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ADVERTISEMENT Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. 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. 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. 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. Jessie Misskelley was given two 20 year-sentences on top of life imprisonment, while Jason Baldwin also received life imprisonment. 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. West Memphis Three It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. Meanwhile, police questioned Misskelley alone, despite the suspect only having an IQ of 72. West Memphis Three 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. 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. The following morning, May 6, a far more thorough search throughout West Memphis began, Crittenden County Search and Rescue personnel leading the effort, including the use of a helicopter. To learn more about the case, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three" now on Oxygen. Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. 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. },false) Their trial, which included Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. 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. 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. 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. WebWest Memphis Three, three American men who in 1994, while teenagers, were found guilty of murdering three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, allegedly as part of devil worship. However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. 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. True crime: The tragedy of the West Memphis Three 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. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. The Shelby County Sheriff's Office announced on Twitter that Byers had been killed in an accident on Chambers Road and Shakerag Road in the Millington area on Thursday evening and then died after he was transported to a local hospital. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. 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.". In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ So if the West Memphis Three aren't the real killers, who is? Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? His mother told him to be home by 4:45 p.m., and the two set off around 3:40 p.m. There is no mention of Santic overtones or symbolism in the early written reports by police, nor correspondence with the FBI. West Memphis Three 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. 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. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. Based on the new information, the three men asked for an Alford plea, in which the defendant maintains their innocence, but acknowledge that prosecutors have evidence to convict them. }); 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. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal The West Memphis Three 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Jul. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Who Killed But what is the purpose of that? 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. 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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. hitType: 'event', eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. 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 . }) 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. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. He was 62. Efforts to release the West Memphis Three would be aided in 2003 when Vicki Hutcheson ultimately recanted her testimony, telling the "Arkansas Times" that everything she told police was a lie. Kara Goldfarb is a writer living in New York City. The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994. Generation X was seen as cynical slackers, beholden to social-tribal identity and influenced by the likes of MTV and the ever-growing internet. After 3 years of fighting to get new evidence tested for DNA, the state says the WM3 petition should be tossed out and now, the attorneys are responding in court. 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? WebWest Memphis Three, three American men who in 1994, while teenagers, were found guilty of murdering three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, allegedly as part of devil worship. 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 was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. He showed several old scars from prior injuries. West Memphis Three 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." Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. It is easy for many to look at the South as hillbilly central, full of prejudice and backward attitudes, with somewhat elitist attitudes often prevalent when discussing the case. The hair would tie in with a reported sighting of a "disoriented" man on the night of the boys' disappearance. Copyright 2023 Empire Media Group, Inc. Front Page Detectives is a registered trademark. Memphis Memphis if(document.querySelector("#adunit")){ 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. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. 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. We are one of the worlds fastest growing West Memphis Three 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. West Memphis Three | Background & Trial 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. On May 5, 1993, that trouble for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, seemed to have got indescribably more severe. Now, Attorney General Tim Griffin has requested the Arkansas Supreme Court to dismiss the case based on the fact that the petition was filed in Crittenden County but Echols was convicted in Craighead County. eventAction: 'view' 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. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. On Feb. 8, Misskelley claimed he had been drunk at the time of the killings and was drinking Evan Williams whiskey, claiming that he had thrown a bottle away under a bridge in West Memphis, swearing on the Bible as to the truth of his latest claims. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. }); The varying wounds included unrecognized bites, and possible stab wounds to his groin and castration, with some putting this down to animal predation. It doesn't take much effort to get him to say or do anything at all.". ga('ads.send', { Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. Standing 6-feet-5-inches tall and weighing 238 pounds, Byers was an imposing and threatening presence. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. I think he spent more time on concealing the bodies and the clothing and the bikes than he did on the actual murders. A popular perception is that in New York or Los Angeles, is the lifestyles of the West Memphis Three wouldn't have drawn comment, but in Arkansas, it was a different story. 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 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. 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. Who Killed 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.

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