Part~8 Why Would Anyone Confess...

So now we waited for the minister to return with word on our son. We waited till late evening and good to his word, he did return. He said he had taken Jon a letter his sister had wrote him and read it to him, because he wasn't allowed to give Jon anything. He said Jon looked as good as could be expected and he was holding up. That he wanted us to know he did not do this, and that he loved us very much. The minister told Jon we loved him and we knew he didn't do it. That we were behind him a 100%.



Then the minister handed my husband a napkin that he had written information that Jon had given him. He said that Jon told him he had been at a bonfire the night that the murder occurred. that he wasn't anywhere near our town. And there were several people that could verify he was there all night. And also that his two friends were there as well. He gave him phone numbers and names. The minister spoke with us for a while and then he prayed with us and left. We were so very grateful to this man. A perfect stranger who had been more than kind to us and his act of kindness would prove to be very helpful in the coming future. My husband then took the list of numbers and names and started making phone calls. He talked with several people.



Now you are probably asking yourself at this point.."But he confessed? Why would he confess if he didn't do it, especially to a murder?"...



Let me say, I have done a lot of research on my own during my son's case and for years after. People confess to things they didn't do for many different reasons. You probably picture a scene where a suspect is being beaten physically. But that isn't the case. It's a psychological beating so to speak. They are actually taught how to interrogate. The technique that the police are trained to use during an interrogation is very much a psychological game for lack of a better word. They are allowed to lie, but not allowed to threaten, yet some do. They are not supposed with hold the suspect food,drink, or the bathroom. They are not allowed to promise the suspect anything either. They spend a great deal of time convincing the suspect that they may have very well blacked out what they have done. They tell them that their friend confessed, even if they haven't. And they keep them away from everyone except them.

Jon was questioned for hours and withheld any contact from anyone in his family. He was told when he asked for me that I didn't want him. He was told his friends both confessed and said "He" did the murder. He heard what sounded like chairs and things being thrown, and loud voices. Jon was told that the FBI would be coming in next to question him and they didn't like him. He was told that there were men in prison that didn't like boys like him and bad things would happen. He had been there for hours and was crying he wanted to go home. After hours and hours of denying being there or knowing anything about it.  He was told just confess, if you didn't do it then there won't be any evidence and they'll have to let you go home, otherwise with your friends all ready confessing and you not, it won't look good or go well, just say it was accident. He was also told by one officer, that the officer new the judge and he would put a good for him, and he might go easier on him. He'd been going through this for hours. He was tired, scared, and alone. He had asked for a lawyer but they never gave him one. Questioning by law should have stopped right then and there. But they continued.

My son was taught since he was small to trust the police. And he did trust them. He believed them. So in the very end he did what he was told. And he confessed...To a horrible murder he did not do.