who killed the west memphis three
The varying wounds included unrecognized bites, and possible stab wounds to his groin and castration, with some putting this down to animal predation. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. All three appealed the convictions. While he was on medication that may have affected the outcome, including Xanax, it seems that his suspected involvement in the killings was a complete dead end. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Back with the search, the main focus was Robin Hood Hills near where witnesses last saw the trio, and that morning Branch andMoore's bikes were found next to a pipe bridge that crossed the bayou. She also revealed that her ex-husband had once asked her sister point-blank if she suspected him in the killings. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. 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. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. 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. 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. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. The gruesome nature of their deaths led both police and the community to theorize that there had been a satanic element involved something that wasn't too farfetched in the "Bible Belt, where Satanic Panic" was at its peak. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. hitType: 'event', Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. It became humiliating, something I'd do everything I could to hide from the rest of the world. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. 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. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. 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. document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. 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. 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. Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. 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. 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. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. let gads_event; The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. 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. ga('ads.send', { He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. WebSeason 1 Episode 1 Preview: Host and investigator Bob Ruff explores the flaws from the original ""West Memphis Three"" case to lay the groundwork for his evidence-driven investigation. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); He was 62. They still had the convictions, but the men would be free. But what is the purpose of that? Equally, Wiccans reject their beliefs are a form of Satanism, with the movement being closer to Neo-Paganism and nature religions and almost exclusively pacifistic in nature. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. 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. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal The discovery comes after West Memphis Police Chief Michael Pope resigned Tuesday. 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. 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. eventAction: 'view' The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. 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. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. 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.'. 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. 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. 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. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. He was 62. He was 62. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. 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 People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. 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. YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. },false) He was called a 'baby killer.'. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". The Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. 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. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. }); Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. 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. Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. 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. However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. Initially a suspect himself amongst some people, John Mark Byers added his voice to those doubts before being killed in a car crash last year. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Their trial, which included And while both Michael and Steve had bruises across their body, Christopher had suffered the most gruesome injuries and had lacerations to various parts of his body, and mutilation to his scrotum and penis. 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," retired FBI Supervisory Agent Jim Clemente saysin "The Forgotten West Memphis Three.". } }) He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. "We are trying to find the real killers. ga('ads.send', { } 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. Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". "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.". Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. 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." Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. Jul. While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. While Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley may have begun to rebuild their lives, there is still no solace or closure for the families of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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. }); It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. }); window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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. hitType: 'event', eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ WebSeason 1 Episode 1 Preview: Host and investigator Bob Ruff explores the flaws from the original ""West Memphis Three"" case to lay the groundwork for his evidence-driven investigation. Meeting with Echols, Hutcheson reported that nothing incriminating was said. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Get an 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. 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. gads_event = event; When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. ", '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! 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. 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 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. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. They allowed police and other workers to walk through the creek, trampling possible evidence such as footprints, and equally failed to drain the water quickly to preserve other evidence. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. 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. Goths, punks and skaters were in the ascendency, and Middle America was horrified. Offers may be subject to change without notice. He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. 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. However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. 1." There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal 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.". 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 eventAction: 'click_image_ads' 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? The belief in a Satanic aspect to the crime was aided by Vicki Hutcheson and her son, when after discovering the bodies, Aaron claimed he'd witnessed the killings. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. 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. ET. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. One such suspect was none other than Byers. 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. During the filming, Byers had given cameraman Doug Cooper a hunting knife which makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky handed over to the police after discovering what appeared to be blood on it. On one occasion, she said she was with her son all day; on another that he left home around 4 p.m. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. 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. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." },false) 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. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. eventAction: 'render' 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. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. 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. 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. 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.". 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 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. 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. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. He was sentenced to life plus 40 years. 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 polygraph indicated some level of deception in his statements to police, yet it should be noted that a heart condition may have affected the results. 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.". The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. 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). 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.". There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder.
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