The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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. } Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. Who killed Stevie It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. 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. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. 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. 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. 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). Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. While his repeated confessions may seem incriminating, Lawyer Dan Stidman would say in a 1999 letter to the court that "Absolutely nothing Misskelley told the officers or prosecutors would ever be admissible against him. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. 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 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. All three achieved the rank of "Wolf," and Moore had his blue Boy Scouts of America shirt and Boy Scout hat on as he ventured out on his bicycle. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. },false) }); He was called a 'baby killer.'. The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. 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. It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. Well, it minimizes the package a little bit and makes it easier to control after they're dead.. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. Moore. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. 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. 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. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. He kept a calendar of the lunar cycle so he and Jones could patrol the county and check for covens. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. At the scene, Steve Jones, assistant juvenile probation officer, openly speculated that Echols was capable of the crime, saying, "it looks like Damien Echols finally killed someone.". Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. 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. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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. An investigation of the murders looked into several suspects, including the stepfather of Steve Branch as well as two teenage boys who had abruptly fled to California shortly after the bodies were discovered. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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 were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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." window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { And while both Michael and Steve had bruises across their body, Christopher had suffered the most gruesome injuries and had lacerations to various parts of his body, and mutilation to his scrotum and penis. Over the nine years since their release, there have been dozens of theories that pointed to other suspects who could have been behind the deaths of Christopher, Michael, and Steve. 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. The Supreme Court ruled that a defendant would be deprived of his rights if a confession was introduced in a joint trial under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment, stating that "in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the rightto be confronted with the witnesses against him." In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." All three bodies were immediately removed from the water before the coroner arrived, meaning that they were exposed to sunlight and insects before judgments could be made surrounding rigor mortis and the time of death. When they didn't, the first phone call would be made to police not long afterward, John Mark Byers raising the alarm with police close to 8 p.m. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. On May 5, 1993, Branch was at home with his mother, Pamela Hobbs, and shortly after the end of school, Moore rode over on his bike and asked if his friend could take a ride with him. 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. 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. It was likely the teenager was deliberately provoking Driver and exaggerating his lifestyle, leading the officer to become convinced that Echols was involved in a Satanic cult straight from a horror film. 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. Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. 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. ga('ads.send', { There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. In 2010, the West Memphis Three were granted to appear before the Arkansas Supreme Court based on the new DNA evidence and potential misconduct by the jury. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. Now, the attorneys are responding in court. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. 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. All three appealed the convictions. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. eventAction: 'render' With John Mark Byers ruled out, revelations in 2007 would point in a new direction equally close to home. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ The 'West Memphis Three' were exonerated following the advent of improved DNA technology (West Memphis Police Department) John Mark Byers, who was suspected in the deaths of three West Memphis children in 1993, died in a car crash earlier this week, officials in Tennessee revealed on Friday, June 19. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. Furthermore, Clemente believes the assailant was a male in his 30s who is either biologically related to one or more of the victims, a family member, or a very close community member. 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. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. ga('ads.send', { 1." The case for his guilt was put forward by Echols himself in Peter Jackson's 'West of Memphis.' }); They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. 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 He showed several old scars from prior injuries. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. 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.". Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! }); Toggle dark mode Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. 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. 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. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. He has devoted himself to writing, music and art. 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. He even said that he saw John Mark Byers assisting in the killings. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. 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. Who killed Stevie He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. eventAction: 'load' Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. 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. 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. 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. 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. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. "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. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. "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.". Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. }) "We feel strongly that we are in the right. He was 62. The discovery comes after West Memphis Police Chief Michael Pope resigned Tuesday. 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 March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. 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. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. eventAction: 'view' Baldwin got life behind bars, and Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. 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. 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. One such suspect was none other than Byers. All three had been stripped naked and shackled with their shoelaces their right ankles had been tied to their right wrists behind their backs, with their left ankles to their left wrists behind their backs as well. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. 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. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. 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. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. hitType: 'event', 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. 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. }); But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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 Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. During the filming, Byers had given cameraman Doug Cooper a hunting knife which makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky handed over to the police after discovering what appeared to be blood on it. Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. Their trial, which included That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. ga('ads.send', { By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. 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. 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. Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. 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 He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. He was muddy, bleeding, and brushed against the walls, leaving behind blood stains and feces on the walls, stall, and floor. Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 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. ADVERTISEMENT So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? 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. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. 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. }); }); By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". Jul. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 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.