Another story claimed Aaron saw a mass of "The Dragons," an alleged coven with five members, spoke Spanish and sang about Satan. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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 He suffered from "grandiose and persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and chronic, incapacitating mood swings." 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. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? West Memphis Three released from prison after West Memphis Three Memphis VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Police detective Bryn Ridge would later testify he somehow lost the samples from Bojangles' wall. 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. One such suspect was none other than Byers. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". When he was informed that the blood matched both his and Chris' blood type, he claimed he had no idea how the blood might have gotten on the knife before suggesting he might have left it out accidentally. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), West Memphis Three Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. 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 chief of police was not truthful. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. Jul. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. Opinion remains divided on whether the right men were convicted or if the actual killers still walk the streets of West Memphis. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. "Lawyers have to follow the law and when you file in the wrong place that's not my fault," said Attorney General Griffin. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." One individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. The DNA of these three children is likely in that evidence," said Lonnie Soury, a member of Damien Echols' legal team. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. 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 Who Killed pg.acq.push(function() { Bike found near the "West Memphis Three" crime scene. killed The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? "Even if he files within the right court, there is no body that's required under habeas corpus because he's released," said Attorney General Griffin. 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. Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and This is where the calluses on a man's hand are bigger than his conscience, and dreams get drowned in sweat and tears.". 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. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. } 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. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. The West Memphis Three 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. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. This was a result of getting enraged, going too far, and then having to basically clean up the mess," he said. Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! It was rumor and innuendo, overheard gossip and allegations. West Memphis Three West Memphis Three He has devoted himself to writing, music and art. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview 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. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), West Memphis police brought Terry Hobbs in for questioning in June 2007, and coverage soon led to a widespread examination of the original verdict, with Hobbs even telling police that some of his relatives suspected him in the killings. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. West Memphis Three 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. 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. 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. 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. Who Killed 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. of the West Memphis Three hitType: 'event', Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? Echols, by most accounts, didn't even consider himself one. Residents talked of strange smells in the woods, painted children, and even alleged to have seen a baby sacrificed. 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). Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. 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 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. Baldwin meanwhile has ambitions to become a lawyer and began work for a construction company, with Misskelley getting engaged to his high school girlfriend and training as a mechanic. 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. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. 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. By Benjamin H. Smith Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three 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. "We are pleased that the evidence is intact," Benca said, according to WREG. "I think maybe for the general public it's not quite as scary to believe that blood-thirsty Satanists were out murdering children as it is to believe that parents are actually murdering their own children. Despite the falsehoods in the testimony, Echols was pulled in for questioning two days after the bodies were discovered, denying any involvement. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { 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. Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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 Beyond his tales about Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols, Climber claimed to have beaten a police officer, hung a woman and sacrificed a second lady. Prosecutors would only give up harassing Misskelley for his testimony when I threatened to hold a press conference and disclose their efforts to entice his testimony." He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. Messed Up Truth About 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. "We feel strongly that we are in the right. He was called a 'baby killer.'. Who Killed 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. He was 62. 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. She also revealed that her ex-husband had once asked her sister point-blank if she suspected him in the killings. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. West Memphis Three At the scene, Steve Jones, assistant juvenile probation officer, openly speculated that Echols was capable of the crime, saying, "it looks like Damien Echols finally killed someone.". Baldwin would later say that he had been resistant to the plea as a matter of principle, but turning it down would have kept Echols on death row. He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. He admitted the crime on June 3, June 11 and Aug. 19 and implicated others. 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. 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. ga('ads.send', { The three men spent nearly 17 years in prison before being released in 2012 after entering an Alford plea, pleading guilty while maintaining their innocence. 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. },false) West Memphis Three Get all the latest information on Events, Sales and Offers. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. 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. 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. Toggle dark mode eventAction: 'view' 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. The 'West Memphis Three' Murders Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { Hobbs retrieved a .357 magnum pistol from his truck and shot Jackie Hicks, Pamela Hobbs' brother. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. But what is the purpose of that? 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. Adding, "Then, uh, Jason pulled out a knife. West Memphis Three released from prison after