letters

What were they thinking?

I read your book about WM3 years ago and am again looking at all the interesting forums and videos with Damien and Lorri.

A lot of people know that the trial was just ignorance, scapegoating, and covering up other crimes, but I wonder about the jury members. Are they still thick in the head and heart? Have you ever heard from them?

Gaill Hoffman

I have not spoken with any of the jurors. I hope you know about the jury foreman who has admitted that he spoke about the case outside the courtroom. Little Rock lawyer has also said that the foreman, Kent Arnold, called him repeatedly to talk about the case during the trial. That lawyer says Arnold told him he would tell the other jurors about Jessie Misskelley’s “confession,” since they didn’t seem inclined to convict Damien and Jason. Writings the jurors made during the second trial indicate that they did indeed consider Jessie’s confession, which was not supposed to be in evidence.

Now there's a thought...

It’s so sad and infuriating to think that the evidence never pointed to them in the first place, and now that evidence is there to support their innocence, this state’s judicial system just can’t admit its own guilt in perpetrating an injustice against the WM3, the victims and their families.

It’s scary to think just how corrupt this state’s system is. I’m sure it is not the only corrupt state, but it is still scary how people can let innocent people suffer and die because they are to small and selfish to admit their errors. The spirits of these dead boys need to visit those who are unwilling to do the right thing in this case, and really just scare the ever livin bujeebers out ot them. One of these times the WM3 has to get a judge with a real conscience.

Charmaine

Smart-mouth "justice"

I am writting because I was obsessed with this case for about fourteen years. I feel like three innocent people were railroaded, in this case. I think one of the main reasons I am so obsessed with this case is because I am pretty much the same age as the convicted guys. Also because my grandparents lived in Arkansas most of my life until they died. I just could not believe there could actually be anyone in this country could actually be convicted on virtually no evidence, just because they wore black, and were a typical smart mouth teenager. If that was the case most teenagers would be convicted of heinous crimes.
Nikki Brandt

'Invested in a wrong decision'

I purchased and read your book, Devil’s Knot, several years ago after watching the HBO documentary "Paradise Lost". I was very impressed by your open-minded treatment of the subject matter. I later read that you actually prefer to write about the official process rather than “true crime.”

I think you did an excellent job of painting the picture of how a law enforcement officer, and then an entire system, can become invested in a wrong decision. You provide a valuable education on how fallible humans who are sworn to uphold the law (and one would assume, the truth) can actually be. I have met so many people whose minds are closed to the possibility that people in power can and do make mistakes and even intentionally obscure the truth.

I wanted to also compliment you on answering letters published on your website. Your answers are valuable because to have credibility as a journalist, you have to be open to all possible truths. Your "transparency" is important.

I hope you continue your valuable work. Those holding positions of power are answerable to the public and the public needs journalists such as yourself to go beyond the official story and hold them accountable.

Kelly Wagner
Pennsylvania

P.S. I believe that 2010 will be a pivotal year for the WM3. Those men and the murdered children deserve better, and so does Arkansas.

Hi, Kelly,

Your letter meant a lot to me, and I’m sorry I’m just now getting around to responding. It seems my work comes in chunks, during which I let my correspondence—and my web site—lapse. I’m going to try to get better about that this year. I particularly appreciated your sense of how “an entire system can become invested in a wrong decision.” That is certainly what’s playing out, while days and months turn to years in prison for Damien, Jason and Jessie. I believe that one of the few benefits of their ordeal will be that thousands of folks will understand very well that people in power, as you say, “can and do make mistakes and even intentionally obscure the truth.” I hope that they will not simply assume that this is an isolated phenomenon, something that only could happen in Arkansas. Unfortunately, I’ve learned, it’s widespread and common. Like you, I believe that this year will mark a turning point, though not the triumph for justice we want. The wheels of the legal system will have to turn longer for that. Thanks so much for writing.