West Memphis Three The autopsies, by the forensic pathologist Frank J.

Peretti,
indicated that Byers died of "multiple injuries",[11] while Moore and
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia Branch died of "multiple injuries with drowning".[12][13]
"WM3" redirects here. For the 1987 WWF pay-per-view event, Police initially suspected the boys had been raped;[10] however,
see  WrestleMania III. later expert testimony disputed this finding despite trace amounts
"Jason Baldwin" redirects here. For the former Australian rules of sperm DNA found on a pair of pants recovered from the scene.
footballer, see  Jason Baldwin (footballer). Prosecution experts claim Byers' wounds were the results of a
knife attack and that he had been purposelycastrated by the
murderer; defense experts claim the injuries were more probably
the result of post-mortem animal predation. 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.
Byers was the only victim with drugs in his system; he was
prescribed Ritalin (methylphenidate) in January 1993, as part of
an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder treatment.[9] The initial
autopsy report describes the drug as Carbamazepine, and that
dosage was found to be at sub-therapeutic level. John Mark Byers
said that Christopher Byers may not have taken his prescription
on May 5, 1993.[14]
Victims
The West Memphis Three photographed after their arrest in June 1993 by the West
Memphis Police Department
The West Memphis Three are three men who were tried and
convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys
in West Memphis, Arkansas. Damien Echols was sentenced to
death, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. was sentenced to life
imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason
Baldwin was sentenced to life imprisonment. During the trial, the
prosecution asserted that the children were killed as part of
a satanic ritual.[1][2][3] A number of documentaries have been based
on the case, and celebrities and musicians have held fund raisers
in the belief that they are innocent.
In July 2007, new forensic evidence was presented in the case
and a status report jointly issued by the State and the Defense Grave of Stevie Branch
team stated, "Although most of the genetic material recovered
from the scene was attributable to the victims of the offenses,
some of it cannot be attributed to either the victims or the
defendants." On October 29, 2007, the defense filed a Second
Amended Writ of Habeas Corpus, outlining the new evidence.[4]
Following a successful decision in 2010 by the Arkansas Supreme
Court regarding newly produced DNA evidence, [5] the West
Memphis Three reached adeal with prosecutors. On August 19,
2011, they entered Alford pleas, which allow them to assert their
innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors have enough
evidence to convict them. Judge David Laser accepted the pleas
and sentenced the three to time served. They were released with
ten-yearsuspended sentences, having served 18 years and 78 Grave of Christopher Byers
days in prison.[6]
The crime
Three eight-year-old boys—Steve Branch, Michael Moore,
and Christopher Byers—were reported missing on May 5, 1993.

The first report to the police was made by Byers' adoptive father,
John Mark Byers, around 7:00 pm.[7] The boys were allegedly last
seen together by three neighbors, who in sworn affidavits told of
seeing them playing together around 6:30 pm the evening they
disappeared, and saw Terry Hobbs, stepfather of Stevie Branch,
calling them to come home.[8] Initial police searches made that
night were limited.[9] Friends and neighbors also conducted a
search that night, which included a cursory visit to the location Grave of Michael Moore
where the bodies were later found.[9]
A more thorough police search for the children began around
8:00 am on the morning of May 6, led by the Crittenden County
Search and Rescue personnel. Searchers canvassed all of West
Memphis, but focused primarily on Robin Hood Hills, where the
boys were reported last seen. Despite a human chain making a
shoulder-to-shoulder search of Robin Hood Hills, searchers found
no sign of the missing boys.
Around 1:45 pm, juvenile Parole Officer Steve Jones spotted a
boy's black shoe floating in a muddy creek that led to a major
drainage canal in Robin Hood Hills. A subsequent search of the
ditch revealed the bodies of three boys. They were stripped naked
and had been hogtied with their own shoelaces: their right ankles Memorial for the West Memphis Three victims
tied to their right wrists behind their backs, the same with their left The three victims, Stevie Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and
arms and legs. Their clothing was found in the creek, some of it Michael Moore, were in the second grade at Weaver Elementary
twisted around sticks that had been thrust into the muddy ditch School; each had achieved the rank of "Wolf" in the local Cub
bed.[10] The clothing was mostly turned inside-out; two pairs of the Scout pack; and they were best friends.[15]
boys' underwear were never recovered. Christopher Byers had Steve Edward Branch
lacerations to various parts of his body, and mutilation of his Stevie Branch (November 26, 1984 – May 5, 1993) [16] was the son
scrotum and penis.[11] of Steven and Pamela Branch, who divorced when he was an
infant. His mother was awarded custody and later married Terry
Hobbs. Branch was eight years old, 4 ft. 2 tall, weighed 65 lbs, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland
and had blonde hair. He was last seen in blue jeans, white T-shirt Early in the investigation, the WMPD briefly regarded two West
on a black and red bicycle. He was an honor student. He lived Memphis teenagers as suspects. Chris Morgan and Brian
with his mother, Pamela Hobbs, his stepfather, Terry Hobbs, and Holland, both with drug offense histories, had abruptly departed
a four-year-old stepsister, Amanda.[17] Steve Edward Branch is for Oceanside, California, four days after the bodies were
buried in Mount Zion Cemetery in Steele, Missouri.[16] discovered.[21] Morgan was presumed to be at least casually
Christopher Mark Byers familiar with all three murdered boys, having previously driven an
Christopher Byers (June 23, 1984 – May 5, 1993) [16] was born to ice cream truck route in their neighborhood.
Melissa DeFir and Ricky Murray. His parents divorced when he Arrested in Oceanside on May 17, 1993, Morgan and Holland
was four years old; shortly after, his mother married John Mark both took polygraph exams administered by California police.
Byers who adopted the boy. Byers was eight years old, 4 ft. tall, Examiners reported that both men's charts indicated deception
weighed 52 lbs, and had light brown hair. He was last seen in blue when they denied involvement in the murders. During subsequent
jeans, dark shoes, and white long sleeve shirt. He lived with his questioning, Morgan claimed a long history of drug and alcohol
mother, Sharon Melissa Byers, his stepfather, John Mark Byers, use, along with blackouts and memory lapses. He claimed that he
and his stepbrother, Shawn Ryan Clark, aged 13. According to his "might have" killed the victims but quickly recanted this part of his
mother, he was a typical eight-year-old. "He still believed in the statement.[21]
Easter Bunny and Santa Claus".[17] Christopher Mark Byers is California police sent blood and urine samples from Morgan and
buried in Forest Hill Cemetery East in Memphis, Tennessee.[16] Holland to the WMPD, but there is no indication WMPD
James Michael Moore investigated Morgan or Holland as suspects following their arrest
Michael Moore (July 27, 1984 – May 5, 1993)[16] was the son of in California. The relevance of Morgan's recanted statement would
Todd and Dana Moore. He was eight years old, 4 ft. 2 tall, later be debated in trial, but was eventually barred from admission
weighed 55 lbs, and had brown hair. He was last seen in blue as evidence.[21]
pants, blue Boy Scouts of America shirt, orange and blue Boy "Mr. Bojangles"
Scout hat on a light green bicycle. Moore enjoyed wearing his The sighting of a black male as a possible alternate suspect was
scout uniform even when he was not at meetings. He was implied during the beginning of the Misskelley trial. According to
considered the leader of the three. He lived with his parents and local West Memphis police officers, on the evening of May 5,
his nine-year-old sister, Dawn.[17] James Michael Moore is buried 1993, at 8:42 pm, workers in the Bojangles' restaurant about a
in Crittenden Memorial Park Cemetery in Marion, Arkansas.[16] mile from the crime scene in Robin Hood Hills reported seeing a
West Memphis Three victims memorial black male who seemed "mentally disoriented" inside the ladies'
In 1994, a memorial was erected for the three murder victims. The room of the restaurant. The man was bleeding and had brushed
memorial is located in the playground of Weaver Elementary against the walls of the restroom. Officer Regina Meeks
School in West Memphis, the school at which all three children responded to the call, taking the restaurant manager's report
attended second grade at the time of the crime. In May 2013, for through the restaurant's drive-through window. By then, the man
the 20th anniversary of the slayings, Weaver Elementary School had left and police did not enter the restroom on that date. [22]
principal Sheila Grissom raised funds for a refurbishment of the The following day after the victims' bodies were found, Bojangles'
memorial.[18] manager Marty King, thinking there was a possible connection to
Suspects the bloody man found in the bathroom, reported the incident to
Baldwin, Echols, and Misskelley police officers who then inspected the ladies room. King gave the
At the time of their arrests, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. was 17 years officers a pair of sunglasses he thought the man left behind and
old, Jason Baldwin was 16 years old, and Damien Echols was 18 the detectives took some blood samples from the walls. Police
years old.[19] detective Bryn Ridge testified that he later lost those blood
Baldwin and Echols had been arrested scrapings taken from the walls and tiles of the restroom. A hair
for vandalism and shoplifting, respectively, and Misskelley had a identified as belonging to a black male was later recovered from a
reputation for his temper and for engaging in fistfights with other sheet which was used to wrap one of the victims. [22]
teenagers at school. Misskelley and Echols had dropped out of Investigation
high school; however, Baldwin earned high grades and Evidence and interviews
demonstrated a talent for drawing and sketching, and was Police officers James Sudbury and Steve Jones felt that the crime
encouraged by one of his teachers to study graphic design in had "cult" overtones, and that Damien Echols might be a suspect
college.[9] Echols and Baldwin were close friends, and bonded because he had an interest in occultism, and Jones felt him
over their similar tastes in music and fiction, and over their shared capable of murdering children.[10] They interviewed Echols on May
distaste for the prevailing cultural climate of West Memphis, 7, two days after the bodies were discovered. [10] During
situated in the Bible Belt.[9] Baldwin and Echols were acquainted a polygraph examination, he denied any involvement. The
with Misskelley from school, but were not close friends with him. [9] polygraph examiner claimed that Echols' chart indicated
Echols' family was poor, with frequent visits from social workers, deception.[9] On May 9, during a formal interview by Detective
and he rarely attended school. He had run off with an early Bryn Ridge, Echols mentioned that one of the victims had wounds
girlfriend. The pair later broke into a trailer during a rain storm and to the genitals, and this was felt to be incriminating knowledge.[10]
were arrested, though only Echols was charged with burglary. After a month had passed with little progress in the case, police
[9]
 Police heard rumors that the young lovers had planned to have continued to focus their investigation upon Echols, interrogating
a child and sacrifice the infant; based on this story, they had him more frequently than any other person; however, they claimed
Echols institutionalized for psychiatric evaluation. Echols denied he was not regarded as a direct suspect but a source of
allegations that he had chased a younger child with an ax, but did information.[9]
admit to attempting to remove a classmate's eyeball and while On June 3 police interrogated Jessie Misskelley Jr. Misskelley,
detained reportedly sucked blood from another boy's arm. He was whose IQ was reported to be 72 (making him borderline
diagnosed as depressed and suicidal, and was prescribed intellectual functioning), was questioned alone; his parents were
the antidepressant imipramine. Subsequent testing demonstrated not present during the interrogation.[9] Misskelley's father gave
poor mathematical skills, but also showed that Echols ranked permission for Misskelley to go with police, but did not explicitly
above average in reading and verbal skills. give permission for his minor son to be questioned or interrogated.
Echols spent several months in a mental institution in Arkansas, [9]
 Misskelley was questioned for roughly twelve hours; only two
and afterward received "full disability" status from the Social segments, totaling 46 minutes, were recorded.[23] Misskelley
Security Administration.[9]During Echols' trial, Dr. George W. quickly recanted his confession, citing intimidation, coercion,
Woods testified (for the defense) that Echols suffered from: fatigue, and veiled threats from police.[3][9]
"... serious mental illness characterized by grandiose and Misskelley was a minor when he was questioned, [3] and though
persecutory delusions, auditory and visual hallucinations, informed of his Miranda rights, he later claimed he did not fully
disordered thought processes, substantial lack of insight, and understand them.[9] TheArkansas Supreme Court determined that
chronic, incapacitating mood swings."[9] Misskelley's confession was voluntary and that he did, in fact,
At his death penalty sentencing hearing, Echols' psychologist understand the Miranda warning and its consequences.
reported that months before the murders, Echols claimed that he [24]
 Misskelley specifically said he was "scared of the police" during
obtained super powers by drinking human blood. [20] his first confession.[25] Portions of Misskelley's statements to the
At the time of his arrest, Echols was working part-time with a police were leaked to the press and reported on the front page of
roofing company and expecting a child with his new girlfriend, the Memphis Commercial Appeal before any of the trials began.[9]
Domini Teer.[9]
Shortly after Misskelley's original confession, police arrested The prosecution called Dale W. Griffis, a graduate of Columbia
Echols and his close friend Baldwin. Eight months after his Pacific University, as an expert in the occult to testify the murders
original confession, on February 17, 1994, Misskelley made were a Satanic ritual.[32] On March 19, 1994 Echols and Baldwin
another statement to police with his lawyer Dan Stidham in the were found guilty on three counts of murder.[33] The court
room continually advising Misskelley not to say anything. sentenced Echols to death and Baldwin to life in prison.[3]
Misskelley ignored this advice continually and went on to detail At trial, the defense team argued that news articles from the time
how the boys were abused and murdered. Stidham, who was later could have been the source for Echols' knowledge about the
elected to a municipal judgeship, has written a detailed critique of genital mutilation, but the prosecution claimed that Echols'
what he asserts are major police errors and misconceptions knowledge, which Echols said was limited to what was "on TV",
during their investigation. was nonetheless too close to the facts, since there was no public
knowledge of drowning or that one victim had been mutilated
more than the others. Echols testified that Ridge's description of
Vicki Hutcheson the conversation (which was not recorded) regarding those
particular details was inaccurate (and indeed that some other
Vicki Hutcheson, a new resident of West Memphis, would play an claims by Ridge were "lies"). The author Leveritt argues that
important role in the investigation, though she would later recant Echols' information may have come from police leaks, such as
her testimony, stating her statements were fabricated due in part Detective Gitchell's comments to Mark Byers, that then circulated
to coercion from police.[9][26] amongst the local public.[9][28] The defense team objected during
On May 6, 1993 (the day the murder victims were found), cross-examination of Echols when the prosecution attempted to
Hutcheson took a polygraph exam by Detective Don Bray at the question him about his past violent behaviors, but were overruled.
Marion Police Department to determine if she had stolen money [34]

from her West Memphis employer. Hutcheson's young son,

Aaron, was also present, and proved such a distraction that Bray
was unable to administer the polygraph. Aaron, a playmate of the
Aftermath
murdered boys, mentioned to Bray that the boys had been killed Investigative criticism
at "the playhouse." When the bodies proved to have been There has been widespread criticism of how the police handled
discovered near where Aaron indicated, Bray asked Aaron for the crime scene.[9] Misskelley's former attorney Dan Stidham cites
further details, and Aaron claimed that he had witnessed the multiple substantial police errors at the crime scene,
murders committed by Satanists who spoke Spanish. Aaron's characterizing it as "literally trampled, especially the creek bed."
further statements were wildly inconsistent, and he was unable to The bodies, he said, had been removed from the water before the
identify Baldwin, Echols or Misskelley from photo line-ups, and coroner arrived to examine the scene and determine the state
there was no "playhouse" at the location Aaron indicated. A police of rigor mortis, allowing the bodies to decay on the creek bank,
officer leaked portions of Aaron's statements to the press and to be exposed to sunlight and insects. The police did not
contributing to the growing belief that the murders were part of a telephone the coroner until almost two hours after the discovery of
satanic rite. the floating shoe, resulting in a late appearance by the coroner.
On or about June 1, 1993, Hutcheson agreed to police Officials failed to drain the creek in a timely manner and secure
suggestions to place hidden microphones in her home during an possible evidence in the water (the creek was sandbagged after
encounter with Echols. Misskelley agreed to introduce Hutcheson the bodies were pulled from the water). Stidham calls the
to Echols. During their conversation, Hutcheson reported that coroner's investigation "extremely substandard." There was a
Echols made no incriminating statements. Police said the small amount of blood found at the scene that was never tested.
recording was "inaudible", but Hutcheson claimed the recording According to HBO's documentaries Paradise Lost: The Child
was audible. On June 2, 1993, Hutcheson told police that about Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) and Paradise Lost 2:
two weeks after the murders were committed, she, Echols and Revelations (2000), no blood was found at the crime scene,
Misskelley attended a Wiccan meeting in Turrell, Arkansas. indicating that the location where the bodies were found was not
Hutcheson claimed that, at the Wiccan meeting, a drunken Echols necessarily the location in which the murders actually happened.
openly bragged about killing the three boys. Misskelley was first After the initial investigation, the police failed to control disclosure
questioned on June 3, 1993, a day after Hutcheson's purported of information and speculation about the crime scene. [35]
confession. Hutcheson was unable to recall the Wiccan meeting According to Mara Leveritt, investigative journalist and author
location, and did not name any other participants of the purported of Devil's Knot, "Police records were a mess. To call them
meeting.[3] Hutcheson was never charged with theft. She claimed disorderly would be putting it mildly."[9] Leveritt speculated that the
she implicated Echols and Misskelley to avoid facing criminal small local police force was overwhelmed by the crime, which was
charges and to obtain a reward for the discovery of the murderers. unlike any they had ever investigated. Police refused an
[3]
unsolicited offer of aid and consultation from the violent crimes
experts of the Arkansas State Police, and critics suggested this
was due to the WMPD being investigated by the Arkansas State
Trials Police for suspected theft from the Crittenden County drug task
Misskelley was tried separately, and Echols and Baldwin were force.[9] Leveritt further noted that some of the physical evidence
tried together in 1994. Under the "Bruton rule", Misskelley's was stored in paper sacks obtained from a supermarket (with the
confession could not be admitted against his co-defendants and supermarket's name printed on the bags) rather than in containers
thus he was tried separately. They all pleaded not guilty.[27] of known and controlled origin.
Misskelley's trial Leveritt also mistakenly presumed that the crime scene video was
During Misskelley's trial, Dr. Richard Ofshe, an expert on false shot minutes after Detectives Mike Allen and Bryn Ridge
confessions and police coercion and Professor of Sociology at UC recovered two of the bodies, when in fact the camera was not
Berkeley, testified that the brief recording of Misskelley's available for almost thirty minutes afterward.[28]
interrogation was a "classic example" of police coercion.[28] Critics When police speculated about the assailant, the juvenile probation
have also stated that Misskelley's "confessions" were in many officer assisting at the scene of the murders speculated that
respects inconsistent with themselves and the particulars of the Echols was "capable" of committing the murders, stating "it looks
crime scene and murder victims, including (for example) an like Damien Echols finally killed someone." [9]
"admission" that Misskelley "watched Damien rape one of the Brent Turvey, a Forensic Scientist and Criminal Profiler, stated in
boys."[29] Police had initially suspected that the victims had been the film Paradise Lost 2 that human bite marks could have been
raped because their anuses were dilated. However there was no left on at least one of the victims. However, these potential bite
forensic evidence indicating that the murdered boys had been marks were first noticed in photographs years after the trials and
raped and dilated anuses are a normal post-mortem condition.[9] were not inspected by a board-certified medical examiner until
On February 5, 1994, Misskelley was convicted by a jury of one four years after the murders. The defense's expert testified that
count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree the mark in question was not an adult bite mark, while experts put
murder.[30] The court sentenced him to life plus 40 years in prison. on by the State concluded that there was no bite mark at all.
[36]
[31]
 His conviction was appealed and affirmed by the Arkansas  The State's experts had examined the actual bodies for any
Supreme Court. marks and others conducted expert photo analysis of injuries.
Echols and Baldwin's trial Upon further examination, it was concluded that if the marks were
bite marks, they did not match the teeth of any of the three
Three weeks later Echols and Baldwin went on trial where the convicted.[37]
prosecution accused the three of committing a Satanic murder. Appeals and new evidence
In May 1994, the three appealed their convictions.[38] The victims were the result of animal predation after the bodies had
convictions were upheld on direct appeal.[24][39] In 2007, Echols been dumped. This included the injuries to Byers' genitals.[4][47]
petitioned for a retrial based on a statute permitting post- On September 10, 2008 Circuit Court Judge David Burnett denied
conviction testing of DNA evidence due to technological advances the request for a retrial, citing the DNA tests as inconclusive.
[48]
made since 1994 which might provide exoneration for the  That ruling was appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court,
wrongfully convicted.[40] However, the original trial judge, which heard oral arguments in the case on September 30, 2010.
Judge David Burnett, disallowed presentation of this information in
his court. This ruling was in turn thrown out by the Arkansas Foreman and jury misconduct (2008)
Supreme Court. In July 2008, it was revealed that Kent Arnold, the jury foreman on
the Echols/Baldwin trial, discussed the case with an attorney prior
The knife of John Mark Byers (1993) to the beginning of deliberations and advocated for the guilt of the
John Mark Byers, the adoptive father of victim Christopher Byers, West Memphis Three as a result of the inadmissible Jessie
gave a knife to cameraman Doug Cooper, who was working with Misskelley statements.[49] Legal experts have agreed that this
documentary makersJoe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky while they issue has the strong potential to result in the reversal of the
were filming the first Paradise Lost feature. The knife was a convictions of Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols.[49]
folding hunting knife, manufactured by Kershaw. According to the In September 2008, Attorney (now Judge) Daniel Stidham, who
statements given by Berlinger and Sinofsky, Cooper informed represented Jessie Misskelley in 1994, testified at a
them of his receipt of the knife on December 19, 1993. After the postconviction relief hearing. Stidham testified under oath that,
documentary crew returned to New York, Berlinger and Sinofsky during the trial, Judge David Burnett erred by making an improper
reported to have discovered what appeared to be blood on the communication with the jury during its deliberations. Stidham
knife. HBO executives ordered them to return the knife to the overheard Judge Burnett discuss taking a lunch break with the
West Memphis Police Department. The knife was not received at jury foreman and the foreman reply the jury was almost finished.
the West Memphis Police Department until January 8, 1994. He testified Judge Burnett responded, "You'll need food for when
Byers initially claimed the knife had never been used. Blood was you come back for sentencing", and that the foreman asked in
found on the knife and Byers then stated that he had used it only return what would happen if the defendant was acquitted. Stidham
once, to cut deer meat. When told the blood matched both his and said the Judge closed the door without answering. He testified
Chris' blood type, Byers said he had no idea how that blood might that his own failure to put this incident on the court record and his
have gotten on the knife. During interrogation, West Memphis failure to meet the minimum requirements in state law to represent
police suggested to Byers that he might have left the knife out a defendant in a capital murder case was evidence of ineffective
accidentally, and Byers agreed with this.[9] Byers later stated that assistance of counsel and that Misskelley's conviction should
he may have cut his thumb. Further testing on the knife produced therefore be vacated.[50]
inconclusive results, due in part to the rather small amount of
blood,[9] and because both John Mark Byers and Chris Byers had
the same HLA-DQα genotype. Arkansas Supreme Court ruling
John Mark Byers agreed to, and subsequently passed, a On November 4, 2010 the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a
polygraph test during the filming of Paradise Lost 2: Revelations in lower judge to consider whether newly-analyzed DNA evidence
regard to the murders, but the documentary indicated that Byers might exonerate the three.[51] The justices also said a lower court
was under the influence of several psychoactive prescription must examine claims of misconduct by the jurors who sentenced
medications that could have affected the test results. Damien Echols to death and Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin
to life in prison.[51]
In early December 2010, Circuit Court Judge David Laser was
Possible teeth imprints selected to replace David Burnett, who was elected to
Following their convictions, Echols, Misskelley and Baldwin the Arkansas State Senate, to preside in the evidentiary hearings
submitted imprints of their teeth that were compared to alleged following the successful appeal.[52]
bite-marks on Stevie Branch's forehead not mentioned in the
original autopsy or trial. No matches were found. [41] Byers had his
teeth removed in 1997—after the first trial. He has offered Plea deal and release
apparently contradictory reasons for their removal: in one instance After weeks of negotiations on August 19, 2011, Echols, Baldwin
claiming that seizure medication he was taking caused periodontal and Misskelley were released from prison as part of an Alford
disease, and in yet another claiming other kinds of dental plea deal, a legal mechanism in which "no contest" pleas are
problems which had troubled him for years.[42] entered but innocence is nevertheless maintained. An Alford plea
After an expert examined autopsy photos and noted what he concedes that prosecutors have sufficient evidence to secure a
thought might be the imprint of a belt buckle on Byers' corpse, the conviction but reserves the right to assert innocence. Stephen
elder Byers revealed to the police that he had spanked his Braga, a prominent attorney with Ropes & Gray who took up
stepson shortly before the boy disappeared.[9] Echols’s defense on a pro bono basis beginning in 2009,
Vicki Hutcheson recants negotiated the plea agreement with prosecutors. [53] Under the
In October 2003, Vicki Hutcheson, who played a part in the deal, Judge David Laser vacated the previous convictions,
arrests of Misskelley, Echols and Baldwin, but did not testify at the including the capital murder convictions for Echols and Baldwin,
trial, gave an interview to the Arkansas Times in which she stated and ordered a new trial. Each man then entered an Alford plea to
that every word she had given to the police was a fabrication. lesser charges of first and second degree murder while verbally
[43]
 She further asserted that the police had insinuated if she did stating their innocence. Judge Laser then sentenced them to time
not cooperate with them they would take away her child.[43] She served, a total of 18 years and 78 days, and they were given a
noted that when she visited the police station they had Suspended Imposition of Sentence for 10 years.[54] If they re-
photographs of Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley on the wall and offend they can be sent back to prison for 21 years. [55]
were using them as dart targets.[43] She also claims that an audio The Alford plea deal meant that the hearing ordered by the
tape the police claimed was "unintelligible" (and eventually lost) Arkansas Supreme Court in November 2010, scheduled for
was perfectly clear and contained no incriminating statements. [43] December 2011 before Judge Laser, became unnecessary.
DNA testing and new physical evidence (2007–2010) [54]
 Factors cited by prosecutor Scott Ellington for agreeing to the
In 2007, DNA collected from the crime scene was tested. None plea deal included the fact that two of the victims' families have
was found to match DNA from Echols, Baldwin, nor Misskelley. In joined forces with the defense, the mother of a witness who
addition, a hair "not inconsistent with" Terry Hobbs, stepfather to testified about Echols's confession has questioned her daughter's
Stevie Branch, was found tied into the knots used to bind one of truthfulness, and the State Crime Lab employee who collected
the victims.[44][45] The prosecutors, while conceding that no DNA fiber evidence at the Echols and Baldwin homes after their arrests
evidence ties the accused to the crime scene, said that, "The has died.[56] As part of the plea deal, they can not pursue civil
State stands behind its convictions of Echols and his action against the state for wrongful imprisonment.[57]
codefendants."[46] Many of their supporters as well as opponents who still believe
On October 29, 2007 papers were filed in federal court by Damien them guilty resented the unusual plea deal.[58] Supporters are
Echols' defense lawyers seeking a retrial or his immediate release pushing the Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe to pardon Echols,
from prison. The filing cited DNA evidence linking Terry Hobbs Baldwin and Misskelley based on their innocence. Beebe plans to
(stepfather of one of the victims) to the crime scene, and new deny the request absent evidence showing someone else
statements from Hobbs' now ex-wife. Also presented in the filing committed the murders.[59] Prosecutor Scott Ellington said the
was new expert testimony that the alleged knife marks on the Arkansas state crime laboratory would run searches on any DNA
evidence produced in private laboratory tests in the defense's
investigation. This would include running the results through the Investigative journalist Aphrodite Jones undertook an exploration
FBI's Combined DNA Index Systemdatabase.[60] Ellington said that of the case on her Discovery Network show True Crime With
although he still considered the men guilty, the three would likely Aphrodite Jones following the DNA discoveries. The episode
be acquitted if a new trial were held given the powerful legal premiered May 5, 2011, with extensive background information
counsel representing them now, the loss of evidence over time, included on the show's page at the Investigation Discovery site. In
and the change of heart among some of the witnesses. [61] August 2011, White Light Productions announced that the West
Memphis Three will be featured on their new program, Wrongfully
Convicted.[73]
Family and law enforcement opinions In January 2010, the CBS television news journal 48 Hours aired
The families of the three victims are divided in their opinions as to "The Memphis 3", an in depth coverage of the history of the case
the guilt or innocence of the West Memphis Three. In 2000, the including interviews with Echols and supporters. On September
biological father of Christopher Byers, Rick Murray, described his 17, 2011, 48 Hours re-aired the episode with the update of their
doubts about the guilty verdicts on the West Memphis Three release and interviews from Echols and his wife, and
website.[62] In 2007, Pamela Hobbs, the mother of victim Stevie Baldwin. Piers Morgan Tonight aired an episode on September
Branch, joined those who have publicly questioned the verdicts, 29, 2011, about them discussing their plans for the future and
calling for a reopening of the verdicts and further investigation of continued investigations on the case.
the evidence.[63] In late 2007, John Mark Byers also announced West of Memphis, directed and written by Amy J. Berg, and
that he now believes that Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin are produced by Peter Jackson, as well as Echols himself, premiered
innocent.[64] "I had made the comment if it were ever proven the at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.
three were innocent, I'd be the first to lead the charge for their Atom Egoyan is currently directing a dramatized feature film of the
freedom," said Byers. "Every opportunity that I have to voice that case called, Devil's Knot, scheduled for released in 2013.
the West Memphis Three are innocent and the evidence and proof
prove [sic] they're innocent."[65] Byers has been speaking to the
media on behalf of the convicted and has expressed his desire for Defendants
justice for the families of both the victims and the three accused.[65] Jessie Misskelley
In 2010, district Judge Brian S. Miller ordered Terry Hobbs, the Jessie Misskelley Jr. (born July 10, 1975) was arrested in
stepfather of victim Stevie Branch, to pay $17,590 to Dixie connection to the murders on May 5, 1993. After a reported 12
Chicks singer Natalie Mainesfor legal costs stemming from a hours of interrogation by police, Misskelley, who has an IQ of 72,
defamation lawsuit he filed against the band. Miller dismissed a confessed to the murders, and implicated Baldwin and Echols.
suit Hobbs filed over Maines's remarks at a 2007 Little Rock rally However, the confession was at odds with facts known by police,
implying he was involved in killing his stepson. The judge said such as the time of the murders.[74][75] Under the "Bruton rule", his
Hobbs had voluntarily injected himself into a public controversy confession could not be admitted against his co-defendants and
over whether three teenagers convicted of killing the three 8-year- thus he was tried separately. Misskelley was convicted by a jury of
old boys had been wrongfully condemned.[66] one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree
John E. Douglas, a former longtime FBI agent who has murder. The court sentenced him to life plus 40 years in prison.
interviewed the country's most prolific serial killers during his His conviction was appealed and affirmed by the Arkansas
years with the FBI and works as a profiler to help police in their Supreme Court.[76]
searches for violent criminals, said the slayings of the three West On August 19, 2011, Misskelley, along with Baldwin and Echols,
Memphis boys weren't the work of three unsophisticated teenage entered an Alford plea. Judge David Laser then sentenced them
killers, but that of a single person who set out to degrade and to 18 years and 78 days, the amount of time they had served, and
punish the victims.[67] Douglas was formerly FBI Unit Chief of the also levied a suspended sentence of 10 years. All three were
Investigative Support Unit of the National Center for the Analysis released from prison that same day.[74]Since his release, he has
of Violent Crime for 25 years. Douglas stated in his report for become engaged to his high school girlfriend and enrolled in a
Echols' legal team that there was no evidence for Satanic ritual community college to become an auto mechanic.
involvement in the killings, and he agreed that post mortem animal Charles Jason Baldwin
predation explained the alleged knife injuries. Douglas believed Charles Jason Baldwin[77] (born April 11, 1977) along with
that the perpetrator had a violent history and was familiar with the Misskelley and Echols, entered an Alford plea on August 19,
victims and with local geography. He stated that the victims had 2011.[78] Baldwin pled guilty to three counts of first degree
died from a combination of blunt force trauma and drowning, in a murder while still asserting his actual innocence. The judge then
crime driven by personal cause.[4] sentenced the three men to 18 years and 78 days, the amount of
Documentaries, publications and studies time they had served, and also levied a suspended sentence of 10
Three films, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood years. Baldwin was initially resistant to this deal, insisting as a
Hills, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, and Paradise Lost 3: matter of principle that he would not plead guilty to something he
Purgatory, directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky have did not do. But, he said, his refusing the deal would have meant
documented this case and were strongly critical of the verdict. The Echols stayed on death row. "This was not justice," he said of the
movie marked the first time Metallica allowed their music to be deal. "However, they’re trying to kill Damien."[79] Since his release,
used in a movie, which drew attention to the case.[68] he has moved to Seattle to live with friends and is in a relationship
There have been a number of books, including Blood of with a woman who befriended him while he was in prison. He has
Innocents by Guy Reel, The Last Pentacle of the Sun: Writings in stated that he plans on enrolling in college to become a lawyer
Support of the West Memphis Three, edited by Brett Alexander helping wrongfully convicted persons prove their innocence.
[80]
Savory & M. W. Anderson, featuring dark fiction and non-fiction by  Baldwin stated in an interview with Piers Morgan that he now
well-known speculative fiction writers, and Devil's Knot by Mara works for a construction company and he is learning how to drive.
[81]
Leveritt, which also argue that the suspects were wrongly
convicted. In 2005, Damien Echols completed his memoir, Almost Damien Wayne Echols
Home, Vol 1, offering his perspective of the case.[69] A biography Damien Wayne Echols (born Michael Wayne Hutchison,
[82]
of John Mark Byers by Greg Day was published in May 2012.[70]  December 11, 1974) was on death row, locked-down 23 hours
In 2002, Henry Rollins worked with other vocalists from various per day at the Varner UnitSupermax.[3] On August 19, 2011,
well-known rock, hip hop, punk and metal groups and members Echols, along with the two others collectively known as the West
of Black Flag and theRollins Band on the compilation album Rise Memphis Three, were released from prison after their attorneys
Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three. and the judge handling the upcoming retrial agreed to a deal.
All money raised from sales of the album are donated to the legal Under the terms of the Alford guilty plea, Echols and his co-
funds of the West Memphis Three. Metalcore band Zao's 2002 defendants accepted the sufficiency of evidence supporting the
album Parade of Chaos included a track inspired by the case three counts of first degree murder while maintaining their
named "Free The Three". On April 28, 2011, the innocence. DNA evidence failed to connect Echols or his co-
band Disturbed released a song entitled "3" as a download on defendants to the crime.
their website. The song is about the West Memphis Three, with The mental stability of Damien Echols during the years
100% of the proceeds going to their benefit foundation for their immediately prior to the murders and also during his trial was the
release.[71] focus of his appellate legal team in their appeal attempts. In his
A website by Martin David Hill, containing approximately 160,000 efforts to win a new trial, Echols, 27 at the time of the appeal,
words and intending to be a "thorough investigation", collates and claimed he was incompetent to stand trial because of a history of
discusses many details surrounding the murders and mental illness. The record on appeal spells out a long history of
investigation, including some anecdotal information.[72] Echols's mental heath problems, including a May 5, 1992,
Arkansas Department of Youth Services referral for possible Home: My Life Story Vol. 1, self-published while still in prison.
mental illness, a year to the day before the murders.[83] Hospital Echols has relocated to Salem, Massachusetts with his wife and
records for his treatment in Little Rock 11 months before the has no intentions of returning to Arkansas. In an interview
killings show a history of self-mutilation, and assertions to hospital with Piers Morgan, he stated that he would like to have a career in
staff that he gained power by drinking blood, that he had inside writing and visual arts.
him the spirit of a woman who had killed her husband and that he
was having hallucinations. He also told mental health workers that
he was "going to influence the world."[83] The appellate legal team
argued that Echols didn't waive his assertion that he wasn't
mentally competent before his 1994 trial because he wasn't
competent to waive it. To assist in the appeals process, Echols’
appellate legal team retained a Berkeley-based forensic
psychiatrist, Dr. George Woods, to make their case.[84]
Echols' lawyers claimed that his condition worsened during the
trial, when he developed a "psychotic euphoria that caused him to
believe he would evolve into a superior entity," and eventually be
transported to a different world. His psychosis dominated his
perceptions of everything going on in court, Woods wrote.
[83]
 Echols' mental state, while in prison awaiting trial, was also
called into question by his appellate team. While in prison Damien
wrote letters to Gloria Shettles, an investigator for his defense
team.[85] Echols sought to overturn his conviction based on trial
error including juror misconduct, as well as with the results of a
DNA Status Report filed on July 17, 2007, which concluded "none
of the genetic material recovered at the scene of the crimes was
attributable to Mr. Echols, Echols' co-defendant, Jason Baldwin, or
defendant Jessie Misskelley .... Although most of the genetic
material recovered from the scene was attributable to the victims
of the offenses, some of it cannot be attributed to either the
victims or the defendants."[86] Advanced DNA and other scientific
evidence – combined with additional evidence from several
different witnesses and experts – released in October 2007 has
thrown the original ruling into question. A hearing on his petition
for a writ of habeas corpus is pending in the Federal District Court
for the Eastern District of Arkansas.[87]

Damien Echols at the 2012 Texas Book Festival.

In 1999, he married while he was in prison.[88] Until August 2011,
he was incarcerated in the Arkansas Department of
Correction (ADC) Varner Unit Supermax.[89][90] Echols, ADC#
000931, entered the system on March 19, 1994.[90] On August 19,
2011, Echols, along with Baldwin and Misskelley, entered an
Alford plea.[78] The judge then sentenced them to 18 years and 78
days, the amount of time they had served, and also levied a
suspended sentence of 10 years. Echols' sentence was reduced
to three counts of first degree murder. Lawyers representing the
West Memphis Three reached the plea deal that allowed the men
to walk free. They were transferred to the hearing with their
possessions. The plea deal did not technically result in a full
exoneration; some of the convictions would stand, though the men
would not admit guilt. The counsel representing the men said they
would continue to pursue full exoneration. [91]
Echols co-wrote the lyrics to the song "Army Reserve", on Pearl
Jam's self-titled album.[92] Punk musicianMichale Graves, formerly
of The Misfits, has written music to coincide with Echols' poetry.
Echols and Graves released an album titled Illusions, in October
2007. His poetry has appeared in the Porcupine Literary
Artsmagazine (Volume 8, Issue 2), and he has written non-fiction
for the Arkansas Literary Forum.[93] Since his release, he has
published a non-fiction book about both his childhood and
incarceration, Life After Death (Blue Rider Press, 2012), which
includes material from Echols' previous memoir entitled, Almost