The men garnered national attention due to a series of documentaries and books that questioned their convictions as well as the vocal support of numerous celebrities. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. The three men spent nearly 17 years in prison before being released in 2012 after entering an Alford plea, pleading guilty while maintaining their innocence. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. 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. Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. During the weeks that followed, law enforcement would only state that Echols was a source of information, not officially designating him a suspect despite looking at him more than anyone else. 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. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview They drew pentagrams, skulls, and snakes on art materials and surprised those at a football game by arriving dressed in black with black tears painted on their faces. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. Toggle dark mode VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Jul. Workers at the Bojangles restaurant just a mile from the crime scene reported that at 8:42 p.m., a Black male had entered the premises and went into the women's bathroom. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. Moore. Their trial, which included March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. He was 62. The men garnered national attention due to a series of documentaries and books that questioned their convictions as well as the vocal support of numerous celebrities. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a If the offender came across the boys as they were doing something wrong or misbehaving, it would have been even easier to control and reprimand them, said Clemente. It wouldn't be the only evidence that linked Hobbs to the murders, with his wife Pamela finding a knife that her son had carried with him in her husband's nightstand. While he was on medication that may have affected the outcome, including Xanax, it seems that his suspected involvement in the killings was a complete dead end. How the three died wasn't the same, with Moore and Branch being killed by multiple injuries and then drowning, with Byers dying of blood loss and not being drowned. Hutcheson was accused of settling from her employer and forced to bring her young son, Aaron Hutcheson, to the interview. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. Both Echols and Misskelley had dropped out of high school, while Baldwin continued to achieve high grades, making the pair something of an odd couple, known for their involvement in petty crimes such as vandalism. "Lawyers have to follow the law and when you file in the wrong place that's not my fault," said Attorney General Griffin. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Until 2007, when the discovery of new forensic evidence reopened the case and a new statute permitting post-conviction testing of DNA evidence came about. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. In addition to the offender being a male who had a relationship with one or more of the victims, Clemente thinks the suspect was from the neighborhood, theorizing that he hid the bodies in order to give himself enough time to establish an alibi. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Yet, the moral panic would culturally define the decade for many youths, lingering as the remnants of the "Satanic Panic" that led to many wrongful convictions a decade earlier. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. It took them 18 years to clear their names. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Quoted by WMC-TV in 2013, Jacoby said, "They said close to the crime scene because at one time I did walk near where they had found the kids with Terry Hobbs, his father-in-law, his wife," adding. To this day, it is still unclear who is responsible for the brutal murders, and in hopes of uncovering new potential leads, investigative podcaster Bob Ruff reexamined the case in . To understand the story of the West Memphis Three, it's important to remember the cultural atmosphere that was prevalent throughout America in the mid-1990s. 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). 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.". He was interrogated for 12 hours with only two segments running to 46 minutes being recorded, and although he was read his Miranda rights, he later said that he hadn't understood them. Equally, Wiccans reject their beliefs are a form of Satanism, with the movement being closer to Neo-Paganism and nature religions and almost exclusively pacifistic in nature. West Memphis Three Their trial, which included ET. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ hitType: 'event', Memphis I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. He was called a 'baby killer.'. She also revealed that her ex-husband had once asked her sister point-blank if she suspected him in the killings. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Two of the boys' underwear, however, was missing. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. The plea deal was accepted. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. 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). Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. West Memphis Three 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. To understand the story of the West Memphis Three, it's important to remember the cultural atmosphere that was prevalent throughout America in the mid-1990s. All three had been stripped naked and shackled with their shoelaces their right ankles had been tied to their right wrists behind their backs, with their left ankles to their left wrists behind their backs as well. In 1994, in what was widely believed to be a miscarriage of justice, three teens, 18-year-old Damien Echols, 17-year-old Jessie Misskelley Jr., and 16-year-old Jason Baldwin, were convicted in connection to the deaths of Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Steve Branch the previous year. "Even if he files within the right court, there is no body that's required under habeas corpus because he's released," said Attorney General Griffin. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { 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. The story will be familiar to many working-class American youths, with Echols' poverty and mental health struggles disconnecting him from society, writing that "As I grew older I learned to be ashamed of being poor, too. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. At one point, he told locals he obtained superpowers from consuming human blood and was often seen to have sharpened his fingernails and drawn deliberately provocative tattoos on himself. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? West Memphis Three Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three All three spent most of their days as any other mid-1990s teenagers - listening to rock music, watching pro wrestling on television, and either poking around under the hood of a car or simply hanging out and causing trouble. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. One of the few pieces of forensic evidence recovered at the scene was a hair belonging to a Black male found on a sheet that had been used to wrap one of the victims. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. West Memphis Three | Background & Trial pg.acq.push(function() { hitType: 'event', When West Memphis teens Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. were tried and convicted of the murders of three 8-year-old boys in 1994, many in the community felt confident that investigators had put the right men behind bars. West Memphis Three Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. 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. pg.acq.push(function() { In 1994, in what was widely believed to be a miscarriage of justice, three teens, 18-year-old Damien Echols, 17-year-old Jessie Misskelley Jr., and 16-year-old Jason Baldwin, were convicted in connection to the deaths of Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Steve Branch the previous year. All three bodies were immediately removed from the water before the coroner arrived, meaning that they were exposed to sunlight and insects before judgments could be made surrounding rigor mortis and the time of death. }) 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. Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents defendant Damien Echols, wrote in a Wednesday statement that he located evidence from the case after being granted access to the police department through an Arkansas state court order, according to WREG. "We are trying to find the real killers. West Memphis Three if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ No ritual paraphernalia or markings were found at the scene, and many in the police believed those responsible had been sexual predators or strangers from outside the town. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. of the West Memphis Three Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. connection to West Memphis Three So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three With the new evidence in hand alongside expert testimony that suggested the knife wounds and mutilation had been animal predation, Echols petitioned for a retrial. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. 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 He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. Talking with police and his lawyer present in the room, he would ignore advice from his counsel to remain silent and detailed how the West Memphis Three had abused and murdered the victims. "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. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. 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. 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. I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. Their trial, which included At the scene, Steve Jones, assistant juvenile probation officer, openly speculated that Echols was capable of the crime, saying, "it looks like Damien Echols finally killed someone.". eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Like John Mark Byers, Hobbs was a wifebeater. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. Pamela Hobbs gave numerous interviews to the press where she spoke about the knife, the DNA, and the events of May 5 and 6, 1994. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. However, the day afterward, Hutcheson would tell police that she, Echols and Misskelley had all attended a Wicca meeting in Turrell, Arkansas, where Echols became drunk and started to loudly brag about having committed the killings of Branch, Byers and Moore. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. This is the world where fist meets face. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. 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. However, it wasn't just about the music with many embracing rebellious philosophies that were inherently offensive to the traditions of Christianity, respect and patriotism that have always defined small-town rural America. With the addition of a 10-year suspended sentence, a probation type sentencing which meant if they did anything illegal they would be put back in jail, the West Memphis Three were sentenced to time served. The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. 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. Now, the attorneys are responding in court. West Memphis Three The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. 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. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. }); But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. West Memphis Three Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. All three achieved the rank of "Wolf," and Moore had his blue Boy Scouts of America shirt and Boy Scout hat on as he ventured out on his bicycle. Now, Attorney General Tim Griffin has requested the Arkansas Supreme Court to dismiss the case based on the fact that the petition was filed in Crittenden County but Echols was convicted in Craighead County. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." He showed several old scars from prior injuries. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. Misskelley's confession couldn't be utilized if he had stood trial alongside Echols and Baldwin under what is known as the Bruton rule stemming from Bruton v. United States. However, her description of the boy she nearly hit was inconsistent with either Branch, Byers or Moore, and it was, in fact, a fourth boy by the name of George Taylor. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders When West Memphis teens Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. were tried and convicted of the murders of three 8-year-old boys in 1994, many in the community felt confident that investigators had put the right men behind bars. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. killed 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. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. All Rights Reserved. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? The friends rode over to Bobby Posey's house, where they learned Christopher had been whipped by his adoptive father, John Mark Byers, and planned to run away. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. Memphis The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); All three appealed the convictions. It took them 18 years to clear their names. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. ADVERTISEMENT WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. But what is the purpose of that? hitType: 'event', Baldwin would later say that he had been resistant to the plea as a matter of principle, but turning it down would have kept Echols on death row. Byers had been a step-father to Christopher Byers, who along with his two eight-year-old friends Michael Moore and Steve Branch, had been killed in West Memphis on May 5, 1993, and whose murders remain unsolved to this day, almost three decades later. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs.
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