Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. 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. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. 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. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. Back with the search, the main focus was Robin Hood Hills near where witnesses last saw the trio, and that morning Branch andMoore's bikes were found next to a pipe bridge that crossed the bayou. Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. eventAction: 'click_ads' Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. "I can't understand why exactly people are glossing over the obvious when it comes to Byers and the death of Melissa Byers and all the things that Byers has said and done since this trial," he said. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. Yet, few could give details. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. 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. 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. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. Jul. 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. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. Candy-Land idealism is quietly suffocated in the relentless humidity. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. Christopher Byers' father, Rick Murray, was one of the early voices to speak out against the West Memphis Three's convictions, with Pamela Hobbs perhaps becoming the most vocal. WebSeason 1 Episode 1 Preview: Host and investigator Bob Ruff explores the flaws from the original ""West Memphis Three"" case to lay the groundwork for his evidence-driven investigation. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and He had an extensive collection of animal skulls, including dogs and cats and local rumors said that he had killed a dog, while no evidence was ever provided. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. A prime example of the issues with the confession was that Misskelley was giving false information that was believed accurate by police at the time, stating that he saw Echols and Baldwin go into the woods with the three boys and rape them. Since his release, Echols has forged a career in the arts, moving to the infamous Salem, Massachusetts and publishing a memoir, "Almost Home: My Life Story Vol. 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. Equally, it was widely known he threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend's father, yet those who had taken against him left out that this was through a fear that the father was going to assault his daughter. All three would be happy to talk, with Bly saying that Misskelley was the leader of a Satanic cult that also involved Baldwin, Echols, his girlfriend Domini Teer, and others 20 in all. I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. 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. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. 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. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. 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. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. 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. He was called a 'baby killer.'. Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. Over the years, however, the West Memphis Three continued to maintain their innocence, claiming they had nothing to do with the slayings of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, who were each found nude, hogtied, and mutilated in a bayou. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview gads_event = event; The Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. 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. 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. 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 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), },false) But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. When he was informed that the blood matched both his and Chris' blood type, he claimed he had no idea how the blood might have gotten on the knife before suggesting he might have left it out accidentally. Baldwin meanwhile has ambitions to become a lawyer and began work for a construction company, with Misskelley getting engaged to his high school girlfriend and training as a mechanic. 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. 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 The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. 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. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. 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. They still had the convictions, but the men would be free. 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. However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. 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. YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. 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. The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. When they didn't, the first phone call would be made to police not long afterward, John Mark Byers raising the alarm with police close to 8 p.m. 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. }) Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. 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. He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. 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. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. 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. Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. Beyond his tales about Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols, Climber claimed to have beaten a police officer, hung a woman and sacrificed a second lady. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ ET. 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}} 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. 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. 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. Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. If some stranger who looked very threatening approached these three boys, I think the first reaction of these boys would be to run away, to look for help. 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. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. He was 62. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. }); For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. All Rights Reserved. Meeting with Echols, Hutcheson reported that nothing incriminating was said. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. 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. ga('ads.send', { 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 He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal The following morning, May 6, a far more thorough search throughout West Memphis began, Crittenden County Search and Rescue personnel leading the effort, including the use of a helicopter. After 3 years of fighting to get new evidence tested for DNA, the state says the WM3 petition should be tossed out and now, the attorneys are responding in court. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. 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 The Forgotten West Memphis Three, streaming now on Oxygen. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. Starting in the weeks that followed the killings, documentary filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case for their film "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills," airing in June 1996 on HBO. Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. hitType: 'event', 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. eventAction: 'load' But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Jones, the assistant juvenile probation officer, was one of the chief voices pushing the line alongside his supervisor Jerry Blackwood Driver. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. 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. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? Echols and Baldwin were best friends and shared a profound distaste for Bible Belt life in West Memphis, Arkansas and were drawn toward the rebellion of metal music and associated books and movies. let gads_event; Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. 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. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." '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. 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. They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Indiana man accused of murdering motorist after accident in Illinois now facing charges in separate murder, Man shot, killed after crash on highway, suspect charged with murder, police say, Woman Started Firing At Pool Party, Killing One And Injuring Two, Police Say, Subscribe to Front Page Detectives Newsletter.
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