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EXHIBIT 26
Case 2:OO—cv—O1118—NVW Document 110-8 Filed O3/28/2007 Page1 of 3

DECLARATION
of
DON J. THORP
l. I knew Brad and Winnie James when they adopted Steven. Winnie James
was my mother’s cousin.
2. Mr. and Mrs. James talked a lot about Steven with my mother and me.
They expressed frustration over his behavior, both as a young child, and
when he was growing up.
3. The James family lived on N. 2lS‘ Street in Phoenix until Steven was in
high school. Although I was not a frequent visitor to their Phoenix home,
I saw Steven on numerous occasions when our families spent time
together. From the beginning, it was difficult for Steven to sit still and
follow his parents’ directions.
4. Steven’s parents told us that they withdrew him from Paradise Valley
High School because he was involved with drugs. They sold their home
and moved to West Harmont Drive in Glendale, which was very near to
my own home.
5. Steven enrolled at Apollo High School when his family moved to
Glendale. He sometimes came over to my house to talk with me about
his problems. At the time, I was a teacher at Phoenix Christian High
School (I taught there for sixteen years), and this probably made it easier
for Steven to talk freely with me.
6. Steven sometimes complained about his father, Brad James, who was
very stern, a man who could be rigid. Brad loved Steven, but it was not
easy for him to show that love, and Steven rebelled.
` l
Case 2:OO—cv—O1118-NVW Document 110-8 Filed O3/28/2007 Page 2 of 3

DECLARATION
of
DON J. THORP
7. Steven became involved with drugs again at Apollo High School. This
was very difficult for Winnie and Brad. Steven dropped out of Apollo
without completing his high school education.
8. I never met Steven’s biological family, but l learned some things about
them from Steven, sometime in the early 1980s, before his arrest for
murder. Steven’s home environment before his adoption had been very
bad. lt was my understanding that his biological father had been in prison
and his biological mother had been involved in prostitution and drugs.
I declare under penalty of perjury that the foregoing is true and correct.
Date; X; gg; (J ,4%;;* 4};// g,
D N J. TH /
Georgetown, TX
2
Case 2:OO—cv—O1118-NVW Document 110-8 Filed O3/28/2007 Page 3 of 3

Case 2:00-cv-01118-NVW

Document 110-8

Filed 03/28/2007

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Case 2:00-cv-01118-NVW

Document 110-8

Filed 03/28/2007

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Case 2:00-cv-01118-NVW

Document 110-8

Filed 03/28/2007

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