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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. gads_event = event; 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. But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. All Rights Reserved. We are one of the worlds fastest growing Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. eventAction: 'render' 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. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. ga('ads.send', { Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. Furthermore, Clemente believes the assailant was a male in his 30s who is either biologically related to one or more of the victims, a family member, or a very close community member. He was 62. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. One such suspect was none other than Byers. 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. Who killed Stevie How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. 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. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. The varying wounds included unrecognized bites, and possible stab wounds to his groin and castration, with some putting this down to animal predation. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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 bodies were immediately removed from the water before the coroner arrived, meaning that they were exposed to sunlight and insects before judgments could be made surrounding rigor mortis and the time of death. 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." Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. But what is the purpose of that? Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { 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. hitType: 'event', ET. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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. 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. "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. To this day, it is still unclear who is responsible for the brutal murders, and in hopes of uncovering new potential leads, investigative podcaster Bob Ruff reexamined the case in The Forgotten West Memphis Three, streaming now on Oxygen. They did not kill my son.. ", '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! 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. 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. 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. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. 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. 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. },false) She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. 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. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. 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. Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Their trial, which included A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. 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. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. With the addition of a 10-year suspended sentence, a probation type sentencing which meant if they did anything illegal they would be put back in jail, the West Memphis Three were sentenced to time served. 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. Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. 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 ET. 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. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 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 West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. 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 the new evidence in hand alongside expert testimony that suggested the knife wounds and mutilation had been animal predation, Echols petitioned for a retrial. 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. }); Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. 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. The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. 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. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. }); }); Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. 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. The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. } Moore. 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. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. 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.". Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. The three would be confirmed to be together between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with the boys spotted headed toward Robin Hood Hills; Terry Hobbs, Branch's stepfather, calling out for them to return. 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. }); His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. 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). 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. "We are trying to find the real killers. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. 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. He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. The chief of police was not truthful. He has devoted himself to writing, music and art. 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. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. Trinocular Co-Axial 1500x Metallurgical Microscope with Top-Bottom Light with 2MP Camera, Trinocular Microscope with DIN Objective and Camera 40x - 2000x, Junior Medical Microscope with Wide Field Eyepiece & LED 100x - 1500x, Trinocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x, Binocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. 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 March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 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. 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.". 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. 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. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. 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. However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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. 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. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. 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. 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. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Example video title will go here for this video. 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. 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. Many pointed to the irony in that insult, since Byers himself was considered by many to be complicit in not just the boys' murder, and the death of his second wife as well, who had passed away three years after her son's killing. 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. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. 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 I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. 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 quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. 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. It took them 18 years to clear their names.
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