Damien's curious comments

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[Mary7875]

If this has been discussed, feel free to ignore me

After Damien failed his polygraph, he came close to confessing.  While speaking with Durham, Echols - out of the blue - told Durham that he liked Charter Hospital, where he'd undergone psychiatric treatment. 

This has always nagged at me, because the comment had nothing to do with the murders, which is what they were discussing.  Why bring it up?

Now, fast forward to June 9th, when Damien was in jail.  He hoards his anti-depressant, swallows a whole bunch, and immediately tells the c.o. that he's taken an overdose. 

Granted, some people do attempt suicide and then change their minds, but is that what happened here?  I don't think so. 

Putting his inappropriate comment about Charter together with a feeble suicide attempt makes me wonder.  Was Damien considering a not guilty by reason of insanity plea, hoping he'd be sent back to Charter?

After all, it worked for him twice in the previous year.  Both times, Charter saved him from facing the legal consequences of his actions.  He spent a few weeks there, and got out. 

Maybe he thought he could pull it off again. 

[Farm]

Was Damien considering a not guilty by reason of insanity plea, hoping he'd be sent back to Charter?

His letters to Glori Shettles sure seem to support this.

Seems to me that were he innocent he would have used those communications to express his fears of prison and an uncertain future, rather than sharing his nocturnal adventures with Rosey, and his utter disgust of humanity.

[drexl]

Ya know Mary,

I'm pretty happy you brought this up,because this has actually been on my mind for quite some time.

Now when I was at Callahan's maybe 8 months ago,I stumbled on DE's suicide note that was written on the white side of a marlboro carton.

Well to get to my point,I read the report and it does seem that he was hoping to gain sympathy.Only for the fact...and correct me if I'm wrong,but didn't he tell his cell mate what he had done? Or did he call over the intercom? Anyways,like you said. Some people do change their minds but in DE's case I think it was for sympathy.

I feel the same way about his comment saying he liked Charter. I've always felt that he really thought he could just goto the hospital then move on with his life.

His letters to Glori Shettles sure seem to support this.

Let's not forget the conversations he had with her during the trial,and how she would describe Damien as "crying one moment,then laughing the next". Also how he felt he was an alien and all that crazy shit.


I really believe he thought he was smart enough to pull the crazy card and get away with it.

[taylorjaysmommy]

This is a great post !  Something that I have read but didn't quite grasp it like Mary did.  Makes perfect sense though.  Yes, I believe that he is all about some sympathy.  Because he sure tries to act all mature and put together now, and wants nothing to do with being seen as mental..............since they have other endeavors to pursue in their quest for getting him sprung.  Just like the booooooook that he wrote, an attempt at jerking some tears. 

I do have some sympathy towards him, strictly because of his mother.  I am not going to go into that, as it would be a novel.........he gets one speck of a tear from me over that issue though.  WHEW!!  His mother figure sure makes me pissed.   

Other than that, I have zero sympathy, happy or impressed feelings for him. 


There is no excuse on earth for what he did. 

[addict]

After Damien failed his polygraph, he came close to confessing.  While speaking with Durham, Echols - out of the blue - told Durham that he liked Charter Hospital, where he'd undergone psychiatric treatment. 

This has always nagged at me, because the comment had nothing to do with the murders, which is what they were discussing.  Why bring it up?

Why do you assume it was "out of the blue"?  Do you assume the interviewers were being quiet the whole time?  There's a lot of time not accounted for... "After approximately forty-five minutes..." and all.  Maybe he didn't just spurt, out of the blue, that he liked the hospital in Little Rock?  Maybe he was answering a question... ? 

[addict]

This is a great post !  Something that I have read but didn't quite grasp it like Mary did.  Makes perfect sense though.  Yes, I believe that he is all about some sympathy.  Because he sure tries to act all mature and put together now, and wants nothing to do with being seen as mental..............since they have other endeavors to pursue in their quest for getting him sprung. 

Now?  As opposed to then?  When did Damien try to act/look all mental?  I don't remember him trying to act not put together or immature or mental during the Rule 37 hearing when the argument that he was delusional during trial was on the table.  Did I miss that?

[addict]

I also don't think he was trying to act all mental when he originally took the stand.  I think he tried to act "all mature and put together" even then.

[Farm]

Now?  As opposed to then?  When did Damien try to act/look all mental?

In his letters to Shettles.

I don't remember him trying to act not put together or immature or mental during the Rule 37 hearing when the argument that he was delusional during trial was on the table.  Did I miss that?

Were you there?

[addict]

Now?  As opposed to then?  When did Damien try to act/look all mental?

In his letters to Shettles.

And you think they were an act?  He knew they would be entered into evidence how many years down the road? 

Saying you think Damien was all mental is different than saying you think he was playing all mental because that would help his case.  Choose one.  Then remind me which stance you're taking today.

I don't remember him trying to act not put together or immature or mental during the Rule 37 hearing when the argument that he was delusional during trial was on the table.  Did I miss that?

Were you there?

No.  Were you? 

[Farm]

And you think they were an act?

As I posted, I think it was an unusual thing to be corresponding with Shettles about.

He knew they would be entered into evidence how many years down the road?

He was in jail awaiting trial - how many years down the road did he think it would be exactly?

Saying you think Damien was all mental is different than saying you think he was playing all mental because that would help his case.  Choose one.  Then remind me which stance you're taking today.

Or you could sober up and actually read the threads you are responding to before you respond?

Just a suggestion?

No.  Were you?

Nope.

But then I wasn't posting about what did or didn't take place there.

[addict]

Or you could sober up and actually read the threads you are responding to before you respond?

Just a suggestion?

P'shaw! 

I didn't realize you thought Damien's correspondence with Shettles was fake.  So you think he made Rosie up just to look crazy too?  Or do you get to pick and choose given the argument at the time? 

[Farm]

I didn't realize you thought Damien's correspondence with Shettles was fake.

No reason for you to.

So you think he made Rosie up just to look crazy too?

Since Echols complained of halicunations since childhood, let's assume that I don't.


Or do you get to pick and choose given the argument at the time? 

As I have now said for the THIRD time - it's an odd subject for him to correspond to Shettles about whilst awaiting trial.

What part of that do you not understand exactly?

[addict]

It's an odd subject for him to correspond to Shettles about?  So what? 

Quote from: TJM on September 26, 2009, 06:25:14 PM

    This is a great post !  Something that I have read but didn't quite grasp it like Mary did.  Makes perfect sense though.  Yes, I believe that he is all about some sympathy.  Because he sure tries to act all mature and put together now, and wants nothing to do with being seen as mental..............since they have other endeavors to pursue in their quest for getting him sprung. 

me:

Now?  As opposed to then?  When did Damien try to act/look all mental?  I don't remember him trying to act not put together or immature or mental during the Rule 37 hearing when the argument that he was delusional during trial was on the table.  Did I miss that?

Maybe TJM should just answer the question I asked instead of you then?  While we're at it, maybe Mary7875 can answer too... 

Quote from: Mary7875 on September 25, 2009, 10:11:49 PM

After Damien failed his polygraph, he came close to confessing.  While speaking with Durham, Echols - out of the blue - told Durham that he liked Charter Hospital, where he'd undergone psychiatric treatment.

    This has always nagged at me, because the comment had nothing to do with the murders, which is what they were discussing.  Why bring it up?

me:

Why do you assume it was "out of the blue"?  Do you assume the interviewers were being quiet the whole time?  There's a lot of time not accounted for... "After approximately forty-five minutes..." and all.  Maybe he didn't just spurt, out of the blue, that he liked the hospital in Little Rock?  Maybe he was answering a question... ?

It would be a novel idea... People speaking for themselves and all.  Probably they won't feel like it, but it's always worth a try, right? 

[Farm]

It's an odd subject for him to correspond to Shettles about?  So what?

Is that your explaination?

"So what"?

I understand.

Maybe TJM should just answer the question I asked instead of you then?

I'm just glad you could finally read the thread - I felt a little embarassed having to point out to you that your "question" had already been answered.

It would be a novel idea... People speaking for themselves and all.

Not as novel as people reading for themselves.

[addict]

It's an odd subject for him to correspond to Shettles about?  So what?

Is that your explaination?

"So what"?

I understand.

Do you?  At least one of us understands the other.  Do you think Damien was faking in his letters to Shettles?  Or do you just think it was an "odd" thing to correspond about? 

It would be a novel idea... People speaking for themselves and all.

Not as novel as people reading for themselves.

Yeah, that would be cool too.  I read for myself.  So do you, I expect.  I guess only people who read/speak for themselves are posting right now?