"But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". One such suspect was none other than Byers. 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 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. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. Beyond his tales about Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols, Climber claimed to have beaten a police officer, hung a woman and sacrificed a second lady. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. The alert was assigned to Officer Regenia Meek, who filled out reports and, with Officer John Moore, did a brief search, but nothing more expansive. 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. Jones, the assistant juvenile probation officer, was one of the chief voices pushing the line alongside his supervisor Jerry Blackwood Driver. 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. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. 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. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. On Feb. 8, Misskelley claimed he had been drunk at the time of the killings and was drinking Evan Williams whiskey, claiming that he had thrown a bottle away under a bridge in West Memphis, swearing on the Bible as to the truth of his latest claims. ga('ads.send', { "We feel strongly that we are in the right. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 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. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? "I am innocent, as are Jason and Jessie, but I made this decision because I did not want to spend another day of my life behind those bars," Echols told the "Arkansas Times." 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. Toggle dark mode Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. hitType: 'event', They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. 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. YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. However, this approach was countered by other officers who believed firmly the occult must be involved at some level, looking immediately toward Damien Echols, who had built a reputation in the local community. 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. "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. 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. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. However, that isn't quite the truth. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. However, it wasn't just about the music with many embracing rebellious philosophies that were inherently offensive to the traditions of Christianity, respect and patriotism that have always defined small-town rural America. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Sign up for newsletter today. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. 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(){ He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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. Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. 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. Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. Another story claimed Aaron saw a mass of "The Dragons," an alleged coven with five members, spoke Spanish and sang about Satan. 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. 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. At one point, he told locals he obtained superpowers from consuming human blood and was often seen to have sharpened his fingernails and drawn deliberately provocative tattoos on himself. 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 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. While Morgan, Holland and "Mr. Bojangles" already seem to have more against them than Echols, the police were now focusing solely on the one angle and one suspect, getting Vicki Hutcheson to agree to have her home wired. The case for his guilt was put forward by Echols himself in Peter Jackson's 'West of Memphis.' He had an extensive collection of animal skulls, including dogs and cats and local rumors said that he had killed a dog, while no evidence was ever provided. 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. 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. 1." However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. That's mostly during the teenage years.". When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. }); Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); It became humiliating, something I'd do everything I could to hide from the rest of the world. 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 Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. pg.acq.push(function() { Baldwin got life behind bars, and Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of 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. ", '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! 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. 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. 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. ADVERTISEMENT Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. 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. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. He was muddy, bleeding, and brushed against the walls, leaving behind blood stains and feces on the walls, stall, and floor. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". 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. With John Mark Byers ruled out, revelations in 2007 would point in a new direction equally close to home. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! The three men spent nearly 17 years in prison before being released in 2012 after entering an Alford plea, pleading guilty while maintaining their innocence. The chief of police was not truthful. 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. Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. 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.". 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. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and 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 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. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. ET. Who killed Stevie This is the world where fist meets face. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. 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.". The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Their clothing was found in the same creek, and some of it had been twisted around sticks that had been fixed into the muddy ditch bed. 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. }); 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. 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. eventAction: 'click_adunit' 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. ET. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. 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. 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. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 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.". 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. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. let gads_event; }); 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. We are one of the worlds fastest growing 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. In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. 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. 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. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. 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: 'load' 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview A formal interview on May 9 led to further suspicion against the young man when he mentioned the damage to Byer's genitals, something seen as incriminating. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 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 Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. 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. 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. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. There is no mention of Santic overtones or symbolism in the early written reports by police, nor correspondence with the FBI. The plea deal was accepted. He was 62. 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. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. hitType: 'event', Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} 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. He was called a 'baby killer.'. 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. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. Toggle dark mode They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. 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. Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. 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. Meeting with Echols, Hutcheson reported that nothing incriminating was said. Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. A popular perception is that in New York or Los Angeles, is the lifestyles of the West Memphis Three wouldn't have drawn comment, but in Arkansas, it was a different story. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. She would state that her son had strangely said "I love you, mom" repeatedly on the way home from school on the day he vanished. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a }) No matter who committed those terrible crimes at Robin Hood Hills, they still walk free 28 years later, and until the culprits are found, the case is far from over.
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