Defendant's tattoos: reporter's notebook

I feel that the victim being gay will have a smaller impact on the verdict compared to the defendants tattoos that will have a greater impact on the jury decision.

I do not think that a man's personal belief in tattos should be held against him particularly if it is a coping mechanism to help survive in jail.
-Rod, VA

a tear drop under the eye means he has killed someone, looks like he is bragging, i do believe the jurors should consider that evidence, if he is found guilty i hope he suffers like his victim did.

His tattoos should have nothing to do with the trial, what he does with his own body is none of their buisness.

Nice boys!

That's a lie. If you really know tattoos, you would know that the tear drop stand for a killing that he did himself. and the daggers and cobra were have ink that is fadded. The ink is not fresh enough to have been rcv'd in jail. Also the ink is not jailhouse ink from the color shown in the picture. It's professional ink which lets me know that he got those tat's outside of jail.

There is a typo here, can you find it (hint it's Cobra)

I am not to familiar with this case I will say however from personal knowledge that a tear drop on the cheek means you took someones life and if he got it during the time he was in jail well let's just put two and two together. Plus he doesn't look innocent at all I am sure this man is hiding something

Can someone tell me why ANY sidebar should be "off the record," as occurred during the Bearden trial t his morning? Why shouldn't all discussions involving a case be "on the record?" Thank you.

How shallow are people these days! It should not matter, when, where or how the defendant got his tattoo's. Nor should it matter what the sexual orientation of the victim was. There is a murder victim and a man on trial. It should be about the evidence presented in the case. I agree with sidebar issue! It looks like both sides have issues they don't want anyone to know about. What is that all about.
Thanks,
Donna

Sometimes a discussion will be held "off the record" so that if the judge determines that the information is inadmissable, it will not have already been heard by the jury. Point being, not everything said by a lawyer should be heard by the jury because there is always potential for prejudicial evidence, that being verbal or otherwise.

I don't think tattoos in general would be a problem; but a tear tattoo which is thought to be a symbol of pride for having killed a man... could potentially sway the jury. If the defense was concerned with the tattoos swaying the jury, why didn't they provide him with tattoo cover up (it is is a make up that covers tattoos or birth marks).

umm..can't the question of WHEN he got the Tatoos be answered by looking at his mug shots? Just an idea.

I, too, was wondering about the tattoos. They were apparently put on after his arrest. The one like a teardrop can really be damning. I am older and in no way familiar with gang activities, but I heard that the teardrop was the symbol for having killed someone. I, too, find it unusal that the attorneys didn't hide these tattoos. Perhaps, this defendant didn't want it hidden and is making a statement or message to someone who is sure to get the significance of this action.

I can't believe that Ashley's prejudice gets air time on your show. She obviously has a pre conception of people with tatoos. Body art is something that is an individual preference, that has been practiced an enjoyed log before Ashley was born. She should take a step back and not judge someone, as she has in this case, by their appearance. Unfortunately she has more than likely not met this defendent but still has a preconceived notion that he is guilty because of his tatoos.

he looks guilty......

I don't think the jury should base anything off the tattoos. Whether it be the meaning behind the tear drop one or not. They should look at the evidence that is presented to them and go from there. If appearance is starting to effect peoples charges in court then half of America is screwed.

I have seen the mug shot..........there are NO tats in the mug shot. I understand that tats are artwork to most. But tats also hold a very close and personal meaning for most that get them. They have some significance to the person getting them.

God help us all, if people "LOOK GUILTY"! What is the old saying? Don't judge a book by its cover........

I agree with Madx, Ashley needs to realize she has children who may someday get tatoos. How will she judgment be then.

Tear drops under the eye do not necessarily mean he has killed someone. A tear drop can represent he has lost someone close to him and is merely just showing respect for the deceased.

I am a dear friend to Ryan. I live in the next town over and I'm a gay man as well. Ryan was the kindest nicest guy anyone would ever want to meet. I hope these guys get the death penalty. This whole thing should never have happened.. and the fact Sherrif Grady Judd told news reporters Ryan was out looking for a good time the night he was killed was unjust and cruel.

No a tear drop means that someone in your gang has been killed not that you have killed someone.

cover them with make-up - how stupid - people please is everyone stupid out there JUST COVER THEM UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The tear tattoo is a symbolic tattoo that is placed underneath the eye. The tattoo has several connotations. Teardrop tattoos usually signify the loss of a friend or loved one. Often, for a male, the tattoo is given to represent the death of a brother.[citation needed] An empty tear signifies that the loved one has been killed or that the bearer has unsuccessfully attempted murder.[1] A filled tattoo signifies that a loved one has taken his or her own life, or was killed by a cause other than murder (car crash, death penalty, etc.) A tear with an empty top and a full bottom means that the wearer has avenged the murder of a loved one. The majority of the 'tear tatoos' seen in popular culture today, however, signify that the wearer has killed, with the number of tears representing the number of kills.[1]

Tear tattoos, when given in prison, primarily indicate that the bearer has murdered someone, either in or out of jail.[1][2][3] In Australian prisons, teardrop tattoos are often forcibly given to convicted child molesters by other inmates.[4] The tattoo can also be given to commemorate a loved one who died while the wearer was incarcerated.[2]

i HEARD the tear drop is SUPPOSED to represent eg 1 tear drop = 10 years served behind bars.... i could be wrong on that, though.

a teardrop under the eye does not mean you've killed someone......It means you have lost someone not killed them......

Sorry, Carmen. Part of the evidence is teh character and demeanor of the accused at trial. It directly affects sentencing, should the defendant be convicted. As in "does teh defendant show remorse?" Well, I gotta tell you, sporting a tattoo of a tear drop is showing anything but remorse. It is a nonverbal admission of having committed a murder, and being proud of it. If his attroney had brain one in his head, he'd have made Bearden cover. The fact that it is not covered says 1 of a few things – A) he is sending a message to some one outside of the trial, B) it is a "silent" admission of guilt, C) the attorney is an idiot, D), E) all of the above. I don't think we will ever really know what is being said.

If you've ever watched G's to Gents on TV, you'd know that a teardrop under the eye can either mean someone has killed someone or that they've lost some close to them while in jail. Either way, I only rely on evidence given in court.

From what I know, a tear drop says that they have killed some one. And the ink on the tattoos (espcially the cobra) is way to strong and defined to be a jailhouse tattoo. It definelty looks pro. I think he's trying to play off that people think he's guilty cause he has offensive tatts.

FYI a tatoo of a tear drop doesn't only mean you killed someone. It depends on if it's filled in or not. If its just the outline it means someone from your crew or someone you were close to died, but if it's filled in it means you've taken someone's life. This pic is too small to tell weither or not it's filled in. ALSO, a lot of times when your in jail you get tatoos that have meanings that aren't always true...it's all about showing that you're an alpha and that you're just as tough or tougher.

The tear drop means he is sorry for something he has done.

The evidence points to him. All I have to say is, "If it looks like a duck, quacks like a duck, then it must be a duck". He is guilty in my eyes

I find an issue with the prosecutors saying both men are responsible for the murder regardless of who committed the murder. There is one murderer and one accomplace. The tatoos are normal for his social environment just as hats are popular with baptist church women. Neil, TX! Guilt does not have a look and please keep out of jury duty. Carlos, regardless of your personal knowledge of tatoos the truth is not on the surface. The fact is if encarcerated for a crime, guilty or not you did it. The markings are not an indication of the crime but the punishment for a crime. A tear drop under the eye does not mean he has killed someone, people do not often tell the truth. Deja, it is not possible to know based on a photo alone. The colors of your monitor or the camara used to take the photo are not perfect. You make a strong accusation that he was on bail and apparently he was not. Acceptable proof is his arrest photo, detention record, plus the photo in this article backed up by a prison guard who can attest to the transition.

The tattoos themselves should not convict him, it should be the evidence and the testimony, you should not look at a person and presume they are guilty right off bat, the tattoos may have been someway of helping him survive prison but we can just speculate on that, we have no idea what he has gone through in there or what it is like..

Actually the teardrop tattoo can have 2 meanings in gang life.. 1- He has killed someone or 2- Someone close to him has been killed.

I would like to comment on what others are saying. When you are booked in jail they take pictures of all your tats and document then, so if the police are saying he did not have them before then that is the truth. Also they absolutely look like jailhouse tats, the color is black and faded and thats what jail tats look like. Also they tear drop was originally meant for " a fallen homie" because G's dont cry for their own so they get a tear drop for their dead friends. But nowdays this does commonly mean they have killed.

A tear drop does not necessarily mean he killed someone. IT can also mean that a realtive passed during his time in prison and he was not allowed to attend. Look it up people. It dosen't mean just one thing. And no, a person should not be judged by a tattoo.

If I was wrongfully accused of stabbing someone, I would also look guilty. Some people just have that look.

WOW!!! The tattoos really shouldn't matter as much as the drug use!! I am floored that the police new of drugs being sold and used by the defendants' friends!! Maybe if the drug use was not an issue, there would not be a murder trial today!!!

Where does a person get the material or ink and needle or whatever it takes to do a tattoo while they are in jail??? I wouldnt think that something sharp like a needle would even be allowed in a jail cell??? I do think even though it may not be fair- that yes they way this man appears in court- will definetly affect how the jurors look at him and possibly judge him as being one that would be capable of committing murder!!!!

I am not sure if the man is guilty and that is not for me to say. I will say that a tattoo means nothing. A tear drop can stand for many things. It can be gang related, it can mean you have killed someone, It can be that someone close to you has been killed and it can also mean that you have spent time in prison and those are the tears of pain for the time lost. So to really judge someone on a tear tattoo is a little redundant. The facts are what should tell the story not some silly tattoo. I have seen young 15 year old boys walking the mall with that tattoo and I certainly don't think they killed anyone. I am sure they do it to look cool in their eyes. So seriously think about what some of you are saying. You are going off of a tattoo on a mans face above the evidence. Once again I am not saying he didn't do it; I am simply saying not to always believe what you hear about tattoos.

Amanda, you're wrong. Why would someone get a tattoo for someone else committing murder? That's right, they wouldn't.

Anyone who's ever lived in a high crime area knows what the tear is for. In some regions it denotes time served, but never does it mean you're friend killed someone.

none of you really seems to know wat the tear drop means back when tattos first started the tear drop was for someone who died that was close to you. But more recently specificaly in the 90s the east coast blood gang which is originated as a prison gang use them to show not only murders but attacks as well. He would probaly get beat if he was in any hardcore prison but apparently he is not.

Obviously many people see the tear drop symbol as having different meanings. Therefore, it could be any of these meanings, or it could be none. Also, if he did indeed get them in jail to survive, he may have got the tear drop so that people would think he killed someone and back off...dumb decision when you are on a murder trial? yes, however, if it saves your life, then it might be worth it...Also, I have blonde hair and blue eyes and am perceived as "innocent" and when people find out I have 3 tattoos and 11 peircings, they are shocked and always say 'You dont look like that type of girl", so just because people look a certain way, doesn't mean that they are.In a court of law, I hope that decisions are based on evidence and not personal appearances.

what's a copra?

Also, no offense, but if a professional did the dagger on his eye, they did a horrid job, and Im surprised they get clients...It seriously looks like an amateur that you would tend to find in jail...

I want to let everyone know that Ryan Skipper was my very best friend and in no way deserved what these two men did to him. and for the tattoos on Bearden they were acquired while he has been in jail for Ryan's murder. I can only hope that Ryan's memory will carry on for everyone. I have watched the trial from the start and I have seen the smirk on Beardens' face more than once. He knows what he did and he shows no remorse. I hope they sentence him to forever in prison , cause I know they will find him guilty. He took my best friend from me but gave me a guardian angel. I love you and miss you Ryan Kieth Skipper!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

A man is innocent untill proven guilty in a court of law.what a man wears in a court room has nothing too do with his guilt or innosence.if he wore a dress that that mean he killed somebody.The facts and nothing but the facts are what counts, nothing else.Maybe he is a b-s artist,maybe he is a compulsive liar, maybe there is something wrong with his thought processes,does that mean he killed somebody.When the day comes that we convict somebody by what they wear anywhere on their body in a court room thats a sad day indeed.Who the hell knows why they are on his face?.Facts, not art work should determine guilt or innosence, not the work of a tatoo artist.ANY BODY WHO DOES NOT AGREE WITH ME HAS NO PLACE ON A JURY

Growing up, my dad worked as a counselor with violent, convicted felons for our entire young life. The teardrop tattoo can mean that you lost someone you love or that you killed someone or it could just be a symbol to make people think one of those things. Anyway, it's about the evidence as another posted noted, not the tattoos.

It shouldn't matter if the victim was gay or the defendant has tattoos but there are still ignorant people in this world that judge people for who they are. It does not make it right but I think the jury will do the right thing based on the evidence.

I want to thank Mike for the information on the tear drop tattoos, I always enjoy listening to or reading someone who sounds like he has done his research. The tattoos on this guy are not exactly good for the uninformed jurors (if they are) but, he got them in jail, so the jurors should not judge the tattoos.

Shawndee – I'm so sorry you lost your best friend.

Lots of opions on the teardrop. Ashleigh Banfield has a right to express her distaste for tattoos. I think he looks pretty scary.
Great Job Jean Casarez, on your reporting.

No one should be judged by their choice of tattoo but to get a knife tattoo over your eye when you are on trial for a murder by stabbing seems silly and immature,I hope this kid is "man" enough to take the stand, I just hope his "teardrop"does'nt run down his cheek.

All these comments about tear tattoos and when he got them and what they mean and whether they're "jail-house" tats...who cares! Remember folks...this is a hate crime! He and his buddies killed a man simply because he was gay – stabbing him more than 20 times. You have to have a lot of hate in your heart to hang out with people who would stab a total stranger 20 times...don't you? Oh yeah, he needed some money to fuel his drug-habit so he stole his car and tried to pawn it off on someone else after cleaning it up...so basically, he's just a car detailer. This guys a killer and a menace to society. Don't think for a moment that he wouldn't do the same thing to you or someone in your family if he had the opportunity. I hope after he's found guilty and he's sent to jail, some Nazi Aryan Nation group takes him on as their love slave...that would be justice!

Joseph did get those tats in jail. He didn't have them when I went to visit him and he hasn't been out since. I think he is stupid for getting them when he knew he was going to have trial, but I have no clue what it is like to be in jail. I also think that since he knew he was going to trial he wouldn't write I'm guilty all over his face. He must of gotten them for another reason. A teardrop can also symbolize a loved one he has lost which could be his mother when she commited suicide.

As for him smirking the only time I've seen him smirk is when something funny has been said in the court room. He is showing remose. You just don't know him as I do. He is a good person when he is not on drugs. He may steal cars, but I can't picture him being a killer. I blame Brown more then anyone. I am not sure when Joey is getting all of the heat when it was caught on tape a police officer stating Brown was going around telling everyone HE killed him for "messing with him." Plus today when someone said he had the knife marks on his hands and was soaking his shoes in bleach. Joseph willingly gave up his boots.

I think he deserves to be punished and serve time for what he did, but I don't think he killed anyone.

I think these types of tattoos in the locations he chose, coming as they did after the crime, indicates that he has dropped any pretense of civility now that he has been exposed as what he is. It indicates that he does not plan to have a decent job ever in his life. So that means he has chosen to continue to lead a depraved existence on the fringe of society.

What do Beardens tattoo's tell us?
In convict life tattoos are symbolic in that they individualize the wearer in two ways – one is a matter of ongoing survival; the other is a matter of quietly sharing past history. Bearden has many more tattoos than just the ones on his face and neck; they are on his back, all over his arms and legs, wrists and hands; and I believe these two new additions are there in preparation of what he knows is his inevitable second and possibly last visit to a Florida prison if only for for the crimes he will plead guilty to in this case. He knows he faces the toughest road of his life ahead, and he's putting the system on notice that he's one bad boy. It's likely Bearden will die either in prison naturally, or be put to death at the hands of the State or another inmate and he knows it.

Bearden’s tatoo’s tells society that he is a person who seeks out attention in any form that he can get it; even the murder of a “gay man.” This tatoo tells society that this man is at conflict with himself and will strike out at those who he feels threatens his insecurity, his doubt about his sexual identity. Men who kill gay men are men who are indeed gay themselves. But, because these killers are too cowardly to live out the life that was born to them, they kill those who have the guts, truth and honesty to live their life the way they were born. They kill those who put the mirror in their face and force them to look at who they really are and they can’t face that demon.

Why are these tattoo's so important? He did not have them before the killing, so obviously they did not play a part. Let's focus on the trial and not Joseph Beardon's body art!!!!!!!

i have heard the teardrop means that the dots mark the people who are no longer around and if he did get this from being in a gang and tried to cover it up it would be just as worse

we are no different than bearden if we judge him by what he has on his face, it was put there to help him live in prison.get a gripp all you people who are giving him a trial before this one is over he did not wake up one morning and say , ill be a living i as a druggie now, it should be how did he get here.

I am surprised that you are'nt aware that tattoo's are a real and serious part of gang life and that facial tattoo"s are often given as punishment if a gang member has behaved in a way that compromises their status. The gang will tattoo the face as a way to punish the member and show others in the gang that the member has ether broken a rule or in what ever way been made to pay penance for their misstep or betrayal to the gang"s creed.

I know from my own time in prison that any slash across the eyes or from the corner of the mouth up to the ear usually means they have seen to much or/and talk to much...wouldnt want to be him either way. think maybe his gang put him out there to prove a point. maybe he brought to much attention to them. isolation the best and safest place for him

Tattoos are out of control these days!! What is wrong with people. Doesn't everyone know that ANYTHING in EXCESS is unhealthy...this includes tattooing your damn face. If you are in a gang then tattoos are the least of your problems!!

This young man was obviously broken from the start. His parents should be on trial with him. We wouldn't have gangs if family values still mattered...if parents still parented their children. I feel sorry for his lack of a decent chance for a life.

Now...since we cant change his life...he has to face justice and justice belongs to the innocent GAY man he murdered for whatever reason. It doesnt matter if he killed Ryan for money, meth, or because he hates gays. He killed him...and he will be found guilty and sentenced to prison for the rest of his life.

Lets see all the tattoos he gets over the next 70 years or so that he may live in prison. That might be something to talk about.

Only 2 people and God know who was involved in killing Mr. Skipper. Mr. Skipper, and he won't be testifying, the killer, and he may or may not be testifying. The prosecution is going to sway the evidence toward Mr. Bearden and they can't use the tatoos as evidence so they are of no value to them. The defense is going to try to show the evidence does not prove his guilt and if they are any good at all, they will have the jury thinking about a lot of other things besides tatoos. But as we all know, the jury members will take them into consideration either consciously or unconsciously. After all, unless your someone who has tatoos on your face, you know what you think, regardless of what they mean, when you see someone who does. Dumb move on the defendant's and the defense's part!

this is clearly a young man that society has either failed or taken advantage of. He is clearly a troubled young man who has probably always lived day to day. Drugs were probably less of an addiction than just the way of life. Sad to see such a young man in the prime of his life faced with so many obsticles. It is as if his life has been predetermined to end up in prison.

I do believe that he got the teardrop, do to his relative passing away. Quit being so judgmental. I also believe his birth mother committed suicide when he was a young child, dont know for sure but that is what I understood them to say. That has nothing to do with this case. PLEASE PEOPLE!!!!!!!!!!! If someone has Breast Implants does that mean they killed because they are so in to them selves, well in Texas that had judgement on a Mother who was wrongfully convicted of killing her two children.

joeseph beardon got off easy,he should have been sentenced to death , he is a cold blooded killer but now he will pay one day at a time for the rest of his life,he wanted to kill and rob someone because he chose a different lifestyle , wait until he gets to prison then he wont have a choice and he will end up somebodys girlfriend,dont drop the soap beardon

William Brown killed Ryan Skipper because Ryan hit on him. Did anyone hear that William Brown was sexually molested by his own father? Maybe that is the one you should be talking about having doubts about his own sexuality..... I believe this was an independent act.

Joseph stupid as it may be liked stealing cars...he wasn't a killer.

This is the first time i hear about this case and on what i have read the tattoo symble is a sign of MURDER i been in the vario all my life and as far as i could remember a tear drop could mean alot to someone as taking a life, A love one thats been killed, or even if a person been in prison for more then ten years and if the jurors think that's some how evidence they should look more into it then just talking about what the tattoos resemble.

[...] also probably not fun walking around with big daggers tattooed on your face, especially when facing the death penalty for murder. Potential jurors in the trial were [...]

i love his tatts!

i have my face tattooed with tibal the right side comin round my eye an the left is a bit smaller but there both big tattoos an i get judged before i have chance to do anythin im not justifyin what that lad did if he did kill someone then lock him up but work the case by evidence not apperance an also to all the chumps that say a tear reprosents your killin of some one is wrong it can also mean you have lost a dear friend

His mother comitted suicide in 2005. He took it extremely hard. He was adopted and his mother fought for contact but because of issues was unable to spend a lot of time with him. That summer right before she killed herself he was supposed to let him come stay the summer with her and he was very excited he finally got to spend some quality time with her and she did what she did before he even had the chance. I would bet thats what the tear means, but I haven't asked him.

He was stupid for getting the tats in jail knowing he had a trail coming up. My guess was he did it to look tough in jail, or maybe he had no faith in the judicial system so he figured they were going to keep him in there anyway so who cares. After all his own mother didn't even care about him so why should he care? And look he was right the judge through out everything that was on his side.