Fogleman: You're the same Detective Ridge who previously testified?
Ridge: Yes sir.
Fogleman: Detective Ridge, I want to direct your attention to June the 3rd of 1993. Uh - on that date, did you have a conversation with Jessie Misskelley, Jr. ?
Ridge: Yes sir, I did.
Fogleman: As a result of that, or subsequent to that, uh - did you obtain a search warrant for the residences of Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin?
Ridge: Yes sir, I did.
Fogleman: Now, uh - in executing those search warrants, um - what were the mechanics of that, who was involved and what were the mechanics?
Ridge: Ok. The crime lab was called and assistance was requested in collecting evidence at the scene of those searches. Uh - the officers were divided into teams. We secured those residences. Myself, uh - Lt. Sudbury, and personnel from the Arkansas State Crime Lab searched those residences.
Fogleman: Alright. When you say that you were divided into teams, what do you mean?
Ridge: Ok. At the first scene, it was myself, Lt. Sudbury, uh - the 2 crime lab personnel, and a uniform officer that secured the residence of Damien Echols. And once that residence was secured, then myself, Lt. Sudbury, and the 2 crime lab personnel searched their residence.
Fogleman: Now at the same time that uh - y'all were going to the residence of Damien Echols, uh - was anything being done in relation to the other residences?
Ridge: Yes sir, another team was securing another residence and there were 2 other residences that were also secured and searched at the same time.
Fogleman: Alright. And who's residences were those?
Ridge: Uh - the residence of Jason Baldwin, the residence of Domini Teer, and the residence of Jessie Misskelley, Jr.
Fogleman: Alright. Now, when uh - you said that you and who went to the residence of Damien Echols?
Ridge: Myself, Lt. Sudbury, Lisa Sakevicius of the Arkansas State Crime Lab, and Kermit Channel of the Arkansas State Crime Lab.
Fogleman: Now, and where was that residence located?
Ridge: At 2706 South Grove.
Fogleman: Where?
Ridge: In West Memphis, Arkansas.
Fogleman: And where was the residence of Jason Baldwin?
Ridge: 245 South Lake Drive West - I believe that's the correct pronounciation of the drive, but it's in Lakeshore trailer park.
Fogleman: Is that out in the county?
Ridge: Yes sir, it is.
Fogleman: Alright. Now, when you went to the residence of Damien Echols to execute the search warrant, um - who was present?
Ridge: Uh - Damien Echols, Jason Bladwin, Michelle Echols, and Domini Teer.
Fogleman: Alright. And who is Michelle Echols?
Ridge: The sister of Damien Echols.
Fogleman: About, approximately how old was she?
Ridge: Uh - 15, to the best of my knowledge.
Fogleman: And uh - who was living in the residence at that time?
Ridge: My understanding is Damien Echols, Michelle Echols, Joe Echols -
Fogleman: (talking over) Who is Joe Echols?
Ridge: Joe Hutchinson, excuse me.
Fogleman: Who is Joe Hutchinson?
Ridge: He is the father of Damien Echols.
Fogleman: Alright. And go ahead.
Ridge: Uh - Pamela Hutchinson -
Fogleman: And who's she?
Ridge: The mother of Damien Echols.
Fogleman: Alright. And?
Ridge: I think her name was Francis Gossa.
Fogleman: And what relation is she?
Ridge: The mother of - grandmother of Damien Echols.
Fogleman: Alright. And who from the crime lab was there to assist?
Ridge: Lisa Sakevicius and Kermit Channel.
Fogleman: May Detective Ridge step down?
The Court: Yes.
Fogleman: Detective Ridge, I want to go back to this grid pattern search that you and the other officers did um - did you do an area besides the wooded area?
Ridge: Yes sir.
Fogleman: Alright, and where was that area located?
Ridge: Ok. This area between the field and the ditch, including part of that field and then this area between this ditch and the field, and including part of that field.
Fogleman: Alright. And what kind of field was that?
Ridge: A wheat field.
Fogleman: Alright. And uh - what was the condition of the ground, uh - at that time when y'all did that grid search?
Ridge: Uh - it was smooth, there was grass, uh - wheat growing in the area.
Fogleman: And uh - what if anything did you find in the part of that field that y'all searched?
Ridge: Uh - we didn't find anything, uh - it was normal, smooth.
Fogleman: Any automobile tracks, truck tracks, anything like that?
Ridge: No sir.
Fogleman: You can retake the stand. I don't have any further questions, Your Honor, at this time.
Davidson: Detective, I didn't see where that was and that map doesn't help me a whole lot. I like this one a little better, 'cause I - show me where this field is that you were talking about.
Ridge: May I stand down?
Davidson: Yeah please, I'm sorry. Where is that wheat field?
Ridge: This area here, the field. The crimescene here. We spread out, then came this way, over around the edge to the expressway.
Davidson: Ok.
Ridge: Came back and then came through this area, then covering part of the woods and the field.
Davidson: Ok. Did you search the - basically what, this entire area here was searched by grid - the whole field or -
Ridge: The edges.
Davidson: The edges?
Ridge: Yes sir. This edge - down this area, then walked back together down through here. We were spread out - it wasn't what you would call a grid pattern coming back. The when we got to here, we came across in a grid like pattern, this way.
Davidson: And the other places that were grid searched were - was this wooded area here?
Ridge: No sir.
Davidson: Did - you did not grid search this area here?
Ridge: No sir.
Davidson: Did you grid search this area here?
Ridge: Yes sir.
Davidson: Ok. So the wooded section here and this area here were where the grid search occurred?
Ridge: Correct, yes sir.
Davidson: Thank you.
Fogleman: How many of there were you walking uh - from the wooded area down the edge of Ten Mile Bayou, then swinging around and coming back, and then going along side in the field?
Ridge: I think there were 12 of us.
Fogleman: 12 of you?
Ridge: Yes.
Fogleman: And how far apart were you?
Ridge: At arm's length.
Fogleman: Arm length apart?
Ridge: Yes sir. 6 foot.
Fogleman: Ok.
Ridge: Estimate.
Fogleman: Nothing further, Your Honor, at this time.
(pause)
Fogleman: Oh Your Honor, I did have a question. Uh - when you uh - did the search of Damien Echols' residence, uh - was a - was a black overcoat found?
Ridge: No sir.
The Court: You following anything?
Ford: Just a second.
Price: No questions, Judge.
Ford: Wait - wait, just a second......We have no questions, Your Honor.
The Court: You can step back down, I'm sure they're gonna call you back in here.
Ridge: Yes sir.
The Court: Alright it's about 4:30, that's close enough for me to quit. Unless you just wanna call one more witness.
Fogleman: Your Honor, that's fine.
The Court: You got anybody that can't come back or something like that?
Fogleman: Your Honor, the only one that might, is the person from Genetic Design, uh--
The Court: Is he here?
Fogleman: He's here, but we -- he can come back tomorrow. He would probably be more than 30 minutes time.
The Court: Yes he was the last time, so. (Laughter) Half a day.
Ford: Your Honor?
The Court: Huh?
Ford: Can we approach the bench?
The Court: Yeah.
(Bench Conference)
Ford: I would ask that you don't make remarks about what happened last time on the record.
The Court: I just said "the last time."
Ford: Well, I--
The Court: That's fine. Alright.
Ford: Do you understand how that can maybe be taken the wrong way?
The Court: Well, no, not really, I don't. But I won't do it again.
Ford: Ok.
(Return to Open Court)
The Court: Alright ladies and gentlemen, with the usual admonition not to discuss the case among yourselves or with anyone, you may stand in recess until 9:30 in the morning. We are gonna quit early tomorrow. We may go to 4:30 again, but I'm thinking at least 4 o'clock, maybe a little earlier. And there will be no court Friday, so you can plan a long weekend. Court will be in recess.