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. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. }); Example video title will go here for this video. He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. eventAction: 'render' VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. 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. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. He was called a 'baby killer.'. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. 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. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. ET. Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. 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. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ 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. 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. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. With the addition of a 10-year suspended sentence, a probation type sentencing which meant if they did anything illegal they would be put back in jail, the West Memphis Three were sentenced to time served. 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. 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. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. 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. Like John Mark Byers, Hobbs was a wifebeater. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. 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." eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. ga('ads.send', { YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. Well, it minimizes the package a little bit and makes it easier to control after they're dead.. There is no mention of Santic overtones or symbolism in the early written reports by police, nor correspondence with the FBI. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! '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. To understand the story of the West Memphis Three, it's important to remember the cultural atmosphere that was prevalent throughout America in the mid-1990s. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. 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." 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. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. When West Memphis teens Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. were tried and convicted of the murders of three 8-year-old boys in 1994, many in the community felt confident that investigators had put the right men behind bars. He 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.". One such suspect was none other than Byers. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. "I can't understand why exactly people are glossing over the obvious when it comes to Byers and the death of Melissa Byers and all the things that Byers has said and done since this trial," he said. 1." His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. },false) Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. } No ritual paraphernalia or markings were found at the scene, and many in the police believed those responsible had been sexual predators or strangers from outside the town. She also revealed Terry hadn't informed her that her son was missing until she finished work, having significant concerns over his whereabouts on those days. pg.acq.push(function() { He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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. }); Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. 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. Their trial, which included While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. Their trial, which included All three had been stripped naked and shackled with their shoelaces their right ankles had been tied to their right wrists behind their backs, with their left ankles to their left wrists behind their backs as well. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. 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. ET. Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. }); Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. Yet, few could give details. 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. 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. He took one of them I don't know which one cut him on I think it was on this side of his face.". 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. }); Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. hitType: 'event', 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. } Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. In addition to the offender being a male who had a relationship with one or more of the victims, Clemente thinks the suspect was from the neighborhood, theorizing that he hid the bodies in order to give himself enough time to establish an alibi. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. 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. Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and 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 }); Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. 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. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. The three men spent nearly 17 years in prison before being released in 2012 after entering an Alford plea, pleading guilty while maintaining their innocence. Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. pg.acq.push(function() { The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. 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. 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 Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. 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. 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. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. },false) Who killed Stevie Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. },false) Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. 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. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. 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. 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. 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. They did not kill my son.. But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. 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. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Who killed Stevie New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. The West Memphis Three are Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., whoas teenagerswere convicted in 1994 of triple murder in West Memphis (Crittenden County). How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. eventAction: 'load' Toggle dark mode 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. 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. So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { The plea deal was accepted. ga('ads.send', { 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. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. That's mostly during the teenage years.". 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. 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.". 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. 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. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. 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." Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. 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. }); But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. 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 Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas After three years of fighting to get new evidence tested for DNA, the state is saying the West Memphis Three petition should be tossed out. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. 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. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. 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. 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. 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. Meeting with Echols, Hutcheson reported that nothing incriminating was said. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. 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. However, that isn't quite the truth. 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. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. 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. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. Despite the defense stating that Echols' statements on Byers genitals and the boys being drowned could have been public knowledge locally, particularly considering known leaks had been made, both Echols and Baldwin were found guilty on three counts of murder. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. hitType: 'event', However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". 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. } Jul. 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. 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. "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. Working at the crime scene, police made a series of errors that would significantly impede the case. ga('ads.send', { He has devoted himself to writing, music and art.