Key Takeaways
1. A Gruesome Discovery Unveils a Double Homicide
The headless corpse of twenty-two-year-old John Achord and the faceless remains of twenty-year-old Damon Wells were recovered from shallow graves near Elbe, Washington, on June 19, 1984.
Shocking revelation. The discovery of two severely decomposed bodies, one headless and one faceless, near Elbe, Washington, ignited a horrifying true crime investigation. Authorities were led to the shallow graves by Christopher St. Pierre, who confessed to the Tacoma Police, implicating his older brother Paul St. Pierre and their friend Andrew Webb in the murders. This confession was the first indication that Achord and Wells, previously reported missing, were dead.
Unraveling the truth. Christopher St. Pierre's detailed disclosures provided the initial roadmap for detectives, revealing the violent deaths, secret burials, and the ghoulish premeditated decapitation of one victim. His cooperation was pivotal in transforming a missing persons case into a double homicide investigation. The subsequent legal proceedings would expose a complex web of violence, manipulation, and ethical dilemmas that would haunt the community for years.
Immediate arrests. Following Christopher's confession, all three individuals—Paul St. Pierre, Christopher St. Pierre, and Andrew Webb—were charged with first-degree murder. This marked the beginning of a legal thriller that would challenge the boundaries of justice and expose the dark underbelly of human depravity.
2. Perpetrators Forged in Violence and Dysfunction
You can try to clean it up all you want, but the moral and emotional soil from which the Webb children drew sustenance was irrevocably polluted.
Roots of violence. The perpetrators, Paul St. Pierre and Andrew Webb, emerged from backgrounds marred by severe dysfunction, mental health issues, and a pervasive culture of violence. Paul St. Pierre, a discredited ex-Marine, was described as domineering and mentally damaged, prone to drug abuse and drunken aggression. Andrew Webb, his best friend, was a head-injured sociopath from a home where incest and child molestation were tragic aspects of family history.
Family trauma. The Webb family, despite outward religious devotion, harbored deep-seated trauma. Andrew's mother, Dolores, endured a childhood of abuse and abandonment, which manifested in her own violent outbursts and an inability to process sadness. Andrew himself suffered multiple head injuries, including being run over by a car as a toddler, which his sister Gail believed contributed to his erratic behavior and thought disorders.
St. Pierre's struggles. Paul St. Pierre, often teased and marginalized as a child, found acceptance through aggression and illegal intoxicants, transforming from victim to bully. His younger brother, Christopher, born with a heart defect, developed a compensatory tenacity but was heavily influenced by Paul's destructive path. These intertwined histories of abuse, mental instability, and substance abuse laid a volatile foundation for the horrific crimes that would unfold.
3. Andrew Webb's Pattern of Aggression Escalates
Andrew Webb, despite being shot at close range with a forty-five automatic, cheated death.
Prior assaults. Before the murders, Andrew Webb had a documented history of violent assaults, often fueled by alcohol and a perceived sense of being "ripped off." In July 1983, he and Randy Nolan, armed with rifles and shotguns, violently invaded the Sanford residence, beating Shane Sanford and accidentally discharging a firearm. This was Webb's third armed assault on the Sanfords since January, all stemming from a belief that his guns had been stolen.
Psychological profile. Webb's behavior was characterized by a low frustration tolerance, an immediate need for gratification, and a hostile capacity to act out impulsively. Psychological evaluations diagnosed him with a mixed personality disorder, antisocial and narcissistic features, intense mood swings, and poor impulse control. He also exhibited bizarre thought disorders, such as conversing with dead beaver skulls and invisible Vikings.
Legal consequences avoided. Webb pleaded guilty to the assault charges in January 1984, facing a potential 20-year sentence. His sentencing was deferred, contingent on him remaining drug and alcohol-free. This precarious legal situation provided a strong motive for Webb to prevent Damon Wells from reporting their actions to the police, setting the stage for the first murder.
4. The Brutal Murder of Damon Wells
We were going to take Damon Wells to the other side of town, just to drop him off somewhere.
Party turns violent. The first murder occurred after a party at the St. Pierre residence in February 1984. Damon Wells, a friend of Steve Wood, was present when Wood and Andrew Webb got into a fight. After Wood fled, Wells remained, and was then brutally beaten in the bathroom by Paul St. Pierre, Andrew Webb, and Christopher St. Pierre, who suspected him of being a "rip-off artist."
"Teaching a lesson." The three men decided to "teach Wells a lesson" by taking him to Salmon Beach, removing his shoes, and making him walk home barefoot. However, Wells, angered by the beating, threatened to report them to the police. This threat, particularly dangerous for Webb who was awaiting sentencing for prior assaults, sealed Wells's fate.
Throat slashed. As Wells ran for help, Andrew Webb chased him down, tackled him, and, using Paul St. Pierre's Gerber knife, slit Wells's throat multiple times and stabbed him twice in the back. Christopher St. Pierre testified that he and Paul watched Wells bleed to death. The men then burned their bloodied clothes and later buried Wells's body in a shallow grave near Alder Lake.
5. John Achord's Demise and Decapitation
OK, this is the part where they go out there in the middle of the night, dig up the body, chop off the head, and bring it home in a bucket.
Second victim. John Achord, a brain-damaged student, was murdered in May 1984, after attending the Rush concert. Paul St. Pierre shot Achord in the face, claiming self-defense after Achord allegedly came at him with a knife. Christopher St. Pierre, who entered the room after the shooting, believed Achord was dead.
Cover-up motive. The St. Pierres and Andrew Webb then stabbed Achord multiple times in the back, rolled his body in carpet, and transported it to the same remote burial site as Damon Wells. The primary motive for Achord's murder and the subsequent gruesome acts was to prevent the discovery of Damon Wells's murder. Christopher St. Pierre testified that Andrew Webb expressed concern that police investigating Achord might uncover the Wells homicide.
Horrific decapitation. Days later, Paul St. Pierre, fearing the bullet in Achord's head could be traced, decided to decapitate the corpse. With Christopher's assistance, they exhumed the body, and Paul chopped off Achord's head with an ax. The head was then encased in a five-gallon bucket of cement and thrown into the Puyallup River by Tony Youso, another roommate.
6. The Prosecutor's Controversial Plea Bargain
The first one through the door gets the deal.
Webb's deal. Andrew Webb, facing aggravated first-degree murder charges, negotiated a plea bargain with the Pierce County Prosecutor's Office. The deal stipulated that in exchange for his truthful testimony against the St. Pierre brothers, Webb would plead guilty to first-degree murder (life with possibility of parole) and avoid the death penalty, with kidnapping and assault charges dismissed. This offer was made despite Christopher St. Pierre being the first to cooperate with police.
Refusal to testify. However, when called to testify, Webb dramatically refused, citing threats in prison and the state's failure to provide protection. He also claimed his earlier statements implicating the St. Pierres were made "out of vengeance" and "for selfish reasons," and contained inaccuracies. This refusal left the prosecution without its star witness and forced them to rely on Webb's out-of-court statements.
Ethical concerns. The defense attorneys vehemently protested the admission of Webb's uncross-examined statements, arguing it violated the St. Pierres' constitutional right to confront witnesses. This prosecutorial decision, coupled with allegations of media manipulation by Chief Prosecutor Bill Griffies, sparked intense debate about legal ethics and fairness.
7. Legal Battles Over Ethics and Evidence
This case is going to be difficult enough without flirting with disaster, and that’s what’s happening.
Judicial reprimands. The trials were plagued by allegations of prosecutorial misconduct, leading to stern warnings from Judge Thomas Sauriol. He chastised the prosecutor's office for allowing Paul St. Pierre's statement to be taken without his attorney present, and for publicizing details of the case in the media, including a TV interview and newspaper leaks. Sauriol declared such actions were "flirting with disaster" and could lead to a mistrial.
Mistrial declared. Indeed, a mistrial was declared in the Wells case after Chief Prosecutor Bill Griffies improperly questioned potential jurors about their willingness to impose the death penalty, even if Andrew Webb avoided it. This forced a change of venue and a restart of jury selection, incurring significant costs and delays. Judge Sauriol, exasperated, eventually stepped down from the case.
Evidence disputes. Further legal battles ensued over the admissibility of evidence, including Paul St. Pierre's car (which was sold by the county before defense experts could examine it) and the ax used in Achord's decapitation. The defense argued that the prosecution's actions amounted to destruction of evidence and denied their clients a fair trial.
8. Paul St. Pierre's Mental Illness on Trial
He is so tenuously controlled that psychosis is highly possible at any time.
Paranoid personality. Paul St. Pierre's defense centered on his mental illness, arguing he was not guilty by reason of insanity or diminished capacity. Psychiatrists and psychologists consistently diagnosed him with a severe paranoid personality disorder, bordering on psychotic, exacerbated by drug and alcohol use. They noted his deep suspicion, grandiosity, poor judgment, and aggressive impulses.
Competency debates. Despite expert testimony deeming Paul incompetent to stand trial due to his deteriorating mental state in solitary confinement, Judge Waldo F. Stone initially ruled him competent. This decision was later reconsidered, and Paul was sent to Western State Hospital for a 90-day evaluation. However, he was discharged after only three days, with new doctors declaring him competent, leading to accusations of prosecutorial manipulation.
Impact on intent. The defense argued that Paul's mental illness and intoxication rendered him incapable of forming the premeditated intent required for aggravated murder. His actions, they claimed, were instantaneous responses to paranoid delusions rather than rational decisions. This became a central point of contention, with the prosecution arguing that his dangerousness did not negate his responsibility.
9. Conflicting Testimonies and Courtroom Drama
The jury didn’t believe you last time, did they?
Webb's unreliability. The trials were characterized by a cacophony of conflicting statements. Andrew Webb's plea-bargain testimony, read aloud by Detective Yerbury, was the primary evidence against Christopher St. Pierre in the Achord case. However, Webb's subsequent recantations, his refusal to testify, and his admitted motives of "vengeance" and "selfishness" severely undermined his credibility. Defense attorneys David Murdach and John Ladenburg relentlessly highlighted these inconsistencies.
Chris's cooperation. In contrast, Christopher St. Pierre consistently maintained his narrative, from his initial confession to the police to his testimony on the stand. He admitted his involvement in the beatings, kidnapping, and disposal of bodies, but denied direct participation in the killings or premeditation. His cooperation with authorities, leading them to the bodies and evidence, was a key defense point.
Courtroom outbursts. The emotional intensity of the trials was palpable, culminating in a spectator outburst during Christopher St. Pierre's testimony. Larry Achord, the victim's brother, yelled "Bullshit!" when Chris claimed John Achord had a knife. This incident, though quickly contained, prompted another mistrial motion and underscored the raw emotions surrounding the case.
10. Sentencing, Appeals, and Lingering Injustice
Andrew Webb’s statement pertaining to Christopher’s alleged involvement in the slaying of John Achord did not have sufficient indicia of reliability... The conviction for aggravated murder is reversed.
Paul's fate. The jury found Paul St. Pierre guilty of first-degree aggravated murder in both cases. Despite the prosecution's demand for the death penalty, the jury sentenced him to life in prison without possibility of parole, citing his mental disturbance as a mitigating factor. Paul St. Pierre died by apparent suicide in prison shortly after his sentencing.
Chris's partial victory. Christopher St. Pierre was also found guilty of first-degree aggravated murder in both cases, receiving a life sentence without parole. However, his conviction for John Achord's murder was later reversed by the Washington State Supreme Court. The court ruled that Andrew Webb's statement, the sole evidence linking Chris to Achord's murder, lacked sufficient reliability and violated Chris's right to confrontation. His conviction for Damon Wells's murder, however, was upheld.
Webb's clemency denied. Andrew Webb, who never served time for his prior assaults and received a plea deal for Wells's murder, sought clemency after 15 years in prison. Despite glowing testimonials from prison staff and his new girlfriend, the clemency board denied his petition, acknowledging the "mistake" of the original plea bargain and the lack of justice for the Achord family.
11. The Enduring Scars of Unspeakable Acts
He’s not the same anymore. He sees himself as a victim, and in some ways, he is. Prison does that, I guess. It makes victims out of people either for real or in their own minds.
Unresolved pain. The trials left deep and lasting scars on all involved. The families of Damon Wells and John Achord endured unimaginable grief and a prolonged quest for justice, often feeling that the legal system failed them. Opal Bitney, John Achord's mother, expressed profound regret that his killer would not face the death penalty.
Chris's transformation. Christopher St. Pierre, serving a life sentence for Wells's murder, developed multiple sclerosis and drafted an apology letter to the Wells family, expressing deep remorse. However, his former employer, Mark Ericson, noted a hardening of Chris's heart, with Chris eventually viewing himself as a victim.
Webb's unrepentance. Andrew Webb, despite his "spiritual transformation" in prison, continued to manipulate and deceive, even claiming to a judge that he killed a burglar in self-defense. His ex-wife, Anne, insisted he remained unchanged, a master of "big black lies, little white lies, and a few lines from First Corinthians." The case remains a stark reminder of the complex interplay of mental illness, violence, and the elusive nature of justice.
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