As many posters on WM3 boards, I found it hard to believe that TH was not investigated. This document seems to confirm the fact that he wasn't. I've transcribed the first 20 pages of the document with Lt. Mitchell's deposition. I think this is very important information, and like myself, I know a lot of people haven't got the time to sift through 80 page pdf's .
Terry Hobbs v. Natalie Pasdar, et al Deposition of: Larry Mitchell 11/10/2
EXAMINATION BY MR. WELLENBERGER:
Q. Okay. Lieutenant Mitchell, would you state your full name for the record, please?
A. Larry Kent Mitchell.
Q. And Lieutenant Mitchell, you are with the West Memphis Police Department?
A. Correct.
Q. And you are here today in response to a subpoena for the deposition of the West Memphis Police Department; is that correct?
A. Correct. Yes, sir.
Q. Let me show you what I’ve marked as Exhibit 1 and ask you if you recognize this document.
A. Yes, sir, I do recognize it.
BY MR. WELLENBERGER:
Q. And that is the subpoena or the deposition notice for your deposition today, correct?
A. Yes, sir.
Q. Now, you are designated by the West Memphis Police Department as their witness for this deposition?
A. Correct.
Q. And what did you do to prepare Cor the deposition?
A. I looked through various parts of the case file and as they pertain to the questions that were -- I was going to be asked that are in this notice of deposition.
Q. Did you also interview any of the other police officers or former police officers concerning the subject matter?
A. Did I interview anybody on it?
Q. Interview, discuss any of this with anybody else?
A. Yes, sir, briefly.
Q. And who did you talk?
A. Assistant Chief, Kike Allen, and Captain Brian Ridge and Officer -- excuse me. Sergeant Johnny Moore.
Q. Now, the first area of inquiry that we have is all communications that occurred before January 1, 2007 between the west Memphis Police Department and Terry Hobbs concerning his activities during the time in question. Time and question, as a defined term, that is from 3:00 p.m. on Kay 5, 1993 and ending at 10:00 p.m. on May 6th, 1993. Were there communications with Mr. Hobbs about his activities during this time period?
A. There were limited contacts with Mr. Hobbs. . Primarily the first contact was -- involved our dispatch log where contact was made with him on May 5, 1993 of the 3:00 to 11:00 shift. And that contact would start at 9:19 when the call was received, dispatched at 9:21. It's on Page 6 of that log.
Q. All right. And I'm going to hand you what's marked as Exhibit 5 to your deposition.
(WHEREUPON, THE ABOVE-MENTIONED DOCUMENT WAS PASSBD TO THE WITNESS.> BV MR. WELLENBERGER:
Q. Is that the log that you're referring to?
A. Yes, sir, it is.
Q. All right. Any other communications that occurred before January 1 between the West Memphis Police Department and Terry Hobbs concerning his activities during the time in question?
A. No other contacts with him before -- during that time period.
Q. All right. Okay.
A. Excuse me.
Q. The second area of communications
were between West Memphis Police Department and Terry Hobbs during the time in question. In other words, communications during the time in question as opposed to concerning his activities during the time in question. Do you understand that distinction?
A. Yes, sir, I believe so.
Q. And are there any communications other than those reflected in Exhibit 5 that you’re aware of that occurred during that time period?
A. No, sir, not during that time period.
Q. Next area of inquiry is, any videotape surveillance of the West Memphis Police Department offices during the time in question that would or might show the comings and goings of persons entering those offices. Are there any videotapes that might show comings and goings into the West Memphis Police Department on May 5 and May 6th, 1993?
A. No, sir, there are not.
Q. Were there ever?
A. No, sir. There was no recording, to my knowledge. After checking the records, there's no indication that there were any type of surveillance or recordings at any time during those years.
Q. All right. The next area of inquiry is, any background check made concerning Terry Hobbs at any time before January 1, 2007 in connection with the murders. And the murders are the three little boys whose bodies were discovered on May 6th.Was any background check made concerning Terry Hobbs at any time before January 1, 2007 in connection with the murder investigation?
A. The only records -- the only thing I could find viewing the case file was where Mr. Hobbs was fingerprinted; and that took place on January the 15th,1994.
Q. Okay. I'm going to hand you Exhibits 3 and Exhibits 4 to your deposition.
{WHEREUPON, THE ABOVE-MENTIONED DOCUMENT WAS PASSED TO THE WITNESS.)
BY MR. WELLENBERGER:
Q. Are those the records that you're referring to about fingerprints?
A. Yes, sir. Exhibit 4 is the set of prints both rolled inked -- fingerprints and palm prints that were done January 15th, 1994. And the Exhibit 3 is a list of test prints, sheets that were filled out by the West Memphis Police Department with not only Mr. Hobbs but also Pam Hobbs, Melissa Byers and Timothy Branch.
Q. Do you know who Timothy Branch is?
A. No, sir. I don't have any other information on him.
Q. Thank you. There was no NCCI (sic) report taken for Mr. Hobbs that you're aware of?
A. Are you referring to NCIC or...
Q. NCIC.*
A. Okay. No, sir, not that I've not that I've seen.
Q. And no blood samples?
A. Not that I've seen, sir.
Q. No hair samples?
A. Not that I've seen.
Q. And again, we're talking about before January 1, 2007.
A. Yes, sir.
Q. All right. Any investigation of Terry Hobbs related to the murders undertaken at any time before January 1, 2007?
A. Could you repeat the question? I'm sorry.
Q. Was there any investigation of Terry Hobbs related to the murders that was undertaken at any time before January 1, 2007?
A. I've not found anything of that nature in the records file.
Q. Okay. Did you have any communications with residents to the 1600 block of South McAuley Street that were conducted before January 1, 2007?
A. We have checked. There were area canvases done. Everything, though, was north of that particular area. Nothing on the -- nothing in the 1600 block of South McAuley.
Q. Okay. Now, have you brought with you every document that you were able to locate that's responsive to the documents to be produced section of the notice of deposition?
A. Yes, sir, everything that I'm aware of .
Q. All right. And there's one document that's left that we haven't discussed, and that's Exhibit 2. Would you tell us what Exhibit 2 is, please, sir?
(WHEREUPON, THE ABOVE-MENTIONED DOCUMENT WAS PASSED TO THE WITNESS.)
A. Yes, sir. This is a transcription of an interview done with Mark Byers on April -- excuse me, May 19th, 1993. And the investigators that were conducting this interview were Detective Brian Ridge and Lieutenant James Sudbury.
BY MR. WELLENBERGER:
Q. And in that -- you brought that statement because it refers to Terry Hobbs?
A. There are a couple references to Terry Hobbs in this statement, so that is why that was provided for you.
Q. And based on your review of the records and the conversations that you had with others at the West Memphis Police Department, do you believe that these are all the documents that you have relative to any investigation of Terry Hobbs or about Terry Hobbs before -- that existed before January 1, 2007?
A. That's correct, to the best of my belief.
MR. WELLENBERGER: I pass the witness.