who killed the west memphis three

West Memphis Three | Background & Trial 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. 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. eventAction: 'render' Who Killed A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and 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. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. West Memphis Three On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. West Memphis Three }); 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. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. }); 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. 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('ads.send', { No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 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. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. Kara Goldfarb is a writer living in New York City. Memphis He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. 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. 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 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. West Memphis Three Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. eventAction: 'view' A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. The West Memphis Three pg.acq.push(function() { eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. 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. West Memphis Three 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. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three The plea deal was accepted. 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, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. The varying wounds included unrecognized bites, and possible stab wounds to his groin and castration, with some putting this down to animal predation. Writing in his future memoir, "Life After Death," Echols would say, "Down here in the deep, dark South we know and live with the real world. Jul. Jul. 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. Their trial, which included Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. eventAction: 'click_adunit' West Memphis Three It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. They did not kill my son.. 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. 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. of the West Memphis Three 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.'. During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders Yet, few could give details. 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. 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. connection to West Memphis Three Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. Baldwin meanwhile has ambitions to become a lawyer and began work for a construction company, with Misskelley getting engaged to his high school girlfriend and training as a mechanic. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. hitType: 'event', hitType: 'event', In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. 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. Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. "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. 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. 'Feels Like Home:' electrical failure from a light fixture caused December fire that killed 1, Shelby County reporting an increase in drug-related overdoses, largely due to fentanyl, Severe weather threat is over | Prepare for a sunny weekend, Daylight saving time starts soon. West Memphis Three Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. 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. One such suspect was none other than 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. "Lawyers have to follow the law and when you file in the wrong place that's not my fault," said Attorney General Griffin. However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. 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. 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. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal 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.". Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. Devastating Photos Of Hiroshima Before And After The Atomic Bombing That Changed History Forever, Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Teaching Pug Nazi Salute [VIDEO], What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate, woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. In many respects, the reaction to these new youth movements was nothing new, with the metal bands of the 1970s and 80s having faced similar condemnation as "the Devil's music." Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. 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. In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. 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. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. 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. hitType: 'event', 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. West Memphis Three | Background & Trial He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. 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. 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. }); 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. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. 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. He was muddy, bleeding, and brushed against the walls, leaving behind blood stains and feces on the walls, stall, and floor. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. He again repeated the incorrect police suspicion that Echols had sexually violated one of the boys, claiming this time his friend had ejaculated on the victim's trousers. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. The state of Arkansas was hoping to do like they do in so many other cases with poor people, with people who are powerless to defend themselves. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. 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. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. 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. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal 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. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? The story will be familiar to many working-class American youths, with Echols' poverty and mental health struggles disconnecting him from society, writing that "As I grew older I learned to be ashamed of being poor, too. 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. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. West Memphis Three Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. He was called a 'baby killer.'. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. Undertaking a polygraph, Martin seemingly showed deception when asked, "Do you know what was used to tie up those three boys?" It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". Medical examiners were split on whether the three boys died the night they went missing or the morning after, and the bite marks wouldn't even be noticed until photographs were examined years later. 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. 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. 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." West Memphis Three Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents defendant Damien Echols, wrote in a Wednesday statement that he located evidence from the case after being granted access to the police department through an Arkansas state court order, according to WREG. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. It took them 18 years to clear their names. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. 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. Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of }); 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. The chief of police was not truthful. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. 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. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. Never mentioned in the autopsy or at either trial, they didn't match for Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin. 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. 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. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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 had to spend this time because if he didn't, he would get caught. },false) ga('ads.send', { Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. They drew pentagrams, skulls, and snakes on art materials and surprised those at a football game by arriving dressed in black with black tears painted on their faces. "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.". West Memphis Three All Rights Reserved. However, that isn't quite the truth. 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.". "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. With John Mark Byers ruled out, revelations in 2007 would point in a new direction equally close to home. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three Their trial, which included 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Well, it minimizes the package a little bit and makes it easier to control after they're dead.. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism.