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. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". Who killed Stevie 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. 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. During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? However, a hair "not inconsistent with" Steve Branch's stepfather, Terry Hobbs, was found, and crucially it was tied into the knots of the bindings that had hogtied one of the children. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? eventAction: 'click_ads' 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. 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. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. 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. 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. On one occasion, she said she was with her son all day; on another that he left home around 4 p.m. To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. }) Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. They still had the convictions, but the men would be free. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. The Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." },false) Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. 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. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? It took them 18 years to clear their names. The plea deal was accepted. 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 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. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. 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. 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 Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. Jul. hitType: 'event', 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. But what is the purpose of that? Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. pg.acq.push(function() { Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". hitType: 'event', 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. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. 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. Beyond his tales about Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols, Climber claimed to have beaten a police officer, hung a woman and sacrificed a second lady. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. With the evidence mounting that all three accused had been innocent, the deal ensured that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley would never be allowed to pursue civil action against the state of Arkansas for wrongful imprisonment. However, that isn't quite the truth. Despite doubt over the way authorities handled the case, as well as a lack of substantial evidence, the West Memphis Three were found guilty. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. }); ", 'Very open to the idea': Julia Wandelt takes DNA test to verify if she is missing Swiss girl Livia Schepp, Kayla Lemieux: Teacher with prosthetic Z-cup breasts suspended WITH PAY after pics show her dressed as man, 'We have lots to reveal': Madeleine McCann lookalike Julia Wandelt posts footage of meeting with PI probing claims, Lindsay Clancy case: Psychologist reveals psychosis red flags family members could have spotted, Horror at Larchwood Care! Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. 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. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". 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. 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. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. Devastating Photos Of Hiroshima Before And After The Atomic Bombing That Changed History Forever, Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Teaching Pug Nazi Salute [VIDEO], What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate, woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. Trinocular Co-Axial 1500x Metallurgical Microscope with Top-Bottom Light with 2MP Camera, Trinocular Microscope with DIN Objective and Camera 40x - 2000x, Junior Medical Microscope with Wide Field Eyepiece & LED 100x - 1500x, Trinocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x, Binocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x. He was 62. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. 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 . 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 Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 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. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ 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. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. ga('ads.send', { Now, the attorneys are responding in court. They allowed police and other workers to walk through the creek, trampling possible evidence such as footprints, and equally failed to drain the water quickly to preserve other evidence. 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. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." The following morning, May 6, a far more thorough search throughout West Memphis began, Crittenden County Search and Rescue personnel leading the effort, including the use of a helicopter. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. 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. 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. Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. 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. Jul. "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. However, Aaron's story constantly changed, saying on one occasion he saw a victim bundled into a car by a Black man and on another stated that he witnessed the killings but didn't know who the killers were. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. Judge Laser vacated all previous convictions and ordered a new trial where the West Memphis Three would be allowed to make the plea, sentencing them to time served. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. 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. The case for his guilt was put forward by Echols himself in Peter Jackson's 'West of Memphis.' 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. Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. He even said that he saw John Mark Byers assisting in the killings. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? }); Medical examiners were split on whether the three boys died the night they went missing or the morning after, and the bite marks wouldn't even be noticed until photographs were examined years later. }); 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. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. 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. 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. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. 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. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. 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. 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 Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 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 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. 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. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. 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. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. We are one of the worlds fastest growing 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 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. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview She also revealed that her ex-husband had once asked her sister point-blank if she suspected him in the killings. ga('ads.send', { 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. 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. 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. } Now, Attorney General Tim Griffin has requested the Arkansas Supreme Court to dismiss the case based on the fact that the petition was filed in Crittenden County but Echols was convicted in Craighead County. But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ 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. 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. The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. gads_event = event; 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. On one occasion after the killings at Robin Hood Hills, he had beaten Pamela so severely that she told the family that she thought her jaw was broken, prompting them to drive to the Hobbs home to confront him. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. 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. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. 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." 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. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. Toggle dark mode Goths, punks and skaters were in the ascendency, and Middle America was horrified. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. Two of the boys' underwear, however, was missing. Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. 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. Prosecutors would only give up harassing Misskelley for his testimony when I threatened to hold a press conference and disclose their efforts to entice his testimony." 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. Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. Despite suspicion eventually falling away from Byers, Jason Baldwin praised the "Paradise Lost" documentaries as essential to their case, telling the "National Podcast of Texas" in 2019 that "The documentary saved my life, saved Damien's life, and saved Jessie's life. Moore. Jones, the assistant juvenile probation officer, was one of the chief voices pushing the line alongside his supervisor Jerry Blackwood Driver. 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. He was 62. The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. ga('ads.send', { Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. All Rights Reserved. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. 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. Echols and Baldwin were best friends and shared a profound distaste for Bible Belt life in West Memphis, Arkansas and were drawn toward the rebellion of metal music and associated books and movies. 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. } But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. 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." The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. hitType: 'event', Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. 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. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Candy-Land idealism is quietly suffocated in the relentless humidity. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. 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.". He was 62. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity.
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