Arrest made in Ouachita murders

“hot damn, phaedrus and i agreed on two things this year.”

“Because this "discussion" has nothing to do with the campfire nature of TT. It's like you were camping in the backcountry, and two total strangers wandered into your site and started arguing between themselves about who killed whose dog.

What would you do in that case?”

“Dunno, Bit.

I see your point, of course, but it seems to me this discussion is on topic for the thread.

I also think that it is a healthy debate that reflects the different aspects of a very complicated subject and brings humanity to the discussion.

Clearly, the murderer will not be walking around for a very long time, if ever. From my own experience with mental illness (depression) and dealing with my son'sa illness (manic-depression), your loved ones stay by you as long as they possibly can and when they leave it is because no human being could stay.

Personally, I just wish they-we-everybody could somehow have better detection mechanisms, as well as a mechanism for (forced, if necessary) early treatment before these people hurt themselves, or worse, others.”

“If they were contributing to a debate about the subject, then I would consider it valid. But their discussion hasn't ever been about what would be best for the community, it's just a couple of family members airing their dirty laundry in public and trying to score points on each other in a forum where that is inappropriate.

I liken it to the "mamabear v. CMB's" threads of a few months ago. Inappropriate for this discussion forum.

I agree that better detection mechanisms would be great, but since it's nearly impossible to force care on people with diagnosed mental illnesses in the U.S. (don't know what the situation is in Canada), I doubt we'll ever see a mechanism that will effectively catch someone who has an undiagnosed condition before they do something rash, that also respects the free will and liberties of everyone.”

“Same thing up here.”

“I've heard it postulated that with the advent of many so-called 'Wonder Drugs' after the Second World War that mental institutions were thought to be no longer necessary for most patients(and saved lots o' CASH) so the trend became control by medications.... institutions without walls.

But then what do you do when they go off their meds and wreak havoc? Say "I'm sorry" to the victims and their survivors? At that point they're not too impressed with how much money was saved by closing the hospitals.”

“Does killing the killer make it any better? Isn't that really legalized revenge?”

“Well, it is a very final method of removing the danger they pose to others.”

“Yes, I think it is, Chili.

I only wish 'life imprisonment' was exactly what it implies --- No parole under ANY circumstance.”

“Hey, bit, no one is forcing you to click on the thread! Who made you the GD board moniter?”

“The same guy who made you the board prick.”

“Why did you just click on the thread if you find the discussion bothersome? Seems like maybe you have some self-exploration to do.”

“uhm, I think you mis-spelled monitor, there flyguy.”

“Chill, and who made you the GD spelling moniker!!!”

“Self-exploration”

“Hey, dammit, I am also the self appointed TT Oz Prison #&%!$ Name Generator guru, flyguy.”

“Just to clear up a few matters........He never told me he wanted to kill anyone under any circumstances; he was being provided his medications by me, I paid for them myself. We had dinner the night of the murders and he never once indicated to me that this was going to happen. He also told me about sneaking up on people "before" this had ever happened. The press has been brutal to me and I am sure to his family. I pray every day for the strength to get through the upcoming trial.

The State of Oklahoma has nothing to do with this trial, it is totally federal.

If anyone has questions, feel free to contact me.”

“good luck ex. it sucks when something like this happens to someone close to you - regardless of which side of the gun they are on.

The press in general sucks - no compassion or tact.

no offense lizs.”

“thank you roam......that's the nicest thing someone has said to me about this whole situation. because i was the one who went to the police, i am the bad person.”

“You're not the bad person....you just had to do the "right" thing. Hope everything works out for you.”

“Sure glad I stumbled onto this thread. And what do you do for a living, Roam Around, that I can slam the whole profession of which you're a part?? Do I take offense to that comment? Absolutely. Why don't you just call me a fat, stupid white girl? Your comment is just as discriminatory in its broadness and wholehearted judgment of a group of people by their occupation.”

“gee. I never saw that coming.

; )”

“Tilt, you quit giving me crap. ;-P”

“I'm not giving you any crap ---



I thought the Family Feud thread was bizarre, but it can't touch this. This is completely unquantifiable.”

“OK, gotcha. Thought you were giving me a bad time. But you're seeing what I see here. (is this for real?? cough cough)”

“ex, it is amazing to me that you're really THE ex, but i too feel for you. this would be a horrible thing for anyone to endure. i was personally striken by this story as i have been to that spot many times and it really could have been me and my family. it actually freeked me out and still i can't bring myself to go down that dirtroad to the trailhead. i drive through there for work prolly twice a month and i always think of the incedent. anyways, keep your chin up, you did the did right thing in a horrifying situation. thank you, because i would really really REALLY be wiggin out if "he" was still out there, anonomous and free to kill again. thank you and God bless you.”

“drove by "the" road again today...couldn't bring myself to take it. it's almost like it's sacred or something.....strange. i loved going in there, it's such a cool place. i always felt so safe and peaceful there. i'm not scared to go, i can't really put my finger on the feeling ..... strange..erie”

“I was a good friend of Shirley Chick who was an innocent victim. I have read all the postings about poor Ed. Well what about poor Shirley and Charles. I understand that this killer has children and they will have to live with what their father did for the rest of their lives. But at least they still have their lives, unlike Charles and Shirley.

Charles and Shirley loved camping. Shirley told me that any time they had any problem whether it was big or small in their lives they would just go camping and it would make everything better. They had a good marriage because they just had each other, and when they were camping it would just bring them closer together. I still miss her and to see all the postings about this poor Ed. We all make choices in life, and because of the choice he made to take the lives of these two wonderful people; I no longer have my friend.

Family and friends are the most important things in our lives and to have them taken away because someone decides they want to know what it's like to kill someone??? I just don't understand how anyone can defend that. He shot both Shirley and Charles multiple times in the head, and Shirley in the foot.

I have never been to the Winding Stairs campgrounds but I am sure it is a beautiful place and it was a very peaceful place, but he changed that too. I know that the death penalty has all its pros and cons, but I think in this case he deserves the same punishment he inflicted upon the Chicks. If he really had this mental problem as you say why did they judge declare him competent to stand trial.”

“i have heard from a reliable source that the death penalty is likely.

i'm very sorry for your loss, texcamper.

God bless you...”

“An eye for an eye....and I don't really care about his "state of mind".

If there was a mad dog running around biting and mauling people/other animals, and the owner or society could not control it......it will be put down.

Sorry to Ed's friends and family....but that's how I feel.

Very sorry for your loss, texcamper.”

“you're right stan, ed's family are victoms too. "THEEX" did an incredibly difficult thing.”

“Yep, she did the right thing.”

“yeah, but it's more than that...it was the hardest thing she ever did....

she's got a place in Heaven....”

“texcamper, we agree with you.

Reading this thread brings back all the heartache and grief we have felt since we learned of the murders last year. I have a pit in my stomach and can barely swallow. My husband and I didn't personally know the couple, but we can honestly say from everything we have read about them, they were not strangers to us either. We have felt a kinship with them. They sound like wonderful people that we would have been thrilled and honored to call our friends. I wish our paths had crossed at the Winding Stair Campground that we all loved so much...and sadly, we will never have that opportunity to meet them and visit with them at their campfire or ours.

Since my husband and I camped at the Winding Stair Campground only days before the murder, we could easily have been victims also. I fail to understand how someone who stalked this couple for days to kill and rob them, who shopped for a killing suit, who clearly planned in detail, for a lengthy enough duration of time, to commit murder, is now said to have "just snapped."

Millions of people have financial troubles, lose all their worldly possessions, have loved ones with dire life-threatening illness and they don't plot and plan in fine detail how to go out and kill innocent people. While I commend the ex for going to law officials to turn the murderer in, I also have a hard time accepting or believing that there were absolutely no signs that he was premeditating this murder. We do our friends, family and loved ones no favors when we chose to ignore any signs of warning...if we know they own a gun and have a mental illness for which they take prescription drugs or illegal drugs, if we know they have violent behavior or tendencies such as spousal abuse or child abuse, if we know they are out stalking innocent people because they tell us so. I have a hard time believing friends or family members were not aware of any of the above, and why did they not get appropriate help. If he was such a nice person, then it would not have been difficult to obtain the appropriate help, or do an intervention of some sort. While I do not blame the family or friends, as they are victims too, neither do I accept their excuses for the murderer that he was a nice person and "just snapped." Perhaps in their hindsight, they are making statements out of guilt, that they could have had a hand in preventing these murders. Only these family members or those close to the murderer know the answer to this...I wouldn't want it on my conscience that I possibly could have prevented my son or brother, etc. from killing innocent people.

Perhaps instead of airing their family laundry and attempting to gain sympathy for the murderer, they could find a more appropriate forum or support group for family members of convicted murderers.

The Chicks deserve the honor, respect and dignity to not have to share this thread with any sympathy for their cold-blooded murderer.

I have faith in our justice system, and have no doubt the sentence will be swift and harsh. And hopefully the sentence wil begin to bring some closure to all of who grieve for the Chicks.

I invite everyone reading this to say a prayer for Charles and Shirley Chick everytime you watch a glorious sunset, everytime you pitch your tent, sit beside a campfire, sip on hot chocolate, or snuggle in your sleeping bag.
Honor their lives, and untimely deaths, by remembering them when we are out in the wilderness doing all the things they loved, and will never be able to do again. Respectfully,

Joanne and Richard”

“Amen, brother bones.”

“As someone who also camped within a mile of the site of the murders several months before, Toy Bones well thought out post really struck home. Well said, Toy Bones.”

“Toy Bones, we arent making "excuses" for what Eddie did. And, as one of the people who should have known something was wrong---I overlooked it!! Granted, he and I hadn't seen each other since we were teens, and lived across the country from each other. About a month before this happened, he called me, as I was on my way to go to work. In hindsight, he sounded strange..almost desperate. I was too worried about being late for work. I asked him to call me back in the morning (I work mids), but he didn't. When my mom called to tell me what happened in the forest, my heart sank! I put 2 and 2 together. He had been asking me to let him move down here with me and help him line up a job. I had no objections...after all, we are BOTH law enforcement officers, and the same age. His last call to me was a cry for help...and I didn't quite hear it...until it was too late!!!
My whole family grieves for the Chicks. And, we grieve for Eddie. Personally, I feel I let EVERYBODY down. Had I helped him sooner, would those lovely people be here with their family? Would Eddie's children still have a father? I literally kick myself whenever I think of what has happened.
I am by NO MEANS soft on crime nor criminals. But, working with criminals everyday for 5 years, gives you a better insight on mental and physiological issues.
As far as "guilt", I think I feel enough of that for everyone. I think God is gonna sit down with me and have a very long talk about being self-centered and self-serving.
Thank you for listening.”

“Blondilocks, it's not your fault.”

“i still think he was doin crank, just a gut feelin, no proof”

“Hey, just what I need to see the day before Debs and I go to Winding Stair to camp for three days........LOL...”

“That was more than four years ago.”