Heath Stocks
Heath Stocks is a convicted murderer who, on January 17, 1997, killed his father Joe, mother Barbara, and sister Heather in the family home located in Lonoke, Arkansas.
History of abuse
Heath Stocks claims to be a long-time victim of sexual and psychological abuse by his former Scoutmaster, Jack Walls. 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 DUI 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.
The murders
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.
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 a.m. at the apartment of a friend where he was asleep on the sofa, following a state-wide alert calling for his capture. 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.
Investigation and trial
Investigator Steve Finch took the lead on the investigation. 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. Stocks plead 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 Lonoke's Chamber of Commerce "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 rapes inflicted upon him by Walls contributed heavily toward his downfall, and his having murdered his family.
Legacy
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.