hitType: 'event', Two of the boys' underwear, however, was missing. 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. In many respects, the reaction to these new youth movements was nothing new, with the metal bands of the 1970s and 80s having faced similar condemnation as "the Devil's music." window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. "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." 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. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Sign up for newsletter today. 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. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. 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. The case for his guilt was put forward by Echols himself in Peter Jackson's 'West of Memphis.' However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. 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. 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. We are one of the worlds fastest growing 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. 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. 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. }); His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. In 1997 Byers had all his teeth removed, claiming both that medication he was taking caused gum disease and he'd planned to remove them as he had suffered dental problems for years. 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. The belief in a Satanic aspect to the crime was aided by Vicki Hutcheson and her son, when after discovering the bodies, Aaron claimed he'd witnessed the killings. Despite the defense stating that Echols' statements on Byers genitals and the boys being drowned could have been public knowledge locally, particularly considering known leaks had been made, both Echols and Baldwin were found guilty on three counts of murder. eventAction: 'click_ads' All Rights Reserved. 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. Working at the crime scene, police made a series of errors that would significantly impede the case. 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. The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. The plea deal was accepted. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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. Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. 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. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. 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 Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. Yet, few could give details. ADVERTISEMENT How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ The three would be confirmed to be together between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with the boys spotted headed toward Robin Hood Hills; Terry Hobbs, Branch's stepfather, calling out for them to return. The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. All three appealed the convictions. But what is the purpose of that? But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. 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. 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. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. Steve had taken this knife everywhere and was never without it, with Pamela believing the killer had stolen it when it wasn't found at the scene. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. Devastating Photos Of Hiroshima Before And After The Atomic Bombing That Changed History Forever, Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Teaching Pug Nazi Salute [VIDEO], What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate, woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. 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. 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 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. 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. 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. Hutcheson was accused of settling from her employer and forced to bring her young son, Aaron Hutcheson, to the interview. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { ET. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A former Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technician told a Tennessee board Friday that officers impeded patient care by refusing to remove Tyre Nichols ' handcuffs, which would have allowed EMTs to check his vital signs after he was brutally beaten by police. 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. Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. 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. 1." It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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. 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. 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. 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 hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. 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. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. He was 62. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. There are significant issues with the confession, with his claims not aligning with the autopsy and crime scene evidence, seemingly changing his story depending on who he was talking with. The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. 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. West Memphis police brought Terry Hobbs in for questioning in June 2007, and coverage soon led to a widespread examination of the original verdict, with Hobbs even telling police that some of his relatives suspected him in the killings. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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 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. While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. He was 62. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". }); 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. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ pg.acq.push(function() { Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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 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.'. Echols interest in the occult as an outlet led him to Wicca, and he was a reader of Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey and English occultist Aleister Crowley. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. 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. However, a hair "not inconsistent with" Steve Branch's stepfather, Terry Hobbs, was found, and crucially it was tied into the knots of the bindings that had hogtied one of the children. ga('ads.send', { eventAction: 'view' 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. 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."
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