GK's convoluted theory... what's yours? Please share!

[Userid]

In the theory by the OP, he theorizes that he's shot (hence, my original question in my original post).

I'm addressing the theory posed.

 

[Cappuccino]

In the theory by the OP, he theorizes that he's shot (hence, my original question in my original post).

I'm addressing the theory posed.

I see. Well, yes that would be a flaw in the OP's theory certainly.

 

[GoblinKeeper]

From my experience and research, GK, JMB doesn't know anything that he hasn't made public, unless it's something that can't be made public at this time. TH and even DJ are the ones with more information, IMO. Maybe even TM, but I'm not really sure about him. JMB and PH have been in the public eye much more than any other parents. That's one reason for what I'm saying. I just think that those "wells" are probably dry.

Thanks for the input, CR. I kind of lean toward your suggestion that he might not be able to reveal something, for some reason, perhaps someone in LE that might still have some kind of sway with him. But it could very well be, as you've said, those wells are dry. Thanks for the heads-up on that before my theory became a toes-up at the scene!

 

[GoblinKeeper]

One thing to consider (that may apply to other theories involving Bojangles stumbling on the dump site, which personally, I find unlikely...but I digress) is this: how does a one-armed, shot man escape the scene alive; especially if you believe there could have been up to 3 accomplices at the time? This guy (Bojangles) would have become priority number one for the killers, even before properly obscuring the bodies.

It could have been that he stumbled onto the scene when one or two were there disposing of the children in the water, at the top of the steep bank. Startled, he froze and even more startled, one of the perpetrators shot wildly. Before they could scale the bank, or even reach a place to get out of the water, he was gone, running for his life. Not to say it happened that way, but there are always possibilities. Truth is, after all, stranger than fiction. But thank you for your comment, it has given me something else to think about, Userid, and that's why we're here in this thread, to think, work out, and hopefully find a theory that could work. Thanks again!

 

[GoblinKeeper]

Mr Bojangles wasn't one armed, he had a velcro dressing on one arm of the type people use for minor things like a sprained wrist. Second, how far did he even escape? We know nothing about him, for all we know he could have been killed later on the same night and dumped in the sea.

Wow, Cappuccino, I hadn't even considered that scenario. My thought was with the nearby truck stop, he could have hopped on the back of a truck, or gotten into a trailer and left the area that way. Thinking along those lines, though, if he had been intercepted by the murderer(s), it is also possible that he was dumped into the Mississippi River. Thank you for giving me another line of thought to work on, Cappuccino, I appreciate it and if you have any other ideas or suggestions, please help me out!

 

[GoblinKeeper]

What's a "velcro dressing?" Is that the same as an air cast, because that's what he had on. And any type of "wrap" on a person's arm would have hindered the act of running.

Well, we know he escaped to Bojangles -- that much we do know, no?

We also know he "escaped" from Meek. He must've been a master escape artist that night.

Userid, I have run quite well with a broken arm that was cast in plaster, and it didn't stop me from going through the woods near my house. And I wasn't running for my life (theoretically as he might have been), I was chasing down my younger brother who had thrown a lit firecracker under my bed while I was taking a nap! I don't know about whether or not he would have been a master escape artist, since Meeks didn't even enter the restaurant, but took a quick report through the drive-through window, then left in a hurry to "patrol" the area and perhaps look for him. Although her timelines for the evening don't exactly jibe with that, either. Her reports and log entries seem to contradict each other. However, that will have to wait until I get back into that area of the theory again, since I've started over and am trying to expand it and work with official reports, newspaper articles, statements, etc., as well as add some of the material Compassionate Reader has offered in theory. Thanks for some food for thought, Userid.

 

[GoblinKeeper]

I haven't drawn any conclusions on him after the restaurant -- in my original post or right now. I questioned how he would have made it to Bojangles at all, which was a mile away from the crime scene, from 3 accomplices, with an injured arm and an apparent gun shot wound.

Bojangles is only about 2/3 mile away from the discovery site, and there may have been only 1 or 2 people there at the time. If they were in a position where they couldn't get up the bank in a hurry, he might have been able to outdistance them. Running for your life can get your adrenaline pumping, or so I'm told. I think by the time he got to Bojangles, shock might have settled in, and disorientation, as he may have thought he was going back to the truck stop, but found himself somewhere else entirely, and figured if he stayed there, they wouldn't follow him in, what with all the people around. Good questions, though, since I hadn't thought much about that part before, but now have another part to add into the theory. Thanks, Userid!

 

[GoblinKeeper]

I think anyone could have escaped Meek. She didn't even bother to go inside to investigate the scene, opting to go through the drive-thru instead and giving a half-assed attempt to look around the back of Bojangles before leaving for another call.

A gunshot and hindered arm affects a person's ability to run, especially from 3 pursuers -- all of which would make a mile, some of which through forested areas, feel like an eternity.

Userid, I used to drive a truck for a company which has a depot there in West Memphis. About 6 months after the murders, a friend took me down through the area, and while there were some trees along the possible route from the discovery site to Bojangles, it wasn't heavily forested, and someone either determined or frightened enough would have been fairly able to get through with very little hindrance. I've been back through there since, and a lot has changed; there is a lot more field, and virtually no trees anywhere through there now. I'm sure, though, like you said, it would have felt like an eternity. And the sight of a restaurant when you were expecting a truck stop could have thrown him off. Thanks for the input!

 

[GoblinKeeper]

I see. Well, yes that would be a flaw in the OP's theory certainly.

And that's why I'm asking for help with theory. It could be he's a red herring, it could be he's an innocent bystander at the wrong place and wrong time, he could have been the perpetrator, an accomplice, who knows for certain? I don't, which is why I posited that perhaps he saw the murderer(s) in the water with the children, each startled the other, and he was shot. For all I know, he could have been attacked by a trucker at the truck stop who found him hitching a ride in an unlocked trailer. But I'm grateful for all the input, because it helps me to think along various lines and revise the theory into something more coherent and less crazy sounding. Thanks Cappuccino and Userid!

 

[Userid]

No problem, GK. Just curious, where would the third killer be (from your original theory)? I would think he'd be transporting items from the side of the ditch to the other two inside the ditch.

Also, the west bank wasn't that steep compared to the east bank to climb in and out of. If you were supposing that Bojangles was on the east bank, I'd be more willing to buy it perhaps -- as that is a steep bank -- but the restaurant was toward the west in the opposite direction.

I guess here's my main point -- let's say this is true: a guy saw the killers dumping the bodies, got shot, and somehow was able to escape initially. If I'm any one of the killers, and I can't find this one witness who just saw me dump these bodies, the logical next step would be for me to move these bodies from this scene and choose another dump site immediately; as opposed to keeping them there. With three accomplices, I do think this is possible, even if they had started to dispose.

Also, my point earlier is that, Bojangles must have been one "lucky" sort, in the following ways:

He was the one person to discover not only the victims (who were being searched for throughout the entire night, and in that very area, by multiple search parties) but also the killers.

He was able to go escape the killers.

He was able to "escape" from Meek/Bojangles.

He was the one person that can completely solve this crime, but conveniently, he is the one person that can't talk -- either because he was involved in another crime (which, again, he was able to "evade" responsibility from); or because (which I feel is unlikely) the killers somehow ran into him again and killed him.

Just seems a little too far-fetched for me.

 

[Compassionate Reader]

Personally, I think that "Mr. BoJangles" wasn't present at the time of the initial attack and was only a possible witness to the killer checking on the bodies (or maybe disposing of the bodies). So, I don't think he escaped from more than one person at a time. He didn't really escape from Meeks as he was already gone from the restaurant when she arrived at the drive through.

 

[Userid]

I know, CR -- hence the quotes around the word escape in my previous post.

He was able to elude being discovered by the officer, as he was still there when the call was made.

Escape, elude, evade -- for convenience's sake, it's all the same, really.

My point is, his timing is impeccable, in both scenarios.

 

[Compassionate Reader]

I just think he left the area. He saw something. Being black, he was afraid to come forward. Then, he left the area, either out of fear or just because he was a drifter. I fear that we will never find him. Although, I agree that he could shed some light on the matter.

 

[Userid]

I'm confused.

He simply "left" both areas now? He wasn't running from the killers? He wasn't fleeing (for lack of a better word; left hurriedly and purposefully, if you prefer -- you see how this can get taxing...) immediately after being confronted by the manager and knowing that the cops were most likely on their way?

Gotta disagree there.

 

[Compassionate Reader]

Sorry. I meant that he left West Memphis shortly after the murders. As I said, being black and having witnessed whatever he witnessed, he was afraid that he would be suspected, possibly convicted. So, he "left the area" of West Memphis. He was running from prejudice. It might not have been immediate, but I suspect that it was within a few days.

 

[Userid]

Gotcha. It's possible.

The way I see Bojangles, he was either directly involved with the murders, or was totally uninvolved (i.e. involved in an unrelated crime).

 

[GoblinKeeper]

No problem, GK. Just curious, where would the third killer be (from your original theory)? I would think he'd be transporting items from the side of the ditch to the other two inside the ditch.

Also, the west bank wasn't that steep compared to the east bank to climb in and out of. If you were supposing that Bojangles was on the east bank, I'd be more willing to buy it perhaps -- as that is a steep bank -- but the restaurant was toward the west in the opposite direction.

I guess here's my main point -- let's say this is true: a guy saw the killers dumping the bodies, got shot, and somehow was able to escape initially. If I'm any one of the killers, and I can't find this one witness who just saw me dump these bodies, the logical next step would be for me to move these bodies from this scene and choose another dump site immediately; as opposed to keeping them there. With three accomplices, I do think this is possible, even if they had started to dispose.

Also, my point earlier is that, Bojangles must have been one "lucky" sort, in the following ways:

He was the one person to discover not only the victims (who were being searched for throughout the entire night, and in that very area, by multiple search parties) but also the killers.

He was able to go escape the killers.

He was able to "escape" from Meek/Bojangles.

He was the one person that can completely solve this crime, but conveniently, he is the one person that can't talk -- either because he was involved in another crime (which, again, he was able to "evade" responsibility from); or because (which I feel is unlikely) the killers somehow ran into him again and killed him.

Just seems a little too far-fetched for me.

I'm not sure where I would have placed all of the perpetrators at any given time yet, Userid. Which is why I've welcomed suggestions, questions, and the like. They will help me to determine a better theory of what may have taken place. Right now, this is only my (looney, admittedly) opinion as to events that might have taken place. For all I know, Mr. Bojangles, for lack of a better term for him, may have had nothing to do with this and was the victim of another gunshot that night (they were taking place all over that area of West Memphis, IIRC). Or he may have stumbled onto one perpetrator before anything took place, merely scouting out the area, and already jumpy. It may be after reading this over, that I explain that part differently, or call it a red herring and dismiss it. Also, IIRC, both banks were steep, in different areas, and they evened out after a distance. I remember climbing down one and up the other after a short distance along the stream bed. Very eerie place, even in daylight. We went in from the Blue Beacon side, and were able to go between a small hill and some trees, so being observed was not a problem. Still, I don't think I'd ever do that again... and as always, thanks for giving me something to think about!

 

[GoblinKeeper]

Thank you all for coming up with some great observations and questions. They have given me a lot to think about, and hopefully I can improve on my theory (which, please remember, is only my opinion, although it may be kind of looney-tunes). I only have a space of a few hours daily that I am allowed to use my computer (heart problems, not allowed any "stressful activity"... at least I'm free within my mind to do whatever I please, and in there, I'm a marathon runner!) so please bear with me if it takes a while to get a corrected theory out here. CR, thank you for allowing me to work with your theory in order to improve upon my own. Ausgirl, Cappuccino and Userid, thanks for pointing me in a new direction of thought, and Miranda! thank you for grounding my mind with your helpful comments. Without all of you, I would probably be spinning my wheels uselessly. With all of your help, I think I might be able to get a coherent, consistent theory onto this thread soon. Again, thank you all, and keep those comments coming!

ETA: Ausgirl, don't want to forget her tip about JKM and the scouting story... please forgive the slip, my mind doesn't work as well as it used to...

 

[Userid]

True GK -- both banks were steep at some points, but the east bank's (at least from all the pics I've seen) incline was very, very steep, especially where CB and SB were found. The east bank near where MM was found (further north) did even out some. In other words, it would have been easiest to dispose of SB and CB via the west bank; and MM and the clothes via the east bank (while parking in the east meadow.

In what year did you visit the site? Was the blue beacon and the 76 truck stop still open? I've never met anyone that's actually visited the spot before.

 

[GoblinKeeper]

True GK -- both banks were steep at some points, but the east bank's (at least from all the pics I've seen) incline was very, very steep, especially where CB and SB were found. The east bank near where MM was found (further north) did even out some. In other words, it would have been easiest to dispose of SB and CB via the west bank; and MM and the clothes via the east bank (while parking in the east meadow.

In what year did you visit the site? Was the blue beacon and the 76 truck stop still open? I've never met anyone that's actually visited the spot before.

Thanks for the input on that, Userid. I went there around Hallowe'en 1993, and have been back in 1997, 2003, and 2010. The Blue Beacon and the 76 were still there when I first went, and since then, things have changed. I remember looking down at the site from the west bank, and my friend telling me the story. I wondered at that time if anyone was watching, and what would they be thinking of two guys poking around down there. The last time I went, I saw some guy parked at the remains of the Blue Beacon, but couldn't tell if he was watching me or not. I got a little spooked, and left, checking my rear view mirror every so often to make sure whoever it was wasn't following me! I may go back there in 2016, but I'm not sure. Oh, by the way, my theory now covers 9 pages of an MS Word document. I am trying to pare it down, tie everything together in what passes for a fairly readable and possibly believable theory. I'm still in need of help on that! I will try to post it here early next week, once I've spell-checked, grammar-checked, and logic-checked as far as I am able. Thanks to everyone for bearing with me!