letters
Awaiting the day
Just want to let you know how much I enjoyed your book Devil’s Knot. I thought I knew a lot about the case of the WM3 but after reading your book it was obvious I knew next to nothing. Looking forward to a revised addition after (hopefully) the guys are released.
Paul
De Pere, WI
Thanks for writing, Paul. That new book is in the works. I need to hurry with it, as a release might happen quickly, once a few key decisions are handed down.
Sufficient evidence?
First, let me say Devil’s Knot is fantastic. I’ve been reading true crime books for over thirty years and I love the way you write.
I’ve watched both Paradise Lost DVD’s numerous times, read your book twice, (so far) and watched A Cry For Innocence.
Regarding the WM3 – Didn’t John Fogleman state after the convictions in 1994 that he didn’t believe there was enough evidence to convict? Why now is he saying that the right people were convicted? I suppose he doesn’t want to make waves now because he’s running for office (state supreme court).
Also, in relation to the evidence from Bojangles – I found its loss very suspicious. Sadly, I believe the Police Dept. found its loss extremely "convenient" I believe this evidence was deliberately lost. Was an identikit picture ever put together and a search made for the muddy, bloody disoriented man from Bojangles? If not, why not? It seems extremely likely that this man was somehow involved. Did a trucker pick him up? It wasn’t too late to check this out after the bodies were found and its not too late now. Surely, someone remembers something!—Vicki
Vicki, Fogleman said before the trials that he was concerned about the lack of evidence. That’s why he was so anxious to have Jessie testify against Damien and Jason. Now he says he’s quite satisfied with the convictions. With regard to the “Bojangles’ man,” I agree that the loss of evidence was extremely convenient, and so was the lack of initiative in looking for him. However, I do believe too much time has passed to try to retrieve people’s memories of how he looked. Isn’t it something how the tragedy of this case was compounded by the very people who were supposed to conclude it.
Thinks "afterword" was a cheap shot
I just finished your book, Devil’s Knot. I had seen the first documentary about the West Memphis Three when it came out and thought the boys guilty but was convinced of the their innocence after seeing Johnny Depp speak about it and after reading your book. I have just one issue with your book. Why did you have to weave in liberal criticism of Mike Huckabee and of the Patriot Act? Granted, your book was written at the height of the so-called witch hunts of Middle Eastern people in the United States and all the paranoia that came with the government somehow watching us without our knowledge, but I thought these were cheap shots considering the book was not about these issues. It just seemed a bit of a stretch, and I felt your liberal leanings marred an otherwise powerful “afterword.”
—Alison
I appreciate your polite and thoughtful criticism. I was asked to add an afterword for the paperback edition, and you are right that events of that moment were prominent in my thoughts. However, I have always viewed this case as a warning about how easy it is for communities, or even nations, that are enduring hardship or fear to demonize individuals or minorities in their midst. We saw that on a large scale during WWII when we locked up our Japanese citizens. Although I respect your opinion, I don’t think it’s a stretch to believe that, given the right circumstances, we are capable of such injustice again. Unfortunately, this case, in my own state, proves as much. And I don’t consider my expectation of better from our officials to be either a conservative or liberal stance.
Again, thanks for writing.
Angry and scared
I have lived in Jonesboro, Arkansas all of my 44 years. I remember when the West Memphis murders happened like most people remember JFK’s assassination. I was a young mother of a 10-year-old little girl and an 8-year-old little boy. I remember hoping that those three on trial would get horrrible punishment.
After the panic left I was able to look at the real facts, past all of the smoke and mirrors of the occult and devil worship. They are innocent. I truly believe that. I recently read your book Devils Knot. It solidified my opinion on the case. I’m angry and I’m scared. Mostly I’m ashamed that I let this happen without some sort of action. What can a person like myself, just a mother of four now, do?
Debbie Swindle
Debbie, you are one in a million. Of all the people who once believed that these three kids were guilty, you are the first to write to me and express regret. I hope I meet you someday. That said, you had every reason to believe what you did, especially as the mother of young children. The police and prosecutors did a number on everyone. “Smoke and mirrors” is right.
What to do? Since you live in northeast Arkansas, tell everyone you know about the actions of Judge David Burnett and Judge John Fogleman in this case. Both men are running for office—Burnett for the legislature and Fogleman for the state supreme court. They should be stopped in their tracks so that other politicians will realize that anger about this case runs deep and will not abate until justice is served.
