Page 24 of Dr. Burtons Autopsy Report
....taking the opposite posture that the boys deaths were
simply due to accident. I cannot justify this posture. I have
considered the possibility of a suicide pact, in which these boys
decided to take their own lives. Historically, there is nothing in
their past to suggest such and it would be again, virtually
impossible to assume that both boys had the stamina, fortitude and
determination to lie unmoving on the train track while the train
bearing down on them, overran their bodies. At least one boy would
have given in to the fear of impending death and tried at the last
minute to escape the injuries which would be certainly fated as
the train approached. None of the forensic investigators or other
forensic pathologists which I have discussed this case with and
have reviewed the case consider this to be a possibility.
I think that the Grand Jury should know that Dr. William
Anderson, who is a well known Forensic Pathologist, not only in
our State and the Southeast, but also in these United States, has
been made available all of the evidence that I have been sent and
examined myself. Dr. Wayne Ross, also of my office, has examined
portions of this evidence. A total of seven Forensic
Investigators, who have an accumulative experience of 100 years of
Law Enforcement Homicide Investigation experience, have looked at
and reviewed the evidence in this case. It is not just my opinion,
but it in unquestionably the opinion of all of these individuals
that the manner of deaths of these two boys should be considered
as having resulted from foul play.
Experts with whom I have consulted in this case have gained
nothing monetarily from their opinions nor have their been any
political reasons for having voiced their opinions one way or the
other. Likewise, I have spent innumerable hours on this case which
I have not only failed to keep track of, but have never intended
to submit a statement or bill for services to Saline County or the
State of Arkansas. This is a case which demanded a thorough
investigation, a case where two families and a community were
concerned about the deaths of these boys, and it was not my
intent, in the beginning or at this time, to take advantage of the
situation for monetary or political gain. I have tried to be quite
careful not to overread or read to much into some of these
observations and findings, and that is why I have utilized other
forensic experts to consider and test part of this evidence,
taking it completely out of my hands. The laboratory and Doctors
(sic) who examined the shirt does cases all over the World and has
just returned from Russia this year, where he worked on a forensic
case. People who have been involved in this case during my
investigation are experts in their fields. They are professional
Forensic Scientists. All to well, I and these other individuals
realize the problems that may be created by someone misconstruing
forensic, scientific or investigative evidence. I have made every
attempt not to do this and to be completely and totally honest
with you. As of this date, there are two other tests being....
