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. Newly tested dna evidence in the 1993 killings of three 8yearold cub scouts in arkansas. Dna evidence proves innocence of west memphis three. Inside the unknown story of the forgotten west memphis three e.
The case against the west memphis 3 killers, volume ii this two volume study is the most thorough and definitive case study of this crime in book form. Now, thanks to extensive investigation we know why. Some of the countrys leading pathologists have found that much of the forensic evidence presented to the jury, which helped convict the young men, was false and not consistent with the cause of death or wounds found on the bodies. The new dna evidence failed to convince judge burnett that a new trial for any of the. 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. However, the prosecutors in the case still maintain a genuine belief that the three men are guilty.
All the evidence that shows why the notorious west memphis. Although the investigation as to whos really responsible for the murders continues, the vocabulary for discussing the west memphis three has shifted from phrases like dna evidence and. Fresh dna evidence boosts defense in 1993 arkansas slayings. In july 2007, new forensic evidence was presented, and a report jointly. Was the west memphis three case influenced by satanic. 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. In the evening of may 5 th, 1993 in west memphis, arkansas three 8 year old boys were brutally raped, mutilated, and murdered by the west memphis three. Horgan was the chief author of the briefing that led the arkansas supreme court to rule in 2010 that damien echols, convicted of multiple murders in the case of the west memphis three, was entitled to demonstrate that new dna and other exculpatory evidence should entitle him to a new trial, echols v. Vincent dimaio and ron franscell the west memphis three. The triplemurder case captured the nations attention after the release of the hbo documentary paradise lost. But many outside of west memphis believed that the trio had been unfairly targeted and were convicted on flimsy evidence and falsehoods. These developments were chronicled in paradise lost 3. A skeptics guide to the west memphis three documentaries.
After the discovery of new dna evidence, the three entered alford pleas in. Inside the unknown story of the forgotten west memphis. Court documents reveal new details in the cast of the west memphis 3. Damien echols was sentenced to death, jessie misskelley, jr. The first paradise lost documentary in 1996 brought the case to the attention of the general population, and two sequels, in 2000 and 2011, continued to explore the story and keep the plight of the west. Tribute albums were recorded such as 2000s free the west memphis 3 featuring the likes of vedder, joe strummer, guns n roses drummer. The men were offered the alford plea deal in 2011 after new dna evidence supported. Below is all the evidence against the west memphis three as posted by luckyballandchain in reddits unsolved mysteries sub which supports.
The worldfamous and infamous case of the west memphis three stands one of the modern crime eras most notorious miscarriages of justice, as well as, ultimately, a definitive triumph for the everexpanding field of dna exoneration. Chapter 10 later evidence and chapter 11 have been added to the case narrative. Crucial new evidence of their innocence has been uncovered, including crime scene dna that absolves the three young men and points to others. Numerous books have been written about the murder of three 8 year old boys in west memphis, tn in 1993. Social media, the internet, and hollywood have helped raise critical questions about their convictions. The west memphis three, charged in the 1993 slayings of three cub scouts, were released friday. This item of evidence is often disregarded, because there was evidence of contamination present, which has been used by supporters of the west memphis three to suggest that any subsequent dna recovered had to be from the real killer, and therefore any physical evidence against damien echols was not to be believed. Et for its twopart series on the case of the west memphis 3. Mar 27, 2020 tribute albums were recorded such as 2000s free the west memphis 3 featuring the likes of vedder, joe strummer, guns n roses drummer duff mckagan and soundgarden bassist ben shepherd and. Mar 19, 2020 on the afternoon of wednesday, may 5, 1993, three 8yearold boys went missing in west memphis, arkansas. The dna matched 3 victims investigators never identified the wyoming women and referred to them as bitter creek betty and i90 jane doe. The truth is, with the possible exception of the lake knife as discussed, no physical evidence firmly links either the west memphis three or any other suspect to the crimes.
The police also lost potentially vital dna evidence from a possible suspect. Two hbo documentaries have been produced about the murders, and a third is planned for later this year. Damien echols, one of the west memphis three, and actor johnny depp at a press conference for the film west of memphis at the 2012 toronto international film festival in toronto. Many believe that the west memphis three were convicted based on misleading evidence and smalltown prejudices. True detective season 3 centers on the case of 12 and 10yearold siblings will and julie purcell, who, on the day steve mcqueen died and. They agreed to a plea deal and were released from prison in august 2011, reported the new york times. According to cnn, advanced dna testing, which wasnt available at the time of the trial, has revealed that no physical evidence at the crime scene is able to link the teens to the murders. It made a vivid case that the three oddball teenagers the west memphis three had been wrongly convicted by shoddy police work in a small town gripped by satanic panic, in farcical trials by countrybumpkin jurors. Baldwins biological daughter jazz had learned he was her father two years ago from a dna test kit. Details are being reported about the much heralded dna evidence that is supposed to exonerate the west memphis 3 according to their misguided followers.
The case was not reignited, however, until 2007, when defense attorneys presented new dna evidence that showed there was no physical link between echols, baldwin and misskelley and the 1993 crime scene evidence. Dna evidence could free west memphis 3 jailed for killing 3 cub. There is the myth of the west memphis 3 innocent teenagers railroaded by malicious. February 3, 2019 february 3, 2019 vicky five years ago terry was one of the first guests on the opperman report. Oct 30, 2007 today new evidence was filed in federal court that links one of the stepfathers of the murder victims to the crime scene. The west memphis three are three men known for being convicted as teenagers in 1994. You can choose to believe all this evidence is the result of perjurers, corrupt evidenceplanting cops, incompetent judges, yokels too dumb to think for themselves, cruel interrogators, coincidence and prejudice. They have been free for a year now, living as little more. A hair found in a knot used to tie up one of the victims is found to be not inconsistent with terry hobbs, stepfather to stevie branch. West memphis 3 dna evidence court documents reveal new details in the cast of the west memphis 3. In 1996, hbo aired a documentary called paradise lost. In 2007, the case was reopened after the discovery of new forensic evidence.
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. Aug 19, 2011 the west memphis three, charged in the 1993 slayings of three cub scouts, were released friday. 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. Known as the west memphis 3, the defendants damien echols, jessie misskelley and jason baldwin have claimed. West memphis three, steve edward branch, christopher byers. Both were believed to be in their late teens or early 20s, wyoming division of criminal investigation cmdr. Police followed clark baldwin to a local walmart, where they recovered his dna from a shopping cart and a trash can. Purgatory during the 49th annual new york film festival at alice tully hall on monday, oct. False confessions and the west memphis three innocence project. In court papers filed last week, attorneys for echols stated that even with dna testing unavailable in 1993 they have uncovered no forensic evidence tying the three to the murders of.
The next day, their mutilated bodies were found nude and hogtied in a drainage ditch. However, there is still a mountain of evidence against them that seems to contradict the state of arkansass decision to release. Dna testing was very limited back at the time of the trial in. When the case was tried in 1993, forensic dna evidence was introduced, but the defense argued that it was tainted or crudely tested. Misskelley did not take the bait, and later was quoted in a book crediting his. 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. 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. The true story of the west memphis three, a book by mara leveritt, is published. Aug 23, 2011 many believe that the west memphis three were convicted based on misleading evidence and smalltown prejudices. In 2000, the album free the west memphis 3 was released by koch records. The case against the west memphis 3, volume i and where the monsters go.
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. Forensic experts said dna evidence tied terry hobbs, branchs stepfather, to the crime scene, wregtv reported in 20. Dna belonging to stevie branches stepdad, terry hobbs, was discovered in the shoelace of christopher byers. Most popular west memphis three movies and tv shows imdb. Was the west memphis three case influenced by satanic panic. 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. Mar 20, 2019 forensic experts said dna evidence tied terry hobbs, branchs stepfather, to the crime scene, wregtv reported in 20. 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. New dna testing by the defense shows that none of the genetic material recovered links echols, baldwin, or. The west memphis three, from left, jessie misskelley jr. Ed opperman also did a segment titled where the monsters go. For many, this was enough to exonerate the three teenagers, now grown men. Below is all the evidence against the west memphis three as posted by luckyballandchain in reddits unsolved mysteries sub which supports the case that the three not only committed the murders they were accused of but that the state of arkansas has now aided them in getting away with it.
West memphis, ar before making a murderer and before serial, there was the west memphis three. When dna collected from evidence collected at the crime scene is tested, none is found to match the dna of echols, baldwin, or misskelley. The triumphs and the downfall of the crittenden county drug task force are recounted in west memphis confidential. 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 child murders at robin hood hills in june 1996. But whereas the filmmakers of paradise lost 3 left the cameras on while forensic experts hired in 2007 specifically warned against making persecuting other suspected based on the scant dna evidence, jackson and berg are not so equivocal lest they muddy the message of west memphis three. Guys case came under scrutiny prior to his involvement in the west memphis 3 case, as he had sought parole after learning that dna collected after the rape was not a conclusive match to his dna. Clear pictures entertainment produces film about new dna. There was a new statute that permitted postconviction testing of dna evidence, which led echols to file a petition. A claim which the media has continued to push, particularly investigation discovery, which is referenced in this current intouch weekly article, which. The book strongly suggests a miscarriage of justice occurred in the memphis three trials. Chapter 12 whodunnit, the crime scene has been added to the case narrative. Zwei jahre zuvor hatte eddie spaghetti einen free the west memphis 3 betitelten. Inside the unknown story of the forgotten west memphis three.
There have been a number of books about the case, also arguing that the. In august 2011, the three teenagers who had been convicted of the grisly killings, damien echols, jason baldwin, and jessie. New dna evidence in west memphis 3 case innocence project. Dna evidence could free west memphis 3 jailed for killing three cub scouts in 1993. 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.
A neighbor also allegedly saw him with the boys that night. Nov 17, 2019 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. Forgotten west memphis three doc aims to give victims of. West memphis three were originally convicted because they were easy targets dna evidence feeds doubts about the three mens murder convictions. 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. 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. Damien echols, jason baldwin, and jessie misskelley who were 18, 16, and 17 respectively. Ap photoevan agostini the mother of a boy killed in the wellknown west. There is no physical evidence linking any of the west memphis 3 to the. West memphis three, a year out of prison, navigate new paths. West memphis three, american teenagers who were convicted of a satanic triple. Police say that they were tipped off to him as a suspect when dna from 3 victims matched dna on a genealogy database.
Echols lawyer stated that the new dna evidence proved his client was not at the scene. A further followup of the case of the west memphis three and the decades long fight to exonerate them that finally gained traction with new dna evidence. West of memphis is all about the fact that terry hobbs was the real killer. Mar 18, 2019 amy berg made a documentary on the case titled west of memphis. False confessions and the west memphis three innocence. Dna evidence has been recovered at the scene, none of it linking the accused to the crime. Cub scouts were found in a waterfilled ditch in a forest near their west memphis, ark. December 11, 2011 call to tip line about new evidence.
The arkansas supreme court orders a trial court judge to determine whether newly discovered dna evidence or evidence of juror misconduct justifies either a. 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. The west memphis police department assigned the case number 93050 666 to the murder file. Known as the west memphis 3, the defendants damien echols, jessie misskelley and jason baldwin have claimed innocence since their arrest shortly after the. West memphis 3 dna evidence the trench reynolds report. The crime scene and forensic evidence were mishandled, but a probation. Aug 18, 2017 the worldfamous and infamous case of the west memphis three stands one of the modern crime eras most notorious miscarriages of justice, as well as, ultimately, a definitive triumph for the everexpanding field of dna exoneration.
Jul 20, 2007 west memphis 3 dna evidence court documents reveal new details in the cast of the west memphis 3. Oct 30, 2007 just hours ago, our attorneys filed a second amended petition for writ of habeas corpus proving that three innocent men were wrongfully convicted of murder in west memphis, arkansas, in 1993. Attorneys often bemoan the expectation modern juries have for dna and forensic evidence in murder trials. Nov 07, 2007 in court papers filed last week, attorneys for echols stated that even with dna testing unavailable in 1993 they have uncovered no forensic evidence tying the three to the murders of. Today new evidence was filed in federal court that links one of the stepfathers of the murder victims to the crime scene. Echols of west memphis 3 talks about appeal, death row. West memphis three case document archive truth and justice podcast season 5 more contact avenues in addition to signing this petition, there are several ways to contact scott ellington, current district prosecuting attorney and circuit judge elect for the second judicial district of arkansas, to demand that he turn over evidence for dna. The horror commenced on may 5, 1993, when three eightyearold boys went missing in west memphis, arkansas. Browse the amazon editors picks for the best books of 2019, featuring our. None of it, however, linked the west memphis three to the crime. Life after death, a book by west memphis threes damien echols. The west memphis three, damien echols, jessie misskelley and jason baldwin, have been in prison for 12 years as the result of a controversial trial in 1993 where they were falsely convicted for the murder of three young children in west memphis, arkansas.
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