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. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. She also revealed Terry hadn't informed her that her son was missing until she finished work, having significant concerns over his whereabouts on those days. Branch had 21 particular wounds, including a large gouge to the left side of his face, with Byers having 62 differing injuries. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. If they thought they could trust the person who was the actual threat, then that person could get close enough to them to control them so that they couldn't run away," retired FBI Supervisory Agent Jim Clemente saysin "The Forgotten West Memphis Three.". Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! In 2000, Berlinger and Sinofsky would produce "Paradise Lost 2: Revelations," a sequel to their 1996 film. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. Their trial, which included 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. Despite the alarming inconsistencies and recanting his confession, saying that he was fatigued, threatened and intimidated, police quickly arrested Echols and Baldwin. According to her new story, police had threatened to take her child if she didn't "cooperate." Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. 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 were the distinctive people in the town of West Memphis; however, there was little evidence suggesting they killed the three young boys. Moore. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. pg.acq.push(function() { 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. Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. Byers had a long history of run-ins with the law and been accused of multiple violent crimes. pg.acq.push(function() { In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." 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. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. 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." 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. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all good kids. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? "But I didn't wear hats back then; my hair could have blown around anywhere.". if(document.querySelector("#google_image_div")){ 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. He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. 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. He was 62. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a 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. 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 MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of While he was on medication that may have affected the outcome, including Xanax, it seems that his suspected involvement in the killings was a complete dead end. "I am innocent, as are Jason and Jessie, but I made this decision because I did not want to spend another day of my life behind those bars," Echols told the "Arkansas Times." 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. 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. 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. 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. }); They still had the convictions, but the men would be free. "I can't understand why exactly people are glossing over the obvious when it comes to Byers and the death of Melissa Byers and all the things that Byers has said and done since this trial," he said. The child claimed they were committed by Spanish-speaking Satanists. 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. window.googletag.cmd.push(function() { 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. Jul. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. People may receive compensation for some links to products and services on this website. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Prosecutors argued that the three teenagers, with Echols as the lead, committed the murders as part of a satanic ritual. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. A polygraph indicated some level of deception in his statements to police, yet it should be noted that a heart condition may have affected the results. I believe there was an incident of over-disciplining one of the boys. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' ADVERTISEMENT Misskelley confessed during the interrogation but later took rescinded it, stating that he did it out our fear and intimidation. 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. The case for his guilt was put forward by Echols himself in Peter Jackson's 'West of Memphis.' He was sentenced to life plus 40 years. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. He has devoted himself to writing, music and art. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. 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. 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. 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.". Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. They wanted to overwhelm us, convict us, condemn us and sweep us under the rug.". 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. Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. However, Aaron's story constantly changed, saying on one occasion he saw a victim bundled into a car by a Black man and on another stated that he witnessed the killings but didn't know who the killers were. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Subsequent interviews with Vicki Hutcheson were just as contradictory. Echols was generally seen as the dominant personality where Baldwin was concerned. Serving as professor emeritus of sociology at the University of California, it was expert testimony. Initially a suspect himself amongst some people, John Mark Byers added his voice to those doubts before being killed in a car crash last year. They allowed police and other workers to walk through the creek, trampling possible evidence such as footprints, and equally failed to drain the water quickly to preserve other evidence. It took them 18 years to clear their names. "We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. 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. It was just days before the trial of Echols and Baldwin. However, he was far from the only person of intense interest with two other teenagers, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, attracting early interest. The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. 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. One such suspect was none other than Byers. She also revealed that her ex-husband had once asked her sister point-blank if she suspected him in the killings. Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. I developed an overwhelming sense of being excluded from everything. Moore was the group leader and, like his best friends, a proud cub scout, wearing his uniform even when not at meetings. 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. 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 Police noted he knew at least one of the victims by name and was on vacation the week the murders took place. She was unable to say where this meeting was or who else was present. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Notifications can be turned off anytime in the browser settings. Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. Beyond his tales about Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols, Climber claimed to have beaten a police officer, hung a woman and sacrificed a second lady. The plea deal was accepted. He was 62. Toggle dark mode They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. Benca and the West Memphis Police Department did not immediately respond to The Hill's request for comment. eventAction: 'load' 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. Furthermore, Clemente believes the assailant was a male in his 30s who is either biologically related to one or more of the victims, a family member, or a very close community member. However, during his time at the station, Aaron mentioned that his three friends had been killed at "the playhouse.". All three appealed the convictions. Stating that he was "scared of the police," Misskelley confessed to murder. But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. At the trial, the prosecution continued the claims of Satanic overtones, calling Dale W. Griffis of the unaccredited Columbia Pacific University distance learning school as an "expert" witness to affirm the killings were definitely occult related. All three boys were naked and hogtied using their shoelaces, each ankle tied with a wrist behind their backs. Taylor's presence suggests that at 4:30 p.m., Branch and Moore had not yet found their friend Byers. A roll of toilet paper was soaked through with blood. However, that isn't quite the truth. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. We are one of the worlds fastest growing There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. }); eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), There is a vast difference between what most Satanists believe Satanism is and the popular perception of Satanism. }); 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. LITTLE ROCK, Arkansas After three years of fighting to get new evidence tested for DNA, the state is saying the West Memphis Three petition should be tossed out. 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. }); 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. 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. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. No semen was found at the scene, and there was no evidence of molestation. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. Adding that his client was "a mentally handicapped person who is quite suggestible. Yet Misskelley kept talking, confessing again on Feb. 4. "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. Suspicion toward John Mark Byers would only increase when the bite marks on Steve Branch's forehead were discovered. While police initially suspected rape, there was no evidence for it. 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. The chief of police was not truthful. With the new evidence in hand alongside expert testimony that suggested the knife wounds and mutilation had been animal predation, Echols petitioned for a retrial. Well, it minimizes the package a little bit and makes it easier to control after they're dead.. 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. Sign up forOxygen Insiderfor all the best true crime content. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); 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. Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents defendant Damien Echols, wrote in a Wednesday statement that he located evidence from the case after being granted access to the police department through an Arkansas state court order, according to WREG. But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. 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. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. Trinocular Co-Axial 1500x Metallurgical Microscope with Top-Bottom Light with 2MP Camera, Trinocular Microscope with DIN Objective and Camera 40x - 2000x, Junior Medical Microscope with Wide Field Eyepiece & LED 100x - 1500x, Trinocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x, Binocular Inverted Metallurgical Microscope 100x - 1200x. ga('ads.send', { Increasingly alarmed, searchers saw a black shoe floating in a muddy creek that afternoon. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. Now, the attorneys are responding in court. 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. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. Who, then, was responsible for the brutal murders and mutilations of three young children? VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. 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. 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. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. ET. 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 time spent to conceal them could have been skipped completely if there was no known relationship to the victims, Clemente told Ruff.