who killed the west memphis three
ga('ads.send', { 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. Who killed Stevie Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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. One such suspect was none other than Byers. Meanwhile, at the Marion Police Department, Detective Don Bray was attempting to administer a polygraph test to Vicki Hutcheson, who had recently moved to the city. It took them 18 years to clear their names. 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. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. Climber only named Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols. Meeting with Echols, Hutcheson reported that nothing incriminating was said. During the filming, cameraman Doug Cooper would be given a folding hunting knife by John Mark Byers, Christopher Byers' stepfather. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. 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 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. }); 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. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? YoutubeMugshots of the West Memphis Three. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. 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." March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 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. Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more. We will fully comply with any lawful request made regarding this case.". Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. 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. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. 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. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. 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. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? A polygraph indicated some level of deception in his statements to police, yet it should be noted that a heart condition may have affected the results. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' 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. 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. Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. It was a fact, leading investigators to believe he had inside knowledge of the case. eventAction: 'render' So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? 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. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. 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. 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. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. The blade had blood on the hinge, and HBO ordered Berlinger and Sinofsky to hand the knife to West Memphis police. There were even witnesses who placed Misskelley at his trailer until 6:30 p.m., the time the boys went missing, with one revealing he picked him up to go wrestling around 7:30 p.m. 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. 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. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. Moore. Toggle dark mode Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. 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." Driver's comments surrounding the case raised troubling questions over his competence to serve, stating he believed Echols and his girlfriend intended to sacrifice their expectant child to Satan. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { 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. It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. 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. 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. Baldwin got life behind bars, and Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection. Workers at the Bojangles restaurant just a mile from the crime scene reported that at 8:42 p.m., a Black male had entered the premises and went into the women's bathroom. 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. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. Yet, the moral panic would culturally define the decade for many youths, lingering as the remnants of the "Satanic Panic" that led to many wrongful convictions a decade earlier. We are one of the worlds fastest growing "We feel strongly that we are in the right. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. 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 March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 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. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. 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. Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. 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. Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." 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. All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. Their trial, which included But what is the purpose of that? She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. 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. His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 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. 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. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? 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. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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 To prove his innocence, he agreed and passed a polygraph test during the filming of 'Paradise Lost 2: Revelations,' only for the documentary to throw doubts on the results by revealing he was under the influence of several psychoactive prescription medications that could have affected the test results. Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. 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. Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. 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. Example video title will go here for this video. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. Undertaking a polygraph, Martin seemingly showed deception when asked, "Do you know what was used to tie up those three boys?" 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. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. However, that isn't quite the truth. 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. Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Jul. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. He was 62. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". 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 Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. However, once again, Misskelley claimed Baldwin pulled out a knife, despite the evidence presented by experts that no knife had ever been used. 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. 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. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. 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. Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. ga('ads.send', { 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. 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. He has devoted himself to writing, music and art. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. 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. Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. Jul. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. 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. 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. 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. 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. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. 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. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." ET. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. 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. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. 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. 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. 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. 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. 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. The plea deal was accepted. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. 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. He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. The autopsy in full is harrowing reading, with Moore receiving 63 specific wounds, including ten skull fractures. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. 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.". 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. }); 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.
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