Remembering Ben Perot
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A missing child is said to be a parent's worst nightmare. When that child becomes the victim of a heinous crime in a small, rural community, where such things do not happen, it is especially noteworthy. But the absolute worst parent's nightmare is that their lost child will be forgotten. Nine-year-old Ben Perot ("pay-row") died 37 years ago and is that child. He was abducted from the Little League baseball park in Caldwell Parish, Louisiana in 1980 after finishing All-Star practice. His body was discovered 3 weeks later. At long last, an effort has begun to Remember Ben Perot with the dedication and naming of the field where he last played. Significant costs will be incurred in order to erect an appropriate permanent sign and bronze plaque to forever memorialize young Ben. The full story as recently published in the weely local newspaper is reprinted below:
REMEMBERING BEN PEROT
1971-1980
It was a warm summertime afternoon on July 8, 1980 at the Caldwell Parish Dixie Youth baseball park on the Columbia Eastside. Coach Paul McCoy had finished up practice with his team of 9 and 10-year-old Caldwell All-Stars. Among his players was third baseman Ben Perot who was excited at being chosen as an All-Star. Ben’s cleats had worn out, or maybe he had just out-grown them, but he had shown up that day in cutoffs and cowboy boots. Not really the best for baseball, but he wasn’t going to miss practice. Afterwards, Coach McCoy took Ben home to his residence facing the levee on the Eastside just down from the old bridge. Ben told his dad Jimmy Perot that he needed some new cleats. Then Ben took off on his bicycle to ride around the neighborhood for a while on a long summer afternoon. His dad had a rule not to cross Highway 165, but, as boys that age often do, he probably forgot. He returned to the ballpark. A few hours later, after looking everywhere, Jimmy Perot knocked on Paul McCoy’s door. “Paul, have you seen Ben?” And so it began. Nine-year-old Ben Perot was officially missing.
As word got out in Caldwell Parish, interest and emotions stirred. An overwhelming sense of urgency spread throughout the community. Have you heard about little Ben Perot over on the Eastside? Where is Ben? Has anyone seen Ben? No witnesses, no evidence, no leads of where to look. Vanished. Newly-elected Sheriff Hoot Reitzell, only a week after taking his oath, and Chief Deputy Dale Powell were suddenly confronted with the unthinkable in Caldwell Parish. They led a tireless investigation. They were aided early on by a tip from Ben’s older cousin, State Trooper Charles Thompson. He had identified a potential suspect from out-of-town who was staying with his grandmother for the summer in her home behind the old Community Center. A young woman reported that she had seen him that day with Ben at the convenience store near the ballpark. But the suspect’s family members, who were not helpful, said he had left the area and was nowhere to be found. An FBI agent joined in. After pursuing a likely deliberate false lead from the suspect’s family that he was headed to North Carolina, leading to State Police stopping a Trailways bus on I-20 toward Vicksburg, there was later evidence he was actually headed in the opposite direction. A national “be on the lookout for” bulletin was issued. In the meantime, hundreds of volunteers, including Coach McCoy and his Asst. Coach Jerry Futch, and others like Billy Bennett and Jerry Dale Wyles on horseback, scanned the countryside, looking everywhere for Ben. Nothing. Days turned into weeks and hopes began to fade. In desperation, even an out-of-state psychic was consulted who, unprompted, tantalizingly referred to a ballpark and a redlight. Still nothing to go on. The pressure on Sheriff Reitzell to find Ben was immense, but he was on a mission. He would not fail.
Finally, after several weeks, a break. The suspect was located at a motel in El Paso in far west Texas. He was thought to be planning to get over the Mexican border. Armed with an arrest warrant from Caldwell Parish, local Texas law enforcement took him into custody. Unfortunately, whatever slim hopes remained of finding Ben alive were dashed--he was not there. Upon his capture, Sheriff Reitzell and FBI Agent Jim Burks flew in a private plane to pick up the suspect, now a defendant. It was a long, gut-wrenching trip back for Sheriff Reitzell who adhered to the interrogation technique suggested by Agent Burks to remain virtually silent. The gravity of the crime the Sheriff now knew had been committed would weigh on him for the rest of his life. They were met at the Columbia Airport by Deputy Powell who got in the back seat of the Sheriff’s car with the defendant. The Sheriff was driving and Agent Burks joined him in the front. As they turned onto Hwy 165 from the airport toward town, Sheriff Reitzell asked the critical question that was on everyone’s mind. The defendant’s response was “Turn left.” They were led to a bridge, since demolished, on Highway 559 southeast of Columbia, in rural Caldwell Parish. There, near a bicycle, this sad and tragic story found its unspeakable end.
Because of the intense local interest, the criminal trial was moved to Rapides Parish. The prosecution was led by District Attorney Don Burns who pursued a case of capital murder, but the Rapides Parish judge ruled that a recently-amended statute regarding the death penalty prevented its imposition in this case. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison without parole, where he has since died. Enough about him.
On Ben’s gravestone in Columbia Hill Cemetery is the picture of young red-headed Ben. Probably not many visitors recently. Time is taking its relentless toll and memories are fading. The tragedy that befell Ben Perot is on its way to being forgotten. But that should not be. In the history of our cherished home in Caldwell Parish, not before or since so far as anyone knows, has there ever been such a heinous crime committed against a child. It is therefore worthy of singular remembrance. It’s been 37 years since that awful day and many of those involved and deeply affected have passed away. Ben’s father Jimmy is deceased, but his mother Myrdie is 81 years old and resides in a nursing home in Jackson Parish. For her and for Ben’s older brothers, deeply personal emotional scars never go away. For the rest of us though, well, we get over it, we move on, we forget, we die, and so too would the memory of Ben Perot.
It is now long past the time to establish a fitting public memorial to this child. With the support of Caldwell Dixie Youth Baseball and also from the family of its named Lorraine Duplissey Sports Complex, plans are being made to name and dedicate the main baseball field at the park, where Ben played on his last day, “Ben Perot Memorial Field”. There will be permanent, lasting signage and a memorial bronze plaque erected in tribute to him as one of, as the Scriptures tell us, “the least among us”. And, at long last, the heartbreaking story of young Ben Perot can rest in peace, never to be forgotten.
REMEMBERING BEN PEROT
1971-1980
It was a warm summertime afternoon on July 8, 1980 at the Caldwell Parish Dixie Youth baseball park on the Columbia Eastside. Coach Paul McCoy had finished up practice with his team of 9 and 10-year-old Caldwell All-Stars. Among his players was third baseman Ben Perot who was excited at being chosen as an All-Star. Ben’s cleats had worn out, or maybe he had just out-grown them, but he had shown up that day in cutoffs and cowboy boots. Not really the best for baseball, but he wasn’t going to miss practice. Afterwards, Coach McCoy took Ben home to his residence facing the levee on the Eastside just down from the old bridge. Ben told his dad Jimmy Perot that he needed some new cleats. Then Ben took off on his bicycle to ride around the neighborhood for a while on a long summer afternoon. His dad had a rule not to cross Highway 165, but, as boys that age often do, he probably forgot. He returned to the ballpark. A few hours later, after looking everywhere, Jimmy Perot knocked on Paul McCoy’s door. “Paul, have you seen Ben?” And so it began. Nine-year-old Ben Perot was officially missing.
As word got out in Caldwell Parish, interest and emotions stirred. An overwhelming sense of urgency spread throughout the community. Have you heard about little Ben Perot over on the Eastside? Where is Ben? Has anyone seen Ben? No witnesses, no evidence, no leads of where to look. Vanished. Newly-elected Sheriff Hoot Reitzell, only a week after taking his oath, and Chief Deputy Dale Powell were suddenly confronted with the unthinkable in Caldwell Parish. They led a tireless investigation. They were aided early on by a tip from Ben’s older cousin, State Trooper Charles Thompson. He had identified a potential suspect from out-of-town who was staying with his grandmother for the summer in her home behind the old Community Center. A young woman reported that she had seen him that day with Ben at the convenience store near the ballpark. But the suspect’s family members, who were not helpful, said he had left the area and was nowhere to be found. An FBI agent joined in. After pursuing a likely deliberate false lead from the suspect’s family that he was headed to North Carolina, leading to State Police stopping a Trailways bus on I-20 toward Vicksburg, there was later evidence he was actually headed in the opposite direction. A national “be on the lookout for” bulletin was issued. In the meantime, hundreds of volunteers, including Coach McCoy and his Asst. Coach Jerry Futch, and others like Billy Bennett and Jerry Dale Wyles on horseback, scanned the countryside, looking everywhere for Ben. Nothing. Days turned into weeks and hopes began to fade. In desperation, even an out-of-state psychic was consulted who, unprompted, tantalizingly referred to a ballpark and a redlight. Still nothing to go on. The pressure on Sheriff Reitzell to find Ben was immense, but he was on a mission. He would not fail.
Finally, after several weeks, a break. The suspect was located at a motel in El Paso in far west Texas. He was thought to be planning to get over the Mexican border. Armed with an arrest warrant from Caldwell Parish, local Texas law enforcement took him into custody. Unfortunately, whatever slim hopes remained of finding Ben alive were dashed--he was not there. Upon his capture, Sheriff Reitzell and FBI Agent Jim Burks flew in a private plane to pick up the suspect, now a defendant. It was a long, gut-wrenching trip back for Sheriff Reitzell who adhered to the interrogation technique suggested by Agent Burks to remain virtually silent. The gravity of the crime the Sheriff now knew had been committed would weigh on him for the rest of his life. They were met at the Columbia Airport by Deputy Powell who got in the back seat of the Sheriff’s car with the defendant. The Sheriff was driving and Agent Burks joined him in the front. As they turned onto Hwy 165 from the airport toward town, Sheriff Reitzell asked the critical question that was on everyone’s mind. The defendant’s response was “Turn left.” They were led to a bridge, since demolished, on Highway 559 southeast of Columbia, in rural Caldwell Parish. There, near a bicycle, this sad and tragic story found its unspeakable end.
Because of the intense local interest, the criminal trial was moved to Rapides Parish. The prosecution was led by District Attorney Don Burns who pursued a case of capital murder, but the Rapides Parish judge ruled that a recently-amended statute regarding the death penalty prevented its imposition in this case. The defendant was sentenced to life in prison without parole, where he has since died. Enough about him.
On Ben’s gravestone in Columbia Hill Cemetery is the picture of young red-headed Ben. Probably not many visitors recently. Time is taking its relentless toll and memories are fading. The tragedy that befell Ben Perot is on its way to being forgotten. But that should not be. In the history of our cherished home in Caldwell Parish, not before or since so far as anyone knows, has there ever been such a heinous crime committed against a child. It is therefore worthy of singular remembrance. It’s been 37 years since that awful day and many of those involved and deeply affected have passed away. Ben’s father Jimmy is deceased, but his mother Myrdie is 81 years old and resides in a nursing home in Jackson Parish. For her and for Ben’s older brothers, deeply personal emotional scars never go away. For the rest of us though, well, we get over it, we move on, we forget, we die, and so too would the memory of Ben Perot.
It is now long past the time to establish a fitting public memorial to this child. With the support of Caldwell Dixie Youth Baseball and also from the family of its named Lorraine Duplissey Sports Complex, plans are being made to name and dedicate the main baseball field at the park, where Ben played on his last day, “Ben Perot Memorial Field”. There will be permanent, lasting signage and a memorial bronze plaque erected in tribute to him as one of, as the Scriptures tell us, “the least among us”. And, at long last, the heartbreaking story of young Ben Perot can rest in peace, never to be forgotten.
Organizer
Robert Meredith
Organizer
Columbia, LA