This is a quicktime copy of Cospiracy of Silence a interview with John Decamp is added at the tail end. Much better quality than the .wmv version
(anyone have server space to place this copy on?)
www.ctrl.org...
The link below is the MEMORANDUM OF DECISION and JUDGEMENT issued February 19, 1999 by Warren K. Urbom, United States Senior District. Judge. There is
also complete transcript of the hearing.
MEMORANDUM OF DECISION & Transcript / 4:CV91-33037
www.ctrl.org...
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Q. When did you talk to your son?
A. March of 1997.
Q. So you knew as of March, 1997 your son was alive?
A. Right. I had begun to, between 1992 and 97 I had started to give up hope that he was alive. At that point I began to pursue more of the who did it
part. The criminal aspect of it. Because I felt that there was no more news on Johnny and I wouldn't have known what he would look like because he
obviously aged if he was alive. And in March, in the middle of the night there was knocking on my door. And I went to the door and I looked out and
there was a young man out there. And there was someone with him, he had someone with him. I don't know that person's name, they didn't give it to
me. And I let him in and we talked for a little over an hour, hour and a half. And he began telling me what had happened to him. And he told me the
exact same story that Paul Bonacci had told me in prison. I know that Paul's telling the truth. And I know that my son fell victim to the very same
organization that affected and almost destroyed Paul's life and the lives of many other young people.
Q. Is this the first time you've told this story publicly?
A. Yes. And that's because I'm under oath. Otherwise I never have shared that I actually talked to my son.
Q. I understand. Do you have any how do you know it was your son?
A. My son has a very large birthmark on his chest. And I asked to see it.
Q. And was it there?
A. Yes. Yes, it was my son.
Q. Did you have any other reason to know it was your son?
A. He looks like my son. He was able to recall family events. He was able to recall things about his brother and sister growing up that not another
soul would know. It was my son. He was, he told me that he was not able to talk freely in the sense that he could come out with his story because
there are people that would want to see him dead. And he said, mom, do something. He says, I know about all that you've been doing. I know what
you've done in this country. Now he said, please, help me. So I can have a life and the other kids can have a life. And I didn't know where to start
at first. Because no one believed us. No one believed Paul at that time. People wanted to forget about Johnny Gosch because it was an embarrassment to
Des Moines, Iowa, it was an embarrassment to the police, the FBI, all of them that basically didn't do their jobs. And it was embarrassing for them
to see a mother still out there trying to find their son and working three jobs to keep it going financially. And the exact law enforcement agencies
you would expect to help didn't. They gave up on it.
Q. Now, when Paul and you met and you videotaped and he described various details, did he tell you he was a young boy at that time who was the one to
attract Johnny then for the kidnapping?
A. Yes, he did. When we first met and we were seated at the table at the prison, Paul took one look at me and as soon as he knew who I was he broke
down and started to cry. And he said, I'm so sorry. I'm so very sorry. And I looked at him and said, I don I blame you. I don I hate you. Just tell
me what happened. And then that's how he told me of the kidnap plan and how it evolved and where he was on the street to attract Johnny to the car.
And then what happened to Johnny as far as being drugged and transported to another area. And then he described the events of the first time Johnny
was molested. And, yes, it was hard to hear. But at the same time for the first time I was hearing truth. And it was coming from a young man who took
such a big step to go public to help me.
He didn't have to do that. He could have gone on with his life and died with that secret. And Paul made the moral decision to go forward to help me
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Q. Do you know how –
A. -- to help other kids....