Ground Report

The case of Debra Milke has run on for many years. The many misconceptions can be traced to just one man, Jim Styers. The case is unusual, in that Jim Styers lied not just after the murder but before. That caused a tangled web of confusion lasting 23 years. The key to the case is to understand that Jim Styers lied to his accomplice, Roger Scott. Jim Styers was cunning and inventive. He knew that if he murdered Christopher by himself, the police and Debra would suspect him. So he thought up an alibi scheme, but he needed an accomplice. Jim Styers persuaded Roger Scott to help him.

Jim Styers told Roger Scott at least two lies:
(1) That Debra wanted Christopher, her much loved son, to be killed.
(2) That Debra had been with him previously to murder Christopher, but they hadn’t carried it out.

Now a tragic set of consequences for Debra ensued. After Christopher went missing, and Jim Styers claimed that Roger Scott was his alibi, the police rapidly became suspicious. They put pressure on Scott, who confessed to being present at the murder. Scott then gave a truthful confession. He told the police that Jim Styers had told him that Debra wanted Christopher dead. He also told the police that Jim Styers had told him that he(Jim) had met with Debra earlier to carry out the murder. Roger Scott was telling the truth, but what the police failed to spot was that Jim Styers had lied to Roger Scott.

Now, step forward Armando Saldate,the crooked lead detective. Saldate interrogated Debra, and claimed that she had confessed to him.

The die was cast, and Debra lost not only her son but nearly 24 years of her life.

For more information about the case, please see http://debra-milke.wikispaces.com