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Wednesday, October 22, 1997 Guests: George and Allison Pierce, parents of Edward Pierce Prior to the Pierce's interview, Mickey Nelson shared this information from a recent Tip Line call from Madame Raylene. She reported that Madam Raylene stated: 'Macy is not dead. She says that what she saw... was that something is buried that has to do with Macy's disappearance...but she can't see exactly what it is. She did say that she is sure that it is something big, but did not say how big." Opening Remarks -- George Pierce: Thank you. Let me apologize for the disconnect last week, we had some horrible ISP problems last week. It's all fixed now. Thank you, for your condolences. It's been quite a shock to us and very hard on our family. I'd like to start off where I left off before the connection went down. I started to tell you all about an incident that occurred with a neighbor's child, his name was Tommy. Well, the two of them got into some sort of argument, and Ed got a little violent. That was really the first incident with any of his friends in which he became violent. My wife and I didn't think anything of it, but it was sort of out of character because Ed always just picked on animals. Later that summer, my wife and I had to go out of town and couldn't take the children with us, so we left Ed and Xavier with a friend of the family--more like family really the boys always referred to them as their aunt and uncle-- for a couple of weeks. When we got back, Ed seemed much more distant than he normally did. Later on, it isn't the easiest to recount, during that school year is when Ed really came into some trouble. Ed got into an argument with Ben..the son of the people Ed stayed with over the summer. Ed was in the third grade at the time. They were at a school field trip, standing at this fountain when Ben said something and Ed pushed him in. It was tragic. Ben died from the electrical shock of the lights in the fountain. Ed went into complete distress, and we put him into an institution. Some of the locals said he did it on purpose, we didn't believe them. He loved Ben. Later on, after Ed had been institutionalized, we were informed that Ed had been molested by Ben's father, and that Ed had taken his anger out on Ben. His mother, Xavier, and I then went into family counseling with Ed. I'll take some questions. Question and Answer session with George and Allison Pierce: Q: How did he react after that incident did you talk to him about it? A: He wouldn't talk about anything after Ben died. He just holed up in his room really, and when people began to say that he did it intentionally, well, my wife and I decided to pull him out of school. That's when we noticed that Ed was becoming extremely violent and depressive so we sent him off to an institution for a while. Q: Mister Pierce, how long were you in counseling with Ed? A: We did family counseling up until Ed was about 13. He seemed to be pulling out of it, and getting back into life so the therapist suggested that maybe we take some time away from therapy for a while to see how things went. Later when Geena died, we tried to get Ed to go back into counseling ..any kind...family...or by himself...he wouldn't hear of it. Q: Was he on medication as a child and what about as an adult? A: He was on medication on and off from about 11 years of age on up into his late teens. They were only basically prescribed to help him out of bouts of depression. Q: Have you questioned your friend's of the family about any possible abuse that could have happened during your absence? Or have you talked to Xavier about it? A: We did approach them about it, and they denied it, however Xavier does remember times when Ed was left alone with them, and he said that Ed would get very violent after spending time with them. Xavier told us that Ed had bragged about killing their dog just to spite them. But, Xavier said that they seemed to have an affinity for Ed. And they generally left Xavier alone to do what he pleased. But never Ed, he said they seemed to constantly eye him. They never admitted it. Q: Was Ed a troubled child, did he have many friends, & when did his trouble with the law begin? A: After Ben's death, Ed became very withdrawn for quite a while and we kept him in therapy. He didn't have very many friends but when he reached about 13, he really seemed to be coming out of it. In high school, he seemed to always be surrounded by people. And he didn't have any problems with any part of the law until Geena died. As for mental disease in our family no. But Ed's biological mother was institutionalized for some time because of deep depression. Q: Terribly sorry to have to ask this at this time but, do you know who his natural parents are? A: <sighs deeply on verge of tears> Would it be all right if my wife answered some questions? Of course George, let us know if this becomes too much for both of you. A: (Mrs. Allison Pierce) We do know who his mother is she's a young woman who lives out in Idaho, we don't know much about her accept that her name is Jamie, and that she was very young when she had Ed and couldn't take care of him. Shortly after she gave up Ed, we heard that she had a severe breakdown and was institutionalized. After that we had heard nothing. As for Ed's father, he left Jamie after he found out she was pregnant. We never learned his name, but Jamie told us that he had been arrested the last she had heard and that she wanted nothing to do with him. We asked her to reveal his name, but she refused. Q: Was your son ever tested for Schizophrenia? Did he complain of hearing voices sometimes? A: <nods her head slowly> Ed was tested for D.I.D. (disassociative Identity Disorder--multiple personalities), but the results were negative. As for voices? <shakes her head slowly> He never spoke about hearing any voices. Q: Did Ed ever talk about a Victoria Symons? With the exception of the phone call, has he tried to contact you at any time? A: The last time we had spoken to Ed was a few weeks after he had, I'm sorry a few days...(still dazed by the last few weeks)...after he had been arrested. To let us know that he had been arrested but that's really the last we had heard from him up....up...up until <tears> the message on the machine. Q: Is Xavier with you two now? How is he doing? A: <nods her head> Xavier is staying with us. <DEEP breath> He's as distraught as the rest of us. Xavier and Ed were close until about two years ago...after Geena died...Ed just shut down and wouldn't let anyone in...not even Xavier. Q: In any conversation with Jamie, was there ever any mention of another child (a twin?)? A: No, Ed was an only child. . Q: What does Jamie look like? Petite blond by any chance? A: Jamie? <thinking back> No, she had light brown hair with red highlights like Ed's. But she was rather small...and very quiet. Reserved almost...and scared. Q: What kind of relationship did Ed have with Geena? A: Ed and Geena were very close, and they had a lot of friends in school. <sighs> It was like this large crowd of kids just always seemed to follow them. Once I went to pick Ed up from school, and a large crowd of kids were sitting around him....just listening to him talk with Geena right there by his side. She always seemed mesmerized by him. But right before she died, Ed and Geena seemed to be fighting. At least that is what Xavier had told me...when she died....Ed felt responsible, I think. <thinking back> He became very quiet and depressed again. I think he always dwelled on the fact that he was there when she died, and he walked away virtually unharmed. Q: Did the name Rory mean *anything* to you? Even an imaginary friend from Ed's childhood? Anything? A: <shakes her head> No, Rory was just someone that Ed made up. He was just an imaginary friend as far as I know. Q: Did Ed know Jamie? Why was she scared, or do you mean scared looking? A: No, Jamie never met Ed to my knowledge. We didn't really keep contact with Jamie after the adoption. But when I said 'scared', I meant that she was young and seemed frightened to be having a child so young. C: Our heartfelt thanks to you and to George. We understand how hard a situation this is for you. We appreciate your coming and talking with us. We know this is a time of extreme grief for your family. A: <nods sadly> It's been very hard on all of us. Thank you all for your concern, George and I do appreciate it. You all have a good evening and God bless you all.

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