Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. 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. He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. ga('ads.send', { Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! "We feel strongly that we are in the right. Meanwhile, at the Marion Police Department, Detective Don Bray was attempting to administer a polygraph test to Vicki Hutcheson, who had recently moved to the city. The varying wounds included unrecognized bites, and possible stab wounds to his groin and castration, with some putting this down to animal predation. 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. While they showed the bravado and sense of adventure associated with many scouts, they were still innocent, with Byers said by his mother to still "[believe] in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.". 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. Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. ga('ads.send', { 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. 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. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. 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. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. }); Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. 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 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. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. } 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. 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. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". 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. However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. Based on the way the boys were tied up hands bound on either side of the body to the same side ankle Clemente theorized the suspect is somebody who works with animal carcasses, a butcher or a hunter., [T]he ligatures are not restraining ligatures. }); Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. 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. }) Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. eventAction: 'click_adunit' The Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. 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. Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? 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. ADVERTISEMENT WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. After 18 years behind bars, they were freed. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Never mentioned in the autopsy or at either trial, they didn't match for Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin. 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. 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. However, this approach was countered by other officers who believed firmly the occult must be involved at some level, looking immediately toward Damien Echols, who had built a reputation in the local community. On one occasion after the killings at Robin Hood Hills, he had beaten Pamela so severely that she told the family that she thought her jaw was broken, prompting them to drive to the Hobbs home to confront him. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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. "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." The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. 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. The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. 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. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. 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. ET. Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. He kept a calendar of the lunar cycle so he and Jones could patrol the county and check for covens. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. 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. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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." 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. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. 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. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. 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. 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. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. 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 case for his guilt was put forward by Echols himself in Peter Jackson's 'West of Memphis.' Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. Toggle dark mode For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims. Sign up for newsletter today. Jul. 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. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. "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. 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 in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. There is no mention of Santic overtones or symbolism in the early written reports by police, nor correspondence with the FBI. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. 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. He even said that he saw John Mark Byers assisting in the killings. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Toggle dark mode eventAction: 'click_ads' },false) 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. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. Yet, while Arkansas certainly has problems seen throughout the South, such as poor wages, West Memphis was then a city of 30,000 with a wide variety of cultures. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' A popular perception is that in New York or Los Angeles, is the lifestyles of the West Memphis Three wouldn't have drawn comment, but in Arkansas, it was a different story. Toggle dark mode 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. YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. Writing in his future memoir, "Life After Death," Echols would say, "Down here in the deep, dark South we know and live with the real world. 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. Jul. The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. 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. 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. 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. 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. ga('ads.send', { if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. 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. 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. hitType: 'event', 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. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. }); During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. Hobbs, who had previously been under the police scanner for the murders because of inconsistencies in his story, had later been cleared of any wrongdoing but found himself being verbally abused by Byers in front of cameras outside a courtroom. But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), When investigators found the boys bodies on May 6, 1993, they had been jammed into the muddy ground of the bayou, and their clothes had been submerged in the water with sticks. 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. 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. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. 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. ADVERTISEMENT }) 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. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. hitType: 'event', The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. 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. 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. 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.'. Yet, few could give details. Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. pg.acq.push(function() { New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. 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. She also revealed that her ex-husband had once asked her sister point-blank if she suspected him in the killings. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ 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. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. 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. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes.