Nov 01, 2007 citing dna testing and evidence from several witnesses and leading experts, the nearly 200page writ asks the court to order a new trial for my husband, damien echols, or release him. The attorney for convicted killer damien echols says dna evidence proves he is innocent and hes demanding a new trial. These items were numbered in a series 2s04114 from 01 to 36. The men were offered the alford plea deal in 2011 after new dna evidence. From the days when cotton was king, through the yellow fever epidemics of the late 19th century, to the building boom of the 1920s, memphis has adapted to its. In hicks last appeal to the city of west memphis, officials responded that the same legislation is not applicable if evidence was retained by a law enforcement agency following a conviction for a violent offense. Higginbotham, a hero of the sharecroppers murdered by a lunch mob in 1935 lafayette. Grady, arkansas cnn some things about damien echols remain unchanged since he. Just as census records, probate records, and tax records must be consulted when they are available and can shed light on a genealogical question, dna evidence must be obtained and used when it is available and can provide information regarding a genealogical question. Celebrities insist on pardon for west memphis three us. Today new evidence was filed in federal court that links one of the stepfathers of the murder victims to the crime scene. None of it, however, linked the west memphis three to the crime.
Weve been asking to see new dna evidence for nine years. None of it, however, linked the west memphis three. New dna evidence presented against daniel holtzclaw. The dna findings from the ligatures, indicating three different numbers present on the d5s818 locus. Three men, known as the west memphis three, convicted of an infamous murder 17 years ago have been granted a rare opportunity to present new evidence to an arkansas court. You may have read one of several books about the murders. If you are reading this website you have probably spent a few hours watching one or more of the five moviesdocumentaries about this case. This article is about one of those high profile cases the arrest and conviction of three teenaged boys known as the west memphis 3, who spent nearly two decades in prison before being freed due. In the meantime, they can make public the results from 2011. West memphis three, american teenagers who were convicted of a satanic triple.
May 06, 1993 dont miss ac360 tonight and tomorrow at 10 p. New dna found on victim in west memphis 3 case excludes damien echols. With the help of false confession and socalled witness expert in satanic occults, three young men spent more than 18 years in prison. Mark lane 19272016 was an american attorney, new york state legislator, civil rights activist, and conspiracy theorist on the assassinations of john f.
Memphis rests on the east bank of the mississippi, a river that has altered its course many times. The west memphis three and the urgent need for criminal. The three men echols, jason baldwin and jesse misskelley, jr. May 30, 2018 dna matches memphis family to 1935 oxford lynching victim. The west memphis 3 case remains an ongoing controversy even today, many. May 20, 2011 after spending 18 years behind bars, on august 19, 2011 the west memphis three were released from prison.
Still angry over how west memphis police and then prosecutors handled the case from the start, pam hobbs and her family turned over evidence they found to defense attorneys. On may 5, 1993, three little boys from west memphis, arkansas, went out for a bike ride with a promise to their parents that they would be home for dinner. The three have been the subject of many movies, documentaries, and true crime shows in the years since their initial arrest, and the latest is the west memphis three. Life after death is a recently published book that is west memphis threes. State 1005 bring a motion for dna testing because the testing was not available at the time of the trial and the testing had the scientific potential to produce new noncumulative evidence materially relevant to echolss assertion of actual innocence. In 1994, teenagers damien echols, jessie misskelley, jr. Announcing genetic genealogy in practice a new book. Somewhere along the way, the kids were murdered and thrown into a secluded, wooded area known to locals as robin hood hills. New dna evidence in west memphis 3 case innocence project. These developments were chronicled in paradise lost 3.
Ap photoevan agostini the mother of a boy killed in the wellknown west. The new york times praises the book and describes it as a dual. West of memphis director amy berg talks new evidence in. Written by leaders in the fields of biology and statistics, the book emphasizes the interpretation of test results and provides the necessary formulae in an easily accessible manner.
Aug 19, 2011 john mark byers, adoptive father of christopher byers, a victim in the 1993 killings of three west memphis, ark. After the discovery of new dna evidence, the three entered alford pleas in 2011 and were released for time served. Jan 07, 2008 there was not any hard evidence yet the 3 were convicted. Cub scouts were found in a waterfilled ditch in a forest near their west memphis, ark. Ruff is doing his best to ignore the fact that dna results are out there but no one has ever seen them. Forgotten west memphis three doc aims to give victims of. A claim which the media has continued to push, particularly investigation discovery, which is referenced in this current intouch weekly article, which. As seen in the images above, the numbers listed under d5s818 on the ligatures for stevie branch are 10,11,12. Three teenagers were arrested and convicted for the crimes. The triplemurder case captured the nations attention after the release of the hbo documentary paradise lost. To this day, it inspires fierce debate and accusations of guilt, while the facts and evidence remain contested. They are guilty despite what the documentaries, books and news stories have said over and over. John mark byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, theyre innocent. Echols of west memphis 3 talks about appeal, death row.
To potentially uncover new evidence in the case, ruff is hoping to have the crime scene evidence including the bikes, sticks and clothing retested with mvac, a wetvacuum dna collection system that can gather 200 times more dna sample compared to swab testing. October 2003 in an interview with an arkansas times reporter, vicki hutcheson says that everything she told the police was a lie, and suggested that the police warned her that if she did not cooperate in their investigation that her child would be taken away. Read on for the refresher on the case, and to learn where the men are today. The case against the west memphis 3 killers volume 1. Covering much the same ground as paradise lost, the film concludes with the deal made between prosecutors and the defense team that saw the men released in 2011. West of memphis is all about the fact that terry hobbs was the real killer.
Dna from a biological sample can be matched to its source. Former west memphis three inmate damien echols says he pays very little attention to true crime fandom. False confessions and the west memphis three innocence. A crucial piece of the west memphis three innocence claims was that there was new dna evidence which proved beyond any shadow of a doubt that another man, terry hobbs had committed the murders with his friend david jacoby. We got an advance copy of damien echols new book life after death due sep. However, the prosecutors in the case still maintain a genuine belief that the three men are guilty. Prosecutor ellington has yet to receive the new evidence in wm3 case. Richard claxton gregory 19322017 was an american comedian, civil rights activist, conspiracy theorist, social critic, and healthdiet advocate. After the discovery of new dna evidence, the three entered alford pleas in. Film details contradictory evidence in west memphis three. New dna found on victim in west memphis 3 case excludes damien echols, jason baldwin and jessie misskelley. But celebrity supporters of the west memphis three. Wm3 defense team unveils new evidence against victims. Now with the west memphis three there is now new dna evidence and it is one of the step fathers hairit was entwined into the knot tied around one of the boys bodies.
Life after death, a book by west memphis threes damien echols. Watch a notorious crime season 1, episode 1 of the forgotten west memphis three or get episode details on. Following the submission of new dna evidence in 2010, the state of arkansas negotiated a plea agreement with all three of the accused and allowed them to submit alford pleas which essentially asserts that while the three acknowledge that the state has enough evidence to convict them, they maintain their innocence. Newer dna evidence would be fine by us, too, not that its going to happen. At the time, the prosecution asserted that the boys were murdered as part of a satanic ritual.
Now, thanks to extensive investigation we know why. The nuclear dna from one cell has all of the information to create an exact physical duplicate of who we are, a device used in science fiction depictions of cloning. The book strongly suggests a miscarriage of justice occurred in the memphis three trials. Is there any strong evidence that the west memphis 3 did not. When the case was tried in 1993, forensic dna evidence was introduced, but the defense argued that it was tainted or crudely tested. Oct 30, 2007 citing dna testing and evidence from several witnesses and leading experts, the nearly 200page writ asks the court to order a new trial for my husband, damien echols, or release him. Instead the defense claims the tests found dna from terry hobbs, the stepfather of one of the murdered boys. Having read a bit about the case several years ago and watched paradise lost the child murders at robin hood hills again within the last 2 3 years, i was familiar with almost.
West memphis three could be released on new dna evidence. I am wondering how the rest of their lives will play out for the west memphis three. On june 3, the police interrogated jessie misskelley, jr. Damien echols of the west memphis three explains high magick. Misskelley did not take the bait, and later was quoted in a book crediting his. Damien echols was sentenced to death, jessie misskelley, jr. Forgotten west memphis three doc aims to give victims of notorious crime. After three years in the making and a theatrical release set for december 25th, the filmmakers of west of memphis still wont mind reediting their film again and again, until the. Purgatory during the 49th annual new york film festival at alice tully hall on monday, oct. The new dna evidence is that one hair that was found in the ligature of the shoelaces that bound michael moore is consistent with the dna of terry hobbs, who is. Many believe that the west memphis three were convicted based on misleading evidence and smalltown prejudices. The west memphis three, charged in the 1993 slayings of three cub scouts, were released friday.
West memphis three, steve edward branch, christopher byers. West memphis three were originally convicted because they were easy targets dna evidence feeds doubts about the three mens murder convictions. The new dna evidence failed to convince judge burnett that a new trial for any of the west memphis three was justified, but attorneys for all three appealed burnetts decision to. Benefit concerts were held, books were written, a followup documentary was made and a movement to free the west memphis three grew in size and intensity, drawing those intrigued by. Court documents reveal new details in the cast of the west memphis 3.
New possible suspects named in the brutal 1993 west memphis murders of three cub scouts including one of the boys stepfathers. The west memphis three are three men known for being convicted as teenagers in 1994, of the 1993 murders of three boys in west memphis, arkansas, united states. West memphis 3 dna evidence the trench reynolds report. On monday, lawyers for death row inmate damien echols one of three teenagers convicted of killing three young boys in 1993 will again argue for a new trial.
The movies, especially the second one, certainly attempted to incriminate the stepdad and exhonerate the teens. Dna testing underway in the west memphis three case. What is some compelling evidence that the west memphis three. New dna testing by the defense shows that none of the genetic material recovered links echols, baldwin, or misskelley to the crime scene. The police also lost potentially vital dna evidence from a possible suspect that.
The twoway three men who were convicted as teenagers in 1993 for the brutal murders of three young boys in west memphis, ark. Memphis has also changed over the years, expanding and maturing with each new decade. West memphis three and the satanic panic atheist revolution. The socalled west memphis three say they will continue to fight to get their names fully cleared only now they can do it from the outside. An id murder mystery which is set to drop on investigation discovery on april 5 what happened to the west memphis three. More than a decade after three young west memphis boys turned up dead in a drainage ditch, action news 5 has learned dna evidence may connect a family member to the crime scene. West memphis three, a year out of prison, navigate new. It does not matter if there is any evidence to prove they didnt do it, the tragedy in this case is that they were convicted with nothing but circumstantial evidence and a false, recanted, coerced confession by one of the 3 who had a very below average iq almost retarded. Crucial dna evidence was presented in the daniel holtzclaws trial wednesday. Aug 23, 2011 many believe that the west memphis three were convicted based on misleading evidence and smalltown prejudices. That evidence could convince a jury that the former oklahoma city police officer did sexually assault at least two. There is no physical evidence linking any of the west memphis 3.
In short, dna testing has been conducted on dozens of pieces of evidence. Known as the west memphis 3, the defendants damien echols, jessie misskelley and jason baldwin have claimed innocence since their arrest shortly after the. This new tool, as ive said before, is the perfect marriage between science and dedicated police work, said sacramento county district attorney anne marie. In july 2007, new forensic evidence was presented, and a report jointly. Dna evidence may connect family member to west memphis 3. Using the same forensic dna evidence initially used in the golden state killer cases, investigative genetic genealogy, wilson was arrested in his north sacramento home on thursday. The state was not going to make 3 individual deals in this case. Nov 07, 2007 the new dna evidence is that one hair that was found in the ligature of the shoelaces that bound michael moore is consistent with the dna of terry hobbs, who is the father of stevie branch, lax. Dna profiles for the west memphis three and the victims in the case. Books, links, video, and articles relating to the west memphis three case checkout the new famous trials website at. Echols is one of three men found guilty in the brutal murders of three eightyearold boys in west memphis in 1993.
Mother of west memphis 3 victim speaks about new dna evidence. False confessions and the west memphis three innocence project. The real west memphis three chris byers, michael moore, and stevie branch welcome west memphis three facts. In turn, the new twopart oxygen special, the forgotten west memphis three, spawned by ruffs truth and justice investigation, refocuses the attention back on. Sep 16, 2011 the dna analysis of a 30yearold sample believed to come from elvis presleys farewell tour will be revealed in a new book by principal investigator and author donald n. Like the west memphis three case, the 250 cases that i studied are all unusual cases in which the truth machine of dna can call into question seemingly rocksolid evidence. The prosecution said it would be almost impossible to to put on a new trial 18 years after the slayings. On july 7, 2004, bode laboratories of springfield, virginia received evidence items for dna testing. Jul 29, 2014 damien echols was pegged as the leader of the west memphis three. Later, a 2012 documentary financed by oscarwinning director peter jackson and directed by amy berg, west of memphis, added new fuel to the long smoldering fire.
New evidence points to new suspects in west memphis 3 case. The sample, in the form of blood and semen stained sheets, belongs to bobbi bacha of blue moon investigations. Dna testing was very limited back at the time of the trial in. New evidence has surfaced in the west memphis three murders that have caused a public resurgence of the case. For weeks in 1993, after the murders of three eightyearold boys, police in west memphis, arkansas seemed. New evidence points to new suspects in west memphis 3 case october 29, 2007 at 9. Details are being reported about the much heralded dna evidence that is supposed to exonerate the west memphis 3 according to their misguided followers new dna testing by the defense shows that none of the genetic material recovered links echols, baldwin, or misskelley to the crime scene. The true story of the west memphis three, by mara leveritt, also argued that the 1994 trials were gravely flawed. Supreme courts repeatedly denied the west memphis three s appeals, a new batch of dna testing done in 2007 showed that no genetic material on the crime scene evidence was a match to echols, baldwin or misskelley, reported the arkansas democratgazette. New suspects named in west memphis three slayings huffpost. Jun 30, 2011 dna testing is currently underway on behalf of the defense for damien echols, jason baldwin, and jessie misskelley.
Most articles ive read are skewed to project guilt on the stepdad or on the teens. The secret evidence against the west memphis three tuesday, aug 23, 2011 by dr. The new dna evidence failed to convince judge burnett that a new trial for any of the west memphis three was justified, but attorneys for all three appealed burnetts decision to the arkansas supreme court. Oct 08, 2002 awardwinning journalist mara leveritts the devils knot remains the most comprehensive, insightful reporting ever done on the investigation, trials, and convictions of three teenage boys who became known as the west memphis three. Dna evidence proves innocence of west memphis three. Nov, 2012 new evidence has been unearthed by investigators hired by jackson and walsh during the filming of west of memphis. Led by pearl jams, eddie vedder, actor, johnny depp, and natalie maines of the dixie chicks. He conceded though that the states crime lab would look at any new dna evidence that emerged from private tests being carried out at. All the evidence that shows why the notorious west memphis. As such, we stay up to date on a variety of cases, some high profile and some lesser known. In 2007, the defense teams presented new forensic evidence and, when dna. Deal frees west memphis three in arkansas the new york. Damien echols in a scene from west of memphis, which he produced with peter jackson.
Inside the unknown story of the forgotten west memphis three. May 03, 2016 there is no question that dna evidence is increasingly important to genealogists at all levels. During the trial, the prosecution asserted that the juveniles killed the children as. In august 2011, the three teenagers who had been convicted of the grisly killings, damien echols, jason baldwin, and jessie. The west memphis three, from left, jessie misskelley jr. Two were sentenced to life in prison, and the third received the death penalty. Nov 29, 2004 forensic dna evidence interpretation is the most comprehensive resource for dna casework available today. 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. New dna evidence most likely would have given the three a new trial. Dna evidence may connect family member to west memphis 3 crime scene july 18, 2007 10. That is why it is so important to learn from the wrongful convictions that do come to light so that we can get it right. They argue he was interrogated for 12 hours, coherced, and threatened etc all while having no idea of his rights, legal counsel, or an understanding of what was happening. The three men were convicted as teenagers of the triple homicides of three 8. The three would serve 18 years in prison before being released through an alford plea prompted by new dna evidence and a ruling from the arkansas supreme court.
Clear pictures entertainment produces film about new dna. Whats known is that three young boys were murdered in west memphis, arkansas, in 1993. Dna matches memphis family to 1935 oxford lynching victim. In 2010, the west memphis three were granted to appear before the arkansas supreme court based on the new dna evidence and potential misconduct by the jury. Inside the unknown story of the forgotten west memphis three e. West memphis three jailed for the satanic 1980s killings of three boy scouts could be released on new dna evidence. West memphis 3 mom sues to see murder evidence rt usa news. Prosecutor ellington has yet to receive the new evidence. The ensuing trial was marked by tampered evidence, false testimony, and public hysteria.
This has got to be more then enough to at least grant a new trial dont yous think. Known as the west memphis 3, the defendants damien echols, jessie misskelley and jason baldwin have claimed innocence. The west memphis three are three men known for being convicted as teenagers in 1994. Nov 16, 2010 when the case was tried in 1993, forensic dna evidence was introduced, but the defense argued that it was tainted or crudely tested. Although 36 items are listed, many of these represented multiple samples. New dna test results were released this week in the highprofile case of three men imprisoned one on death row for the 1993 murders of three 8yearold boys in arkansas. He spent 18 years in prison, 10 years in solitary confinement and 78 days on death row. The new website has a cleaner look, additional video and audio clips, revised trial accounts, and new features that should improve the navigation.
New dna evidence only piled onto the growing consensus that the original trial was a botch job and an actual witch hunt, and in august 2011 the three. Et for its twopart series on the case of the west memphis 3. West of memphis, produced by peter jackson and damien echols himself, was released in 2012. West 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. Little rock the defense team for the west memphis three says its has new evidence against the step father for one of the three victims, terry hobbs.