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. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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 "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. Toggle dark mode 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. But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. Equally, Wiccans reject their beliefs are a form of Satanism, with the movement being closer to Neo-Paganism and nature religions and almost exclusively pacifistic in nature. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. Since his release, Echols has forged a career in the arts, moving to the infamous Salem, Massachusetts and publishing a memoir, "Almost Home: My Life Story Vol. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. 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The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. Well, it minimizes the package a little bit and makes it easier to control after they're dead.. Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. 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. "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. 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). No matter who committed those terrible crimes at Robin Hood Hills, they still walk free 28 years later, and until the culprits are found, the case is far from over. ga('ads.send', { "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. Judge Laser vacated all previous convictions and ordered a new trial where the West Memphis Three would be allowed to make the plea, sentencing them to time served. 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.". 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. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. 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. 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. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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. 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. Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. 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. Yet, few could give details. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. 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 Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. The friends rode over to Bobby Posey's house, where they learned Christopher had been whipped by his adoptive father, John Mark Byers, and planned to run away. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. 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. Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. 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 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. }); These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. Indiana man accused of murdering motorist after accident in Illinois now facing charges in separate murder, Man shot, killed after crash on highway, suspect charged with murder, police say, Woman Started Firing At Pool Party, Killing One And Injuring Two, Police Say, Subscribe to Front Page Detectives Newsletter. 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. Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. 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. 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? Echols unwisely began to tell the fanatical Driver tall tales about local cults and animal sacrifices when Driver became his parole officer, telling him that he followed Wicca. A formal interview on May 9 led to further suspicion against the young man when he mentioned the damage to Byer's genitals, something seen as incriminating. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. pg.acq.push(function() { Entering a plea of not guilty, Richard Ofshe testified that Misskelley's confession had been a "classic example" of police coercion. "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". 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. Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. 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. This is the world where fist meets face. Talking with police and his lawyer present in the room, he would ignore advice from his counsel to remain silent and detailed how the West Memphis Three had abused and murdered the victims. The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". 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. 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. hitType: 'event', "Lawyers have to follow the law and when you file in the wrong place that's not my fault," said Attorney General Griffin. eventAction: 'view' Never mentioned in the autopsy or at either trial, they didn't match for Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { However, a hair "not inconsistent with" Steve Branch's stepfather, Terry Hobbs, was found, and crucially it was tied into the knots of the bindings that had hogtied one of the children. He was muddy, bleeding, and brushed against the walls, leaving behind blood stains and feces on the walls, stall, and floor. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents defendant Damien Echols, wrote in a Wednesday statement that he located evidence from the case after being granted access to the police department through an Arkansas state court order, according to WREG. 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. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. 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. 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 By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. The police were called, but he had left by the time they arrived, and nobody from law enforcement entered the bathroom until the next day after the discovery of the bodies. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. After 18 years behind bars, they were freed. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. "We are trying to find the real killers. eventAction: 'click_ads' 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.". There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. 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. 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. eventAction: 'click_adunit' At the trial, the prosecution continued the claims of Satanic overtones, calling Dale W. Griffis of the unaccredited Columbia Pacific University distance learning school as an "expert" witness to affirm the killings were definitely occult related. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". pg.acq.push(function() { You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Two of the boys' underwear, however, was missing. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. 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. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. ga('ads.send', { They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. 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. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. let gads_event; 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. Tape recorded, Misskelley would claim that "When the boys came up, Damien grabbed one of them, I don't know which one and the other two tried to get Damien to stop, and then me and Jason come out and started grabbing them, started hitting them." The '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. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. 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. Steve had taken this knife everywhere and was never without it, with Pamela believing the killer had stolen it when it wasn't found at the scene. 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. Medical examiners were split on whether the three boys died the night they went missing or the morning after, and the bite marks wouldn't even be noticed until photographs were examined years later. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. Climber only named Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. 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. He was 62. Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. 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. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. 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). Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? "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.