1990s Archives - Retro Replay

At Retro Replay, our passion is digging into the pixels, cartridges, and code of classic gaming. We explore the histories of virtual worlds. But every so often, a true story from that same era emerges from the real world that is so profound it demands our attention. The story of Damien Echols is one such case. It's a significant departure from our usual retro-tech fare, but his history is a powerful and disturbing narrative rooted in the "Satanic Panic" that swept across America in the 1980s and '90s. This was a cultural hysteria many of us grew up with, and it's the same real-life paranoia that inspired recent pop culture like Stranger Things and its Hellfire Club. This article will step away from the joystick to provide a verifiable, fact-based history of Echols, who became known as one of the "West Memphis Three." In 1994, he was convicted and sentenced to death for the brutal 1993 murders of three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. His conviction was not based on any physical evidence, as there was none. Long before the murders, Echols' own psychiatric file documented him as a violent, manipulative teen with a history of sexual misconduct, breaking and entering, and assaulting a peer to suck his blood, among other terrible things. On May 5, 1993, in West Memphis, Arkansas, three eight-year-old boys—Steven Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers—disappeared while riding their bikes. Their bodies were discovered the following day in a muddy drainage ditch in a wooded area known as Robin Hood Hills. The crime scene was brutal: the boys were found naked, hog-tied with their own shoelaces, and showed signs of severe beatings. One of the victims, Christopher Byers, had also been mutilated. Left to right: Chris Byers, Michael Moore an Steve Branch. The savage and seemingly ritualistic nature of the murders immediately terrified the community and sparked rampant rumors of a satanic cult. This fear did not exist in a vacuum; it was the height of America's "Satanic Panic," a period when fears of occult-driven crimes were widespread. Under intense pressure to find the perpetrators of such a heinous act, local police began to search for suspects who fit the profile of a "devil worshiper," which led them directly to Damien Echols. The information that follows is not speculation, nor is it a collection of rumors gathered decades later by a panicked town. Everything you are about to read regarding Damien Echols' history of escalating violence, his threats to kill his family, his sexual misconduct, and his admissions of drinking blood is pulled directly from a single, primary source: Exhibit 500. This 500-page file is Echols' own psychiatric and hospitalization record from the year before the murders, a document so established that it was entered into evidence by his own defense team. This is not what his enemies claimed about him; it is what his doctors, his parole officers, and Echols himself admitted. Here is the exhibit 500 index Feel free to cross reference any of these claims against exhibit 500 which can be found here. The Enigmatic Suspect Central to the investigation is the enigmatic figure of Damien Echols. Eighteen years old at the time, he quickly became a key suspect. Police visited Echols the day after the discovery of the bodies and brought him in for questioning the following week. He was ultimately arrested subsequent to the confession of Jessie Misskelley, convicted of all three murders, and sentenced to death. Echols fit the profile police were looking for. A high school dropout often dressed in black, he had a known interest in heavy metal music, nihilistic poetry, and the occult. After the case became notorious, Echols was transformed into a cause célèbre. Supporters and documentarians romanticized him as a brooding loner and an intelligent outsider, a victim of a small town's demonization of rock and roll. Damien Wayne Echols and girlfriend Domini Damien's dress, his interest in Wicca, and his love for heavy metal represented to many in the community iconic symbols of evil. This fear is hardly relegated to West Memphis; polls from that era consistently found a majority of Americans believed in the literal existence of the devil. Echols, it seems, understood and perhaps even played to these fears. He would later describe himself as the perfect candidate for the "local boogeyman." Yet, at least one aspect of this boogeyman claim was a contradiction. Even though he was alleged to have frequented the victims' neighborhood—and one would suspect he would have been a memorable presence—he seemed to have gone largely unnoticed. In hundreds of door-to-door interviews asking about suspicious people, there was only a single, vague reference to someone who perhaps was Echols: ". . . there used to be a young w/m approx mid-20s straight stringy dark hair - carried a long staff - slim build was very strange - have not seen him the last year. . ." While not often recalled by neighbors, stories about Echols certainly circulated among local children. The police spent considerable time chasing these rumors. Those closer to him knew he had a history of mental illness and hospitalizations. His parole officer, Jerry Driver, was convinced he was part of a satanic group. In contrast, Damien repeatedly stated he followed the Wiccan faith, a pacifist, nature-based religion. But reports, such as listing the founder of Satanism as his idol in youth documents, say otherwise. Among Driver's most sensational claims was his interpretation of a drawing dubbed the "Four Tombstones." In Driver's view, this was not just dark teenage art but a clear depiction of a plan for the Satanic sacrifice of Damien's first-born child. Even his name became a matter of controversy. Some believed Damien chose it after the antichrist character in The Omen films. Born Michael Wayne Hutchison, he changed his name to Damien Wayne Echols in his early teens after his stepfather adopted him. At trial, Echols stated he chose "Damien" because he had briefly explored Catholicism and was fascinated by Saint Damien, who worked with lepers. This was confirmed by his father and, notably, by his nemesis, Jerry Driver. Driver, a member of the same parish, confirmed the story to police: . . .he said that Damien came to church... and had professed a great interest in the Catholic religion and um had convented and had his name changed um, and then had quit coming... had always wondered if... if he had anything to do with it, of course that's one of the things that those guys do... go to the Catholic church and find out as much as they can, break in to the sacristy, steal the host... (Jerry Driver, interview with police, December 1993) Jerry Driver made extensive claims to police. As part of a long interview, Driver stated, ". . .Mr. Echols said to both of us that he was involved in the occult, but not as a devil worshiper as such, he said he was a gray witch." Driver also noted that Echols, Misskelley, Baldwin, and Echols' girlfriend always denied being involved in Satanism. Probably the most extravagant claim by Driver was that Echols and an ex-girlfriend had planned to sacrifice their own baby. This was based on an interpretation of a drawing and "confidential informant people." . . . and Dianna was trying to conceive a child and that child was to be sacrificed and we... got that information from informants and from some drawings... one which had four tombstones and a baby's foot from behind it and a rattle... and they always denied that... but several people very close to them, confidential informant people said that's what was going on. . . (Driver, Dec. 1993) Driver admitted to police that when he referred his informants to them, "they don't say the same things to you all that they say to us." In August 1992, when Echols' probation was transferred to Oregon, the new officer contacted Driver and took these notes: Mr. Driver made the following comments: a) Damion and several others of his associates are involved in a satanic cult. b) Damion and his girlfriend were both placed in a psychiatric hospital, in that the two of them had made a suicidal pact with one another. c) Damion threatened to kill his girlfriend's parents. d) Damion claims he is a witch. e) Damion and his girlfriend were planning to have a child, so that they could offer it as a sacrifice to Satan. f) The authorities in Arkansas suspect that Damion's parents are involved in this satanic belief system. (Exhibit 500, p. 467-8) In spite of these allegations, the Oregon probation officer recommended only minimal supervision. Nevertheless, it was clear Damien had demons, although perhaps not the kind Jerry Driver claimed. Exhibit 500: A Portrait of a "Boogeyman" In the months before the murders, the maximum reimbursement an Arkansas lawyer could receive from the state for representing an indigent client—even in a capital murder case—was $100. This law was struck down, but a new one was implemented in a state of confusion, after the West Memphis lawyers had been assigned the case. The state's entire budget for reimbursing lawyers' fees was $55,000, which was reportedly already spent. Faced with this budget, the defense team relied on experts who volunteered their services, including a polygraph expert from the Warren Commission and Richard Ofshe, a professor specializing in false confessions. Also volunteering was private investigator Ron Lax, who gathered the mental health background on Damien Echols. This file, placed into evidence by the defense during the sentencing phase, came to be known as "Exhibit 500." At roughly 500 pages, Exhibit 500 is a sprawling collection of Echols' hospitalization records from Arkansas and Oregon, psychological tests, doctors' notes, and disability applications. It is a chaotic file, mixing firsthand admissions from Echols with secondhand reports, primarily from his parole officer, Jerry Driver. Deconstructing this exhibit reveals the disturbed personality of Echols, as documented in his own words and by those treating him. The Precipitating Events The timeline begins in May 1992, when a 17-year-old Echols and his 15-year-old girlfriend were arrested for breaking into a vacant trailer. They were found partially dressed in a closet. Echols was convicted of breaking and entering and second-degree sexual misconduct with a minor, landing him in a juvenile detention center. There, he expressed a plan to hang himself and was transferred to Charter Hospital in Little Rock for psychiatric intervention. At the hospital, Echols described his thoughts during the arrest. He told his therapist that while in the police car, he saw his girlfriend's father approach her "in an aggressive manner." Echols "freely admitted he had plans to shoot the girlfriend's father if he acted in an aggressive manner," claiming he had managed to slip the safety off the officer's gun. This admission of a violent thought is disturbing enough, but it was not the story Jerry Driver told. Driver’s version, recorded in the file, describes actual, chargeable threats: gf and pt. ran away. Conflict c law. Threats to kill officer. Kill gf. dad. (p. 366) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 366 The differences are not minor. A doctor, referencing these reports, later includes this information in his own notes: "Damien was on probation due to threatening his girlfriend's parents." (p. 368) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 368 Echols was discharged and moved with his family to Oregon. He didn't last long. In September 1992, he was remanded to St. Vincent's Hospital in Portland for two days. The reason for this hospitalization is, once again, a mess of contradictions. The police report states he was threatening suicide. The hospital notes claim the police were called because of a fight with his father. Years later, Echols' father would write a letter to the court downplaying the incident, suggesting the "knife" his mother-in-law claimed Damien had may have just been a "spoon." Jerry Driver, however, offered a far more terrifying version. His notes, allegedly from speaking with Damien's parents, claim: Threats to kill dad. Threats to live both parent (slash threats eat alive) (p. 366) This bizarre and extreme claim was immediately laundered into Echols' intake record, becoming "fact": Ran away from parents after threats to kill them by cutting their throats and eating them. (p. 367) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 367 Another note, summarizing his history, metastasizes these claims further, adding new information found nowhere else: "When the police picked up both Damien and the girlfriend, Damien made threats to kill the police officers, the girlfriend of the father (sic), and had confessed to devil-worshipping behaviors and activities. . . While in Oregon... at several times threatened to kill his father. . . Damien was moved to the detention center in the Oregon area." (p. 374) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 374 After leaving the Oregon hospital, Echols returned to Arkansas. He was arrested days later. Driver listed the reason as "Violation of probation by threatening the life of his mother and father." Perhaps Driver's quick intervention was related to the concern he expressed about patrolling the county on full moon nights to prevent "human sacrifices." He sent a note to Charter Hospital: " Says he is going to eat father and needs to be locked up or he will hurt someone." (p. 341) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 341 One incident, however, seems undisputed. While in juvenile detention, another boy scraped his arm. According to the report, "Without warning, Damien grabbed the arm that was bleeding, and began to suck the blood from it. (page 464)" This act sent him back to Charter Hospital for another two weeks. The remaining files in Exhibit 500 correspond to Echols' follow-up psychiatric visits and his 1993 application for disability benefits. Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 464 Manifestations Exhibit 500 is a large document. Out of chronological order, it can be difficult to follow. Exhibit 500 contains many allegations regarding Damien Echols' behavior and beliefs. Some are well-documented and present the picture of a deeply disturbed mind. Others can be seen as progressively larger confabulations and exaggerations that Echols himself appears to cultivate. I will try to sort out these allegations into those that are well-documented. The allegations (substantiated and otherwise) presented in Exhibit 500 are listed below. This is the profile of the man, built from his own actions and claims. Left out are more run-of-the-mill accusations such as truancy from school or vague assertions such as "exhibited sneaky behavior." Harming self. Suicidal. Made a suicide pact with Deanna Holcomb. Self-mutilation (cutting and burning). History of drug abuse. Violent threats or ideation. Threatened harm to or threatened life of Pamela Echols (mother). Threatened harm to or threatened life of Joe Hutchison (father). Threatened harm to or threatened life of father of Deanna Holcomb (girlfriend). Threats/terroristic threatening, others. Murderous ideation. Violent acts and attempted acts of aggression. Chased child with ax. Initiates fights at school/aggression toward others. Attempted to claw out schoolmate's eyes. Started fires. Belief system/behaviors. Witchcraft interest and practice. Satanism, occultism or devil worship. Possessed by a spirit or demon. Drank blood of peers (voluntary or involuntary). Claimed to be a vampire. Planned to have baby and sacrifice it. Wrote disturbing, dark, or occult (or satanic) poetry. Made occult (or satanic) drawings. It appears Echols' own mental health team recognized his manipulative nature, as two notes of advice clearly state: "Cut out the scare tactics and keep up the good stuff." "Let people like you for You!" (p. 453) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 453 Harming self. Damien Echols was first admitted to Charter Hospital of Little Rock in June of 1992 after expressing a plan for suicide. "ct (client) had voiced suicidal ideation to folks at detention center re: hanging himself. (page 28)" This was part of a manipulative "suicide pact" with his girlfriend, Deanna Holcomb. After they were separated, he admitted the plan was conditional: "Ct. readily admits suicidal plan - 'It would have been necessary if her parents would have let us see each other.' (sic) " (p. 28 - perhaps this is an error in transcription, meaning instead if parents would not let them see each other and consistent with other times in which it is referenced, e.g., p. 469) . Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 28 This suicidal pact is not referred to many times for greater clarification. A further note is made on page 145. "At this time Damien was in Charter Hospital in Little Rock Arkansas when he had been hospitalized for 6 weeks after running off w/ girlfriend + both threatening to kill themselves when they were picked up." (A note of correction: his stay was approximately three weeks.) His hospitalization at St. Vincent's Hospital in Oregon was also precipitated by threats of suicide. The police report, however, shows a minimal story: On 9-1-92 at 8:57 pm, I contacted Joe Hutchison his daughter Michelle + his son Michael who Joe learned was contemplating suicide. The only evidence that I could find to support this was the fact that Michelle told me that last night she had asked Michael if he was thinking about suicide + he responded "yes." Michelle said she asked Michael when he would commit suicide, he responded "soon." However, Michael denied that he was considering suicide, although he admitted to being depressed. After talking with Michael, I was able to convince Michael to let his parents take him to St. Vincents hospital to be seen by their staff. Michael agreed. (Washington County, OR, Dept. of Public Safety, Miscellaneous Service Report, Officer Ortez) Once at the hospital, Echols' story became far more dramatic and specific: ". . . he talks about drinking a bottle of bleach. . . Pt. told sister that he would be killing himself in the next 3 days. Pt. has made threats to kill himself by hanging w/ bed sheet or tying socks together. . ." (p. 145) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 145 Along with many notes of suicidal ideation, there is one that has Damien claiming he attempted suicide in the past. There is no supporting record that this had occurred. ". . . stated he had attempted suicide before and 'was not worried about trying again because I know I can come back.' (p. 427)" This chilling statement, claiming belief in reincarnation, effectively strips his threats of any real consequence to himself. In contrast, there is another notation where past suicide attempts are specifically denied (p. 220), demonstrating Echols' willingness to change his story. There is also a note stating that he attempted suicide while in detention. "In Juv. detention past 2 wks. and co sherriff reports pt. tried to hang himself w/a bed sheet while there" (p. 168) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 168 After his arrest for the murder of the children, on June 8, 1993, Damien attempted suicide by saving his antidepressant pills and then overdosing. This appears to have been a half-hearted gesture or a bid for attention, as he quickly informed his jailers of his overdose. Damien made various declarations of cutting and burning himself, often as part of his persona-building. Sometimes this was done to create tattoos. The methods of self-mutilation described are: cutting with knives, burning with a lighter, and burning using heated thumbtacks. It was noted he had cuts on his hand and arm (page 54), a self-made tattoo on his chest (the symbol of Venus or female, page 280), an undescribed tattoo on his hand (p. 373), and, most notably, the letters E-V-I-L on his fingers (p. 130). These tattoos, like his stories, seemed to shift; they faded, and with different hospitalizations, different tattoos were noted. Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 280 Damien described past experimentation with a long list of drugs/compounds: gasoline, propane, spray paint, glue, cocaine, acid, marijuana, speed, caffeine (sodas), tobacco (1 1/2 packs per day), and alcohol (ps. 234, 105, 168, 227, others). He then denied regular use (other than tobacco) and offered the convenient excuse that he had given them up because they "interfered with his religious practices." Tellingly, in his two drug tox screenings taken three months apart, he was negative for all drugs tested, including alcohol (ps. 251, 397). The claims appear to be more posturing. Suicide note fronm Michael Damien Hutchison, June 8, 1993. Threatening Harm to Others Damien Echols' history is not one of a passive, misunderstood teen. His mental health records in Exhibit 500 are replete with instances where he allegedly threatened to harm or kill numerous people in his life: His mother. His father. The younger children in the house. His girlfriend's father. His girlfriend's mother. The police. These are not isolated incidents but a clear pattern of behavior. Threats to His Family The allegation that Echols threatened to kill his parents appears multiple times in his records. While the exact sequence of events is muddled—a useful confusion for Echols' defense—the specifics are damning. A note from a social worker on page 145, citing an interview with Echols' own parents, is explicit: "17 yr old male brought to ER by mother + natural father because pt has been increasing depressed + has been making statement daily that he was going to kill himself or others. . . told grandmother today he would cut his mother's throat." This specific, violent threat against his mother is part of a larger pattern. Did Echols threaten his father, Joe Hutchison? His father later tried to downplay the incident that led to the Oregon hospitalization, recasting it as a situation where Damien was merely suicidal. This attempt to protect his son, however, contradicts the contemporaneous records. The hospital notes are clear that the parents themselves reported the threat: "...admitted to St. Vincent's 'because of the parents calling the police and his being admitted through the Emergency Room because of alleged threat to the parents.'" (p. 102) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 102 Echols' threats to kill and even eat his father were documented repeatedly as the reason for his hospitalization and parole revocation. Damien reportedly threatened to kill his father while in Oregon and also threatened to eat him. Damien was subsequently placed in St. Vincent's Hospital... Damien, however, denies this. (p. 82) Threaten to kill dad - when went into hospital in Oregon. (p. 360) "Threatened to kill his father and subsequently father had him placed in Juvenile Detention Center in Oregon." (p. 407) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 407 Jerry Driver provided a firsthand account of this, stating Joe Hutchison called him directly: Um, the dad called me and said that he was he didn't, he did not say anything about weapons, uh he said that he intended, that Damien intended to kill him. . . Um, he uh, he called me up and said that they had sent him home... because he went crazy one night and threatened to kill me and we went the hospital and he jump around and said he was going to eat me. He said come on I'm going to eat you up. . . Driver is then listed as the source for these chilling entries: threats to kill dad. Threats to live (sic) both parent (slash threats eat alive). (p. 366) While in Oregon, several times had threatened to kill his father. On one occasion, Damien made a plan to "slash my parents' throats and eat them alive." (p. 374) This incident was the direct cause for his probation being revoked upon his return to Arkansas: Violation of probation by threatening the life of his mother and father and refusing to obey their lawful commands. (p. 345) ... picked up for violation of probation threatened to slit parents throat and eat them alive. (p. 357) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 357 Most telling is an admission from Echols himself, recorded at the juvenile detention center: "He also told staff he threatened to kill his father, and eat him." (p. 464) He even confirmed the threat in court. While trying to quibble over the location of the event, he admitted to the core of the act: Echols: They called the police because I was locking myself in my room and was about to commit suicide. Davis: And you had some knives in there with you, too, didn't you? Echols: Yes. Davis: And when your father came in, you told him you would eat him alive, didn't you? Echols: No, that happened at the hospital. The record also notes that "They are frightened of him and what he can do, not only to them but to other children that reside in the home (2 others). (p. 150)" Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 150 Damien Echols in his backyard. This photo is believed to have been taken after the murders and before the arrests. Threats to Others Echols' threats were not limited to his family. When he and Deanna Holcomb were arrested in the vacant trailer, the official police report is sparse: 5/19/92, 4:45 pm. Crittenden County Sheriff Department. ...Officer Stone... located these defendants inside the closet area of a vacant mobile home... and observed that both subjects were partially nude from the waist down. ...charged both subjects with Bruglary and Sexual Misconduct. ...Investigating officers John L. Murray/Inv. and Joe Stone, MPD. While the arrest report lists only burglary and sexual misconduct, "terroristic threatening" immediately became part of his record. Jerry Driver informed the Oregon parole officer: "Damion threatened to kill his girlfriend's parents." (p. 467). This "fact" was then repeated in his files: "Damien was on probation due to threatening to kill his girlfriend's parents." (p. 82, 368, 405). A note scribbled on a hospital intake sheet, while containing other errors, includes a shockingly specific threat: Damien and his girlfriend were having sex when arrested. Burglarly, breaking entering, disorderly conduct, sexual misconduct, terroristic threatening in which he threatened to kill a guy and throw in the front lawn. (p 168) Echols' own version of events, while self-serving, reveals the truth. He told a social worker that his girlfriend's father "became verbally abusive, and at times, threatening." (p. 232). He then admitted to his own violent response—not as an action, but as a cold, detailed "murderous ideation." Damien states that he was able to work his fingers loose, moved over and was able to slip the safety off of the police officer's gun which had been left in the police vehicle. Damien freely admitted he had plans to shoot the girlfriend's father if he acted in an aggressive manner toward the girl. (p. 383) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 383 This fantasy—where he imagines himself freeing his fingers just enough to slip the safety off an officer's gun to commit murder—is a chilling window into his mind. It is not the fantasy of a romantic "young love" (p. 29), but a detailed, homicidal plan. Finally, the record notes a direct admission of his threatening nature: "Hx has been dictated as of this date 9/16/92. . . .has agreed to threatening to "kill" others (particularly male authority figures)." (p. 417, "kill" in quotations in original) Deanna Holcomb Acts of Aggression Echols' history of violence was not confined to threats and ideation; it included physical acts. Chased child with ax. Initiates fights at school/aggression toward others. Attempted to claw out schoolmate's eyes. Started fires. The allegation that he "chased a younger child with an ax and attempted to set a house on fire" is noted, though he denied it (p. 92). But his record of fighting peers is well-documented and specific. Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 92 He admitted to multiple acts of aggression: Did bite a male peer. (p. 84) Time out for physical contact c peer - during processing pt admitted he kicked peer & knew appropriate alternatives. Initially denied contact, but was compliant c time out. (p. 308) The most disturbing incident is his "attempt to enucleate a peer's eye at school" (p. 92). He openly admitted to this: "Damien admits to a hx of violence. He says he attempted to enucleate a peer @ school." His "reason" for this violence is perhaps the most damning admission in the entire file, a sociopathic statement devoid of empathy or anger: Admits to having been suspended 7x this past semester for initiating fights at school; starting small fires, cussing." States in one fight he almost gouged out the victim's eyes. Denies feeling violent - sees it as a release - "Sometimes I have to do this not because of being angry – sometimes I'm confused." (p. 29) He sees violence as a "release" he "has to do." That he was only suspended for three days is irrelevant; the admission of the act and the motive is what matters. This was not idle posturing; his fingernails were described as being "filed to a point" (p. 38). Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 38 His firestarting was also documented. He admitted to starting two fires at school (p. 236), one in chemistry class (p. 279). One incident is described in bizarre detail: Wet toilet paper roll threw it against a light bulb it exploded started a fire, rolled himself in a blanket. . . watching fire was bored. (p. 178) In summary, contrary to the narrative of a peaceful "loner," Echols had a documented history of escalating violence, anti-social behavior, and a cold, detached justification for his aggression. Blood Sucking and Vampirism On September 14, 1992, Damien Echols was remanded to Charter Hospital for his second stay. The precipitating event was an incident at the Craighead County Juvenile Detention Center where he assaulted a fellow inmate. The official letter from the detention center provides the core, undisputed fact: One of the boys scraped his arm a little, it was bleeding some. Without warning, Damien grabbed the arm that was bleeding, and began to suck the blood from it. (page 464) Satanic Graffiti, West Memphis. While Echols' defenders would later try to dismiss this as a minor, isolated event, the contemporaneous reports from his probation officer, Jerry Driver, paint a far more violent and disturbing picture, revealing the true nature of the assault: Call from Jerry Driver. . . Presenting problems: psychosis homicidal. . .Notes: Knocked him down to the ground, sucked the blood from the arm, rubbed it over his face and body, and say he is a blood sucking vampire. . . also grabbed another person and tried to suck their blood. (p. 341). This report of a violent, predatory attack was entered into his file. In several subsequent descriptions, the assault is even more specific: While at the Dentention Center he reportedly grabbed a peer and began "sucking blood from the peer's neck." (p. 82, similar in others) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 82 In Echols' own clinical assessment, a denial is added, but it's telling. He isn't denying the act, but quibbling over the label: Transferred to Crittenden, one of the kids at the detention hall cut his wrists, Damien grabbed his arm and began to the suck the blood smeared it over his body and said he's a devil worshipping vampire. Says he's not a vampire but a witch. (p. 357) This pattern of admitting to the act while redefining its "meaning" is classic Echols. Jerry Driver’s report further solidifies the incident: Informants 15 yo Damine Echols Jerry Driver probations officer. Quality/Reliability of Data Received reliable . . . Hit male who cut wrists sucked blood of male. Smeared blood on self. Made statements indicating belief he is a vampire who worships the devil. (p. 366) These details—the assault, the smearing of blood, the declarations of being a "devil worshipping vampire"—were repeatedly entered into his permanent record. "Damien, at that time, stated he was a white witch who worshipped the devil." (p. 375) This quote is immediately followed by: "Major symptoms at the time of this admission do include a pattern of bizarre behavior and unusual thought processes, including Damien's belief that he is a vampire and that he does worship the devil." Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 375 This behavior was so established that it made its way into his formal therapy plan. Under "Psychotic Disorder," his "manifestations" are listed as: "Damien grabbed a peer and began to suck the blood out of his neck. He and his girlfriend had planned on having a baby boy & then sacrifice the baby." (p. 403) In some instances, the file notes Echols admitted to the act, offering a manipulative excuse: "Damien indicated he sucked blood to get into gang." (p. 417) Whether he did it for a "gang" or for his own rituals is irrelevant. He admitted to the act. The most chilling context, however, comes from Echols himself. He openly stated that he voluntarily drank blood from others as part of a ritual for power: Damien explained that he obtains his power by drinking blood of others. He typically drinks the blood of a sexual partner or of a ruling partner. This is achieved by biting or cutting. He states "it makes me feel like a God." Damien describes drinking blood as giving him more power and strength. He remembers doing this as far back as age 10. (p. 52) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 52 This admission—"it makes me feel like a God"—provides the true motive for his assault in the detention center. It was not a bizarre, isolated incident; it was an act of predation by someone who admittedly drinks human blood to feel powerful. Plans to Sacrifice His Child to Satan This allegation, arguably the most disturbing, appears twelve times in his mental health notes. It is not a passing "rumor" but a consistent, documented fear among those around him. Reportedly, Damien and his girlfriend were going to have a boy and sacrifice the baby. (p. 82, 368, 403, 456.) Jerry Driver, his probation officer, took the threat seriously enough to officially warn Oregon authorities: Damion and his girlfriend were planning to have a child, so that they could offer it as a sacrifice to Satan. (p. 468) Made pact girlfriend & Devil to sacrifice 1st born (p. 175) Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 467 Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 468 Echols, naturally, denied this. But his denial is bundled with other known falsehoods: ...he admantly denied such and indicated again, as he had throughout the course of the psychosocial interview, that he did not believe in satanic worship, that he was practicing black magic, and he had no intention of sacrifice, nor would he ever. (p. 236, 381) His claim that he "was practicing black magic" while "not believ in satanic worship" is a meaningless semantic game. The most damning statement came from his girlfriend, Deanna Holcomb, the other half of the "pact." She later confirmed the plan to detectives: Det. Ridge: How are you and Damien connected? Deanna Holcomb: I ran away with Damien... I found out that he plained to kill our first born if it was a girl. Damien would not do it he is a coward and would have tried to get me to do it. Even after this relationship ended, Driver’s concern was transferred to Echols' new girlfriend, Domini Teer, who was pregnant at the time of the murders. Driver’s 1993 interview shows his ongoing fear for the safety of this new child: Domini and Damien get back together what. . ., what happens they have a baby. I'm very concerned about that... I don't have any, any further contact with her other than. ., than just telling DHS what I know about it, so they can take their action. (Driver, Dec. 1993) Satanism/Demonism/Witchcraft Did Damien worship Satan? His file is filled with his attempts to deny it, but his own admissions and the observations of his caretakers say otherwise. Jerry Driver was, from the beginning, focused on this as the root of his behavior: 6/10 Referral communication - spoke with Jerry Driver concerning Damien. Mr. Driver was very focused on the the pt. alleaged satanic involvement. (p. 298) Echols' denials were clearly not believed by the hospital staff, who made his "Satan worshipping" a formal part of his treatment plan. His in-house teacher wrote: Damien will demonstrate improved judgment and peer relations by making better decisions regarding peer groups and activities (ie, Satan worshipping and other cult behaviors). (p.387) The nursing notes are blunt: "Exhibiting satanism behavior" (p. 398) and "draws Satanic drawing and writes bizarre poetry" (ps. 428-9). The file also notes his parents' concern that he was into Satanism (p. 104). The staff clearly saw "witchcraft" and "Satanism" as one and the same, based on Echols' own statements: "Information was obtained from 15-year-old Damien Echols and his probation officer... Damien believes he is a 'white witch' who practices witchcraft and does worship the devil." (p. 374) Echols' attempts to distinguish between "Wicca" and "Satanism" were a transparent lie. He admitted "True" to the MMPI question, "Evil spirits possess me at times." (p. 206). He elaborated on this possession to his therapists: "Damien relates that a spirit is now living with him. The spirit was put inside him last year... This is reportedly a spirit of a woman who was killed by her husband... In addition, he also reports conversations with demons and other spirits. This is achieved through rituals. He denies that he is satanic, seeing himself more as being involved in demonology." (p. 52) He "denies that he is satanic," but in the same breath admits to being "involved in demonology" and having "conversations with demons." A social worker on page 375 cuts through this manipulation, writing that Echols "readily answered questions concerning his religious beliefs and the fact that he is a vampire and does worship the devil." The social worker concluded: "It was the social worker's opinion that Damien was not disclosing information for the purposes of schock, that he was simply disclosing what he is currently believing." page 375. Perhaps most telling, when asked who he'd like to meet, Echols listed Anton LaVey, the founder of the Church of Satan (p. 490). Medical Records - Exhibit 500 p 490 His file is not a record of a boy accused of Satanism; it is a record of a boy who admitted to worshiping the devil, conversing with demons, being possessed, and drinking blood to feel like a god. His attempts to rebrand himself as a "white witch" or "Wiccan" were manipulative ploys that his own doctors and probation officers saw through. Damien Echols, in his backyard. When he arrived in Oregon, he made one last-ditch effort to clean his record for a new audience. In discussing the assertions of Mr. Driver, Damion had the following responses: Damion denies any involvement in satanic cult or beliefs in Satanism... Damion denies ever making threats of killing his girlfriend's parents. Damion acknowledges he is a witch... (p. 469) This statement, where he denies everything he had previously been documented as admitting, perfectly illustrates his manipulative character. The note ends with a final, revealing detail: At this time, Damion indicates he is in the process of having his name changed from Damion back to Michael Damion Wayne Hutchinson. Damion is currently going by the name of Michael at his work place. (p. 469) The "Damien" persona, with all its satanic trappings, was being shed for a new "Michael" persona, just as his story changed to fit his needs. Damien's Health Profile A sketch Echols made while in Charter Hospital. At his September 1992 admission to Charter Hospital, Damien Echols was listed as 5 ft. 8 in, 168 lbs. (p. 385). He identified as heterosexual (p. 226, 363) and, in a typical example of his shifting stories, claimed to have had two sexual partners in the past three months during his June intake (p. 226), which then changed to four partners by his September intake (p. 363). While some staff noted his intelligence as "average" (p. 101, p. 188), others who saw through his manipulations described him as being of "above average intelligence" (p. 147, 366), a fact consistent with his clear ability to craft new personas. He also presented with a list of physical complaints, including allergies (p. 372), asthma (p. 222), sinusitis (p. 409), headaches (p. 222), and "occasional heart palpitations" (p. 362, others). Damien's Psychological Profile Clinicians struggled to apply a single label to Echols' behavior. While the most common diagnosis was depression (consistent with his manipulative suicidal gestures), he was also given a diagnosis of "R/O psychotic disorder NOS" (p. 101, others), a catch-all term for his bizarre and unreal thought processes. At other times, terms like "bipolar disorder" (p. 101, others) and "dysthymia" (p. 170, others) were used. What was consistent, however, was his own grandiose narcissism. His file is littered with comments like, "I know I'm going to influence the world - people will remember m" (sic, p. 50) and that he "feels he is smarter than everyone else" (p. 20). He even passed along the story that someone at the hospital told him "he could be another Charles Manson or Ted Bundy" (p. 50)—a comparison he clearly savored. The most accurate and chilling assessment comes from his Million Adolescent Psychological Inventory (MAPI). The test results (p. 212) paint a perfect picture of a budding sociopath: Fearing that others will dominate and possibly brutalize him, he puts forward a socially blunt and aggressive public posture. He fantasizes being all powerful so as to block others from possessing the means to be belittling and harmful. . . . Closeness to others, displaying weakness, and a willingness to compromise are seen as fatal concessions. This teenager believes that past degradations may be undone by provoking fear and intimidation in others. Often loses temper, gets into fights, and acts in a daring fashion. (p. 212-3) While his file contains notes of him performing pro-social behaviors for his therapists—transparent attempts at manipulation—his true nature is best summarized by his own words. When asked what he liked about himself, Echols gave this chilling, proud admission: "I feel good about myself and the things I like about myself are that my will can not be bent and the ability to scare people." (p. 487) Damien Echols, looking away. The debate over the lack of DNA evidence and the coerced confessions will likely never end, but it almost misses the point. Reading Echols' own words in Exhibit 500—his admissions of violence, his chillingly detached motives, and his pride in "the ability to scare people"—paints a portrait of one of the most disturbed and dangerous individuals I have ever read about. Whether he was guilty of this specific, horrific crime or not, it is hard to argue that his 18 years on death row were a complete miscarriage of justice; based on his documented trajectory, those two decades of incarceration likely saved other innocent lives. Since his release in 2011, Echols has become a celebrated author and artist. He and his wife moved to Salem, Massachusetts, where he now reportedly practices high magic. This new life seems to be a direct continuation of his old one; it is impossible to ignore that a man who once admitted to drinking blood because it "makes me feel like a God" has now dedicated his freedom to the same dark rituals that defined him as a teenager. If he has cleaned up his life, good for him. I am rooting for him to stay on the right path. But being off the streets for 18 years was probably a wonderful thing for humanity, as the things I have read and wrote here are, to my understanding, all very accurate. In my opinion, they had it right! GUILTY!!! David Becker is the founder and editor of Retro-Replay. While his primary passion is retro gaming, he has spent over a year conducting an in-depth investigation into the West Memphis Three case, focusing on the original psychiatric and court records. This article is a direct result of that research, based entirely on the 500-page 'Exhibit 500' file entered into evidence by Echols' own defense team."

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Satanic Panic or Sociopath? A Retro Replay Look at Echols’ Exhibit 500