John Allen Booth Jr. sits in a visiting area in the Lewis County Jail after his conviction in Salkum-area murders
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
CHEHALIS – So I interviewed convicted triple murderer John Allen Booth Jr. at the jail on Friday.
A personable enough guy, notwithstanding the fact he’d just been found guilty several hours earlier of shooting four people in the head, including a 16-year-old boy.
Of course, I suspect he was friendly towards me, given that he’s been locked alone in a jail cell for 16 months. Plus, I’m not somebody who chased him down, locked him up or got in his way when he was trying to collect drug money.
Charming is probably an overstatement, however, I’m guessing there are people who would use that description.
I thought it would be good to hear from the 32-year-old former Onalaska man directly, given two weeks of a trial where others were in charge of painting the picture of who he is and then his own testimony that left me – and I’m sure others – with several questions.
So what in the heck did that mean, after the jury announced its verdict Thursday, and you say, “And vote for Barack Obama”? I asked.
He laughed. He tends to say things just to get a reaction, he said.
“It was pretty much that, or tell ’em all to fuck off,” he said. “It didn’t mean nothing.”
This was no comprehensive interview.
I’d hoped to meet with Booth in the afternoon, after his sentencing was over and all that would be left was for him to pack up and get ready to go to prison for the rest of his life.
However, for whatever reason, my visit got arranged for early in the morning, before his 10 o’clock appearance in Lewis County Superior Court to be sentenced.
Really only enough time to ask a few questions, try to at least learn a couple of basic facts and make our acquaintance for perhaps another interview in the future.
So I asked, how do you suppose John Lindberg got out of that house alive; hiding in the bathroom while – as prosecutors described – everyone else was shot to get rid of witnesses?
“I don’t think that’s what was going on,” Booth began.
But he stopped before sharing his theory. He’d already testified he was not there.
“I’m gonna appeal, this is gonna have a new trial within the next five years,” he said. “That’s a guarantee, so I’m not gonna say too much.”
Ineffective assistance of counsel will be the main issue, he said.
“My lawyer was almost incompetent,” he said. “I mean, I like the guy, he’s a great guy.”
But Roger Hunko can’t put two sentences together, he said.
He offered this: Lindberg lied about what he said he saw, Linn Perry’s testimony didn’t match with what he said in police interviews, Denise Salts isn’t all there, she was shot in the head after all, he said.
Our visit in the Lewis County Jail lasted only about an hour, I mostly listened. Had to listen hard because we were separated by a glass partition.
The 6-foot 3-inch inmate sat on a ledge on the other side, handcuffed with his ankles shackled.
“That extortion case was bullshit, that’s not how I work,” he said. “Am I a big dude? Yes I am. But I never threaten anybody, I make them invite me to their homes.”
Booth described his “style” is more like sitting down and talking, giving people options.
“I don’t threaten people,” he said again. “Cause I know that I’m a three-striker. If I go to someone’s house and start slapping them around and taking their shit, I’m never getting out of prison.”
“Do I collect money? Yes I do,” he said. That’s business. My muscle’s my hustle.
“I got a thousand one liners.” He smiled.
It’s something he’s done his whole life, he said. When he was young, he used to punch people in the mouth, but as he got older he found didn’t need to do it that way, he said.
Born in Centralia, by age 13 he was out there, running amok, a young gang member, he said.
“I don’t have regular contact with family members,” he said. “I’m from the streets, we kind create out own family.”
He’s not sure where his parents are, he said. His mother, Paula Wilson, came to see him one time, he said. His father has spent time in prison, and for all he knows, may be dead, he said.
Booth said he has one older brother who might live in Rainier, Ore.
Booth bounced around between his parents, and lived in a lot of places, like Seattle, Spokane, Tacoma, Federal Way, even southern California, he said. And was locked up in juvenile a lot, he said.
Said he became a member of the Crips gang before age 13. In the early 1990s, remember that gang-banging “was at it’s fullest,” he said.
At age 16, he moved back to Onalaska, to what was his grandmother’s house on Middle Fork Road, he said.
“I was an athlete, so I always figured I’d be a pro boxer,” he said. “But then, once I got locked up all the time, I couldn’t get nobody to sponsor me. So it was all bad.”
By the time he was 31 years old, he’d been in prison three times. He got out in December 2009, after serving five and a half years for hitting a man in the head with a crowbar at a Saturday night dance in downtown Centralia.
He lived in the Tacoma area, and had 18 months of community supervision from the state Department of Corrections.
“When I was out there right now, I had a 9 to 5 job. I’m on parole, I had to have a job,” Booth said.
He was happy at the upholstery foam making business where he worked, he said. It was a good company.
But was also was a personal trainer, teaching people how to work out and to fight.
“I pretty much had it going on, I thought,” Booth said.
But as part of a gang, he pretty much had to sell drugs, he said.
So what about Robbie Russell, I asked, and the theory Russell had you extorting money from David West Sr., thinking West Sr. should owe him the money from his bail from the June 2009 incident when the two of them of in trouble attacking, threatening a group of teenagers in Winlock? (West Sr., who along with his teenage son D.J. and a friend Tony Williams were fatally shot inside the West’s Salkum-area home, made a plea deal and was a witness against Russell in an upcoming trial.)
“Basically what they say, I’m a goon for Robbie Russell … I don’t work for nobody ya know,” Booth said. “If you’re a friend of mine, I’m extremely loyal, I’m coming through for you no matter what.”
There were so many things going on that never came out, Booth said.
West Sr. was going to prison, he said.
“He owed me some money, he needed to pay that money, he was paying that money,” he said. “It was not a big deal.”
Booth’s red and white striped prison garb literally hangs on his lanky frame.
It wasn’t that way in August 25, 2010 when he was arrested some four days after the shootings. Then, he said he was 220 pounds but in jail he’s dropped 50 pounds – of muscle – he said.
No it’s not nerves or anything like that, he said.
They don’t feed him enough, he said. He’s allergic to pork, so instead he gets noodles, he said.
He’s only let out of his cell once every three days, and so he spends his time reading a lot, doing crosswords and push ups, he said.
And he slept fine the night before, he said. That was after the jury convicted him on every count, and knowing he would be going upstairs to a courtroom in less than an hour where he would be told the mandatory sentence was life with no possibility of release.
“It doesn’t bother me,” he said. “I’ve known this was coming since the day I got arrested.”
He decided to turn himself in – before he was captured without incident in Spokane – to help out his friend, former cell mate, Ryan McCarthy, he said.
Only, Booth calls him by his nickname White Folks.
He compared it to Darcas Allen getting 490 (420) years for being a getaway driver for Maurice Clemmons who fatally shot four police officers in Lakewood and then was shot dead by an officer.
“On White Folks, they’d a hung him if they couldn’t get me,” he said.
I’m glad he’s going to see daylight again, so, whatever, Booth said.
Booth asked if I’d seen the toxicology reports.
“Everybody there was higher than a kite, with the exception of me,” he said. “I don’t do drugs. At all.”
“When you get all them tweekers, with guns and stuff, they’re unpredictable,” he said. “So am I surprised that that happened to ’em? Not a bit.”
Is it relevant? he asked. Kinda, he answered himself.
“Don’t’ get me wrong in this whole situation, you know what I’m saying. I feel for people’s losses,” he said.
He understands they lost loved ones and are lashing out, but he wasn’t there, he explained.
“The only thing I’m devastated about is I’m never getting out of prison,” Booth said. “And that actually hurts a little bit sometimes.”
“Hey, how come you didn’t report on me spitting in Dusty Breen’s and Dan Riordan’s faces?” Booth asked, referring to two Lewis County detectives.
I didn’t know, I told him.
It was coming back from court, a month or two ago, and he’d told Riordan to stop sitting behind him, he said. “And, I always do what I say, that’s me, no matter what,” Booth said.
He’d been sitting there for a reason, Booth said, and if anybody knows why I did it, he does.
Do you know what you’re going to say, when you get to speak at sentencing? I asked. Yeah, wanna know what I’m gonna say? he said.
“I can wait,” I answered.
Time was running out. Several times I said I had to leave, but I kept having just one more question.
“Hey, here’s my quote for the day,” Booth said. “Everyone out there that hates Big Six, to all of them fuck you.”
There’s more to the case than came in court, he said.
Like he has evidence he was in Rochester at about 2:18 that morning, Booth said.
“I was in Rochester when all this stuff went down,” he said. “They pinged me on my cell phone … which would be 40 something miles from Wings Way,” he said.
I had a bad jury, Booth said.
“Like I said, I’ll have a new trial in the next five years,” Booth said. “If anyone thinks they’ve seen the last of me, they’re sadly mistaken.
“I’ve never lost an appeal and I always come back. And in a case like this, you can’t help but to win.”
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
when society can let john booth and macarthy shoot an 14 year old boy execution style in front of his dad begging for his life then want to charge rob lusk for his part in death by sales of herion with a 35 year setence that took a life it’s a shity deal becuse a young man is dead but if i sold you a knife or gun and you used it to take your life im responsible for murder when booth shot the 14 year old in the wy he did was pure malice and if there ever was a more clear-cut case for the death penalty that was it lewis county can spend the money to take lusk to trial but wouldn’t spend the million dollars to try booth for the death penalty and cut a deal with macarthy for 12 years for ratting on rob russel which goy 4 years as a three stike law is bullshit manslaughter for rob lusk death to booth
if there ever was a more clearcut case for the death penalty in lewis co. when macarthy put young dave west junior on his knees while booth shot him execution style in front of his dad and macarthy got 12 year’s for his roll in the act and your want to setence rob lusk to 35 years for selling drugs that took a life it’s like saying if i sold you a gun or knife and i knew at the time to be an illegal act i should be accused of murder because you used it to take your life if nothing else it’s a case of manslaughter the court’s are willing to spend the money on his trial but didn’t want to spend the million dollars it would cost to try booth.
No suprise. He must of called in some favors with some connected people. They can’t have a valuble snitch and possible drug supplier for some doing time in a real prison population. His reputation would make him a marked inmate.
Again, if he didn’t have connected people under his thumb he would have been a three strikes your out canidate long ago.
Monkeys Uncle, Rob has been in Cedar Creek since about the third month he was sentenced. Now think about that info.
On a up note local three decades long career criminal Robert Russell
who was linked to this case as well as to the guy who killed some one in Olympia a couple years ago ( drug related ). And was caught in a car along with Russell and a large quantity of heroin and cocaine around Labree Rd. Will soon be completing his most recent prison stint, he is now at Cedar Creek Honor Farm. So he has less than 24 months before he is back living around here doing a new round of crimes and providing info to the Lewis County Sheriffs office as a double dealing snitch.
It helps to have incriminating information on family members of prominant locals when you are caught because a person can play that hand to get a light sentence, when by law they are well beyond the Three Strikes and your out for life law.
I don’t know John at all and I question his guilt of this crime and now they have found very important missing evidence of this crime hidden in a city employees locker that was never even noticed was missing by our court officials and police so it was never introduced into the court proceedings. This alone shows that lewis county has convicted someone of a very serious crime without all the evidence laid out. How many reasons can there be for someone to hide this evidence in a locked locker so it couldn’t be used in the court proceedings. Somebody has something to hide about this case and Wouldn’t it be something if this important evidence happened to prove John Booth was telling the truth. It might make a lot of people including all the people on this website that have been screaming death penalty look mighty foolish and that’s putting it nicely.
I don’t know John Booth but I believe he is telling the truth….I keep wondering why this Robbie Russell isn’t being looked at more in this case….I don’t know Robbie Russell either but I have heard of him and everything I ever heard was very, very bad and that he is more than capable of committing murder. Since Russell was the one that was behind all of this happening to begin with it wouldn’t surprise me if he was the one that did all the shooting that night, but he’s not even being looked at, why is that….it looks like something is very wrong in this case and that the cops involved in this did about as good of a investigation as they did with the Rhonda Reynolds case. Their the only ones that believe she committed suicide when it’s more than obvious to any right thinking person that it was murder. I think this John guy is just a fall guy because he’s a easy target and the cops don’t care about who might of really committed the murders just as long as they have someone to take the fall and is someone a lot of people will believe did it. That way it makes it look like their doing something when their not. I mean these guys didn’t even know that at a crime scene the first thing you don’t do is to destroy all the evidence of the crime like they did at Rhonda Reynolds house. The quality of their investigating practices are really questionable and should be taken with a grain of salt, so don’t be so fast in judging someone and screaming death penalty like you have the right to play god this week or something. Even if he is guilty of murder and you kill him for it what does that make you.
I agree. Send “Big Six” to his maker. Put him “Six Feet Under” like he did to his victims…..
Right on emerson thank you
Well Sharyn, you can now say with some confidence that you have sat down across from a genuine, real live, text book sociopath and held a conversation…that is what this thing is, a sociopath. It feels no empathy or remorse nor does it feel it needs to claim any responsibility for it’s actions. It will live out the remainder of it’s existence manipulating it’s way through life, using people. It now has nothing to loose. It can do any number of things including commit assaults and other murders, in the penitentiary system working for the same type of folks it committed these murders for. It will always be dangerous. It will now be free to work free lance. Lifers can do that. The prosecutor’s office failed this county and this state. They should have sought the death penalty. This THING should be facing the rope or the needle, both of which, by the way are too good for it. No, instead, we will make sure it eats well, has excellent medical care and has access to educational resources not available to most mainstream taxpayers. Yes, I have referred to you subject as IT. It has lost the right to personage. It has no relevance in our world. No standing, no place. It exists only because we can’t legally kill it. Perhaps it will meet someone or some thing in prison with a lack empathy of for it and it will meet it’s untimely end. Now that would be awesome…that would be justice. By the way…I see people on here complain about the cops in Chehalis, Centralia, Lewis County Et Al…People get the kind of police they deserve. You want better cops, be better citizens. You people live in the most dysfunctional county in the state. Time to grow up and drop the drama.
Hey “somebody’s daughter”, if “I don’t have a life because I am always commenting”, then perhaps YOU should get a life too, because you’re reading all of those comments…
And I know I’m not the smartest guy on the block. I sure didn’t need you to tell me. try coming up with something I don’t already know, huh?
The only thing that I will give 2 u objective is the fact that I as well do not believe that the whole story has been told but I do not believe that booth is innocent from the crime…
Heres something 4 u objective and ur wrong”F**K you both…most of D.J’s family doesn’t live in washington state!!!How dare u speak on something u know nothing about…U disgust me,ya’ll must be “Big Six” fans!Just 4 ur info smart a** es,the tox report showed that my cousin had ths in his system not meth..It’s been brought 2 my attention that some of D.J’s friends parents that lived near did know what was going on and what was gonna happen and when…R u both one of those parent’s?U 2 can stop with blame game and hateful words,I think my family has been through enough,don’t u?or r ya’ll ready 2 take another stab at us?
George needs to get a life. His commenting 24/7 on every post to sirens gets really tiresome. Get a life George. You are becoming repetitious and boring. You aren’t the smartest guy on the block. Give it a rest.
clubkid says:
Thursday, December 22, 2011 at 5:16 pm
Appalled says:
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 4:44 am
Are the swear words in this article really neccesary?
Can’t the reporter use symbols after the “F” and “S”?
thank you Appalled!!
>>>Why should a reporter use “F” & “S” and “E” and “B” and the whole rest of the alpha bet to replace words?
I’m an adult, this isn’t the Daily comicle where the news is censored and biased. A good Reporter (as Sharyn Decker is) will quote exactly what someone has said. Why? it’s called real news & also effect. Because I wasn’t there at the court house that day I can read Lewis County Sirens as if I were. I don’t want to guess what F*** of S***means. I’d rather visualize it being said without having to put my own words in there. Some of the things that offend ppl so easily ..but it doesn’t offend you to read about drugs and murder?
Once again Sharyn Decker…thanks for being such a great unbiased reporter. Keep up the good work!
Appalled says:
Wednesday, December 21, 2011 at 4:44 am
Are the swear words in this article really neccesary?
Can’t the reporter use symbols after the “F” and “S”?
thank you Appalled!!
I understand Ted Bundy was a real charmer too. As was the Spokane South Hill Rapist, Kevin Coe. Some people possess the ability change personalities at the whim of the situation. They are called sociopaths. Don’t be fooled. Booth was already a two time convicted felon. Did somebody else commit those two crimes too?
Sorry for him? No. Great guy? No. I remember in my youth, the only time I heard the word murder was in the movies. And it was the worst thing you could call a person . . . murderer, murderer, murderer! How do you excuse a murderer? Why would you want a murderer to walk next to you as your friend? This isn’t the movies. This is the real murder of real people. When did murderer stop being the worst thing you could call someone? And why?
I think that everyone should stop fighting over this article, because the simple fact is, only the people who were there that night know what really happened. No one at that house was in any way innocent, including D.J. It’s really simple to look up old newspaper articles and find out what was going on with them and to know that ALL OF THEM WERE DRUG DEALERS AND USERS. But that doesnt mean that any of them deserved what happened to them, in my opinion, no one deserves that. I also think that there is a lot more involved that didnt come out in the trial. If Booth did do this, he will get what he deserves. If he didn’t…….I’m worried.
Everyone that has commented on this article has a lot of varying opinions, which everyone is entitled to. But honestly, none of you were there. The only person who knows the truth is Booth.
I know Booth too, not very well, but well enough. And I have a hard time believing he did this, as I’m sure any one of you would if it had been a friend of yours that committed a similar crime. If he did do this, then he deserves a lot worse than what he got. Friend or not, what happened there that night is not O.K. by any means.
My head and my heart are in unison thinking and feeling that something isn’t right. There is more to this sad story then what everyone has heard.
As a friend of John’s and also as a concerned mother I’m being neutral in my opinion, because like all of you, I wasnt there. If i had proof that John and McCarthy did do this, i wouldn’t hesitate to go to the police. I would also like to state for one last time that if John is guilty, I’ll be the first in line demanding the death penalty, but if he isn’t………..? There are a lot of unanswered questions and inconsistantcies in the statements given by those involved and, if those unanswered questions and inconsistantcies mean that someone else did this or that there was another person involved besides John and McCarthy, then this needs to be looked into.
In closing, I would like to say that my statements are not meant to offend anyone. It is a natural instinct to defend a friend or family member especially when there are so many unanswered questions.
I, like all of you, want and need to know the truth and I do not believe that we have the full truth.
Yep and if he is just as guilty because of that like your saying. Then u and your family are just as guilty for him to die,because u were aware they were drug dealers and should of took him away from that situation or there is a place called cps. Maybe u all should think about that. WHERE WERE YOU!!!!!!!!!!!
HERE IS THE COMMENT THAT TAKES THE CAKE!
(Kinda made me feel like throwing up!)
I know John too. He is a great guy – and not the “animal” some people is trying to make him out to be…! Its a sad sad sad outcome for a wonderfull person… xox John.
Seriously? “How would you behave if you were beaten by four cops for spitting on the detective who was doing this?” You are saying Det. Riordan and Det. Sgt. Breen did this to him? You really think they set him up? I personally know both these men and the drug task force guys. There is no “cut” for looking the other way, they are serious about cleaning up this county. They live here too, they are protecting us and our children, as well as their own, as best they can. There are drug cartels in Lewis County and Thurston County. There have been some HUGE busts in the last 5-10 years. It is pretty hard to prosecute some of the drug cases because the informants are normally just as big of a criminal and liars as the people they inform on so honest testimony is really hard to come by on either side. It also takes time to build a case and get as much evidence as possible to bust the main dealers if possible. I currently work with addicts to get them clean and I have worked for 2 sheriff’s offices so I have seen most sides. Anyone doing meth or heroin or hard drugs like that is opening themselves up to these kind of people who will kill you for their next fix or money you owe them. Please get help and then never associate with your old friends in that life again.
Penny,if u r the penny that knew my cousin(D.J),I would like 2 say thank u for ur words…I think some ppl 4get that he had family other than his dad…Family that were not into drugs or its world…4 everyone that adores “BIG SIX” keep preachin cause not one of ur words matter 2 our family or friends…2 u that speaks about conflicting stories between booth and his “ALIBI” thank u…At least somebody is paying attention…Lunchlady,thankx auntie 4 speaking ur mind…These ppl haven’t the slightest clue how bright he was or what his goals and ambitions were…Take ur minds off of the fact that drug dealers were taken out,remember that a child was!!!!If Booth wasn’t the shooter then he is covering 4 the shooter which makes him just as guilty…
I have a nephew who also had acholic dad and mom doing drugs he had been in and out off juvey and jail still love him BUT if this nephew Killed one off my husbands nephews I would expect the law to come down on him to the full extent. This sixteen year old was my husbands nephew .
Are the swear words in this article really neccesary?
Can’t the reporter use symbols after the “F” and “S”?
I think the readers are smart enough to figure out a swear word with symbols.
I understand we live in an uncivilized world, but a little respect to the readers would be nice!
Nice reporting Sharyn….. thanks for taking the time to hear from him… something we might not have gotten if not for you ..
“Anon”, my background is not in question here, but if you must know, I am NOT a drug user. I never have been (I don’t even like taking aspirin if I have a headache). I’ve seen what drugs do to people, and I think to myself “how could anyone choose to destroy their lives over that garbage?”, only to see lives being destroyed by this stuff on a daily basis. Want proof? Read the paper. Look at the people in the Lewis County jail (and why they are there). Look at the people who are now dead or imprisoned because of this stuff.
And yet, you hear the same thing over and over from those who use, deal, or make the stuff: “he/she is such a good person!” Nonsense. And you also hear the same lies from those who get caught… they keep thinking those lies, and before you know it, they are as real to them as the straw they are sticking up their nose.
Yes, there are two sides to every story, and this story has come to a brutal and abrupt end. Both sides had the chance to tell their story… and one side of the story is better left to some fantasy world. You want to keep defending him, or perhaps step back into reality? You can’t do both…
Regarding the likelihood of appeal:
“Booth is(was) charged with first- and second-degree murder, attempted murder, attempted extortion and unlawful possession of a firearm in connection with shootings.”
He was found guilty on all counts. He was a two strike felon.
Even if for some amazing reason the murder convictions were overturned, he still admitted to the extortion, by his account, the night before; and was apprehended with the firearm along with pictures of it in his possession.
Both crimes are now indisputable and either would serve as his third strike.
I have to agree, those leaving replies who are acting as apologists for Booth, or making accusations of conspiracy are deluded.
I will say to those who “knew” this man, consider yourself lucky you were not victimized as so many others in proximity to him were.
To Penny> how can You be so absolutely positive that Booth won’t walk outside the walls of prison again?<< Take a look at the whole case it's a complete cluster of a Joke. I'm pretty sure he's going to win an appeal. Like I have said before even in just the trial itself there were too many inconsistencies. So, did Dee Dee (the bar owner in Onalaska) get charged with purgery? Remember she testified that she picked up 'Booth's Buddy after a phone call from Booth. I'm not going to go into the rest what should be the use of common sense of observance. Do I believe ANY of the witness testimony? Yes, I believe parts..but I'm pretty sure they USED mostly that whole pound of METH themselves & were higher than kites that night. Now how is it that U can be strung out on METH (toxicology tests confirm that) and give an accurate acct. of what happened ? Oh wait..neither one of them did, their stories changed from their initial statement & even after that. People of Lewis county truly do Amaze me they see what they want to see. I see law enforcement hiding behind the Conviction of a man who was an easy target. Who might law enforcement be not willing to go after? It's all in the bread crumbs..if you believe EVERYTHING the witness Linberg said then you know that West sr bought that pound of Meth from and I quote "some Mexican"(but because you don't believe anything Booth says It makes no difference if I add that Booth said he gets his Meth from 'random 'Mexicans'.) These people were shot Execution style, Mexican Cartel. Now you're going to say we don't have that in Lewis county. YES WE DO and have for over 30 years. the way I figure it either law enforcement is getting a cut for looking the other way for this long or they are just flat out afraid to take them totally down. If people of Lewis county would open their eyes & really see what's going on around us…it all STINKS. One of the biggest drug traffickers here in this county are the Mexican Cartel, find them (they're easily located), watch the activity then tell me law enforcement doesn't know about them?
Does dismissing me as a “tweaker” make you feel better about yourself? Or are you simply using the label to validate yourself for dismissing what I have to say? George, I believe you know that I am not a “tweaker” for the same reason that I can tell you are not one. In fact, I would go so far as to say that you are fairly well educated. Again, for the same reason that you should be able to tell that I am. I’ve been following your comments on this site about various topics for quite some time, and watched you consistently put forth that you believe there are two sides to every story. Now, the fact that you and I are not on the same page here makes me a “tweaker”? I have to admit, I’m a little disappointed in you.
And if you know how the criminal mind works, you’ll find his being a nice guy, and his doper buddies sticking up for him, normal behavoir. Thank you for sending him away to get “big six” when he drops his soap.
Lewis County has seen an overabundance of charming chameleons. In the general population and even “elected” officials! What a loss and absolute shame that these people are not found out before becoming entrenched in our society and in our lives. May the people who lost loved ones and those who have been touched by this pathetic piece of mankind rest assured that Booth will not walk outside the walls of prison ever again.
Booth not doing drugs just makes what he did worse!! At least if he was on drugs his mind would have been altered or he could say he had went crazy from it!! Of course he has friends that stick up for him and make conspiracy theories about all of this… but unfortunatley for him there was physical evidence!! When someone like this is accused of crimes it’s always”a set-up” The cops have it out for them blah blah blah but FYI the police have to have a reason to look at u in the first place!! He has no remorse for what he did he is a menace to society and needs to be locked away until the day he dies not just for punishment but to keep our community safe!! As for himnot being there and ppl lying on him REALLY?? I have seem comments here that a “alibi” says he was in Aberdeen with them and he says he was in Rochester so who has conflicting stories now?!?!?
“Tweekers sticking up for tweekers.” You got that right.
i hope he never sees the light of day!!!!!!!!
Tweekers sticking up for tweekers. That’s all i’m reading on here. Not buying the “set-up” excuse people!! I’m sure your going to get shot in the head and blame someone who did’nt do it!! PLEASE!!Is he a monster? Not for me to judge. Was the act he OBVIOUSLY committed that day monsterous? ABSOLUTELY!! Being from a big city and watching my bestfriend get murdered for living this exact same lifestyle, i’m not surprised by anything that happens with meth users. It makes people do things they normally would not!! You can “Perry Mason” this case all day long. That does not change the fact of what the EVIDENCE shows. Not to mention the survivors who lived to tell what happened. Everyone is lying, but the accused? Of course that would be the case…………… NOT
John never said that all of this was his parents’ fault. That is something that other people have come up with all on their own. In fact, his family is the main reason why he has never done drugs. He didn’t want to end up like them. You obviously don’t know him, George, or you would know that he DOES take responsibility for his own actions. He never blames someone else for what he does. He is not taking responsibility for THIS action simply because he did not DO it. This has been a setup from the get-go. Even West’s cousin has alluded to the fact that something else happened there, but won’t tell what it is. Why? She obviously knows the real culprit and is covering for them by stirring up hate against John. People may criticize him for his late actions in court, but I ask you: how would YOU behave if you were held in isolation for a year and a half for something you know you didn’t do? How would you behave if you were being prosecuted for a crime you did not commit and were convicted of it based on your past, the fact that the majority of the jury had already formed an opinion before they heard evidence, and the fact that the opinion they had formed was the direct result of media coverage that convicted him long before he ever entered the courtroom. How would you feel if a particular cop sat right behind you every time you were in court with the express purpose of listening to every single word you said to your lawyer so they could make sure their witness has the info so they can refute everything you say in court? How would you behave if you were beaten by four cops for spitting on the detective who was doing this? How would you behave if you were 220 pounds of muscle but you were starved to the point where your body starts basically eating itself for basal energy? His testimony on the stand held more truth in it than those of the others, but no one wants to hear that he didn’t do it. They just want SOMEONE to be put away for the crime, and they don’t particularly care WHO it is. I wouldn’t be at all surprised if the real criminal was right there in the courtroom watching everything going on. And here’s the problem with putting John away…who is going to die next because the real murderer is still out there?
I know John too. He is a great guy – and not the “animal” some people is trying to make him out to be…! Its a sad sad sad outcome for a wonderfull person… xox John.
I know a LOT of people who have spent time in prison. Most of them came out of there with a changed attitude, vowing to never return. Most of those have never gone back. but the one thing that I’ve NEVER heard any of them say is “it is the fault of the way I was brought up.” or some variation on that. That is nothing more than a cop-out.
MILLIONS of people go through life without having a “good mom” (dad, family, whatever… insert what you like in there), and they never turn to crime. They see their situation for what it is, and strive to get out of those places. Most succeed, quite admirably.
A majority of people (not all of them) take personal responsibility for their actions. They accept any punishment they get as a result of their actions, and they also accept the rewards. They don’t go around blaming their situation in life on someone or something else.
Booth had plenty of opportunities HIMSELF to get out of a life of crime. He chose not to. He chose to do what he did. Nobody forced him to do anything. By placing the blame on everyone else for his lot, he has refused to take any personal responsibility for his actions. You, and others like you, would be called “enablers”, because you aren’t holding HIM responsible for his actions, but passing the blame to others.
For Booth, it IS too late. He committed violent crimes, brutally murdering THREE people, and trying to murder a fourth, while he was collecting a drug debt. These weren’t the first crimes he had ever committed either, and because of that, he got the punishment he deserved: life in prison without the possibility of parole. Time for him to take responsibility for what he did, because he will be in prison for a mighty long time….
Well George u have it wrong its too bad we cannot help him and people in his same situation. To explain, I have known John for 16 years I was in about the same situation no one to care, no one except my friends. they were my family, sent me to juvenile and I met worse people than me, which is no help. You see I was lucky to meet someone who cared and took me in they were my family, that changed my life a lot, someone cared and I changed my life. What I am trying to say is Jon has friends I am one of them, he is the most loyal guy u can meet,and does care, has a heart and not a animal, he never had that chance,or books gave him a chance you and the rest would say he was a criminal. and if people like most of all the people making comments about him being a animal and he is a convict would give people chances understand that there is a reason why people do these things, and try to help them. Except people throw them away and say exactly what u and the rest of society says. John will be my friend forever, I don’t believe he did it, I believe something happened but not that he did it. Not everyone was born with a good mom and dad family in general and if we don’t care for them when there younger than we wind up in these situations. Sorry if u or others don’t like my comment but u really don’t know how hard it is if u never lived it.
I just love the way he paints himself as being such a great guy and all… it’s almost scary the way he (and others just like him) talk about themselves. thank goodness this animal will never see the light of day as a free “man” ever again.
Thank you, Sharyn. Perhaps you could share how YOU felt sitting there talking with him?