1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. 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. 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.". Yet, few could give details. 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. ADVERTISEMENT document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. He was 62. hitType: 'event', Memphis 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. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Driver's comments surrounding the case raised troubling questions over his competence to serve, stating he believed Echols and his girlfriend intended to sacrifice their expectant child to Satan. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. 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. West Memphis Three The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. Their trial, which included I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. "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." pg.acq.push(function() { His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Working at the crime scene, police made a series of errors that would significantly impede the case. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. 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. YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. One such suspect was none other than Byers. WebSeason 1 Episode 1 Preview: Host and investigator Bob Ruff explores the flaws from the original ""West Memphis Three"" case to lay the groundwork for his evidence-driven investigation. }); Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. }) Their trial, which included In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. 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. 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. Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. 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. We will fully comply with any lawful request made regarding this case.". Who killed Stevie Who killed Stevie 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. 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. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. West Memphis Three eventAction: 'render' ga('ads.send', { The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. Never mentioned in the autopsy or at either trial, they didn't match for Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin. 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. Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. 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. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. 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. 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. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Example video title will go here for this video. Jul. Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. West Memphis Three During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. 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. Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. West Memphis Three ga('ads.send', { let gads_event; Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. }); 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. 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." The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. 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. Beyond his tales about Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols, Climber claimed to have beaten a police officer, hung a woman and sacrificed a second lady. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". 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. 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? hitType: 'event', }); The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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. Hobbs, who had previously been under the police scanner for the murders because of inconsistencies in his story, had later been cleared of any wrongdoing but found himself being verbally abused by Byers in front of cameras outside a courtroom. A popular perception is that in New York or Los Angeles, is the lifestyles of the West Memphis Three wouldn't have drawn comment, but in Arkansas, it was a different story. West Memphis Three Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. West Memphis Three 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. 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. 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. Into this misunderstanding step Damien Echols, 18, Jessie Misskelley Jr., 17, and Jason Baldwin, 16. They did not kill my son.. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office announced on Twitter that Byers had been killed in an accident on Chambers Road and Shakerag Road in the Millington area on Thursday evening and then died after he was transported to a local hospital. If they thought they could trust the person who was the actual threat, then that person could get close enough to them to control them so that they couldn't run away," he told Ruff. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. 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. Candy-Land idealism is quietly suffocated in the relentless humidity. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. 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 With John Mark Byers ruled out, revelations in 2007 would point in a new direction equally close to home. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. 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. West Memphis Three They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims. 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. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. "He had to spend this time because if he didn't, he would get caught. The varying wounds included unrecognized bites, and possible stab wounds to his groin and castration, with some putting this down to animal predation. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. 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." Well, it minimizes the package a little bit and makes it easier to control after they're dead.. 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. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. Sign up for newsletter today. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. 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. 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. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. "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.". Toggle dark mode He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." West Memphis Three 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. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. However, that isn't quite the truth. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Like John Mark Byers, Hobbs was a wifebeater. 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. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 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. }); Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. He was called a 'baby killer.'. ga('ads.send', { Meeting with Echols, Hutcheson reported that nothing incriminating was said. West Memphis Three Toggle dark mode Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. eventAction: 'view' 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. 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. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall.