Affidavits, Declarations and Statements


July 12, 1984

United States District Court
Eastern District of North Carolina

Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden, Jr. (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris

Scans of original transcript
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 1 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 1 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 2 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 2 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 3 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 3 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 4 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 4 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 5 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 5 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 6 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 6 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 7 of 7
July 12, 1984: Affidavit #18 of Raymond Madden (FBI) re: Shelby Don Harris, p. 7 of 7

UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT
FOR THE
EASTERN DISTRICT OF NORTH CAROLINA
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA : Criminal No. 75-26-CR-3
:
v. : Criminal No. 84-41-CIV-3
:
JEFFREY R. MACDONALD :
AFFIDAVIT OF RAYMOND MADDEN, JR. - #18

Raymond Madden, Jr., being duly sworn does depose and say that:

1. I am a special agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation (hereafter FBI) assigned to the Raleigh Resident Agency, Charlotte Division, and as such I am currently assigned as the FBI case agent in the above-captioned matter.

2. I had no previous direct involvement in this case until August 1980, following Jeffrey MacDonald's August 1979 convictions in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of North Carolina.

3. On June 25, 1984, Shelby Don Harris was telephonically contacted at his residence at which time he was advised of the identity of Special Agent Raymond Madden, Jr. He thereafter furnished the following information:

4. He had been previously interviewed by the FBI regarding the MacDonald case in December, 1982, at Nashville, Tennessee, at which time he was entirely truthful as he wanted to help clear the air of an outlandish story apparently being told by Helena Stoeckley. Some time ago at either his former residence in Nashville, Tennessee, or his current residence, he received a telephone call from an unrecalled reporter in North Carolina who wanted to interview him regarding a story the reporter was writing on the MacDonald case. According to Harris, he declined to talk to this reporter.

5. Some time later, an individual by the name of Raymond Shedlick showed up at his residence and identified himself as a private investigator from Raleigh, North Carolina. Shedlick was accompanied by another individual who was either a private investigator or an off-duty policeman and/or sheriff's deputy. According to Harris, Shedlick informed him there was all kinds of new evidence regarding the MacDonald case, including an eyewitness who previously was afraid to come forward that had identified Harris' picture as being around the crime scene. Shedlick also told Harris that someone who worked in a restaurant had previously observed Harris with MacDonald's wife. Harris told Shedlick that this information was absolutely crazy, ludicrous, as he had never met either Dr. Jeffrey or Colette MacDonald. Shedlick stayed at his residence for approximately one hour and asked him numerous questions about the MacDonald case, at which time Harris reiterated to Shedlick that he knew absolutely nothing about the MacDonald murders. Harris advised he never thought about the MacDonald case at all until being initially contacted by the FBI.

6. He emphasized to Shedlick that he knew absolutely nothing about the MacDonald murders and volunteered to take a polygraph examination in Tennessee for Shedlick; however, Shedlick wanted Harris to come to North Carolina for such an examination and Harris declined. Shedlick asked him questions about people he may have known while in Fayetteville, North Carolina, and a business establishment, name unrecalled, that was a local pizza shop in Fayetteville, North Carolina. Harris readily admitted to Shedlick that he knew certain individuals including Helena Stoeckley and Greg Mitchell and that he had frequented either a pizza or doughnut type restaurant. He does not recall ever filing or signing an affidavit nor did he recall being asked to sign anything for Mr. Shedlick.

7. Subsequent to Shedlick's visit, Harris was telephonically contacted by Shedlick on several occasions. In this regard, Harris felt somewhat intimidated by Shedlick and telephonically contacted SA Francis M. Cristina of the Nashville Resident Agency. Harris explained to Cristina the activities of Shedlick at which time Cristina told Harris that he did not have to co-operate with Shedlick if he did not desire to do so. Harris explained that Shedlick again telephonically contacted him and requested him to go to Raleigh, North Carolina, in order he could be additionally interviewed regarding the MacDonald case. Harris related that he is a married man with two children and works as a carpenter and considers himself to be poor. As he was desirous to clarify this matter once and for all for Shedlick, he eventually consented to travel to Raleigh, North Carolina. In this regard, Shedlick sent him plane tickets for him and his entire family and promised Harris that he would put his family up for a weekend at a local hotel in Raleigh, North Carolina. As he was desirous of clearing up what he considered to be a total mess once and for all, he agreed and actually traveled to Raleigh, North Carolina, and was interviewed by Shedlick again.

8. Shedlick showed him numerous photographs, many of which were taken in Vietnam and depicted various soldiers. He readily admit [sic] to identifying a photograph of Greg Mitchell and noted that he had met Mitchell while they were both soldiers in Vietnam, but noted they were in entirely different units. To the best of his recollection, the photograph he identified of Mitchell was in front of an Army hut in Vietnam and that he was also in the photograph with other soldiers. He explained that on this occasion to the best of his recollection, he happened to be in that particular area and that it was not uncommon in Vietnam for soldiers to get together and take photographs. Gregory Mitchell was a supply sergeant and had assisted Harris in obtaining some supplies for his particular unit, the 82nd Airborne. Mitchell assisted him in obtaining some shower units and other hard-to-come-by items that were difficult to obtain in Vietnam. He was grateful to Mitchell for providing him with the supplies, but stated he and Mitchell were never great friends and that because of their different assignments, he only saw Mitchell every once in a while. Harris was in charge of a reconnaissance group and therefore he had very little contact with Mitchell in Vietnam and certainly did not consider Mitchell to be a close associate.

9. When Harris returned to the United States, specifically Fayetteville, North Carolina, from Vietnam, he met Mitchell and Mitchell remembered him but he did not recall Mitchell. He finally realized who Mitchell was and for a very short period of time, he and Mitchell were friends and he recalled that on one occasion, he spent the night with Mitchell at Mitchell's mother's residence in Fayetteville, North Carolina. He never considered himself to be a big buddy with Mitchell, but readily admitted seeing Mitchell at several locations in Fayetteville, North Carolina, including a Dunkin Donut Shop and a pizza parlor.

10. Harris readily admitted that he had a difficult time adjusting to life in the States after returning from a combat assignment in Vietnam. He became disenchanted with the military and eventually went AWOL. He explained that he had a very responsible position as a reconnaissance leader in combat situations and thought of himself after returning to the States as somewhat useless after having a very responsible position. He described Mitchell as a "BS" artist and noted that Mitchell would tell people that he was a member of company "O" of the 75th Ranger Battalion of which Harris was a member. He recalled that Mitchell on several occasions told people lies, specifically that he was a ranger and embellished on his combat experiences. According to Harris, these stories were pure fabrications as Mitchell was assigned as a supply sergeant and to his knowledge never experienced any combat in Vietnam, but enjoyed talking about his alleged experiences and the high risk involved, with individuals who did not know any better.

11. Concerning Helena Stoeckley, Harris advised he met her through Kathy (last name unknown) who was from New Jersey and noted her last name may have been Smith. He was also acquainted with a female from New Jersey by the name of Diane (last name unknown) and that both Diane and Kathy used to hang out at a pizza shop in Fayetteville, North Carolina. It was through Kathy and Diane that he became acquainted with Helena Stoeckley. According to Harris, numerous soldiers used to hang around this particular pizza shop; however, he stated that the pizza shop was more of a hippie type hangout than for military personnel. He used to talk to the girls who worked at the pizza shop as well as some girls who frequented it. He never had any romantic relationship with any of the above-named girls, including Helena Stoeckley, and noted to the best of his knowledge and recollection, he never dated Stoeckley and did not consider her to be a good friend. In his opinion Stoeckley was an unstable person who enjoyed attention.

12. In reference to an individual named "Smitty," Harris advised that to the best of his recollection, he told Shedlick that he was somewhat familiar with this name; however, he could not place a face or particular identity to this individual. Shedlick showed him a photograph of a Negro male and told him that individual was "Smitty" and Harris informed Shedlick that he was not acquainted with that individual. He also informed Shedlick that he has probably known several individuals with the nickname of Smitty and that it was a common nickname for individuals who had the last name of Smith. He could place no significance whatsoever to the name of Smitty.

13. Harris stated he has absolutely no knowledge or pertinent information regarding the MacDonald case. He knew nothing about the book Fatal Vision and does not care to become further involved with this matter. He reiterated he considers himself to be a poor carpenter and a family man who does not want to be embarrassed by meaningless accusations. He is concerned that he should hire an attorney as he is totally confused about this matter in that he was entirely truthful with the FBI, but feels somewhat intimidated at the current time because of untruthful and inaccurate conclusions being drawn by Shedlick. All he has ever done was to tell the truth and that if necessary, he will reluctantly testify in court as he did not want his family and himself to be embarrassed by untruthful publicity.

14. Harris stated he has attempted to always be a good citizen and noted that he has done some things in his life of which he is not proud, including smoking "pot" while in Vietnam and continuing this activity for a short time after returning to the United States. Although smoking pot was a very common experience in Vietnam and the majority of the soldiers assigned there engaged in this activity, he always knew it was wrong, has corrected his life in that regard, but did not care for everyone to know about it.

Further your affiant sayeth not:

 
 
/Raymond Madden, Jr./
 
 
RAYMOND MADDEN, JR.
 
 
Special Agent
 
 
 
 
 
 
Subscribed and sworn to
 
 
before me this    12th   
 
 
day of July, 1984.
 
 









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N0TARY PUBLIC
 
 
 
 
 

My Commission Expires M[stamped area; blank]