who killed the west memphis three who killed the west memphis three

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. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 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. A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. },false) The police were called, but he had left by the time they arrived, and nobody from law enforcement entered the bathroom until the next day after the discovery of the bodies. He was 62. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. 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. 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. 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 took one of them I don't know which one cut him on I think it was on this side of his face.". 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. 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.". He was 62. 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. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. 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. The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. After 18 years behind bars, they were freed. During the weeks that followed, law enforcement would only state that Echols was a source of information, not officially designating him a suspect despite looking at him more than anyone else. "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. 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. 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. 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. gads_event = event; March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. With the new evidence in hand alongside expert testimony that suggested the knife wounds and mutilation had been animal predation, Echols petitioned for a retrial. The Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. 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. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. 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. ET. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. 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. 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. All three achieved the rank of "Wolf," and Moore had his blue Boy Scouts of America shirt and Boy Scout hat on as he ventured out on his bicycle. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. }); By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. ga('ads.send', { } Who killed Stevie Yet, the moral panic would culturally define the decade for many youths, lingering as the remnants of the "Satanic Panic" that led to many wrongful convictions a decade earlier. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. All three appealed the convictions. 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. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. ga('ads.send', { 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. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. hitType: 'event', 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. 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"We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. 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. ET. 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. Their trial, which included They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas After three years of fighting to get new evidence tested for DNA, the state is saying the West Memphis Three petition should be tossed out. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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.". He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. Baldwin got life behind bars, and Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. Yet, few could give details. 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. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. "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.". It took them 18 years to clear their names. Echols unwisely began to tell the fanatical Driver tall tales about local cults and animal sacrifices when Driver became his parole officer, telling him that he followed Wicca. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. We will fully comply with any lawful request made regarding this case.". New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. If some stranger who looked very threatening approached these three boys, I think the first reaction of these boys would be to run away, to look for help. He was 62. 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. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. 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. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. hitType: 'event', However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. Having once been adamant on the West Memphis Three's guilt, he accepted their innocence and, instead, pointed the finger at Terry Hobbs, Steve's stepfather. During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. Over the years, however, the West Memphis Three continued to maintain their innocence, claiming they had nothing to do with the slayings of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, who were each found nude, hogtied, and mutilated in a bayou. Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. Another story claimed Aaron saw a mass of "The Dragons," an alleged coven with five members, spoke Spanish and sang about Satan. 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. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a The first of that evidence emerged during the filming of HBO's 1996 documentary on the case: 'Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills.'. "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.".