[31] His conviction was appealed, but the Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. However, there was no forensic evidence indicating that the murdered boys had been raped. The police did not telephone the coroner until almost two hours after the discovery of the floating shoe, resulting in a late appearance by the coroner. The prosecution accused the three young men of committing a Satanic murder. Over the years, they became known as the West Memphis Three, and their quest for exoneration would come to an end when they each took an Alford plea deal in 2011. [9] Misskelley's former attorney Dan Stidham cites multiple substantial police errors at the crime scene, characterizing it as "literally trampled, especially the creek bed." [6], On May 5, 1993, three eight-year-old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers) were reported missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' The first report to the police was made by Byers' adoptive father, John Mark Byers, around 7:00 pm. Byers initially claimed the knife had never been used. He was eight years old, 4 ft. 2 tall, weighed 55 lbs, and had brown hair. The episode premiered May 5, 2011, with extensive background information included on the show's page at the Investigation Discovery site. According to local West Memphis police officers, on the evening of May 5, 1993, at 8:42 pm, workers in the Bojangles' restaurant located about a mile from the crime scene in Robin Hood Hills reported seeing a black male who seemed "mentally disoriented" inside the restaurant's ladies' room. [44] John Mark Byers had his teeth removed in 1997, after the first trial but before an imprint could be made. [10], After a month had passed with little progress in the case, police continued to focus their investigation upon Echols, interrogating him more frequently than any other person. "However, they're trying to kill Damien. One such suspect was none other than Byers. }); After the documentary crew returned to New York, Berlinger and Sinofsky were reported to have discovered what appeared to be blood on the knife. When told the blood matched both his and Chris' blood type, Byers said he had no idea how that blood might have gotten on the knife. Following a series of documentaries that cast doubt on the investigation and law enforcement’s conclusion, high-profile supporters began to rally behind the imprisoned “West … [63] In 2007, Pamela Hobbs, the mother of victim Stevie Branch, joined those who have publicly questioned the verdicts, calling for a reopening of the verdicts and further investigation of the evidence. [4], In July 2007, new forensic evidence was presented. Under the "Bruton rule", Misskelley's confession could not be admitted against his co-defendants; thus he was tried separately. Baldwin was initially resistant to agree to this deal, insisting as a matter of principle that he would not plead guilty to something he did not do. In August 2011, White Light Productions announced that the West Memphis Three would be featured on their new program Wrongfully Convicted. She claimed she had implicated Echols and Misskelley to avoid facing criminal charges, and to obtain a reward for the discovery of the murderers. He was called a 'baby killer.'. [50] At the time, legal experts agreed that this issue could result in the reversal of the convictions of Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols. Organized by Eddie Spaghetti of the band Supersuckers, the album featured a number of original songs about the case and other recordings by artists such as Steve Earle, Tom Waits, L7, and Joe Strummer. [72], Many songs were written about the case, and two albums released in support of the defendants. "WM3" redirects here. He lived with his mother, Pamela Hobbs, his stepfather, Terry Hobbs, and a four-year-old half-sister, Amanda. He has stated that he plans on enrolling in college to become a lawyer in order to help wrongfully convicted persons prove their innocence. A hearing on Echols' petition for a writ of habeas corpus was held in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. On November 4, 2010, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a lower judge to consider whether newly analyzed DNA evidence might exonerate the three. },false) [1][2][3], The case generated widespread controversy and was the subject of several documentaries. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. 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. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ But their innocence did leave investigators back at square one. Police believed the boys were assaulted and killed at the location where they were found; critics argued that the assault, at least, was unlikely to have occurred at the creek. The judge then sentenced the three men to 18 years and 78 days, the amount of time they had served, and also levied a suspended sentence of 10 years. 18. [77], Atom Egoyan directed a dramatized feature film of the case, titled Devil's Knot, released in U.S. theaters on May 9, 2014. eventAction: 'click_ads' The verdict was immediately showered with doubt. "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. Stidham said the judge closed the door without answering. He lived with his parents and his nine-year-old sister, Dawn. hitType: 'event', On September 17, 2011, 48 Hours re-aired the episode with the update of their release and interviews from Echols and his wife, and Baldwin. Arrested in Oceanside on May 17, 1993, Morgan and Holland both took polygraph exams administered by California police. The words are chilling and, for anyone acquainted with the work of the Innocence Project, distressingly familiar: “My name is Damien Echols. For the former Australian rules footballer, see, three men convicted of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, United States, DNA testing and new physical evidence (2007), "Arkansas Teen Found Guilty On Three Counts Of Murder,", Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime, Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three, "Youth Is Convicted In Slaying of 3 Boys In an Arkansas City", "Arguments conclude in 'West Memphis Three' appeals", "How Rockers Helped Free the West Memphis Three", "Fresh DNA evidence boosts defense in 1993 Arkansas slayings", "Damien Echols asks for new trial in West Memphis 3 murder case", "Pain tells how much life 3 slain boys had", "Help sought for memorial to victims in West Memphis 3 case", "3 Teen-Agers Accused in the Killings of 3 Boys", "collective – paradise lost, revelations dvd", "WM3 Interview With Dan Stidham, Part 1 of 11", "Miscellaneous Essays and Interviews – David Jauss", "Witnesses call boys deaths work of group with trappings of the occult", Lawyers file DNA motion in Cub Scout murder case, "KAIT: Mother of West Memphis 3 Victim Speaks About New DNA Evidence", Jury foreman in West Memphis Three trial of Damien Echols accused of misconduct, "Former lawyer supports effort for a new trial", Arkansas Blog: West Memphis 3 Press Conference, "Judge rejects request for new trial for 3 men convicted of 1993 slayings of 3 Arkansas boys", "New hearing ordered for 3 in Ark.