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31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 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. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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," he told Ruff. Messed Up Truth About The West Memphis Three Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. Their trial, which included Who Killed 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. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. },false) West Memphis Three killed This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Yet, few could give details. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. pg.acq.push(function() { Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Messed Up Truth About The West Memphis Three Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. 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. Byers submitted dental records that showed the marks on the body didn't match his original teeth and subsequently passed a polygraph during the documentary's filming. West Memphis Three eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Example video title will go here for this video. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. Like John Mark Byers, Hobbs was a wifebeater. The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. 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. He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. hitType: 'event', Memphis 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. 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. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. The West Memphis Three Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. 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 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. 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. Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. pg.acq.push(function() { Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. 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. In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. 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. He took one of them I don't know which one cut him on I think it was on this side of his face.". WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. West Memphis Three It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. },false) 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. 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." Both Echols and Misskelley had dropped out of high school, while Baldwin continued to achieve high grades, making the pair something of an odd couple, known for their involvement in petty crimes such as vandalism. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. Who Killed connection to West Memphis Three People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. 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. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. West Memphis Three An attorney involved in the West Memphis Three case, in which three teenagers were convicted of killing three boys in 1993, is claiming that evidence related to the case that was believed to be lost or destroyed has been located at the West Memphis Police Department, local CBS affiliate WREG reported.Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents 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. let gads_event; This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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.". Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. We will fully comply with any lawful request made regarding this case.". Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. 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. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. The friends rode over to Bobby Posey's house, where they learned Christopher had been whipped by his adoptive father, John Mark Byers, and planned to run away. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. But what is the purpose of that? "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.". 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. 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. 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. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. This is the world where fist meets face. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. }); The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. West Memphis Three Writing under penalty of perjury to the United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, Pamela would say that he ex-husband kept dentures in a lock-box. "We are trying to find the real killers. "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. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. Toggle dark mode Toggle dark mode Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three Who Killed The time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. 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. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. The West Memphis Three 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. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Workers at the Bojangles restaurant just a mile from the crime scene reported that at 8:42 p.m., a Black male had entered the premises and went into the women's bathroom. 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. West Memphis Three 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. West Memphis Three 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. 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. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ "Even if he files within the right court, there is no body that's required under habeas corpus because he's released," said Attorney General Griffin. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. West Memphis Three West Memphis Three | Background & Trial Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? However, that isn't quite the truth. "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. 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. Their trial, which included Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. Equally, Pamela's sister Jo Lynn McCaughey saw Hobbs washing clothes, bed linens, and curtains from Steve's room around the time of the killings. Undertaking a polygraph, Martin seemingly showed deception when asked, "Do you know what was used to tie up those three boys?" Memphis of the West Memphis Three When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. West Memphis Three He was interrogated for 12 hours with only two segments running to 46 minutes being recorded, and although he was read his Miranda rights, he later said that he hadn't understood them. After being told that she was questioning his involvement, Hobbs is alleged to have replied, "I could skin a man alive, I could cut him up.". Jones, the assistant juvenile probation officer, was one of the chief voices pushing the line alongside his supervisor Jerry Blackwood Driver. The West Memphis Three "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. 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 assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. The chief of police was not truthful. Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. 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. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. 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. 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. He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. 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." She would state that her son had strangely said "I love you, mom" repeatedly on the way home from school on the day he vanished. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. After 18 years behind bars, they were freed. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. 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. 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. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? 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. Sign up for newsletter today. ga('ads.send', { 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 The Forgotten West Memphis Three? of the West Memphis Three Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. 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. West Memphis police brought Terry Hobbs in for questioning in June 2007, and coverage soon led to a widespread examination of the original verdict, with Hobbs even telling police that some of his relatives suspected him in the killings. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders 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. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. 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. Who killed Stevie 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. Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. 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 use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. 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. 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. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. West Memphis Three The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. 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. On one occasion, she said she was with her son all day; on another that he left home around 4 p.m. 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. He kept a calendar of the lunar cycle so he and Jones could patrol the county and check for covens. 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.". hitType: 'event', In addition to the offender being a male who had a relationship with one or more of the victims, Clemente thinks the suspect was from the neighborhood, theorizing that he hid the bodies in order to give himself enough time to establish an alibi. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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. The case for his guilt was put forward by Echols himself in Peter Jackson's 'West of Memphis.' 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. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. 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. "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." The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. West Memphis Three The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. 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.