Copyright 1994, The Commercial Appeal
The Commercial Appeal (Memphis)
February 7, 1994, Monday, Final Edition
SECTION: METRO, Pg. 1B
LENGTH: 496 words
HEADLINE: 'I'll never make it . . . never . . . come home'
Misskelley fears prison, weeps, says dad
BYLINE: (AP)
DATELINE: MARION, Ark.
BODY:
Just before sheriff's deputies took him to prison to begin a life
sentence in the murders of three young boys, 18-year-old Jessie Lloyd
Misskelley Jr. wept.
''He said, 'I'll never make it down there. I'll never get out and
come home,' '' said his father, Jessie Lloyd Misskelley Sr., of
Marion. ''I told him, 'You're stronger than that; you're stronger than
me.' ''
Friday, Misskelley was convicted in Corning of first-degree murder
in the death of Michael Moore and of second-degree murder in the
deaths of Christopher Byers and Steve Branch. He was sentenced to life
in Moore's death and a total of 40 years in the deaths of the other
two boys.
The three 8-year-olds were found in a watery ditch May 6 near
their West Memphis homes. Their hands and feet were tied. They had
been beaten, and Byers had been castrated.
Co-defendants Charles Jason Baldwin, 16, of Marion and Damien
Wayne Echols, 19, of West Memphis are to be tried Feb. 22 in
Jonesboro.
Misskelley was to be admitted into the state Correction Department
at the Pine Bluff unit but could end up at Varner, where many younger
prisoners serve their sentences.
During his trial, his lawyers argued he had the mind of a 7- or
8-year-old and was easily manipulated. They presented testimony from
experts to support their contention that police coerced Misskelley
into confessing he helped round up the boys for Baldwin and Echols and
witnessed the murderous attack.
Meanwhile, lawyers for Baldwin and Echols are assessing how
Misskelley's trial will affect the case against their clients.
''Everything that occurred at that trial has some effect on our
trial,'' Paul Ford, an attorney for Baldwin, said. ''Some is good,
some is bad, but because of the nature of (the upcoming trial), I
can't say anything right now.''
Ford said he was concerned about the media coverage of
Misskelley's trial, adding that ''everyone knows what is going on.
That will affect our ability to have a fair trial.''
Under court rulings, Misskelley's confession is considered
inadmissible in the trial of Baldwin and Echols. He also cannot be
forced to testify at the trial.
Val Price, an attorney for Echols, said he wasn't sure whether
prosecutors could lower Misskelley's sentence if he agrees to testify.
Ford also is concerned that the upcoming trial will become
emotionally charged, as Misskelley's did with victims' relatives
quickly leaving the courtroom during graphic testimony.
Throughout the trial, the victims' mothers wore red ribbons pinned
in place with an angel pin. Misskelley's family and friends wore
yellow ribbons emblazoned with the name ''Jessie Jr.''
Ford has filed motions asking the court to forbid any witness who
is not a member of a victim's family from wearing pins. He also asked
the judge to ban ''emotional exits from the courtroom.''
