I've been receiving letters from Eileen for a few months now, since early May, I think. As inmates go, she is very literate and well spoken. She makes no excuses for her crimes aside from kicking her own ass. In this last letter she included a small booklet she'd authored full of memories and recollections and prison life pondering. It is heartfelt and poignant and stirring. So much so that I have included it in the speaking engagements, I do for schools, group homes and girls detention centers.
It tells of her childhood and while it isn't as bad as others, it's obvious where some of her issues stem. Her mother; cold and uncaring. Her father, loving but inept and subordinate. Add to them a cruel and jealous older brother and home life becomes a melting pot of anger.
Her case is even harder to understand when you consider that she never pulled a trigger, pointed a gun or issued a threat. She was simply along for the ride. Albeit a dangerous, stupid and cruel ride, but Eileen came from no background that would have taught her better.
Eileen valued honesty above everything else and still does. All her life, things changed on the spur of the moment, nothing anyone ever said proved true, nothing could be counted on. She lived her life on the hope that someday she would meet the man who was as honest as she was. Her memories recall how she has always been driven to prove she was a "down ass white bitch' who would be a ride or die friend. It was important to her to be identified in this manner.
She was 21 when she was involved with John Lewis, who seemed to be the man she was waiting for after enduring a hardscrabble childhood. He was exciting and handsome and would do anything in the world to make sure she had everything she needed.
John later told police that he felt he was getting back at society for his perceived mistreatment when he killed four people in a series of stalking/kidnapping/murders in California strip malls in 1991. Eileen was with at the killings. She was aware of his intentions and participated just short of killing, driving cars and disposing of evidence.
She takes full responsibility for these acts now. She looks back rarely, but always with regret. Her days are filled with volunteer work, studying and work. She mentors other inmates and works toward a degree every day. He outlook is bright and shiny and all she does is done in the names of the victims. Does this help anything? No. It doesn't help the victims or the families and it can't reverse the crime, but it is a step in the right direction. It is breaking the cycle and Eileen is doing it despite all the prison system does to stop her.
If you would like a copy of Eileen's memories or would like to invite me to speak to your group of troubled girls, please email admin@thewomancondemned.com
I worked in the prison where Eileen is incarcerated when she first arrived. She was my inmate worker for the housing unit. She was young, vibrant and always had a positive attitude. I do think she was used and manipulated by Lewis. She was a very young person caught up with the wrong people. Not to make any excuses for her part in this crime but I do think she fully understands what she has done and excepts the hand she was dealt for it. I always treated her like any if the other inmates but did have a soft spot for her. If you knew her and were around her everyday, not knowing her crime, you would never guess she was a part of anything like that. Right or wrong, these are the words of my heart.
ReplyDeleteWOW Chris! Thats quite a perspective. Thanks for sharing it. I have heard lots of similar things from people who know her.
DeleteI also knew Eileen personally and when I had heard about it several years ago I was shocked: Eileen was manipulated by someone who lied to her and led her down the wrong path. I went to school with Eileen and yes you do develop a soft spot for her. She is a person with a good heart, you might ask how can someone with a good heart participate. But guess what we've all done something we are not proud of and I want to go and visit her, but not sure were to start. If she sees me she will remember me: I have thought about her much over the years
DeletePoor Eileen, yeah right...manipulated to help murder 3 Inocente people. Really!!! That was who she is, dropping out of school, hanging with the wrong crowd and knowing after the 1st murder what’s going to happen to the next two people. Sooner or later she was going to end up where she’s at...IN PRISON. What about the Inocente families that were minding their own business and living life until their paths crossed with these MONSTERS.
DeleteShe's a criminal and she should never be released ex from prison she's right where she belongs along with her co-defendants they murdered innocent people for no reason good ridden
DeleteWell, Eileen was not just along for the ride. It was SHE who owned the car and did the driving so her new boyfriend could kidnap, rob and murder innocent people. Ergo, Eileen was a vital cog in the MO of this murderous gang. No question in my mind THAT is why she received LWOP. She didn't pull one trigger on those five dead people attributed to the "Mall Murders Gang". But she watched as all of them were shot by her boyfriend. Her boyfriend then got back into Eileen's car and they drove off to spend the loot they'd just stole --there were FIVE separate incidences of murder that Eileen watched go down. OBVIOUSLY, there were going to to many, many, many more of these kidnappings/robberies & murders had it not been for a fluke pull over by a police officer for a traffic incident.
ReplyDeleteEileen deserves the LWOP sentence IMO, and I also believe there is an element of pure evil about her. Remember, she watched as five people were ruthlessly gunned down. I found no record of her pleading with her murderous boyfriend not to murder any one of the five dead victims.
Agreed. If the author of the post listed the multiple crimes she was convicted of, there would not be much sympathy for her. Of the four people in her gang, she was the only one that didn't come from serious physical and sexual abuse. She had real life choices, and she purposely made the worst ones possible.
DeleteI knew Eileen in elementary and Jr high. I was shocked when these murders happened to find out she was involves. There is no excuse. Life is full of choices. She made poor ones. Just because she didn't pull the trigger doesn't make her less guilty! I suffered sexual abuse as a child. I've never harmed anyone. I don't do drugs. Good choices can be made. It's all about personal decisions and then accepting responsibility for them. She's right where she belongs!
ReplyDeleteEileen and her Dad and brother were my neighbors in the 1980’s. She was a fresh faced little girl and always followed me around and did errands with me. I was so sad to hear she started hanging with the wrong crowd. It’s hard to believe. I hope she can help other young women
ReplyDeleteshe's exactly where she deserves to be, remember the victims
ReplyDeleteThis case was one of the reason I volunteered to work with Juvenile Delinquents. I think she has shown responsibility and owes one day when she can see freedom, I am not the one to say now!
ReplyDeleteWow! Im sure Eileen would really appreciate knowing that. Its so great youre helping kids.
Deletethis monster is were it belongs
ReplyDeleteLooks like whoever wrote this post is trying to excuse this woman who at the time of the crimes was just as evil asher boyfriend. If she is a changed person good for her, but that won't bring back her vivtims
ReplyDeletePlease don’t make me throw up!!! These people are a menace to society.. They wake up everyday with crime on their minds. They don’t want to go to school, they don’t want to work. They want a free ride from society to get high, steal, kill and destroy. They all should’ve received the death penalty.
ReplyDeleteSucks to be her. No sympathy for murderers. It was a callous and cowardly way to kill innocent people, watched their killing spree on Hayu blob:https://www.hayu.com/11c6d5d5-22c2-4789-a95a-2bac4010b597
ReplyDeletehttps://www.hayu.com/show/episode/120209960030
ReplyDeleteI grew up and went to school with eileen. She knew what we was doing she is very convincing. Sadly she was heavy into drugs and robbing people even in high school. Only thing i knew about the shooter growing up was he was a gangbanger and he and his family was bad news to stay away from them.
ReplyDeleteI also went to school with Eileen.I don not feel sorry for her. I feel heartbroken for the victims of all the tragedy she had a hand in. I do however believe that being addicted to drugs makes you become a completely different person.
ReplyDeleteI met Eileen over 20 years ago she's an amazing person very helpful nice the most sensitive person I know who helps everyone she will never hurt anyone please dont judge there's many women in ther who have change and deserves a second chance in life she deserves one The Eileen I know has the biggest heart caring loving and my friend
ReplyDelete