17 yr. old male brought to ER by mother & natural father because [patient] has been increasing depressed & has been making statements daily that he was going to kill himself or others. Mom states Damien is on probation for terroristic threatening & breaking & entering. Dad says that Damien has been sniffing gasoline & that at dinner table tonight he talks about drinking a bottle of bleach & that it would be over soon. [Patient] told sister that he would be killing himself in the next 3 days. [Patient] has made threats to kill himself by hanging w/bed sheet or tying socks together & told grandmother today that he would cut his mother’s throat.46
September 2nd, 1992
Medical Record Report
Dr. Milan Sosnovec
He apparently has had thoughts of harming himself by his report to the family members, even though he denies that. He has talked about drinking lye or some type of bleach that would kill himself, he has also apparently told his sister that he won’t be around much longer. The parents are concerned that he is also into Satanism or Devil worship. He apparently has a number of items that relates to this...
… The patient denies suicidal or homicidal ideation at this time, however, in talking with family members, they state that he made it quite clear that he had thoughts of harming other people, i.e. was going to cut the throat of his mother and has said so in the past and also apparently made some verbal threats to his father here at St. Vincent Hospital even...
Mother and father state that he apparently has sniffed propane, glue, gasoline and almost any other drug that is possible, but he denies that, especially over the last four months.47
What he screamed at his father at the hospital was “I’ll eat you alive.” Granted a self-administered test by the hospital, he wrote that both his parents were “stupid” and never disciplined him.48
A handwritten note in the Physician’s Progress Report on September 2nd also reported:
Parents visited in alcove @12:30 he stated visit did not go well, he was tearful and would not discuss visit other than to say, “I no longer have parents.” Other staff overheard him begging them to take him home...they refused.49
September 4th, 1992
Medical Record Report
St. Vincent Hospital
There has been considerable conflict between him and his parents through the years regarding his behavior in which he has threatened to harm himself in the context of a host of legal difficulties for which he is accountable to a parole officer in Arkansas. He readily admits to charges of breaking and entering and inappropriate sexual conduct toward others.50
September 4th, 1992
Social Service Assessment
Briefly, Pam stated that she has had difficulty with Damien since he was 10 years old. He always tended to be an angry child and somewhat difficult to manage, particularly through his adolescent years. She is convinced he is into activities, such as witchcraft and is very concerned about the quality of friends that he developed while living in Arkansas. For this reason, she felt coming to Oregon would be a new beginning for him...Because of the circumstances that precipitated the hospitalization and Damien’s threats, particularly towards his father and of course his mother, both parents do not feel that they wish to have him return to their home. They are frightened of him and what he can do, not only to them but to other children that reside in the home.51
January 1st, 1993
Initial Assessment
Admits to feeling “neutral, nothing most of the time.” Admitted to a “history of self mutilation--cutting himself with knives and razors.” Reports that he sleeps most of the day, then goes to his girlfriend’s house. Said that he would “trance out” when by himself and had done that since the 5th grade. “It feels good” he told the clinical social worker, Sherry Dockins. He added that he thinks about life after death. “I want to go where the monsters go.” Admitted to use of alcohol, cocaine, LSD, and marijuana. He admitted again that he was caught with Satanic items and that the authorities think of him as “a Satanic leader.” Repeated his claim that he has been interested in witchcraft for eight years, stating he has tried to steal someone else's energy and influence their minds with witchcraft. He “pretty much hates the human race, and felt that “people were of two classes: wolves and sheep. Wolves eat the sheep.”52 Mrs. Dockins related that Echol’s wore all black and a silver cross and maintained intense eye contact throughout the interview.53
Joe Hutchison, Damien’s father, volunteered that he barely knew his own son. His mother told authorities that she didn’t want him around. St. Vincent released Damien on September 4. The final entry in his Physician’s Progress Report stated:
Because of the circumstances that precipitated the hospitalization and Damien’s threats, particularly towards his father and of course his mother, both parents do not feel that they wish to have him return to their home. 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).
Damien does not want to remain in Oregon. He wishes to return to Arkansas.54
Upon his release, Damien asked his parents for permission to return to Arkansas, which his father allowed. However, this would put him in violation of his Arkansas probation. Jerry Driver was notified that Damien was headed back to West Memphis. Upon his arrival, he was arrested and taken into custody and again he was sent back to the Juvenile Detention Center in Jonesboro. Shortly after his arrival at the facility, another young man in the common area scraped his arm, which started bleeding. Damien grabbed the boy’s arm and began to suck the warm blood.
The Director of the Craighead County Juvenile Detention Center, filed a report on the incident:
Approx. three hours after Damien arrived, he was sitting in Rec. area with several other residents. One of the boys had scraped his arm a little, and it was bleeding some. Without warning, Damien grabbed the arm that was bleeding, and began to suck the blood from it. The boys all stated he had been saying he had not taken his medication the night before, and he was about to “go off on them”. Damien was asked why he did this, and he stated “I don’t know.” He also told staff he had threatened to kill his father and eat him. For the safety and well being of other residents, Damien as asked to go to his room. He has been kept there until he was picked up for court. He hasn’t been a problem since, just some very strange actions at times. It is our opinion that Damien needs mental health treatment.55
September 10th, 1992
Psychological Assessment
Jonesboro Detention Center
Reported to the Detention Center authorities, they made the following psychological assessment on September 10th, 1992:
Presently in detention in Jonesboro, picked up for violation of probation, threatened to slit parents throat and eat them alive. 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. He is in isolation and suicide watch.56
The Juvenile authorities determined that Damien required mental health treatment.
September 14th, 1992
Admission Form
Charter Hospital of Little Rock
They ordered him back to Little Rock for a two week stay at the Charter mental health hospital. His case file diagnosed him as psychotic repeatedly in his initial assessment:
Identifying Data: Damien is a 17 year-old, white male who is in the custody of DHS. He is a court ordered admission.
Chief Complaint: “They say I suck blood.”
History of Present Illness: Reportedly, Damien and his girlfriend were going to have a boy and sacrifice they baby. Damien relates that he is a witch.
While at the Detention Center, he reportedly grabbed a peer and began “sucking blood from the peer’s neck”. According to Damien, he relates that the peer was aware he was going to do this. Staff reports that Damien was not remorseful for his behavior. Damien
indicated that he sucked blood to get into a gang. He denies that it was any type of ritual....The other peers were afraid of him. Damien denies that he rubbed the blood all over his face.
Judgment and Insight: He exhibits extremely poor judgment and has absolutely no insight into his illness.
Provisional Diagnoses: Psychotic disorder, not otherwise specified.57
September 15th, 1992
In a psychological evaluation dated September 15th, 1992, Echols offered his own account of the incident:
While at the Detention Center, he reportedly grabbed a peer and began “sucking blood from the peer’s neck”. According to Damien, he relates that the peer was aware that he was going to do this. Staff reports that Damien was not remorseful for his behavior. Damien indicated that he sucked blood in order to get into a gang. He denies that it was any type of ritual.
Damien reportedly threatened to kill his father while in Oregon and also threatened to eat him… Damien laughed when he was called “a blood sucking vampire”. He relates he does not know why people think this. He was placed in isolation in the Detention Center until he could be admitted to Charter Hospital. The other peers were afraid of him. Damien denies that he rubbed the blood all over his face.
… He denied intent to harm himself or others at the time of the exam. He did admit to sucking blood out of the peer’s neck. He related that the peer had hurt his neck, and he subsequently sucked the blood.58
September 15th, 1992
Psychosocial Assessment Update
Dr. W. Gallien
Damien believes that he is a “white witch’ who practices witchcraft and does worship the Devil. Damien’s behaviors have become frightening to some of the community members in the Jonesboro area.59
The social worker recollects the arrest of Damien and Deanna Holcomb, and then provides a narrative of the events that differ significantly from other accounts:
When police picked up both Damien and the girlfriend, Damien had made threats to kill the police officers...and had confessed to devil-worshipping behaviors and activities. Damien had been suspected of involvement in these behaviors before their runaway arrests. The family chose to move to Oregon to avoid the “harassment” that would have followed them back into the community...On one occasion, Damien made a plan to “slash my parents’ throats and eat them alive...”60
The precipitating event contributing to hospitalization is that Damien is reported to have witnessed an individual slash his wrist. Damien was reportedly observed knocking the young man to the ground, was observed sucking the wrists of the young man and smearing his blood over Damien’s body. Damien, at that time, stated he was a white witch who worshipped the devil. Major symptoms at the time of this admission do include a pattern of bizarre and unusual thought processes, including Damien’s belief that he is a vampire and that he does worship the Devil. Damien has made several statements indicating that he has a desire to harm others. Primary targets of his aggression do include authority figures.61
Damien Echols was able to answer all the questions that were posed to him in an intelligent and factual manner. He seemed to withhold no information and readily answered questions concerning his religious beliefs and the fact that he believes that he is a vampire and does worship the devil. It was the social worker’s opinion that Damien was not disclosing information for the purposes of shock, that he was simply disclosing what he currently is believing. Damien did appear to be oriented to person, place and time. He was not evidencing any psychotic symptomatology at the time the interview was being completed. However, his behaviors could best be described as odd and bizarre. Damien smiled at inappropriate times. He cut his eyes back and forth as if he was responding to external stimulation. He seemed to be giggling at something that he was saying or a private joke that was unknown to this social worker.62
Workers at the mental institution made notes of his strange behavior:
An educational therapist reported that Damien “glorified cult behaviors with peers – possibly for attention and shock factor” and “would frequently make growling noises to scare the other students and to get their attention”. A treatment note dated 9/17/92 noted, “Unusual behaviors centered around his occult involvement. Using his experiences to arouse interest in peers. Could be danger to others.” A nurse reported the same day, “continuing to make bizarre sounds around peers … continuous talk of Satanism to peers”. The next day, a nurse wrote, “continues laughing strangely and getting peers to feed into his Satanism”. According to his discharge summary, “He did not demonstrate bizarre and unusual behavior with exception on one occasion, he did bite a male peer; however, this was in a fight type manner.”63
The detailed records of both of his stays in the mental institution would determine the outcome of Echols trial.
September 17th, 1992
Educational Assessment
Kathleen Ferreira, Educational Therapist
Exhibit 500, p. 386
September 24th, 1992
Interdisciplinary Treatment Team,
Update and Review Meeting
Able to discuss the negative consequences of his occult behaviors. Plans to avoid members until age of majority...Patient frequently sleeps and/or daydreams in class. Patient has been making growling sounds in class.64
Discharged on September 28th, 1992, Echols signed a contract promising not to harm anyone after leaving the mental institution. Under one heading, he wrote: "I feel good about myself and the things I like about myself are that my will cannot be bent and the ability to scare people."65 Returning to Lakeshore Trailer Park, Damien found a new girlfriend, Alea Teer, and moved in with her at her mother’s trailer. Like Damien, Alea was known to law enforcement. They shared a dirty, trash covered room, lit from above by a single, red lightbulb. A home made Ouija board lay beside a soiled mattress. After living with Echols, Alea agreed to change her first name to Domini.
January 13th, 1993
Individual Progress Note
In a progress report with social worker Dockins, the following updates in his condition were noted:
He emphasized that he is much older than chronological age. Damien reports one of his biggest problems that he would like to work on is being able to forgive others. When questioned about this he reports that he is very angry with family members and with other people that have “let him down”. He wants to be normal but feels that he has never been normal....He discussed issues of power and control. He states that he could make things happen. He believes very much in magic. Damien stated “I don’t believe anything until its proven”. Demonstrated a technique with him that there was a way of control without black magic...Damien’s affect and mood was flat. He did not smile during the session.66
January 19th, 1993
Individual Progress Note
At their next session on January 19, Echols asked the Clinical social worker, Sherry Dockins, “Mom told me to apply for disability — what do you think?” Dockins’ hand written notes of the brief session is frightening:
Damien relates that he is trying to find a way to live on his own. He does not get along with step-father. Reveals a history of abuse as he talked of how he was treated as a child. Denies that this has influenced him stating “I just put it all inside.” Describes this as more than just anger — like rage. Sometimes he does “blow up.” Relates that when this happens the only solution is to “hurt someone”. Damien reports being told at the hospital that he could be another “Charles Manson or Ted Bundy”. When questioned on his feelings he states “I know I’m going to influence the world — people will remember me.”67
January 20th, 1993
Individual Progress Note
Dr. David Erby, Psychiatrist
Dr. Erby discussed medication options and wrote of the eighteen year old Echols:
He’s had three psychological hospitalizations. Each has been associated with anger, thoughts of killing others and thoughts of killing himself...He’s had a traumatic up
bringing, this is well documented in the intake sheet.68
January 25th, 1993
Individual Progress Note
Sherry Dockins
Focus of today’s session is spent talking with Damien about his feelings of death. He brought with him to session a poem that he had written during the past week. The theme of this poem centered around death and 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. He does not remember where he learned to do this.
Damien believes that there is no God. He feels that society believes there is a God because society is weak. He wants very much to be all powerful. He wants very much to be in total control. We discussed how some of this is related to his experiences as a child. He acknowledges that some of this is related to his childhood abuse trauma issues but he feels that it is who he is now.
Damien relates that a spirit is now living with him. The spirit was put inside him last year. He indicates that a month ago the spirit decided to become part of him and he to become part of the spirit. This is reportedly a spirit of a woman who was killed by her husband. When questioned about how he feels with this spirit or what the difference is, Damien is able to relate that he feels stronger and more powerful with this spirit. He has not seen the spirit but does hear the spirit. 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. It becomes more noticeable today in talking with Damien that he has many things from childhood that he simply does not remember. This is believed to be a dissociative response to trauma issues. Damien is agreeable to beginning to talk about what he experienced as a child that he remembers. He is also agreed to continue to discuss his issues with power and control as related to his practice of rituals. Therapist encouraged him to continue writing and to bring the writings into the sessions as a way of communicating his feelings.
Abomination: Devil Worship and Deception in the West Memphis Three Murders Page 9