Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. Kara Goldfarb is a writer living in New York City. 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. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. "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.". 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. 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). },false) Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? 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. } That's mostly during the teenage years.". Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. Toggle dark mode 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. Who killed Stevie 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. Starting in the weeks that followed the killings, documentary filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case for their film "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills," airing in June 1996 on HBO. }); In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". During the filming, Byers had given cameraman Doug Cooper a hunting knife which makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky handed over to the police after discovering what appeared to be blood on it. 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. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. 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. The bodies of the three boys had been found in Robin Hood Hills, a stretch of forested land in the city that was popular with children and where Christopher, Michael and Steve were last seen together. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. 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. A second hair found at the scene was consistent with his friend, David Jacoby. 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. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. 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. The plea deal was accepted. 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. In 1973, his parents had called the police to report that he was threatening them with a butcher knife. Offers may be subject to change without notice. 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. 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. He was 62. If you found this interesting, you might also want to read about the study that finds black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate. eventAction: 'click_adunit' "We feel strongly that we are in the right. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. ga('ads.send', { 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. 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. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. With the evidence mounting that all three accused had been innocent, the deal ensured that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley would never be allowed to pursue civil action against the state of Arkansas for wrongful imprisonment. "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. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. 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.". I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. On one occasion, she said she was with her son all day; on another that he left home around 4 p.m. 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. 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. hitType: 'event', However, her description of the boy she nearly hit was inconsistent with either Branch, Byers or Moore, and it was, in fact, a fourth boy by the name of George Taylor. 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. 1." Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. eventAction: 'render' Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. Beyond his tales about Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols, Climber claimed to have beaten a police officer, hung a woman and sacrificed a second lady. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. 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. 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. Jul. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. 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. ET. 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. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 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. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. After 18 years behind bars, they were freed. 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 Example video title will go here for this video. All three would be happy to talk, with Bly saying that Misskelley was the leader of a Satanic cult that also involved Baldwin, Echols, his girlfriend Domini Teer, and others 20 in all. document.querySelector("#ads").addEventListener('click',function(){ MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of 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. 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. He was 62. 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. Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. 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. Despite doubt over the way authorities handled the case, as well as a lack of substantial evidence, the West Memphis Three were found guilty. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. Therefore, Misskelley had to be tried alone. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. 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. 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. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. But what is the purpose of that? The police contended the tapes couldn't confirm this, with interference masking conversations. eventAction: 'click_ads' 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. Who killed Stevie 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 Attempting to shelter from a storm, the two broke into a trailer and were charged with burglary and sexual misconduct. 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. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. Yet, few could give details. In addition to the offender being a male who had a relationship with one or more of the victims, Clemente thinks the suspect was from the neighborhood, theorizing that he hid the bodies in order to give himself enough time to establish an alibi. 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. 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. Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Despite the continuing doubts over the testimony, police pulled in Misskelley on June 3 alongside two other alleged cult members, Ricky Climer and Alvis Bly. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. }); During the weeks that followed, law enforcement would only state that Echols was a source of information, not officially designating him a suspect despite looking at him more than anyone else. It became humiliating, something I'd do everything I could to hide from the rest of the world. Police almost immediately turned their attention to Baldwin, Echols and Misskelley and suspected them of killing the boys. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. },false) 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. To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. 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. Driver was the kind of individual who saw Satanism in every corner, blaming campfires, dead animal carcasses and pentagram graffiti on the dark arts. MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. "We are pleased that the evidence is intact," Benca said, according to WREG. But in 2011, the West Memphis Three walked free. 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, stepfather of Chris Byers and initially the subject of considerable suspicion himself, is shown calling Terry Hobbs a "baby killer" outside an Arkansas courtroom. ADVERTISEMENT They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. Right on the border of Tennessee, West Memphis was a bible belt city unaccustomed to much publicity. ga('ads.send', { Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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. If the offender came across the boys as they were doing something wrong or misbehaving, it would have been even easier to control and reprimand them, said Clemente. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. },false) 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. New evidence immediately began to come to light that cast even further doubts on the already shaky judgment and presented new and surprising suspects. 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. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. All three achieved the rank of "Wolf," and Moore had his blue Boy Scouts of America shirt and Boy Scout hat on as he ventured out on his bicycle. ga('ads.send', { Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Goths, punks and skaters were in the ascendency, and Middle America was horrified. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. 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. On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment.