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Based on the new information, the three men asked for an Alford plea, in which the defendant maintains their innocence, but acknowledge that prosecutors have evidence to convict them. 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. Yet, the moral panic would culturally define the decade for many youths, lingering as the remnants of the "Satanic Panic" that led to many wrongful convictions a decade earlier. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. Judge Laser vacated all previous convictions and ordered a new trial where the West Memphis Three would be allowed to make the plea, sentencing them to time served. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. 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. ga('ads.send', { This would give him no time to meet his Echols and Baldwin, get drunk as he claimed, and then kill three children in an extended attack in the woods. 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. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. Hutcheson was accused of settling from her employer and forced to bring her young son, Aaron Hutcheson, to the interview. 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. Curiously, most of the injuries suffered by Byers were to the lower body, whereas the damage inflicted on Branch and Moore was primarily to the upper body. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. ga('ads.send', { Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. 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. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. 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. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. One such suspect was none other than Byers. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), eventAction: 'click_image_ads' 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. The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. He was 62. 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. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. 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. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." On one occasion, she said she was with her son all day; on another that he left home around 4 p.m. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. 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. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. Like John Mark Byers, Hobbs was a wifebeater. A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. 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. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. 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. After being told that she was questioning his involvement, Hobbs is alleged to have replied, "I could skin a man alive, I could cut him up.". By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. Who killed Stevie However, her description of the boy she nearly hit was inconsistent with either Branch, Byers or Moore, and it was, in fact, a fourth boy by the name of George Taylor. 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. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. Baldwin got life behind bars, and Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! }); The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. 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. With John Mark Byers ruled out, revelations in 2007 would point in a new direction equally close to home. Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. 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 He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), However, it wouldn't only be many of the victims' families who were dissatisfied, with former FBI criminal profiler John E. Douglas saying the killings were likely the work of one individual whose intent was to degrade the victims. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. But what is the purpose of that? No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. 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 } 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. ga('ads.send', { 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. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. If the offender came across the boys as they were doing something wrong or misbehaving, it would have been even easier to control and reprimand them, said Clemente. 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. Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. }); 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. It took them 18 years to clear their names. It is easy for many to look at the South as hillbilly central, full of prejudice and backward attitudes, with somewhat elitist attitudes often prevalent when discussing the case. pg.acq.push(function() { Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. The Supreme Court ruled that a defendant would be deprived of his rights if a confession was introduced in a joint trial under the Confrontation Clause of the Sixth Amendment, stating that "in all criminal prosecutions, the accused shall enjoy the rightto be confronted with the witnesses against him." While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. 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. 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 Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? We will fully comply with any lawful request made regarding this case.". It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', 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. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. "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. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. 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. 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. 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. 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. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. 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. }); 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. "We are trying to find the real killers. 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." 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. Jul. 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. 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. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. 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. He took one of them I don't know which one cut him on I think it was on this side of his face.". The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. 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. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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 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. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal 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. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. We are one of the worlds fastest growing On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Their trial, which included 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.". 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal }); However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. 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. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. 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. Toggle dark mode He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. 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 gads_event = event; Toggle dark mode That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. Moore. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. 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. After 3 years of fighting to get new evidence tested for DNA, the state says the WM3 petition should be tossed out and now, the attorneys are responding in court. 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. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. A self-identified white supremacist and freemason, his personality and affiliations led many to suspect that he was the kind of man who may have been involved in the killings. 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. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. Goths, punks and skaters were in the ascendency, and Middle America was horrified. The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); If the judge makes the decision to deny the state's request for dismissal, then Attorney General Tim Griffin will get a chance to respond to that decision. Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. 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 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. Meeting with Echols, Hutcheson reported that nothing incriminating was said. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. Sign up for newsletter today. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. In 1994, in what was widely believed to be a miscarriage of justice, three teens, 18-year-old Damien Echols, 17-year-old Jessie Misskelley Jr., and 16-year-old Jason Baldwin, were convicted in connection to the deaths of Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Steve Branch the previous year. 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. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. ga('ads.send', { Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. 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. 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. 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. 'Feels Like Home:' electrical failure from a light fixture caused December fire that killed 1, Shelby County reporting an increase in drug-related overdoses, largely due to fentanyl, Severe weather threat is over | Prepare for a sunny weekend, Daylight saving time starts soon. }); 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. Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. He was 62. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. 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. Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. 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. hitType: 'event', 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 had taken this knife everywhere and was never without it, with Pamela believing the killer had stolen it when it wasn't found at the scene. Devastating Photos Of Hiroshima Before And After The Atomic Bombing That Changed History Forever, Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Teaching Pug Nazi Salute [VIDEO], What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate, woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". } hitType: 'event', }); He showed several old scars from prior injuries. It was likely the teenager was deliberately provoking Driver and exaggerating his lifestyle, leading the officer to become convinced that Echols was involved in a Satanic cult straight from a horror film. 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.". They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a

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