In August 2011, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. were released from prison after serving over 18 years for a crime they almost certainly did not commit. He was a second-grader at Weaver Elementary School. ET. That inability on the part of the doctors to determine the cause of Melissa Byers death was what prompted Sheriff Powell to telephone Witt. Their report was released in 2007 and helped to alter the publics view of the case. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. The following afternoon, their nude, beaten, and bound bodies were discovered in a drainage ditch less than a mile away. They were both found guilty on three counts of capital murder, according to the Arkansas Times. Following a series of documentaries that cast doubt on the investigation and law enforcements conclusion, high-profile supporters began to rally behind the imprisoned West Memphis Three.. French authorities and media reports say a teacher has been stabbed to death in southwestern France by a high school student. There he met with local law enforcement officers and with John Mark Byers, Melissas husband. Chris Byers mother, Melissa Byers had a longstanding addiction. Host Bob Ruff, who is also the creator of the "Truth & Justice podcast, noted that the mutilation led the original investigators to believe that this was a Satanic ritual.. Another hair found on a tree stump near the crime scene was found to be consistent with the DNA of David Jacoby, a friend of Hobbs, according to court documents. [Feature Photo: John Mark Byers via AP/Danny Johnston], Alex Murdaugh Begins Prison Sentence With New Haircut, What About Buster Murdaugh? He earned notoriety in the early 1930s when he died from multiple radiation-induced cancers after consuming Radithor , a popular patent medicine made from radium dissolved in water. Nov. 1, 2007 -- For 14 years, John Mark Byers said, he has been sure who murdered his son. Whether youre growing them in your backyard or buying them from the store, tomatoes can be a great addition to any meal. STRANGER THINGS season 3 has been released on Netflix with many fans binging the whole series at once. Only a cursory search of the area was done that night because of the time. Crime and poverty rates are significantly higher than the national average and the Bible Belt city ranked as the most the most dangerous in the state in 2018, reported USA Today. This review is from a person who hired this attorney. Jamie Clark Ballard stated that she heard Terry Hobbs call Stevie back to the house. Neuman-Lee examined the autopsy photos and said the injuries to Byers genital area looked consistent with turtle feeding, particularly because he had gouge marks on his inner thighs that could have been made by claws. Slip and fall, premise liability, dog bite and attack, and other injuries. how did christopher byers die Christopher Mark Byers. He died on May 5, 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansas, USA. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 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 . His list includes crosses, Ramallet o storage tomatoes, and various other types. Christopher Byers Teleconsultant, Emergency/Critical Care & Small Animal Internal Medicine at VetCT | Clinical support in your pocket Omaha, NE. Chris had an older half-brother named Ryan Clark who was 13 years old when the murders occurred. June 22, 2020 John Mark Byers, the stepfather of one of the children killed in the West Memphis Three case, has died. Once Will returned, life seemed to go back to normal, and as the Byers family was preparing for Christmas Eve, Chester stole raw meat off of the kitchen counter. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. pic.twitter.com/6GM88cJU4U, ShelbyTNSheriff (@ShelbyTNSheriff) June 19, 2020, In 1994, Damian Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr., and Jason Baldwin, all teens at the time, were convicted for the childrens murders. Christopher Byers, also known as Christopher Murray, was born on June 23rd, 1984. 3:30-4pm - Goes to Stevie's house to watch Muppet Babies with Amanda in the Den (per Pam's statement to police as well as her interview with Dimension Films). James F. Adams. They were bound up with their own shoelaces and found naked near a creek. Our monthly magazine is free at over 500 locations in Central Arkansas. He was never charged in connection with the deaths. For 48 years, our progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock has been on the front lines of the fight for truth, and with your support, we can do even more. Melissa was the biological mother of Chris Byers and Ryan Clark. Steven, usually referred to as "Stevie", was the son of Steven Branch, Sr. and Pamela Hicks Hobbs. Christopher Reeve Other Relationship with Gae Exton Trai Byers is American by birth. Her body was sent for autopsy to the office of the medical examiner at the Arkansas Crime Laboratory in Little Rock. Three teenagers were arrested and convicted for the crimes. On May 5, 1993, second-graders Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore disappeared from their West Memphis, Arkansas, homes. 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 . Like Echols, Misskelley was a high school dropout and was known for getting into fistfights and trouble around town, according to, His confession had numerous factual errors and inconsistencies, according to the, mental capacity rendered his confession involuntary, according to court documents obtained by, Although Misskelley recanted his confession, it was enough evidence to convict him. and 5a.m. At the time of his death, he was a second grader at Weaver Elementary School in West Memphis, AR. Their trials were recorded by a pair of documentary filmmakers working under contract with HBO. Baldwin lives in Austin, Texas, where in 2017 he founded the non-profit group Proclaim Justice, which advocates for victims of wrongful convictions. He advised her mouth was wide open, her eyes were closed, she was totally limp, and her arms were down by her side. One of the boys in the altercation carried a pocket knife belonging to Byers. It also could have been the work of wild animals, according to, Investigators soon zeroed in on 18-year-old high school dropout, He's like some wacko cult member," high school teacher Jim Ferguson told, Echols friend, Jason Baldwin, 16, was subsequently wrapped up in the investigation, and a third teenager, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, also came under scrutiny. When Byers wife died, the autopsy reports came back as "inconclusive". They seized the marijuana as evidence, along with a glass on the night stand which contained an alcoholic beverage, believed to be peach schnapps. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! John Mark Byers, Christopher's stepfather, reported the boys missing to the West Memphis Police Department at approximately 8 p.m., reported local newspaper the Memphis Flyer. of 72 and that his mental capacity rendered his confession involuntary, according to court documents obtained by Oxygen.com. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Although Misskelley recanted his confession, it was enough evidence to convict him. On Aug. 28, 1995, he entered into a plea agreement negotiated by his attorney and Stewart Lambert, a deputy prosecutor for the Third Judicial District. Throughout the trials, Melissa Byers and her husband, John Mark Byers, were seen frequently on TV, often cursing the defendants. It noted that she had been 68 inches tall and weighed 211 pounds. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ is a practicing dual board-certified veterinary specialist, recognized international speaker, and respected author. He refers to one boys as a blond. Two were sentenced to life in prison, and the third received the death penalty. Lawyers, father of victim, 8, say new evidence shows "West Memphis 3" innocent. Seasons 1-4 are streaming now. He lived with his mother, Melissa Byers, and stepfather, John Mark Byers. Brook is one minute older than his twin brother, Robin. With pressure on their backs to find the culprits, Arkansas authorities arrested three local "outcast" teenagers, known around . Not only had their son Christopher sustained the most savage of the attacks, but John Mark and Melissa Byers stood out as the most demonstrative of the parents in the film. fox hill country club membership cost. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." The 1998 Arkansas Times Academic All-Star Team nominees. Study now. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. sweet things to write in a baby book. In 1932, a famous American socialite called Eben Byers died after ingesting large amounts of radiation over . While the Arkansas State and U.S. Supreme Courts repeatedly denied the West Memphis Threes appeals, a new batch of DNA testing done in 2007 showed that no genetic material on the crime scene evidence was a match to Echols, Baldwin or Misskelley, reported the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. December 4, 2022 It's important to consider the soil composition and how it will affect the plants. Before granting his permission for the search, John Mark Byers had told a deputy sheriff that police would probably find a small amount of marijuana in the house. Sense ells no existirem. . Never do this in the heat of the moment. This is the last time she sees him. Watering every day with just a teaspoon or two works well. The victim had a silver-colored necklace with a cross around her neck.. Metz had been one of the last people to see Melissa Byers alive. All three were released from prison, including Echols, who spent years on death row. Radiation poisoning was the cause of the aplastic anemia that eventually killed Curie. By subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be helping us hire more writers and expand our coverage. While a Sharp County deputy took a statement from John Mark Byers and got his permission to search his home, Witt began taking notes about the condition of Melissa Byers body. His maternal grandfather was businessman Lewis Henry Lapham (1858-1934), co-founder of Texaco Oil Company. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims, Following a series of documentaries that cast doubt on the investigation and law enforcements conclusion, high-profile supporters began to rally behind the imprisoned , The debate rages to this day, and no one has a definitive answer. Funeral arrangement under the care ofLacy Funeral Home. Baldwin, 34, Echols and Misskelley, both 36, pleaded guilty to first- and second-degree murder charges while proclaiming their innocence, according to The New York Times. Furthermore, a hair found in one of the ligaturesused to bind the boys was found to be consistent with the DNA of Terry Hobbs, Stevies stepfather, according to court documents obtained by Oxygen.com. The childrens remains were found at the Robin Hood Hills in West Memphis, Arkansas. Help us deliver the latest daily reporting and analysis on news, politics, culture and food in Arkansas. The autopsies, by the forensic pathologist Frank J. Peretti, indicated that Byers died of "multiple injuries", while Moore and Branch died of "multiple injuries with drowning". Echols lived in a trailer park and stood out in the conservative small town. Amateur in golf. His body was found near Stevie Branch's, south of Michael Moore. The mutilation appeared to have been inflicted with a knife. They were later dubbed The West Memphis Three.. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has ordered Norfolk Southern. But u my friend have the strength of our Lord and Savior behind u. u r never alone. God Bless. Posted on July 4, 2022 by . The deputy signed an agreement stating that, if they did, Byers would not be charged with possession. Eventually one of Jerry's kids (his real kid) died of a drug overdose with not a penny in his pocket at age 45. They were stripped naked and hogtied with their own shoelaces. During his lifetime, Christopher had two primary partners: Gae Exton, a British modeling executive, and his late wife Dana Reeve (ne Morosini). The investigator entered several other observations and had the body photographed. Founded 1974, the Arkansas Times is a lively, opinionated source for news, politics & culture in Arkansas. By 1930, when Byers stopped taking the remedy, he had accumulated significant amounts of radium in his bones resulting in the loss of most of his jaw. The horror commenced on May 5, 1993, when three eight-year-old boys went missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. I blocked him.". Byers drank nearly 1400 bottles over three years. Though his cause of death was listed as "radium poisoning," his death was actually due to the cancer he developed because of Radithor. An arrest warrant was issued last month in connection to the death of a 16-year-old Thomas Nunn, [] Byers asked Metz to come over and see if she had a pulse. whittier union high school district superintendent. The neighbor quoted Melissa Byers as having screamed, You cant watch your family 24 hours, and you are going down.. In a case that shocked . Hobbs has consistently denied having anything to do with the killings of his stepson and his two best friends. Christopher Byers was born on June 23, 1984 as Christopher Lee Murray. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. In regards to Byers' extensive genitalia injuries, Dr. Hsu said if they had been inflicted with a knife, the wounds would be more consistent and cleaner. She said, however, that "there's a really good chance, high probability that that is purely animal activity post-mortem.". Aug. 9, 2011 12 AM PT. He is a trusted friend to his clients while providing legal services of the highest quality. Sometime after 1983, Chester disappeared, and Stranger Things season 3 revealed the dog's fate, which was also confirmed by a key actor. King reported that the man (with muddy feet, wearing a white cap, black pants, and a blue shirt) had blood on his face and arm and appeared "mentally disoriented," but had left the restaurant a few minutes before the officer arrived. Nov. 1, 2007 -- For 14 years, John Mark Byers said, he has been sure who murdered his son. Almost immediately after dumping them into the water, turtles came out of nowhere and just ripped all of the meat off, Ruff said. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The third boy, Byers, had died of loss of blood suffered during the removal of his penis. Christopher Byers Sales & Marketing Consultant . Family and friends can send flowers and condolences in memory of the loved one. . . Misskelly and Baldwin were sentenced to life in prison, and Echols, who was identified as the ringleader, was sentenced to death by lethal injection. The police department has said that they are investigating the death as a suicide after the ABC 33/40 newsman was found deceased just after 8 am on June 12. She said she saw them by "the drainage ditch down past Blue Beacon down by the bridge. 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.