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. The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. eventAction: 'view' MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A former Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technician told a Tennessee board Friday that officers impeded patient care by refusing to remove Tyre Nichols ' handcuffs, which would have allowed EMTs to check his vital signs after he was brutally beaten by police. ga('ads.send', { Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. The story will be familiar to many working-class American youths, with Echols' poverty and mental health struggles disconnecting him from society, writing that "As I grew older I learned to be ashamed of being poor, too. ET. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. 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.". 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. 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. 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. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. 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. Their trial, which included Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. 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. "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". We are one of the worlds fastest growing When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. 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. Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. 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." It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. ", '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! Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. He was muddy, bleeding, and brushed against the walls, leaving behind blood stains and feces on the walls, stall, and floor. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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 However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". 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. ET. He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal 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 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. 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. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. "I think maybe for the general public it's not quite as scary to believe that blood-thirsty Satanists were out murdering children as it is to believe that parents are actually murdering their own children. Despite suspicion eventually falling away from Byers, Jason Baldwin praised the "Paradise Lost" documentaries as essential to their case, telling the "National Podcast of Texas" in 2019 that "The documentary saved my life, saved Damien's life, and saved Jessie's life. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. 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." While they showed the bravado and sense of adventure associated with many scouts, they were still innocent, with Byers said by his mother to still "[believe] in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.". 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. }); },false) hitType: 'event', He was sentenced to life plus 40 years. 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 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. Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. Jul. 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. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. 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. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. 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. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. 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. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. 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. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. Driver was the kind of individual who saw Satanism in every corner, blaming campfires, dead animal carcasses and pentagram graffiti on the dark arts. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Their trial, which included It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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. 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. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. Equally, it was widely known he threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend's father, yet those who had taken against him left out that this was through a fear that the father was going to assault his daughter. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. All three would be happy to talk, with Bly saying that Misskelley was the leader of a Satanic cult that also involved Baldwin, Echols, his girlfriend Domini Teer, and others 20 in all. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. Offers may be subject to change without notice. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. He even said that he saw John Mark Byers assisting in the killings. 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. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. And while both Michael and Steve had bruises across their body, Christopher had suffered the most gruesome injuries and had lacerations to various parts of his body, and mutilation to his scrotum and penis. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. A prime example of the issues with the confession was that Misskelley was giving false information that was believed accurate by police at the time, stating that he saw Echols and Baldwin go into the woods with the three boys and rape them. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. 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. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. 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. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. The discovery comes after West Memphis Police Chief Michael Pope resigned Tuesday. 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. 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.'. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. 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. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". 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. 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. They did not kill my son.. The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. 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. 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. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. hitType: 'event', Now, the attorneys are responding in court. 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. They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. With the evidence mounting that all three accused had been innocent, the deal ensured that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley would never be allowed to pursue civil action against the state of Arkansas for wrongful imprisonment. Now, Attorney General Tim Griffin has requested the Arkansas Supreme Court to dismiss the case based on the fact that the petition was filed in Crittenden County but Echols was convicted in Craighead County. That's mostly during the teenage years.". 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. It took them 18 years to clear their names. ADVERTISEMENT In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Who killed Stevie However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. 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. Candy-Land idealism is quietly suffocated in the relentless humidity. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." He was 62. 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. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. }); 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. Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. "We are trying to find the real killers. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. ga('ads.send', { They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. 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. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. 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.". Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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.