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. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? 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. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? West Memphis Three Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. 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. 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 In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. West Memphis Three },false) All three spent most of their days as any other mid-1990s teenagers - listening to rock music, watching pro wrestling on television, and either poking around under the hood of a car or simply hanging out and causing trouble. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. 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. Many pointed to the irony in that insult, since Byers himself was considered by many to be complicit in not just the boys' murder, and the death of his second wife as well, who had passed away three years after her son's killing. He was 62. 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 West Memphis Three March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. }); While he was on medication that may have affected the outcome, including Xanax, it seems that his suspected involvement in the killings was a complete dead end. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! Who killed Stevie ET. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. However, this approach was countered by other officers who believed firmly the occult must be involved at some level, looking immediately toward Damien Echols, who had built a reputation in the local community. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. 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. 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 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. 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. Another story claimed Aaron saw a mass of "The Dragons," an alleged coven with five members, spoke Spanish and sang about Satan. 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. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three 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. 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 was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. 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. eventAction: 'load' The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three He was 62. let gads_event; Messed Up Truth About The West Memphis Three According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." 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}} However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. 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 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. West Memphis Three For the state, the Alford pleas were a face-saving exercise. 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. He even said that he saw John Mark Byers assisting in the killings. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." "He had to spend this time because if he didn't, he would get caught. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal 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. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. West Memphis Three | Background & Trial window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Candy-Land idealism is quietly suffocated in the relentless humidity. 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.'. Jul. West Memphis Three Memphis West Memphis Three 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. 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. On one occasion, she said she was with her son all day; on another that he left home around 4 p.m. 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. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. How the three died wasn't the same, with Moore and Branch being killed by multiple injuries and then drowning, with Byers dying of blood loss and not being drowned. The story of the West Memphis Three traces back to 1993, set in the city of West Memphis, Arkansas. Who killed Stevie Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. 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. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". The varying wounds included unrecognized bites, and possible stab wounds to his groin and castration, with some putting this down to animal predation. Two of the boys' underwear, however, was missing. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. 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. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); hitType: 'event', document.querySelector("#google_image_div").addEventListener('click',function(){ Their trial, which included 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 time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff. of the West Memphis Three 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. All three bodies were immediately removed from the water before the coroner arrived, meaning that they were exposed to sunlight and insects before judgments could be made surrounding rigor mortis and the time of death. 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. West Memphis Three West Memphis Three Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. 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. West Memphis Three Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. 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. }); 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. 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. 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. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. 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. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. }); connection to West Memphis Three Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. During part two of the documentary special, Ruff sat down with retired FBI Supervisory Agent Jim Clemente, who created a suspect profile to help narrow down the possible suspect pool. 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. of the West Memphis Three On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. 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. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. }); 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). reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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. 1." West Memphis Three },false) 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. 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. 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. One such suspect was none other than Byers. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. 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). 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." They were mutilated and bruised, and their clothes were in the nearby creek. The chief of police was not truthful. Yet, few could give details. Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal killed 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. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three Who Killed Trinocular Co-Axial 1500x Metallurgical Microscope with Top-Bottom Light with 2MP Camera, Trinocular Microscope with DIN Objective and Camera 40x - 2000x, Junior Medical Microscope with Wide Field Eyepiece & LED 100x - 1500x, Trinocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x, Binocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x. West Memphis Three 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. 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.