In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. "We are trying to find the real killers. Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. Echols interest in the occult as an outlet led him to Wicca, and he was a reader of Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey and English occultist Aleister Crowley. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. ET. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. } The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. ET. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. 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. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. All three appealed the convictions. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Example video title will go here for this video. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. 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. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. 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. Jul. Judge David Burnett, the original trial judge, disallowed the presentation of the new information in his court in 2008, citing the DNA tests as inconclusive. Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. While he remained immature, he was on an early road to adulthood as he worked part-time as a roofer and expecting a baby with his girlfriend, Domini Teer. It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. Toggle dark mode Beyond his tales about Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols, Climber claimed to have beaten a police officer, hung a woman and sacrificed a second lady. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. }); 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. 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. pg.acq.push(function() { The Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. Attorney General Griffin expects Echols' legal team to refile in Craighead County, but he said that it won't make a difference in the long run. He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. The alert was assigned to Officer Regenia Meek, who filled out reports and, with Officer John Moore, did a brief search, but nothing more expansive. There was circumstantial evidence to suggest Byers knew more than he let on. 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. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. Sign up for newsletter today. 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.". Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. 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 the distinctive people in the town of West Memphis; however, there was little evidence suggesting they killed the three young boys. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. 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. To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. 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. Despite doubt over the way authorities handled the case, as well as a lack of substantial evidence, the West Memphis Three were found guilty. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. ga('ads.send', { Now, the attorneys are responding in court. 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. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. It took them 18 years to clear their names. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. 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. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". 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. He even said that he saw John Mark Byers assisting in the killings. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. That's mostly during the teenage years.". 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. }) Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. },false) One such suspect was none other than Byers. 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. The chief of police was not truthful. Who killed Stevie 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Benca said he hopes the evidence can be tested for DNA to help clear the name of his client, who along with Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley Jr. was convicted of murder as a teenager in 1994. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. Meeting with Echols, Hutcheson reported that nothing incriminating was said. 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. ", '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! 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. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. 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. 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." 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 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. Byers claimed the knife had never even been used, changing his story to say he'd used it to cut deer meat after the presence of blood was found. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. }); Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. }) The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. During one visit to the station, officers used photographs of Echols, Misskelley and Baldwin for dart practice, having made their minds up about their guilt long before their arrests. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. Toggle dark mode hitType: 'event', 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. 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 generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. 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. 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. 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.

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