who killed the west memphis three

However, this approach was countered by other officers who believed firmly the occult must be involved at some level, looking immediately toward Damien Echols, who had built a reputation in the local community. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. 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. They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. 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. They did not kill my son.. He kept a calendar of the lunar cycle so he and Jones could patrol the county and check for covens. 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. 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 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 West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. 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.". However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". 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. He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. 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 They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. 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. 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. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. 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, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. 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. }); West Memphis Three Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. During one visit to the station, officers used photographs of Echols, Misskelley and Baldwin for dart practice, having made their minds up about their guilt long before their arrests. Yet, while Arkansas certainly has problems seen throughout the South, such as poor wages, West Memphis was then a city of 30,000 with a wide variety of cultures. 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. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office announced on Twitter that Byers had been killed in an accident on Chambers Road and Shakerag Road in the Millington area on Thursday evening and then died after he was transported to a local hospital. Back with the search, the main focus was Robin Hood Hills near where witnesses last saw the trio, and that morning Branch andMoore's bikes were found next to a pipe bridge that crossed the bayou. 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. In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. }); There are significant issues with the confession, with his claims not aligning with the autopsy and crime scene evidence, seemingly changing his story depending on who he was talking with. 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal of Rob Zombie, Korn, Marilyn Manson and Nine Inch Nails. Like John Mark Byers, Hobbs was a wifebeater. The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. With the addition of a 10-year suspended sentence, a probation type sentencing which meant if they did anything illegal they would be put back in jail, the West Memphis Three were sentenced to time served. West Memphis Three His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. 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. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three 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). 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. The West Memphis Three hitType: 'event', Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three Who killed Stevie eventAction: 'render' Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. West Memphis Three | Background & Trial By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Until 2007, when the discovery of new forensic evidence reopened the case and a new statute permitting post-conviction testing of DNA evidence came about. gads_event = event; Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. 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. 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. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. 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 . He was 62. 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. He was called a 'baby killer.'. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. 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. He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. 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. 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." There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. They still had the convictions, but the men would be free. 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. 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. 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. Byers claimed the knife had never even been used, changing his story to say he'd used it to cut deer meat after the presence of blood was found. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three However, that isn't quite the truth. } Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. 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. Memphis It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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. The chief of police was not truthful. Kara Goldfarb is a writer living in New York City. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and The inherent belief in that line of thought eventually led to the arrest of 18-year-old Damien Echols, 17-year-old Jessie Misskelley Jr., and 16-year-old Jason Baldwin, three out-of-sorts teens who became popularly known as "The West Memphis Three.". No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. The plea deal was accepted. Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". He showed several old scars from prior injuries. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. Baldwin got life behind bars, and Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection. West Memphis Three released from prison after window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Messed Up Truth About The West Memphis Three It wouldn't be the only evidence that linked Hobbs to the murders, with his wife Pamela finding a knife that her son had carried with him in her husband's nightstand. "I 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. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. West Memphis Three eventAction: 'click_adunit' He took one of them I don't know which one cut him on I think it was on this side of his face.". Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. 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. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. 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. 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 May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview West Memphis Three Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. 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. West Memphis Three When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. 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. A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. killed Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. 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. 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. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. 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. 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. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. 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. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. 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. Terry Hobbs, meanwhile, still believes in the guilt of the West Memphis Three, telling Memphis ABC affiliate WATN in 2019 that "I still believe in my heart that Jessie, Jason, and Damion Echols are responsible for what happened to our children.". 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. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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.

Anc Newspapers Phone Number, Articles W