Episode 19: Damien's Interview from Hell

<p>In this pivotal episode of Crooked Tree, forensic geologist and victim advocate Paul Day and criminologist and victim advocate Kristin Rich take a meticulous, slow-crawl look at one of the most consequential moments in the West Memphis Three investigation: the May 10, 1993, interview of Damien Echols at the West Memphis Police Department.<br /><br />Beginning at 11:54 a.m., Echols—brought in with his mother—sits down with lead Detective Bryn Ridge and Lieutenant James Sudbury. What starts as a “person of interest” conversation lasting roughly 90 minutes ends with Damien labeled a suspect. Paul and Kristin carefully compare Ridge’s sparse interview notes, his later handwritten report, and the final typewritten version that would be used at trial, revealing subtle shifts, omissions, embellishments, and a troubling conflation of Wicca with Satanism. They also examine how Sudbury filled out his 32-question occult questionnaire largely by listening in and mapping Damien’s answers onto the form—sometimes out of sequence and without direct questioning.<br /><br />No audio recording exists of the interrogation. The hosts unpack the subject description focused on tattoos, Damien’s statements about his beliefs, alibis, the crime, and potential suspects, then follow the trail into the polygraph examination and the escalating pressure that followed. Drawing on trial testimony from Ridge, Damien, and others, they show how these documents and leading questions shaped the narrative that would haunt the case for decades.<br /><br />A cautionary deep-dive into note-taking, confirmation bias, the dangers of unrecorded interrogations, and the moment a teenager’s decision to talk to police changed everything. Essential listening for true-crime fans who want the granular details behind the headlines.</p>