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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 On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. }) }); However, it wouldn't only be many of the victims' families who were dissatisfied, with former FBI criminal profiler John E. Douglas saying the killings were likely the work of one individual whose intent was to degrade the victims. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. 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. 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. 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. Toggle dark mode On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. The bodies of the three boys had been found in Robin Hood Hills, a stretch of forested land in the city that was popular with children and where Christopher, Michael and Steve were last seen together. 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. Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. Driver's comments surrounding the case raised troubling questions over his competence to serve, stating he believed Echols and his girlfriend intended to sacrifice their expectant child to Satan. He was muddy, bleeding, and brushed against the walls, leaving behind blood stains and feces on the walls, stall, and floor. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. eventAction: 'click_ads' However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. 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 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. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 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. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. 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. 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. 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. Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. Despite doubt over the way authorities handled the case, as well as a lack of substantial evidence, the West Memphis Three were found guilty. Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. } 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 . 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 Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. } Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. Another story claimed Aaron saw a mass of "The Dragons," an alleged coven with five members, spoke Spanish and sang about Satan. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. pg.acq.push(function() { Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. pg.acq.push(function() { One of the few pieces of forensic evidence recovered at the scene was a hair belonging to a Black male found on a sheet that had been used to wrap one of the victims. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ "Lawyers have to follow the law and when you file in the wrong place that's not my fault," said Attorney General Griffin. She also revealed Terry hadn't informed her that her son was missing until she finished work, having significant concerns over his whereabouts on those days. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. 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. 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: 'click_image_ads' The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. The chief of police was not truthful. 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. 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. We will fully comply with any lawful request made regarding this case.". 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. 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. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. hitType: 'event', if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ }); The plea deal was accepted. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. To prove his innocence, he agreed and passed a polygraph test during the filming of 'Paradise Lost 2: Revelations,' only for the documentary to throw doubts on the results by revealing he was under the influence of several psychoactive prescription medications that could have affected the test results. 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. How the three died wasn't the same, with Moore and Branch being killed by multiple injuries and then drowning, with Byers dying of blood loss and not being drowned. 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. 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. 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). All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. Christopher Byers' father, Rick Murray, was one of the early voices to speak out against the West Memphis Three's convictions, with Pamela Hobbs perhaps becoming the most vocal. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. 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. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? 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. 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. 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. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. 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. Their trial, which included While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. 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. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. On Feb. 8, Misskelley claimed he had been drunk at the time of the killings and was drinking Evan Williams whiskey, claiming that he had thrown a bottle away under a bridge in West Memphis, swearing on the Bible as to the truth of his latest claims. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. He was 62. 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. One such suspect was none other than Byers. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and Moore. 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. 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. "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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 Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. 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. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. If the judge makes the decision to deny the state's request for dismissal, then Attorney General Tim Griffin will get a chance to respond to that decision. He took one of them I don't know which one cut him on I think it was on this side of his face.". }); By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. This is the world where fist meets face. Two of the boys' underwear, however, was missing. During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. ga('ads.send', { 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. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. 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." 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. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. ga('ads.send', { VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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 Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. Hutcheson was accused of settling from her employer and forced to bring her young son, Aaron Hutcheson, to the interview. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. 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.". 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. ADVERTISEMENT 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. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". The time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." 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 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 MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. 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. 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. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. ga('ads.send', { }); His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. 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. 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 The Forgotten West Memphis Three, streaming now on Oxygen. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. 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. "He had to spend this time because if he didn't, he would get caught. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". 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. 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 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. Who killed Stevie "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". He showed several old scars from prior injuries. But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. 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.'. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. 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. 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. They did not kill my son.. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. Their trial, which included eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), }); 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. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. She also revealed that her ex-husband had once asked her sister point-blank if she suspected him in the killings. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims. 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. In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ 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. They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? "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. 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. 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. 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. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. 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.