Davidson: You probably need to scoot up Michelle, and that silver microphone is the one you'll need to talk into. In fact, you can pull it back towards you a little ways if you need to, ok.
(microphone squels)
Davidson: It's ok. Could you state your name please?
Echols: Constance Michelle Echols.
Davidson: And uh - you go by Michelle? Is that correct?
Echols: Um hum, yes sir.
Davidson: And how old are you?
Echols: Sixteen.
Davidson: And uh - are you related to Damien Echols?
Echols: Yes sir, I'm his sister.
Davidson: You're his sister?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Um - and Pamela Hutchinson that just testified, how is she related to you?
Echols: She's my mother.
Davidson: She's your mother. Ok. And where do you live?
Echols: Right now, I live in Lakeshore.
Davidson: In Lakeshore.
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And where did you live back in uh - May of 1993?
Echols: Broadway trailer park.
Davidson: And is that in West Memphis?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And um - how long did you live there?
Echols: Um - I'd say about 5 months.
Davidson: Ok. And who lived there with you in May of 1993?
Echols: Um - my dad, Joe Hutchinson, uh - my mother and my brother.
Davidson: Your mother and your brother?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And did your grandmother also live there?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And uh - tell us a little bit uh - about the way the trailer is set up and how you all slept in there.
Echols: Um - what - could you explain that to me?
Davidson: Um - tell us a little bit about the sleeping arrangements and where people slept in the trailer.
Echols: My grandmother slept in the front bedroom which was right outside the living room, uh - my brother slept in the middle bedroom, and my parents slept in the back bedroom, and most of the time I slept in the living room.
Davidson: Ok. And um - where did you keep your belongings and your things?
Echols: In the middle bedroom.
Davidson: And that's where your brother uh - Damien slept?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And where did he keep his belongings?
Echols: Uh - he had a few at the trailer and he had some at his girlfriend's house.
Davidson: Ok, and what was his girlfriend's name?
Echols: Domini Teer.
Davidson: Ok. And um - let's talk a little bit about uh - let's go back to May of 1993. And I'm going to ask you about May 5th of 1993. Do you recall that date?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Um - tell us what happened on that date.
Echols: Well uh - my mother took my brother to the doctor uh - and I stayed home.
Davidson: Did - let's start at the beginning of the day and we'll just walk through this, is that ok?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Um - when did you get up that morning?
Echols: I would say probably around 9.
Davidson: Ok, and was your brother there?
Echols: Um - I don't remember if he was still there or not that morning.
Davidson: Ok. And do you remember uh - well, what happened after that, after you got up?
Echols: Um - after I got up uh - I ate and I took a shower and I sat home until about 4:00 that afternoon.
Davidson: Ok, do you remember uh - you started to say awhile ago about your brother going somewhere -
Echols: He had -
Davidson: - tell us about that.
Echols: Uh - he had a doctor's appointment on that day.
Davidson: Ok, and uh - who took him to the doctor's appointment?
Echols: My mother.
Davidson: Your mother?
Echols: Um hum.
Davidson: And did you se them leave?
Echols: Uh - no sir.
Davidson: Ok. And what uh - you said you stayed at home until what time?
Echols: 4:00.
Davidson: 4:00, and then what happened at 4:00?
Echols: Uh - around 4:00, uh - we went to get my brother and his girlfriend, Domini, from the laundrymat.
Davidson: What laundrymat is that?
Echols: Um - I'm not sure the name of it. Uh - it's - I don't really know, it's in - close to McDonald's or somewhere is all I can -
Davidson: Ok, is it in West Memphis?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And why did you go there to pick 'em up?
Echols: He had been over at um - Jason Baldwin's uncle's house and we were suppose to meet them there to pick them up.
Davidson: And uh - when you went over to uh - the laundrymat then, who went with you?
Echols: My mother and my dad.
Davidson: Um - and your dad, you're talking about Joe Hutchinson? Is that correct?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Uh - so the jury understands, were you also uh - adopted by Jack Echols?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And so that's the reason your last name is Echols?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: But your natural father is Joe Hutchinson?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And ok now, uh - so you and Joe and your mother, Pam - all of - you all went to the laundrymat?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And who was there at the laundrymat?
Echols: Damien and Domini.
Davidson: Anybody else there?
Echols: Not that I can remember, no sir.
Davidson: Ok, and so when you picked them up, did they get into the car there with you?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And where did you all go then?
Echols: To the uh - the best that I can recall, we went to the pharmacy.
Davidson: Ok. And what did you go to the pharmacy for?
Echols: To pick up Damien's medicine or to give them the prescription.
Davidson: Ok, and then from there uh - where did you go?
Echols: To Lakeshore.
Davidson: To Lakeshore?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And at Lakeshore, what did you go there for?
Echols: To take Domini home.
Davidson: Ok and so, did uh - did Domini stay there at uh - Lakeshore then?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Is that where she lived?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And where did you go then?
Echols: We went back home.
Davidson: And when you say "we", who are you talking about?
Echols: Me, my mother, my dad, and my brother, Damien.
Davidson: Ok, so Damien went home with you all?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And what did you do then?
Echols: Uh - we stayed home until around I guess, 20 til 7.
Davidson: And uh - where did - what did you do then?
Echols: We went over to Randy and Susan Sanders house.
Davidson: And who went to Randy and Susan Sanders house?
Echols: Me, my mother, my dad, and Damien.
Davidson: And um - what happened when you - how far is it, how long did it take you to get over there?
Echols: Probably around 10 to 15 minutes.
Davidson: Ok, and when you got over there, uh - what happened?
Echols: Um - we went inside and noone was there except for Jennifer, which is their daughter.
Davidson: Ok, and um - how long would you say you stayed there?
Echols: I'd say, around 30 minutes.
Davidson: What happened while you were there?
Echols: Um - we talked to Jennifer for a few minutes, and around 7 - at the time, 90210 came on over there.
Davidson: 90210?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: What is that?
Echols: It's um - kinda like a soap opera for teenagers.
Davidson: And do you like that show?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And were you watching that show?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Um - did you watch all of that show?
Echols: No sir.
Davidson: Why did you not watch all of it?
Echols: We left before it went off.
Davidson: Ok and where did you go from there?
Echols: Home.
Davidson: Who went home with you?
Echols: Me, my mother, my dad, and my brother.
Davidson: And what did you do the rest of the evening?
Echols: Well, when we got home, I used the phone and then Damien took the phone til about 10 or 10:30 that night.
Davidson: When you say that he took the phone, what did you mean by that?
Echols: People started calling him - he was using the phone.
Davidson: Did he talk on the phone alot?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And uh - do you remember him talking on the phone that evening?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Uh - what do you remember about him talking on the phone?
Echols: Hmm, well, the only thing really that I remember is girls calling and I would give him the phone and he would take the phone in the bedroom and talk to them.
Davidson: Ok. And how did you feel about him using the phone that evening?
Echols: Uh - I would get onto him about it -
Davidson: -Why?
Echols: - 'cause I wanted to use it.
Davidson: 'Cause you wanted to use it.
Echols: Um hmm.
Davidson: Ok. Uh - what time did you go to bed?
Echols: Probably around 10:30 or 11.
Davidson: And do you recall about when your brother went to bed?
Echols: After he got off the phone - the last phone call, which was about 10:30, he ate some ice cream and then he went to bed.
Davidson: Ok. Now, you slept on the couch that evening -
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: - Is that what you said?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: And uh - in that particular room, is that where the front door to the uh - trailer is located?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Uh - did you see your brother leave that night?
Echols: No sir.
Davidson: Did you hear him leave that night?
Echols: No sir.
Davidson: What kind of sleeper are you?
Echols: I'm a very light sleeper.
Davidson: Um - didn't see him leave at all that night?
Echols: No sir.
Davidson: Do you recall waking up the next day?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidso: Around what time did you get up?
Echols: Probably around 9 or 10.
Davidson: And uh - was your brother there?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Where was he?
Echols: In the bed.
Davidson: He was still in bed?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davidson: Excuse me just a minute.
(pause)
Davidson: That's all.
(pause - slight mumbling)
Davis: It's Michelle, right?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. Michelle, I'm going to ask you a few questions and if I - if you don't understand any, please ask and I'll try to rephrase 'em, ok?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Now, Michelle, prior to testifying here today, who have you gone over your testimony with?
Echols: I haven't talked about my testimony, I've talked about the case.
Davis: Ok. Who have you dicussed the facts or the circumstances surrounding May 5th with?
Echols: My parents.
Davis: Ok. Have ya'll sat down and discussed what each of you remember about that particular evening?
Echols: Not every detail, no.
Davis: Have you dicussed it with anyone else?
Echols: Not that I can remember, no sir.
Davis: How many times have you and your parents discussed what your testimony would be here?
Echols: Excuse me?
Davis: How many times have you and your parents discussed these facts about what you testified here today?
Echols: I don't know exactly how many times.
Davis: Have you got an estimate? Would it be more than one?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: More than 50?
Echols: No sir.
Davis: Where, what's your best estimate?
Echols: I'd say around 4 or 5.
Davis: Ok. And when was the first time you recall ya'll sitting down trying to determine - discussing the facts of what happened on the 5th? When do you remember first doing that?
Echols: The first day they took Damien in for questioning.
Davis: Ok. And at that time, you, your mother, and who else discussed it?
Echols: My dad.
Davis: Ok. Do you recall ever having discussed it with anyone else?
Echols: Not that I can recall, no sir.
Davis: Now, would you - would it be a fair representation to say that your brother, at the time that these - back in the early part of May, dressed pretty distinctively? You could pick him out of a crowd the way he dressed.
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. Did he usually wear this long, dark trench coat?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. And do you know what happened to that trench coat?
Echols: What happened to it?
Davis: Yes ma'am.
Echols: Um - I think we still have it.
Davis: Ok. And do you know if that trech coat left the house or was ever located at another location?
Echols: Um - I don't know.
Davis: Ok. Now could you describe what that appar - what that trench coat looked like for us?
Echols: It was just long, black and it had a split in the back of it.
Davis: Ok. And how far down would it come?
Echols: Uh - below the knee.
Davis: Ok. And would it be pretty accurate to say that he wore this pretty much all the time that he was out?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. And you've seen it since the time of his arrest?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. Do you recall where you've seen it?
Echols: I think it was at the apartment that we moved in.
Davis: Would that have been where you moved into from the trailer?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. Did you see it at the trailer after his arrest?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Hanging in a closet, or -
Echols: - In my closet.
Davis: Ok. Now when you say your closet, is that in a bedroom?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. Who's bedroom is that?
Echols: Mine.
Davis: Ok. And does Damien have clothes in that closet?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. And does he have drawers with clothes in them?
Echols: No sir.
Davis: Ok. Does - did he have - even though it's called "Michelle's bedroom", is that or that's the way you refer to it, are you telling us that you didn't stay in there very often or sleep in there?
Echols: No sir, I didn't.
Davis: Ok. And the night before the 5th, do you remember if you spent the night in that bed or if you slept in that bedroom that night?
Echols: I don't remember.
Davis: Ok. Do you remember the night after the 5th? If you slept in that bedroom?
Echols: I don't think I did.
Davis: Ok. Do you remember if Damien slept in that bedroom on the 4th?
Echols: On the 4th?
Davis: Yes.
Echols: Yes sir, he did.
Davis: Ok, he did?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Did he sleep there on the 3rd?
Echols: I don't know.
Davis: Ok. Did he sleep there on the 6th?
Echols: I don't know.
Davis: Ok. Now, did you discuss those dates with your folks about where Damien was, on those dates?
Echols: No sir.
Davis: Now there wasn't anything unusual about going over to the Sanders was there?
Echols: No sir.
Davis: Ok. And ya'll did that frequently?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. Now did they call you - were you aware of why ya'll went over there that night?
Echols: We just went over there for a visit.
Davis: Ok. To your knowledge, had you recieved any phone calls to come over there - the Sanders inviting you over to visit?
Echols: No sir, they don't have a phone.
Davis: Ok. And did you - as soon as you got there, was it - are you saying it was apparent that they weren't there?
Echols: When we went inside it was.
Davis: Ok. Now, did you know where they had gone?
Echols: Yes sir, their daughter told us.
Davis: Ok. And you indicated, you remember giving a statement to the officers about what took place - of your recollection of what occurred on the 5th of May of 1993. Or not to the officers, to Mr. Fogleman. You remember giving a statement to him?
Echols: On the 5th?
Davis: No. In September about what took place on the 5th.
Echols: Yes sir, I remember going there.
Davis: Ok. And you remember in that statement, that you indicated that you stayed there for 30 minutes waiting for Susan and Randy to get back?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. Now, if on this particular occassion, when you get there you know they're gone out of state even, why did you say in the statement that you would wait 30 minutes for them to get back.
Echols: To see if they would come back soon.
Davis: Ok. When you arrived there, did you not recieve any information about when they had left?
Echols: Um - yes sir, she said when they left, but I don't recall the time.
Davis: When was the last time prior to that you had been to the Sanders residence?
Echols: I would say a couple of days before.
Davis: Ok. And in fact, ya'll lived with the Sanders when you moved back from Oregon?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. And prior to that, ya'll had lived with them for periods up to a year at a time - in the same household with the Sanders?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Would ya'll go visit them once you moved back here from Oregon - once, twice, three times a week?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Now, were you familiar with your brother's beliefs, as far as his uh - religous practices?
Echols: He - I knew about his religous preferences, yes.
Davis: Ok. Were you familiar with his tattoos that he had? Did you see 'em?
Echols: Um - I hadn't paid any attention to them, no.
Davis: Ok, do you remember - can you tell me where the ones were that you had observed - that you had seen?
Echols: On his chest.
Davis: Ok and what - can you describe for us what that tattoo on his chest looked like?
Echols: Um - to me it looks like something you'd find, uh - sorta like a stick woman or something.
Davis: Would it be like a pentagram - you know what I'm talking about?
Echols: I don't know what a pentagram looks like.
Davis: Ok. Here's one of your brother's books with a drawing of it on the front, but I can't find it right now. It's kindly a star shaped in a circle.
Echols: No sir.
Davis: Ok. So yo had seen another one that looked like what?
Echols: To me, it reminds me of a woman.
Davis: Ok, a stick figure?
Echols: Um hum.
Davis: Ok. Was the circle part down?
Echols: It was a circle at the top with the stick thing down.
Davis: Ok. Did he - did you know any of the other tattos he had?
Echols: No.
Davis: Ok. Do you remember - have you ever noticed one that he has on his hand?
Echols: No sir.
Davis: Ok. Never - never noticed that. Are ya'll pretty close?
Echols: Uh - no, not really.
Davis: Ok. What precentage of his - you said he had certain clothes in that room -
Echols: Um hmm.
Davis: Was most of his stuff at the trailer or was most of his stuff at his girlfriend's?
Echols: Uh - I believe most of it was at the trailer.
Davis: Ok. And if I understand the - that day ya'll going to pick 'em up at the laundrymat, go by the pharmacy, then go home, and then go to the Sanders.
Echols: We took Domini home before we went home.
Davis: Ok. Take Domini home, go by the pharmacy, go home, go to the Sanders, is that correct?
Echols: No sir, we went to the pharmacy and then took Domini home.
Davis: Ok.
Echols: And then we went home and then we went to the Sanders.
Davis: One second your Honor.
(pause)
Davis: Let me ask you this Michelle, you remember during this time period back in May of '93 - you remember your parents separating?
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. You remember talking with Mr. Fogleman and him asking you if you knew when that was -
Echols: Yes
Davis: - as far as the date.
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. And you indicated to him that you didn't - that you weren't sure when that happened.
Echols: Right.
Davis: About how long were they separated?
Echols: I would say approximately 2 to 3 weeks.
Davis: Would it be - and I don't know, I'm not doing this to pick on you, but was there an argument that kinda led up to their separation - kindly blow up so to speak.
Echols: Yes sir.
Davis: Ok. And you recall that occurring, you just don't know when it was is that correct?
