Heath Stocks
Encyclopedia
Heath Stocks is victim of child sexual abuse who, on January 17, 1997, killed his father Joe, mother Barbara, and sister Heather in the family home located in Lonoke
, Arkansas.
while attending Henderson State University
in Arkadelphia
, Arkansas. Walls exploited the difficulties in Heath and his father's relationship and used the trust they had in him to create a deep wedge of misunderstanding between them. However, Heath would later say that his mother, sister, and grandparents were always supportive of him even if they could not understand what was causing his anger and sadness. The abuse was suspected but not confirmed until nine days before the murders when Heath's mother witnessed her son being assaulted in his bedroom. This was not reported to police, mainly due to the threat of Walls' influence and power to silence the community. However, his mother and sister confronted Heath regarding what had been witnessed and at that point he confessed to them that he along with many other boys had been sexually abused by Walls for years. His mother then reported to their pastor what Heath had told her, and he too remained silent to authorities. After confessing, Heath made what he calls "one of the greatest mistakes of my life" when he then told Walls that the secret was out. Heath states that Walls became furious with him and instructed him to "kill the problem." This would not come into play during Heath's sentencing, but it would come to light when Walls' own nephew, Wade Knox, forced him to confess to his parents at gunpoint to the repeated rapes of himself, his brother and many other boy scouts including Heath. Wade's actions eventually resulted in Walls' arrest and conviction. Wade committed suicide after years of struggling with the sexual and psychological abuse inflicted upon him. His parents have opened an organization in his name, "The Wade Knox Child Advocacy Center, in Lonoke, Arkansas in the hopes that children such as Heath and Wade can find a safe haven and receive the support they need.
The night of the murders, Heath Stocks had torn through much of his family's house, and stolen several articles of value just prior to his family returning home that night. He claimed later that at the time his family arrived home he was thinking of committing suicide
with the .45 caliber handgun he had taken possession of in the house, and that he had the barrel of the gun in his mouth when they arrived. His sister returned home first, closely followed by less than five minutes by his mother and father. He then saw his mother and father in the kitchen and began firing. His sister, Heather dialled 9-1-1
before being killed.
Stocks fled the residence, driving to Arkadelphia, throwing items he had stolen from the house out of the vehicle on his way, including the .45 caliber handgun. He was captured the next morning around 6:00, at the apartment of a friend, where he was asleep on the sofa, following a state-wide alert calling for his capture. One of the arresting police officers that located and captured Stocks was Allen Williams, a then Arkadelphia police sergeant
, later known for his investigative involvement in the Liquica Church Massacre
. Lonoke County investigators arrived shortly, and took custody of Stocks, transporting him back to Lonoke, where he was charged with three counts of capital murder.
Investigator Steve Finch took the lead on the investigation. Stocks pleaded guilty to all three murders. He received three consecutive life sentences. An intensive investigation into the activities of former scout master Jack Walls followed shortly thereafter. Walls, once voted "Man of the Year" for his work with the boy scouts, was eventually convicted of six counts of rape, and sentenced to three life sentences. Since Walls' conviction, there have been numerous calls for a pardon
or parole
made on behalf of Heath Stocks, most claiming that the numerous rape
s inflicted upon him by Walls contributed heavily toward his downfall, and his having murdered his family.
Lonoke, Arkansas
Lonoke is the second most populous city in Lonoke County, Arkansas, United States, and serves as its county seat. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city is 4,553...
, Arkansas.
The murders
Heath Stocks is a long-time victim of sexual and psychological abuse by his former Scoutmaster, Jack Walls. By Heath's admission he murdered his mother, father and sister after being pressured and manipulated to protect the secret of the man abusing him. For years prior, Heath had a strained relationship with his father mainly due to the interference of Walls, which near the end was compounded by an arrest for DUIDUI
DUI is a three letter acronym that may stand for:* Driving under the influence * Democratic Union for Integration — the largest ethnic Albanian party in the Republic of Macedonia* Data Use Identifier...
while attending Henderson State University
Henderson State University
Henderson State University, founded in 1890 as Arkadelphia Methodist College, is a four-year public liberal arts university located in Arkadelphia, Arkansas, United States. It is Arkansas's only member of the Council of Public Liberal Arts Colleges...
in Arkadelphia
Arkadelphia, Arkansas
Arkadelphia is a city in Clark County, Arkansas, United States. According to 2005 Census Bureau estimates, the population of the city was 10,548. The city is the county seat of Clark County. The city is situated at the foothills of the Ouachita Mountains. Two universities, Henderson State...
, Arkansas. Walls exploited the difficulties in Heath and his father's relationship and used the trust they had in him to create a deep wedge of misunderstanding between them. However, Heath would later say that his mother, sister, and grandparents were always supportive of him even if they could not understand what was causing his anger and sadness. The abuse was suspected but not confirmed until nine days before the murders when Heath's mother witnessed her son being assaulted in his bedroom. This was not reported to police, mainly due to the threat of Walls' influence and power to silence the community. However, his mother and sister confronted Heath regarding what had been witnessed and at that point he confessed to them that he along with many other boys had been sexually abused by Walls for years. His mother then reported to their pastor what Heath had told her, and he too remained silent to authorities. After confessing, Heath made what he calls "one of the greatest mistakes of my life" when he then told Walls that the secret was out. Heath states that Walls became furious with him and instructed him to "kill the problem." This would not come into play during Heath's sentencing, but it would come to light when Walls' own nephew, Wade Knox, forced him to confess to his parents at gunpoint to the repeated rapes of himself, his brother and many other boy scouts including Heath. Wade's actions eventually resulted in Walls' arrest and conviction. Wade committed suicide after years of struggling with the sexual and psychological abuse inflicted upon him. His parents have opened an organization in his name, "The Wade Knox Child Advocacy Center, in Lonoke, Arkansas in the hopes that children such as Heath and Wade can find a safe haven and receive the support they need.
The night of the murders, Heath Stocks had torn through much of his family's house, and stolen several articles of value just prior to his family returning home that night. He claimed later that at the time his family arrived home he was thinking of committing suicide
Suicide
Suicide is the act of intentionally causing one's own death. Suicide is often committed out of despair or attributed to some underlying mental disorder, such as depression, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, alcoholism, or drug abuse...
with the .45 caliber handgun he had taken possession of in the house, and that he had the barrel of the gun in his mouth when they arrived. His sister returned home first, closely followed by less than five minutes by his mother and father. He then saw his mother and father in the kitchen and began firing. His sister, Heather dialled 9-1-1
9-1-1
9-1-1 is the emergency telephone number for the North American Numbering Plan .It is one of eight N11 codes.The use of this number is for emergency circumstances only, and to use it for any other purpose can be a crime.-History:In the earliest days of telephone technology, prior to the...
before being killed.
Stocks fled the residence, driving to Arkadelphia, throwing items he had stolen from the house out of the vehicle on his way, including the .45 caliber handgun. He was captured the next morning around 6:00, at the apartment of a friend, where he was asleep on the sofa, following a state-wide alert calling for his capture. One of the arresting police officers that located and captured Stocks was Allen Williams, a then Arkadelphia police sergeant
Sergeant
Sergeant is a rank used in some form by most militaries, police forces, and other uniformed organizations around the world. Its origins are the Latin serviens, "one who serves", through the French term Sergent....
, later known for his investigative involvement in the Liquica Church Massacre
Liquiçá Church Massacre
The Liquiçá Church Massacre was an atrocity that occurred in the war torn country of East Timor, in April, 1999. It was the first case to be heard by the Second Special Panel.-Events and Aftermath:...
. Lonoke County investigators arrived shortly, and took custody of Stocks, transporting him back to Lonoke, where he was charged with three counts of capital murder.
Investigator Steve Finch took the lead on the investigation. Stocks pleaded guilty to all three murders. He received three consecutive life sentences. An intensive investigation into the activities of former scout master Jack Walls followed shortly thereafter. Walls, once voted "Man of the Year" for his work with the boy scouts, was eventually convicted of six counts of rape, and sentenced to three life sentences. Since Walls' conviction, there have been numerous calls for a pardon
Pardon
Clemency means the forgiveness of a crime or the cancellation of the penalty associated with it. It is a general concept that encompasses several related procedures: pardoning, commutation, remission and reprieves...
or parole
Parole
Parole may have different meanings depending on the field and judiciary system. All of the meanings originated from the French parole . Following its use in late-resurrected Anglo-French chivalric practice, the term became associated with the release of prisoners based on prisoners giving their...
made on behalf of Heath Stocks, most claiming that the numerous rape
Rape
Rape is a type of sexual assault usually involving sexual intercourse, which is initiated by one or more persons against another person without that person's consent. The act may be carried out by physical force, coercion, abuse of authority or with a person who is incapable of valid consent. The...
s inflicted upon him by Walls contributed heavily toward his downfall, and his having murdered his family.