Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. This is the world where fist meets face. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. When he was informed that the blood matched both his and Chris' blood type, he claimed he had no idea how the blood might have gotten on the knife before suggesting he might have left it out accidentally. Offers may be subject to change without notice. During the weeks that followed, law enforcement would only state that Echols was a source of information, not officially designating him a suspect despite looking at him more than anyone else. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. All Rights Reserved. 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 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. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". 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. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. Terry Hobbs, meanwhile, still believes in the guilt of the West Memphis Three, telling Memphis ABC affiliate WATN in 2019 that "I still believe in my heart that Jessie, Jason, and Damion Echols are responsible for what happened to our children.". Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. Sign up for newsletter today. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. However, Aaron's story constantly changed, saying on one occasion he saw a victim bundled into a car by a Black man and on another stated that he witnessed the killings but didn't know who the killers were. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. 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. 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." 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.". }); 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 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. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. 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. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. 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. West Memphis police brought Terry Hobbs in for questioning in June 2007, and coverage soon led to a widespread examination of the original verdict, with Hobbs even telling police that some of his relatives suspected him in the killings. He was 62. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. hitType: 'event', 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. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. 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. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and 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 first of that evidence emerged during the filming of HBO's 1996 documentary on the case: 'Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills.'. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. Jones, the assistant juvenile probation officer, was one of the chief voices pushing the line alongside his supervisor Jerry Blackwood Driver. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." We are one of the worlds fastest growing Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Over the years, however, the West Memphis Three continued to maintain their innocence, claiming they had nothing to do with the slayings of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, who were each found nude, hogtied, and mutilated in a bayou. In 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. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? "He had to spend this time because if he didn't, he would get caught. 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. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. 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. hitType: 'event', So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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 A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. 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. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. 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. Initially a suspect himself amongst some people, John Mark Byers added his voice to those doubts before being killed in a car crash last year. Like John Mark Byers, Hobbs was a wifebeater. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. 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 discovery comes after West Memphis Police Chief Michael Pope resigned Tuesday. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. "We are planning to move ahead and test this evidence using the latest DNA technology available to hopefully identify the real killer(s) of the three children in 1993, and exonerate Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley.". ga('ads.send', { Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. ga('ads.send', { Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. 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. eventAction: 'click_adunit' All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. All three spent most of their days as any other mid-1990s teenagers - listening to rock music, watching pro wrestling on television, and either poking around under the hood of a car or simply hanging out and causing trouble. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. 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. 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. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. They allowed police and other workers to walk through the creek, trampling possible evidence such as footprints, and equally failed to drain the water quickly to preserve other evidence. 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. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." let gads_event; Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. Who killed Stevie 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ 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. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Never mentioned in the autopsy or at either trial, they didn't match for Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin. There is no mention of Santic overtones or symbolism in the early written reports by police, nor correspondence with the FBI. Toggle dark mode By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. eventAction: 'click_ads' The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. On one occasion after the killings at Robin Hood Hills, he had beaten Pamela so severely that she told the family that she thought her jaw was broken, prompting them to drive to the Hobbs home to confront him. Who killed Stevie Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. 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 . Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". },false) Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. However, that isn't quite the truth. Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. It took them 18 years to clear their names. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. Yet, none of this makes a murderer, and Echols, like most readers of LaVey and Crowley, believed that their work had been unfairly maligned as evil, instead calling to libertarian freedom away from the confines of Christian morality. 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. Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. A new round of DNA testing later showed no genetic material linked the men to the crime scene evidence, and they were released from prison in 2011 after agreeing to an Alford plea. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. One of the charges of making terroristic threats was connected to a domestic dispute between him and his first wife, Sandra Byers, who accused him of threatening her life and assaulting her with an electronic stunning device. 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. The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. 1." 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.". While the stepfather initially denied it had ever been used, he later changed his story and said he had used it just once, to cut deer meat. 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. 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. 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 March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. }) The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! media-tech companies with hubs around the world. '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. 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. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. 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. 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. 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. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. Working at the crime scene, police made a series of errors that would significantly impede the case. 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. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. 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. }); The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. 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. 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. Their trial, which included "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. The plea deal was accepted. 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. hitType: 'event', With John Mark Byers ruled out, revelations in 2007 would point in a new direction equally close to home. 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. 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. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. 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 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. She also revealed that her ex-husband had once asked her sister point-blank if she suspected him in the killings. 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." 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. He even said that he saw John Mark Byers assisting in the killings. 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. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. 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. }); When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal 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. }); Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. 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. While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". 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. Prosecutors would only give up harassing Misskelley for his testimony when I threatened to hold a press conference and disclose their efforts to entice his testimony." 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. He again repeated the incorrect police suspicion that Echols had sexually violated one of the boys, claiming this time his friend had ejaculated on the victim's trousers.