They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. }) Pamela Hobbs gave numerous interviews to the press where she spoke about the knife, the DNA, and the events of May 5 and 6, 1994. The use of shoelaces had yet to be revealed to the public, yet Martin was eventually cleared of any involvement. One such suspect was none other than Byers. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. These three would come to be known as the West Memphis Three. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Misskelley was interrogated for 12 hours, of which less than an hour were recorded. All three were second-grade pupils at Weaver Elementary School, with Branch being an honor student. 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. Yet, few could give details. 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. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. And while both Michael and Steve had bruises across their body, Christopher had suffered the most gruesome injuries and had lacerations to various parts of his body, and mutilation to his scrotum and penis. Well, it minimizes the package a little bit and makes it easier to control after they're dead.. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. 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. } They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. 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. 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. He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. 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. Devastating Photos Of Hiroshima Before And After The Atomic Bombing That Changed History Forever, Jury Finds Man Guilty Of Teaching Pug Nazi Salute [VIDEO], What Stephen Hawking Thinks Threatens Humankind The Most, 27 Raw Images Of When Punk Ruled New York, Join The All That's Interesting Weekly Dispatch, black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate, woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. 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. While they showed the bravado and sense of adventure associated with many scouts, they were still innocent, with Byers said by his mother to still "[believe] in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.". Curiously, most of the injuries suffered by Byers were to the lower body, whereas the damage inflicted on Branch and Moore was primarily to the upper body. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. All three spent most of their days as any other mid-1990s teenagers - listening to rock music, watching pro wrestling on television, and either poking around under the hood of a car or simply hanging out and causing trouble. While the charges were expunged from his record, documents detailing them were found at the Crittenden County Court by journalist Mara Leveritt. 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. Clemente noted there was no indication, forensically, that theres more than one offender involved because what happened to each of the victims was consistent. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. 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. He explained that the particular petition they filed is not up for interpretation and ultimately is not within their rights. 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. "We are pleased that the evidence is intact," Benca said, according to WREG. Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. The alert was assigned to Officer Regenia Meek, who filled out reports and, with Officer John Moore, did a brief search, but nothing more expansive. The West Memphis Police Department denied any connection in a statement to ABC 24 Memphis. reporters on a platform technologically tailored to meet the needs of the modern reader. 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. Jul. What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. Then, after determining the boys final movements, Bob meets with a DNA expert to discuss new technology that might break the case wide open. Sign up to receive breakingFront Page Detectivesnews and exclusive investigations. 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. 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. During questioning, Echols mentioned wounds to the genital that one of the victims suffered. 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. 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. The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. hitType: 'event', 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. On one occasion, she said she was with her son all day; on another that he left home around 4 p.m. Speaking about Echols to The New York Times in 1993, high school teacher Jim Ferguson said, "he's like some wacko cult member.". It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. 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. 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. Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. 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. }); "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.". Echols interest in the occult as an outlet led him to Wicca, and he was a reader of Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey and English occultist Aleister Crowley. Who killed Stevie Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. 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. 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. Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. Yet, it is a giant leap toward murder. With John Mark Byers ruled out, revelations in 2007 would point in a new direction equally close to home. 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 . In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. Their clothing was found tied to sticks implanted into the creek bed, with two pairs of underwear missing. Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. Who killed Stevie Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. }); 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. 1." Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Driver was the kind of individual who saw Satanism in every corner, blaming campfires, dead animal carcasses and pentagram graffiti on the dark arts. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. eventAction: 'render' 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.
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