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We were on the road early the next morning, heading to Bristol Virginia. The reporter had asked us to take her and the photographer to a car rental place. She had a few leads and wanted to go out on her own for a bit. She was going to meet back up with us later. So we were on our own.
We decided to go to the Bristol Police Station first. There we talked with the 'Officer in Charge'. He was very kind, as were all the people we had come in contact with on our fact finding trip. Quite a pleasant change from what we were exposed to here in Michigan. He told us that the one young man was there in Bristol's jail and the other was in Kentucky. We didn't ask to speak with him so I don't know if we would've been able too or not. But I have been asked why we didn't. I can only speak for myself. I didn't want to be that close to either of the young men. They truly frightened me. After we spoke for a short time, the officer showed us how to get to the District Attorney's Office. Which wasn't too hard to find being it was the tallest building in Bristol, all 7 - 9 stories of it.
I remember Bristol being very pretty and their trees were flowering already. It as nice being somewhere where no one knew who we were. Or was judging us.
We were seen right away. I think the officer must have called a head to let the District Attorney know we were coming. He didn't seem surprised. At first he did seem a little put off, not really knowing what out intentions were. Then one of the other mothers spoke up and got the ball rolling. She explained briefly who we were, why we were there, and what we hope to accomplish.
He seemed to lighten up a bit then. We asked him about the atlas with the map. We told him the Prosecutor had said repeatedly in court and in the media, how uncooperative Virginia and Kentucky authorities had been about sending the map or any evidence. That they were not cooperating with Michigan at all. That the prosecutor had been quoted in the media as saying he had tried to get a copy of the map. But was getting 'Nowhere with Virginia.'
The District Attorney was visibly getting annoyed by that. He told us that they had cooperated with everything Michigan had asked for though it wasn't much.. He then said he himself had sent a copy of the map to Michigan. It was in two parts, the second part he sent right after the first. And that there was a mark on our town indicating that the two had traveled back here.
The Prosecutor here had said they had been asking and asking for the map.From the very first time that they had found out about the two men in Kentucky. But had gotten nothing from Virginia or Kentucky. That 'his' people who he had sent down there had seen the map and it had given no indication of the two ever returning to Michigan.
More lies. How he slept at night I can only wonder.
We then asked if Michigan ever sent some blood samples of our sons or the slain young man's from Michigan? That we were told they were supposedly trying to cross match our sons blood with the blood on the bloody backpack that was found in the car of the two arrested in Kentucky. He said he had not been aware of any samples being sent or any requests.
Six weeks earlier the prosecutor had issued a warrant for blood samples to be taken from our sons. They were supposedly checking for for our sons DNA on the bloody backpack and clothes they had in Kentucky. The prosecutor had said this in court and in the papers. Yet Again he was just simply telling more lies.
The District Attorney said there had been DNA of the Gun store clerk on the knife found in the backpack and the blood stains. There was also two other blood types that were not his.
Why if Michigan Authorities actually thought our sons DNA would be there, did they not send the samples? Was it because the prosecutor just going through the motions again? Was he planning on lieing and saying their blood was found when actually it wasn't? Like the Police Chief in New Baltimore had done when he said the ballistics had been done on all the guns found down south, and that the results came back negative... but in fact weeks later the "Real" ballistics were done and the results came in which proved these two had in fact had the murder weapon? Lies and more lies.
We had been waiting for the blood test results for over six weeks. And here we come to find out that they had never even been sent. To this day we have never found out what happened to the blood that was taken. My son would like his blood back.
We then asked him if Michigan had run the any finger prints of the two in Kentucky. He said none to his knowledge and no request were made. Three sets of prints had been found in the walk in cooler where they had killed the young man here. One was the poor young mans. The other two sets were not our sons.
The New Baltimore Police Chief was again quoted in the papers as saying.."It didn't matter if they found the prints of the two in Kentucky in the cooler, because they had worked there." Really? I mean Really? How ridiculous! They had not supposedly worked there since 1999. The murder was in 2000. Was he saying that the Pizzeria was that filthy? That their prints would still be there after a year? If their prints were found in the cooler then it could only mean they had been there.
The one New Baltimore Police officer who was in charge of the case off and on. Was also quoted in the paper saying.."We're not sure who's prints they are. But they could be from the emergency personal who took care of the shot young man." Really? I ask again, Really?? Does our police dept really think that we're that stupid? Or are they? In this day and age would emergency personal go into a bloody crime scene and not wear gloves to protect themselves from AIDs or Hep C? I've seen them wearing protective goggles too. Not to mention if the emergency personal's prints were found at the crime scene would that not imply that the crime scene was then contaminated? And if the police really felt that the prints could be theirs wouldn't they want to finger print the emergency personal to either confirm or eliminate them?
Just more lies and polluted bantering to try and cover their bungling handling of this case.
Wednesday, September 26, 2012
Part ~ 21 The More I Learned The More The Shivers Ran Down My Spine
Next we decided to go to the motel where the two were arrested. We went in with the reporter and photographer. The reporter had let us do most of the talking and the photographer took a few pictures here and there. We kept our own notes and took pictures too.
We talked to the woman at the desk. As it turned out it was the very woman the they had robbed. We told her who we were and why we were there. She seemed a bit surprised. She was an older woman, very kind and willing to speak with us. So we sat in the lobby and talked, we showed her pictures of our sons, and told her our story.
She told us of the night that the young man from Michigan had come to rob the motel. It was just before 'Thanksgiving'. She was working the night shift. He had come in and seemed like a nice clean cut young man. She thought he might have been from the college there. He was well spoken. She asked if he wanted a room. He showed her a gun and told her to give him the money from the register. She said she wasn't afraid at first because he was so soft spoken. She thought the gun wasn't real and that he was joking. But when she didn't take him seriously, he turned and had gotten angry. She then realized he wasn't kidding and got afraid and gave him the money. She asked him to please not kill her. He looked at her and then out the door. Then he said to her with a smile "Happy Thanksgiving" and ran out the back door. I wondered then and still do. Does this woman know just how truly lucky she had been. Had he seen the police car in the parking lot ? They had so callously killed before. Shivers again ran down my spine again.
After our talk she offered us a room. We declined as graciously as we could so we wouldn't offend her. But we were a bit uncomfortable there knowing the two from Michigan had been there. Silly perhaps but we were. We never did go to the 'Dairy Queen' and I'm not really sure why.
We decided to go to another motel for the night. Then in the morning we were going to 'Bristol' Virginia.
Tuesday, September 25, 2012
Part ~ 20 Like A Puzzle The Chilling Pieces Start Falling Into Place
We learned more about these two young men. More then I cared to, but needed to. They had worked here in Marine City, Michigan at a Pizzeria affiliate of the same Pizzeria as the one here in New Baltimore, Michigan. They had left Michigan in early August of 2000 with 15,000. - 20,000. dollars, that they embezzled from the pizzeria, in Marine City. Leaving letters to their parents saying how they wanted to start a new life. First they headed to Ohio to 'Cedar Point'. Then went on to Virginia.
In Virginia they went to Bristol. Where they cased and then robbed a Gun shop. One of them at one point went inside and spoke to the clerk. Then at closing they both went in. One asked the clerk about a knife in the showcase. When the clerk bent down to get it, one surprised him and stuck a knife in his throat. He held him til he stopped moving and died. Basically till the poor man bled to death. He was a 63 year old grand father. They dragged him to the back of the store. Then filled their back pack with 14 guns, ammo, and the new knife. They then left and went to a motel and ordered a pizza.
Next they headed to Florida. Where they got off the highway and went to a gas station with a 'Subway Sandwich Shop'. There a 22 year old young man was working late and alone. Again it was around closing time. One went into the cash register while the other took the young man to the walk in cooler and shot him in the back of the head, execution style. They were caught on surveillance cameras but had been wearing masks. They fled on foot to their vehicle which was not caught on tape. They got away. This is the very story we had taken to our lawyers back before we had ever heard of these two or knew they even existed.
There had been a young man here who supposedly knew these two, he had worked with the boy who was slain in Michigan. But had gotten fired shortly before. This young man went to school with my daughter and my son's girlfriend. He used to follow them in the hallways at school. And say stupid things them and harass them. One day he said to one of them that he was a part of cult that the two down south were in and they all had a tattoo on the upper arm of an Egyptian Ankh. So I asked the officer if either of the two men they arrested had any tattoos or marks? He looked at me and said yes. They both had a strange Egyptian cross. I asked him if he could draw it and he drew it in my notebook. It was an Egyptian Ankh. Again chills ran down my spine.
We then learned that the police in Kentucky thought they may have robbed a bank during their cross country spree. There were bank bags and money wrappers found in their car.
There was a bank robbery here in Michigan around the time of their disappearance. There had been two robbers who fled on foot and got away. The highway was not far from the bank. This was the same M.O. if you will, of the two down south. The robbers of the bank had worn masks. They were caught with masks in their car. If they had been doing 3 -5 grams of coke a day as they had written in their letters. Then they would need a lot of money. It was all mind boggling but like a puzzle the pieces were going into place.
They had robbed and killed at places off the highway. Parking their car away from the targets and then fleeing on foot to the vehicle and getting back on the highway. And fleeing fast from the town they were and got away.
Before we said our good byes to the officer he told us again how frustrated he and his fellow officers were at the attitude of the Michigan authorities, he wished us luck on our trip and back home. Then he told us he would testify to what he told us if Subpoenaed. We thanked him and left, amazed at what we had just learned.
In Virginia they went to Bristol. Where they cased and then robbed a Gun shop. One of them at one point went inside and spoke to the clerk. Then at closing they both went in. One asked the clerk about a knife in the showcase. When the clerk bent down to get it, one surprised him and stuck a knife in his throat. He held him til he stopped moving and died. Basically till the poor man bled to death. He was a 63 year old grand father. They dragged him to the back of the store. Then filled their back pack with 14 guns, ammo, and the new knife. They then left and went to a motel and ordered a pizza.
Next they headed to Florida. Where they got off the highway and went to a gas station with a 'Subway Sandwich Shop'. There a 22 year old young man was working late and alone. Again it was around closing time. One went into the cash register while the other took the young man to the walk in cooler and shot him in the back of the head, execution style. They were caught on surveillance cameras but had been wearing masks. They fled on foot to their vehicle which was not caught on tape. They got away. This is the very story we had taken to our lawyers back before we had ever heard of these two or knew they even existed.
There had been a young man here who supposedly knew these two, he had worked with the boy who was slain in Michigan. But had gotten fired shortly before. This young man went to school with my daughter and my son's girlfriend. He used to follow them in the hallways at school. And say stupid things them and harass them. One day he said to one of them that he was a part of cult that the two down south were in and they all had a tattoo on the upper arm of an Egyptian Ankh. So I asked the officer if either of the two men they arrested had any tattoos or marks? He looked at me and said yes. They both had a strange Egyptian cross. I asked him if he could draw it and he drew it in my notebook. It was an Egyptian Ankh. Again chills ran down my spine.
We then learned that the police in Kentucky thought they may have robbed a bank during their cross country spree. There were bank bags and money wrappers found in their car.
There was a bank robbery here in Michigan around the time of their disappearance. There had been two robbers who fled on foot and got away. The highway was not far from the bank. This was the same M.O. if you will, of the two down south. The robbers of the bank had worn masks. They were caught with masks in their car. If they had been doing 3 -5 grams of coke a day as they had written in their letters. Then they would need a lot of money. It was all mind boggling but like a puzzle the pieces were going into place.
They had robbed and killed at places off the highway. Parking their car away from the targets and then fleeing on foot to the vehicle and getting back on the highway. And fleeing fast from the town they were and got away.
Before we said our good byes to the officer he told us again how frustrated he and his fellow officers were at the attitude of the Michigan authorities, he wished us luck on our trip and back home. Then he told us he would testify to what he told us if Subpoenaed. We thanked him and left, amazed at what we had just learned.
Part 19 ~ A Daring Attempt at A Double Robbery
The news papers here had called it "A 37 State Crime Spree of Murder and Mayhem". We were about to hear their story first hand...
He told us they had gotten a "Suspicious vehicle" call. Another officer had responded to the call and went to check it out. He saw a car in a 'Dairy Queen' parking lot. there was a young man sitting in the drivers seat. Then another young man came running out of a back door of a motel next to the 'Dairy Queen'. the officer ran after the man who ran into a wooed area behind them. the officer lost him so he doubled back to the car in the parking lot. When he came up to the vehicle he noticed the driver was gone and there was a man in the passengers seat. He drew his gun and came up from behind an saw the man had a gun in his lap and his finger on the trigger. The officer pointed his gun in the window and told him not to move or he would shoot. The man gave up.
While this was going on the friend of the man was in the 'Dairy Queen' trying to rob it. But he was now surrounded . The officer told us he had given them a little trouble but he too gave up. The officer added, that with cache of weapons and ammo they were carrying there could have been a blood bath. But they didn't fight and were arrested.
He said he felt it was it so far fetched that the prosecutor here was trying to say that our sons were some how linked with these two. He wanted the F.B.I to do a profile on these two, because he was sure if they had. They would find that these two just might be the worst 'team serial killers' in U.S. history. He felt that these two had robbed and killed many more then they were confessing too. I too felt that they had committed more then we would ever know. Another shiver down my spine. It was like I was in a horror movie or a nightmare that I just couldn't wake from.
Part 18 ~ Our Quest for The Truth Begins
We three mothers didn't know exactly what to do or expect. But we were determined. We talked with the reporter and got some useful tips and ideas on how proceed when we made it to Kentucky. Which is where we went first because that was where the two were arrested.
We made great time too. We were in Kentucky in 4 hours. Something we noted because the prosecutor had said in court that the two men who went on the 37 state crime spree. Couldn't have robbed and killed the young man here because they wouldn't have had time to travel back to Michigan commit the crime then travel back down to Florida and commit the crime there. But just by driving down south our selves, we proved they had plenty of time. This was the first thing we proved and just by driving there ourselves.
First we went to the police station where the two men from our town had been arrested. We were in luck one of the arresting officers was on duty. After we told him who we were and why were there. He seemed very interested and more then willing to speak with us.
He gave us so much information and was so very kind. He actually restored my faith in the police. It was nice to know there were still men of integrity in the police profession.
He told us he was as frustrated with the Michigan authorities as we were. That the only Michigan authorities that had come down to Kentucky were from Kalamazoo Michigan, on a double homicide they were investigating. He couldn't believe when they contacted Michigan Authorities in Macomb County they refused to come saying that din't need too. He found their lack of interest very strange.
He commended us three mothers on our courage, tenacity, and unwillingness to give up.
We made great time too. We were in Kentucky in 4 hours. Something we noted because the prosecutor had said in court that the two men who went on the 37 state crime spree. Couldn't have robbed and killed the young man here because they wouldn't have had time to travel back to Michigan commit the crime then travel back down to Florida and commit the crime there. But just by driving down south our selves, we proved they had plenty of time. This was the first thing we proved and just by driving there ourselves.
First we went to the police station where the two men from our town had been arrested. We were in luck one of the arresting officers was on duty. After we told him who we were and why were there. He seemed very interested and more then willing to speak with us.
He gave us so much information and was so very kind. He actually restored my faith in the police. It was nice to know there were still men of integrity in the police profession.
He told us he was as frustrated with the Michigan authorities as we were. That the only Michigan authorities that had come down to Kentucky were from Kalamazoo Michigan, on a double homicide they were investigating. He couldn't believe when they contacted Michigan Authorities in Macomb County they refused to come saying that din't need too. He found their lack of interest very strange.
He commended us three mothers on our courage, tenacity, and unwillingness to give up.
Thursday, September 13, 2012
Part ~ 17 Up Set But Far From Giving Up
We were all so up set that day. Even though I had thought this might happen, my heart was breaking for my son. As I watched the bailiff take my son away once again, he in tears. I thought how much more Lord. Please give me strength. Aghhh It was so hard to see. It's hard to think bout even now.
While they were taking my son away, his younger brother was also in tears. Then I saw the mother of the slain young man point her finger at him, his younger brother, and laugh. It was a horrible day.
Things in this case seemed so twisted and off the wall. Since the very beginning nothing was as it seemed. It felt so surreal to me.
I spoke later to the other two mothers. We just couldn't believe with no evidence here in Michigan, nothing, but obviously so much down south. That no one seemed to care about it, not even our own attorneys. How could they keep our boys. And if they went to trial they most likely would never be coming home. We knew we had to do something or our sons would be in jail the rest of their lives.
I had originally been told by our attorney not to speak to the press. And in the beginning the press was horrible to our sons and our families so I didn't want to.And yet at the same time I just wanted to scream at them. Then with the news of the pair being arrested down south. The Media attitudes had started to change. During that time there had been one young reporter who had been most fair about our story. I started communicating with her through a friend. Eventually I trusted her and we began speaking "Off the record".
I talked with her on that horrible day too.
Though that was a horrible day it was also the day everything really started to change too. That day we 3 mothers decided the only recourse we had left was to go down south ourselves. We would have to do for our sons what no one else would. And we would have to do the investigating that the authorities in Michigan refused to do. Also Knowing with the police and Prosecutors attitudes and lies,we would need proof of anything we might uncover. We invited the reporter to go with us. She gladly accepted. She also got a photographer to go too.
We were all pretty much broke because of this case. I remember one phone bill was almost a 1000. dollars from my son calling home reversing the charges from jail. Not to mention attorney fees and such. So we got donations from family and friends. Then early on an April morning we packed our bags, some sandwiches, cameras and note books. Loaded up the one mother's Bonnieville and headed down the highway.
Three mothers, one reporter, and a photographer, heading down south. The five of us in one car. All strangers just a few months ago. Now on a quest together for the truth.
While they were taking my son away, his younger brother was also in tears. Then I saw the mother of the slain young man point her finger at him, his younger brother, and laugh. It was a horrible day.
Things in this case seemed so twisted and off the wall. Since the very beginning nothing was as it seemed. It felt so surreal to me.
I spoke later to the other two mothers. We just couldn't believe with no evidence here in Michigan, nothing, but obviously so much down south. That no one seemed to care about it, not even our own attorneys. How could they keep our boys. And if they went to trial they most likely would never be coming home. We knew we had to do something or our sons would be in jail the rest of their lives.
I had originally been told by our attorney not to speak to the press. And in the beginning the press was horrible to our sons and our families so I didn't want to.And yet at the same time I just wanted to scream at them. Then with the news of the pair being arrested down south. The Media attitudes had started to change. During that time there had been one young reporter who had been most fair about our story. I started communicating with her through a friend. Eventually I trusted her and we began speaking "Off the record".
I talked with her on that horrible day too.
Though that was a horrible day it was also the day everything really started to change too. That day we 3 mothers decided the only recourse we had left was to go down south ourselves. We would have to do for our sons what no one else would. And we would have to do the investigating that the authorities in Michigan refused to do. Also Knowing with the police and Prosecutors attitudes and lies,we would need proof of anything we might uncover. We invited the reporter to go with us. She gladly accepted. She also got a photographer to go too.
We were all pretty much broke because of this case. I remember one phone bill was almost a 1000. dollars from my son calling home reversing the charges from jail. Not to mention attorney fees and such. So we got donations from family and friends. Then early on an April morning we packed our bags, some sandwiches, cameras and note books. Loaded up the one mother's Bonnieville and headed down the highway.
Three mothers, one reporter, and a photographer, heading down south. The five of us in one car. All strangers just a few months ago. Now on a quest together for the truth.
Part ~ 16 The Michigan Authorities Refused to Listen
The Head lines all said that The Pair had Gone on a 37 State , 4 month Crime Spree of Mayhem and Murder.
When the news of these two young men in Bristal came out. We were so elated and so positive our sons would now be cleared and let free. But they were not. The Prosecutor and the police continued to insist that they had the right people behind bars.
Three days after the two men were arrested in Virginia. the New Baltimore Police Chief was quoted in the papers as saying .."We have sent our people down to Kentucky. They did the ballistics on the guns that these boys in Kentucky had and there was no match".
That was later to be proven a complete lie.
So we had to go ahead with the "Walker Hearing" after all. And Like I said before, the hearing was to challenge the Validity of the Confessions our sons had been coerced into making. And see if the District Judge would allow the statements to stand. If he did not, then they would be coming home. With all this new evidence coming to light we thought for sure our sons would be released.
The prosecutor continued to say that there was no proof that the two in Kentucky ever came here. That they had told their investigators that they did not kill the young man here. Then the Prosecutor said " They admitted to the murder in Virginia and the one in Florida, why would the deny doing the murder here in Michigan". And If we had left it up to our Justice System and still believed in it, we might have we might have believed the Prosecutor was telling the truth. But with everything we were hearing and reading in the papers we did not.
The "Walker Hearing" lasted longer then usual.Our Attorneys kept asking the Prosecutor to get the Atlas and the map with their route marked on it. The Prosecutor kept saying that the Virginia Authorities were being very uncooperative. That he was having a hard time getting it, Another lie, later to be proven. He said his people had looked at the map when they went to Kentucky. And yes there was a mark on New Baltimore. but it was only there because that was their home town. And still said they never came back to Michigan. That he had proof they were no where near Michigan at the time of the murder. Of course he never came up with that proof.
The judge ordered the prosecutor to get the map or a copy of it by March 27 2001. That day came and went and he still did not.
Then A Bombshell....Virginia Authorities did the 'True" ballistics and when the results came in there was a match. The two down south had the murder weapon. Again we thought our sons would surely be released.
Now the Prosecutor and the Police, were changing what they said and said they believed My son and his friends went down to Ohio. Met the two young men, borrowed the gun. then drove back hear committed the robbery and murdered the young man here. Then again drove back down to Ohio and gave the gun back to the two men....Really?? It was so far fetched.
My son was so sure he was coming home. But I tried to tell him to please not get his hopes up because it's been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride of hope and dashed hope.
March 27 came and with no map, and no proof of anything the prosecutor and police were saying to be true. The judge let the statements stand. My son was going to trial for capital murder.
When the news of these two young men in Bristal came out. We were so elated and so positive our sons would now be cleared and let free. But they were not. The Prosecutor and the police continued to insist that they had the right people behind bars.
Three days after the two men were arrested in Virginia. the New Baltimore Police Chief was quoted in the papers as saying .."We have sent our people down to Kentucky. They did the ballistics on the guns that these boys in Kentucky had and there was no match".
That was later to be proven a complete lie.
So we had to go ahead with the "Walker Hearing" after all. And Like I said before, the hearing was to challenge the Validity of the Confessions our sons had been coerced into making. And see if the District Judge would allow the statements to stand. If he did not, then they would be coming home. With all this new evidence coming to light we thought for sure our sons would be released.
The prosecutor continued to say that there was no proof that the two in Kentucky ever came here. That they had told their investigators that they did not kill the young man here. Then the Prosecutor said " They admitted to the murder in Virginia and the one in Florida, why would the deny doing the murder here in Michigan". And If we had left it up to our Justice System and still believed in it, we might have we might have believed the Prosecutor was telling the truth. But with everything we were hearing and reading in the papers we did not.
The "Walker Hearing" lasted longer then usual.Our Attorneys kept asking the Prosecutor to get the Atlas and the map with their route marked on it. The Prosecutor kept saying that the Virginia Authorities were being very uncooperative. That he was having a hard time getting it, Another lie, later to be proven. He said his people had looked at the map when they went to Kentucky. And yes there was a mark on New Baltimore. but it was only there because that was their home town. And still said they never came back to Michigan. That he had proof they were no where near Michigan at the time of the murder. Of course he never came up with that proof.
The judge ordered the prosecutor to get the map or a copy of it by March 27 2001. That day came and went and he still did not.
Then A Bombshell....Virginia Authorities did the 'True" ballistics and when the results came in there was a match. The two down south had the murder weapon. Again we thought our sons would surely be released.
Now the Prosecutor and the Police, were changing what they said and said they believed My son and his friends went down to Ohio. Met the two young men, borrowed the gun. then drove back hear committed the robbery and murdered the young man here. Then again drove back down to Ohio and gave the gun back to the two men....Really?? It was so far fetched.
My son was so sure he was coming home. But I tried to tell him to please not get his hopes up because it's been nothing short of a roller-coaster ride of hope and dashed hope.
March 27 came and with no map, and no proof of anything the prosecutor and police were saying to be true. The judge let the statements stand. My son was going to trial for capital murder.
Wednesday, September 12, 2012
Part ~ 15 A True Break In the Case
On November 21st. The day before 'Thanksgiving'. Two young men were arrested in Williamsburg , Kentucky, while trying to commit a daring, double robbery of a motel and a 'Dairy Queen'.
When they and their car were searched. The police found 12 guns, all loaded. Some still had price tags on them.. Two knives, false ID's , and equipment to make more. Stolen License plates, A detailed drawing of a bank, bank money wrappers, masks,and letters to an ex-girlfriend. Saying how they were doing 3-5 grams of coke a day if not more, and their exploits .Bloody boots, a back pack with bloody clothes and a bloody knife in it. last but not least, a road Atlas with their travel route clearly marked on it.
They were from Michigan...New Baltimore Michigan to be exact.
They had worked at the same pizzeria that the young man here did and where he was killed. And not only did they know him, one was rumored to have dated the young man's sister. Later it was found to be true.
They had marked their route in the atlas, they also put red marks on the places were they had committed a murder along with a robbery so as not to return there.. There was a mark on St Augustine, Florida. Where the Subway sandwich clerk was killed. One on Bristal, Virginia, where a 64 year old gun store clerk was killed...and one here on New Baltimore, were the young man was killed.
Our attorney called to tell us of their arrest. That day I went to town to pay my water bill. And due to the atmosphere in town I usually tried to avoid going there. Still do to this very day actually. But anyways,
I was waiting to pay my bill and could hear the man and two women behind the counter talking about my son and the murder. I broke...
I stood up straight, a little taller, cleared my throat, and said .."Excuse me, that's my son you are all talking about. And I just want to say he is innocent. He was coerced to confessing. Read the papers tonight, you will see they have caught the true murders in Kentucky. And I guarantee you, my son will be coming home. Mark my words on that." They might not remember that day, but I will never forget it.
When they and their car were searched. The police found 12 guns, all loaded. Some still had price tags on them.. Two knives, false ID's , and equipment to make more. Stolen License plates, A detailed drawing of a bank, bank money wrappers, masks,and letters to an ex-girlfriend. Saying how they were doing 3-5 grams of coke a day if not more, and their exploits .Bloody boots, a back pack with bloody clothes and a bloody knife in it. last but not least, a road Atlas with their travel route clearly marked on it.
They were from Michigan...New Baltimore Michigan to be exact.
They had worked at the same pizzeria that the young man here did and where he was killed. And not only did they know him, one was rumored to have dated the young man's sister. Later it was found to be true.
They had marked their route in the atlas, they also put red marks on the places were they had committed a murder along with a robbery so as not to return there.. There was a mark on St Augustine, Florida. Where the Subway sandwich clerk was killed. One on Bristal, Virginia, where a 64 year old gun store clerk was killed...and one here on New Baltimore, were the young man was killed.
Our attorney called to tell us of their arrest. That day I went to town to pay my water bill. And due to the atmosphere in town I usually tried to avoid going there. Still do to this very day actually. But anyways,
I was waiting to pay my bill and could hear the man and two women behind the counter talking about my son and the murder. I broke...
I stood up straight, a little taller, cleared my throat, and said .."Excuse me, that's my son you are all talking about. And I just want to say he is innocent. He was coerced to confessing. Read the papers tonight, you will see they have caught the true murders in Kentucky. And I guarantee you, my son will be coming home. Mark my words on that." They might not remember that day, but I will never forget it.
Part ~ 14 Breaking My Heart
My son was now being kept in "Solitary" in 'Lock Down".
That is, locked in his cell alone for 23 hours a day. Let out for one hour to shower and use the phone. Sometimes, many times, he was denied the use of the phone. At first he was only allowed to be dressed in what he called a ''bam bam suit". Just enough to cover him to his private area, I believe it was made of paper. The bed if you could call it that, was a metal slab/shelf attached to the wall. He had no pillow so he would use the paper bag that his bologna sandwich meal came in for a pillow. He told us they blew cold air into the sell too. The treatment of my son was unbearable. As a mother my heart was breaking for him. I can't begin to explain what I felt. I believe they were punishing him, trying to crack him into .saying his confession was real.
Then when that didn't work. We weren't allowed to to visit him from late November til January 20, 2001. They denied him his commissary as well. their reasons were it was disciplinary. Commissary is where the prisoner is allowed to buy things like paper and stamps, books, magazines, candy bars, ect.
So now he was truly alone with not even having visits to look forward to. The reasons they took his visits and commissary away were for..
1) He kept an orange from lunch.
2) He gave another inmate a candy bar.
3) He had an extra uniform.
Now the reason he had this extra uniform was because earlier that day another crazy inmate. that yelled every time my son used the phone, so he couldn't hear. Oh who also would stuff things down his toilet so it would flood over into my son's cell..Well this crazy inmate decided that wasn't enough. So when my son walked past his cell he took a cup of urine and threw it on my son. My son ran back to the phone a called me crying and told me what had just happened. then he had to go because the guards were coming and yelling at him to get off the phone.
I was stunned and so angry. I called the jail and demanded that they let my son shower. I told the officer on the phone that I would call the press. that I knew they were not running a Hotel, but it was just Human Basic Rights. And that My son didn't come into their jail with AIDs , Hepititus, or any other diseases. And he better not come out with any or i would make sure they would pay.And that I was ging to call my lawyer when i got off the phone with him.
They let my son shower...3 hours later.
And that is why he had an extra uniform when they came in. what was he supposed to do with the soiled one? That is why were not allowed to see him for nearly two months.
That is, locked in his cell alone for 23 hours a day. Let out for one hour to shower and use the phone. Sometimes, many times, he was denied the use of the phone. At first he was only allowed to be dressed in what he called a ''bam bam suit". Just enough to cover him to his private area, I believe it was made of paper. The bed if you could call it that, was a metal slab/shelf attached to the wall. He had no pillow so he would use the paper bag that his bologna sandwich meal came in for a pillow. He told us they blew cold air into the sell too. The treatment of my son was unbearable. As a mother my heart was breaking for him. I can't begin to explain what I felt. I believe they were punishing him, trying to crack him into .saying his confession was real.
Then when that didn't work. We weren't allowed to to visit him from late November til January 20, 2001. They denied him his commissary as well. their reasons were it was disciplinary. Commissary is where the prisoner is allowed to buy things like paper and stamps, books, magazines, candy bars, ect.
So now he was truly alone with not even having visits to look forward to. The reasons they took his visits and commissary away were for..
1) He kept an orange from lunch.
2) He gave another inmate a candy bar.
3) He had an extra uniform.
Now the reason he had this extra uniform was because earlier that day another crazy inmate. that yelled every time my son used the phone, so he couldn't hear. Oh who also would stuff things down his toilet so it would flood over into my son's cell..Well this crazy inmate decided that wasn't enough. So when my son walked past his cell he took a cup of urine and threw it on my son. My son ran back to the phone a called me crying and told me what had just happened. then he had to go because the guards were coming and yelling at him to get off the phone.
I was stunned and so angry. I called the jail and demanded that they let my son shower. I told the officer on the phone that I would call the press. that I knew they were not running a Hotel, but it was just Human Basic Rights. And that My son didn't come into their jail with AIDs , Hepititus, or any other diseases. And he better not come out with any or i would make sure they would pay.And that I was ging to call my lawyer when i got off the phone with him.
They let my son shower...3 hours later.
And that is why he had an extra uniform when they came in. what was he supposed to do with the soiled one? That is why were not allowed to see him for nearly two months.
Part ~ 13 The Fight Begins
During the hearing as I said before, we three mothers became fast friends. We spoke on the phone every day and sometimes several times in one day.
Then one day the mother of the young man who was held along with my son. Told me she had gone on the internet doing searches as we all had been doing. But this time she came across a story in a Florida news paper. She said it was eerily similar to the to the story here. A 24 year old young man was working late at a 'Subway Sandwich' shop. He had been robbed, placed in the walk- in freezer, and then shot in the back of the head, execution style. A Co-worker found him the next morning. The story as so similar even down to the very time frame. It had been caught on the security camera. there was two perpetrators, both male, both white, but that is all they could tell. They were wearing masks so they couldn't tell what they looked like.
The Story was so similar to the one here. We knew we had found the true killers of the young man here.
We both took the story to out attorneys. They also felt as we did. That it was just too close. My attorney called it a "Cookie Cutter" crime. Our attorneys took this info to the court. And they scheduled a "Walker Hearing" It was a hearing to contest the validity of the confessions. Which we knew were false.
They held our sons for a total of 178 days. At first they were together in the mental ward section supposedly on suicide watch. together? This seemed very odd to me, that they would be held together. But I came to believe that they did it in hopes that they would talk to one another about the case. And turn on each other blaming one another. But what had happened instead, was that they became good friends, life long friends. they said nothing about the crime because they knew nothing about it. I think once the authorities realized this they decided to separate them. Perhaps they felt a new tactic was necessary... Divide and Concur?
Then one day the mother of the young man who was held along with my son. Told me she had gone on the internet doing searches as we all had been doing. But this time she came across a story in a Florida news paper. She said it was eerily similar to the to the story here. A 24 year old young man was working late at a 'Subway Sandwich' shop. He had been robbed, placed in the walk- in freezer, and then shot in the back of the head, execution style. A Co-worker found him the next morning. The story as so similar even down to the very time frame. It had been caught on the security camera. there was two perpetrators, both male, both white, but that is all they could tell. They were wearing masks so they couldn't tell what they looked like.
The Story was so similar to the one here. We knew we had found the true killers of the young man here.
We both took the story to out attorneys. They also felt as we did. That it was just too close. My attorney called it a "Cookie Cutter" crime. Our attorneys took this info to the court. And they scheduled a "Walker Hearing" It was a hearing to contest the validity of the confessions. Which we knew were false.
They held our sons for a total of 178 days. At first they were together in the mental ward section supposedly on suicide watch. together? This seemed very odd to me, that they would be held together. But I came to believe that they did it in hopes that they would talk to one another about the case. And turn on each other blaming one another. But what had happened instead, was that they became good friends, life long friends. they said nothing about the crime because they knew nothing about it. I think once the authorities realized this they decided to separate them. Perhaps they felt a new tactic was necessary... Divide and Concur?
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