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. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), This is the world where fist meets face. On one occasion after the killings at Robin Hood Hills, he had beaten Pamela so severely that she told the family that she thought her jaw was broken, prompting them to drive to the Hobbs home to confront him. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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. The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. Devastating Photos Of Hiroshima Before And After The Atomic Bombing That Changed History Forever, Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Teaching Pug Nazi Salute [VIDEO], What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate, woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. All Rights Reserved. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. Byers claimed the knife had never even been used, changing his story to say he'd used it to cut deer meat after the presence of blood was found. ET. Their trial, which included ET. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Now, Attorney General Tim Griffin has requested the Arkansas Supreme Court to dismiss the case based on the fact that the petition was filed in Crittenden County but Echols was convicted in Craighead County. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". 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. eventAction: 'view' Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. The following afternoon, the bodies of Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were found by a muddy ditch. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. 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. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. 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.". Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. 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. WebSeason 1 Episode 1 Preview: Host and investigator Bob Ruff explores the flaws from the original ""West Memphis Three"" case to lay the groundwork for his evidence-driven investigation. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. ET. pg.acq.push(function() { The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. Based on the way the boys were tied up hands bound on either side of the body to the same side ankle Clemente theorized the suspect is somebody who works with animal carcasses, a butcher or a hunter., [T]he ligatures are not restraining ligatures. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. Classmates at Weaver Elementary School, the three were active in their Cub Scout troop and responsible enough to be trusted to roam their neighborhood without However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. 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 time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff. media-tech companies with hubs around the 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 } The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. He was interrogated for 12 hours with only two segments running to 46 minutes being recorded, and although he was read his Miranda rights, he later said that he hadn't understood them. He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. 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. It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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. He had an extensive collection of animal skulls, including dogs and cats and local rumors said that he had killed a dog, while no evidence was ever provided. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. 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. 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. 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. Despite doubt over the way authorities handled the case, as well as a lack of substantial evidence, the West Memphis Three were found guilty. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? }); During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. Like John Mark Byers, Hobbs was a wifebeater. 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). Undertaking a polygraph, Martin seemingly showed deception when asked, "Do you know what was used to tie up those three boys?" When West Memphis teens Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. were tried and convicted of the murders of three 8-year-old boys in 1994, many in the community felt confident that investigators had put the right men behind bars. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. pg.acq.push(function() { Climber only named Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols. Benca said he hopes the evidence can be tested for DNA to help clear the name of his client, who along with Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley Jr. was convicted of murder as a teenager in 1994. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. Now, the attorneys are responding in court. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. Byers had been a step-father to Christopher Byers, who along with his two eight-year-old friends Michael Moore and Steve Branch, had been killed in West Memphis on May 5, 1993, and whose murders remain unsolved to this day, almost three decades later. 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. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. 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. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. 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. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. 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. 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. 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. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". hitType: 'event', 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. 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. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." eventAction: 'click_adunit' Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. }); However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. 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. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? 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. Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. 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. But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. 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. 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. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. Never mentioned in the autopsy or at either trial, they didn't match for Echols, Misskelley or Baldwin.
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