As I read the recent articles and news programs on Samuel Little, a California inmate who has confessed to 93 murders after 700 hours of interrogation by a Texas Ranger, it seemed like Deja vu.
Samuel Little
In the mid-1980s I was working the homicide of a young woman wherein the defense had suggested that the alternative suspects were Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole, two drifters incarcerated in Texas. At the time, Lucas and Toole had become infamous as "serial killers." The two were allegedly confessing to thousands of murders. I was skeptical, but since the defense had raised the issue, I was required to follow up.
Henry Lee Lucas Ottis Toole
I went to the Texas Rangers’ office in Georgetown, Texas, where I met with Henry Lee Lucas and Ottis Toole. Investigators from across the county were lined up to meet with them. I had to make an appointment.
I was astounded when I walked into the Ranger's office and they had set Lucas up in the office with a desk and map and pictures. The Rangers told me before I went in to the office to be sure and compliment Lucas on his “art,” which I neglected to do.
After meeting with Lucas (who had one eye weeping fluid down his face…..), I interviewed Ottis Toole. My efforts were a waste of time.
When I left Texas, I had a sense that Lucas and Toole were actually "interviewing the interviewers." They would get a little bit of information about a case from the detectives who were interviewing them, spin it a little and regurgitate just enough in detail that the detectives were able to "ex-clear" or close their cases. The investigators were able to return to their departments and to the victim's families from all over the United States and tell them that the death of their friend or loved one had been "solved."
The reality was Lucas and Toole were "serial liars" who got a great deal of attention from the Texas Rangers and seemed to relish the attention and the notoriety. Lucas had been convicted of three murders, including that of his mother years ago. I think Toole may have been convicted of six. There was no doubt they were murderers.
After detectives from all over the United States made appointments and traveled to Texas to interview Lucas and Toole, in 1998, Lucas recanted his confessions as a “hoax.” I am not sure about what happened with Toole’s.
There is no doubt that Lucas and Toole had suffered horrible backgrounds and committed multiple murders,
but they were smart enough to gain a lot of attention as well as some special treatment for their endeavors.
I hope that Little is not taking law enforcement for a ride as did Lucas and Toole.
H. Ellis Armistead