunity to persuade the jury that the prosecution is incorrect or has not been established towards the defendant's guilt. <br />
<br />
Some cases in which the insanity plea was used and was successful. <br />
1.) Richard Lawrence - 1835<br />
2.) Daniel Sickles - 1859<br />
3.) John Schrank - 1912<br />
4.) Ezra Pound - 1946 - declared incompetent<br />
5.) John Hinkley - 1982<br />
<br />
A persons mental capacity should also be considered when speaking of the insanity defense. <br />
Are they well educated? Thorough with the crime committed? Was the crime elaborate? Other questions arise when considering this defense. Was the suspect captured or did he turn himself in? Did he confess or deny the claims against him? Did he offer additional information which would prove he was sane at the time of the crime? Did he assist in offering additional evidence? Was there a motive to the crime? Other circumstantial evidence one should consider when weighing the case are the three most important: Threaten, flight, and destroy evidence -- Holmes did not do any of these three, but in fact, did the opposite. He did not threaten to commit the crime, he did not destroy evidence against him and he assisted the police by warning them about his apartment, disclosing the package mailed to Fenton and did not try to flee when the crime occurred. <br />
<br />
All in all, as one officer stated in a report, this is not a 'whodunit' case. We are very much aware that Holmes is guilty of committing these acts. The question is, was he aware of what he was doing? Was he under some psychosis? Was he bribed, threatened? Did he know he could ask for help? Did he ask for help? Did he have a mental breakdown that forced him to do these horrendous acts? Did he know it was wrong, but under some obsession, fail to stop himself? All good questions, and unfortunately, I do not have the answers. But I can tell you some points of interest regarding the behavioral aspect. <br />
<br />
Freud claimed humans have two basic needs or drives present at birth. <br />
1.) <em>eros</em> or 'life instinct' which is the need for bonding, and<br />
2.) <em>thanatos</em> or 'death instinct' which is the aggressive drive. <br />
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<br />
*Both operate at an unconscious level and create deep inner tensions*</div>
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<br />
Mead, however went against not only Freud but Piaget as well. He maintains that "... the self is the part of an individuals personality composed of self awareness and self image..." and that it, "...only develops with social experience." </div>
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<br />
Freud's psycho dynamic perspective aims that behavior is driven or motivated by powerful inner (eros and thanatos) forces. Human nature is not always ration and actions may be driven by motives that are not in conscious awareness. Human actions stem from inherited instincts, biological drives and conflicts between personal needs and societies demands. </div>
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Watson, however, shows the behavior prospective by looking at the stimulus, the response and the consequences. One could question Holmes on several different versions of this very prospective. The stimulus before the plotting of the crime, or the stimulus right before he committed the crime. The response from his plotting, or the response from committing the crime, and lastly, the consequence of his plotting the crime, or the consequence of committing the crime. Either way, we may never truly understand the behavior prospective of his actions. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Other questions that come to mind when I really look at this case:</div>
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If Fenton was treating Holmes, did she treat him for:</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
a. mood problems</div>
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b. daily functions</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
c. abnormal thoughts</div>
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<br /></div>
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The reason I ask these questions is quite simple. They would signal cycles of getting better, then digressing. But what would this matter you ask? I'll tell you. Mental disease is often over looked when it shouldn't be, and often over-diagnosed the remaining times. I want to reiterate that I am not defending the wrongful death and murder of 12 people, nor the attempted murder of 58 others... I'm simply looking at the case and mental disease or defect should not be tossed by the wayside. </div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Look at possible indicators of stressors that could prove a mental condition: </div>
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Stressors such as:</div>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ7U471Kiur-dUS5mvehctjAOq1xjY3iz6a1b1wzuzPK3hShk8APg3I28vYO6AgQUTco_PQOGMTdWaE9xwENqCwu2buLO2AwEMwroAd2XLyPmsziWyySNKgvsbukFLM7NCqy10enGiLw/s1600/Many+faces+of+James+Eagan+Holmes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzJ7U471Kiur-dUS5mvehctjAOq1xjY3iz6a1b1wzuzPK3hShk8APg3I28vYO6AgQUTco_PQOGMTdWaE9xwENqCwu2buLO2AwEMwroAd2XLyPmsziWyySNKgvsbukFLM7NCqy10enGiLw/s320/Many+faces+of+James+Eagan+Holmes.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">James Eagan Holmes during his first court appearance July 23, 2012. <br />
Notice he looks wide eyed at times, confused at others, yet sleepy or <br />
somewhat remorseful in others. Sure, he could be faking, <br />
but I wouldn't be so quick to judge. You do not know what outer <br />
influence he was under or what truly caused this man to steal <br />
12 innocent lives. </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<ul>
<li>school </li>
<li>family</li>
<li>relationship status</li>
<li>obsessive behavior</li>
<li>difficult assignments</li>
<li>chosen area of study</li>
<li>grades</li>
<li>dropping out</li>
<li>quiet</li>
<li>introvert</li>
<li>restless</li>
<li>apprehensive</li>
<li>frightened</li>
<li>anxious</li>
<li>grandiose thinking</li>
<li>grandiose behavior</li>
<li>changes in appetite</li>
<li>delusions</li>
<li>paranoia</li>
<li>lack of concern for personal hygiene</li>
<li>insomnia</li>
<li>sadness or hopelessness</li>
<li>hallucinations</li>
<li>social isolation</li>
<li>rapid language</li>
<li>change in social behavior</li>
<li>extreme disturbance in mood</li>
</ul>
</div>
<br />
I realize that is a long list and I know what you're thinking... OMG, I have everyone of those symptoms, what is wrong with me. First, you don't have every one of those symptoms and second, you are not insane... at least I BELIEVE you aren't insane and if you are, for God's sake, get some help. <br />
<br />
So what do these symptoms indicate? A mental disorder called schizo-affective disorder. <br />
I'm no psychologist, though I can't wait to take my psych classes in the spring. This is just my amateur opinion based on the information available and the education I've received thus far from my criminal justice degree. Simply stated, there is possibly enough evidence to either convict Holmes, or have him committed. I pray justice will be served and that God's will be done. <br />
<br />
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"Dearly beloved, avenge not yourselves, but <i>rather</i> give place unto wrath:
for it is written, </div>
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Vengeance <i>is</i> mine; I will repay, saith the Lord"</div>
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~Roman 12:19 </div>
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I hope I've filled your brains with a little insight, knowledge or general info regarding the case. I plan to follow it to the end. Please continue to pray for the families of those affected by this recent tragedy. </div>
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<br /></div>
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Until tomorrow, </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
~L</div>
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<br /></div>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-8574017882638325022012-07-20T10:33:00.002-05:002012-07-20T10:34:25.082-05:00The Reality of the Fantasy World<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">I want you for just a moment to clear your head. I want you to think about one question. </span><br />
<br />
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<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">"What is a terrorist?"</span></div>
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">When you hear the word Terrorist, most of you will think of foreigners from some distant land who choose to rid the world of the Western beliefs/philosophies/leaders/<wbr></wbr><span class="word_break"></span>etc. But why? Why is that what we think about? Is it main stream media that has tainted our vision? Is it Hollywood and their drive to exploit our fears? Is it fantasy - unreal - a mere facet of our imagination which sometimes runs wild? Or is it something more? </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">To me, a terrorist is ANY person who brings about a feeling of terror, fear, depreciation, anxiety, or panic. So would I consider a home grown person a terrorist? Sure, if they are crazy enough to open fire in a theater full of innocent lives - yes, he's a terrorist!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">I'll continue with this point in just a moment, but I want to take a second to reflect. I'm a mother, a sister, a wife, an aunt, a niece, a granddaughter, and a cousin. I have five children - two girls and three boys. My boys love action movies and namely, anything comic book related such as Spiderman, The Hulk, and Batman. As I write this blog, I can't help but think of some grief stricken mother, sitting in her dinning room, Kleenex in reach, coffee cup filling over, pouring her heart and soul out before God himself, as she remembers the last time she said, "I love you" to her child. Or a father, who sits in his lazy boy, dazed and confused as he tries to remember the sound of his sons laughter. Or the wife of a man who said, "I'll see you in the morning" as he walks out the front door with his young son to entertain his hidden youth at a theater. And while I try to imagine how they must feel, tears prick my eyes, pain slices through my heart and fear envelopes my soul as I remember just last week, my uncle and my oldest son venturing to the local theater to see Spiderman - and how blessed I am that he is still safe and sound in my house, laughing and playing and growing. </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">His name is James Holmes. He premeditated a strike of terror against innocent lives in the early morning hours of July 20th. Aurora, Colorado was awakened to panic - lives were lost - others were injured - and as police try to solve the mystery, one question still comes to the front of my mind: Was he a terrorist? Yes!</span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">He trapped his apartment, #10 as reported on ABC, with explosives, knowing officials would want to get inside to find out more about him. He strategically wore a bullet proof vest and a gas mask when he ushered his onslaught onto the spectators at the theater: Was he a terrorist? Yes! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">He shot 12 people, including a 3 month old: Was he a terrorist? Yes! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">His mother said, "You have the right person"... Was he a terrorist? Yes! </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">I can't help but feel some remorse for this woman. But another question rises in me. Did she know something? Could this have been prevented? Did he display any psychological episodes that would have led one to this conclusion? </span><br />
<br />
<span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}">While we may never know the why, we can deduce the what... Lives were <strike>lost</strike> stolen! While we may never fully define 'terrorist' one thing remains certain: Fear and panic rise when we feel unsure about a situation - and I have that fear, that panic: I'm terrorized. </span><br />
<br />
Until next time, <br />
~LLaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-72026751286798914492012-01-20T20:32:00.000-06:002013-12-12T12:44:40.747-06:00Out of the Ashes, a Phoenix Rises<script language="JavaScript" src="http://pix04.revsci.net/E05511/a4/0/0/pcx.js?csid=E05511" type="text/javascript">
</script>Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
<br />
If you are followers for justice, then you have certainly been awed by the latest news announcement. According to sources in Mountain Home, Arkansas, Hobbs family member has come forward with claims that he overheard a very intimate conversation regarding the murders in West Memphis. <br />
<br />
You can read the press release <a href="http://www.kait8.com/story/16564898/soury-new-witnesses-come-forward-in-wm3-case" target="_blank">here,</a> but some of the highlights include: <br />
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Terry Hobbs' nephew, Michael Hobbs Jr., allegedly told his friends "my uncle Terry murdered those three little boys," according to declarations under penalty of perjury recently given to Damien Echols' defense team. The three new witnesses were polygraphed about what they stated Michael Hobbs, Jr. told them.</em><br />
<br />
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<em>"One day Michael picked us up in his truck. He was very quiet and upset. Michael then said to us, ‘you are not going to believe what my dad told me today. My Uncle Terry murdered the three little boys.' According to Michael, his dad called this ‘The Hobbs Family Secret' and he asked us to keep it a secret and not tell anyone."</em></div>
<div orgfontsize="11.86px">
<br /></div>
<div orgfontsize="11.86px">
<em orgfontsize="11.86px">Another witness stated, "One night last winter, Michael and I were playing pool in his basement when the third friend asked about the West Memphis Three case which had been in the news. Michael responded by saying, ‘My uncle killed three kids in West Memphis.' Michael was dead serious when he said this."</em></div>
<div orgfontsize="11.86px">
<br /></div>
</blockquote>
Hmmm, but what does that mean? Well, in a nut shell, it means the great State of Arkansas has a little more info to put in a file that has been collecting dust for some 18 and a half years... and it will continue to collect dust until enough people hound the state prosecuting attorney long and hard enough to get his attention. In addition, the people of Arkansas need to educate themselves on the case in general. <br />
<br />
With three documentaries out and available for viewing, and a fourth just premiering at the Sundance Film Festival, the astounding story of the West Memphis Three has gained national attention. And while the majority of the documentaries currently available depict what many feel are 'biased and one-sided opinions of the producers", it does not mean we are to believe the opposite no matter what! It simply means there is so much information out there, it should be well read and understood, it should be digested -- several times over, and lastly, it should be thought about with an open and nonjudgmental mind, free from emotion. Facts and facts alone should be considered in the case... and here are a few! <br />
<br />
1.) John Mark Byers had a history with MPD and the Drug Task Force.<br />
2.) Melissa Byers had a previous drug history ranging from marijuana to heroin. <br />
3.) Their son, Christopher Byers was prescribed medication for ADHD: his doctor had him on the highest dose available and seen no change in his behavior. This, he said, was medically impossible with that high of a dose. (Intro to my theory)<br />
4.) They were friends with Terry Wayne Hobbs, step father of Steven Branch.<br />
5.) They were friends with Terry Wayne Hobbs friend, David Jacoby, a man who Melissa new from Blytheville, but who resided two streets over from the Hobbs. <br />
6.) Terry Wayne Hobbs stated he did not see the boys at all the day they became missing. <br />
7.) Eye witness testimony came forward some time after the trial by a woman stating she remembered seeing Terry Wayne Hobbs with the three youths prior to their disappearance. (Secondary portion of my theory)<br />
8.) At no time during the reporting of Christopher Byers, Michael Moore or Steven Branch, did anyone confirm David Jacoby's whereabouts. (third part of my theory)<br />
9.) The officer who went to Bojangles failed to thoroughly investigate the situation, which was called to her over the radio while she was taking the Byer's statement. (continuing third part of my theory)<br />
10.) Hobbs time away from others while 'searching' for the boys cannot be corroborated by others.<br />
11.) The exact conversation that was carried on by Byers and Hobbs in Robin Hood Hills is not spoken of, therefore, we do not know if Hobbs distracted Byers while they were near the bodies or not -- Byers admitted to walking by the location where the boys' bodies were found, several times during the early morning hours, while Hobbs was with him. <br />
12.) The time frame for Hobbs and Jacoby to be in the woods matches the time later investigators say would have allowed for someone to move the bodies to the bayou in which they were found. <br />
<br />
Well, enough of the facts, because, let's face it, none of them point to Damien, Jason or Jessie... Unless you want to include the following: <br />
1.) Damien was harassed by his stepfather and his mother refused to defend him. <br />
2.) Damien was harassed by the probation officer who had it out for him because he was different. <br />
3.) Jessie was a young teen who was intellectually challenged, yet tried to survive in the social class in which he was made to live in. <br />
4.) Jason, being the oldest of his siblings, tended to their needs as any older, responsible, mature teen would do.<br />
5.) A wanna-be PI lied on the stand when she said Jason and Damien had taken her to a cult ceremony. <br />
6.) A drug using teen lied when he said Jason told him Damien, Jessie and himself hacked up those three little boys. <br />
7.) Police misconduct ended in a 'led' confession which should have been inadmissible in court -- but thanks to a self-righteous judge, it was allowed in Jessie's case -- which led the entire state to be a contaminated jury pool. Jason and Damien didn't have a chance. <br />
8.) Words like "occult, satanist, witchcraft, and black magic" through everyday citizens into a heightened state of panic which led to closed minds when the jury was selected.<br />
9.) An over-zealous investigator had no true leads and went on what the juvenile probation officer told him, rather than doing his job and actually 'working the case'.<br />
10.) The social status that these teens and their families resided in can be seen today, in every city, every town and even rural areas... The fact is, when the cards are stacked against you, you beat the devil at his own game... <br />
<br />
And that is what WM3.org and other sites are trying to do. The devil came running back in 93. He took three lives and nearly destroyed three more. Here is my professional opinion of the case in light of the newest information.<br />
<br />
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<em>"John Mark Byers and Melissa Byers had worked for MPD and the Drug Task Force on occasion. They had become well known by officials in nearly every branch of law enforcement, all the way down to the judge who presided the future case of the WM3. So well known, in fact, that the judge had expunged Byer's previous criminal record which included assault and theft of property. </em><br />
<br />
<em>His wife, Melissa, known years back in Blytheville, to be a drug user of marijuana and heroin. Her son, who had been legally adopted by Byers when he was still young, had been diagnosed with ADHD and had been prescribed medication. This medication acts like methamphetamine in adults. Mark and Melissa had been using Christopher's medication and reporting to his doctor that it was not working well on Christopher, so the doctor continued to up the dosage until he was at the max. </em></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Months of abusing Christopher's medicine themselves, they decide to share/sell their new found fun with none other than Terry Wayne Hobbs and David Jacoby. Why? Because David new Melissa from Blytheville and because drug use is popular at their social level - it is popular at nearly every level. And because Terry Wayne and David worked at the same company, worked the same hours, and had money. John and Melissa had recently lost their jewelry business and were struggling financially</em>. </blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Months go by and the doctor sees no change in Christopher's behavior. He (presumably) talks to the Byers about changing/altering his prescription. Melissa and John Mark fear the doctor will stop the prescription completely, so they begin giving him small doses to show the doctor it is starting to work. In doing so, they must limit how much of the medication they can sell. This aggravates Terry Wayne and David.</em></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Wanting to get back at John Mark, Terry Wayne and David conspire to harm Christopher Byers, John Mark and Melissa's son. The day the three went missing, Terry Wayne and David were at Terry Wayne's house. The kids get home from school and gather their bikes for an afternoon of riding. Terry Wayne is seen by a neighbor shouting for the boys to come to him. At this point, he realizes he cannot get Christopher by himself, so he, along with David, capture Christopher, Michael and Steven and proceed to Robin Hood Hills. </em></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Cuts and scrapes are found on the boys along with deep contusions, lacerations, and even the skin and testicles removed from Christopher, the son of the man they wanted to get even with. They are removed from their clothing, bound with their shoe strings and thrown into a concrete culvert with a metal lid. They are unconscious and bleeding out as the sun begins to set over West Memphis. David, having assisted Terry Wayne become scared. He staggers into Bojangles restaurant, disoriented from the acts to which he had just been an accomplice. Afraid someone would recognize him, he left the restaurant and took the woods home. </em></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>As no timeline had ever been set up with regard to David, one can only speculate as to his whereabouts. In an interview years later, Hobbs stated Jacoby was watching Hobbs little girl while Hobbs and his wife searched for the boys, thus providing Jacoby with the perfect alibi. While Hobb's wife was at home later with her daughter, Hobbs returns to Robin Hood Hills and retrieve the bodies, still unconscious, and barely breathing, from the cement culvert. Their bound bodies tied in a quick retrieval method as for a grown man to carry them to the bayou. Their bodies are then held under water until they are dead. This would explain why there was no blood at the scene and it had nothing to do with their bodies being in water... They had bled out in the culvert. </em></blockquote>
<blockquote class="tr_bq">
<em>Hobbs returns home, showers, and then assists John Mark as any 'friend' would do. Until the wee hours of the morning, the full moon shining brightly over West Memphis, Hobbs and Byers search Robin Hood Hills. Later, Byers states he had walked right by the scene where the boys were found and said he didn't see anything. And the detectives seen no trace of anyone walking by the scene either. No foot print, nothing. Until later, when DNA becomes more conclusive and a hair is located in the knot of one of the shoe strings used to tie up Christopher Byers -- which matched Hobbs... and another hair of Negroid decent -- to which I have found nothing stated in any documentation that rules out Jacoby. During the entire investigation, no interview with Jacoby, Hobbs, Byers, or the Moore's took place -- police failed to acknowledge that a parent could kill their child.</em> </blockquote>
In the end, I suspect Byers to have internally acknowledged why the murders happened. By him not coming forward and giving his opinion, it made him look guilty. But I imagine he would feel even more guilty if he admitted the reason his son was murdered was because his father was a drug dealer. I can't say for certain these are the actual events that transpired on the evening Christopher, Michael and Steven went missing. And I can't say for certain these are not. I can only tell you that by the evidence the state had against the WM3, the facts of the case as new evidence has come to light, and the use of documentaries to put ALL the information out there, I do not believe Jason, Damien or Jessie had anything to do with these murders. They, too, were victims in the case. They were robbed of their youth, just as Christopher, Michael and Steven were. While we hope for justice, and pray for closure, one thing still remains -- the true killer still walks. I hold in my heart, that after the ashes of injustice have burned to the ground, a Phoenix will rise! The truth will come to light. Until then, we can only speculate as to who may have committed the acts of killing three little boys, and railroading three young men by means of injustice.<br />
<br />
Until tomorrow, <br />
LaVondaLaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-21112943336272161862011-12-15T23:33:00.001-06:002011-12-15T23:34:04.187-06:00On the Grounds of InnocenceHello fellow bloggers, readers, and passers-by, <br />
<br />
For sometime, I've been addicted to the idea of crime scene investigation. So much so that I ventured to college to achieve my associates in Criminal Justice. Having graduated a year ago tomorrow, I returned this fall semester to continue my learning in hopes of reaching a bachelors and then a masters in Criminology -- long story short, I'm fascinated by the process and while the majority of crimes scenes are of a grotesque nature, I feel the passion to help solve the crime. With that being said, I must maintain an open mind, looking at all angles and even profiling the case to the best of my slightly-better-than-novice ability. <br />
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And this brings me to the tragic death case of little three year old Breeann Rodriguez from Senath, Missouri. At three years old, she was not allowed the opportunity to live because her life was taken so tragically. The police investigated, questioned, followed leads and canvassed the area of her home for what seemed like weeks, only lasting days. The prospect of a white cargo van with a ladder on it had been brought into question, only to be conveniently dismissed. That was easily done, but one thing still remained in my mind: why? Why would someone take this little girl, viciously murder her and dispose of her body in a flood way ditch? Why? Then I started looking at the charges against the suspect. First degree murder, armed criminal action, tampering with evidence, child kidnapping, and possession of child pornography. This caused me to find out 'who' he was. From a previous blog, you can find out that Shawn Morgan was a married man, seemingly of religious faith, with three children. You would also find out that in the early 2000's he was fined for terroristic threatening at Prestolite Wire in Paragould. And aside from being behind on property taxes and a seat belt violation, you would not find anything else of a characteristically negative behavior. So, again, I asked myself, "why?"<br />
<br />
Then I began to look at case law and statistics provided by the US Justice System Annual Crime Reports. I was shocked to learn that most men will victimize men and most women will victimize women, leaving a small 26% of men that victimize women. I was also shocked to learn that more men will victimize in an open area, nearly 30% (exp: alley, parking lot, etc.) and women are more likely to victimize in a private location at or near the victims home, nearly 30%. Just under 1/2 or 46% of child victims are white... 21% are Hispanic. Women are most often the culprit in child abduction and murder cases at a startling 68% worldwide. <span style="font-size: large;">Most murdered children are not killed by pedophiles or sex-offenders, but by
physical abusers, drug addicts, drug dealers, alcoholics, sadists or those who
kill for thrill</span>. This does not sound like Shawn Morgan. In fact, this sounds like someone who would have lost their home, their wife, their family, no job, living off the streets slumming it. <br />
<br />
Then I began to look at his behavior while in custody. On file footage, it is easy to see he was not one for attention, shying away from the camera, straightening his hair as he hid behind his arm. And in watching his behavior, I'm reminded of key behavior signals for that of well seasoned murderers and abductors and the less skilled, but highly motivated -- both represent cocky, arrogant and otherwise self-righteous attitudes who believe they will get away with murder. <br />
<br />
But that still didn't truly shed light on why I believe Shawn Morgan may not be 100% guilty of the crime. Rationalization disorder comes to mind when I see his behavior. Someone who wants to have approval without drawing attention to himself. Someone who fears rejection and manifests an event in his mind, trying to solve how it can be greatly justified to his or her fellow friends. Not Shawn, right? Or is it? Many believe the 'hollywood hype' the media has placed on criminals. They are either extremely brilliant or extremely developmentally delayed. The true fact is, they can vary in education, mentality, and religious beliefs. It must be said however that most do suffer from some form of psychological disturbance. <br />
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In a study between 1986 and 1995, analytical psychiatrists studied the deaths of 33 children by 27 offenders. More than 80% were family cases, in which a family member committed the crime and of those 80%, 55% were mentally ill. Of the remaining 20%, they were divided into two subcategories. The first profile placed the suspects having been abused themselves as a child and showed deep remorse afterwards, in which suicide rates were high among this profile group.<br />
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The second profile were multi-criminal child sex abusers, with a history of previous violent offences - none of these went on to commit suicide. I found the following and wanted to share. <br />
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<b><blockquote class="tr_bq">
A Child Killer’s Profile<o:p></o:p></blockquote>
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While mothers, fathers, and other relatives account for the majority of child murders, only 9 percent of all serial killers kill children exclusively. Generally, these offenders sexually assault their victims before or after death. Most offenders are male, but over 25 percent are female with male killers targeting strangers and females targeting family members. <o:p></o:p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
In most cases, women are prone to kill children for financial gain or just enjoyment and make use of quiet means such as poison, suffocation or drowning, as done in June 2001 by mother Andrea Yates in Houston, Texas, who drowned her 5 children in a bath tub because she felt she wasn’t being a good mother, and Susan Smith of Union, S.C., who killed her two young sons in October 1994 by sending her car rolling into a lake with the boys strapped in their car seats. Both Yates and Smith are currently serving life sentences without the possibility of parole.<o:p></o:p></blockquote>
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<blockquote class="tr_bq">
Men on the other hand are more apt to use brutal violence such as in the 2001 case of 45-year-old businessman Robert Mochrie, who bludgeoned his wife and four children to death before hanging himself, and Peter Stafford, 30 who in October 1999, stabbed his wife and three children before hanging himself from a banister in the family home.</blockquote>
In the latter example, both men showed extreme remorse followed by suicide. Shawn Morgan does not fit into any part of the three profiles. However, he does seem knowledgeable of the crime, or so the police state, in informing media officials they had a confession. The only thing that bothers me about the 'confession' is... I've not heard it. I've not heard the questioning, seen the interview room, witnessed the events as they occurred while in police custody. After witnessing a botched confession in the WM3 case, I am more cynical now than ever, when it comes to confessions. In the Criminal Justice system, confessions are so powerful that once a suspect confesses, additional investigation often stops and the suspect is prosecuted and convicted. Although confessions from perpetrators help to solve crimes in an efficient manner, the false confessions of innocents are a known contributing factor in approximately 25% of all DNA exoneration cases.<br />
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<span style="font-family: AdvTR; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: AdvTR; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Enough stats, right? Let's look at proof... Oh, wait, there isn't any. No physical evidence tying Shawn Morgan to that baby other than his confession... and the same brand garbage bag. But didn't we see some crazy case involving a particular brand of duct tape and a missing girl for an entire 30 days before the mother even reported her missing? </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: AdvTR; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: AdvTR; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;">So who? Who else could have committed such an act and implicated Shawn Morgan? Perhaps they could investigate those with previous criminal history... say, the 75 sex offenders in a 15 mile radius... Or perhaps the officials could investigate why rather than a quick fix. Often times, the citizens will become hysterical (and rightfully so, this was an innocent child) -- and officials are desperate for a quick arrest to sate the public interest in the case. </span></span></span><br />
<br />
We may never truly learn of why or who or even how someone, anyone, could take the life of a child. How they could become so insane with anger or whatever it is that drive them, to kill a child. But I will not settle for OK when justice deserves nothing but the best. <br />
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I'm sure many will disagree with this blog and that is OK. I expect you to form your own educated opinions. Tomorrow, I'll argue the reasons why I think he may be guilty... because a true connoisseur of crime solving does not pick one side and run with it... they look at both sides and form an educated decisions.. what so many seem to be lacking these days. <br />
<br />
Until tomorrow, <br />
LaVonda</div>
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<br />
<br />
Sources: <br />
<a href="http://www.keepyourchildsafe.org/abduction-murder.asp">http://www.keepyourchildsafe.org/abduction-murder.asp</a><br />
<a href="http://www.crimevictimservices.org/page/victimtypes/53">http://www.crimevictimservices.org/page/victimtypes/53</a><br />
<a href="http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/wo.pdf">http://www.bjs.gov/content/pub/pdf/wo.pdf</a><br />
<a href="http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2001/dec/18/mentalhealth.childrensservices">http://www.guardian.co.uk/society/2001/dec/18/mentalhealth.childrensservices</a><br />
<a href="http://www.williams.edu/Psychology/Faculty/Kassin/research/confessions.htm">http://www.williams.edu/Psychology/Faculty/Kassin/research/confessions.htm</a>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-31919237959998384542011-09-12T22:17:00.001-05:002011-09-12T22:19:17.090-05:00SHAWN MORGAN UPDATEHello all, <br />
<br />
In the middle of World Lit I homework and while watching our local news station, KAIT 8 News, reports that Prosecutor Sokoloff of Dunklin County has amended the charges in which Shawn Morgan is facing. Originally, it was first-degree murder, armed criminal action and tampering with evidence. However, in late August, kidnapping charges were added. BOMBSHELL *Nancy Grace style* TONIGHT -- Shawn Morgan is being charged with possession of CHILD PORNOGRAPHY! <br />
<br />
Haven't had time to upload or include the link, but you can find it at <a href="http://www.kait8.com/">http://www.kait8.com</a> and see for yourself! <br />
<br />
Happy Reading! <br />
<br />
Until Tomorrow, <br />
LaVonda<br />
PS... Sorry I've not updated in a while, classes are Major HARD! Back to you as soon as possible! LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-16131886980809562722011-08-20T19:34:00.000-05:002011-08-20T19:34:12.461-05:00The Act of Freedom<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-s4JycxRskjlU6JbVNTODV-6t2_Q_AWztJXhBNXT5TgtU1j_TQxV9_rP166mV334-DlDbsa15UH8W8_ZNjECyAdPaOtXjAGI8KsBx0i2Ip-l8EakyWLOQQ11Zw8ZAebO9qI49T9BclY/s1600/P08-19-11_09.32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9-s4JycxRskjlU6JbVNTODV-6t2_Q_AWztJXhBNXT5TgtU1j_TQxV9_rP166mV334-DlDbsa15UH8W8_ZNjECyAdPaOtXjAGI8KsBx0i2Ip-l8EakyWLOQQ11Zw8ZAebO9qI49T9BclY/s320/P08-19-11_09.32.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
<span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;">It was</span> a cloudy day outside the Craighead County Courtroom as news channels arrived with their eager reporters ready to catch the breaking news of the short notice hearing of the West Memphis Three. But for many, it would be a waiting game, relying on tweets, texts and iphone radio apps to hear what was being said inside the courtroom. Though it was a public hearing, seating was especially limited and only a few citizens were able to make it in time to get a seat. While I was not one of the lucky few, a chance meeting with a lady from Paragould would see to it I stayed informed. <br />
<br />
Today, I had the pleasure of interviewing her and getting the details that many were not privvy to. The following is the interview between myself and April Pillow, a resident of Greene County. <br />
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<span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: Hello.</span><br />
<div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: Hello, How are you today? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"></span><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: I'm doing ok. I'm, I'm trying to, trying to just still get a grip on the whole thing. It's, it's been very, very surreal almost. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: I know (inaudible). You know last night they was [sic] in Memphis, did you see that?</span></span></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0aE9fKeofFf8NkBCcyfZKy7-1qubz-DdstMovw1hipKORVjMS5evNuF3rmhugNnpAJEjCMwi9OFoqmyAl0OkyEUcTblvwsoKTN1mAyViZS2eqZG1ayvZX2N83EAZeek-hRcfKO5eXUg/s1600/Damien.bmp" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgF0aE9fKeofFf8NkBCcyfZKy7-1qubz-DdstMovw1hipKORVjMS5evNuF3rmhugNnpAJEjCMwi9OFoqmyAl0OkyEUcTblvwsoKTN1mAyViZS2eqZG1ayvZX2N83EAZeek-hRcfKO5eXUg/s320/Damien.bmp" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Freed West Memphis Three, Damien Echols, high atop<br />
Madison Hotel in Memphis, Tennessee 8/19/2011</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: Yes I did, and I saw some pictures on line from it. Did, did you see the picture of, of Damien on top of the roof at the hotel?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: No, I wish you'd send it to me. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: It's, I think, I think I posted it on my wall, if you will go to my Facebook page and look on my wall, I think I posted it on there. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: ok. Does he look happy?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: Oh he does. He, well, you remember, I can't remember if it was in an interview that he'd done outside of the documentary or if it was on the documentary, but he had said the only thing he wanted, the thing that he missed the most was seeing the stars at night. And, the sun was setting it was such a beautiful, just a beautiful sunset, and you could see the bridge in the background and, oh it was just, it was, it was a very beautiful picture - it was breath-taking.</span></span></div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok. Well, uh, let's go ahead and get started.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a name='more'></a></span><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: ok</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: um, can you describe the trial room for me, what did it, um, what was it like in there, as far as the lighting?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: It was really bright. It was very quiet as they come in. Everybody was real calm and uh, acted really good. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok. So there weren't any um, you know like, no outbursts from, from people sitting in the room.</span></span></div> <table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR7waatNT_2VJt_10m2hN0Bv2Xb6UKx-GLcyNpMQnTrne_Ox3bPul59rys5TVYrPa7IRtIHFNXRFK2VE9oT5OHEOjeSc2t7LdyIoqo_U4gyQOa53sdwX_WqRAxNWNqH8U5rxLdUlVWc8/s1600/steven+branch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZR7waatNT_2VJt_10m2hN0Bv2Xb6UKx-GLcyNpMQnTrne_Ox3bPul59rys5TVYrPa7IRtIHFNXRFK2VE9oT5OHEOjeSc2t7LdyIoqo_U4gyQOa53sdwX_WqRAxNWNqH8U5rxLdUlVWc8/s1600/steven+branch.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Steven Branch, SR in 1993</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: Uh, yes.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>At the end, Steven Branches dad screamed, "You're opening up Pandora's box" (inaudible) … screamed to the judge.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And then another man was escorted out that was sitting there with Branch, and then a woman was escorted out after she screamed something out. She said "this is Bull [expletive]" is what she said. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: I'm sorry. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: no, no {laughs} that's ok. I can put an expletive censor in there.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Can you tell me what the mood was like for the defendants? Did any of the West Memphis Three, um, were they very calm, were they relaxed, what can you tell me about their mood?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: They were very calm, but they looked very, very sad when they had to say that they were guilty. They all, every one of them said "I am innocent of this crime, but I am pleading guilty to get out of jail. And uh, (inaudible) looked sad. You know even though they were happy they were getting out, it was a sad day they were having [sic] to plead guilty to something they didn't do. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>And I know I asked you outside the courtroom yesterday uh, but would you tell me again, did the defendants appear healthy?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Were they, did they look, uh, in your opinion, did they look mentally fatigued or did they carry any type of ambiance of depression or would you say overall they looked healthy?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: I mean – they looked tired (Inaudible)… I really don't know how to explain it. They looked exhausted. (Inaudible) They looked good physically, but then you could tell they just looked exhausted from all of this. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok. And you mentioned that someone got upset in the court room. That was Stevie Branches father, Steven? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: yeah</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: And you said another man and a woman.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: yeah, that was with him. He was warned before. I was standing there when the police officer came up to him and said the judge said that if you make any outbursts you'll have to leave the entire courthouse (inaudible) you better be good. No, it was Pam Hobbs that walked up to them and said that. She said, you better be good while we're in there. He just shook his head. And he sat there with his arms crossed the entire time we were in there. He had the look of, I don't know, maybe an 'I'll kill you look'. It was just this wild crazy look on his face. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok. And that was Steven Branch that done that?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: yes</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: and, how did the defendants react to the disturbance, were they shocked?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: Damien put his head down and shook his head. Jason and Jessie just looked straight forward. Damien just shook his head and they patted him on the back and said, "Don't worry about it" … and they escorted him out – they actually threw him right out of the courtroom.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: OK. And what about other members of the victim’s families, I know um, Mark Byers was there in the courtroom, did he, um, did he express any type of sympathy for any of the defendants?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: He didn't. He was just quiet. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: Just quiet?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: yeah, he was quiet. At the very end of the hearing, after they had said they were being released, Pam Hobbs' daughter had got up to go walk out of the courtroom and the judge told them to sit back down. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: OK. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: Which I thought that was kind of, I don't know. Thank God for that Judge though, thank God for that Judge. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: so your opinion of Judge Laser was very high.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: yes it is.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: Alright.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>That leads me to my next question, what was the Judge's demeanor like? Did he, in regards to the case, did he seem to show concern for the entire issue or did it appear as though he had already decided before everyone had come into the room, did it look like he had already decided how he would carry the opinion of the court?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: It looked like he had already decided what was going to happen. Of course, they had the closed session right beforehand. But um, he was very sympathetic to both sides. He thanked the all of the people who had come together for the West Memphis 3 and he thanked everyone for standing behind them. Then he apologized to the families and said there is no way that (inaudible) … was just really good to everybody. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: OK. <span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Alright, um, what were the attorney's demeanors? Did anyone from the state appear angered or kind of confused at the entire thing?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: yeah, I don't know his name, but I seen him on an interview last night. Um, he's the one that read the charges out loud in the courtroom and he just seemed aggravated, really aggravated. And he was just kind of whispering and the judge said speak up, you know and he started talking a little bit loud and, uh, he just didn't sound very nice about it. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok, but you don't remember his name?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: I don't remember his name. I know he gave an interview right after the hearing -- was right before the boys came out and the parents came out.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: And um, in what order did the defendants go before the judge when they made the plea?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: Damien, Jason and then Jessie. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: the judge asked Jessie, did your attorney read everything aloud to you and explain things to you. He made it, he kind of put an emphasis on it, do you understand what you’re doing, you know and Jessie said, yes sir. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok. Do you think that maybe Judge Laser had done that because of the issue with his being mentally retarded and because of his low IQ?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: I do. I do. Yes, that is what it appeared to me exactly.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: alright. And were any of the defendant’s emotion, did any of them show tears?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: They did not. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: No tears? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: They did not. No they were all straight-faced. The only time any emotion was shown was when Steven Branch made the outburst screaming and yelling, and Damien just looked down at the ground and shook his head. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok. And um, I know that you said this earlier, but I'm just now to that question, but did the defendants say anything in their defense?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: they – every one of them said I am innocent of this charge, but I am going to plead guilty to get out of prison. And they all said it, they were very sad. I mean you could tell on their faces they didn't want to do that (inaudible). </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok, and after the hearing is over, after they have made their plea, did any of them seem happy or relieved. Could you see a change in their facial expression or their moods? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Jason and Jessie were both smiling as big as they could. But um, I think it upset Damien when Stevie Branch's dad said that, and it was just right before they announced the verdict and um, he was just, I don't know how to explain, just exhausted or fed up maybe, I don't know. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok, alright. And what would you say was the most vivid image for you of their day in court. If you could pick one scene, if you can try to describe it to me and tell me what you felt when you seen it. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: My favorite image was when all three of them walked out of the courtroom. Even though Jessie went one way, he went across the street to the old courthouse.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: sure.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: and Jason and Damien, when they came out they were just smiling and it was just great! That was my favorite part. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: Great. Now, just a couple of opinion questions for you. Do you believe the Alford plea was the best option for them based on what you know about the case and how the case has kind of taken a turn with the trial that was scheduled for December? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: It was the only option for them. (Inaudible) I thank God for it. I hate that they had to admit they were guilty but they all said in court, I'm innocent. I'm pleading guilty to get out of prison (inaudible).</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: Suppose they hadn't taken the plea, do you believe they would have been released in December following the evidentiary hearing? Or do you think that the state does have enough to possible get a second conviction?</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: No. I don't think they have enough to get a second conviction. I don't think they had enough to get a first conviction. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE: ok. And was anything said in court by the three that you'd like to share with the readers. Anything the press, you feel should have reported on more. I've seen a lot of references of 'if they say they are guilty, they are guilty'. Do you think the media could have highlighted they maintain their innocence even though they had to plead guilty. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: not really, I mean, the media, everything that I've seen, they are pretty much saying that, you know, they said they are innocent.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">LE:<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>ok. Are there any final statements that you would like to make about the events that happened in Jonesboro yesterday? </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">AP: Thank God for Judge Laser. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; font-size: 11pt; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">[Close] </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> April was a godsend in obtaining this information and I thank her very much for the interview. As I told her in a thank you letter, "<span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;">The views you described sound wonderful and the thought of being a part of history in the making is a very surreal moment that many do not have the pleasure of experiencing, but those who do cherish them for decades." While many may feel this was not a part of history, I beg to differ. All too often I've heard this country leans towards freeing the guilty before jailing the innocent. Finally, after 18 years, the innocent have been freed!</span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><br />
</div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> Until tomorrow, </span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri", "sans-serif"; line-height: 150%;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"><span style="font-family: "Times New Roman", "serif"; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-fareast-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-language: EN-US;"> LaVonda</span></span></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 150%; margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"></div></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-71330578034500332142011-08-19T19:44:00.001-05:002011-08-19T19:45:49.125-05:00Come Together, Right Now, Over MeHello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
<br />
It was my intention to devote numerous posts to this blog about the infamous West Memphis Three. To share the story of the victims and the persons found guilty for those crimes. And it was also my understanding that I would have until sometime in December to get us all up-to-date on the hearing scheduled to review new evidence after the State Supreme Court ruled they should get a new hearing. Alas, the fates would not be so thoughtful. <br />
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Just a mere 33 hours ago, news reports started filtering in that a short notice hearing would be held in Jonesboro on August 19, 2011. Not December 2011. Not October 2011... Just one day away. Reading these reports, I felt a rush of adrenalin, an urge of satisfaction and a whim of worry. adrenalin because I knew the West Memphis 3 would be at the forefront of every media network and they would drudge up the 'blind' stories of Wicaa, Satanism and Black Magic that for months, filled the headlines and caused bias in the rural towns where the hearings would take place. These same biases would taint the opinion of the masses, because sometimes, old dogs can't learn new tricks, or in this case, open their eyes and see that the aforementioned beliefs are entirely seperate beliefs, one having nothing to do with the other. <a href="http://justiceshallprevail.blogspot.com/2011/08/satanic-panic.html">Read this post for details. </a><br />
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In an effort to better understand what this immediate hearing was to entail, I turned to local news sources. But they were reporting something I couldn't fathom! 2 of the 3 may be released? What? How? When? How? Why? HOW? I knew the evidence they had looked pretty strong based on what was seen in the second <a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/paradise-lost/">documentary</a>. But how had this happened? What had changed now that wouldn't have happened in December? To figure this out, I traveled to their <a href="http://www.wm3.org/">support site</a>. From the articles stated on the site, "Alford plea", "guilty plea" and "release all three" were the only words my eyes would focus on.<br />
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Now I really was confused. I know they are innocent. Their supporters, their family members, the documentaries... all point to innocent. WHY would they plea guilty? I figured they had the State on the run with the evidence that surfaced in 2007 and the A.G. didn't want to take on the case. Then I seen the word Alford plea. This sparked my memories from Criminal Justice class. I knew something about it, but not enough to fully understand how it could pertain to the case. Visit this link to learn more about <a href="http://www.enotes.com/everyday-law-encyclopedia/plea-bargaining#alford-plea">Alford Plea</a>. <br />
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After reading this information and remembering that unlike the Casey Anthony case in Florida, I'm only a mere 30 minutes away from Jonesboro, Arkansas -- and I was bound and determined to be at the hearing. Texting my dear sister in law, I convince her go, and me and hubby ride along. <br />
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The mood was almost surreal. The site was something out of a movie: News reporters filled the sidewalk as their white vans, decked out with satellites and deco paint jobs advertised their channels. People from all walks of life ventured out to the Craighead County Courthouse, some in support of the West Memphis 3: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, JR., and some were not. I only seen a couple that did not agree with the issue of releasing the men who had been accused and found guilty of the murder of 3 - 8 year old boys in West Memphis in 1993. One person I didn't expect: John Mark Byers, step-father of Christopher Byers who died on that tragic day in May. If you've seen either of the two HBO Documentaries, you know that Byers certainly looks like he could be guilty... But looks don't count in the justice system. And if you've read my previous posts about the WM3, you've read an introduction to him. The information posted hasn't changed. However, my opinion of him has gone to a safer zone on the 'people to suspect' thermometer. Why? Because he supports their innocence and wants true justice for the murders of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch and Michael Moore. Byers stated, "They didn't kill my son" only moments after he arrived to the courthouse. I was so impressed with his statements, I asked for a photo with him; he graciously accepted. <br />
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Interviews with supporters would continue through out the morning and I became privy to listening to a lot of them... Even speaking on camera for one documentary crew (not the HBO crew). One woman believed that they were innocent, but she was loud in her protest about the State dropping the ball in the case and about who actually killed the boys. Though I didn't hear her name, she did rattle off several jobs she had working with Judges in the tri-county area. And one woman even smelled of alcohol, though she avoided any direct attention. <br />
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The courtroom filled to quickly for me to get in, so I lingered outside the courthouse, watching as key people arrived. I seen Jessie Misskelley, SR arrive, smiling but looking very tired. I seen Damien Echols mother, who looked like she was having trouble believing this was actually happening. She later stated in an interview, "it's like I can't wake up from a dream." I was also able to catch a glimpse of Steven Branch and a man with him. I didn't recognize him from the documentaries and he was very upset. I didn't venture to speak with them. In a bizarre twist, standing in what I thought would be the appropriate place for the three to exit, as did every one else standing there, we find out through tweets and chatter that they will be released from the back of the building. We take of running to see a yellow barrier. Standing what had to be 100 feet away, I could barely make out a specific hair color, much less be able to identify or get a good picture of the three as they exit for freedom in what has to be the most happiest day of their lives! <br />
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Panic soon consumed me and I ventured across the street. Police officers swarmed, but I was not about to miss a picture! (Granted, I left my Canon at home, so I was forced to use my itty-bitty-phone-cam!) And the weather was not cooperative. Fat rain sprinkles, thin rain sprinkles, rain sprinkles that were undecided on their size... And then the sun came out, just long enough to warm it up about 8 degrees. Then, right when we are about to wilt, we see Eddie Vedder and Natalie Maines exit through the side door and walk right in front of us. Weather not cooperating, my phone cam steams over but I manage a couple of shots. Vedder, looking out the side door of the luxury van, places his hands together in thanking manner, showing he appreciates our support as we appreciate his. Then the waiting game for the three! But they do emerge. Damien wearing a black suit, his wife Lori, by his side. Jason Baldwin exited as well. The crowd chanted "freedom, freedom" as Echols waived and gave a smile. Misskelley was released a bit later and we had already left... I have kids, I couldn't stay there forever! :)<br />
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I did make a friend that was in the courtroom and she said I could interview her about the mood in the courtroom and share it with you all... However, I can't do this until later tonight. But it will be posted for you all to read as fast as my fingers will type it! <br />
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Until then, enjoy the pictures from the day and remember! Three lives were not the only ones taken, but three can work towards helping find the true murderers. Let's pray true justice is found! <br />
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Until tomorrow, <br />
LaVonda<br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.2158679164813.2115542.1181547848&l=f82195d540&type=1">West Memphis Three Finally Free Photo Album</a><br />
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Raw Video Footage from WMC News 5 in Memphis, yours truly in White and Black blouse at :36<br />
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<script type='text/javascript' src='http://www.wmctv.com/global/video/videoplayer.js?rnd=702165;hostDomain=www.wmctv.com;playerWidth=340;playerHeight=280;isShowIcon=true;clipId=6169912;flvUri=;partnerclipid=;adTag=News;advertisingZone=;enableAds=true;landingPage=;islandingPageoverride=false;playerType=STANDARD_EMBEDDEDscript;controlsType=overlay'></script><br />
West Memphis 3 footage<br />
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LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-5467931883756880382011-08-18T14:42:00.000-05:002011-08-18T14:42:47.142-05:00Shawn Morgan, Senath, Had Previous Criminal Record<div style="background-color: transparent; border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;"><div jquery1313696079375="53" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="dateline">From: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/18/suspect-in-mo-girls-death-had-record-in-arkansas/">http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/18/suspect-in-mo-girls-death-had-record-in-arkansas/</a></span></div><div jquery1313696079375="53" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhoVR-twLjY-eCk8qwA31Qgdcd_WuiFH6HRofsjVnqtrJPFoZCl1RZFXxyczgD24I6JqUMYMiUOqQR2SFKrS9zw89MnH8cRvbfZrInXSvqh7tnxBsxqdK9TdIPrFz3b7XKgolGlBEUfM/s1600/Shawn+Morgan+Trim+II.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgqhoVR-twLjY-eCk8qwA31Qgdcd_WuiFH6HRofsjVnqtrJPFoZCl1RZFXxyczgD24I6JqUMYMiUOqQR2SFKrS9zw89MnH8cRvbfZrInXSvqh7tnxBsxqdK9TdIPrFz3b7XKgolGlBEUfM/s1600/Shawn+Morgan+Trim+II.jpg" /></a></div><div jquery1313696079375="53" style="font-size: 14px;"><span class="dateline">ST. LOUIS – </span>The man accused of killing a 3-year-old Missouri girl has a criminal record in Arkansas for threatening to blow up the factory where he worked, according to court records obtained Thursday by The Associated Press.</div><div jquery1313696079375="53" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="54" style="font-size: 14px;">Meanwhile, the small town of Senath, Mo., prepares to say goodbye to Breeann Rodriguez with a memorial service on Friday and funeral on Saturday.</div><div jquery1313696079375="55" style="font-size: 14px;">Records from Greene County, Ark., show that Shawn Morgan of Senath pleaded no contest in 2004 to a misdemeanor charge of making a terroristic threat. He served one year of probation and was fined $1,000.</div><div class="sect vert" sizcache="26" sizset="6"></div><div jquery1313696079375="56" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="56" style="font-size: 14px;">Before the plea agreement, Morgan was originally charged with felony threatening to cause a catastrophe for leaving notes in a restroom stall at Prestolite Wire Corp. in Paragould, Ark., in May 2002.</div><div jquery1313696079375="56" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="57" style="font-size: 14px;">"Notice if Eddie, Britt, Amy, & Gary B. aren't fire soon I will leave a bomb and blow everybody up I'm not joking Take me seriosly," read a note on May 7, 2002. Two days later, another note in the restroom read, "Bomb baby boom."</div><div jquery1313696079375="57" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdnOAuX_24yYo1QRoB71g-ybO2GKDbPYcP3yHoHIzzluZCPTYgMpmbB7r3ppXJnzXA-zFaKG_s1M4AacgSpC4NLAo0oiAotcb2GWAZWXopRnPp8Fs_783NjXLLyz7sx-NgMY3_lPaT9Q/s1600/Shawn+Morgan+Trim.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjjdnOAuX_24yYo1QRoB71g-ybO2GKDbPYcP3yHoHIzzluZCPTYgMpmbB7r3ppXJnzXA-zFaKG_s1M4AacgSpC4NLAo0oiAotcb2GWAZWXopRnPp8Fs_783NjXLLyz7sx-NgMY3_lPaT9Q/s1600/Shawn+Morgan+Trim.jpg" /></a></div><div jquery1313696079375="58" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; font-size: 14px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-KdevPhW_SyQiH-Sb21tOh0IgWRsprfnGG5TiW8l8rIxxs5KHJoMVNx3mkxrd3-GGPtwhKPk69VOtz7IfQnVRjfXUxetnfg42TVk2URpjSQNuiATqb8SGRuwZNnyhyphenhyphenTS4_-3a2xyw2U/s1600/Shawn+Morgan.BreeAnn+Rodriguez.Neighbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJ-KdevPhW_SyQiH-Sb21tOh0IgWRsprfnGG5TiW8l8rIxxs5KHJoMVNx3mkxrd3-GGPtwhKPk69VOtz7IfQnVRjfXUxetnfg42TVk2URpjSQNuiATqb8SGRuwZNnyhyphenhyphenTS4_-3a2xyw2U/s200/Shawn+Morgan.BreeAnn+Rodriguez.Neighbor.jpg" width="200" /></a>Co-workers suspected Morgan. He denied writing the notes but agreed to give handwriting samples. Police said his handwriting style and misspelling of some words matched the note.</div><div jquery1313696079375="58" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="59" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; font-size: 14px;">Now, Morgan, 43, faces a much larger crime. If convicted of first-degree murder, the husband and father of three could get the death penalty. His next court appearance is Aug. 30 and he remains jailed without bond.</div><div jquery1313696079375="60" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; font-size: 14px;">Breeann was reported missing on Aug. 6. She was last seen on that Saturday riding her small pink bike with training wheels. Almost immediately, the FBI joined dozens of local and state police and hundreds of volunteers in the search.</div><div jquery1313696079375="60" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="61" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; font-size: 14px;">The Rodriguez family lives on Ode Johnson Street. So does Morgan. Neighbors said investigators awoke them at 2 a.m. to search their homes the day after Breeann went missing.</div><div jquery1313696079375="62" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="62" style="font-size: 14px;">Authorities haven't said what led them to key on Morgan, but he allegedly confessed. He was arrested Saturday.</div><div jquery1313696079375="63" style="font-size: 14px;">According to a probable cause statement, Morgan said he found Breeann on the ladder of his above-ground backyard swimming pool on Aug. 6, took her inside his home and suffocated her with a white plastic trash bag, saying it "felt like it took an hour" to kill her.</div><div jquery1313696079375="64" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P_Ibv-qU9EHDN7jp2b0vWo2_-onaed_S2RcQdjN-N_mH-NPex25eDa65fY5VCVzBB8LMadQtTvr1I1SR-YMiEbLDGI9ydmXauN06eMiH3Bb0kFxqEGeXklndE1SkEIjD5MFapfflxG4/s1600/Breeann+Rodriguez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" qaa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_P_Ibv-qU9EHDN7jp2b0vWo2_-onaed_S2RcQdjN-N_mH-NPex25eDa65fY5VCVzBB8LMadQtTvr1I1SR-YMiEbLDGI9ydmXauN06eMiH3Bb0kFxqEGeXklndE1SkEIjD5MFapfflxG4/s1600/Breeann+Rodriguez.jpg" /></a></div><div jquery1313696079375="64" style="font-size: 14px;">Why he allegedly did it remains a mystery. Dunklin County Sheriff Bob Holder and prosecutor Stephen Sokoloff on Thursday declined to discuss details of the case. Morgan did not yet have an attorney.</div><div jquery1313696079375="65" style="font-size: 14px;">Breeann's body was found Tuesday on the banks of a drainage ditch a few miles outside of Senath, a town of 1,600 residents near the Arkansas border.</div><div jquery1313696079375="66" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="66" style="font-size: 14px;">A community memorial service is planned for 5:30 p.m. Friday at the town park. City collector Kathy Morgan said doves will be released in the park where hundreds of candles still remain from a vigil during the search for Breeann. Several hundred people are expected to attend.</div><div jquery1313696079375="67" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="67" style="font-size: 14px;">Kathy Morgan said yellow ribbons adorn City Hall and many homes in Senath as the community tries to come to grips with the horrific crime. Her husband is a cousin of the suspect, and she also lives on Ode Johnson Street. She said she feels sorry for both families — the Rodriguezes and the Morgans.</div><div jquery1313696079375="68" style="font-size: 14px;"><br />
</div><div jquery1313696079375="68" style="font-size: 14px;">Despite his record in Arkansas, "Nobody would have ever suspected him of this," Kathy Morgan said of Shawn Morgan. "He's a shy guy. He's always working. Neighbors went over to his house to swim."</div><div jquery1313696079375="69" style="font-size: 14px;">Breeann's funeral is Saturday, and she'll be buried at Senath Cemetery.</div><br />
Read more: <a href="http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/18/suspect-in-mo-girls-death-had-record-in-arkansas/#ixzz1VPXNoSKd" style="color: #003399;">http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/08/18/suspect-in-mo-girls-death-had-record-in-arkansas/#ixzz1VPXNoSKd</a></div>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-9989285224483081962011-08-15T08:03:00.000-05:002011-08-15T08:03:17.910-05:00Writers Response<span style="font-size: large;">Wow!</span> I've never had that many replies to any one post in my entire life -- and I've posted about children being murdered, slaughtered, sold, turned into sex slaves, etc, and the one topic that gets wide attention is the fact that a murderers family photos are posted on a blog that are also posted on their spouse's myspace page! I wish I could this many people interested in ending Child Abuse on a larger level! Don't just preach about a photo online, but actually BE THE VOICE for children who are Abused and Neglected! Join me? <a href="http://www.facebook.com/heartheircries">http://www.facebook.com/heartheircries</a><br />
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I expect 21 new page likes based on the feedback from the previous blog about Shawn Morgan... Or are you just hypocrits?<br />
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Mix of emotions at that right now. I can't decide whether to remove the photos or leave them. If I remove them completely, no one will have the opportunity to see them unless they search for them. If I leave them, I will continue to alienate my readers and I do not want that type of bad publicity, as my blog is to speak out for justice, not taint the public with the belief that I am a soulless creature determined to ruin the lives of those who are innocent for the sake of attention... So not me! Completely opposite in fact. I want to make known the issues at hand and show a true and genuine concern for the truth -- albeit a confession or a case gone disasterously wrong in sight of Lady Justice. <br />
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So, I have come to this conclusion -- and so people will no longer flood my inbox out of concern for the innocent -- I am removing the photos! But, I will paste the link to Tonya's Myspace page so that anyone who wants to see the photos can, at their leisure and their discretion. The only one who will then be responsible is Tonya, who failed to protect her page by blocking it's viewable content. If you have children and you post photos on a social networking site, take the precautions to prevent them from being seen by those you do not want to have access.<br />
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Until tomorrow, <br />
LaVondaLaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-67710721001247686972011-08-14T22:07:00.005-05:002011-09-12T22:19:02.741-05:00Who is Shawn Morgan<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;">NEW UPDATE @ <a href="http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3949953662868636477#editor/target=post;postID=3191923795999838454">http://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=3949953662868636477#editor/target=post;postID=3191923795999838454</a></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;">UPDATE: Author writes in response to comments on this blog. </span><a href="http://justiceshallprevail.blogspot.com/2011/08/writers-response.html"><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;">Read it here</span></a><span style="background-color: black; color: white; font-size: large;">.</span><br />
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Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
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I want you to take a moment and think about your neighbors. Some of you have hundreds, some of you have one... and if your like the majority of southerners who are tired of people in general, your closest neighbor is a mile or two away. But in Senath, Missouri, most are fairly close. And in Senath, you have a relationship with your neighbors. You watch out for each other, speak to each other, even share recipes and garden goods with each other. But the one thing you never think about; the one thing you could never imagine: your neighbor killing your child. <br />
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Senath is a fairly small town. Some 2,000 or so people. I want you to imagine you never lock your doors, you let your children play outside without standing 'right over them'. Because in Senath that is how it used to be. Until August 6, 2011. On this day, a simple man, a neighbor, someones husband, father, brother, uncle, nephew, son and fellow church member done the unthinkable. He took someones child and ended her life. He took a three year old, reportedly suffocated her and then disposed of her bike and her body. <br />
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Meet Shawn Morgan<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qMQ7wIVxzPXSZ-H3Pt9jjYoEhTmM1idDeyEmHxMGnurwRftsEcVyFnGoBm2St0SID0SB4vHqBDckY6N5NmLS8uudlHFEjzoVkIONpgr6oq8P9E4y5D1bVmTxMxBHrKUJHO1ZDGKwQE4/s1600/Shawn+Morgan.BreeAnn+Rodriguez.Neighbor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="192" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh1qMQ7wIVxzPXSZ-H3Pt9jjYoEhTmM1idDeyEmHxMGnurwRftsEcVyFnGoBm2St0SID0SB4vHqBDckY6N5NmLS8uudlHFEjzoVkIONpgr6oq8P9E4y5D1bVmTxMxBHrKUJHO1ZDGKwQE4/s200/Shawn+Morgan.BreeAnn+Rodriguez.Neighbor.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
Now, don't let your eyes play tricks on you. This man is married, with three children. One boy and two girls. His wife's name is Tonya M. Morgan. And when I learned this man was the person responsible for BreeAnn Rodriguez's disappearance, I began a mission to find out who he really is. All information was obtained from online websites. <br />
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Over the course of two hours, I had found out that he and his wife had lived in Kennett and Senath, Missouri as well as Paragould, Arkansas. He has an alias of Shawn D. Morgan and Shawn S. Morgan. His address is listed on pipl.com as 116 Ode Johnson Street in Senath, Missouri. He was born in October of 1968. He married Tonya M. Morgan and had three children. She is a Sagittarius according to her myspace page. <br />
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And on that same page, a simple 20 friends were listed. Granted, she had not been on that page in a while; nearly 3 years. But something I found interesting. She dressed as a devout Pentecostal woman. Her friends were definitely affiliated with the same religion. Looking at one friends page, Michelle Masters-Crider, I noticed she was employed with the Kennett Police Department as a dispatcher. Again, it had been some time since that page had been accessed by the user as well. Back to Tonya's page, I find "Mr. Preacherman". Finding that an odd nickname for a Myspace page, I click it. And to my surprise, he is a churchgoer... who is also a police officer for the Kennett Police Department. But that is on Tonya's page, not Shawn's. I could not find any social media sites that he uses, nor could I find any blogs or pictures, except for what was on his wife's myspace page. <br />
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(Read <a href="http://justiceshallprevail.blogspot.com/2011/08/writers-response.html">this post</a> for info on the photos and the writers choice to remove them from this blog)<br />
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<strike>To see Tonya's Myspace photos, </strike><a href="http://www.myspace.com/smtm92"><strike>visit her page</strike></a><strike>.</strike> <em>UPDATE 8/16/11 -- Page has been disabled</em>.<br />
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So turning my attention to Shawn, because he is the one in question, I discovered a little bit more. He graduated in 1986 from Senath Hornersville High School. According to other sources, Shawn was employed by Tenaris, a steel pipe manufacturing plant, the nearest being in Blytheville, AR. Authorities at this hour are working near Cottonplant, which is due east of Senath and is the main route to Blytheville, if he did in fact dispose of the body in that location.<br />
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Tenaris Hickman Facility in Blytheville, Arkansas<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="275" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tenaris+5020+North+County+Road,+Blytheville,+AR&aq=&sll=35.912528,-90.014394&sspn=0.008742,0.016458&g=5020+North+County+Road,+Blytheville,+AR&ie=UTF8&hq=Tenaris+5020+North+County+Road,&hnear=Blytheville,+Mississippi,+Arkansas&ll=35.935737,-89.75835&spn=0.018572,0.353376&t=h&output=embed" width="350"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=Tenaris+5020+North+County+Road,+Blytheville,+AR&aq=&sll=35.912528,-90.014394&sspn=0.008742,0.016458&g=5020+North+County+Road,+Blytheville,+AR&ie=UTF8&hq=Tenaris+5020+North+County+Road,&hnear=Blytheville,+Mississippi,+Arkansas&ll=35.935737,-89.75835&spn=0.018572,0.353376&t=h" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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In addition to his background, it was rumored that Shawn Morgan made a terroristic threat on a previous employer, Prestolite Wire in Paragould. He was not only fired but had criminal charges brought upon him. The FBI was involved with that issue about 9 years ago, but as of this blogpost, I was unable to confirm or deny that rumor. <span style="font-size: large;"><a href="http://www.kait8.com/story/15290899/suspect-in-girls-killing-had-record-in-arkansas">UPDATE click here</a>.</span><br />
According to public records, on July 20, 2000, he received a driving infraction for failure to have a person under the age of 16 properly safety belted in the front seat. His fine: $10.00. <br />
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Something a little stronger on the issue of lack of responsibility. In 2008, a CC Cert of Lein - DOR Taxes case was brought before the court. Shawn and Tonya had failed to pay their taxes. $489.00 in taxes due, plus interest at $28.22, additional fees at $24.45 and the lein fee of $4.50 brought the total to $546.17. This was the property tax due for their home. The county sued in September of 2010 for the past due taxes, according to public records.. <br />
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I've yet to find any information on his wife's employment. However, another rumor is floating that his wife came back from a mini-vacation of sorts and said he was acting strangely and turned him in herself. A local blog chat member stated they work at Tenaris-along side Shawn Morgan and his employer stated that Shawn Morgan did not report for work the night the little girl went missing. <br />
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We all want to hope and and pray that this little girl is alive, but having been told by police officials that she was suffocated, it's hard to have faith even the size of a mustard seed. All we can do now is pray she is found, give her the proper burial she deserves and see to it that punishment is carried swiftly and harshly for the man named Shawn Morgan. <br />
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Until Tomorrow, <br />
LaVondaLaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-64279506905361488932011-08-14T20:54:00.001-05:002011-08-14T21:01:58.163-05:00Behind The Scenes In Rural AmericaHello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
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I want you to step out of your back door, away from the bright lights of the big city and step into rural America -- Senath (SEE'nith), Missouri. A small town that is a nothing but a blip on the map. Surrounded by crops fields of cotton, watermelon, cantaloupe and corn, Senath is home to a consolidated school which is shared with another small town called Hornersville. Shopping consists of a Dollar General store, a locally owned and operated pharmacy, an insurance agency, and a General store. Senath State Bank is the financial institution of their town and the Postal Service is located beside City Hall. At one time, Ramey's would be the local grocery store, but met its demise in a fire not long ago. A small town park sits just off main street known as Commercial Street. A restaurant exists as well as a couple of flea markets. Two co-ops exist to help meet the demands of local cotton growers. Government housing is found on Highfill street and the majority of people are friendly southern folk who spend their past time tending the garden, supporting local school athletic teams and traveling the 9.5 miles to Kennett, Missouri, for the county fair, which is kicked off by a parade down First Street on the second Tuesday of every September. According to the 2000 Census, Senath residents totaled 2,302. Jobs are scarce in the area as most people commute to Kennett, Hayti, or Steele for jobs. Some will venture to Arkansas which is a hop, skip and jump from Senath. Rector being the closest town in Arkansas, but Paragould, Blytheville, and Jonesboro being the more likely. <br />
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Senath is just a small town full of friendly people who are genuinely nice and help look out for each other. Over the past ten years, more out-of-towners are seen taking up homestead in this rural town. Hispanic speaking citizens are seen more often than not because of the high demand for farm work. The schools are small with a student-teacher ratio of about 9:1. Classes are small, but the hearts of the students and teachers are huge. You can see your teacher at school on Monday, at church on Wednesday and at the store on Friday -- and you better believe your parents knew if you ditched -- parents and teachers are tight like that. You never had to worry about locking your doors or letting your kids play outside. Everyone cared and watched out for each other. In the entire time that Senath has existed, no crime of any major case had occurred. Sure, people would drink, and fight, and sometimes they would drive fast... But you never worried or felt compelled to stay closed up indoors.<br />
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MAP OF SENATH<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="300" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=s_q&hl=en&geocode=&q=senath+missouri&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.136115,67.412109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Senath,+Dunklin,+Missouri&ll=36.134234,-90.159818&spn=0.017435,0.032916&t=h&z=14&output=embed" width="325"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&source=embed&hl=en&geocode=&q=senath+missouri&sll=37.0625,-95.677068&sspn=35.136115,67.412109&ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Senath,+Dunklin,+Missouri&ll=36.134234,-90.159818&spn=0.017435,0.032916&t=h&z=14" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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Around the town<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsfFtcPasEV8i9cNo8mmaYX6Am2LliNT4jhR3zoPlzRoW7HbzISjfbehQFjr5_MPzXcazgeVBkxBPAMbWcMtAFmSjUl51LWfzwBBAAx9MJZWJ_PeH76uKvTZRrmUB-PeZEiyzW2PfrNQ/s1600/senath+hornersville+lions.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="145" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhOsfFtcPasEV8i9cNo8mmaYX6Am2LliNT4jhR3zoPlzRoW7HbzISjfbehQFjr5_MPzXcazgeVBkxBPAMbWcMtAFmSjUl51LWfzwBBAAx9MJZWJ_PeH76uKvTZRrmUB-PeZEiyzW2PfrNQ/s200/senath+hornersville+lions.jpg" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senath Hornersville student signs <br />
promise</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNI_xEgn7YatHR9wgSmDBIZ9CqPNVuyv_dQsc0ZsrOiK9BwCZ-cOp5TjQZ0CRK-A1iMM4z5W2e-GtfaZRnVK1ntul_FbPFu_CoZ_yarBnZWZLA60k05r4ySsOUiD9C0CUSqmiENgHJuDU/s1600/Rameys.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="218" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNI_xEgn7YatHR9wgSmDBIZ9CqPNVuyv_dQsc0ZsrOiK9BwCZ-cOp5TjQZ0CRK-A1iMM4z5W2e-GtfaZRnVK1ntul_FbPFu_CoZ_yarBnZWZLA60k05r4ySsOUiD9C0CUSqmiENgHJuDU/s320/Rameys.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ramey Supermarket as it burns</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDreH7KqQFENQkIKEXN5dxpXFFWi4_imhHtk-QmxqX87UVZsiJz2EGMyvRdk47DSl7qPsuDryb9PQMEbGVDkhPRUEhoHR0qfXxx5pNCQCqDf4mShsDDSGffewDbmvxq07lvJPCRzdpcM/s1600/imagesCAGWK4DT.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnDreH7KqQFENQkIKEXN5dxpXFFWi4_imhHtk-QmxqX87UVZsiJz2EGMyvRdk47DSl7qPsuDryb9PQMEbGVDkhPRUEhoHR0qfXxx5pNCQCqDf4mShsDDSGffewDbmvxq07lvJPCRzdpcM/s1600/imagesCAGWK4DT.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Senath High School girls perform during<br />
fundraiser</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Students working on assignments in <br />
Trina Johnson's Classroom at Senath Hornersville</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Snow and ice during the winter season </td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwAK5pCorcg_OYe1cVgYXgxyfE9b9W1PelGnGO02yRkg_erz8_5_LkICPm9q5dSg67C1lOFs619NsZSFvyK5Yc8ltQspKPywo-jqFwGhcUTZ0D21rjRNsVyaR2Y56G_LRFRJEj82MKu8/s1600/cotton.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiRwAK5pCorcg_OYe1cVgYXgxyfE9b9W1PelGnGO02yRkg_erz8_5_LkICPm9q5dSg67C1lOFs619NsZSFvyK5Yc8ltQspKPywo-jqFwGhcUTZ0D21rjRNsVyaR2Y56G_LRFRJEj82MKu8/s1600/cotton.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">A major cash crop for the Bootheel of Missouri</td></tr>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Self Explanatory</td></tr>
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"> But the days of not locking your doors in this rural area have come and gone. On Saturday August 6, in the during the noon hour, this quiet little community would have their reality tested. Their would be tragedy gracing every doorstep, heartbreak around every corner. On this day, a little girl by the name of BreeAnn Rodriguez would disappear. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><br />
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<div style="text-align: left;"></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK62-zgHhIPUrfdrCxHguLVmsV1xIQ9icPFAL85zlL9GiagczFiM1NzaklI7bV7CGqzNgZrZKLeMbfGIQKCscpgmf19ZsPUyk4Jwf_8ZVDH9D7PJl9M8cgQbNcx2FaMuNDMDTAHWQhM_g/s1600/Breeann+Rodriguez.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgK62-zgHhIPUrfdrCxHguLVmsV1xIQ9icPFAL85zlL9GiagczFiM1NzaklI7bV7CGqzNgZrZKLeMbfGIQKCscpgmf19ZsPUyk4Jwf_8ZVDH9D7PJl9M8cgQbNcx2FaMuNDMDTAHWQhM_g/s200/Breeann+Rodriguez.jpg" width="160" /></a></div> BreeAnn Rodriguez was born January 8, 2008 to Edgar Rodriguez and Claudia Ramos. BreeAnn has an older brother whose name has not been mentioned. On Saturday, August 6, BreeAnn was riding her bike in front of her home in Senath on Ode Johnson street. This street is a dead end street and intersects only with Caneer Street. Caneer Street intersects Commercial and US Highway 412. <br />
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BreeAnn was 3 years old. Her brother was 5, and they often rode their bikes together. On this particular day, her brother had gone indoors briefly for a drink of water and came back outside to see his sister was no where to be found. Officer Karnes of the Senath Police Department received word that BreeAnn had become missing and an all out search had began. Edgar Rodriguez told reporters that she never left her street and she never rode her bike long distances. Police began canvassing the area in hopes that she had pushed the limits or maybe she had gotten turned around and couldn't remember where she lived. The FBI, Dunklin County Sheriff's Office and other search and rescue teams searched for BreeAnn for days with no signs of her disappearance. No clues, no leads and only a vague description of a white cargo van that had been seen days prior, but had no direct connection to the disappearance. No State wide Amber Alert had been issued because she was not deemed to have been abducted, but rather, missing and endangered.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI_K1Kzq3lAut0boaVmkSf5Dq96NgyUO61yUGImEkiYP-1vEE66NSrA_39OPmR-qCcwgnny8X6Op99BUluTk7NIXszKCpJXM5bL8-LeXglCe6KdGrYhQStkeshSn8T9G6mi-gD0S8-DA/s1600/205982_249032815118978_247852725236987_873731_1557668_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="239" naa="true" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiSI_K1Kzq3lAut0boaVmkSf5Dq96NgyUO61yUGImEkiYP-1vEE66NSrA_39OPmR-qCcwgnny8X6Op99BUluTk7NIXszKCpJXM5bL8-LeXglCe6KdGrYhQStkeshSn8T9G6mi-gD0S8-DA/s320/205982_249032815118978_247852725236987_873731_1557668_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Intersection of Ode Johnson and Caneer Street in Senath, MO</td></tr>
</tbody></table> As the days coursed by, grim hope as a set of training wheels were discovered in a corn field approximately two miles south-southwest of Senath. Upon inspection of the training wheels, Edgar said without a doubt that those training wheels belonged to BreeAnn and her bike. He positively identified them due to markings that had occurred when he manipulated them to outfit BreeAnn's bike. The hopes of finding BreeAnn alive were getting more slim by the minute as the hours turned into days. <br />
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A candlelight vigil was held at the city park in Senath on Wednesday, August 10th as supporters came in droves to stand strong for her safe return. A Face book page was started, spreading word of the event, and at last count before the evening, more than 1,000 people had agreed to attend. the vigil. The park is two blocks down Commercial, East of Caneer St. <br />
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Tragically, no good news would follow. On Friday morning, authorities claimed they had a suspect in custody regarding the disappearance of BreeAnn. Information slowly filtered in as supporters, prayer warriors, friends and family anxiously awaited the press conference. According to news sources:<br />
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<blockquote>SENATH, MO (KAIT) - According to Dunklin County Prosecuting Attorney Stephen Sokoloff, Shawn Morgan, 43, of Senath, has been charged with first degree murder of 3-year-old Breeann Rodriguez. Morgan has also been charged with armed criminal action and tampering with physical evidence.</blockquote><blockquote>"Morgan is charged with causing the death of Breeann Rodriguez, 3-years old, also of Senath, by suffocating her," said Sokoloff. "The charge is that he did this on August 6th, the day that she went missing."</blockquote><blockquote>Senath Police Chief Omar Karnes told Region 8 News shortly before 8:00 Saturday night that search efforts for Breeann's body had been called off. He said the search will continue Sunday morning.</blockquote><blockquote>Sokoloff told reporters in a news conference that Morgan suffocated Rodriguez. Sokoloff said it would be inappropriate to comment on the details of the investigation. Sokoloff said search crews are still looking for Rodriguez. According to a news release from the Dunklin County Sheriff's Office, authorities are searching in an undisclosed part of Dunklin County.</blockquote><blockquote>Police say Morgan is not related to the family. Sokoloff did not discuss whether Morgan had a criminal record. He did tell reporters, however, the Morgan lived down the street from the Rodriguez family.</blockquote><blockquote>The Dunklin County Major Case Squad, Missouri State Highway Patrol, and the Missouri Department of Conservation have been searching for the girl for the past week.</blockquote><blockquote>Breeann was last seen Saturday the 6th, while riding bikes with her 5-year-old brother outside their home on Ode Johnson Road. Her brother went inside for a few minutes and came back out to find no trace of Breeann, or her pink bike with training wheels. </blockquote> It has yet to be made public on how they new or came to the conclusion that Shawn Morgan is responsible for the disappearence of BreeAnn. More information will be posted as updates on THIS post as soon as they are made available. <br />
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In the mean time, feel free to check out the next post, "Who is Shawn Morgan", which goes into a little history of his life and his family, and gives the authors opinion on what happened. <br />
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Until Tomorrow, <br />
LaVondaLaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-39386038284492290742011-08-06T20:49:00.003-05:002013-04-12T09:36:57.394-05:00The Man Called Byers<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37sZdsPASXXHtW2gr1mDRHAGNs33TwI51G3GGZZQawaXVOmoHnoMVkkFO9A09-v7qmNwFfsEaSMa5LNhTQwitNwsF13PbrHajDk9STfnU-bNxR9AHv_cNILeYBf3Bihw8ULqKzvKOz24/s1600/John+Mark+Byers.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg37sZdsPASXXHtW2gr1mDRHAGNs33TwI51G3GGZZQawaXVOmoHnoMVkkFO9A09-v7qmNwFfsEaSMa5LNhTQwitNwsF13PbrHajDk9STfnU-bNxR9AHv_cNILeYBf3Bihw8ULqKzvKOz24/s1600/John+Mark+Byers.jpg" t="" true="" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Mark Byers</td></tr>
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Meet John Mark Byers. You may remember him from petty crimes in Cherokee Village, Arkansas. But you may remember him easier from 1993. John Mark Byers adopted Christopher Mark Byers, who was born on June 23, 1984. <br />
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Christopher Mark Byers was 8 years old and attended school just down the street from his residence in West Memphis, Arkansas. Christopher and his friends, Michael and Stevie were murdered on May 5th, 1993. <br />
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According to the families of the three boys, they were last seen together between 5:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. on the evening of 5 May 1993. The three boys had finished school for the day at Weaver Elementary School at 3:00 p.m. Steven Branch went home but left shortly afterwards, according to his mother Pam Hobbs. Christopher Byers’s step-father, John Mark Byers, arrived home at 3:10 p.m. but Christopher was not there, his brother Ryan arrived home at 3:30 p.m. Chris did not have a key to the house and was expected to wait outside until Ryan arrived to let him in.<br />
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John Mark Byers drove Ryan to the courthouse for a 4:00 p.m. appointment. After dropping Ryan he drove to pick up his wife, Melissa Byers from work. They both arrived back at their home at 5:20 p.m. to find that Chris was not at home, although there was evidence that he had been there. Soon after, John Mark Byers left home to pick up Ryan, but on the way he found Christopher riding a skateboard. He took Christopher home where Byers gave him "2 or 3 licks" with a belt, in the presence of Melissa, as punishment for not staying at home as instructed. Before returning to the courthouse to pick up Ryan, Byers instructed Christopher to clean up the carport area. He was last seen doing this at 5:30 p.m. by Byers.<br />
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At 6:30 p.m. John Mark Byers claims that he arrived home from the courthouse with Ryan to find that Chris was again not at home. Melissa was inside on the phone with her boss and had not been aware that Chris was gone again. John, Melissa and Ryan Byers left their home at 6.30 p.m. to drive around the neighborhood in order to find Chris. During the course of this search Byers informed a police officer of his son’s disappearance. According to Byers, he was told to wait until 8:00 p.m. before making an official report with the police. Byers explained to the officer that the reason he was so concerned was that Chris had never disappeared like this before. This statement was later contradicted by Melissa Byers, during an interview on 25 May 1993, when she told police that Christopher had disappeared on several other occasions for hours at a time.<br />
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John Mark Byers called the West Memphis Police Department at 8:00 p.m. to report that his step-son Christopher was missing. In response to this report <strong>Officer Regina Meek</strong> (the officer who failed to follow up on the Mr. Bojangles Call) went to the Byers' home. Fifteen minutes later, Diana Moore spoke with John Mark Byers, informing him that she had seen the three boys at 6:00 p.m. Byers stated that this was the first time he had been aware that Chris was not alone. Together with Diana Moore, Melissa Byers and Ryan Byers, John Mark Byers began to search the Robin Hood Hills area, the last known location of the boys. It was already dark by then, according to Byers. At some time between, 8:30 p.m. and 10:30 p.m., Byers went home alone to change out of the shorts and thongs that he had been wearing, into a pair of overalls and boots. At the time that he left, the search party consisted of Ryan Byers, Ritchie Masters, Brett Smith and his sister, along with many others. They were soon joined by Officer Moore from the West Memphis Police Department, who continued to search with them from 10:20 until 11:00 p.m.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbJXGhQMZgWDjkELb-mLW-0rLb7G7sW2vcVluGtI-JaDWWEUErxsCKiAaxuHH_sPZwzJ0dywtdgY4VifUzrofvhEFHMXUvzqbeY7flah13iMfVQzxke8NU-b7JLqMei-3j1C0kJHazME/s1600/Memphis-038LocationPhoto11.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="148" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPbJXGhQMZgWDjkELb-mLW-0rLb7G7sW2vcVluGtI-JaDWWEUErxsCKiAaxuHH_sPZwzJ0dywtdgY4VifUzrofvhEFHMXUvzqbeY7flah13iMfVQzxke8NU-b7JLqMei-3j1C0kJHazME/s200/Memphis-038LocationPhoto11.jpg" t="" true="" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Blue Beacon Truck Wash #38 <br />
3904 Petro Road<br />
West Memphis, AR 72301<br />
I-40/55, Exit 280/4</td></tr>
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John Mark Byers along with law enforcement officials scoured the area for hours. When John Mark Byers arrived home at 11:00 p.m. on May 5th, he called the Sheriff to request a search and rescue team. He was told to call Denver Reed, the leader of the Crittenden County team the following morning. He and Ryan left the house again and drove to the <u>Blue Beacon Truck Wash</u>. Here he told the people inside that he was looking for Chris and two other boys. He then drove his vehicle around the back. For some time Byers and Ryan shouted for the boys and honked their horn. After not hearing anything, John Mark Byers and his son Ryan left for the night. <br />
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<tr><td style="border: currentColor; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQsyxucLbeU2XPT0UCHNNfX5kpdC8uJakG8k2SeUjRuODsroe_O9OsTSTv4S9xWdVtwK1MRSpJQ4R-2l3CGE2baadXdhMwbC9jZ6rlQzc3geqC9gUCyTEshuRErWoqcHvCR1GDnzZd78/s1600/vid_2_crime_scene_looking_west_up_trail.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgvQsyxucLbeU2XPT0UCHNNfX5kpdC8uJakG8k2SeUjRuODsroe_O9OsTSTv4S9xWdVtwK1MRSpJQ4R-2l3CGE2baadXdhMwbC9jZ6rlQzc3geqC9gUCyTEshuRErWoqcHvCR1GDnzZd78/s320/vid_2_crime_scene_looking_west_up_trail.jpg" t="" true="" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border: currentColor; text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">Looking west from the discovery site. The trail on the right goes to the southeastern corner of the Blue Beacon lot. The trail on the left joins the trail to the pip (see below). Note, in the interior of the woods, the trails are well-defined. </span></td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPvNq-Jp1aLbRmZZNoBA3mYxfetiZerZRmgSs5lEUcgeuKvLURujQ4lRfROcWahH3BIe0zRfsReq402-CdAuy7IfcmKq6V_RKyQHHTnB9pmQlEokP9Bv0Bq6AfLG5c-5fLKcbTx5_BUY/s1600/overheadwoods_skewed_labelled_paths.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigPvNq-Jp1aLbRmZZNoBA3mYxfetiZerZRmgSs5lEUcgeuKvLURujQ4lRfROcWahH3BIe0zRfsReq402-CdAuy7IfcmKq6V_RKyQHHTnB9pmQlEokP9Bv0Bq6AfLG5c-5fLKcbTx5_BUY/s320/overheadwoods_skewed_labelled_paths.jpg" t="" true="" width="320" /></a></div>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border: currentColor; text-align: center;">Aerial View of Robin Hood Hills, Pipe where bikes were found.<br />
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<tr><td style="border: currentColor; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNX8-lZczOf8rpZca-xYtLqA7VK6Kj4KTQ-a1HwcK9ujOMKGj63pjIWsM3atpknhi38_XW_eD6sSl-oyDRS9LOujSOMoQjMFyu8B0P-FGuINvCSkfzxs8k3v5Uv9fDR0vMuD5mHzMDCE/s1600/Map+of+Area.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipNX8-lZczOf8rpZca-xYtLqA7VK6Kj4KTQ-a1HwcK9ujOMKGj63pjIWsM3atpknhi38_XW_eD6sSl-oyDRS9LOujSOMoQjMFyu8B0P-FGuINvCSkfzxs8k3v5Uv9fDR0vMuD5mHzMDCE/s400/Map+of+Area.jpg" t="" true="" width="347" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border: currentColor; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-left: 40px;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><strong>Notes:</strong></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> a,b, and c represent the homes of Moore, Byers, and Branch, respectively. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Lakeshore is the neighborhood where Jason Baldwin lived, Broadway Trailer Park is where Damien Echols lived, and Highland Trailer Park is where Jessie Misskelley lived. </span><br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="border: currentColor; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpiD6vr5i1B1GpFXaLBE8zw1-PtGBpj2KhlsW4fe0swq-jvSohx0OxepwMJyBWxd3baJ6CNujqjYYk6J1K9DvT7mSE0ZT2Acfse0nDUNPiHFVFw1kAEcoiKqYy9zIp06DJPkJHqsLSEw/s1600/crime_scene_drawing_700copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="310" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzpiD6vr5i1B1GpFXaLBE8zw1-PtGBpj2KhlsW4fe0swq-jvSohx0OxepwMJyBWxd3baJ6CNujqjYYk6J1K9DvT7mSE0ZT2Acfse0nDUNPiHFVFw1kAEcoiKqYy9zIp06DJPkJHqsLSEw/s400/crime_scene_drawing_700copy.jpg" t="" true="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="border: currentColor; text-align: center;"><div style="border: currentColor;">
<strong><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Police sketch of crime scene area including the paths to the west of the discovery site. </span></strong></div>
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<strong><span style="font-size: xx-small;">Note the location of the bodies in the ditch and the location of the Blue Beacon Truck Stop.</span></strong></div>
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This would not generally be a big deal. However, John Mark Byers seems too -iffy. After the bodies were found, John Mark Byers showed genuine anguish for the loss of his stepson. But, in November 1993, John Mark Byers was interrogated by WMPD officers after he had given a knife to a member of a film crew who were making a documentary about the case. During questioning by the police, John Mark Byers admitted that he had given the knife away. He also stated that his wife Melissa had given it to him for Christmas, two or three years previously and he had never used it. He kept it in the top drawer of a dresser in his bedroom where he was sure that neither of the boys could have gained access to it. When asked whether anyone might have cut themselves with the knife, Byers stated that he was certain that no one had. This story changed when the interviewing officer told him that blood had been found on the knife. Byers then recalled that he had used the knife to cut up some deer meat at home. When he was told that the blood found on the knife had matched Christopher’s blood type, Byers continued to assert that he had no idea how Christopher’s blood had come to be there. <br />
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Later after test results on Melissa, Ryan and John Mark Byers were concluded, it was found that the blood stains matched in blood type with both John and Christopher Byers. No further testing was carried out which could have determined more conclusively whether it was Christopher or John Mark Byers’s blood.<br />
Another item of evidence which could have linked John Mark Byers to the murders, at least as much as any evidence brought against Damien, Jason and Jessie, was the presence of another human hair on the victim’s clothing. It was a black Caucasian hair which was shown to appear microscopically similar to both John Mark Byers and Damien Echols. Unfortunately, nothing more specific was determined. <br />
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In addition to the blood on the knife, later forensic review of the bodies established that specific injuries to the face of one of the victims was initially charged as a belt buckle mark, later proved to be that of human bite marks. One way, and the best way that John Mark Byers could clear his name would be to provide a bite sample. Plainly stated, have an impression of his dental bites taken to compare to the injuries sustained by the boy(s). But that will never happen. Not because he doesn't want to, but rather, John Mark Byers doesn't have any teeth. Claiming medication side-effects by Tegretol caused him to incur Periodontal disease, he stated he had his teeth removed months before the murders occurred. However, upon later submission of dental records, his teeth were surgically removed in April 1997, nearly four years after the murders. <br />
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During this interrogation the interviewing officer asked Byers what medication he was on to which he answered Xanax and Zorinal which he stated were anti-depressants. When he was asked whether he had any other medication he told police no, yet he had stated at other times that he was taking Tegretol which is the brand name of the drug Carbamazepine. This is the same substance which was found in non-therapeutic amounts in Christopher’s blood after his death. Christopher had also been taking Tegretol according to his medical records, but Byers had stated that Chris had not taken his medication on the day that he went missing.<br />
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Although there were many items of evidence that could have pointed to John Mark Byers as the murderer of the three boys, he was <strong>never considered</strong> by police as a suspect nor was he ever thoroughly investigated. <u>It is interesting to note that John Mark Byers was on very friendly terms with the investigating officers and was a drug informant for the WMPD at the time of the murders. Could bias in favor of Byers and against Echols on the part of the investigating police have blinded them to any evidence which might have led the investigation away from Damien and toward Byers?</u><br />
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Finally, the tennis shoe imprint which was found on the creek bank near the bodies, did not match with any footwear owned by Damien, Jessie or Jason. This fact would again suggest that police should have been concentrating their investigations in another direction.<br />
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But the evidence against John Mark Byers doesn't end there. His demeanor in the documentary <a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/paradise-lost/">Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills</a> and <a href="http://www.youtube.com/user/LHCU1#g/search">Paradise Lost: Revelation</a> showed extreme mental ranges in the man. He self-admission of a brain tumor and the fact that he is heavily medicated with Xanax, Zoloft, Sinequan, Haldol, and Depakote leads one to believe he has the capabilities of causing the deaths of these boys. Not only that but in the latter documentary, John Mark Byers looked guilty, if such a look could exist. <br />
Five years after the crimes, Byers returns to the scene. Through the overgrown brush, he remembers the way to where his sons body was found. He then begins digging three graves and puts what appears to be leaves or grass/brush in them. He covers them with dirt and places sticks of wood with crime scene tape on them as headstones for the three suspects. He then spits on their graves and covers them with lighter fluid, sets it on fire and burns it. While doing this, he is speaking in a calm, rational tone, almost as if he were giving an interview. He begins to show extreme anger toward the three suspects, almost a psychotic rage.<br />
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Furthermore, the neurologist for Christopher Byers who treated Chris' ADHD with Ritalin said he had no answers for why the medication was not abating his behavior. It is my belief that his step-father, John Mark Byers was using Ritalin as an amphetamine and refusing to give the medication to Christopher, which would explain his continuous display of negative behavior. It is also my belief that Chris was being abused by Mark Byers and his mother was unaware of the majority of the abuse.<br />
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During the latter documentary, John Mark proceeds to tell the official submitting the Lie Detector Test that he has been diagnosed with Manic Depression and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. Later he stated, "I've had hallucinations.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> I've had n</span>ightmares of hearing my son screaming." John Mark Byers admitted that when the DA was describing the injuries to his son during the trial, it brought back memories of when he was attacked.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>"When I was tortured and when I was attacked and when I had five people beat me up and torture me, but I lived through it. But it brought back all those feelings and all those emotions and it's like they were reading off what happened to me and I lived through it and it was like a mental thing and I had a mental breakdown from hearing it, reliving it all over again, except it wasn't me, it was my son." He stated that if he doesn't take his prescribed medication, he gets paranoid. <br />
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One can't help but also notice his statements he makes. The are drenched with guilt, only in submissive rather than exploitative form. He stated in an interview prior to the bodies being found, "they haven't found the bicycle's or clothing..." How strange that when the bodies are finally found, the bikes are submersed in water away from the bodies, which are also submersed in water, and that two pairs of the boys' underwear are missing. <br />
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And to defend the man, he has stated he is out for nothing but the truth. It was stated in another report that Byers has since written a letter to the Arkansas Governor and Byers is reportedly working in relation to free the West Memphis Three. By no means do I believe this man is guilty. <br />
<br />
The remaining questions come to mind when I read this info:<br />
1.) The distance from the court house to the Byers home was not that far. Could Byers have had time to kill the boys and remove the evidence?<br />
2.) Could the anger he experienced while giving Chris '2 or 3 licks' have led to more than just discipline?<br />
3.) If John Mark and Melissa Byers were abusing Christopher's Ritalin, is it possible she did not see the spanking and cannot truthfully confirm that Byers left Christopher at home to clean the carport?<br />
4.) Why would he knowingly go behind the Blue Beacon Car Wash and honk/shout for the boys?<br />
5.) Why would he give a knife to the HBO producers that had visible blood on it?<br />
6.) Why lie about the dates you had your teeth surgically removed?<br />
7.) Could his brain tumor have caused him to commit these heinous murders, hide the bodies, remove all evidence and still maintain a calm state of mind after the news comes out that the bodies have been found?<br />
8.) If he truly does believe the West Memphis Three are innocent, will he still actively search for his sons killer?<br />
<br />
These questions are yet to be answered. The facts are still the same. Three boys are dead, and three are in prison... and someone got away with murder. <br />
<br />
Until tomorrow, <br />
LaVonda<br />
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LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-67422960288202485052011-08-06T18:13:00.001-05:002011-08-06T18:27:10.662-05:00About The VictimsThis information was gathered from Newspaper articles and websites. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u>The Victims</u></strong></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sJh1f2NY7MZoxIG_VsA33ulH13njb5GLJr_AegVr5zPSfmY-8hz_EAriCxXhom6-I4FfYSYW58vdkGbIGfzlzs9m45b3Qg8OCTzMgayXN_g0GygiPU6xxQRRiq7BSATzPkJZPJQEzrs/s1600/the_three.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="201" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4sJh1f2NY7MZoxIG_VsA33ulH13njb5GLJr_AegVr5zPSfmY-8hz_EAriCxXhom6-I4FfYSYW58vdkGbIGfzlzs9m45b3Qg8OCTzMgayXN_g0GygiPU6xxQRRiq7BSATzPkJZPJQEzrs/s400/the_three.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Left to right: Chris Byers, Michael Moore an Steve Branch<br />
<br />
<div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">They were in the second grade at Weaver Elementary School, the school located just a couple doors down from the homes of Byers and Moore. Each household had two children and the loss was particularly harsh on the sibling. Each had achieved the rank of "Wolf" in the local Cub Scout pack.</span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Michael Moore enjoyed wearing his scout uniform even when he was not at meetings. He was considered the leader of the three. He lived with his parents, Roy Todd and Diana Moore and his nine-year-old sister, Dawn. </span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Steve "Stevie" Branch taught himself to flip and make karate moves like the Ninja Turtles. He bought a birthstone ring for Michael Moore's sister, Dawn. He had a pet dog named King and a pet turtle. He was an honor student. He lived with his mother, Pamela Hobbs, his stepfather, Terry Hobbs, and a four-year-old stepsister, Amanda. </span></div><div align="left"><br />
</div><div align="left"><span style="font-family: inherit; font-size: small;">Cristopher Byers was hyperactive and naturally curious. He enjoyed swimming. He was nicknamed "Worm" because he squirmed so much. He lived with his mother, Sharon Melissa Byers, his stepfather, John Mark Byers, and his stepbrother, Shawn Ryan Clark, aged 13. According to his mother, he was a typical eight-year-old. "He still believed in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus. He liked to play in the dirt with trucks. He liked to color." </span></div></td></tr>
</tbody></table><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Michael Moore. b. July 27, 1984 in Key West, FL.<br />
Sister: Dawn Moore of West Memphis, AR.<br />
Parents: Roy Todd and Diane "Dana" Moore of West Memphis, AR.<br />
Uncle and aunt: James F. Moore and Linda Carson Moore of Marion, AR.<br />
Maternal grandmother: Carolyn Howard, OK.<br />
Maternal great grandmother: Louise Smith, OK.<br />
Paternal grandparents: James and Georgia Landrum of Memphis, TN.<br />
Great grandmother: Mae Pugh, West Memphis, AR. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Christopher Byers. b. June 23, 1984, Memphis, TN.<br />
Mother: Sharon Melissa Byers. b. Jan. 16, 1956. d. Mar 29, 1996.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
Half-brother: Shawn Ryan Clark of West Memphis, AR<br />
Her parents: Kilbourn A Defir (1924-2004) and Doris C Defir, Memphis, TN.<br />
Maternal uncle: Dennis Defir, Horn Lake, MS (residence 2004) <br />
Father: Ricky Lee Murray, b. July 1961<br />
Stepfather: John Mark Byers. <br />
(Family below are through stepfather)<br />
Step-uncle and aunt: Sonny and Marilee Simpson of Little Rock, AR<br />
Step-aunt: Beth Cossey of Jonesboro, AR.<br />
Step-uncle: George W. Byers of Memphis, TN. </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Stevie Branch. b. November 26, 1984 in Blytheville, AR.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
Mother: Pamela Hobbs of West Memphis, AR.</span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
Brother: Dillan Gordon Branch of Osceola, AR.<br />
Maternal grandparents: Jack and Marie Hicks of Blythesville, AR <br />
Father: Steve Branch of Osceola, AR. <br />
Stepmother: Sherri Branch of Osceola, AR.<br />
Paternal grandparents: Billy and Geneva Branch of Earle, AR.<br />
Step-father: Terry Hobbs of West Memphis, AR.<br />
Step-brother: Bryan Hobbs of Malvern, AR.<br />
Step-sister: Amanda Hobbs of West Memphis, AR.<br />
Greatgrandparents: Stacey Hicks of Gobler MO, Bonnie Hale of Cooter, MO.<br />
Willie and Lola Fitzhugh and Almeda Branch, all of Earle, AR.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">[</span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: bold;">residences were for 1993]</span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: large;"><strong><u>The Families</u></strong></span></span><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuROqqAO3w6axUkK12H3OTa2hFNWECy7Sa4bT-AOipYQ33iYFY6iosLPSe71N-r4akoOK4_ywlHSU0hnSXak2Oq2q43nKNm_KDz0xuVdMq49VDMfAqj8_P9jLKnQPrVEAVw2MPqn4i5m8/s1600/byers_family.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuROqqAO3w6axUkK12H3OTa2hFNWECy7Sa4bT-AOipYQ33iYFY6iosLPSe71N-r4akoOK4_ywlHSU0hnSXak2Oq2q43nKNm_KDz0xuVdMq49VDMfAqj8_P9jLKnQPrVEAVw2MPqn4i5m8/s320/byers_family.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Melissa and Mark Byers <br />
(Mark is the Stepfather of Chris Byers. He legally adopted him and had his name changed.)</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqsolr9QmtLgx2Po5rYqpy8yRBtFzyV44s1BPAcrRDqvIfHHG_IoDBwg6geSjXoac4FjX4qtWgUKkEVEqllqLqN6Nwds5np2EDEtifkl-XY7LZdXga1Ljdpq1oHlyDwYwhIssNdyplYc/s1600/r_murray_1989.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhxqsolr9QmtLgx2Po5rYqpy8yRBtFzyV44s1BPAcrRDqvIfHHG_IoDBwg6geSjXoac4FjX4qtWgUKkEVEqllqLqN6Nwds5np2EDEtifkl-XY7LZdXga1Ljdpq1oHlyDwYwhIssNdyplYc/s320/r_murray_1989.jpg" t$="true" width="218" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Ricky Lee Murray, Christopher Byers' Biological Father</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMLWQQsOoblgLUuGUXxKltzC5fxzUDhzK0DDnNhCYJRYFw9RfzLsu7KcHqrdTjfxBXxpV-onXYfp2-mKVA3GOrsF_wPW0uzMwQKj2MeqRQRGg6VOEz5AjuBMPe4ZQhVxXFrapBTbJIyM/s1600/hobbs_moore.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjlMLWQQsOoblgLUuGUXxKltzC5fxzUDhzK0DDnNhCYJRYFw9RfzLsu7KcHqrdTjfxBXxpV-onXYfp2-mKVA3GOrsF_wPW0uzMwQKj2MeqRQRGg6VOEz5AjuBMPe4ZQhVxXFrapBTbJIyM/s400/hobbs_moore.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">From left: Pamela and Terry Hobbs, Parents of Stevie Branch<br />
Todd and Diane Moore, Parents of Michael Moore<br />
<br />
</td></tr>
</tbody></table><div align="left"></div>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-1573461151857723872011-08-06T16:57:00.004-05:002011-08-06T21:43:06.573-05:00The Crime Scene(from <a href="http://vanessawest.tripod.com/wm3.html#timeline">vanessawest.tripod.com</a>)<br />
(My notes are in Yellow)<br />
<br />
There is no evidence of blood or a weapon at the scene. The boys' bicycles and clothing were in the drainage ditch as well, effectively washing away any trace evidence that may have been present. The boys' clothing had been held down with sticks, but these were not taken in as evidence by authorities. (Six months later, police would find two sticks in the woods and claim they were the same sticks used to weigh down the boy's clothing.)Two pairs of the boy's underwear were also missing. The only blood present was where authorities had removed the bodies from the ditch. An area of the drainage ditch's bank and had deliberately cleared, and an impression of a tennis shoe was found. The boys were probably killed elsewhere and then dumped in the drainage ditch in an attempt to conceal evidence. <br />
<br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUlPLCbSnoOqLdbctm69c9yjsMutuGqvgyTsdUgbRaFrfRPadMkSKmqJFZrttOwM3tjZHdjFIy7id6jC3GQBzCxBWTV5pXbDuStJKG828i0XW4usOUqBvq48wa0Ge7UBfCfpq7u-tIXU/s1600/bikes.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgwUlPLCbSnoOqLdbctm69c9yjsMutuGqvgyTsdUgbRaFrfRPadMkSKmqJFZrttOwM3tjZHdjFIy7id6jC3GQBzCxBWTV5pXbDuStJKG828i0XW4usOUqBvq48wa0Ge7UBfCfpq7u-tIXU/s1600/bikes.jpg" t$="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Boys' Bikes, Mayfair Apartments in the background. Photo looking South.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdpfYLLDarhJtB9WIaqEEM5woeB9du0RxDJsmobeKMLBG4RRqsq0a4UxsiLL31Mcz_2ejOkd-v69IcUMxNS97z1vLpJQvVZv2dEHkaVFDhLpGXuzfgFyR4huQhMmkFCZ-HdF4VkRYIYM/s1600/cloth.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihdpfYLLDarhJtB9WIaqEEM5woeB9du0RxDJsmobeKMLBG4RRqsq0a4UxsiLL31Mcz_2ejOkd-v69IcUMxNS97z1vLpJQvVZv2dEHkaVFDhLpGXuzfgFyR4huQhMmkFCZ-HdF4VkRYIYM/s1600/cloth.jpg" t$="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cloth found in hand of victim Christopher Byers<br />
(Cloth never admitted into evidence)</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3eNju4pJqtAqt8Gy_Uf2UkzYXbdNnebEONWTV60xBb4uEo3j4Zm8XTtAMnZ3rVvzxQfcFBV89z7bBk5o8InPpw03k7tvHAblJ-S0hNJhwAQe9ZRRYAPpXYNZwtn720qs5mEDoqB6dt4/s1600/ditch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhz3eNju4pJqtAqt8Gy_Uf2UkzYXbdNnebEONWTV60xBb4uEo3j4Zm8XTtAMnZ3rVvzxQfcFBV89z7bBk5o8InPpw03k7tvHAblJ-S0hNJhwAQe9ZRRYAPpXYNZwtn720qs5mEDoqB6dt4/s1600/ditch1.jpg" t$="true" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crime Scene 1</td></tr>
</tbody></table><br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56zr9FUHiphPhAQ9RGZ7W-Ij6wooCTXBpMf_3dvh6xLs44u4ewcZbTzxTGT7WqcHoBNhkyJVOgIeKMzTzdLdmHZPQSMrH4-dRXAwEAKBNi1TfxnHimnRlzvajGJoYPut42mtM5RNCeto/s1600/ditch2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh56zr9FUHiphPhAQ9RGZ7W-Ij6wooCTXBpMf_3dvh6xLs44u4ewcZbTzxTGT7WqcHoBNhkyJVOgIeKMzTzdLdmHZPQSMrH4-dRXAwEAKBNi1TfxnHimnRlzvajGJoYPut42mtM5RNCeto/s320/ditch2.jpg" t$="true" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crime Scene 2</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRyiYvjsI2LJoZA3dlLAT4kPKzlfW3tDAiC9baKkB_miYl2UAmPC_6upyd7I1SPy2l2s7EVRVh3H7G_Zovpnw9dqJA9jQO50fvOFkTEcmofZL9jrvNtoUSM-IPf7uEstg81nI7VsqZ0E/s1600/ditch3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjNRyiYvjsI2LJoZA3dlLAT4kPKzlfW3tDAiC9baKkB_miYl2UAmPC_6upyd7I1SPy2l2s7EVRVh3H7G_Zovpnw9dqJA9jQO50fvOFkTEcmofZL9jrvNtoUSM-IPf7uEstg81nI7VsqZ0E/s320/ditch3.jpg" t$="true" width="252" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Crime Scene 3</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKarDLVc_wkhWOHVLd7ziTq9Ot4yngYWKA3-ERONqt7H4EOPrAhSk1TngmBYd-Wpn05AHZl1FRfaDTRPB4e-ixfJADbWJsuOGnIiry8sBGIQJCOJLMDfl_cDv-lSIR_mivyVMCpRvLL8/s1600/sticks.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiOKarDLVc_wkhWOHVLd7ziTq9Ot4yngYWKA3-ERONqt7H4EOPrAhSk1TngmBYd-Wpn05AHZl1FRfaDTRPB4e-ixfJADbWJsuOGnIiry8sBGIQJCOJLMDfl_cDv-lSIR_mivyVMCpRvLL8/s320/sticks.jpg" t$="true" width="225" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sticks used to weigh down clothing</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The investigation into the child murders at Robinhood Hills seemed doomed from the beginning - an investigation so inept, so biased, that it could never have held together in a court of law. <br />
But it did - and now Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley are behind bars. Baldwin and Misskelley and both serving life sentences. Echols is on Death Row <strong><span style="color: yellow;">(I believe his sentence was based solely on his manner of dress rather than proof of his guilt). </span></strong><br />
<br />
Few towns as sparsely populated as West Memphis have to worry about homicide investigations. When a murder does occur, it is usually a domestic dispute turned ugly or a robbery gone wrong. The leads are often both numerous and obvious. A case like that of the West Memphis 3 is something a small-town cop will stumble upon perhaps once in his life - if at all. From the minute the boys' bodies were found, pontentially valuable evidence was destroyed, lost, or seemingly disregarded. Here is how the case of the West Memphis 3 - the child murders at Robinhood Hills - unfolded. <br />
<br />
When word came out that the boys' bodies had been found, officers and curiousity seekers came out in droves. The WMPD had had no prior experience with such a horrendous crime, and as a result the crime scene was hopelessly compromised. Either through negligence or a lack of knowledge, the crime was not properly preserved, evidence not collected, and notes not taken. In the opening scenes of the documentary <i>Paradise Lost</i>, Chief Investigator Gary Gitchell can be seen smoking a cigarette - within the perimeter of the crime scene. Such foibles would compromise a complex investigation. <strong><span style="color: yellow;">(My question, did the HBO producers come out as soon as the bodies were found? Because there are bodies in the opening scenes. Did they use wax dummies to portray the bodies, or were they, in fact, there for the entire thing?) </span></strong> <br />
<br />
One of the first mistakes made was the removal of the bodies from the creek bed before the arrival of Crittenden County coroner, Kent Hale. (Hale himself was nearly two hours late arriving at the scene.) Not only did prematurely removing the bodies from the drainage ditch destroy any possible evidence, it also exposed the bodies to sunlight and dry air, which can throw any estimation as to the time of death way off track. (Before the trial of Jessie Misskelley, the medical examiner would state that it was <i>impossible</i> to even estimate a time of death, because Hale had done such a poor job of supplying the necessary information. Through further research, however, the time of death was narrowed down to between 1:00 a.m. and 5:00 a.m. on May sixth.) <br />
<br />
Secondly, investigators did not keep the facts of the crime scene confidential, most nostably the extent of the boys' injuries and the positions in which they were found. By withholding, for example, the mutiliation of Christopher Byers and the shoestring ligatures, police would have had key bits of information that would have helped them eliminate potential suspects. As it were, the information leaked to the general public caused rumors to begin flying, and eventually the media and the townspeople came to take erroneous information at truth. At first, it was believed that Christopher Byers had been emasculated, and that the act was carried out in a meticulous, tidy fashion. Adult human bitemarks on the boys' were initally mistaken as cuts and puncture wounds. Normal postmortem relaxation of the bodies' muscles was mistaken for evidence of sexual assault. <br />
<br />
With the bodies discovered and the crime scene secured, so to speak, the search for suspects began with a vengeance. The day after the bodies were discovered, police questioned Damien Echols, then 18, for the first time. Echols voluntarily gave hair and blood samples for comparison - samples that were later lost by authorities. <br />
<br />
<span style="color: yellow;">It is believed that</span> Damien Echols became a suspect in the Robinhood Hills murders because of the bias of the Crittenden County juvenile officer, Jerry Driver, whose past run-ins with Echols had somehow conviced him that Damien was a violent person, not to mention the leader of a non-existent local 'Satanic cult'. <span style="color: yellow;">(See </span><a href="http://justiceshallprevail.blogspot.com/2011/08/satanic-panic.html"><span style="color: yellow;">my post link here</span></a><span style="color: yellow;"> for more info on Satanism/Occult)</span> Driver contacted the West Memphis police, and from there the investigation into Damien Echols took off. <br />
<br />
The police had no real leads, no real clues, on which to base their investigation. In a rush to judgement and under intense pressure to solve the murders, they focused their attention on Echols. He professed his innocence, so the police began rounding up anyone and everyone who even hinted at knowing Echols. This is where Vicki Hutcheson comes into the picture. <br />
<br />
Hutcheson had not lived in West Memhpis for very long before the crime occured, although her son Aaron was a playmate of Steven Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore. In fact, she had moved to West Memphis from Fayetville, Arkansas to avoid outstanding warrants for her arrest for bad checks. On the day the boys' bodies were discovered, Hutcheson was in the nearby Marioin, Arkansas police department for a polygraph test, after money had come up missing from the cash reigster at her place of employment. Her son was with her at the time of the test, and the officer conducting the test struck up a conversation with the little boy. Aaron Hutcheson told the officer, Don Bray, that the missing children were at 'the playhouse'. Bray called the West Memphis police and heard that the bodies had been found near where Aaron described. <br />
<br />
However, when the police took the boy to the place where the playhouse was supposed to be, no playhouse was found. To complicate matters, Aaron also told police that he witnessed the murders, and described seeing men speaking Spanish in the woods. He also told authorities that he had seen John Mark Byers kill the boys. The boy could also not identify Jason, Damien, or Jessie from a line-up. His wild, ever-changing stories were eventually discredited, but not before his 'eye-witness account' could be leaked to the press. <br />
Vicki Hutcheson was also a key player in the inital investigation of Damien Echols. She was told by the West Memphis police they would provide help with her own legal problems - if she would help them implicate Damien. She agreed to wear a wire, but her surveillance eventually proved fruitless. Damien never said a word to Hutcheson about the murders. Hutcheson also urged her young son to help with police with the investigation. The boy claimed to have been in the Robinhood Hills on May 5th, and told police he saw people speaking Spanish and riding motorcycles. The boy also told police that he had escaped by kicking the people in the woods and then running. Although he agreed with officers that Damien Echols had killed the three victims, police decided the boy was spinning tall tales and gave up on any reliable information. The boy's mother, Vicki Hutcheson, would also claim to have attended Esbats (which are pagan holiday celebrations,) with Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley. Due to the ignorance of Hutcheson and the police, this was taken to mean that Vicki had attended cult meetings or Satanic rituals with the boys. After the trials were complete, she would say that on the night of the alleged Esbat she was so drunk that she woke up in her front yard and may have dreamed the entire incident. All of this brings us to the involvement of Jessie Misskelley, Jr. <br />
<br />
According to Misskelley's attorney, Dan Stidham, Jessie was only four years old when he and his severely retarded older brother were abandoned by their mother. Jessie's father, Jessie Sr., went on to raise Jessie by himself, after the older brother was institutionalized. Jessie Jr. was later diagnosed as mentally retarded, and tests conducted after his arrest for the murders of Chris Byers, Michael Moore, and Steven Branch indicate that he functions at the level of a five year old child. His reading level, however, is considered severely retarded; his overall IQ tests in the range of 72. Further testing indicates that due to his handicap, Jessie <i>was not</i> able to understand any part of his Miranda Rights, which require a sixth grade reading level.<br />
<br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWcy2lnUaCU-3NzzU1P-U376kStmSCB3JaVUELwsWfPL0hb4GBAU1daXaGAD3AmaHkzj1EtdYHxFTnn8XpfD44CGehfbc44EmBb4V45UkosssVTqQDNeZzlhoMxq3J0BbiLKROut_M68/s1600/crime_scene_drawing_700copy.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjRWcy2lnUaCU-3NzzU1P-U376kStmSCB3JaVUELwsWfPL0hb4GBAU1daXaGAD3AmaHkzj1EtdYHxFTnn8XpfD44CGehfbc44EmBb4V45UkosssVTqQDNeZzlhoMxq3J0BbiLKROut_M68/s320/crime_scene_drawing_700copy.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sketch of Area</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Q0zDYiK-52KFAQer8yHfMTIg18txIR_yfzinbWpIEjTKGiBWCH8sfVYOCEHOTe06mJC3Ay75PVscIm8C50fYd9c7yxOuISSOpmHBjxi_sg_HIOE8z2zkko1rKBT6jR2uLzKcdKTWY0/s1600/States_exhibit_15_skew_labelled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="242" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjn7Q0zDYiK-52KFAQer8yHfMTIg18txIR_yfzinbWpIEjTKGiBWCH8sfVYOCEHOTe06mJC3Ay75PVscIm8C50fYd9c7yxOuISSOpmHBjxi_sg_HIOE8z2zkko1rKBT6jR2uLzKcdKTWY0/s320/States_exhibit_15_skew_labelled.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Aerial View of Area in 1993, North is the top of the photo.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;">And the following picture is an updated view from googlemaps.com showing the same location as depicted in the upper photo. If you do not see a Green Balloon with a Black A in it, click and drag to the right until it appears. You are looking for W. Catt St. and W. McAuley Dr. with the interstate at the top of the map. Note that the woods have been completely cleared out and the Blue Beacon is merely a parking lot. In addition, the ditch the bodies were found in has been filled in, though you can still see the faint lines of the ditch. The pond behind the Blue Beacon has been filled in as well, though you can still see its faint outlines. North is the top of the photo.</div><br />
<iframe frameborder="0" height="250" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=West+Catt+Street,+West+Memphis,+AR&daddr=East+Barton,+West+Memphis,+AR&hl=en&geocode=FTh-GAId0iCg-ilDSqCcEnfVhzFMwpxeGWcf8A%3BFdRmGAIdMCug-ikP24xmbHfVhzHtVJWOhzLlGA&mra=ls&sll=35.15362,-90.16648&sspn=0.017649,0.032916&g=East+Barton,+West+Memphis,+AR&ie=UTF8&ll=35.156615,-90.167165&spn=0.00599,0.00393&t=h&output=embed" width="375"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=West+Catt+Street,+West+Memphis,+AR&daddr=East+Barton,+West+Memphis,+AR&hl=en&geocode=FTh-GAId0iCg-ilDSqCcEnfVhzFMwpxeGWcf8A%3BFdRmGAIdMCug-ikP24xmbHfVhzHtVJWOhzLlGA&mra=ls&sll=35.15362,-90.16648&sspn=0.017649,0.032916&g=East+Barton,+West+Memphis,+AR&ie=UTF8&ll=35.156615,-90.167165&spn=0.00599,0.00393&t=h" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-jdKreIeemAVQo1rqaXf_oiDPluaxzPibjuAbO0wRyk65rlykyfMxTYHPK78mCdJOY5IOYzMsKQ6b5KM-8jlkdgk_Kexxe3RfCP30FgngvC9o7XkY1VicNXK-IIUwMh1sVLkJpO_siE/s1600/overheadwoods_skewed_labelled.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="276" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhW-jdKreIeemAVQo1rqaXf_oiDPluaxzPibjuAbO0wRyk65rlykyfMxTYHPK78mCdJOY5IOYzMsKQ6b5KM-8jlkdgk_Kexxe3RfCP30FgngvC9o7XkY1VicNXK-IIUwMh1sVLkJpO_siE/s320/overheadwoods_skewed_labelled.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">Furthermore, Jessie did not tell the police anything they didn't already know. His statements were led by the investigators in an attempt to coerce an admission of guilt. When the police were able to truly coerce Jessie, they did so by showing this boy who had been diagnosed as mentally retarded, a picture of one of the boys. In </span><a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/paradise-lost/"><em><span style="color: yellow;">Paradise Lost</span></em></a><span style="color: yellow;">, evidence that he was questioned for 12 hours, but only the last 45 minutes were recorded. </span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">In the states defense of the interrogation, regarding the time the crime was committed, the police said, "he got confused". I doubt that. </span><br />
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<span style="color: yellow;">Until tomorrow, </span><br />
<span style="color: yellow;">~L</span>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-8636698623582057562011-08-06T16:21:00.000-05:002011-08-06T16:21:20.024-05:00Time Line(From <a href="http://vanessawest.tripod.com/wm3.html#timeline">vanessawest.tripod.com</a>)<br />
<br />
The following is a timeline of what allegedly happened on May 5th, 1993, beginning at 3 p.m. The timeline has been compiled through police interviews and courtroom testimony. <br />
<ul><li><b><span style="color: lightblue;">3:00 P.M.: </span></b>Steven Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers left Weave Elementary school. According to his mother, Pam, Hobbs, Steven went home after his school day ended but left shortly afterward. </li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>3:10 P.M.:</b> Christopher Byers' stepfather, John Mark Byers<a href="http://www.members.tripod.com/~VanessaWest/jmbyers.jpg"></a>, arrived home, but states that Christopher was not there. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>3:30 P.M.:</b></span> The boy's brother, Ryan, arrived home. Christopher did not have a key to his home and was supposed to have waited on his brother to let him inside the house. </li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>4:00 - 5:30 P.M.:</b> John Byers dropped Ryan off at the courthouse for an appointment, He then picked up Christopher's mother, Melissa Byers, from her place of employment. Upon their arrival home at 5:20, they discovered that Christopher was not present, although there was evidence indicating that he had been home. Shortly afterward, John Byers left to pick up Ryan from the courthouse. On the way, he spotted Christopher playing with a skateboard. He took the boy home, and by his own accounts gave him 'two or three licks' with a belt as punishment for not staying home as he was told. He then told Christopher to clean up the carport. The child did as he was told, and was last seen by John Mark Byers at 5:30 p.m. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>6:00 P.M.:</b></span> Diane Moore, mother of Michael Moore, saw her son, Steven Branch, and Christopher Byers riding bicycles. The boys rode away before she could stop them. </li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>6:30 P.M.:</b></span> John Byers claims he and Ryan returned from the courthouse to find Christopher gone. Melissa was on the telephone at the time and did not her child had left the home. A few minutes later, Melissa, John, and Ryan left to drive around the neighborhood to look for Christopher. Sometime afterward, John Byers says he told a police officer of his son's disappearnce. According to Byers, he was told to wait until 8 p.m. before police would take an official report. Byers claims he told authorities that Chris had 'never disappeared' before and that he was very worried about the boy. The statement is one of John Mark Byers' first mistakes. While cases of missing adults are given a standard 24 hour waiting period, missing children are considered top priority with police departments, especially a child as young as Christopher Byers. (Several weeks later, Melissa Byers would tell police that Christopher had, in fact, left home without warning on several occasions, for hours at a time.) </li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>8:00 P.M. - 11:00 P.M.:</b> John Byers again contacted the West Memphis police to report Christopher missing. Officer Regina Meek was sent to the home to take the report. At 8:45, Diane Moore told John Byers that she had last seen the boys at around 6 p.m, to which Mr. Byers said that this was the first time he had been aware this Chris was not along. Diane Moore, Melissa, Ryan, and John Byers set out on a search in the Robinhood Hills area, where Moore last saw the boys. By this night had fallen. Between 8:30 and 10, Mr. Byers went home alone to change clothes, from a pair of shorts and thongs to a pair of overalls and boots. At the time of his departure, the search party has grown to include friends and neighbors. Officer Moore from the West Memphis police joins the search from 10:20 to 11:00 p.m. At about 11, John Byers goes home to call the Sheriff and ask for a search and rescue team. He claims he was told to call Denver Reed, leader of the Crittenden County team, the <i>following morning</i>. Byers left the house and drove to the Blue Beacon Truck Wash. He tells the people there that he is looking for Chris and two other boys. He pulls his truck behind the building, where he and Ryan shout for the boys and honk the horn. After an undetermined amount of time, the two go home. They meet Melissa Byers, Steven Branch's grandfather Terry Hobbs, and Diane Moore at the home. They decide to search the woods again. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>Thursday, May 6th, 1:30 - 3:00 A.M.:</b> Sergenat Ball of WMPD drives to the Byers' home to inform them that a police search is underway. Sgt. Ball leaves the home at 2:00 a.m. Tony Hudson, a friend of John Byers, and Byers leave to search the Mid-Continent building, which was being rebuilt. They see a black van parked nearby on their arrival, and assume it belongs to one of the workers at the site. Hudson and Byers return home at 3:00 a.m. and intend to resume their search in the morning. </span></li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>6:30 A.M.: </b></span>John Mark Byers called Denver Reed and arranges a meeting at 8 a.m. The search allegedly resumes in this hour and a half time frame. </li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>1:45 P.M.:</b></span> The first body is found in the woods behind the Blue Beacon. </li>
<li><span style="color: lightblue;"><b>2:45 P.M. - 4:00 P.M.: </b>The second and third bodies are found, twenty-five and 30 feet away from the first body. The county coroner arrives at 3:05 and finds that the bodies have been removed from the scene. The removal of the bodies before the arrival of the coroner <i>never</i> should have happened - viewing a body in the state it was found is vital to an investigation, and moving a body too early can destoy evidence. At 4:00 p.m. the boys are pronounced dead. Althought their body temperatures are not taken, the time of death is estimated at around dawn. One important fact to remember here is that pinpointing the time of death is nearly impossible, particularly when a body is left outside in an ever-changing environment. The closest one can come to fixing a reliable time of death is within about twelve hours. Keeping this in mind, the boys could have been killed much earlier in the evening or night of May 5th.</span></li>
</ul>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-89134907832743017022011-08-06T13:48:00.003-05:002011-08-06T18:10:33.493-05:00Satanic Panic<span class="body"></span><br />
<br />
<div></div><div></div><div><div style="text-align: center;">"My great mistake, the fault for which I can't forgive myself is that one day I ceased my obstinate pursuit of my own individuality." ~Oscar Wilde</div> <br />
Before we go any further, I want to debunk several beliefs. I'm not saying Christians won't go to heaven nor am I saying that black magic is or is not real. I personally do not believe in magic or the fact that a person can conjure a spirit. I do believe in a higher power, so I must believe there is an evil power, however, I do not think a person can 'bring into this world' an evil spirit/being. Any actions that person takes is still of his or her own capabilities and of their own and true decision. You can't blame the devil for something you done, even if you asked the devil to help you do it. Plain and simply stated, "you are still responsible for your actions -- do not use religion or the lack there of, as a cop out for your dastardly behavior." <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Definitions</u></span> </div><div></div><ol><li><u>Satanism</u>: the worship of Satan or the powers of Evil</li>
<li><u>Occult</u>: of or pertaining to magic, astrology or any system claiming use or knowledge of secret or supernatural powers or agencies. Beyond the range of ordinary knowledge or understanding -- hidden from view.</li>
<li><u>White magic:</u> magic used for good purposes, usually to counteract evil (black magic).</li>
<li><u>Black magic:</u> magic used for evil purposes; witchcraft; sorcery.</li>
<li><u>Witchcraft:</u> the art or power of bringing magical preternatural power to bear or the act or practice of attempting to do so. The influence of magic or sorcery. Fascinating or bewitching influence or charm.</li>
<li><u>Magic:</u> The art of producing illusions as entertainment through slight of hand. The art of producing the desired result through incantation or other techniques that presumably assure human control of supernatural agencies or the forces of nature. </li>
<li><u>Sorcery:</u> the art, practice, or spells of a person who is suppose to exercise supernatural powers through the aid of evil spirits. </li>
<li><u>Wicca:</u> witchcraft, especially benevolent, nature-oriented practices derived from pre-Christian religions. <span id="hotword"><span id="hotword" name="hotword" style="color: #333333; cursor: default;"></span><span id="hotword" name="hotword"></span></span></li>
</ol><a name='more'></a><br />
The obviously dangerous words are satanism, black magic and sorcery. When I think of these words, I picture the areas of Cajun country -- heat, humidity, swamps, and that movie "The Skeleton Key". That movie alone 'conjures' images in my head that would scare the best Christians... Here is a video pertaining to 'conjuring spirits', and music from the movie. <br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="225" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/-BXfJ1MElBk" width="275"></iframe><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Standard</u></span><br />
Now, it should also be stated that a persons beliefs should not hold them to a higher/lower standard of law or justice than the beliefs of a devout Christian, active in church and local ministries. They are just as human as the next person and deserve the same amount of consideration as the next person who is 'innocent until proven guilty'. Why should a person religious beliefs cast a shadow of doubt over their innocence? <br />
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LaVonda, where are you going with this? I'll tell you. The reason I'm putting this information out to you is to remind you that 2011 years ago (roughly) Jesus Christ was crucified. Since then, I've been raised to believe that he is coming back and unless we worship him, we will not go to Heaven. And that is fine. But if I am to believe that statement, I must also believe EVERYTHING else in the good book. And there is a lot to that book. And it also includes, <br />
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<ul><li>2 Corinthians 10:3 - “For though we live in the world, we do not wage war as the world does.”</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>Luke 6:27 - "But I say unto you which hear, Love your enemies, do good to them which hate you.”</li>
</ul><br />
<ul><li>Proverbs 3:30 - “Do not accuse a man for no reason, when he has done you no harm.” </li>
</ul><br />
Hmmm<br />
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If I am to abide by the good book, then any wrong done to anyone should not be held against them in the book. I realize Man's Law is still to be fulfilled and that justice for the wronged should be found. But at what costs? Do we hold a person guilty because they are different? Do we accuse someone of such deeds because they 'fit the picture' of the amount of evil it would require to do such a heinous crime? Could a persons outward appearance cause doubt in a jury of their peers simply because they 'look' different? <br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><u>The Suspects</u></span> <br />
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W6R1rYxOC72OB3htgRfqP90ALndxiB95uDJucLcQDYZytKzqYj8iHQFlVMETOqp4oUzaJj-DXWMh48PP1d8dnU18_udhGs7TLnt2TCAbufLEixibjXKE7P43IgF_FnoO8Yrp3cesIvQ/s1600/damien2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8W6R1rYxOC72OB3htgRfqP90ALndxiB95uDJucLcQDYZytKzqYj8iHQFlVMETOqp4oUzaJj-DXWMh48PP1d8dnU18_udhGs7TLnt2TCAbufLEixibjXKE7P43IgF_FnoO8Yrp3cesIvQ/s320/damien2.jpg" t$="true" width="217" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Damien Echols</td></tr>
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXnJyCmsbzs3CN4O9xSCCMaInQwT7X9IjZG2eWbC2tHZbdIDfZ171HR4ZNY-Edrau73IswKRTnf46_-i2IrYeNCrccIG1DWRk1wroy9XPVB3CIzUF17oA363ZcaMk7xai98X7MB4y3rk/s1600/8_JasonBaldwinmugshots.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXXnJyCmsbzs3CN4O9xSCCMaInQwT7X9IjZG2eWbC2tHZbdIDfZ171HR4ZNY-Edrau73IswKRTnf46_-i2IrYeNCrccIG1DWRk1wroy9XPVB3CIzUF17oA363ZcaMk7xai98X7MB4y3rk/s200/8_JasonBaldwinmugshots.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jason Baldwin<br />
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</tbody></table> <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR55wbTvh3cBx_HYfL75fkif0R9kC8q-g93YqtMIBWUG68aINQ0MGo9CBJloBMGocVkHE3JP8-BwvLNLmNY32odOjfom-3gK6sin_gDDtW5aXRodyMgTGj3yji1E-ee43WFY_C7kTLxog/s1600/jessiemisskelley.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiR55wbTvh3cBx_HYfL75fkif0R9kC8q-g93YqtMIBWUG68aINQ0MGo9CBJloBMGocVkHE3JP8-BwvLNLmNY32odOjfom-3gK6sin_gDDtW5aXRodyMgTGj3yji1E-ee43WFY_C7kTLxog/s200/jessiemisskelley.jpg" t$="true" width="161" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Jessie Miskelley, Jr.</td></tr>
</tbody></table> <br />
<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">I want you to meet the suspects. Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, JR., and Jason Baldwin. These three men, teens at the time, were just like normal teens. They listened to music, went hunting with each other, laughed, got mad, and I'm sure they rough-housed as all boys do. So? What's the big deal? I'll tell you. One wore black clothes, he had black hair and he listened to heavy metal. But he also listened to REM, U2, Slayer, etc. And because of this... and ONLY because of this, he was sentenced to die by lethal injection for murdering 3 West Memphis boys. But Jessie and Jason didn't get the death penalty. This is where naivety vs. common sense for 12 jurors. </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;">Damien was different. So let's bring it to reality. If our 'appearence' or 'hidden behaviors' were to come to light, how many would be deemed a sexual predators just because they masturbated? How many would be considered nasty because they performed oral sex on their spouse? How many would be arrested and charged for insubordination because they called in sick, but they really weren't? </div><br />
In a nut shell, Damien Echols was charged with the murder of three boys and was sentenced to death because he wore black clothing, had black hair, listened to music, and read books about White Magic. The State prosecutor, Brent Davis never could put Echols or his two friends at the scene of the crime. Furthermore, it was not stated how he even came to know the 8 year old boys or any motive he would have to murder them. What the state did prove, was how biased, judgemental, close minded, and gullible the state of Arkansas and the jurors of the case were. Not one shred of physical evidence was found at the scene. Not one alibi was disproved. Not one time has Echols or Baldwins stories of their whereabouts falter.<br />
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Lastly, the state managed to create a feeling of panic towards the jurors by instilling in them the words previously defined in this post. One having nothing to do with the other, mostly. And the ones in which Echols admitted to having knowledge to were White magic and Wicca. I would much rather deal with those two than with any of the others. <br />
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UPDATE: <br />
<span>In order to prove pre-meditation and motive for Jason and Damien’s trial, the State called on the testimony of Dr. Dale Griffis. Griffis had received his doctorate from Columbia Pacific University in 1984 after studying by correspondence for four years. Since that time he had proclaimed himself as a "Cult-Cop" and gave lectures and seminars on the dangers of adolescent involvement in Satanic activities. It is difficult to determine his qualification for the term "expert," as according to the F.B.I there is very little evidence to substantiate stories about Satanic ritual murders in the United States. It seems that Judge Burnett, while questioning the validity of the discipline of social psychology as studied by Dr. Ofshe, did not have any problems with the rather dubious credentials of Dr. Griffis and allowed his testimony to be admitted.</span><br />
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<span>The basis of Dr. Griffis’s testimony was that the crime scene "Bore the trappings of occultism." In his opinion, the most salient points in this crime which suggested to him that the murders were Satanic in nature were: -</span><br />
<ol><li><span>That they were carried out on a date close to a pagan holiday and on a full moon.</span></li>
<li><span>That young children were often sought for sacrifice because they provided a "better ... life force."</span></li>
<li><span>The number of victims reflected the significance of the number three in occultism.</span></li>
<li><span>The age of the victims reflected the significance of the number eight as a witch’s number</span></li>
<li><span>Sacrifices were often performed near water for a baptism-type ritual or just to wash the blood away</span></li>
<li><span>The manner in which the victims were tied was significant as being tied ankle to wrist exposed the genitalia</span></li>
<li><span>The removal of Christopher Byers’s testicles was significant as they are removed in Satanic rituals for the semen</span></li>
<li><span>The absence of blood at the scene was significant because cult members often store blood for future services at which time they would drink or bathe in the blood</span></li>
<li><span>The "overkill" or multiple cuts could reflect occult overtones</span></li>
<li><span>The significance of most of the injuries being on the left side of the victim’s bodies was that people who practice occultism use the midline theory, the right side is related to those things synonymous with Christianity while the left side is that of Satanism</span></li>
<li><span>The cleared area on the bank could be consistent with a ceremony</span></li>
</ol><span>During cross-examination, Dr. Griffis admitted that if he had been asked by the State to testify to conditions opposite to the conditions described it could still be related to Satanic activity. He also conceded that his original testimony had not included the blood traits. He had included them only after learning that morning, that Michael Carson would be testifying that Jason Baldwin had confessed to sucking blood from Christopher Byers’s penis.</span><br />
<br />
<span>It would be interesting to know what scientific and empirical data Dr. Griffis based his opinions on as much of his information is incorrect, according to the Ontario Conference on Religious Tolerance. Apparently there is a Neo-Pagan festival held on the first of May, but it is only celebrated on that day, not four days later and Satanists do not hold rituals on a full or new moon. No evidence has been found that any children have been ritually murdered in the past century in the United States by the followers of any religion. The number three has no particular significance in any pagan religions, Christianity places more significance on this number because of its belief in a Triune God. The number eight has no significance in the Wiccan or any other pagan religions. Baptism is a Christian ritual which is not shared by any pagan religions and certainly not Satanists. </span><br />
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<span>The statement regarding the collection of semen from the testicles reveals a lack of biological knowledge as semen is not stored in the testes and is not produced at all until adolescence. The idea that Satanists drink blood has been claimed since the 16<sup><span style="font-size: x-small;">th</span></sup> Century although not verified. It would be expected that in the case of a Satanic ritual there would be evidence of other ritual tools, such as an altar, a circle on the ground and candle wax.</span><br />
<br />
<span>Dr. Griffis’s testimony, although highly questionable, was a repetition of the many myths and fears surrounding witchcraft and Satanism which were widely known by the West Memphis community already. Dr. Griffis’s words would have spoken deeply to the superstitions and fears of the jury and any attempt to refute them would probably have fallen on deaf ears.</span><br />
<br />
<span>In Jessie Misskelley’s trial there was very little emphasis placed on the supposedly Satanic nature of the murders. To show pre-meditation the testimony of Melissa Byers, Christopher’s mother, that Christopher had told her six weeks before his death that a man wearing black clothing had taken his photograph. This testimony had been given after it had been widely known that Damien was a suspect and was not substantiated by any other evidence, nor was there any proof that Damien was in fact the man in black.</span><br />
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Until tomorrow, <br />
~L<br />
<div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div><div class="separator" style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none; clear: both; text-align: center;"></div>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-80812842556430549052011-08-06T11:13:00.002-05:002011-08-06T11:15:12.307-05:00The Victims<div align="center">In the Beginning... It was the End</div><div align="center"></div><div style="text-align: center;">*This post contains graphic verbage/content*</div><br />
The Victim(s) --<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFHsoa35c9ezod0CxvsP4LREzXBnHfdVlh6xwBPYRmKrUzP5RE7ydYdMlovdBMTzS9lFF6zKP3sDLcI2qK9F1vOLvmuRN3qxf6_6WUXTonhWaNJA216pVyQFcCa_g5nH5IEh-m96Prko/s1600/ditch1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="157" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKFHsoa35c9ezod0CxvsP4LREzXBnHfdVlh6xwBPYRmKrUzP5RE7ydYdMlovdBMTzS9lFF6zKP3sDLcI2qK9F1vOLvmuRN3qxf6_6WUXTonhWaNJA216pVyQFcCa_g5nH5IEh-m96Prko/s200/ditch1.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a></div> On May 6, 1993, the bodies of three 8 year old West Memphis boys were found murdered after their parents reported them missing on the evening of May 5, 1993. The scene where the boys were found was primitively wooded, water-logged and over-grown with brush.<br />
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<br />
According to the documentary<em><span style="color: red;"> </span></em><a href="http://topdocumentaryfilms.com/paradise-lost/"><em><span style="color: red;">"Paradise Lost"</span></em></a><em><span style="color: red;">,</span></em> the first body was found at 1:45 p.m. by Sergeant Mike Allen.<span style="color: red;"> </span><a href="http://www.trutv.com/library/crime/notorious_murders/famous/memphis/discovery_3.html"><em><span style="color: red;">TruTV</span></em></a> states that following the first discovery, "Although his unsigned report doesn’t state the exact location of the discovery, it implies that the body was found in a creek. An hour later, the body was removed from the creek by police officers. Shortly after, the second body was found, 25 feet away to the south, by Detective Bryn Ridge, then the third a further 5 feet away. <br />
Twenty minutes after the third body was located. WMPD contacted Crittenden County Coroner, Ken Hale. He was informed that the bodies were found near the Blue Beacon Truck Wash. By the time he arrived, all three bodies had been removed from the creek (or drainage ditch) by police officers at the scene. By 4:00 p.m. Hale had pronounced all three of the boys to be dead." This raises the first set of questions. 1.) Why were the bodies removed prior to the coroners arrival? 2.) Why was the crime scene so severely compromised by Law Enforcement Personnel? <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ4gUpSmnkqIJdi8h2xn5kIdoRwZiaQHcdisbncAzdrZtoLwfiy1Ol7C0vba9vwVkFEVmnFKZU7w5naIq9W0TFs2TrfMBRG2DLNr4iIttAIRlddbylzc8k8FX6bQkq4iyu9SSSAQUXSs/s1600/WM3+Victim+2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAZ4gUpSmnkqIJdi8h2xn5kIdoRwZiaQHcdisbncAzdrZtoLwfiy1Ol7C0vba9vwVkFEVmnFKZU7w5naIq9W0TFs2TrfMBRG2DLNr4iIttAIRlddbylzc8k8FX6bQkq4iyu9SSSAQUXSs/s320/WM3+Victim+2.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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The following is from the TruTV website, whose link was previously included.<br />
<div><blockquote> <span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Times, "Times New Roman", serif;"> "<span style="font-size: small;">James M. Moore, born on 27 July 1984, had died of multiple traumatic injuries to the head, torso, and extremities with drowning. He had been found in a drainage ditch and had drowned in 2 feet of water near the bodies of the two other 8-year-old male victims. He had been found completely nude, with his wrists bound to his ankles by shoelaces. There was little evidence that James had defended himself against his attacker(s) and the lack of injuries caused by the ligatures suggests that he had not struggled after he was tied up. This would suggest that he was unconscious at an early stage in the attack. There was no evidence of sexual assault."</span></span></span><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></blockquote></div><div><br />
<blockquote> "Steven Branch, born 26 November 1984, died of multiple traumatic injuries to the head, torso, and extremities with drowning. He had been found in the drainage ditch near the bodies of James Moore and Christopher Byers, in two feet of water. As with the other two victims, he was found naked, with his wrists bound to his ankles by shoelaces. There were many violent, traumatic injuries to Steven’s face and head, along with a number of superficial scratches, abrasions, and contusions over the rest of his body. While the wounds were similar to those found on James, they were much more intense. There was also a 3-inch fracture at the base of the skull. Peretti did not note the presence of extensive defensive wounds. Although there was no evidence to support this, Hale, in his report, stated that Steven may have been sexually assaulted." </blockquote></div><div><span style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span></span><br />
<blockquote><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> "Christopher Byers, born 23 June 1984, received the most extensive, violent and most overtly sexual injuries of the three victims. He died of multiple traumatic injuries to the head, as well as the violent removal of his penis*, the scrotal sac, and the testes, along with associated cuts and stab wounds to the genital area. He was found in the same drainage ditch as James and Steven, in 2 inches of water. He was completely naked, with his wrists bound to his ankles by shoelaces. The toxicology report also revealed non-therapeutic levels of the drug Carbamazepine in the blood. There were also a variety of healed injuries. Peretti noted that there were defensive wounds. There were also three sets of wounds on the buttocks. While this attack was sexual in nature, there is no evidence of rape, although, Hale did state that this was a possibility. Christopher Byers did not drown as he was already dead before being placed in the water.</span> </span></blockquote> These deaths were tragic. The lost of a child is unimaginable. Yet, three families, whose love was apparent, would begin the healing process, but not without angst. Three families would have their worlds turned upside down in the name of justice. But would justice be seen, or blinded by anger? Melissa and John Mark Byers, Todd and Diane Moore, and Pam Hobbs, parents of the children, would now know the pain associated with the loss of a child. And any parent would want to put their child's killer behind bars.<br />
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Now that you are introduced to the crime scene, the children, and a brief detail of their families, I ask you to continue keeping an open mind. Look for justice, not anger. Look past the murder to see the true crime. A crime of injustice in every definition of the word.<br />
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Stay Tuned.<br />
~L<br />
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*<span style="font-size: xx-small;">WRITERS NOTE: The actual penis was not removed, but rather, the skin around it. The scrotal sac and testes were removed completely. Bite marks were not acknowledged by the medical examiner on the initial report, as it was testified to in court, the injury was due to a belt buckle being hit over the eye. Later examinations would prove the injury was a caused from a human bite.]</span></div>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-71170863373528248952011-08-06T11:09:00.007-05:002011-08-06T16:10:51.332-05:00The Facts of The Case / WM3<div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><u><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black;">*This post is dedicated to the facts of the West Memphis 3 Case. </span></u></strong></em></div><div style="text-align: center;"><em><strong><u><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black;">Be sure to add this </span><a href="http://justiceshallprevail.blogspot.com/2011/08/facts-of-case-wm3.html"><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black;">link</span></a><span style="background-color: yellow; color: black;"> to your favorites and stay up-to-date with the facts as the posts are made.</span></u></strong></em></div><br />
The Facts are...<br />
<br />
<ol><li>On May 6, 1993, the bodies of 3 boys were found dead.</li>
<li>Police contaminated the crime scene.</li>
<li>Law Enforcement officials did not follow protocol when collecting evidence from the scene.</li>
<li>The bodies were moved prior to the Coroners arrival, compromising the scene further.</li>
<li>NO blood was found at the scene.</li>
<li>Fear of occults were surmised by Law Enforcement as detectives sought to find the perps. </li>
<li>Obejectivity was non-existent in regards to finding the suspect(s) who committed the crime. </li>
<li>Law Enforcement failed to follow through with full investigations regarding the infamous Mr. Bojangles.</li>
</ol>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-35930427079975942192011-08-05T18:26:00.001-05:002011-08-06T11:00:50.037-05:00Time WarpBuenos Tardes fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
<br />
I want you all to know how much I truly appreciaite you reading my blog. It has been a wonderful journey through the up's and down's of courtcases. But I want to change directions now. For nearly all my posts, I've ranted about how guilty Casey Anthony is. I've blugeoned the Constitution, I've even said I don't understand how defense lawyers sleep at night. But I am woman enough to admit when I've not looked at the whole picture, try as I might to do so, and failing... epically. <br />
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I want to take you back. Back to 1993. Summer. Hot. Rancid weather that would keep most of us indoors just for the sake of breathing. Those of you from Arkansas can relate to that 'take-your-breath-away' heat index. But in 1993, kids were the same kids they are today, playing outside, sweating like pigs and drinking gallons of water when you finally can coral them indoors. In West Memphis, Arkansas, there were 3 boys who fit that description. Playing outside after school one day in May. But there bedtime stories would not be heard, their nightly routines of brushing their teeth would not come to pass. Heaven wanted them home, and a cruel person with masochistic tendencies would ensure it. For them, the beginning was their end. <br />
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Many of you are aware of these murders, the cruel, heartless, despicable deaths of 3 little boys. They were Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch. West Memphis Police were in a race with nature to find the perpetrator(s) who committed these crimes, but more so, it was a race against intellect, preservation and ethics. It was a race against physics, a race against time and the ultimate, a race against other beliefs. Because when police were advised the children were missing -- one little event occurred that would have put the case to an end just as fast as it had began. And so many questions have yet to be answered. But before I begin with the case, please keep in mind that I am solely out for justice. In any event, justice should be found for all persons. This is not a one sided case and I choose to point out ALL the issues, not just those I like. As MLK JR said, "Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere." <br />
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Over the next few weeks, I will bring back to light, the case of the West Memphis Murders. I'll provide you with information found from documentaries, websites and books written about the case. It is not my intention to harm or exhibit distrust in any person or offical office, however, the truth must come out... <br />
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Stay tuned! <br />
LaVondaLaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-14407045011563334552011-08-01T17:55:00.007-05:002011-08-01T18:29:56.166-05:00Cracker Jack Government<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, </div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7zvlphziYob5JhKRwek4ks7sSKHVUvV2b_8rkE-IOvci06DcCm2iATL4-dVUGn9meiv7_mizv4ii7Joow54_8kz02A5wbbLPG7dc-lEyzscqy2rVb14Tw3Z_35PKvyRBAiNSrzU8nvE/s1600/cracker-jack-bag-clip.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgy7zvlphziYob5JhKRwek4ks7sSKHVUvV2b_8rkE-IOvci06DcCm2iATL4-dVUGn9meiv7_mizv4ii7Joow54_8kz02A5wbbLPG7dc-lEyzscqy2rVb14Tw3Z_35PKvyRBAiNSrzU8nvE/s200/cracker-jack-bag-clip.jpg" t$="true" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiRq5nU_-9br4270x1Prs4y5OEUrrW1BtcPBVgys1Df0EG4NfZ8_jKZjWAOCXjyFKCRJ8hHKqgLwmivbA96F15EA4-L95AQOnRzKChGZIJvdCtAKZOhk0nGH5ylWfoY9x0k95AVlIpTaY/s1600/crackerjack.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"></a></div> You all remember the fun little box, red, white and blue and filled to rim with the delicious carmel coated popcorn. The sweet-salty flavor, the crunch, the laughter. Oh, and you can't forget the fun little prize! So you can see the similarities and differences between that delicious treat and our government, right? <br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIreKZQZB1Rp06XQa47PPVLfM0qWR9JBmBDAddrlMY8I7u1yCQTD7k5FZk475qDGAhnr18EqPXGepKUQwMwmcZRXiX3b2Fa4w92Y1YkzM99cUorXLt1Cq-5ls6SSbB-i5PWVepCb2yFuM/s1600/crackerjack-prize.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhIreKZQZB1Rp06XQa47PPVLfM0qWR9JBmBDAddrlMY8I7u1yCQTD7k5FZk475qDGAhnr18EqPXGepKUQwMwmcZRXiX3b2Fa4w92Y1YkzM99cUorXLt1Cq-5ls6SSbB-i5PWVepCb2yFuM/s200/crackerjack-prize.jpg" t$="true" width="162" /></a></div> Let me break it down for you. Cracker jack box is red, white and blue. Our national colors are red, white and blue. The box contains popcorn filled to the rim. Capitol hill contains members of house, senate, and sub-committees filled to the rim. That box is full of carmel covered popcorn. Our government is full of shit! The popcorn is sweet and salty. Our government leaves a bad taste in your mouth. The popcorn has a great crunch. The government crunch is from your teeth breaking off from grinding them so hard. Cracker Jacks causes laughter, the government causes tears. You get a nice little prize in the Cracker Jack box. With the government; Surprise! We're not going to use lubricants! </div></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> When I was in high school, my civics teacher taught me a lot. But the one thing I remember is that in politics, you don't get anything for free. Politics is best defined as 'you scratch my back, I'll scratch yours'. But you see readers, my back isn't itching. I don't want them to touch me. I don't want them to think about touching me. I don't want them to pass a bill that says they are thinking about touching me. I want them to leave me the hell alone. (End rant). </div><br />
You've all heard of Ponzi right? The greatest pyramid scheme and efficiently named from the master mind behind it. People pay in, pay in, pay in, then when it's time for them to get their money, oops, sorry, it's not there anymore! Ummm, social security, anyone? Anyone? For years I've been asking myself, how in the hell did this thing pass? Then, like all wonderful self-realizing epiphanies, it hit me. The government passed it because they seen how well it worked for Ponzi. But that is until this generation came along. See, we are the righter's of wrong when it comes to our government. We are not stupid. We are not dumb. We are the call it like we see it generation. And I'm calling bull shit! There is no way on God's green earth, with ALL the money that is paid in by working people, on a weekly, bi-monthly, and monthly level to have a feeling the money is going to 'run out'. Unless someone has had their hands in the damn cookie jar! </div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwpLH37Tdh6pS-lAtx__4uBsTVevuiZHWhcSQpprrC181v7QvswrXb5tUuPrsnQk2q29k6VdEJVDy1C0hKnyfFmn3E6vxlULtCBoZLl5XNLTU9M9p46ZWs5mM6fZF72IcTyh63819DXQ/s1600/cool-cartoon-904514.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="160" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwpLH37Tdh6pS-lAtx__4uBsTVevuiZHWhcSQpprrC181v7QvswrXb5tUuPrsnQk2q29k6VdEJVDy1C0hKnyfFmn3E6vxlULtCBoZLl5XNLTU9M9p46ZWs5mM6fZF72IcTyh63819DXQ/s400/cool-cartoon-904514.png" t$="true" width="400" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHwpLH37Tdh6pS-lAtx__4uBsTVevuiZHWhcSQpprrC181v7QvswrXb5tUuPrsnQk2q29k6VdEJVDy1C0hKnyfFmn3E6vxlULtCBoZLl5XNLTU9M9p46ZWs5mM6fZF72IcTyh63819DXQ/s1600/cool-cartoon-904514.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a></div><br />
Enter: Epiphany #2... The government, with all their greedy, sneaky, conniving, manipulating, open hands out, they took what they wanted. Government+money=power... But, g<span class="body"><span style="font-family: inherit;">iving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys -- they are going to get in trouble! And they have. This whole debt limit, we won't agree, kiss my ass bullshit has to end. </span></span><br />
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<div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="body"> I sat down Saturday night, dark thirty, flipping through the channels after everyone else had went to bed. I seen infomercials on skin care products, Trojan - whip your hair back - vibes, hold-your-stomach-in underwear, get-it-up male enhancers, fountain-of-youth make-up and the list goes on and on and on. Then I landed on Cspan. Yes, that channel you NEVER watch because all you see are political jackasses wearing suits pretending to do something beneficial, the whole while, they are sitting behind a desk scratching their balls like George does his head, right before he realizes that tree's don't move! Needless to say, it was boring as hell! </span><br />
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</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqVtsNaAUZB0emEfSkgD8PdQdCT61w0UepSzkjlddcg1l30V29XubAOmN7ez0dl8jlmuvnGsBCN-rEkNsl-hFA1PBmfo2bfo8j1HibBJrJwMmKQzB15EGHLoL2W1VlgVAOjxg_Hxb2Yo/s1600/imagesCAZDZIWR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; cssfloat: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhlqVtsNaAUZB0emEfSkgD8PdQdCT61w0UepSzkjlddcg1l30V29XubAOmN7ez0dl8jlmuvnGsBCN-rEkNsl-hFA1PBmfo2bfo8j1HibBJrJwMmKQzB15EGHLoL2W1VlgVAOjxg_Hxb2Yo/s200/imagesCAZDZIWR.jpg" t$="true" width="152" /></a><span class="body">I kid you not. Grown men yielding minutes and seconds and introducing specific speakers like it's a damn talk show -- and they didn't even do that well! Jerry Springer has them beat! I was just waiting to see the drag queen doing his daddy walk onto the floor talking about, "don't you be aksin me for money you dirtbag, I told you... You ain't got it good nuff for more money!"... </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="body"> Seriously? </span><span class="body">The fact of the matter is this. Our government, the people we ELECT into office has about as much business making and passing laws as a man does giving birth! </span><span class="body">The only way the people will ever win the right to be heard is to stop doing what they EXPECT us to do and do what NEEDS to be done. Not that I know what that is, I'm merely a pissed off college student that is sick and fucking tired of being badgered, berated, belittled and condemned by our current government. Enough is enough! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiEU02wrg7BQjpbU9EAdOcPUuAAmJzZeZBM5WpI06hhgzjL60c_v99HC805Y8U2T3vgYuUXSTYc45wBn_ByWi7fdK2IDjC734-yaIjNlufs0NDitWQyfX5-iKG683Cc8u5FmfISXDEFI/s1600/Approximately-one-million-assemble-protesting-our-government-in-Washington-DC-on-September-12-2009-tea-party.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="207" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJiEU02wrg7BQjpbU9EAdOcPUuAAmJzZeZBM5WpI06hhgzjL60c_v99HC805Y8U2T3vgYuUXSTYc45wBn_ByWi7fdK2IDjC734-yaIjNlufs0NDitWQyfX5-iKG683Cc8u5FmfISXDEFI/s400/Approximately-one-million-assemble-protesting-our-government-in-Washington-DC-on-September-12-2009-tea-party.jpg" t$="true" width="400" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="body"> That went longer than I anticipated. My apologies. But now you know how I feel about it. What say you? Oh and for the record: Poly/i: many, tic/ks: blood sucking parasites... Politics: Many blood sucking parasites! Ok, I'm finished now! </span></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCG5fGSAnMmmGCec0tHcjg3WW5klGdH0kXxZFKZf-Bu7_Sd9hXRgFeJWL1lF7-I7B0YdmtcITdfjWy31bHPOMPwsnLGJTZrnWY4vxXVnlpINpaRZwqn-lwvisZMTNapY-mhj4YluZtS0/s1600/46951159_fbfb35d864.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVCG5fGSAnMmmGCec0tHcjg3WW5klGdH0kXxZFKZf-Bu7_Sd9hXRgFeJWL1lF7-I7B0YdmtcITdfjWy31bHPOMPwsnLGJTZrnWY4vxXVnlpINpaRZwqn-lwvisZMTNapY-mhj4YluZtS0/s320/46951159_fbfb35d864.jpg" t$="true" width="320" /></a></div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><br />
</div><div style="border-bottom: medium none; border-left: medium none; border-right: medium none; border-top: medium none;"><span class="body"> Until tomorrow, </span></div><span class="body"> LaVonda</span><br />
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PS. This blog was not intended to harm any person who is of a different race or sex. I'm just pissed! <br />
Enjoy some Cracker Jacks! <br />
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<span style="clear: right; cssfloat: right; float: right; font-family: inherit; height: 261px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; width: 613px;"></span>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-92078496200975738612011-07-30T15:48:00.000-05:002011-07-30T15:48:38.306-05:00Tragedy Strikes in My Own TownDaily Quote: "The dove descending breaks the air, with flame of incandescent terror." <br />
***There are several discrepancies to the entire story. I will address them after the facts of the situation.**<br />
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Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
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For many, a missing child is an event to fill a news station's time slot. For other's it is a realization that the world isn't all shiny and gold as once thought to have been. And yet, for others, a missing child is a tragedy. An event that should stop everything, every business, every deal, everything, so all effort can be put into finding the person that is missing. And the latter should be what is done -- but it isn't. Not by everyone. <br />
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In Chicago, a person is missing every 30 minutes. According to the <a href="http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/17000.html">US Census Bureau</a>, 12,830,632 live in Chicago. Suppose reproduction of human life were to cease in that city. Suppose no one moved in, or out. Suppose life would not end because of illness or accidents. Do you know how long it would take for everyone to become 'missing'? I'll tell you. 732 years. Now, look at the population of Paragould -- 24,855. While rural areas are smaller and more well known, the disappearance of a persons child is just as important as the big city.<br />
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The Ware Family in Paragould has now felt that hopelessness. Their sixteen year old son, Zach, disappeared on July 25, 2011. He was last seen wearing a blue shirt, jeans and black Nike shoes. He had left his home around 6:30am to head out to football practice, then to work, then later to a football scrimmage. He told his parents he would be home by 10:30pm. July 26th, his parents notified authorities when their son failed to return home.<br />
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Search teams were on the lookout for this young man. APB's were issued as well as BOLO's for his blue '91 Dodge Truck. Several sitings were reported, but nothing conclusive. A bail bondsmen from a nearby town followed the news on the families' face book page, which was created to bring awareness to the community of their missing son. The man asked for the cell phone number of the missing person so he could check for any pings. A ping is described as a specific GPS tower location of where a cell phone is receiving a signal. The family also contacted AT&T, the Ware's telephone provider to advise them their son was missing and to report if any activity occurred on his cell. Video surveillance showed Zach at a Walgreen's and later at a filling station. He was no longer in Greene County.<br />
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Then, on Friday, July 29th at approximately 3:25am, Zach's mother received an alert from AT&T that his phone had been turned on and was on 9 Mile Ridge Road, according to a report released from KAIT 8 News in Jonesboro, Arkansas. A Sharp County Sheriff's Officer scoured the local hot spots for summer vacations, camping sites, boating sites and other areas to see if anyone had seen the missing teen or if the truck he was last seen driving was in the area. When the report came into the the Sheriff's office that a ping was received on 9 Mile Ridge Road, search crews went looking for him, with no luck.<br />
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Several witnesses had made contact with authorities. At approximately 5:30pm, the officers followed leads to discover his truck was in Fulton County on Rock House Road. At 7:45pm, according to <a href="http://www.kait8.com/story/15154932/police-confirm-zach-wares-body-found-in-fulton-county">KAIT 8 News' website</a>, Zach Ware's body was located with the use of aerial searches from Baxter County Arkansas Sheriff's department in a location near where his truck was found. <br />
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The following is the area mapped for 9 Mile Ridge Road from Hardy, Arkansas to Saddle, Arkansas. Hardy is in Sharp county, where the cell phone pinged. Saddle is in Fulton County, where his body was found. (There are no specific reports that he was found in Saddle, however, that is the closest community in Fulton county to Sharp County that can be reached by 9 Mile Ridge Road.) Point A is where 9 Mile Ridge Road (County road 42) starts, ending at Saddle.<br />
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<iframe frameborder="0" height="350" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=s_d&saddr=9+Mile+Ridge+Road,+Hardy,+AR&daddr=36.36605,-91.56516+to:Highway+289,+Fulton+County,+AR&hl=en&geocode=FVl2KgIdZrCL-imJSAs9kRbRhzFP9uRoR9VyCA%3BFeLmKgIdmNOK-imNE4q07xbRhzENO93tt-dw7g%3BFawkKwIdMQKK-impGbVZ0xbRhzFG2N9n3M9w8Q&mra=dvme&mrsp=1&sz=12&via=1&sll=36.333155,-91.56461&sspn=0.146862,0.263329&ie=UTF8&ll=36.333155,-91.56461&spn=0.146862,0.263329&output=embed" width="425"></iframe><br />
<small><a href="http://maps.google.com/maps?f=d&source=embed&saddr=9+Mile+Ridge+Road,+Hardy,+AR&daddr=36.36605,-91.56516+to:Highway+289,+Fulton+County,+AR&hl=en&geocode=FVl2KgIdZrCL-imJSAs9kRbRhzFP9uRoR9VyCA%3BFeLmKgIdmNOK-imNE4q07xbRhzENO93tt-dw7g%3BFawkKwIdMQKK-impGbVZ0xbRhzFG2N9n3M9w8Q&mra=dvme&mrsp=1&sz=12&via=1&sll=36.333155,-91.56461&sspn=0.146862,0.263329&ie=UTF8&ll=36.333155,-91.56461&spn=0.146862,0.263329" style="color: blue; text-align: left;">View Larger Map</a></small><br />
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<small></small> Sadly, the cause of death could not be determined, however, speculations have been made that it was a fatal self-inflicted gun shot wound. The body has been sent to the State Examiners Office to confirm identity and cause of death. Our sympathies go out to the family and friends of this young life that ended so quickly. While we don't know the reasons, the who's, what's, where's or how's, we should know that life for everyone is dealt with in different ways, and while some have the strength to endure, others are not so fortunate. Please lift this family up in your prayers. For even if it was a suicide, I believe God still forgives.<br />
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I do not want to confound this blog post with any opinions, that is why I'm ending it here. Please feel free to check back for a later link that will take you to the Conspiracy Theory the writer maintains that would have led to this young man ending his life so soon. <br />
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Until tomorrow, <br />
LaVondaLaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-13458744576004382522011-07-29T18:23:00.001-05:002011-07-29T18:25:48.012-05:00Under The Influence<blockquote>“... if any man espouse a virgin, and desire to espouse another, and the first give her consent, and if he espouses the second, and they are virgins, and have vowed to no other man, then he is justified.” - Doctrine and Covenants, Section 132, verse 61 (Taken from a <a href="http://mormonthink.com/QUOTES/polygamy.htm">Mormon website.</a>)</blockquote><br />
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Hello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
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Today's society is under the influence. Not just from drugs and alcohol. Electronics, pornography, wealth, and fame are but a minuscule few. However the one most discouraged in topical conversation: Religion. And if you are a frequent visitor to either of my blogs, you know where I stand when it comes to organized religion and the belief that one preacher-man can take us all to heaven, his way is THE right way and his 'take' on the good book is the only one matters, all other denominations are wrong, so on and so on... <br />
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With that being said, I thought I would jump right in to the Warren Jeffs Trial. Jeffs, a fifty-five year old man from Texas, is charged with sexually assaulting two girls, 17 and 12, whom he later married. These charges carry a sentence of up to life in prison. He is also facing an October trial for a bigamy charge. He alleges to have 70 wives. And he fired his defense counsel and chose to represent himself. <br />
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So what is polygamy? Polygamy is marriage to two or more wives. The first recorded polygamist was Lamech who took unto himself two wives (Genesis 4:19). And the same goes for Abraham and even Solomon. But God did not command this. These acts were done because these men rejected God's plan out of the hardness of their hearts.<br />
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But this strange word is not something new... well, not new to history. Polygamy dates back to religious sects such as Hinduism and Buddhism. But they were merely copies of something much older and manifested. In Egyptian times, the more wealthy would participate in polygamy. <span style="color: white;">Pharaohs practised polygamy which helped to seal alliances, establish their dynasties and resolve questions of succession. In instances were polygamy was practised one of the women would be named as the main wife and enjoyed a special and higher status compared to any other wives. In addition, the average age for an Egyptian woman to marry was 14 -- the man's average age was 20. </span><br />
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Jeffs role in the Mormon community is one of objection for the common day Mormons. The reason why stems from his fundamentalist viewpoint. <span class="mw-headline" id="Fundamentalist_Mormonism">Fundamentalist Mormonism was the beginning of the e</span>nforcement of the 1890 Manifesto which caused various splinter groups to leave the Latter Day Saints (LDS) Church in order to continue the practice of plural marriage. This form of marriage was at one time highly regarded by LDS and the contributor to this movement was Joseph Smith, Jr. He claimed that on July 17, 1831, he received a revelation that 'plural marriages' were right and to only be done by men who were chosen.<br />
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Polygamy among these groups persists today in Utah and neighboring states as well as in the spin-off colonies. Polygamist churches of Mormon origin are often referred to as "Mormon fundamentalist"<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mormon_fundamentalism" title="Mormon fundamentalism"><span style="color: #0645ad;"></span></a> even though they are not a part of the LDS Church. Such fundamentalists often use a purported 1886 revelation <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1886_revelation" title="1886 revelation"><span style="color: #0645ad;"></span></a>to John Taylor<a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Taylor_(1808-1887)" title="John Taylor (1808-1887)"><span style="color: #0645ad;"></span></a> as the basis for their authority to continue the practice of plural marriage. The <em>Salt Lake Tribune</em><a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Salt_Lake_Tribune" title="Salt Lake Tribune"><span style="color: #0645ad;"><em></em></span></a> stated in 2005 there were as many as 37,000 fundamentalists with less than half of them living in polygamous households. The discrepancies make one very aware that if documentation on who the first one was to receive the 'revelation' left something to be said about the revelation itself. <br />
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The issue is not whether it's right or wrong: we can see that it is like an opinion and to each his own. However, allowing religion to depict a form of rational law over man's law, is anything <u>but</u> rational. Society as a whole and as individuals, grow based on our emotional drive. Our passion for something we feel strongly about. Even the way we raise our own children, with the 'do the right thing' mentality, all filled with emotions: I believe our conscience resides in our emotions, rather than that little fella sitting on our shoulder. And the same goes for religion. It is not based on rational objectives, but rather a feeling, albeit happy, holy-ghost filled, surreal, that of repentance, or the sheer fear of God. Either way, religion mixed with fundamentalist ideology is a sure recipe for moral deterioration. Because our feelings and emotions can sometimes mix with that of 'wrong' thinking... That's when the devil on your left shoulder, drop kicks the angel on your right shoulder!<br />
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These cults, religious sects and claims to prestigious life-ever after drama can be tied to the works of Hitler, Hussein and Bin Laden. In addition, their individual beliefs may be the downfall of human kind, teaching hatred rather than brotherly love. Hatred in the fundamentalist LDS would be their beliefs that their way is the true way to God and while their hatred is not expressed in explosions or acts of war, they are better shown with self-fulfilling prophecy that only those who are truly devoted to the FLDS will make it to heaven. <br />
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Will Smith described in a song, "Ms. Holy Roller, new angel, got ya Bible out shoutin' and you're ringing a bell mid-life, reborn, can't wait to tell, if I don't believe what you believe, I'm going to hell..." His claims that a woman done wrong all her life, then by the saving grace of God, found Jesus during her midlife and started preaching that her way is the right way, all the while, he had been born and raised in church, reading the bible and trying his best to live a straight and narrow way of life. So who is right?<br />
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And we should remember that while our brains think, "sex is sex is sex", God said when he commanded Moses of the 10 most important things Christians should remember: Thou shalt not commit adultery... If we take this literally, having sex without marriage constitutes fornication, which is NOT adultery, but rather, just fornication. If we take it with our emotions, "sex is sex is sex" and it's adultery. And in the eyes of the law, all murder is homicide, but homicide is not always murder. So it would suffice to say all polygamy is adultery, but adultery is not always polygamy. <br />
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You can read the 2009 Utah case information on Warren Jeffs <a href="http://www.childbrides.org/Warrens-Utah-Supreme-Court-appeal.pdf">here.</a><br />
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So how does a woman not commit adultery? The King James version tells in the gospel of Luke, the teaching of Jesus about divorce is stated briefly and forcefully: "Whoever divorces his wife and marries another commits adultery; and whoever marries her who is divorced from her husband commits adultery" (Luke 16:18). The ONLY exception for a wife to remarry is if her current husband dies and it is her will to remarry, then she may do so wholly and without sin. Just curious... can anyone tell me if a husband can remarry, should his wife die? Sort of a double edged sword if it isn't in there, in my honest opinion. <br />
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I'll let that simmer for a little while... Time to get dinner going! I'll tell you one thing is for certain: There is no way this side of heaven that I would ever want or have more than one husband -- EVER!<br />
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Until Tomorrow, <br />
LaVondaLaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-43079578108417274122011-07-27T22:59:00.002-05:002011-07-27T22:59:20.524-05:00A Real Daddy Gets Dirty with his Kids...Alright... I know what you're thinking... But I promise, you are WAY WRONG! See, we live in a world today where things are taken out of context. Where the good behavior is clouded with judgement and opinion and negative outlooks on life. But in my little piece of heaven, our four children adore their father and can't think of anything better than getting dirty right back. Had to share this with you all! Hope you enjoy! <br />
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Until tomorrow, <br />
LaVonda<br />
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<iframe width="425" height="349" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/UyzhuoIEYXU" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3949953662868636477.post-34967888706915027112011-07-27T18:37:00.000-05:002011-07-27T18:37:03.981-05:00A Grandmother's JusticeHello fellow bloggers, readers and passers-by, <br />
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While I often reminisce about my up-bringing, I often see my grandmother's face. She was the one who reared me into the woman you see today. But that doesn't mean our relationship has always been perfect. No, I was not a trouble-maker, nor did I do things I shouldn't have done (mostly), but I did have respect for others always. You wouldn't catch me back talking, rolling my eyes, or doing that 'attitude laden head shake' that I've seen many teens do when speaking to their parents. For one, I wanted to keep my head firmly attached to my neck, and if I'd dared to try any of those, uh, yeah, it would be a mile away from the rest of my body. Not to mention there'd be some teeth missing if I managed to say it before the slap. But I don't think it was abuse. She never done it out of anger, and more so, she didn't have to do it but maybe twice. I learned fast.<br />
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But today, children are less respectful. They are arrogant, self-centered, and suffer the severely damaging "ME SYNDROME". And I try my hardest to instill in my children the rights, morals, ethics, and common sense (that one is really lacking in the world) in them, hoping they will take these bits of information and put them to good use when they mature. And part of me thinks that will work wonders and they will use it to become excellent members of society. <br />
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Enter THEIR grandmother. My mother. She has always been a unique individual. Never seeing the glass half full and believing that if you aren't for her... you are against her. And she is a co-dependent. She is an enabler, and she is 51. Now, age does not play a factor in this, other than she is at the prime of her life when those ways are getting 'set in'. And I fear the worst when she starts handing out anecdotes of advice to my children. She would never intentionally do anything to harm them, or to get them in trouble. But she sees spite as a way of dealing with anger. I see it as, "turn the other cheek, Karma has GPS!"<br />
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Today, like any other summer vacation days, my oldest son ventured down the road to the neighbors house to see if his friend could come out and play. This friend makes it a point to frequently visit our house and Kris was the only kid not napping, so I told him he could see if she wanted to play. He comes back 10 minutes later, heartbroken. "Her mom said she was playing with her cousin and couldn't come out, but she would tell her I came by." Now, to some, this would be normal. But to my mother, this was insanity. This little girl has been to our house at EVERY event we've had. Memorial Day party, 4th of July, Labor Day, you name it... And even when our nieces and nephews are here, we do not turn her away. Kids want to play with kids, right?!? <br />
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So, I'm silently thinking about this situation, wondering what could be done to encourage my son that sometimes it's OK to not play. But my mother, the one who said, "If you're not for me, you're against me," didn't see it that way. I try to explain to mother and to my son that it is OK, that kids will be that way and that he needs to learn to stand up for himself. Fast forward about 2 hours. Kris says, "Mom, can I see if she can come out and play now?" Sure son, go check. <br />
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He comes back shortly, same sad look on his face. I ask what happened. He said, "her dad came to the door and said she couldn't come out at all cause her cousin was spending the night." I try to soften this to him by explaining that sometimes when girls like you, they secretly don't want to let anyone else know, so they stay away from you in mixed company. Mom, on the other hand goes into the long, drawn out story about when she was little, having a crush on her cousin, then proceeds to explain her 'view' of the situation, stating this little girl and her cousin are probably kissing cousins.... *GASP* MOTHER!!!<br />
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Mom gets upset at me because I'm not upset like her! She goes outside to calm down, I try to explain to Kris that kissing cousins was an old term used back in the day when cousins would kiss. Brief, to the point and damn sure not dragging it out like his grandmother was. He laughs and goes outside. At this point, I'm thinking these long visits with grandmother may not be such a great idea. She has too many ways to make me look like the bad parent! <br />
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So a little later, mother, Kris and my other two boys are all outside sitting on the swing. Mother comes in the house, hollering LaVonda! LaVonda! I'm trying to catch a cat nap because dealing with her and the kids is a little more than I expected for a Wednesday... "I want you to know that little girl and her cousin came walking down the street. Kanon (the baby) said hi to her, she looked over to her cousin, shrugged and kept walking. What are you going to do about it?"... <br />
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PUMP YOUR BREAKS GRANNY!!!<br />
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I am not going to do anything about it... yet. I'm first going to take you out of the situation and see if your presence in the issue is swaying my view. Then I'm going to ask my son exactly what happened because sometimes, your anger causes you to switch the story around to benefit YOU. Then I'm going to ask the little girl the next time I see her why she can't speak to my son when her cousin ISN'T here, but she can act like a member of the family when her cousin isn't around. <br />
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But you don't think I said THAT to her, do you? Psshhhh, head attached to neck thing... Remember?!?<br />
I told mother the best thing to do is not show Kris or the boys that spite is a way to solve anything. I told her that my boys are going to respect a girl, no matter WHAT! And that if a girl is disrespecting them, walk away. It doesn't matter if he is 10, 18 or 35 or 99, you do not be mean to a girl! You take yourself out of the situation and make it a point not to RETURN to the situation. <br />
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Mother on the other hand felt it necessary to remain outside for nearly 3 hours waiting to see if the little girls came back around. I don't know what she would have said to the girl if she would have came back, but I am glad she didn't. I don't think I could handle anymore drama! <br />
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So, I guess the justice is this: if you have grandmother like my children have, be prepared to see a full-on trial and sentencing! How old are you, mother? But it's not the age that matters, it's the level of maturity one possesses that will show their true colors. <br />
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Until tomorrow, <br />
LaVonda<br />
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PS I feel you should know that mother is diagnosed as having clinical bi-polar depression and a few other psychological issues... But she has never harmed anyone!!! :)LaVondahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09811028314517046387noreply@blogger.com0