who killed the west memphis three who killed the west memphis three

Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. 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. 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. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. 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. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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 It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a In 1997 Byers had all his teeth removed, claiming both that medication he was taking caused gum disease and he'd planned to remove them as he had suffered dental problems for years. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. 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. Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. 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. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), 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.'. 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. All Rights Reserved. Moore. On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. hitType: 'event', and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". Writing in his future memoir, "Life After Death," Echols would say, "Down here in the deep, dark South we know and live with the real world. 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 While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. ga('ads.send', { 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. Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. "Even if he files within the right court, there is no body that's required under habeas corpus because he's released," said Attorney General Griffin. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! There is no mention of Santic overtones or symbolism in the early written reports by police, nor correspondence with the FBI. 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. } window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. 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. Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. 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. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a }); 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 ", '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! On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. Both Echols and Misskelley had dropped out of high school, while Baldwin continued to achieve high grades, making the pair something of an odd couple, known for their involvement in petty crimes such as vandalism. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". Their trial, which included Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. It took them 18 years to clear their names. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. }); Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. This is the world where fist meets face. Echols and Baldwin were best friends and shared a profound distaste for Bible Belt life in West Memphis, Arkansas and were drawn toward the rebellion of metal music and associated books and movies. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. eventAction: 'click_adunit' Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. 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. Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. That's mostly during the teenage years.". Kara Goldfarb is a writer living in New York City. On May 5, 1993, Branch was at home with his mother, Pamela Hobbs, and shortly after the end of school, Moore rode over on his bike and asked if his friend could take a ride with him. Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Toggle dark mode 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. 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 called a 'baby killer.'. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. Writing under penalty of perjury to the United States District Court, Eastern District of Arkansas, Pamela would say that he ex-husband kept dentures in a lock-box. hitType: 'event', Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. eventAction: 'view' Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to 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. 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. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. 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 The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ }); Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. 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. eventAction: 'render' Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! ET. 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." 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. ADVERTISEMENT 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. 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. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. 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. 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. Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. 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. Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. } He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. Two of the boys' underwear, however, was missing. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. 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. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} ET. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. 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. 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. But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. 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 took one of them I don't know which one cut him on I think it was on this side of his face.". 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. 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. 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. 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. 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. pg.acq.push(function() { He said the evidence, which he claims city officials previously told him was lost, destroyed or missing, was found intact and organized. Until 2007, when the discovery of new forensic evidence reopened the case and a new statute permitting post-conviction testing of DNA evidence came about. }); 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. 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. }); document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. 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. 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. 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 eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. }); Who killed Stevie Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. However, it wasn't just about the music with many embracing rebellious philosophies that were inherently offensive to the traditions of Christianity, respect and patriotism that have always defined small-town rural America. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. 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. }); Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. 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. One such suspect was none other than Byers. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. 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. "We are trying to find the real killers. He was sentenced to life plus 40 years. 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." During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. This would give him no time to meet his Echols and Baldwin, get drunk as he claimed, and then kill three children in an extended attack in the woods. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash.