Damien Echols Death Row Letter, Year 9

Henry, sorry for not writing in so long

But Things have been less than great here lately

I think I’ve been depressed, maybe a little in shock

I don’t know if you’ve heard

But they’ve moved me to another prison

This one is a super maximum security unit

First, the state police came rushing in on us at 2 o’clock in the morning

With m16 assault rifles and attack dogs

They got everyone out of bed

Chained us all up and brought us here

This is the same prison where Jason and Jesse are

But we’re in different parts

Here, I’m in complete and total isolation 24 hours a day

I’m in a concrete room with a solid steel door

There’s a drain in the floor

And a water spout in the wall

That’s how you wash or take a shower

You never even get to go out into the sun here

Not to mention, they had a huge budget cut

So the first thing they sliced was the food

I’m not even allowed to have an ink pen

I’m writing with a filler tube from inside a pen

Which is why my handwriting’s atrocious

I haven’t really felt depressed in the truest sense of the word

But all I’ve done is lie in bed sleeping day and night

Now, I’m adjusting

You can adapt to almost anything given enough time

Two days ago my appeal was denied

Shot down by the Arkanas Supreme Court

Everyone has always told me to expect it

And if any help comes, it will be from the Federal Court

But when I saw this decision in the news

I still had the feeling in my stomach that I was falling

I’m getting scared Henry

I can’t tell anyone else that

Cos everyone here wants me to be fearless and to have no doubts

Not all bad news though

I’ll be seeing my son Seth soon

He’ll be coming for a week-long visit at the 1st of January

He just turned ten years old

And is still hard to believe

Especially when I hear him call me Dad

I haven’t got used to that

I’m really looking forward to it though

I’ll close for now but will be in touch soon

Lorri and Jay are discussing what strategy to use from here

I’ll keep you posted

Damien