reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. Back with the search, the main focus was Robin Hood Hills near where witnesses last saw the trio, and that morning Branch andMoore's bikes were found next to a pipe bridge that crossed the bayou. They drew pentagrams, skulls, and snakes on art materials and surprised those at a football game by arriving dressed in black with black tears painted on their faces. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. 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. Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? Another story claimed Aaron saw a mass of "The Dragons," an alleged coven with five members, spoke Spanish and sang about Satan. 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. 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. Climber only named Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. Local community members also rallied in support of the three, believing that their initial trial was unfair and handled incorrectly. 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. From the murder of Shanda Sharer to the Columbine massacre, there was little that wasn't blamed on this new devilish culture. The chief of police was not truthful. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. "Chief Pope's resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis three rumors being sent out on social media," the statement reads. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. 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. 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', Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. Whose blood was on the knife was uncertain as it matched both Byers and the victim, both having the same HLA-DQ genotype. Both had histories of drug offenses, and Morgan claimed to police he suffered from memory loss and blackouts, stating he "might have" killed the three boys. 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. The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ MEAWW is an initialism for Media Entertainment Arts WorldWide. 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. We are one of the worlds fastest growing }) 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. 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. Toggle dark mode "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.". All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. 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. 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. There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. eventAction: 'render' 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 individual on the police radar was convicted pedophile James K. Martin. Who killed Stevie Echols claimed that Pope's departure and the discovery of the evidence were connected. 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. Now, the attorneys are responding in court. 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. Toggle dark mode eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. However, the matter was sent to appeal, and Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate, with his replacement being David Laser. 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. 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. The new documentary focused on the bite marks, with the prosecution arguing that the marking seen on Christopher Byers' face in photographs is from a belt buckle and not teeth. 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. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), }); 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. ADVERTISEMENT The documentary was filmed on 79 days over ten months up to the point of the West Memphis Three's conviction. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. hitType: 'event', VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Until 2007, when the discovery of new forensic evidence reopened the case and a new statute permitting post-conviction testing of DNA evidence came about. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. 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. It was likely the teenager was deliberately provoking Driver and exaggerating his lifestyle, leading the officer to become convinced that Echols was involved in a Satanic cult straight from a horror film. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { 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. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ 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. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. She described a cult meeting involving Echols, Misskelley and about eight other youths. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. There are significant issues with the confession, with his claims not aligning with the autopsy and crime scene evidence, seemingly changing his story depending on who he was talking with. You must have JavaScript enabled in your browser to utilize the functionality of this website. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. 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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. So, this tells me that this offender was someone they know," Clemente said. 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. 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. ga('ads.send', { But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. The state of Arkansas was hoping to do like they do in so many other cases with poor people, with people who are powerless to defend themselves. 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. hitType: 'event', Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. Echols filed a petition, which was not granted, but then the decision was overturned by the Arkansas Supreme Court. 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. All Rights Reserved. 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. }); All three had been stripped naked and shackled with their shoelaces their right ankles had been tied to their right wrists behind their backs, with their left ankles to their left wrists behind their backs as well. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview During the trial, Echols blew kisses to the victim's family, a sign taken by many as a sure sign of guilt. 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. However, a hair "not inconsistent with" Steve Branch's stepfather, Terry Hobbs, was found, and crucially it was tied into the knots of the bindings that had hogtied one of the children. Sign up for newsletter today. Their trial, which included However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". He was called a 'baby killer.'. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. 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.
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