It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. 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. 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. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. 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 still had the convictions, but the men would be free. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. 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. Here's when clocks will 'spring forward' in 2023, Arkansas Supreme Court chief justice announces departure from WM3 case, West Memphis Three continue fight to get DNA tested. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. 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.". 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. He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. 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. It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. 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. Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. hitType: 'event', 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. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." }); 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. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. hitType: 'event', Who killed Stevie 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. 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. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. ga('ads.send', { Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. The new documentary focused on the bite marks, with the prosecution arguing that the marking seen on Christopher Byers' face in photographs is from a belt buckle and not teeth. Moore. 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. The varying wounds included unrecognized bites, and possible stab wounds to his groin and castration, with some putting this down to animal predation. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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." ADVERTISEMENT 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. "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." Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. Toggle dark mode The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. 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. 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. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. But what is the purpose of that? Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. Who killed Stevie For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. }); Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. The West Memphis Three are Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., whoas teenagerswere convicted in 1994 of triple murder in West Memphis (Crittenden County). The 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.'. 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 use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. 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. 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. Driver was the kind of individual who saw Satanism in every corner, blaming campfires, dead animal carcasses and pentagram graffiti on the dark arts. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. 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. Many pointed to the irony in that insult, since Byers himself was considered by many to be complicit in not just the boys' murder, and the death of his second wife as well, who had passed away three years after her son's killing. ga('ads.send', { 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. He was 62. He even said that he saw John Mark Byers assisting in the killings. 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 deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. },false) 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. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. 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. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. Pamela Hobbs gave numerous interviews to the press where she spoke about the knife, the DNA, and the events of May 5 and 6, 1994. Despite the continuing doubts over the testimony, police pulled in Misskelley on June 3 alongside two other alleged cult members, Ricky Climer and Alvis Bly. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. The West Memphis Three are Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., whoas teenagerswere convicted in 1994 of triple murder in West Memphis (Crittenden County). Who killed Stevie However, the day afterward, Hutcheson would tell police that she, Echols and Misskelley had all attended a Wicca meeting in Turrell, Arkansas, where Echols became drunk and started to loudly brag about having committed the killings of Branch, Byers and Moore. 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. They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. } Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. 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. ADVERTISEMENT Working at the crime scene, police made a series of errors that would significantly impede the case. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. One such suspect was none other than Byers. He was sentenced to life plus 40 years. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. Climber only named Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols. 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. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. The case for his guilt was put forward by Echols himself in Peter Jackson's 'West of Memphis.' 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. They allowed police and other workers to walk through the creek, trampling possible evidence such as footprints, and equally failed to drain the water quickly to preserve other evidence. 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. They did not kill my son.. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. 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. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. The time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff. Equally, Wiccans reject their beliefs are a form of Satanism, with the movement being closer to Neo-Paganism and nature religions and almost exclusively pacifistic in nature. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. 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 }); 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. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. 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. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 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. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. The West Memphis Three are Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., whoas teenagerswere convicted in 1994 of triple murder in West Memphis (Crittenden County). It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. 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. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Based on the new information, the three men asked for an Alford plea, in which the defendant maintains their innocence, but acknowledge that prosecutors have evidence to convict them. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? hitType: 'event', Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. 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 DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. },false) Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. "We are trying to find the real killers. 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. 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. 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. Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. Meanwhile, patrons at the Blue Beacon, a truck wash close to the scene, all had their credit card receipts collected, and the first suspects brought in were transients, with information being sought about two "dirty-looking" hitchhikers. The truth is, the ongoing debate over whether Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were guilty has often clouded the undoubted fact that justice remains elusive for the other West Memphis Three, Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. 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. 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. 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." "We are pleased that the evidence is intact," Benca said, according to WREG. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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." Baldwin got life behind bars, and Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Echols unwisely began to tell the fanatical Driver tall tales about local cults and animal sacrifices when Driver became his parole officer, telling him that he followed Wicca. 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. The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. },false) 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. 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. 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. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. 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. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. }); Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. All three were convicted, not based on evidence but by a "twisted portrayal of their character", given sentences varying from death to life in prison, and then eventually exonerated following the advent of improved DNA technology. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". The discovery comes after West Memphis Police Chief Michael Pope resigned Tuesday. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. ET. It wouldn't be the only evidence that linked Hobbs to the murders, with his wife Pamela finding a knife that her son had carried with him in her husband's nightstand. YoutubeMugshots of the 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. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. 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. hitType: 'event', One of the charges of making terroristic threats was connected to a domestic dispute between him and his first wife, Sandra Byers, who accused him of threatening her life and assaulting her with an electronic stunning device. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. Until 2007, when the discovery of new forensic evidence reopened the case and a new statute permitting post-conviction testing of DNA evidence came about. pg.acq.push(function() {