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. A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. 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. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. 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. Moore. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? 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. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. 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. That's mostly during the teenage years.". Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. Sign up for newsletter today. When investigators found the boys bodies on May 6, 1993, they had been jammed into the muddy ground of the bayou, and their clothes had been submerged in the water with sticks. },false) Starting in the weeks that followed the killings, documentary filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case for their film "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills," airing in June 1996 on HBO. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. Kara Goldfarb is a writer living in New York City. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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 documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. Their trial, which included 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. He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal Never mentioned in the autopsy or at either trial, they didn't match for Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin. 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. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. If you found this interesting, you might also want to read about the study that finds black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. 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. They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. 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. 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. 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. 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. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. 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. 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. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. Judge David Burnett, the original trial judge, disallowed the presentation of the new information in his court in 2008, citing the DNA tests as inconclusive. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. 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. 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. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". Three teenage boys convicted of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, but light rain makes brief return, CHONK: State champion quartet prepping for show this weekend, Opinion: Fix loophole that increases copay costs for prescription drugs, Ambulancia para pacientes "posedos" lleva psiclogos y exorcistas en Bolivia. "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. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. } On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. }); 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. 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. 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. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic 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. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. 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. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. eventAction: 'load' They would have been local and have a violent history, be familiar with the victims, and were engaging in a personal cause when they killed the boys. } While the documentary opened the public's eyes to the miscarriage of justice that had transpired to get Echols, Miskelley Jr., and Baldwin convicted for a crime they did not commit, it also threw doubt on Byers, a suspicious character who seemed to have a penchant for theatrics. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. While the stepfather initially denied it had ever been used, he later changed his story and said he had used it just once, to cut deer meat. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. 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. So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. 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. Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. 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. Tape recorded, Misskelley would claim that "When the boys came up, Damien grabbed one of them, I don't know which one and the other two tried to get Damien to stop, and then me and Jason come out and started grabbing them, started hitting them." 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. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); }); 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. }); }); 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 Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. Talking with police and his lawyer present in the room, he would ignore advice from his counsel to remain silent and detailed how the West Memphis Three had abused and murdered the victims. "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. 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. Toggle dark mode 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. 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. "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. 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. 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. An investigation of the murders looked into several suspects, including the stepfather of Steve Branch as well as two teenage boys who had abruptly fled to California shortly after the bodies were discovered. All Rights Reserved. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 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. }) While his repeated confessions may seem incriminating, Lawyer Dan Stidman would say in a 1999 letter to the court that "Absolutely nothing Misskelley told the officers or prosecutors would ever be admissible against him. 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. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 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. At the scene, Steve Jones, assistant juvenile probation officer, openly speculated that Echols was capable of the crime, saying, "it looks like Damien Echols finally killed someone.". Quoted by WMC-TV in 2013, Jacoby said, "They said close to the crime scene because at one time I did walk near where they had found the kids with Terry Hobbs, his father-in-law, his wife," adding. 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. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. The plea deal was accepted. "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. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. 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 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." 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. The discovery comes after West Memphis Police Chief Michael Pope resigned Tuesday. Jul. 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. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". Based on the new information, the three men asked for an Alford plea, in which the defendant maintains their innocence, but acknowledge that prosecutors have evidence to convict them. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. 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. All three would be happy to talk, with Bly saying that Misskelley was the leader of a Satanic cult that also involved Baldwin, Echols, his girlfriend Domini Teer, and others 20 in all. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. If the offender came across the boys as they were doing something wrong or misbehaving, it would have been even easier to control and reprimand them, said Clemente. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The friends rode over to Bobby Posey's house, where they learned Christopher had been whipped by his adoptive father, John Mark Byers, and planned to run away. They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. While he remained immature, he was on an early road to adulthood as he worked part-time as a roofer and expecting a baby with his girlfriend, Domini Teer. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. }); However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. },false) Toggle dark mode He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. There were even witnesses who placed Misskelley at his trailer until 6:30 p.m., the time the boys went missing, with one revealing he picked him up to go wrestling around 7:30 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 But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. 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. 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.". Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. 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. The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. Despite the continuing doubts over the testimony, police pulled in Misskelley on June 3 alongside two other alleged cult members, Ricky Climer and Alvis Bly. He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. Based on the way the boys were tied up hands bound on either side of the body to the same side ankle Clemente theorized the suspect is somebody who works with animal carcasses, a butcher or a hunter., [T]he ligatures are not restraining ligatures. 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 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.'. The time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff. 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. 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. 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. 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." 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. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph.