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Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. Who killed Stevie "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. Over the years, however, the West Memphis Three continued to maintain their innocence, claiming they had nothing to do with the slayings of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, who were each found nude, hogtied, and mutilated in a bayou. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". 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. West Memphis Three | Background & Trial 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. Despite doubt over the way authorities handled the case, as well as a lack of substantial evidence, the West Memphis Three were found guilty. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. 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. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Two of the boys' underwear, however, was missing. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? 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. }); West Memphis Three There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal West Memphis Three In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. Another story claimed Aaron saw a mass of "The Dragons," an alleged coven with five members, spoke Spanish and sang about Satan. 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. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. 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.". Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. 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. Knot: The True Story of 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 only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. "He had to spend this time because if he didn't, he would get caught. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. No matter who committed those terrible crimes at Robin Hood Hills, they still walk free 28 years later, and until the culprits are found, the case is far from over. He was sentenced to life plus 40 years. 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. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. 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. killed 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." 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. 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. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of 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 quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. Messed Up Truth About The West Memphis Three We will fully comply with any lawful request made regarding this case.". 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 following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. 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. "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." In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. 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. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. 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. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. 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. While he was on medication that may have affected the outcome, including Xanax, it seems that his suspected involvement in the killings was a complete dead end. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! This would give him no time to meet his Echols and Baldwin, get drunk as he claimed, and then kill three children in an extended attack in the woods. "Lawyers have to follow the law and when you file in the wrong place that's not my fault," said Attorney General Griffin. 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. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. Equally, it was widely known he threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend's father, yet those who had taken against him left out that this was through a fear that the father was going to assault his daughter. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. West Memphis Three | Background & Trial When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. The chief of police was not truthful. It became humiliating, something I'd do everything I could to hide from the rest of the world. Their trial, which included All three appealed the convictions. connection to West Memphis Three Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), West Memphis Three Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. 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. Who killed Stevie eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ West Memphis Three let gads_event; Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. 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. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Messed Up Truth About The West Memphis Three Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. Starting in the weeks that followed the killings, documentary filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case for their film "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills," airing in June 1996 on HBO. 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 Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. During one visit to the station, officers used photographs of Echols, Misskelley and Baldwin for dart practice, having made their minds up about their guilt long before their arrests. West Memphis Three 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 took them 18 years to clear their names. 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 . 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. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". Who Killed People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "We are trying to find the real killers. The inherent belief in that line of thought eventually led to the arrest of 18-year-old Damien Echols, 17-year-old Jessie Misskelley Jr., and 16-year-old Jason Baldwin, three out-of-sorts teens who became popularly known as "The West Memphis Three.". 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. 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. They did not kill my son.. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and }); Their trial, which included With the addition of a 10-year suspended sentence, a probation type sentencing which meant if they did anything illegal they would be put back in jail, the West Memphis Three were sentenced to time served. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. West Memphis Three released from prison after However, it wasn't just about the music with many embracing rebellious philosophies that were inherently offensive to the traditions of Christianity, respect and patriotism that have always defined small-town rural America. West Memphis Three By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. pg.acq.push(function() { Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. 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. He was 62. West Memphis Three 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. The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. The West Memphis Three Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. Baldwin got life behind bars, and Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. West Memphis Three connection to West Memphis Three Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. WebDevil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three is a 2002 true crime book by Mara Leveritt, about the 1993 murders of three eight-year-old children and the subsequent trials of three teenagers charged with and convicted of the crimes.The names of the three teens convicted - Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley - would come to be The 'West Memphis Three' Murders We are one of the worlds fastest growing window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Initially a suspect himself amongst some people, John Mark Byers added his voice to those doubts before being killed in a car crash last year. They still had the convictions, but the men would be free. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. 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. }); Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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. 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. Quoted by WMC-TV in 2013, Jacoby said, "They said close to the crime scene because at one time I did walk near where they had found the kids with Terry Hobbs, his father-in-law, his wife," adding. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. A polygraph indicated some level of deception in his statements to police, yet it should be noted that a heart condition may have affected the results. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. That's mostly during the teenage years.". gads_event = event; Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. Driver was the kind of individual who saw Satanism in every corner, blaming campfires, dead animal carcasses and pentagram graffiti on the dark arts. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. West Memphis Three eventAction: 'click_ads' pg.acq.push(function() { Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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. 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. Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three West Memphis Three He was also charged in 1990 for stealing $65,000 in jewelry from a store where he previously worked, and in 1992 for "conspiring to sell cocaine and with carrying a dangerous weapon.". ga('ads.send', { 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. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders 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. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. }); He again repeated the incorrect police suspicion that Echols had sexually violated one of the boys, claiming this time his friend had ejaculated on the victim's trousers. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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.". West Memphis Three 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. },false) 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 deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. Jones, the assistant juvenile probation officer, was one of the chief voices pushing the line alongside his supervisor Jerry Blackwood Driver. The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. 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. Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}}