sometimes i just feel like throwing my hands up and walking away from this job

[ballen0351]

KINGSTON, Tenn. — A pair of brothers who shot and killed a sheriff's deputy and his friend during a ridealong posted photos of the bodies on a sign outside their home.

Rocky Joe and Leon Houston said they "want the world to remember what happened" when uninvited guests shows up at their farm, according to the Knoxville News Sentinel.

Deputy Bill Jones, 53, and ride-along Mike Brown, 44, died in May 2006 when they went to the Houstons' property to serve an outstanding arrest warrant for Rocky, who had failed to appear in court. The two groups exchanged gunfire, and Jones and Brown died at the scene.

It was never determined who fired first. In court, the Houston brothers said the men "came to kill them" and were never prosecuted in the deaths.

The night of the shootout, forensic specialists took photos of the bullet-riddled corpses inside Jones' patrol car that became evidence in the Houstons' trial. Authorities said because they are public record, posting them is not a crime.

The photos, along with court records, names of public officials and claims of government corruption, are posted on at least a dozen billboards outside the property and next to the road, according to the article.

"It goes without saying that any public display on their own property of these photos in whatever manner by the Houstons is despicable and certainly runs counter to the Houstons' claims of innocence," 9th Judicial District AG Russell Johnson said Thursday in a news release.

Rocky Houston told the paper he will not take down the signs.

 

[ballen0351]

The article is wrong that they were never prosecuted they were but were never found guilty they had hung jury and never re-tried

 

[Sukerkin]

That is horrible, good sir . I share with you feelings of disgust and disbelief that someone could behave so.

 

[ballen0351]

Sometimes its just not worth it to know that could happen to me and my kids could accidentally see pictures of me like that. I'm so furious I'm ready to.drive to Tenn and rip the pictures down myself. I actually started pacing around my living room when I read it. I could.careless they got away with murder its not the first time I've known cop killers to walk free but to gloat about it man I can't take that.

 

[Tgace]

"Who shot first?" Really?

A uniformed officer in a marked car pulls up and is met by a man with a gun and we have to figure out who shot first?

 

[Tez3]

What could be done is to turn this back on them, I don't know if this happens in America but here at places where someone has died, been murdered etc people lay flowers, cards, candles etc to commenorate the dead and show their respect. What local people could do along with as many others they can get is to put as many flowers, candles whatever on the ground by the photots, in fact as far along the outside of the properties fenceline as they can. legally I suppose theres little that can be done about the killers now but a very public display of support and respect for the men they murdered would go a long way I think. If the photos are then seen as a memorial they lose the purpose the killers intended them for and they will either remove them or at least not renew them.

 

[ballen0351]

What could be done is to turn this back on them, I don't know if this happens in America but here at places where someone has died, been murdered etc people lay flowers, cards, candles etc to commenorate the dead and show their respect. What local people could do along with as many others they can get is to put as many flowers, candles whatever on the ground by the photots, in fact as far along the outside of the properties fenceline as they can. legally I suppose theres little that can be done about the killers now but a very public display of support and respect for the men they murdered would go a long way I think. If the photos are then seen as a memorial they lose the purpose the killers intended them for and they will either remove them or at least not renew them.

Great idea but I would think most people would be fearful to even approach the property. But that is a great idea I may try to contact the fop in that area and suggest it

 

[ballen0351]

"Who shot first?" Really?

A uniformed officer in a marked car pulls up and is met by a man with a gun and we have to figure out who shot first?

If the article is correct about the pictures they never even for out of the car before they were shot.

 

[Tgace]

What kind of prosecutor do they have down there? What kind of jury??

 

[ballen0351]

Where is the justice dept on this. If it were reversed they would be charging the officers with civil rights violations. This is the hottest I've been in a long time my bloods boiling here.

 

[MJS]

What kind of prosecutor do they have down there? What kind of jury??

Apparently ones who have no clue.

 

[WC_lun]

Sad and disapointing story. I think it would be time for the loacal government to pass a law.

 

[Tez3]

Great idea but I would think most people would be fearful to even approach the property. But that is a great idea I may try to contact the fop in that area and suggest it

Perhaps close enough to make a point but not too close? A candlelit vigil perhaps and as gruesome as it sounds use the photos they are using ( along with decent proper photos) so that the people take ownership rather than the killers with the photos showing heroes rather than victims. Perhaps too a fundraising effort so the families can take them to a civil court as I believe you can?
Even killers like these who assume they are untouchable like to think they either have the locals tacit support or their fear, for a huge crowd of people to show their disapproval would be a good way of standing up to them.

 

[MJS]

What a sad story. Its a shame....these punks should be rotting the rest of their life in a cold cell, never seeing the free world! Oddly enough, if it were the police who did this, oh, look out...all hell would be breaking loose. Look at all the trouble that happens when the military posts pics of dead bodies.

Now, so there's no misunderstanding, I'm not saying that what the military does is right, in regards to posting pics of dead bodies, I'm simply saying that we've all seen the issues that have arisen. how any lawyer or jury, could say that its ok for these guys to keep the pics up...well, thats ****ed up!

 

[ballen0351]

Perhaps close enough to make a point but not too close? A candlelit vigil perhaps and as gruesome as it sounds use the photos they are using ( along with decent proper photos) so that the people take ownership rather than the killers with the photos showing heroes rather than victims. Perhaps too a fundraising effort so the families can take them to a civil court as I believe you can?
Even killers like these who assume they are untouchable like to think they either have the locals tacit support or their fear, for a huge crowd of people to show their disapproval would be a good way of standing up to them.

The officers mom did take them to civil court and won a 5 million dollar judgement for wrongful death but the brothers said they won't pay her a dime.

 

[Tez3]

The officers mom did take them to civil court and won a 5 million dollar judgement for wrongful death but the brothers said they won't pay her a dime.

Wow, they're stars aren't they! I hope there's some sort of process where it can be enforced, it would be poetic justice if they lost their property they were 'defending'.

 

[ballen0351]

Wow, they're stars aren't they! I hope there's some sort of process where it can be enforced, it would be poetic justice if they lost their property they were 'defending'.

I was looking for more info because that was my first thought was to seize the assets including the property but I think its deeded to the killers parents not the brothers.

 

[Steve]

So, there was a deputy and a ride along. That's just another way of saying "civilian." Or do I have that wrong?

 

[ballen0351]

So, there was a deputy and a ride along. That's just another way of saying "civilian." Or do I have that wrong?

Correct a civilian

 

[Tez3]

I was looking for more info because that was my first thought was to seize the assets including the property but I think its deeded to the killers parents not the brothers.

Well the parents have to pass on sometime and the property will be left to them so hopefully on the day of their last parents lefts funeral the bailiffs come and take the property away!.