Savoie's defense team says Eakin confessed to murdering companion
Savoie's defense team says Eakin confessed to murdering companion
EPHRATA — Defense attorneys for 15-year-old convicted murderer Evan Savoie claim the boy's teenage co-defendant and lifelong friend, Jake Eakin, mailed a jail-house letter to Savoie's mother last month, allegedly confessing he "killed Craig Sorger, not Evan."
Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell declined to comment. He said his office is investigating the alleged confession, the latest development in a case which has garnered national attention.
In April, a Grant County jury convicted Savoie of first-degree murder in the killing of 13-year-old Sorger, described by family as a "goofy" and "functionally autistic" boy, at Ephrata's Oasis Park in February 2003.
During Savoie's trial, Eakin, 15 of Moses Lake, testified as the state's star witness. Eakin gave a chilling account of Savoie's brutal attack on Sorger, appearing to seal the legal fate of his fishing and video-game buddy. Savoie has always maintained his innocence.
Grant County Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen sentenced Savoie to 26 years last month. Savoie's defense team has since appealed.
Jorgensen sentenced Eakin to 14 years after he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder by complicity in April 2005. Eakin accepted partial responsibility in a plea deal, but pointed the finger at Savoie as the primary attacker.
On Thursday, Savoie's defense co-counsel Monty Hormel filed a motion for relief from the judgment and sentence, citing the "unsolicited letter" received by Savoie's mother, Holly Parent, in mid-July from Eakin.
Parent said her first reaction was to rip the letter apart when she received it. Now it sits in a safety deposit box, she said.
In the one-pager letter, Eakin stated "the system" twisted his mind and forced him to testify against Savoie. He said it seemed "like if I didn't (testify) I would get more time."
Eakin suggested he wrote the letter "to tell the whole truth" and to ensure "justice" is done.
"I stabed Craig Sorger, I planed the murder And I switched clothing with Evan at the crime seen. His bloody clothing are mine. And now a kid is going down for what I did," Eakin wrote.
Parent said she will continue working to clear Savoie's name.
"They better get their crap together and release my son," Parent said Thursday.
"If anything, (the letter) better at least bring us to another trial," she added later.
Parent said that if Eakin's testimony during trial was credible, then the letter must be given equal weight.
Both Eakin and Savoie were 12 years old when Sorger was murdered. Despite being in sixth grade, the two boys were placed in the adult criminal justice system and charged with first-degree murder.
Following sentencing, Savoie was transported to Green Hill School Juvenile Facility in Chehalis. Eakin is also serving time there.
Alan White, an attorney representing Eakin, said he has read the motion filed by Hormel. White declined to comment on the substance of the motion or the alleged letter.
White said both he and fellow defense attorney Michele Shaw plan to visit Eakin next week in Chehalis.
According to Hormel's motion, an investigator for the defense visited the juvenile facility and determined Eakin and Savoie have had no communication or contact with each other.
Become a Subscriber!
You have read all of your free articles this month. Select a plan below to start your subscription today.
Already a subscriber? Login
