This article is 1993 The Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal
POLICE COMMENTS
Date: June 5, 1993 Section: News Page: A8 Illustration: photo Edition: Final
Here are transcribed highlights of West Memphis police Insp. Gary Gitchell's Friday news conference announcing the arrest of three suspects in the killings of three 8-year-old boys in early May. Gitchell: Yesterday it was four weeks since the . . . murders of the three young boys. . . . The officers behind me are officers that worked very hard on this case. I can't have enough praise for them. They're the No. 1 group I want to thank at this time. Secondly, I want to thank the citizens of West Memphis for the information they gave, for the personal support that they gave us - cards, letters, personal phone calls, even bringing food to us when they knew we were there working all night.
Thirdly, I want to thank our mayor and chief of police. They allowed us to do our job. They never put the pressure on us. They allowed us to do what we knew had to be done. And without that support it would have been a very difficult case to follow up on and do the type of work we had to do.
. . . Many of you are aware by Arkansas law there is not a lot I can divulge about the case as for evidence or what we may have recovered. . . . I will take questions. But please bear with me; I may not be able to comment on them and I will tell you that I won't be able to comment.
Q - Were they suspects in the beginning?
A - Two names were at the top of the list and a third name came along later. But as I told you all earlier, at the beginning of this case we had a lot of things to work on and prepare and get before we could get to the point where we are at today.
Q - Did these three suspects know the boys?
A - I am not aware that they did.
Q - Was there a cult?
A - I cannot comment on that.
Q - Did any of them make a confession or make any statements to police?
A - I am not allowed to release that.
Q - Have you briefed the family members of the victims as to what's going on?
A - Yes, I have.
Q - And what was their reaction?
A - They are very happy, jubilant - a lot of mixed emotions. They had faith in us. The family stuck with us the entire time. They were also very supportive of us.
Q - Did the amount of money in the reward come into play at all?
A - No sir, it did not.
Q - Difficult case?
A - This, I can honestly say, was the most difficult case that the Police Department in West Memphis has ever had. . . . It was a very difficult case, one that we knew that it would take a lot of time on.
Q - Did the FBI help?
A - We have an FBI agent that is among this group. They did assist us very much in the case. As for their total involvement, I am not allowed to get into.
Q - Can you now tell us the extent of the injuries or whether or not it was any sexual overtones in this case or any mutilations or molestations?
A - I am not allowed to comment on that. All of that will be coming forth . . . in court.
Q - Do you expect any more arrests in this case?
A - I don't expect to, no.
Q - Did the suspects go to any of the kids' funerals?
A - I am not aware that they did.
Q - Did they have jobs . . .?
A - Let's see. Mr. Echols gives an occupation as a roofer. I do not know if he was employed at the time. I do not see any employment on Mr. Misskelley. And I see that Mr. Baldwin was a student at Marion High School.
Q - What about a weapon? Did you recover a weapon?
A - I couldn't address that, sorry.
Q - Are you worried about security at the arraignment?
A - Security has been taken care of. People will be checked by metal detectors and there will be a limited number of people coming in.
Q - Can parents allow kids in West Memphis to go out and play normally?
A - I think all parents need to always know where their children are at, who they are playing with and what location they are at. Definitely this particular area of West Memphis. It's in a residential area and for many years kids have played there, but it is plain that it is a dangerous area and I believe kids should stay away from there and I would recommend that. But I think parents have got to have responsibility. And it's sad to say that this has shocked everyone especially in our commun ity and surrounding areas to the point that parents need to keep maybe a closer eye on their children.
Q - Did any of the boys resist the suspects?
A - That is going to be an issue that will be brought forward during trial, so if I give that information we could taint it.
Q - What else can you tell us about the suspects? Members of a gang?
A - They were all friends. That's basically all I can relate in regards to that.
The Commercial Appeal
POLICE COMMENTS
Date: June 5, 1993 Section: News Page: A8 Illustration: photo Edition: Final
Here are transcribed highlights of West Memphis police Insp. Gary Gitchell's Friday news conference announcing the arrest of three suspects in the killings of three 8-year-old boys in early May. Gitchell: Yesterday it was four weeks since the . . . murders of the three young boys. . . . The officers behind me are officers that worked very hard on this case. I can't have enough praise for them. They're the No. 1 group I want to thank at this time. Secondly, I want to thank the citizens of West Memphis for the information they gave, for the personal support that they gave us - cards, letters, personal phone calls, even bringing food to us when they knew we were there working all night.
Thirdly, I want to thank our mayor and chief of police. They allowed us to do our job. They never put the pressure on us. They allowed us to do what we knew had to be done. And without that support it would have been a very difficult case to follow up on and do the type of work we had to do.
. . . Many of you are aware by Arkansas law there is not a lot I can divulge about the case as for evidence or what we may have recovered. . . . I will take questions. But please bear with me; I may not be able to comment on them and I will tell you that I won't be able to comment.
Q - Were they suspects in the beginning?
A - Two names were at the top of the list and a third name came along later. But as I told you all earlier, at the beginning of this case we had a lot of things to work on and prepare and get before we could get to the point where we are at today.
Q - Did these three suspects know the boys?
A - I am not aware that they did.
Q - Was there a cult?
A - I cannot comment on that.
Q - Did any of them make a confession or make any statements to police?
A - I am not allowed to release that.
Q - Have you briefed the family members of the victims as to what's going on?
A - Yes, I have.
Q - And what was their reaction?
A - They are very happy, jubilant - a lot of mixed emotions. They had faith in us. The family stuck with us the entire time. They were also very supportive of us.
Q - Did the amount of money in the reward come into play at all?
A - No sir, it did not.
Q - Difficult case?
A - This, I can honestly say, was the most difficult case that the Police Department in West Memphis has ever had. . . . It was a very difficult case, one that we knew that it would take a lot of time on.
Q - Did the FBI help?
A - We have an FBI agent that is among this group. They did assist us very much in the case. As for their total involvement, I am not allowed to get into.
Q - Can you now tell us the extent of the injuries or whether or not it was any sexual overtones in this case or any mutilations or molestations?
A - I am not allowed to comment on that. All of that will be coming forth . . . in court.
Q - Do you expect any more arrests in this case?
A - I don't expect to, no.
Q - Did the suspects go to any of the kids' funerals?
A - I am not aware that they did.
Q - Did they have jobs . . .?
A - Let's see. Mr. Echols gives an occupation as a roofer. I do not know if he was employed at the time. I do not see any employment on Mr. Misskelley. And I see that Mr. Baldwin was a student at Marion High School.
Q - What about a weapon? Did you recover a weapon?
A - I couldn't address that, sorry.
Q - Are you worried about security at the arraignment?
A - Security has been taken care of. People will be checked by metal detectors and there will be a limited number of people coming in.
Q - Can parents allow kids in West Memphis to go out and play normally?
A - I think all parents need to always know where their children are at, who they are playing with and what location they are at. Definitely this particular area of West Memphis. It's in a residential area and for many years kids have played there, but it is plain that it is a dangerous area and I believe kids should stay away from there and I would recommend that. But I think parents have got to have responsibility. And it's sad to say that this has shocked everyone especially in our commun ity and surrounding areas to the point that parents need to keep maybe a closer eye on their children.
Q - Did any of the boys resist the suspects?
A - That is going to be an issue that will be brought forward during trial, so if I give that information we could taint it.
Q - What else can you tell us about the suspects? Members of a gang?
A - They were all friends. That's basically all I can relate in regards to that.
