Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. 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. If they thought they could trust the person who was the actual threat, then that person could get close enough to them to control them so that they couldn't run away," retired FBI Supervisory Agent Jim Clemente saysin "The Forgotten West Memphis Three.". 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. ET. } Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. 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. 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. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. 1." How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. 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. The Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ One such suspect was none other than Byers. If the offender came across the boys as they were doing something wrong or misbehaving, it would have been even easier to control and reprimand them, said Clemente. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. 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. Toggle dark mode It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? While he remained immature, he was on an early road to adulthood as he worked part-time as a roofer and expecting a baby with his girlfriend, Domini Teer. All Rights Reserved. He was 62. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. With the new evidence in hand alongside expert testimony that suggested the knife wounds and mutilation had been animal predation, Echols petitioned for a retrial. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. 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. 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. 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. Yet, few could give details. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. ga('ads.send', { Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. 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 Climber only named Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols. Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. Sign up for newsletter today. 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. Jul. 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. 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. No ritual paraphernalia or markings were found at the scene, and many in the police believed those responsible had been sexual predators or strangers from outside the town. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. 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. 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. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 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. }); Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. We are one of the worlds fastest growing 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. 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 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Never mentioned in the autopsy or at either trial, they didn't match for Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin. Well, it minimizes the package a little bit and makes it easier to control after they're dead.. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. "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." Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. hitType: 'event', Working at the crime scene, police made a series of errors that would significantly impede the case. "I think maybe for the general public it's not quite as scary to believe that blood-thirsty Satanists were out murdering children as it is to believe that parents are actually murdering their own children. } }); There were even witnesses who placed Misskelley at his trailer until 6:30 p.m., the time the boys went missing, with one revealing he picked him up to go wrestling around 7:30 p.m. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. 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. 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? hitType: 'event', Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. Interested, police arrested both of them on May 17, placing them under a polygraph which indicated they were deceptive when denying involvement in the killings. Their trial, which included Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. We will fully comply with any lawful request made regarding this case.". 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. Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. 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. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. 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. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. 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.". },false) 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 showed several old scars from prior injuries. 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. 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. Equally, Pamela's sister Jo Lynn McCaughey saw Hobbs washing clothes, bed linens, and curtains from Steve's room around the time of the killings. hitType: 'event', Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. Efforts to release the West Memphis Three would be aided in 2003 when Vicki Hutcheson ultimately recanted her testimony, telling the "Arkansas Times" that everything she told police was a lie. Their trial, which included Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. }); 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. 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. eventAction: 'click_ads' eventAction: 'view' "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. "We are planning to move ahead and test this evidence using the latest DNA technology available to hopefully identify the real killer(s) of the three children in 1993, and exonerate Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley.". So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? Attorney General Griffin expects Echols' legal team to refile in Craighead County, but he said that it won't make a difference in the long run. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. Their trial, which included People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. He was sentenced to life plus 40 years. However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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 It took them 18 years to clear their names. They drew pentagrams, skulls, and snakes on art materials and surprised those at a football game by arriving dressed in black with black tears painted on their faces. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. ga('ads.send', { 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. 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. Curiously, most of the injuries suffered by Byers were to the lower body, whereas the damage inflicted on Branch and Moore was primarily to the upper body. They would have been local and have a violent history, be familiar with the victims, and were engaging in a personal cause when they killed the boys. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. 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. Tape recorded, Misskelley would claim that "When the boys came up, Damien grabbed one of them, I don't know which one and the other two tried to get Damien to stop, and then me and Jason come out and started grabbing them, started hitting them." 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. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. 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. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Baldwin would later say that he had been resistant to the plea as a matter of principle, but turning it down would have kept Echols on death row. 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.'. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. Example video title will go here for this video. 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. Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. He took one of them I don't know which one cut him on I think it was on this side of his face.". pg.acq.push(function() { Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. Byers had been a step-father to Christopher Byers, who along with his two eight-year-old friends Michael Moore and Steve Branch, had been killed in West Memphis on May 5, 1993, and whose murders remain unsolved to this day, almost three decades later. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. }) window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. 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. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? An attorney involved in the West Memphis Three case, in which three teenagers were convicted of killing three boys in 1993, is claiming that evidence related to the case that was believed to be lost or destroyed has been located at the West Memphis Police Department, local CBS affiliate WREG reported.Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents 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. 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. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. '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. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. ga('ads.send', { The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. 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. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. 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.
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