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. pg.acq.push(function() { During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. 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. However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". 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. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. 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. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. 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. During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. 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. 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. "We are pleased that the evidence is intact," Benca said, according to WREG. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. 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. Despite the defense stating that Echols' statements on Byers genitals and the boys being drowned could have been public knowledge locally, particularly considering known leaks had been made, both Echols and Baldwin were found guilty on three counts of murder. 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. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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. 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. 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 John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview ADVERTISEMENT He was 62. Jul. 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. One of those people would be Pamela Hobbs. 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. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. 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. 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. 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. 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. But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. Some believe the police immediately thought there was some level of occult involvement in the triple homicide, yet this isn't the case. "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." JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. It took them 18 years to clear their names. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 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. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. Who killed Stevie The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 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. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. 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. Meanwhile, patrons at the Blue Beacon, a truck wash close to the scene, all had their credit card receipts collected, and the first suspects brought in were transients, with information being sought about two "dirty-looking" hitchhikers. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. eventAction: 'click_adunit' 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. Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. 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. hitType: 'event', On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. 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. He has devoted himself to writing, music and art. 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 He was 62. 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." While the documentary opened the public's eyes to the miscarriage of justice that had transpired to get Echols, Miskelley Jr., and Baldwin convicted for a crime they did not commit, it also threw doubt on Byers, a suspicious character who seemed to have a penchant for theatrics. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. 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.". Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. The deals disappointed both those who still believed the three guilty and their supporters, with many feeling the bargain made them look guilty. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Over the nine years since their release, there have been dozens of theories that pointed to other suspects who could have been behind the deaths of Christopher, Michael, and Steve. Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! 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. All three appealed the convictions. 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. He kept a calendar of the lunar cycle so he and Jones could patrol the county and check for covens. ga('ads.send', { Everywhere you look, you see people with things that you do not have, and it has a profound mental effect. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. Who killed Stevie "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.". 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. 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. 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. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. ET. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. ADVERTISEMENT 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). Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. },false) Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. 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. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. Neither Climer nor Bly would be considered competent witnesses at the eventual trial. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. Three teenage boys convicted of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, but light rain makes brief return, CHONK: State champion quartet prepping for show this weekend, Opinion: Fix loophole that increases copay costs for prescription drugs, Ambulancia para pacientes "posedos" lleva psiclogos y exorcistas en Bolivia. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. 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. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. 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. Yet, few could give details. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. 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. 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." Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. eventAction: 'render' "Lawyers have to follow the law and when you file in the wrong place that's not my fault," said Attorney General Griffin. }) This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. The chief of police was not truthful. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! 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. 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. She also revealed Terry hadn't informed her that her son was missing until she finished work, having significant concerns over his whereabouts on those days. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. 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. 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. 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. While they showed the bravado and sense of adventure associated with many scouts, they were still innocent, with Byers said by his mother to still "[believe] in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.". The discovery comes after West Memphis Police Chief Michael Pope resigned Tuesday. They would have been local and have a violent history, be familiar with the victims, and were engaging in a personal cause when they killed the boys. Toggle dark mode 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. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects.
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