Billy Ray Waldon

{{Short description|American inmate formerly sentenced to death}} {{Use American English|date=December 2025}} {{Use mdy dates|date=June 2022|cs1-dates=1}} {{Infobox FBI Ten Most Wanted | name = Billy Ray Waldon | image = Billy Ray Waldon CDCR.jpg | image_size = | alt = | caption = Waldon's 2007 California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation photo | reward = | alias = | birth_name = | birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1952|1|3|mf=y}} | birth_place = Tahlequah, Oklahoma, U.S. | death_date = | death_place = | charge = {{ubl|Murder|Attempted murder|Robbery|Burglary|Rape|Arson}} | race = White | gender = Male | height = 6' 2" | weight = 160 pounds | occupation = | parents = | siblings = | spouse = | children = | conviction = | conviction_penalty = {{ubl|Death}} (overturned) | conviction_status = Conviction overturned | added_date = April 23, 1986 | caught_date = June 16, 1986 | remove_date = | number = 399 | status = Captured }} '''Billy Ray Waldon''' (born January 3, 1952),<ref>{{cite web |last=((serling123)) |date=November 2, 2018 |title=Wanted by FBI Billy Ray Waldon FBI Wanted Poster |url=https://www.ebay.com/itm/BILLY-JOE-WALDON-FRIENDS-OF-SEQUOYAH-MURDERS-IN-PARADISE-FBI-WANTED-POSTER-/163351500375 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210425085518/https://www.ebay.com/itm/BILLY-JOE-WALDON-FRIENDS-OF-SEQUOYAH-MURDERS-IN-PARADISE-FBI-WANTED-POSTER-/163351500375 |archive-date=April 25, 2021 |access-date=April 25, 2021 |work=eBay}}</ref> also known as '''Billy Joe Waldon''' or '''Nvwtohiyada Idehesdi Sequoyah''' (Cherokee: ᏅᏙᎯᏯᏓ ᎢᏕᎮᏍᏗ ᏎᏉᏯ, Nvdohiyada Idehesdi Sequoya), is an American former fugitive, American Indian Movement activist, and Esperantist<ref name=":1">{{Cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1991-06-30-me-2416-story.html |title=Making a Case for Providing Own Defense |last=Wallace |first=Amy |website=Los Angeles Times |date=June 30, 1991 |publication-date=30 June 1991}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |url=http://www.humanrightsadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/NL42.pdf|title=The Death Penalty: Can Delay Render Execution Unlawful? |journal=Human Rights Advocates |volume=42 |date=Winter 2003–2004}}</ref> who, in 1986, became the 399th fugitive listed by the FBI to the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives List. Waldon was convicted of the murders of three people during a crime spree in 1985.<ref name="Oklahoman">{{cite web |title=Tahlequah Native Makes FBI's 10-Most-Wanted List |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/1986/05/18/tahlequah-native-makes-fbis-10-most-wanted-list/62726167007/ |website=The Oklahoman |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref>

A native of Oklahoma, Waldon was apprehended on June 16, 1986, after San Diego, California police attempted to pull him over for a routine traffic citation.<ref name="50th">{{cite book |author=Federal Bureau of Investigation |title=FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitives Program: 50th Anniversary 1950–2000 |publisher=K&D Limited, Inc. |year=2000}}</ref> In 1992, Waldon was convicted of three counts of murder and sentenced to death in California. In 2023, Waldon's convictions were overturned by the California Supreme Court on grounds that he was denied representation by competent counsel.<ref name="auto">{{cite web |title=People v. Waldon |url=https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S025520.PDF |website=CA.gov |publisher=California Supreme Court |access-date=27 January 2023 |archive-date=January 24, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230124165533/https://www.courts.ca.gov/opinions/documents/S025520.PDF |url-status=dead }}</ref>

==Criminal history== left|thumb|200 px|Waldon in 1985

===Crimes=== The crime spree which Waldon was convicted of began in Tulsa, Oklahoma on October 10, 1985, when a man was robbed and wounded. On November 15, a 28-year-old woman was shot in the head. However, the bullet grazed her skull and she survived.<ref name="Oklahoman"/> Two days later, on November 17, a woman was robbed at gunpoint and shot. The woman died of her injuries two days later. On November 23, two people were shot and wounded while getting out of their car.<ref name="Oklahoman"/>

Two weeks later, the San Diego, California home of 43-year-old Dawn Ellerman was broken into. Ellermann was fatally shot in the neck. Ellerman's 13-year-old daughter died of smoke inhalation while trying to rescue her mother from the house, which had been set on fire.<ref name="EBT">{{cite news |title=After 30 years on California death row, man's conviction is overturned because of bizarre courtroom behavior |url=https://www.eastbaytimes.com/2023/01/24/after-30-years-on-california-death-row-mans-conviction-is-overturned-because-of-bizarre-courtroom-behavior/ |access-date=27 January 2023 |work=East Bay Times |agency=Associated Press |publisher=Bay Area News Group}}</ref> On December 19, a man later identified as Waldon was spotted fleeing a robbery in his car by police, who soon gave chase. Waldon managed to evade the police and abandoned the car, soon after running to the residence of 59-year-old Gordon Wells, who was shot and killed.<ref name="Oklahoman"/> Later, Wells' neighbor was shot and wounded, and his car was stolen. The car was found abandoned in late January 1986.<ref name="Oklahoman"/> A ballistics test linked the San Diego crimes to the Oklahoma crimes, and a federal arrest warrant for Waldon was issued soon after.<ref name="Oklahoman"/>

===Manhunt and capture=== The federal arrest warrant charged Waldon with unlawful interstate flight to avoid prosecution for murder, attempted murder, robbery, burglary, rape and arson.<ref name="Oklahoman"/> According to the FBI, Waldon had held a variety of different jobs and had served in the U.S. Navy for ten years, where he had been trained in deep sea diving. Waldon was additionally noted to speak and understand several different languages, including French, Italian, Japanese, Spanish, and Esperanto.<ref name="TW">{{cite news |last1=Ford |first1=Brian |date=May 17, 1986 |title=FBI Places Billy Ray Waldon on '10 Most Wanted' List |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-fbi-places-billy-ray-waldon/161429048/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=Tulsa World |page=A2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Waldon was reported to be one-fourth Cherokee Indian and to have an interest in Cherokee history and culture.<ref name="Oklahoman"/><ref name="TW" />

On April 23, 1986, Waldon became the 399th fugitive to be listed on the FBI's Ten Most Wanted Fugitive's list.<ref name="Oklahoman"/> In June 1986, Daniel Roman discovered that his 1965 Mustang was missing. Later that day, a driver in a car matching the description of Roman's attempted to speed away from police and fled on foot when they tried to stop him for a broken tail light. Police apprehended and arrested the man, who gave his name as “Stephen Midas” but was later identified as Waldon through a fingerprint match.<ref name="auto"/><ref name="TDO">{{cite news |last1=Marks |first1=Kim Alyee |date=June 20, 1986 |title=State Fugitive Arrested |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-daily-oklahoman-state-fugitive-arres/161429137/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Daily Oklahoman |pages=1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |date=June 20, 1986 |title=Another fugitive arrested from FBI most wanted list |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-kansas-city-times-another-fugitive-a/161429226/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Kansas City Times |page=A-5 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref>

==Legal proceedings== ===Pre-trial and charges=== In California, Waldon faced charges on three counts of murder as well as 19 other counts, including rape, armed robbery, and arson.<ref name="LAT-1">{{cite news |date=September 25, 1986 |title=San Diego County Digest |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-mark-jones-accused/117241182/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=II-2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Waldon was additionally charged in Oklahoma with first-degree murder in the November 17, 1985 shooting in Tulsa, as well as three counts of attempted murder, two counts of armed robbery, and two counts of attempted robbery.<ref name="TW-2">{{cite news |last1=Braun |first1=Bill |date=January 29, 1989 |title=California Prosecution May Stop Tulsa Action On Murder Suspect |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-california-prosecution-may-s/161429322/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=Tulsa World |page=B-4 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Waldon was arraigned on June 20, 1986, and plead not guilty to the charges.<ref name="LAT-4">{{cite news |last1=Coulson |first1=Crocker |date=June 21, 1986 |title=Waldon Pleads Innocent to Three Murders in S.D. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-waldon-pleads-inno/161429370/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=II-1 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> His bail was set at $2 million.<ref name="LAT-4" /> In July 1986, while in custody at the San Diego County Jail, Waldon was beaten unconscious by three other inmates after he refused their request to kill another inmate.<ref name="LAT-2">{{cite news |last1=Coulson |first1=Crocker |date=July 25, 1986 |title=County Jail Prisoner Beaten Unconscious By Inmates |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-county-jail-prison/161429438/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=II-10 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Waldon attempted to escape from his jail cell on September 21, 1986, by attempting to chip away at the cell's wall using a metal bar.<ref name="LAT-1" /><ref name="TA">{{cite news |date=September 25, 1986 |title=Oklahoma man ordered to stand trial in 3 killings |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-times-advocate-oklahoma-man-ordere/161429497/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=Times-Advocate |page=B3 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Prior to a hearing to determine whether or not Waldon was mentally competent to stand trial, Jack Levitt, the judge who was set to preside over the hearing, was challenged by Waldon's attorney Charles Khoury Jr., who alleged him to be unfair.<ref name="LAT-3">{{cite news |last1=Schachter |first1=Jim |date=June 19, 1987 |title=Judge Faces Second Challenge |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-judge-faces-second/161429558/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=II-3 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Levitt would be removed from presiding over Waldon's criminal trial in October 1987,<ref>{{cite news |date=October 23, 1987 |title=Judge Is Removed From Trial on Coast |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/tulsa-world-judge-is-removed-from-trial/161429619/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=Tulsa World |page=C-8 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> but continued to preside over Waldon's mental competency hearing. The hearing began on August 18, 1987.<ref>{{cite news |date=August 19, 1987 |title=San Diego County Digest – Del Mar |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-los-angeles-times-del-mar/161429652/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Los Angeles Times |page=II-2 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> Waldon remained completely silent during proceedings and refused to answer any questions.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 17, 1987 |title=Accused murderer remains mute for competency trial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hanford-sentinel-accused-murder-rema/161429721/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=The Hanford Sentinel |page=9 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> On September 21, 1987, Waldon was judged competent to be criminally tried.<ref>{{cite news |date=September 22, 1987 |title=Jury decides Waldon ready for murder trial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-times-advocate-jury-decides-waldon/161429781/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=Times-Advocate |page=B2 |via=Newspapers.com |agency=Associated Press}}</ref> Waldon's criminal trial was delayed by Judge Levitt's removal,<ref>{{cite news |date=October 6, 1987 |title=Delay in murder trial |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/daily-times-advocate-delay-in-murder-tri/161429807/ |access-date=2024-12-23 |work=Times-Advocate |page=A8 |via=Newspapers.com}}</ref> and was further delayed by his insistence that he represent himself.<ref name="finally" />

===Trial and sentencing=== After Waldon's judgement that he was competent to stand trial, his criminal trial began in 1991.<ref name="finally">{{cite web |last= |date=August 8, 2006 |title=Local Death Penalty Case From 1985 Finally Goes To Appeal |url=http://www.kfmb.com/features/crimefighters/story.php?id=59265 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060810003138/http://www.kfmb.com/features/crimefighters/story.php?id=59265 |archive-date=August 10, 2006 |access-date=December 22, 2022 |website=kfmb.com |publisher=CBS News 8}}</ref> Waldon wished to represent himself in court, but a judge denied this motion, stating that Waldon could not understand the risks of self-representation. However, a second judge granted his request to represent himself.<ref name="10NSD">{{cite web |title=Conviction, death sentence overturned for man in three 1985 San Diego murders |url=https://timesofsandiego.com/crime/2023/01/23/conviction-death-sentence-overturned-for-bill-ray-waldon-in-3-1985-san-diego-murders/ |website=10News San Diego |date=January 23, 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref> During his trial, Waldon alleged that he had been beaten by federal agents and framed for the crimes over his 'promotion of Indian autonomy'.<ref name="SDUT">{{cite web |title=Conviction, death sentence overturned for man found guilty in three 1985 San Diego murders |url=https://www.sandiegouniontribune.com/news/courts/story/2023-01-23/conviction-death-sentence-overturned-for-man-in-three-1985-san-diego-murders |website=San Diego Union-Tribune |date=January 23, 2023 |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref> Waldon additionally claimed that during his fugitive state, he had hid in the crawlspace of a house in Imperial Beach, fearing that he would be convicted anyway if he pleaded innocent.<ref>{{cite web |title=Death sentence from 1992 tossed over 'delusional' self-representation |url=https://www.courthousenews.com/30-year-old-death-sentence-tossed-over-delusional-defendants-self-representation/ |website=Courthouse News Service |access-date=27 January 2023}}</ref> Waldon was convicted of three counts of first degree murder, as well as multiple counts of attempted murder, rape, burglary, robbery, and animal cruelty in December 1991 and was sentenced to death in February 1992.<ref name="HRA">{{Cite journal |last=Steele |first=Jeanna |date=Winter 2003–04 |title=The Subcommission on the Promotion and Protection of Human Rights |url=https://www.humanrightsadvocates.org/wp-content/uploads/2010/05/NL42.pdf |journal=Human Rights Advocates |location=Berkeley, CA|volume=42}}</ref>

===Conviction overturned=== On January 23, 2023, Waldon's murder convictions and death sentences were overturned on grounds of courtroom behavior, his 'delusional' self-representation and a trial court judge's decision that had improperly allowed him to represent himself "without considering (the other judge's) denial or the evidence on which it was based" had deprived him of competent legal representation.<ref name="10NSD"/> The California State supreme court granted Waldon a new trial.<ref name="auto"/>

==Poliespo== {{anchor|Poliespo}}

{{Infobox language | name = Poliespo | creator = Billy Ray Waldon | created = Likely began in the 1950s or 1960s | speakers = Unknown, at least one | fam2 = International auxiliary language | posteriori = Phonology derived from Esperanto, vocabulary mostly from Esperanto, but also partially English and Spanish, plus two words from Cherokee, grammar from Esperanto and Cherokee. | script = Latin | iso3 = none | glotto = none | familycolor = Constructed language | nativename = Poliespo, Po | notice = IPA }}

'''Poliespo''' ({{lang|eo|Polisinteza Esperanto}}, "Polysynthetic Esperanto", also ''Po'') is an international auxiliary language created by Waldon.<ref name=":1" /><ref name="HRA" /> Waldon ran a "World Poliespo Organization" for enthusiasts of the language.<ref>{{cite journal|url=https://archive.org/details/Sennaciulo_2000_n1141_jul/page/76/mode/2up?q=poliespo|page=76|journal=Sennaciulo|title=Afero Billy Waldon}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/sim_whole-living-body-soul-in-balance_july-august-1991_8_4/page/n121/mode/2up?q=poliespo |title = New Age Journal July–August 1991: Vol 8 Iss 4|date = July 1991|publisher = Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia}}</ref>

===Goals=== The principle of creation for Poliespo was Waldon's belief that certain languages contain words that made communication quicker, which he referred to as "lightning bolts" or "lightning words", and the goal was to combine as many of these as possible into one language.<ref name=":1"/> The language was originally referred to as "Anagalisgi," the romanized form of Cherokee word for lightning.<ref name=":1"/> Most of Poliespo comes from Cherokee, English, Esperanto, and Spanish, the languages that Waldon could speak.<ref name=":1"/>

The philosophy behind the language is reminiscent of sound symbolism, and therefore radically differs from the principles of Esperanto.

Waldon also claimed that learning Poliespo is a golden opportunity to acquire an "Iroquoian spirit." In his words, "When one gains a new language, one gains a new soul. Po is your golden chance to acquire an Iroquoian spirit."<ref name=":2" />

=== Phonology === Poliespo is believed to have 32 consonants, including the glottal stop, in addition to 22 vowels: 10 oral vowels (two of which are distinguished by vowel length) and nine nasal vowels, one of which is distinguished by vowel length. Poliespo is also a tonal language, having three or four tones. The rising tone is the only tone that is marked, using an acute accent.<ref name="LATimes">{{cite news |date=February 29, 1992 |title=SAN DIEGO : Billy Ray Waldon Gets Death Sentence |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1992-02-29-me-2428-story.html |url-access=registration |access-date=February 18, 2012}}</ref> {{align|center|'''Poliespo Consonants'''}} {| class="wikitable" style="margin: 0 auto;" |- ! ! colspan="2" | Bilabial ! colspan="2" | Dental ! colspan="2" | Alveolar ! colspan="2" | Post- alveolar ! colspan="2" | Palatal ! colspan="2" | Velar ! colspan="2" | Glottal |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Nasal | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|m}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|n}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Stop | {{IPA link|p}} || {{IPA link|b}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | {{IPA link|t}} || {{IPA link|d}} | colspan="2" |   | {{IPA link|k}} || {{IPA link|ɡ}} | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ʔ|/ʔ/}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Preaspirated Nasal | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|m|m̆ /ʰm/}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|n|n̆ /ʰn/}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Preaspirated Stop | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|b|b̆ /ʰb/}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|k|k̆ /ʰk/}} | colspan="2" |   |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Labialized Stop | colspan="2" |pw   {{IPA link|p|/pʷ/}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Affricate | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|t͡s|c /t͡s/}} | {{IPA link|t͡ʃ|ĉ /t͡ʃ/}} || {{IPA link|d͡ʒ|ĝ /d͡ʒ/}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Fricative | {{IPA link|f}} || {{IPA link|v}} | {{IPA link|θ|t̂ /θ/}} || tv  {{IPA link|ð|/ð/}} | {{IPA link|s}} || {{IPA link|z}} | {{IPA link|ʃ|ŝ /ʃ/}} || {{IPA link|ʒ|ĵ /ʒ/}} | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ç|y /ç/}} | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|x|ĥ /x/}} | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|h}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Approximant | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|w|ŭ /w/}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|l}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|j}} | colspan="2" |({{IPA link|w|ŭ /w/}}) | colspan="2" |   |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Trill | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|r}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |   |} {{align|center|'''Poliespo Oral Vowels'''}} {| class="wikitable" style="margin: 0 auto;" |- ! ! colspan="2" | Front ! colspan="2" | Central ! colspan="2" | Back |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Close | {{IPA link|i|i}} | {{IPA link|iː|i: /iː/}} ||{{IPA link|ɪ|ĭ /ɪ/}} | {{IPA link|ɪː|ĭ: /ɪː/}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|u}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Mid | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|e}} | {{IPA link|ə|x /ə/}} || q /ɜ~ɝ/ | {{IPA link|o}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Open | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|æ|ⱥ /æ/}} | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|a}} | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|ɔ|w /ɔ/}} |}

{{align|center|'''Poliespo Nasal Vowels'''}} {| class="wikitable" style="margin: 0 auto;" |- ! ! colspan="2" | Front ! colspan="2" | Central ! colspan="2" | Back |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Close | {{IPA link|ɪ̃|î /ɪ̃/}} || {{IPA link|ɪ̃ː|î: /ɪ̃ː/}} | colspan="2" |   | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|ũ|û /ũ/}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Mid | colspan="2" | {{IPA link|ẽ|ê /ẽ/}} | {{IPA link|ə̃|2 /ə̃/}} || q̂ /ɜ̃~ɝ̃/ | {{IPA link|õ|ô /õ/}} |- style="text-align:center;" ! style="text-align:left;"| Open | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|æ̃|ⱥ̂ /æ̃/}} | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|ã|â /ã/}} | colspan="2" |{{IPA link|ɔ̃|ŵ /ɔ̃/}} |}

===Orthography=== Poliespo's alphabet consists of 54 letters: a, â, ⱥ, ⱥ̂, b, b̆, c, ĉ, d, e, ê, f, g, ĝ, h, ĥ, i, ĭ, ĭ:, ĭ́, î, î:, î́, j, ĵ, k, k̆, l, m, m̆, n, n̆, o, ô, p, pw  , s, ŝ, t, t̂, tv  , u, û, ŭ, v, z, ẑ, z̆, q, q́, q̂, q̂́, w, ẃ, ŵ, ŵ́, x, x́, y, 2, 2́. In addition, the consonant ẑ represents {{IPA|/kts/}}, while the consonant z̆ represents {{IPA|/gdz/}}. pw   is p overstruck with w, and tv   is t overstruck with v.<ref name=":3">{{cite web |url=http://www.langmaker.com/outpost/poliespo.htm |title=Poliespo: A Cherokee Esperanto |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20050205220908/http://langmaker.com/outpost/poliespo.htm |archive-date=2005-02-05 }}</ref><ref name=":2">{{Cite web | url=https://www.oocities.org/raiu_harrison/conlang/conl9308.txt | format=TXT | title=archives of the CONLANG mailing list | website=www.oocities.org}}</ref>

===Grammar=== The structure is more similar to Ido than to Esperanto, since radicals are inflected.<ref name=":2" /> Unlike Ido, Poliespo has only one prefix in addition to those of Esperanto: {{lang|eo|pe-}}, which is used to indicate the "neuter" gender. Besides the accusative case, there is also a subject suffix, as in Korean and Japanese.{{Citation needed|date=October 2020}} In Poliespo, there are two forms of oral speech. If one does not understand what someone says in Poliespo (referred to as {{lang|mis|Idpo}}), they should repeat themselves in Esperanto (referred to as {{lang|mis|Zaespo}}).<ref name=":2" />

:{| style="border: 1px solid black;" |'''banant̂ⱥn2plaĉqlx!''' |- |banana-PL.SING-like-DAT-HAB |- |colspan=9 align="center"|''"I don't like bananas!"''{{citation needed|date=February 2019}} |}

==References== {{Reflist}}

==External links== * [https://nisequoyah.blogspot.com/ Nvwtohiyada Idehesdi Sequoyah] – Stories, documents, photos from family and friends * [https://web.archive.org/web/20061210033034/http://www.esperanto-sat.info/article493.html Sequoyah condemned to death (French)] * [https://web.archive.org/web/20070927141319/http://www.crimezzz.net/serialkillers/W/WALDON_billy_ray.php The "serial murderer" Billy Waldon] * [http://www.esperantio.net/heroldo_komunikas.php?numero=247 Pli kaj pli malfacila la situacio de Sequoyah (el ''Heroldo Komunikas'')]{{dead link|date=November 2016 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} (Esperanto)

{{DEFAULTSORT:Waldon, Billy Ray}} Category:1952 births Category:American Esperantists Category:American mass murderers Category:American people convicted of murder Category:American prisoners sentenced to death Category:American rapists Category:Constructed language creators Category:FBI Ten Most Wanted Fugitives Category:Living people Category:Native American activists Category:People convicted of murder by California Category:People from Tahlequah, Oklahoma Category:Prisoners sentenced to death by California