who killed the west memphis three

There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? "We are trying to find the real killers. During one visit to the station, officers used photographs of Echols, Misskelley and Baldwin for dart practice, having made their minds up about their guilt long before their arrests. Toggle dark mode The inherent belief in that line of thought eventually led to the arrest of 18-year-old Damien Echols, 17-year-old Jessie Misskelley Jr., and 16-year-old Jason Baldwin, three out-of-sorts teens who became popularly known as "The West Memphis Three.". His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. 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. 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. 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. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. However, Misskelley wouldn't only confess in that police interview room. 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 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. 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. ga('ads.send', { He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. 1:53 Digital Original Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case 1:05 Preview In 2010, the West Memphis Three were granted to appear before the Arkansas Supreme Court based on the new DNA evidence and potential misconduct by the jury. 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. Who killed Stevie 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. Morgan was an ice cream truck driver and would likely have been familiar with all three victims. 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. After 18 years behind bars, they were freed. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". Martin molested both of his stepchildren a son and a daughter over four years, serving just three years in the Colorado State Penitentiary. But, those were far from the only three suspects in the case. eventAction: 'view' 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. 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. He was 62. 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. 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 Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. The elder Byers admitted he whipped Christopher with a belt shortly before he went missing. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. Climber only named Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols. 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. Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. But what is the purpose of that? The chief of police was not truthful. Neighbors would recall that the abuse suffered by the boy was horrific, describing the whippings as a regular occurrence. 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. While Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley may have begun to rebuild their lives, there is still no solace or closure for the families of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore. The plea deal was accepted. 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. 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. 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. Their trial, which included 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. 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. Was there a serial killer still on the loose in Arkansas? "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. Then, perhaps, the punishment went too far, and it resulted in the triple homicide. pg.acq.push(function() { 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, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. It took them 18 years to clear their names. A subsequent search quickly found the bodies of Branch, Byers and Jul. March 3, 2023, at 3:19 p.m. Video Shows Memphis Jailers Beating Black Inmate Who Died. 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. 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. 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. 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. pg.acq.push(function() { "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. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? }); Jul. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. The three would be confirmed to be together between 5:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m., with the boys spotted headed toward Robin Hood Hills; Terry Hobbs, Branch's stepfather, calling out for them to return. 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. 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." Driver was the kind of individual who saw Satanism in every corner, blaming campfires, dead animal carcasses and pentagram graffiti on the dark arts. 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. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. They wouldn't be alone, and witness after witness would state they had heard there was a Satanic cult in the area. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. 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.