Evan Savoie

Background

Evan Drake Savoie was a 12-year-old boy from Ephrata, Washington. Craig Sorger was a developmentally disabled teenager who loved science, video games and race cars. Sorger was autistic and developmentally disabled, and he was frightened of the dark.

Craig Sorger, a 13-year-old boy, was found beaten and stabbed in Oasis Park. He had last been seen playing with Evan and his friend, Jake Lee Eakin. Craig Sorger was a special education student and slightly autistic. He had blond hair and was slight in stature.

Evan Savoie and Jake Lee Eakin were family friends and met Craig Sorger through their play. Evan Savoie was described as a class clown and popular at school, and Jake Eakin was described as sometimes picked on because of his size and being in special education classes. Jake Eakin said he was “pretty friendly,” and he described himself as a good kid. Evan Savoie repeatedly proclaimed his innocence.

The offence

Craig Sorger was attacked by Evan Savoie and Jake Lee Eakin on a wooded trail area near where the children had been playing in an Ephrata recreational vehicle park.

Evan Savoie repeatedly proclaimed that Sorger fell while climbing a tree. Jake Lee Eakin initially described the boys as being on the same branch in the tree with Sorger when the fall occurred. After the attack, they told police stories that Sorger had fallen from a tree, and the prosecution’s case relied on later testimony and physical evidence that conflicted with the boys’ initial accounts.

During the trial testimony, Jake Eakin described that Savoie pulled a knife out of his pocket and told Eakin he “wanted to go on a killing spree.” Eakin described that the boys went to Sorger’s nearby travel trailer, where his family was living, to ask him to play. Eakin said they roamed the park, playing near a canal, for several minutes before stopping to build a fort in a wooded area. Eakin testified that Sorger got on his knees and began counting to 10 after Savoie asked Sorger to feel the ground to see if it was wet. Eakin said that at nine, Savoie dropped a rock “size of a basketball” on the back of Sorger’s neck, knocking the boy to the ground. Eakin said he tried to stop Savoie and that Savoie pushed him.

Eakin testified that Savoie began hitting Sorger “perhaps more than 30 times,” while Sorger tried to get away and cried out, “Why are you doing this to me,” and that Savoie repeatedly pulled him back to the ground and continued striking him. Eakin said that he did not see anything in Savoie's hand but saw blood coming from Savoie's neck as Sorger cried out, “He was saying that he was dying,” and that “He was face down. Evan was on top on his knees.” Eakin described the attack lasting minutes, after which Sorger remained motionless on the ground.

Eakin also testified that he picked up a stick and began hitting Sorger in the head and legs more than 20 times before throwing the stick to the ground.

In another account recited as part of Eakin’s confession, Eakin described watching Evan Savoie drop a rock on Sorger’s head and then standing by as Savoie repeatedly stabbed Sorger. Eakin said he taunted by Savoie and that Sorger tried at least twice to run. In that confession account, Sorger cried out, “Why are you doing this to me? Why are you doing this to me?” Eakin said that after goading him into bludgeoning Sorger with the taunt of “faggot,” “a blood-soaked Savoie shook his hand and told him to shut up about what they had just done.” The confession account also said that Eakin picked up a stick and pummeled Sorger until it broke, then picked up another stick and continued the beating.

Investigation

When Craig Sorger’s body was found, an autopsy reported that Sorger had been beaten approximately 16 times about the head and neck and stabbed 34 times in the same areas where he had been beaten. The autopsy also reported 8 stab wounds to his torso as well.

Police questioned Evan Savoie and Jake Lee Eakin the night Sorger’s body was discovered. Each told a similar story in which they claimed Sorger fell while climbing a tree. Savoie said Sorger fell while climbing a tree. Eakin said he and Savoie were on the same branch in the tree with Sorger when the fall occurred.

During later investigation and trial accounts, prosecutors alleged that Savoie planned to go on a killing spree. In a trial account, prosecutors told jurors that Savoie had blood on his clothes, access to knives and lied to investigators, including deliberately leading searchers away from Sorger’s body and admitting in a taped interview. Prosecutors said Eakin eventually led investigators to the murder weapon and pointed to Savoie as the killer.

In the investigation details described later, it was stated that police found Sorger’s DNA on Evan Savoie’s blood-stained sweatshirt and shirt. The sweatshirt pulled from the pond was described as having DNA testing that was inconclusive, but Sorger’s blood was found on Evan’s T-shirt. It was also stated that police later found the murder weapon, a folding pocket knife, in the park’s pond. Another identification of the weapon stated it was a wood-handled Bar Creek knife.

Police found something disturbing in Jake Eakin’s sixth-grade journal. It was described as being riddled with misspellings and barely legible. The book was named “Sniper” after the Washington, D.C., area shooters, and it said they were his “idols” because “the sniper killed 13 people and they couldn’t find out who it was.”

Arrest

Evan Savoie and Jake Lee Eakin were arrested and charged with first-degree murder in the February 15, 2003 death of Craig Sorger. Evan Savoie was 12 years old at the time of the charges. They were believed to be the youngest murder defendants charged as adults in state history.

They were held on $1 million bail.

Trial

Evan Savoie was charged with first-degree murder. Although Savoie maintained his innocence, he was convicted of first-degree murder.

At trial, Eakin testified against Savoie. Eakin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder by complicity and testified for the prosecution. Eakin pleaded guilty after changing his story from the initial accounts.

The jury deliberated nearly 10 hours over two days, and then spent Friday deliberating whether the slaying was premeditated.

During deliberation, juror Shane Gibbons said afterward: “It was emotional. There were a couple who were crying. It was a big burden to make that decision for someone so young,” and added: “He didn't even flinch when they read guilty. He didn't even bat an eye.”

After the verdict, Grant County Prosecutor John Knodell commended jurors for a thorough job of evaluating the evidence, including more than 400 exhibits. Knodell said: “I concluded a long time ago this young man was guilty, and I'm gratified that 12 citizens agreed.”

Evan Savoie showed no emotion when the verdict was read.

Defense attorney Randy Smith vowed to appeal. Smith said: “I really thought we had created some reasonable doubt,” and added: “I thought at the very least that the state had not come close to even proving premeditation.”

In comments later associated with sentencing, defense attorney Randy Smith said: “This is a tragic incident for everybody involved,” and “But the likelihood that rehabilitation is going to be any more effective after 26 years than after 20 years is ridiculous.”

Sentencing

On July 11, 2006, a judge sentenced Evan Savoie to 26 years in prison, described as the maximum sentence that could be imposed. The sentencing was for first-degree murder.

Grant County Superior Court Judge Ken Jorgensen imposed the maximum sentence. During sentencing, it was stated that Savoie showed no emotion when Jorgensen imposed the maximum sentence and smiled slightly as he was led away in handcuffs.

In connection with sentencing remarks, Jorgensen disagreed with defense arguments that issuing the maximum sentence would be ineffective. Jorgensen said: “Somebody is going to have to figure out how a 12-year-old can be so violent, so young.”

The standard sentencing range for first-degree murder was described as between 20 years and 26 years. It was also described that sentencing closed one of the most brutal murders ever committed by a juvenile in Washington state.

Savoie’s mother, Holly Parent, continued to insist her son was innocent and said: “The killer is still out there,” and “Now we're going to appeal. And I'm not giving up. My son is innocent, and I'm going to fight.”

Appeals

Defense attorneys argued they would appeal the verdict and sentencing after the conviction. Savoie’s mother said they would appeal and planned to fight.

Outcome

Evan Savoie was convicted of first-degree murder on April 29, 2006. He was sentenced to 26 years in prison on July 11, 2006.

Jake Lee Eakin pleaded guilty to second-degree murder by complicity and was sentenced to 14 years. Eakin was described as serving a 14-year sentence. Prosecutors alleged Eakin would testify when Savoie was tried. Eakin was described as likely to be a primary witness in the prosecution’s case against Savoie.

Aftermath

Holly Parent said the case divided the community and that neither Evan nor Craig received justice. She also said: “The killer is still out there,” and “Now we're going to appeal. And I'm not giving up.

Lisa Sorger, Craig Sorger’s mother, was described as hugging prosecutors outside immediately afterward when the verdict was read. She said: “I'm happy with the verdict. It's just taken a long time — too long,” and “Nothing's going to bring Craig back, but at least we've finally gotten justice.” She also said she and her family had forgiven Eakin, stating: “It took him awhile, but he did the right thing.”

Some family members clutched photos of Craig Sorger and cried. Prosecutors said Eakin’s family pledged to regularly clean up the wooded area where Craig was killed to help maintain a memorial there.

Other details

In interviews, Evan Savoie said: “I don’t think so, no. But as you can tell, quite a few other people have different opinions. So my opinion is no.” Evan also said: “I know it’s a really high charge, I mean the highest, unless you go and do something to the president," and: “Things could get really ugly, doing time in jail or prison. This ain't quite as bad as prison. But I don't like it, but see I haven't been found guilty yet or innocent or whatever. I haven't had my trial yet.”

In earlier comments associated with youth and courtroom understanding, it was stated that Eakin was questioned about the difference between being tried as an adult and being tried as a juvenile. Eakin said: “The difference is like, you get different ... like rights, bigger time, stuff like that,” and “It's messed up.”

Jake Lee Eakin’s unedited statement included the following text: “I'm sorry that I had to bring so much pane and broken harts to your family. I just wish that I could do something to fill in the missing hole in your family. But I made a mistake that made that hole, but I want to tell your family that I, I'm sorry and didn't know what I was doing. I wish that one day I might get forgived for what I have done, but I know deep down that will never happen. Because of all the tears that have been cried since that day. Some from me, the night mares that I have had, and I new that they would always be there, because I was lying, laying to everyone and making more pane for everyone. But then I thought that it was about time I came forward with what happened so long ago, I didn't want you family to wonder what happened any longer and since that I day I have regreded my part of everything. I don't want your family to wonder any longer, I want you to know the truth, I couldn't hold it in any longer, couldn't hide the pane that I had made, so I tell you that I'm sorry for makeing this pane. I'm sorry Mrs. Sorger. I'm sorry Mr. Sorger. I'm sorry Keith Sorger, and everyone that has been hurt by what I have done.”