Abomination: Devil Worship and Deception in the West Memphis Three Murders by William Ramsey Page B
Authors: William Ramsey
Ads: Link
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
… 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
Similar Books
