This case was the reason for the only letter I ever wrote to the TNT. On 10/17/95, I met a friend of Brian's whose name I no longer recall. He was so shocked this could happen to such a great guy, that I became interested in the case. I pulled the case file at the courthouse when I was taking an English class in 1999 and wrote a paper on the case. I worked near the courthouse and attended some of the first trial on my lunch breaks. I believe Brian's account of the events and always have. Today, I looked to see how he is today and found this website. I am saddened to hear he is still in prison. (January 15, 2022)
I worked with Brian at Frisko Freeze when we were teens. He respected the police and once chastised me harshly after talking bad about police because I had just been ticketed for a California stop. As far as I know before this mess he never even had so much as a traffic ticket.He behaved kindly and friendly in all the interactions I ever witnessed. Tacoma police had issues with their Chief David Brame who murdered his wife and suicided himself in front of their kids and that alone makes this whole thing sound fishy as hell. I knew John Bannanola he was a nice guy but definitely was a real hotshot. (March 12, 2021)
As the daughter of a retired police officer I am normally quick to stand behind those in blue. Not with Brian though, he was wrongly convicted. The officers involved in this should have been charged with assault with a deadly weapon. I don't know Brian but I watched in horror as his story unfolded. No knock warrants are wrong!!! Brian is innocent, he was defending himself and his family. Justice4Brian (June 4, 2020)
So much injustice involved in this trial and in this mans life it truly makes me upset and at the same time disgusted at the great lengths that those in postions with power will do to cover up any mistakes on their behalf. It feels like a battle that was never going to be won by the innocent proving that the bad guy always wins in real life! Truly hope that this will be resolved the right way and justice will make its appearance for Brian, if not by the hand of the supreme court then by devine intervention aka Lady Karma! Making one man pay the ultimate price of halfway physically damaging him and locking him up for the majority of his exsitence over an obvious error and fatal mistake causing another man to loose his life, is just not right and such a thing shouldn't be allowed to go how it did and simply leave it how it is! I belive in Brian and for his Justice! Hoping that Gods plan is definatly punish the right people involved in causing such chaos and damge to pay as they initally should have.....Never Forget All Things Done During This Life, Good Or Bad, Always Get There Rightful Answer Leaving No Choice Or Action Taken By Ones Hand Unpaid....... #JusticeForBrian #JusticeWillBeServed #AlwaysHaveFaithInGodsPlan (July 6, 2018)
From the outbreak of this story, until today and tomorrow, I will always believe the facts point to Brian's innocence. I cannot believe the despair and anguish that Brian and John's families must go through. It appears so evident to me that there were too many mistakes made during a raid that was just about a search warrant. If I was awakened from my deep sleep, my brain would take a while to function. I am so sorry that your life was taken too, and will pray for you and your dear family. (June 21, 2018)
Brian I am truly sorry. I am married 40 years to a member of PC sheriff Dept. After all discussion over years my question is why was raid planned and executed? Was it bcuz the Dept. Thought your brother was involved in drug selling. Was Bananola on someone's list for not going along with fellow deputys? The result friendly fire. Anyone who knows Hilltop knows it has hiighest crime rate of this area. If I lived there and this happened I would have used my gun also. I reviewed what I could find of your case when I worked as a volunteer at Dept of Assigned Counsel for P.C.. I NEVER COULD FIND OUT WHAT HAPPENED TO THE BULLETS TAKEN FROM OFFICERS BODY. I could not find ballistic info to prove shots came from your gun. Why was this body sent to Hawaii so fast? Your case should be accepted by Innocence Project. I'm sure some of officers have left P.C. by now to them I say. Tell the truth, you have nothing to fear. I'm sorry that Bananola died however lots of questions need answered. Even now the department hides things look at Mark French former Sheriff as a example. He is a pedophile. He had thousands of pictures on home computers showing children being sexually abused. His credit card linked him to porno websites. He was caught destroying evidence yet he did not spend anytime in jail. In fact a few years ago he was given back his weapons privilege. This is documented in the case file. That guy was in charge of all of departments. Leniency was given because of who he knew. It is so sad.... (March 12, 2017)
Have never stopped doubting the great possibility of Brian's innocence. The story we were given by the police made no sense at all. In the end, the Lord's will shall prevail. (June 26, 2016)
I have never been able to forget about this. I think the county made a huge mistake and can't admit it. And a man is in prison who should not be there. If they can let Massey out they should release Eggleston. (April 21, 2016)
Call Jesse, get him involved with the media. He will expose the sheriffs dept. They are some of the worst crooked cops around. They are constantly involved in cover ups and are always cleaning up eachothers messes. They can never assume fault unless someone demands the truth or is somehow capable of blackmailing the truth out of them. You need to read between the lines on this one. the cover up goes way back to the case they have on the supposed informient. They are covering their asses on that case, and then something terrible went wrong so the cover up just got bigger and bigger. Pierce county cops don't care about the people. I mean look carefully at the timing of this case, dont you think it was also helping cover the scandel of the cop that murdered his wife in Gig Harbor and how she asked for protection before he killed her and they offered no help. Huge scandel about the dept. surely they werent going to admit guilt about this at the same time. Pierce county sheriffs are a laughing matter when it comes to the truth getting out. Like I said in the beginning... call jesse he will get to the bottem of this and justice 4 brian will be found. (July 6, 2015)
I genuinely believe in Brian. It makes me sick what has been done to him by Pierce County.
To Linda: I have never met you or Brian but I am familiar with the history of Brian's conviction (s). It has been years since I thought about this case and yesterday all the sudden as I was driving along it was like a bolt of lightning struck me and all I could think of was Brian Eggleston. I came home and my husband and I talked about what we could remember about Brian and the case and then I decided to look on line and see where Brian currently was and what if anything was being done to try to right the injustice that Brian has suffered. I never believed that this was an intentional act on Brians' part. I did not sit in a courtroom and hear all the evidence but I feel in my heart that your son is innocent of murder. I can't imagine what the years have been like for Brian or for you and those that love him. I just wanted to let you know that there are people who do believe in Brian's innocence and that I will pray for him and your family. I hope that Brian is in good health and that your love for him can sustain him through this ordeal.
I agree that Brian was railroaded by the PCSD.
Pierce County sheriffs are some of the worst crooked cops around. They are constantly involved in cover ups and are always cleaning up each others messes. They can never assume fault unless someone demands the truth or is somehow capable of blackmailing the truth out of them. You need to read between the lines on this one.
Thank you, thank you, thank you who ever started this site. It is about time the truth about Brian Eggleston comes out. I have known Brian since he was in high school with my 3 kids. I consider Brian "one of my own". Free Brian Eggleston!
Brian needs to come home. Innocent beyond belief. Cover up, cover up.
I'm so appalled that something like this can happen. Brian didn't even have a record, and loved cops, was an amazing friend, and a very respectful man.
I remember when this all happened. I did not believe from what I read at the time that Brian was guilty of first degree murder. All these years later I still think of Brian. I never met him but he is someone I have continued to pray for and I have not forgotten him. I still do not believe that he is a cold blooded killer. The fact that it took three trials to get a verdict to stick defines injustice. Praying for Brian.
I have never been so haunted by an injustice. I knew Brian. I have follwed his story for years.People need to know about Jerry Lafroy out of California. I hope and pray someone involved will tell the truth. The Jurors were lied to just ask them.I thought our Judicial system was above what they pulled here. What a travesty. Linda I pray for you and the family. I don't know how the cops involved can live with themselves.I keep thinking one of them has a conscience and will tell the truth and free Brian. God Bless him!
From the beginning I NEVER thought Brian was guilty. The sting and arrest was a cover-up for ineptness. The county covers their huge mistakes and lies by putting Brian away and forgetting this ever happened.
In a nutshell, the sheriff's dept. recognized within minutes of the raid that they were not going to admit their complicity in killing their own man. Brian was set up to become a scapegoat and to rot in jail so that they would not have to endure the truth being put out. It is shameful corruption.
The Pierce County Sheriff botched this raid big time. Because one of their own was killed in the raid (probably, friendly fire) a resident of the home had to take the fall. Because the PC sheriff wouldn't admit their own guilt in the murder of Bananola they fabricated a story about what a monster, Brian Eggleston was. The PC sheriff needed the blessing of the Tacoma Police Dept to corroborate their story, but there was confliction with their findings. I know this having spoken to a Tacoma police officer a few years after the fact. This case was stenchy from day one.
I still believe Brian acted in self-defense. The area of the family home was located in a questionable area of East Pierce County. It carries an image of home invasions, drive-by shootings, daylight assaults, car prowls, drug activities conducted openly on the streets. What would anyone think having the door to their home broken in and guns being fired. It was just before daylight (dawn) the family was awoken from sound sleep. I remember something being said about Brian wearing ear-plugs as a day sleeper. What did he hear? GUNFIRE? Voices? Yelling? What would you have done? It doesn't take a rocket scientist to figure the fault lies with a false police report, faulty search, faulty raid. The Dept. doesn't want to admit IT IS AT FAULT AND their malfeasance took the life of one of their comrades. It is so easy to blame Brian for John's death. I really wonder how many of his comrades are able to live with themselves now after protecting their jobs by going along with the cover-up? And thinking of an innocent young man doing hard time when he and his family were in fact the true victims. I am willing to do whatever I can as a law abiding citizen to help Brian's release from prison. I would like to see HUNDREDS of comments just like mine. Maybe we could get some attention.
This was a sad situation and destroyed so many lives that day. It was a botched raid from the start.
Have never stopped doubting the great possibility of Brian's innocence. The story we were given by the police made no sense at all. In the end, the Lord's will shall prevail.
