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). The West Memphis Three 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. eventAction: 'load' West Memphis Three 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. "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. The first of that evidence emerged during the filming of HBO's 1996 documentary on the case: 'Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills.'. If you found this interesting, you might also want to read about the study that finds black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Both had histories of drug offenses, and Morgan claimed to police he suffered from memory loss and blackouts, stating he "might have" killed the three boys. West Memphis Three Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. 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. 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. 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. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. 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. 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. 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. hitType: 'event', But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. 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. He kept a calendar of the lunar cycle so he and Jones could patrol the county and check for covens. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Yet, none of this makes a murderer, and Echols, like most readers of LaVey and Crowley, believed that their work had been unfairly maligned as evil, instead calling to libertarian freedom away from the confines of Christian morality. 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. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. Over the nine years since their release, there have been dozens of theories that pointed to other suspects who could have been behind the deaths of Christopher, Michael, and Steve. It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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. The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". Yet, few could give details. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. '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. 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. 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.". 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. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. They still had the convictions, but the men would be free. pg.acq.push(function() { It took them 18 years to clear their names. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. Who Killed 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. 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. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. He was muddy, bleeding, and brushed against the walls, leaving behind blood stains and feces on the walls, stall, and floor. The 'West Memphis Three' were exonerated following the advent of improved DNA technology (West Memphis Police Department) John Mark Byers, who was suspected in the deaths of three West Memphis children in 1993, died in a car crash earlier this week, officials in Tennessee revealed on Friday, June 19. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. 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 Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Medical examiners were split on whether the three boys died the night they went missing or the morning after, and the bite marks wouldn't even be noticed until photographs were examined years later. Their trial, which included West Memphis Three released from prison after Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three 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.". The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. 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 Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. 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. To prove his innocence, he agreed and passed a polygraph test during the filming of 'Paradise Lost 2: Revelations,' only for the documentary to throw doubts on the results by revealing he was under the influence of several psychoactive prescription medications that could have affected the test results. West Memphis Three Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. He was 62. hitType: 'event', West Memphis Three Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. 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. And while both Michael and Steve had bruises across their body, Christopher had suffered the most gruesome injuries and had lacerations to various parts of his body, and mutilation to his scrotum and penis. }); The discovery comes after West Memphis Police Chief Michael Pope resigned Tuesday. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. 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. 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. It took them 18 years to clear their names. A self-identified white supremacist and freemason, his personality and affiliations led many to suspect that he was the kind of man who may have been involved in the killings. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. ga('ads.send', { 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. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". West Memphis Three He was 62. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. The Supreme Court ruled that a defendant would be deprived of his rights if a confession was introduced in a joint trial under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment, stating that "in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the rightto be confronted with the witnesses against him." Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. West Memphis Three Terry Hobbs, meanwhile, still believes in the guilt of the West Memphis Three, telling Memphis ABC affiliate WATN in 2019 that "I still believe in my heart that Jessie, Jason, and Damion Echols are responsible for what happened to our children.". 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. He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. While the documentary opened the public's eyes to the miscarriage of justice that had transpired to get Echols, Miskelley Jr., and Baldwin convicted for a crime they did not commit, it also threw doubt on Byers, a suspicious character who seemed to have a penchant for theatrics. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. West Memphis Three When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. Who Killed ga('ads.send', { 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. 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 was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ The chief of police was not truthful. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas After three years of fighting to get new evidence tested for DNA, the state is saying the West Memphis Three petition should be tossed out. 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). 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. He was sentenced to life plus 40 years. 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. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Jul. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. A formal interview on May 9 led to further suspicion against the young man when he mentioned the damage to Byer's genitals, something seen as incriminating. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. "He had to spend this time because if he didn't, he would get caught. The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. The 'West Memphis Three' were exonerated following the advent of improved DNA technology (West Memphis Police Department) John Mark Byers, who was suspected in the deaths of three West Memphis children in 1993, died in a car crash earlier this week, officials in Tennessee revealed on Friday, June 19. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. The bodies of the three boys had been found in Robin Hood Hills, a stretch of forested land in the city that was popular with children and where Christopher, Michael and Steve were last seen together. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? eventAction: 'render' Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. The state of Arkansas was hoping to do like they do in so many other cases with poor people, with people who are powerless to defend themselves. }) }); "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. "We are pleased that the evidence is intact," Benca said, according to WREG. Another story claimed Aaron saw a mass of "The Dragons," an alleged coven with five members, spoke Spanish and sang about Satan. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal West Memphis Three 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. West Memphis Three This is the world where fist meets face. 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. The West Memphis Three were the distinctive people in the town of West Memphis; however, there was little evidence suggesting they killed the three young boys. Climber only named Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols. Despite the continuing doubts over the testimony, police pulled in Misskelley on June 3 alongside two other alleged cult members, Ricky Climer and Alvis Bly. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. },false) New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. On Feb. 8, Misskelley claimed he had been drunk at the time of the killings and was drinking Evan Williams whiskey, claiming that he had thrown a bottle away under a bridge in West Memphis, swearing on the Bible as to the truth of his latest claims. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. 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. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? West Memphis Three | Background & Trial eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. West Memphis Three The Shelby County Sheriff's Office announced on Twitter that Byers had been killed in an accident on Chambers Road and Shakerag Road in the Millington area on Thursday evening and then died after he was transported to a local hospital. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. eventAction: 'view' Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. ga('ads.send', { gads_event = event; The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. Their clothing was found in the same creek, and some of it had been twisted around sticks that had been fixed into the muddy ditch bed. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Sign up for newsletter today. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. The time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. All Rights Reserved. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. WebThe West Memphis Three are three men convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, United States. 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). They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. "Lawyers have to follow the law and when you file in the wrong place that's not my fault," said Attorney General Griffin. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. Explaining why the test may have indicated this, Martin suggested he believed "the father of Steve Branch killed the boys" and that he suspected shoelaces would have been used to tie up the victims, as "logic tells him that the killer would use something already there." They did not kill my son.. pg.acq.push(function() { Who killed Stevie Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. 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. 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. let gads_event; To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it.