Debra Jean Milke was arrested on December 3rd, 1989, for complicity in the murder of her only child, four year old Christopher Conan Milke. The previous day, Debra allowed JIM STYERS, with whom she temporarily shared an apartment, to use her car for shopping errands at a nearby mall. Christopher begged her to let him go along. When she received a phone call from STYERS that Christopher was missing she phoned the police for assistance.

On the way to the mall, STYERS picked up a friend of his, ROGER MARK SCOTT. Police detectives interviewed STYERS as well as SCOTT, while other police personnel were searching for leads to find Christopher. After many hours of waiting in the apartment for news of what might have happened to Christopher, Debbie went with her stepmother and stepsister to her father's house near Florence, Arizona. The police took her father's telephone number in case they needed to reach her.

Meanwhile, police detectives questioned SCOTT and STYERS intensively and eventually, Homicide Detective Armando Saldate, jr. was assigned to handle the case. STYERS was subsequently released, but after many hours of interrogation, SCOTT led the police to a place in the desert where Christopher's body was found, shot to death by three .22 caliber bullets to the back of his head. SCOTT claimed "JIM killed him", and during the ride to the crime scene - approximately 30 minutes later - he also implicated Debra stating, "The baby's mother knew all about the killing and in fact the only reason that CHRIS was killed was because she wanted it done."

JAMES STYERS, during his questioning by police, NEVER implicated Debra to have any part in this conspiracy - not then, not during his own trial, or any time later. STYERS claims SCOTT killed Christopher and threatened to kill him too. SCOTT denied that he killed Christopher, but confessed the murder to a co-inmate, ROBERT E. JOHNSON. However, the interrogation reports, his tape-recorded confession, and his testimony during his own trial show that he constantly changed his story.

Based on the allegation of SCOTT police decided to arrest JIM STYERS for murder, and it was only after his refusal to say anything more that Saldate went by helicopter, with no recording device to Florence to interview Debra. Debbie was awakened from a short nap (by Pinal County Sheriff's deputy SOULES) and she was told that a Phoenix Police detective would meet her at the Sheriff's Office. A friend of the family, JANET FROEBE, took Debra to the Sheriff's Complex, where both of them were led to a small infirmary room. Two Phoenix police detectives, who had arrived at the Jail facility at the same time, did not make contact with any of the two women, but asked Deputy SOULES whether there was a room where they could wait. After one hour seventeen minutes Saldate arrived and entered the room. He identified himself, dismissed JANET, and closed the door. He did not use any recording devices and later on claimed, he would only go to Florence to interview Debra. In fact, Saldate made contradictory statements about this point on various occasions. When Debra immediately asked Saldate if the police had found her son or if they had any knowledge of what might have happened, he ignored her question - instead he opened his interview by telling her : "We found your son, he was murdered, and you are under arrest." The interview lasted approximately thirty five minutes, and when Saldate left the room he made no statements to anyone on the outside at all. Later he claimed he had a "confession" from Debra Milke. Debbie was not permitted to make a phone call during the interview and when she was taken from the interrogation room, she was instructed not to speak to anyone. Saldate then took her to Phoenix to the main police station, but didn't handcuff her on the way there.

On the same day that the Grand Jury indicted her, Debra spoke to her assigned public defender for the very first time. She volunteered to be tried first, because she proclaimed her innocence in this conspiracy at all times and "wanted to get this nightmare over with." Debbie volunteered to testify and denied having had anything to do with the murder of her son, or ever having made a confession to anyone.

During her trial, Saldate testified that he had destroyed his copious notes, taken during his interview with Debbie. He did not write up his report of the interview until three days later. This seven page police report (which according to court testimony was supplemented at some later date) was handed to Debra to read in mid January 1990 by her Defense Counsel. She dismissed it as a total fabrication, never initialed or signed this report and vehemently denied ever having made any "confession" to anybody. Her defense attorney, during the investigative pre-trial stage, did not receive a copy of the supplemental report until July 1990 (two months prior to trial) and was not aware that this report would later be used as a "confession." During Debra's trial, Saldate's self-written report was accepted into evidence by Judge Cheryl Hendrix, who ruled that the contents of the report had been given voluntarily by Debra Jean Milke and that she had been properly "Mirandized."

Prosecutor NOEL LEVY subpoenaed Debbie's father, RICHARD SADEIK, and his wife MAUREEN; her sister, SANDRA PICKINPAUGH (even though she was a Wyoming citizen at that time); her step-sister, KAREN SMITH and her former close friend DOROTHY MARKWELL to testify for the State against Debra. Their testimonies, based on the questions they were asked, were instrumental for the jury to reach their decision of "guilty" on all counts. Debra Milke's trial was concluded in October 1990, and she was convicted of conspiracy to commit murder, first degree murder, kidnapping, and child abuse. In January 1991, Judge Cheryl K. Hendrix sentenced her to death.

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Debra had left her drug dependent husband, MARK, in order to provide a better environment for their son, CHRISTOPHER. Her child's welfare was her main concern above anything else; however, the separation was not meant to cut MARK out of their son's life. Despite his problems, Debra still loved MARK and, because they shared a child, it was important to her that her son have a father/son relationship with his dad on the condition that MARK give up his drug and alcohol abusing lifestyle. In her divorce proceedings Debra stipulated sole custody and supervised visitations, because she knew she had to take measures to protect the safety and welfare of their small child.

Despite his many promises to change his habits and Debbie's support to help him in this direction, MARK was once again arrested in 1988 and had to spend several months in jail. During that time, Debra was living with her mother-in-law, ILSE MILKE, with whom Debbie shared a loving bond and who provided Christopher with some sort of family environment despite the divorce from her son. After his release from jail in January 1989, MARK wanted to see his son and CHRISTOPHER had not seen his daddy in six months. Debbie supervised the visits and was hoping that MARK would stay clean now. He had to report to a parole officer on a regular basis and provide a urine sample. Just a short month later, MARK called up Debra frantically to go with him to his parole officer and switch the urine sample. Debbie became unglued and refused, but she offered to talk to the parole officer to enter MARK into a rehabilitation clinic and that she would support him. Otherwise, MARK would have faced a very long prison term. The program involved a family day and Debbie faithfully took CHRISTOPHER to see his dad each Saturday. In May 1989, MARK was released from the rehab clinic and went to live with a sponsor. Thinking that MARK was on the road to recovery and talking to his sponsor, Debra eventually let him spend a day with CHRISTOPHER. This went well for a few visits and then she did not hear from him for quite some time. In late July, MARK asked again to have a day with CHRISTOPHER and Debra agreed, stipulating that the sponsor was present and that she would pick up CHRIS at 6.00 p.m. When she came to the house, she noticed a number of people around and that MARK was high again. She was furious that her son had to be exposed to this. MARK ended up attacking Debra. He grabbed her by the throat and in the struggle took her car keys and threatened to kill her and take CHRISTOPHER. He screamed at her for putting him through this rehab program and that he was sick of her compassion, all he wanted was to have his son and that he would get him one way or another. CHRISTOPHER witnessed the whole scene and wet his pants which infuriated his father even more. She eventually broke free of him, took CHSRITOPHER and ran. Petrified that MARK would come after them, she hid behind a dumpster until she felt safe enough to go somewhere. It was late at night and she was stranded with her son and without her car. It was then that she called JIM STYERS, a friend of her sister SANDY. At that time, CHRISTOPHER was so traumatized from what he had seen his father do that he did not want to see him again.

She knew JIM did not drink, smoke or curse and went to church on a regular basis. She trusted him. When JIM learned of her situation, he offered to let Debra and CHRISTOPHER share his apartment in which he also took care of his own, 2 years-old daughter WENDY. Afraid to go back to her mother-in-law's house - where MARK would find her - Debra agreed to stay with STYERS, at least temporarily and as a means to share expenses. This was strictly a business arrangement, cutting the costs. and there was never a romantic involvement of any kind. JIM knew about MARK and his abusiveness and Debra felt safe to be with someone she felt she could trust. MARK'S threats did not end by any means. He stalked the apartment, he called, he threatened to find a way to take CHRIS, but JIM protected her and her son. She was so petrified of her ex-husband's threats that she was even afraid of going to work, because he knew where she worked, but more so, she instructed JIM to call the police immediately, if MARK ever showed up at the apartment.

Debbie was now more determined than ever to advance in her career in order to become independent and provide for her and her son. Meanwhile, JIM took care of CHRISTOPHER and his own little two year old daughter. He was always helpful and courteous towards Debbie and totally devoted to protecting her from her ex-husband's abuses. She was totally oblivious of any possessiveness from JIM or any untoward behavior. The only thing she realized was JIM could not understand her concern for CHRISTOPHER'S mixed up emotions about his mommy and daddy. How do you tell a three year old about the illness of a father who was heavily into drugs, but whom he loved ?

After the latest incident with her ex-husband, when CHRIS asked his mother to spend his fourth birthday with his grandmother and dad, she was unable to explain or refuse. When MARK finally brought CHRIS back to her, she noticed that he was high again and that was the proverbial "straw that broke the camel's back" for her. When he told her that a little cocaine and taking CHRISTOPHER for a day would not harm the child, she knew that this could not continue. His threats to her never let up and Debra decided to get a restraining order on MARK, because she had lost all faith that he would ever change his habits. She did not want their son to be further exposed to this kind of life and certainly did not want him to grow up to be like his father. MARK contested the restraining order, but during a court hearing on October 24, 1989, Debra won her case. After the hearing, as they went to the parking lot, MARK began threatening her again. It was then that Debra decided to look for a place to live in Tempe, close to her place of employment. She began to look at apartments and a suitable day care center for CHRISTOPHER.

Debbie did not tell JIM about her plans to move out until she was sure she had secured an apartment. On November 24th, 1989, she was notified by the apartment complex she had applied for that her application had been approved. She made arrangements to move in after the holidays and it was on this day of being notified that she told JIM about her plans to move out.

Eight days later, on December 2, 1989, CHRISTOPHER overheard JIM asking Debbie if he could use her car for some shopping errands at the nearby mall. CHRISTOPHER begged his mother to let him go along, because he wanted to have his picture taken with Santa Claus. Debra asked JIM if it was ok with him and JIM agreed. CHRIS dressed himself in his favorite outfit, eager to go. Debra hugged CHRISTOPHER good-bye and wished him a good time. After they left, she took a shower, cleaned the apartment, talked to a friend on the phone, talked to some neighbors outside, and got the mail.

A few hours later, JIM called Debra telling her that CHRISTOPHER was missing from the Metro Center mall. She immediately called the police, her father in Florence, her mother in Switzerland, her sister in Wyoming as well as friends and neighbors. Police, friends and neighbors went to the shopping mall in search of CHRISTOPHER showing pictures of him, but to no avail. Debra was getting hysterical as the hours went by. Her stepmother, MAUREEN, and her stepsister, KAREN, came to Phoenix. They and the police tried to persuade Debra to go to her father's house in Florence, because they thought she needed to be with family and get some rest. Debra hadn't slept or eaten in over twenty-four hours and she was becoming a basket case. Debbie, however, refused at first yelling at everyone that she wanted to stay at home by the phone, because CHRISTOPHER knew his address and phone number. The vigil kept on for many hours until the next day she finally agreed to be driven to her father's house. The police assured her that she would be notified immediately as soon as they knew anything. She gave the police her father's phone number and address.

Debra doesn't know what really transpired on that fateful day of December 2nd, 1989 or why. She had no idea that JIM or anyone else had been plotting to get rid of CHRISTOPHER for whatever reason. Based on the outcome of her trial, it was still unclear who did the actual killing, but as this website has shown in many places the clear evidence proves that JIM'S long-time acquaintance ROGER MARK SCOTT had killed CHRISTOPHER and that former Phoenix police detective ARMANDO SALDATE had orchestrated a case against all three individuals, claiming that a conspiracy existed. Based on the knowledge given to her by her former attorneys and investigators between the years of 1990 and 2001, she finally has come to assume that JAMES STYERS had made plans to eliminate her son, CHRISTOPHER. Yet, she always maintained privately that she had a hard time to believe this theory. She was told that JIM did not want "to do it" alone and got in touch with an old friend, ROGER SCOTT. For as long as she had known JIM prior to moving in with him, she had never heard him mention a friend named ROGER. Only in the years since 2000 a diligent re-research of her entire file uncovered the fraud committed by former detective SALDATE and county prosecutor NOEL LEVY. It became clear that SCOTT covered his own butt by implicating his buddy JIM STYERS, putting the major blame on him by stating "Jim killed him" [CHRISTOPHER]. In his pertinent police report SALDATE alleged that SCOTT next claimed that the mother of the little boy 'wanted it done' and that she was the mastermind behind the crime. According to that report, this purportedly took place inside a police car and en route to the murder-scene. Incredibly, the other detective inside the car, DET. ROBERT MILLS, didn't make any mention of this incident in his report.

A few months prior to the tragedy, Debra remembers ROGER coming to the apartment and was introduced to him. She thought he was very scummy and thought that JIM had picked him up on a street corner. She did not know him at all and only talked to him a few times, because most of the time he appeared intoxicated. She recalls that he did not like to come to JIM'S apartment because the noise of children playing and their whining irritated him and that he questioned JIM how he could put up with all this nonsense. She recalls that ROGER had asked her for some money to tide him over, but she refused him vehemently stating, "What do you think I am, a bank ?" She never saw him again or heard from him until his name was mentioned during her "interview" with Saldate. JIM kept ROGER away from the apartment when Debra came home after work. Based on what she has been told until 2000, there was the assumption that JIM told ROGER about her employment with an insurance company and that she would be able to give them money by doing away with CHRISTOPHER. Only since then it had been discovered in the tiniest detail how SALDATE'S rush to take advantage of intimidating the young woman, harshly confronting her with the death of her son and taking care that no witness was around, eventually culminated in fabricating a 'confession' which was not mentioned to any of SALDATE'S fellow detectives upon exiting the interrogation room, until county prosecutor NOEL LEVY was involved and until the written version was known. Needless to say, this so-called 'confession' was not signed, not tape-recorded and not witnessed by anybody, but it was allowed into evidence at trial and is actually the only [fabricated and fully invented] piece of evidence linking Debra Milke to the murder. Debra was eventually convicted by 'a jury of her peers' [largely well-informed by sensationalizing media] and represented by an public defender, whose substantial role was to lose the case. Sandwiched between SCOTT'S incriminating ramblings and the purported confession of Debra Milke, JIM STYERS was convicted to die. As a co-conspirator ROGER SCOTT was also convicted to die. Debra Milke, a grief-stricken woman of 26 years at the time of her sentencing, enduring the biggest loss of her life at that time - the outrageous murder of her 4-year-old son - was also convicted to die.


During the separation, Debra attended substance abuse counseling sessions with MARK several times a week to show support. She also worked full-time to support herself and her child. Debra had been employed at various insurance companies for a number of years, because she enjoyed working in that field. At each place of employment she was able to acquire a better position because of her skills and her work experience. Changing employers was solely to take advantage of better opportunities to advance, with the ultimate goal to become an underwriter, which she was in the process of achieving at her last place of employment. During her entire working career, Debra always considered the employee's benefits package as important as her paycheck. Medical coverage for herself and Christopher was the most important factor of her employment. At this point in time, she was not concerned about any specific life insurance benefits and never purchased a dedicated life insurance policy. A nominal life insurance rider was part of her Employees Benefit Package. After her initial thirty days it was the annual renewal period and she was filling out the respective forms at home. JIM was watching her do this and started to ask a number of questions about her insurance and read her benefits booklet. It must have been then that he became aware of her entitlements, because Debra never discussed her job or anything connected with it with anybody.

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I barely remember the drive down to Florence. I felt spaced out and was crying off and on. I remember sitting in the truck staring out of the window in a daze and I told Maureen that I just knew Chris was dead because it had been so long since his disappearance. I made that statement because any mother would voice this fear under the circumstances. It hurts me to the core of my soul that she would later testify in court and twist the meaning of this statement. When I got to my dad's place, my grandmother came to hug me. I was crying and crying. My dad forced me to eat something, but I just couldn't. Maureen gave me a Valium and made me go lie down. I fell asleep almost immediately and a short time later Karen woke me up. I was so out of it, I didn't even know where I was, what day it was or anything. She told me the local Sheriff wanted to talk to me and I remember complaining. I was so incoherent that I didn't know what was going on. I finally came to my senses and rushed to get myself together. The local Sheriff was standing in the doorway and he said that the Phoenix police were on their way. I was told I had to meet them at the local jail in town. I figured they had found Chris and were bringing him to me. I asked the Sheriff if he knew anything and he said, "No." Jan, a family friend, took me to town and we went into the jail. We were escorted to this small medical room where we sat and waited for what seemed like hours. I couldn't understand why the Phoenix police weren't there yet. Nobody had any answers for me, so Jan and I sat and waited and waited. Finally, a big, fat man, dressed in street clothes, walked into this little medical room and he told Jan to leave and he shut the door. It was just him and myself in this little room."

Imagine living your normal day to day life. You don't break the law and you work for a living trying to support yourself and your child. You have a friend that you have known for a few years and this friend treats you with respect and concern. You do things together like going out for pizza, shopping, and all the things friends do. One day, your friend wants to borrow your car because his is not working and he wants to go shopping. Your child wants to go along. You say it's all right because, after all, your child knows your friend and you trust your friend. Hours later your friend calls to tell you your child has been kidnapped. There is mass confusion and hysteria for hours on end. You are sick with worry and anguish and you can't sleep, eat or even think straight. You are up for hours and trying to help the police as best as you can and in the meantime your mind can't help but think the worst. You imagine your child being hurt by a child molester or even drugged. You go through so many emotions all at once and, at the same time, you are trying to be helpful with the police. After thirty hours have gone by, you are literally drained both emotionally and physically. Then the next day, you are wanted by the police for questioning. You think for sure your child was found and that the police are going to reunite you.

"This medical room was very small. It contained an examining table, a desk, two chairs, and an open storage room filled with supplies. There were no windows anywhere. I was sitting in a chair against the wall facing the storage room where I noticed a telephone and a paper towel dispenser. While waiting, Jan and I chatted. I was very anxious, not to mention emotionally drained and exhausted, and we both thought the Phoenix police had found Chris and were bringing him to me. Comment: Debra's recollections match all pertinent police records exactly. According to DET. HAMRICK'S report "DET. DiMODICA and I arrived at the Pinal County Jail at approximately 1835 hours. When we arrived we spoke to Deputy SOULES who had just arrived with DEBRA." DET. SALDATE'S report on the other hand states that "On 12-3-89 at approximately 1953 hrs, I contacted DEBRA JEAN MILKE inside an interview room at the Pinal County Sheriff's Office in Florence, Arizona." This means that both females waited for the arrival of the Phoenix detective for one hour and seventeen minutes. No attempt to escape was monitored or reported by any of the officers.


Finally, this man walked into the room and told Jan to leave and closed the door; he identified himself as Phoenix police Detective ARMANDO SALDATE. He was busy trying to make himself comfortable - rolling a chair in front of me and searching his pockets for something. I immediately asked if he had heard anything regarding Christopher, but he ignored me. He pulled a business card out of his pocket, checked his watch, wrote something down on a paper pad, looked at me and asked if I was Debbie. I looked at him strangely and said, 'Yes, of course.' He then said to me, all in one breath, 'We found your son, he was murdered and you are under arrest.'

I flipped out. I began screaming, 'What !? What !' and started crying uncontrollably, almost hyperventilating. I felt like a zombie and totally confused. Meanwhile, he's reading something to me from a business card. I had no comprehension or understanding of what he was reading to me because I was in complete shock. I could hear his voice, but I was in such shock I did not comprehend what he was reading to me. He asked me if I understood my rights and I said, 'No, I've never been arrested or in trouble with the law.' He read me the Miranda Rights again and after asking me if I understood and I said, 'Yes.' He asked if I wanted our interview tape-recorded. I said, 'No, I want a lawyer. I want to call my dad about a lawyer.' He ignored my request and again I asked about a lawyer. He said it was too late at night to find a lawyer, instead he scooted his chair closer to me, and me, being up against the wall with no more room to go, we were face to face. He put his hands on my knees and said, 'I am here to get the truth. You can tell me anything; I am your friend.' I told him that I wanted to use the phone in the storage room, so I could call my dad, but he kept trying to divert my attention from the phone. He said over and over, 'I am here for the truth and you can tell me.'

I could not stop crying. My whole face hurt and my nose was constantly running. I asked for some paper towels, but he would not let me get any. I ended up using my sweater, a button-up sweater I wore over a T-shirt, to wipe my nose. He began to get angry and was yelling, 'I am not here to tolerate this behavior. You can quit the act, because I know the whole story.' I screamed back, 'What story? What are you talking about?' I kept yelling at him that he was lying about my son and why was he playing this sick joke on me. He said 'I know all about Jim, Roger, the insurance money, your involvement.' I was so shocked and confused by what he was saying, I did not comprehend anything anymore. He kept accusing me of some conspiracy and insurance money. I did not understand what he was saying about Jim and Roger; How does Roger come into this picture? What insurance money? Besides, Jim would not hurt Chris ! I was totally dumfounded and I suddenly remembered a conversation I just recently had with Chris before all this happened.

In your mind you see yourself and your child talking and while you are remembering this conversation, you cry out in anguish. The detective asks you what you are thinking. You tell him that about three weeks or so ago, your child came home from Sunday school and had a piece of paper in his hand with a picture of Jesus and some angels. Your child wanted to know who God was and where He was. You sit there for a minute thinking of the best way to explain this to a child so he can understand. You tell your child that God is in a place called Heaven and that He loves everyone including little boys and girls. He can see everything that everybody does and that He is with you at all times. He is in your heart and is good to everyone. Your child asks if we can see Him and meet Him and you tell him, 'No.' You tell him that when people die they go to Heaven to be with God. Your child then says that he wants to go with you to see God. You smile at him and hug him and tell him that he shouldn't worry about that because he is a little boy and has a lot of growing up to do. Your child is not afraid of God because you explained that He was a loving God. Your child was only curious and you told your child that he had a lot of years to live and not to worry about meeting God because one day all of us will meet Him but not for a long, long time.

This conversation was in your mind and at the time of the "questioning" you remembered it because just a few weeks back you told your child not to worry about dying because he had a lot of years to live. You suddenly feel as if you betrayed your child. You begin to cry again, uncontrollably, because you still think your child is with your parents and this cop keeps telling you your child was found murdered. The cop is still badgering you and calling you a liar. I still had not grasped the fact that my son was dead and that I would never see him again. He continued with his accusations in such a vile manner and I started screaming at him, 'Look, I am not a crazy person ! I am not an animal ! I am not capable of doing anything of what you are steadily accusing me of. I want to know what happened to my son !' I also told him that I did not believe that the Jim I knew would harm my child. Nothing made any sense to me.

Then he asked me if I was married. I told him the circumstances of our marriage and subsequent divorce and that I felt I had no other choice left in order to protect my son from that environment; that I had sought sole custody and supervised visitation based on Mark's record. I stated at this point that I did not want my son to grow up like his father and become a drug addict. I remember sitting there staring at the floor. I was rocking back and forth in the chair, devastated beyond belief. In my anguish I remember saying, 'Oh God, I just wanted to take care of him !' I felt so empty, like life had been sucked out of me. It was like being dead myself."

"After SALDATE had left the room briefly to talk to some people, he then informed me that he would have to take me back to Phoenix. Before we left the room he told me not to utter one word about anything. He told me not to ask for a lawyer or ask any questions about why I was going to jail. He said he had everything under control. He escorted me out of the room. I was not handcuffed. I don't remember exactly how many law enforcement people I saw out there, but there were a lot of them. We went to a highway patrol car and got into the back seat. He whispered to me to remain quiet. I asked him again if he was going to take me to Phoenix to see my son and he reminded me that Chris was dead. I still did not believe a word he said and he kept saying that he had to take me to jail because of the seriousness of the crime. I thought I was going to jail for neglect, because I had left Chris in someone else's care when he was kidnapped. I later found out that Chris was never kidnapped and that Jim had only told me that so it would look like a stranger had abducted and killed him. I sat there staring into space like a zombie during the sixty-five mile drive back to Phoenix. I felt at the edge of my sanity. When we reached the main police station, SALDATE walked me inside and we took an elevator to his office. He asked if I wanted a soda. I said, 'Yes, and I also want to talk to my dad.' Again, I was refused. I remember all these bright lights and cameras. I was in shock and I did not understand anything going on around me. I also remember him taking me on a tour through his office bragging about his certificates and awards. Then it was time to go to the jail. I remember a police officer holding handcuffs. I nearly lost it. I cried out, 'I did not commit a crime ! I didn't do anything ! Please don't put these things on me. Why am I going to jail?' SALDATE, trying to calm me down, said that I could call my dad from there to see about bail.

After that my mind went blank. I don't recall any of my family coming to see me and no one did (as I found out). I don't remember anything about how many days I spent there and that I was transferred to another jail, Durango. I don't even remember when I first met my Public Defender. I was so traumatized that I do not recall anything until somewhere in January 1990. I was still in total denial as to what happened to my son. I remember being housed in the psychiatric unit of Durango Jail and that several psychiatrists came to visit me on a regular basis. I was suffering from severe depression, shock and hour-long crying spells. I was treated with anti-depressants all the way into my trial days. My depression was not a result of being incarcerated or having lost my freedom, but the loss of my son - the only thing left in my shattered life - just overwhelmed me. I was told later on that I was not even able to talk to my Public Defender without going into depression and crying for hours on end. I don't know what kind of effect these drugs had on me during my trial days, but I know that I was being prepped as to how to appear on the stand and to remain "cool." My worst fear was always of "losing it" in front of all these people. I was raised to obey my elders and when things troubled me, I would shove it back into the recesses of my mind. I just did not want to break down in the courtroom."

"During the first meeting with my Public Defender, that I do recall, I asked him if it was true that my son had been murdered. He looked at me strangely and asked, 'You don't know?' I told him that this detective had told me that Chris had been murdered, but that I just could not believe it. I also told him that I did not know why I was in jail, because I did not do anything. I did not commit any kind of crime. My lawyer got this serious look on his face and handed me a six page police report typed out by SALDATE. As I was reading it, I could not believe what I was reading. SALDATE claimed that I made a confession admitting my involvement in this crime. I became furious and told my lawyer that I never made any type of confession, but tried to defend myself to the question this cop was accusing me of. I went into this interview in good faith to find out about my son and then to read this report - written three days after the interview - it just blew me away. I was never given a chance to call anyone, there were no witnesses, no tape-recording (because when he asked me about wanting it tape-recorded I had no idea what his intentions were). So, this man had three days to concoct a story to make his preconceived notion fit. When Mr. Ray showed me these pages, I still had no comprehension as to what these pages would eventually mean. From what little I knew, I thought that when a suspect is questioned, a report is written up right away. The suspect gets to see it for accuracy and can initial any errors and then sign it. I had no clue whatsoever that these pages I was shown constituted an official report and I do not recall my defense counsel telling me anything about any future ramifications. All I knew is that I did not commit any crime, that I had never confessed anything to anybody and that I was never given anything to read and sign.

All I wanted to do is to get this nightmare over with and I wanted to be tried first. There was never any doubt in my mind that the court would find out that I was totally innocent and I believed in the judicial system as I was raised to believe. I believed that an attorney, even a Public Defender, would find out the truth because the simple truth is that nothing whatsoever links me to this crime forensically. I had no reason or motive to have my child killed, and yet a self-written fabrication of one police officer, basing his conclusions on the words of a person with a proven history of mental disturbances which were not even raised in my trial to be argued are taken as evidence. I asked to have a lie detector test taken and passed it, but it could not be entered into evidence. But a fabricated report in narrative form, without any evidence to back it up, was permitted as evidence and used against me.

Deep down in my heart, I know that motives other then finding justice were instrumental in my conviction and sentencing. The trial itself was a miscarriage of justice, but the appeals process to which I am entitled proved even more alarming, as to how 'justice' is being practiced in real life. Sometimes, I just want to give up, but I keep thinking of other people who may find themselves in the same position and perhaps I can make a difference. That's why I keep fighting."

"Roger was arrested first, then Jim (while on his way to church). The Supervising Sergeant on this investigation told SALDATE to talk to me and interview me. He specifically told him that I was not a suspect and that he bring a tape recorder for the interview. He also told him to have other police detectives present (Apparently this sergeant knew how this particular detective operated and this is why he gave him these directives). SALDATE disobeyed all of these orders. As far as I can ascertain SALDATE had his own agenda all made up and knew that if he could get me connected with the crime, it would be a sensational story: 'Mom Hires Hit Men to Kill Her Son.' He had plans to nail me even before he laid eyes on me, without so much as a shred of evidence except the ramblings of a proven mentally disturbed person being withheld from his drugs and driven into delirium by threats for many hours."

"NO ONE CAN IMAGINE HOW HARD THE HEART CAN HURT. THE PAIN GROWS DEEPER EACH DAY AND I WONDER HOW MUCH MORE PAIN A PERSON CAN ENDURE. IT HAS BECOME A DAILY STRUGGLE TO HANG ON TO HUMAN VALUES. I BELIEVE IN HUMAN VALUES, BUT DO THE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN POWER TO DECIDE OVER LIFE AND DEATH? BUT, EVEN MORE IMPORTANT, DO THEY CARE ABOUT SAFEGUARDING A LIFE BEYOND ANY REASONABLE DOUBT, AS OUR CONSTITUTION PRESCRIBES? I SERIOUSLY WONDER ABOUT THAT."

http://debbiemilke.com/en/intro/whyinnocent.shtml

source

This timetable of events is an overview of Debra Milke's life, the circumstances of the killing of her son CHRISTOPHER and the following proceedings that resulted in the death sentence for Debbie.


03/10/1964 Debbie is born in Berlin-Lichterfelde, Germany (Military hospital of the US Force)

05/02/1965 On military assignment, the SADEIK family moves to Montana/USA

09/08/1966 Debbie's sister SANDRA is born in Glasgow/Montana

1967 - 1970 Several military moves throughout the USA

Sept. 1970 RICHARD SADEIK's assignment to Okinawa (without family)

1970 - 1971 The family moves to RENATE SADEIK'S parents in Berlin-Tempelhof, Germany

Sept. 1971 The family returns to RICHARD SADEIK'S mother in New Jersey/USA for the beginning of the new school year

Nov. 1971 RICHARD SADEIK returns from Okinawa to his new assignment in Phoenix/Arizona

02/01/1972 RENATE SADEIK started working

June 1976 RICHARD SADEIK had to retire after his 20-year military career

1976 - 1978 RICHARD SADEIK takes an unaccompanied assignment for Lockheed Company in Saudi Arabia

June 1978 RICHARD and RENATE Sadeik separate; RICHARD moves to Florence/Arizona and becomes a prison guard

May 1980 RICHARD SADEIK seeks divorce

June 1980 RICHARD SADEIK remarries

May 1982 Debbie's graduates from High School and enters College

June 1982 Sandy Sadeik moves to the Sadeik family in Florence; RICHARD seeks full custody

Jan. 1983 RENATE Sadeik gets laid off by employer (company folded within short time) and accepts an employment offer in Germany

03/23/1983 RENATE Sadeik moves to Stuttgart/Germany

April 1983 Debbie meets MARK MILKE

May/June 1983 Debbie spends semester break with her mother in Germany

May 1984 Debbie becomes engaged to MARK MILKE

July 1984 Debbie leaves MARK MILKE for alcohol- and drug-related problems to stay with former girlfriend, DOROTHY MARKWELL, in Colorado and think things over

Sept. 1984 Debbie returns to Phoenix to give MARK MILKE another chance

12/22/1984 Debbie and MARK MILKE get married

Jan. 1985 Debra became pregnant.

Feb. 1985 RENATE SADEIK remarries (now RENATE JANKA).

10/02/85 CHRISTOPHER CONAN MILKE, Debbie's only child, is born. At that time, MARK MILKE would have already had to serve a sentence in jail, which was postponed due to the birth of CHRISTOPHER.

85 to 89 MARK MILKE was in jail at least 4 times for alcohol- and drug-related problems.

04/19/1988 Debbie files for petition of Dissolution of Marriage.

06/27/1988 Petition for Order of Protection is filed at Superior Court, Maricopa County, Arizona.

Nov. 1988 Debra divorced MARK MILKE and sought sole custody of their son, however, with liberal visitation rights under supervision, but was forced to also seek a restraining order based on Mark's physical as well as kidnapping threats.

July 1989 During one of MARK MILKE'S so-called supervised visitation days with his son, Debbie found them together in a crack-house. Debra was physically attacked, managed to get CHRISTOPHER away from MARK and had to hide with her son with no place to go in fear of being found by MARK MILKE. She called her sister's friend, JAMES STYERS, and finds temporary shelter.

08/24/1989 Debra applies for employment at John Alden's Insurance Company and gets the job.

11/08/1989 Debra applied for an apartment for herself and her son in Tempe (close to work); a day-care center for CHRISTOPHER was already approved

11/24/1989 Debra told JAMES STYERS that her application had been approved, that she would move in January 1990 (to give STYERS enough notice to find another roommate to share expenses). STYERS himself considered leaving Arizona for a change, possibly moving to Wyoming.

12/02/1989 CHRISTOPHER was found, shot to death in the desert.

12/03/1989 Debra was arrested in Florence/Arizona after a dubious interview with then-police detective ARMANDO SALDATE.

12/04/1989 All further investigations in the murder case of CHRISTOPHER are terminated.

12/06/1989 DETECTIVE SALDATE wrote his police report claiming to the media that he had a "confession", but nothing exists to corroborate his claim.

12/08/1989 The Grand Jury seeks indictment of Debra and gets it (only witness: DETECTIVE SALDATE, and NO defense attorney present to protect her rights and/or claims to help avoid an indictment).

10/12/1990 Debbie, in trial, is convicted for conspiracy of murder, kidnapping, child abuse and first degree murder.

Jan. 1991 During the phase of the Presentencing anyone (not only witnesses) were permitted to submit their opinions and give their suggestions.

01/11/1991 Judge CHERYL HENDRIX ordered the death penalty for Debbie.

91 to 93 In the State's Appeals process, the charge for "child abuse" could not be substantiated and was dropped (the major allegation of Debra's sister, SANDRA).

93 to 97 Debra's meanwhile private attorney and private investigator file for Post Conviction Relief, based on evidence they discovered. It was summarily discarded, based on legal procedural tactics, and the Supreme Court of Arizona upheld the verdict on their ruling of 1993, without ever addressing the issues since then in an open hearing, let alone a courtroom, despite numerous affidavits FOR the defense.

12/19/1997 The Supreme Court of Arizona upholds their ruling of May 1993, totally disregarding the Post Conviction Relief Petition and issuing the Warrant for Execution to take place on Jan. 29, 1998.

01/12/1998 Debra's Defense Attorney files for "Writ of Habeas Corpus" on the federal level of appeals. He and Debbie are awaiting the "pleading of the merits" from her assigned federal judge.

http://debbiemilke.com/en/intro/whyinnocent.shtml

Source

I hope you guys feel good about randomly copying stuff from our website. However, I feel that the most detailed (yet, as short as possible) rundown of the whole case is compiled in this article:
Why Debra Milke Is Actually Innocent

Hello,
I have added the source to all of the above posts. Thanks for the additional information.

Dee

Ah, no problem. It's just that we're fighting for US courts to realize the truth for ten years (or more). Debra's case is "public" anyway. However, I was given the chance to research anything and everything available in the file, in the office of the attorneys. I hope people read the least information which is available.

http://debbiemilke.com