These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. Driver's comments surrounding the case raised troubling questions over his competence to serve, stating he believed Echols and his girlfriend intended to sacrifice their expectant child to Satan. Despite doubt over the way authorities handled the case, as well as a lack of substantial evidence, the West Memphis Three were found guilty. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. At the trial, the prosecution continued the claims of Satanic overtones, calling Dale W. Griffis of the unaccredited Columbia Pacific University distance learning school as an "expert" witness to affirm the killings were definitely occult related. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal of Rob Zombie, Korn, Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails. hitType: 'event', The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. Watch: Man connected to 'West Memphis Three' learns evidence connected to the case is missing By Dominique Dillon, FOX13memphis.com July 08, 2021 at 5:53 pm CDT WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. Trinocular Co-Axial 1500x Metallurgical Microscope with Top-Bottom Light with 2MP Camera, Trinocular Microscope with DIN Objective and Camera 40x - 2000x, Junior Medical Microscope with Wide Field Eyepiece & LED 100x - 1500x, Trinocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x, Binocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x. Classmates at Weaver Elementary School, the three were active in their Cub Scout troop and responsible enough to be trusted to roam their neighborhood without It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. Jul. The alert was assigned to Officer Regenia Meek, who filled out reports and, with Officer John Moore, did a brief search, but nothing more expansive. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Judge David Burnett, the original trial judge, disallowed the presentation of the new information in his court in 2008, citing the DNA tests as inconclusive. John Mark Byers, stepfather of Chris Byers and initially the subject of considerable suspicion himself, is shown calling Terry Hobbs a "baby killer" outside an Arkansas courtroom. Byers submitted dental records that showed the marks on the body didn't match his original teeth and subsequently passed a polygraph during the documentary's filming. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. Meanwhile, patrons at the Blue Beacon, a truck wash close to the scene, all had their credit card receipts collected, and the first suspects brought in were transients, with information being sought about two "dirty-looking" hitchhikers. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. John Mark Byers, stepfather of Chris Byers and initially the subject of considerable suspicion himself, is shown calling Terry Hobbs a "baby killer" outside an Arkansas courtroom. Despite the defense stating that Echols' statements on Byers genitals and the boys being drowned could have been public knowledge locally, particularly considering known leaks had been made, both Echols and Baldwin were found guilty on three counts of murder. It was likely the teenager was deliberately provoking Driver and exaggerating his lifestyle, leading the officer to become convinced that Echols was involved in a Satanic cult straight from a horror film. Toggle dark mode Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. 'Feels Like Home:' electrical failure from a light fixture caused December fire that killed 1, Shelby County reporting an increase in drug-related overdoses, largely due to fentanyl, Severe weather threat is over | Prepare for a sunny weekend, Daylight saving time starts soon. Their trial, which included eventAction: 'click_adunit' Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. While Morgan, Holland and "Mr. Bojangles" already seem to have more against them than Echols, the police were now focusing solely on the one angle and one suspect, getting Vicki Hutcheson to agree to have her home wired. Writing under penalty of perjury to the United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, Pamela would say that he ex-husband kept dentures in a lock-box. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. eventAction: 'view' There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal "We are planning to move ahead and test this evidence using the latest DNA technology available to hopefully identify the real killer(s) of the three children in 1993, and exonerate Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley.". Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. Toggle dark mode She would state that her son had strangely said "I love you, mom" repeatedly on the way home from school on the day he vanished. Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. There is no mention of Santic overtones or symbolism in the early written reports by police, nor correspondence with the FBI. The police were called, but he had left by the time they arrived, and nobody from law enforcement entered the bathroom until the next day after the discovery of the bodies. In 2010, the West Memphis Three were granted to appear before the Arkansas Supreme Court based on the new DNA evidence and potential misconduct by the jury. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. Steve had taken this knife everywhere and was never without it, with Pamela believing the killer had stolen it when it wasn't found at the scene. Jul. Having once been adamant on the West Memphis Three's guilt, he accepted their innocence and, instead, pointed the finger at Terry Hobbs, Steve's stepfather. On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. She also revealed Terry hadn't informed her that her son was missing until she finished work, having significant concerns over his whereabouts on those days. They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. It is easy for many to look at the South as hillbilly central, full of prejudice and backward attitudes, with somewhat elitist attitudes often prevalent when discussing the case. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. Tape recorded, Misskelley would claim that "When the boys came up, Damien grabbed one of them, I don't know which one and the other two tried to get Damien to stop, and then me and Jason come out and started grabbing them, started hitting them." Working at the crime scene, police made a series of errors that would significantly impede the case. On May 5, 1993, Branch was at home with his mother, Pamela Hobbs, and shortly after the end of school, Moore rode over on his bike and asked if his friend could take a ride with him. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. All three were convicted, not based on evidence but by a "twisted portrayal of their character", given sentences varying from death to life in prison, and then eventually exonerated following the advent of improved DNA technology. ga('ads.send', { Byers claimed the knife had never even been used, changing his story to say he'd used it to cut deer meat after the presence of blood was found. }); Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a }); Goths, punks and skaters were in the ascendency, and Middle America was horrified. The plea deal was accepted. "I am innocent, as are Jason and Jessie, but I made this decision because I did not want to spend another day of my life behind those bars," Echols told the "Arkansas Times." While Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley may have begun to rebuild their lives, there is still no solace or closure for the families of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore. Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. Judge Laser vacated all previous convictions and ordered a new trial where the West Memphis Three would be allowed to make the plea, sentencing them to time served. Initially a suspect himself amongst some people, John Mark Byers added his voice to those doubts before being killed in a car crash last year. Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. The gruesome nature of their deaths led both police and the community to theorize that there had been a satanic element involved something that wasn't too farfetched in the "Bible Belt, where Satanic Panic" was at its peak. He was 62. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. Candy-Land idealism is quietly suffocated in the relentless humidity. He was 62. ga('ads.send', { The West Memphis Three are Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., whoas teenagerswere convicted in 1994 of triple murder in West Memphis (Crittenden County). Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. During the filming, Byers had given cameraman Doug Cooper a hunting knife which makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky handed over to the police after discovering what appeared to be blood on it. To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. WebWest Memphis Three, three American men who in 1994, while teenagers, were found guilty of murdering three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, allegedly as part of devil worship. Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. "I think maybe for the general public it's not quite as scary to believe that blood-thirsty Satanists were out murdering children as it is to believe that parents are actually murdering their own children. "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. Devastating Photos Of Hiroshima Before And After The Atomic Bombing That Changed History Forever, Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Teaching Pug Nazi Salute [VIDEO], What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate, woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. WebDevil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three is a 2002 true crime book by Mara Leveritt, about the 1993 murders of three eight-year-old children and the subsequent trials of three teenagers charged with and convicted of the crimes.The names of the three teens convicted - Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley - would come to be March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, and his legal team have hit another obstacle as they try to get the court's permission to test newly found evidence for DNA. While the three, better known as the West Memphis Three, entered an Alford plea and are therefore not innocent in the eyes of the law, DNA evidence suggests someone else is responsible for the 1993 murders of James Michael Moore, Stephen Branch, and Christopher Byers. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. While the stepfather initially denied it had ever been used, he later changed his story and said he had used it just once, to cut deer meat. }); Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Who killed Stevie The new documentary focused on the bite marks, with the prosecution arguing that the marking seen on Christopher Byers' face in photographs is from a belt buckle and not teeth. ", 'Very open to the idea': Julia Wandelt takes DNA test to verify if she is missing Swiss girl Livia Schepp, Kayla Lemieux: Teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts suspended WITH PAY after pics show her dressed as man, 'We have lots to reveal': Madeleine McCann lookalike Julia Wandelt posts footage of meeting with PI probing claims, Lindsay Clancy case: Psychologist reveals psychosis red flags family members could have spotted, Horror at Larchwood Care! Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, and his legal team have hit another obstacle as they try to get the court's permission to test newly found evidence for DNA. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a After being told that she was questioning his involvement, Hobbs is alleged to have replied, "I could skin a man alive, I could cut him up.". In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. He was also charged in 1990 for stealing $65,000 in jewelry from a store where he previously worked, and in 1992 for "conspiring to sell cocaine and with carrying a dangerous weapon.". The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. }); The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. There were even witnesses who placed Misskelley at his trailer until 6:30 p.m., the time the boys went missing, with one revealing he picked him up to go wrestling around 7:30 p.m. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. WebWest Memphis Three, three American men who in 1994, while teenagers, were found guilty of murdering three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, allegedly as part of devil worship. It became humiliating, something I'd do everything I could to hide from the rest of the world. Toggle dark mode But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and ET. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A former Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technician told a Tennessee board Friday that officers impeded patient care by refusing to remove Tyre Nichols ' handcuffs, which would have allowed EMTs to check his vital signs after he was brutally beaten by police. Benca said he hopes the evidence can be tested for DNA to help clear the name of his client, who along with Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley Jr. was convicted of murder as a teenager in 1994. During part two of the documentary special, Ruff sat down with retired FBI Supervisory Agent Jim Clemente, who created a suspect profile to help narrow down the possible suspect pool. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. Despite suspicion eventually falling away from Byers, Jason Baldwin praised the "Paradise Lost" documentaries as essential to their case, telling the "National Podcast of Texas" in 2019 that "The documentary saved my life, saved Damien's life, and saved Jessie's life. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. An attorney involved in the West Memphis Three case, in which three teenagers were convicted of killing three boys in 1993, is claiming that evidence related to the case that was believed to be lost or destroyed has been located at the West Memphis Police Department, local CBS affiliate WREG reported.Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents There are significant issues with the confession, with his claims not aligning with the autopsy and crime scene evidence, seemingly changing his story depending on who he was talking with. A new round of DNA testing later showed no genetic material linked the men to the crime scene evidence, and they were released from prison in 2011 after agreeing to an Alford plea. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. One of the charges of making terroristic threats was connected to a domestic dispute between him and his first wife, Sandra Byers, who accused him of threatening her life and assaulting her with an electronic stunning device. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! While his repeated confessions may seem incriminating, Lawyer Dan Stidman would say in a 1999 letter to the court that "Absolutely nothing Misskelley told the officers or prosecutors would ever be admissible against him. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Their trial, which included Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. With the evidence mounting that all three accused had been innocent, the deal ensured that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley would never be allowed to pursue civil action against the state of Arkansas for wrongful imprisonment. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. The time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff. "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. Jul. An attorney involved in the West Memphis Three case, in which three teenagers were convicted of killing three boys in 1993, is claiming that evidence related to the case that was believed to be lost or destroyed has been located at the West Memphis Police Department, local CBS affiliate WREG reported.Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. The inherent belief in that line of thought eventually led to the arrest of 18-year-old Damien Echols, 17-year-old Jessie Misskelley Jr., and 16-year-old Jason Baldwin, three out-of-sorts teens who became popularly known as "The West Memphis Three.".
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