Jul. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. }); Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". 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). 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. hitType: 'event', Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. Many pointed to the irony in that insult, since Byers himself was considered by many to be complicit in not just the boys' murder, and the death of his second wife as well, who had passed away three years after her son's killing. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. 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. 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. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. One such suspect was none other than Byers. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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. }); Goths, punks and skaters were in the ascendency, and Middle America was horrified. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. Despite the defense stating that Echols' statements on Byers genitals and the boys being drowned could have been public knowledge locally, particularly considering known leaks had been made, both Echols and Baldwin were found guilty on three counts of murder. Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, and his legal team have hit another obstacle as they try to get the court's permission to test newly found evidence for DNA. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. 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 . eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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 Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. hitType: 'event', Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. "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. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. "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. }); VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. 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. Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. In 2010, the West Memphis Three were granted to appear before the Arkansas Supreme Court based on the new DNA evidence and potential misconduct by the jury. 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 ga('ads.send', { How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. 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. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and 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. But what is the purpose of that? He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. 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. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten 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). 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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. }); 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.". Their trial, which included 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. 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. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. 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.". March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. He was 62. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". The truth is, the ongoing debate over whether Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were guilty has often clouded the undoubted fact that justice remains elusive for the other West Memphis Three, Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. ", '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! 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. 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. However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. 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. However, that isn't quite the truth. 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. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. 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. }); The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. 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. The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. 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. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. }); Meanwhile, at the Marion Police Department, Detective Don Bray was attempting to administer a polygraph test to Vicki Hutcheson, who had recently moved to the city. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. 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. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. 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. Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. 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 Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. At the trial, the prosecution continued the claims of Satanic overtones, calling Dale W. Griffis of the unaccredited Columbia Pacific University distance learning school as an "expert" witness to affirm the killings were definitely occult related. In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. 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). 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. 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 Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Toggle dark mode Their trial, which included 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. It took them 18 years to clear their names. ga('ads.send', { 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 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. 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. For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. 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. 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 three would be confirmed to be together between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with the boys spotted headed toward Robin Hood Hills; Terry Hobbs, Branch's stepfather, calling out for them to return. "We are trying to find the real killers. 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.". WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. 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. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. 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. "We are pleased that the evidence is intact," Benca said, according to WREG. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. 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. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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.". It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. let gads_event; The plea deal was accepted. Working at the crime scene, police made a series of errors that would significantly impede the case. },false) Despite doubt over the way authorities handled the case, as well as a lack of substantial evidence, the West Memphis Three were found guilty. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. This is the world where fist meets face. eventAction: 'click_ads' Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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 Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. 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. However, her description of the boy she nearly hit was inconsistent with either Branch, Byers or Moore, and it was, in fact, a fourth boy by the name of George Taylor. ga('ads.send', { 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. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. Both had histories of drug offenses, and Morgan claimed to police he suffered from memory loss and blackouts, stating he "might have" killed the three boys. 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. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. 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. Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. Benca said he hopes the evidence can be tested for DNA to help clear the name of his client, who along with Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley Jr. was convicted of murder as a teenager in 1994. Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult.
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