West Memphis Three

1974

Baldwin said in a 2011 interview with Piers Morgan that he worked for a construction company and he was learning how to drive. ===Damien Wayne Echols=== Damien Wayne Echols (born Michael Wayne Hutchison, December 11, 1974) was on death row, locked-down 23 hours per day at the Varner Unit Supermax.

1975

(born July 10, 1975) was arrested in connection to the murders of May 5, 1993.

1977

Since his release, Misskelley has become engaged to his high school girlfriend and enrolled in a community college to train as an auto mechanic. ===Charles Jason Baldwin=== Charles Jason Baldwin (born April 11, 1977) along with Misskelley and Echols, entered an Alford plea on August 19, 2011.

1992

The record on appeal spells out a long history of Echols' mental health problems, including a May 5, 1992, Arkansas Department of Youth Services referral for possible mental illness, a year to the day before the murders.

1993

The West Memphis Three are three men convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, United States.

They were released with 10-year suspended sentences, having served 18 years. ==The crime== On May 5, 1993, three eight-year-old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers) were reported missing in West Memphis, Arkansas.

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 treatment of an attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

His father said Byers may not have taken his prescription on May 5, 1993. ==Victims== Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were all second graders at Weaver Elementary School.

Morgan was presumed to be at least casually familiar with all three murdered boys, having previously driven an ice cream truck route in their neighborhood. Arrested in Oceanside on May 17, 1993, Morgan and Holland both took polygraph exams administered by California police.

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.

A police officer leaked portions of Aaron's statements to the press contributing to the growing belief that the murders were part of a Satanic rite. On or about June 1, 1993, Hutcheson agreed to police suggestions to place hidden microphones in her home during an encounter with Echols.

On June 2, 1993, Hutcheson told police that about two weeks after the murders were committed, she, Echols, and Misskelley attended a Wiccan meeting in Turrell, Arkansas.

Misskelley was first questioned on June 3, 1993, a day after Hutcheson's purported confession.

According to the statements given by Berlinger and Sinofsky, Cooper informed them of his receipt of the knife on December 19, 1993.

(born July 10, 1975) was arrested in connection to the murders of May 5, 1993.

1994

The West Memphis Three are three men convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, United States.

James Michael Moore is buried in Crittenden Memorial Park Cemetery in Marion, Arkansas. ===Victims memorial=== In 1994, a memorial was erected for the three murder victims.

Eight months after his original confession, on February 17, 1994, Misskelley made another statement to police.

She claimed she had implicated Echols and Misskelley to avoid facing criminal charges, and to obtain a reward for the discovery of the murderers. ==Trials== Misskelley was tried separately, and Echols and Baldwin were tried together in 1994.

Dilation of the anus is a normal post-mortem condition. On February 5, 1994, Misskelley was convicted by a jury of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder.

On March 19, 1994 Echols and Baldwin were found guilty on three counts of murder.

Upon further examination, it was concluded that if these marks were bite marks, they did not match the teeth of any of the three convicted. ==Appeals and new evidence== In May 1994, the three defendants appealed their convictions; the convictions were upheld on direct appeal.

Supreme Court. In 2007, Echols petitioned for a retrial, based on a statute permitting post-conviction testing of DNA evidence due to technological advances made since 1994 which might provide exoneration for the wrongfully convicted.

The knife was not received at the West Memphis Police Department until January 8, 1994. Byers initially claimed the knife had never been used.

At the time, legal experts agreed that this issue could result in the reversal of the convictions of Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols. In September 2008, attorney (now judge) Daniel Stidham, who represented Misskelley in 1994, testified at a postconviction relief hearing.

DNA evidence at the scene was not found to include any from Echols or his co-defendants. Echols, ADC# 000931, entered the system on March 19, 1994.

He also told mental health workers that he was "going to influence the world." The appellate legal team argued that Echols did not waive his assertion that he was not mentally competent before his 1994 trial because he was not competent to waive it.

1996

In 1996, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Misskelley's confession was voluntary and that he did, in fact, understand the Miranda warning and its consequences.

In June 1996, Misskelley's lawyer, Dan Stidham, was preparing an appeal to the U.S.

1997

John Mark Byers had his teeth removed in 1997, after the first trial but before an imprint could be made.

1999

In prison in 1999, he married landscape architect Lorri Davis.

2000

In 2000, the biological father of Christopher Byers, Rick Murray, expressed his doubts about the guilty verdicts on the West Memphis Three website.

In 2000, The album Free the West Memphis 3 was released by KOCH Records.

2002

In 2002, Henry Rollins worked with other vocalists from various rock, hip hop, punk and metal groups and members of Black Flag and the Rollins Band on the compilation album 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three.

Metalcore band Zao's 2002 album Parade of Chaos included a track inspired by the case named "Free The Three".

2005

In 2005, Damien Echols completed his memoir, Almost Home, Vol 1, offering his perspective of the case.

2007

Celebrities and musicians held fundraisers to support efforts to free the men. In July 2007, new forensic evidence was presented.

Supreme Court. In 2007, Echols petitioned for a retrial, based on a statute permitting post-conviction testing of DNA evidence due to technological advances made since 1994 which might provide exoneration for the wrongfully convicted.

She also claims that an audiotape the police said was "unintelligible" (and that they eventually lost) was perfectly clear and contained no incriminating statements. ===DNA testing and new physical evidence (2007)=== In 2007, DNA collected from the crime scene was tested.

He testified that his own failure to put this incident on the court record and his failure to meet the minimum requirements in state law to represent a defendant in a capital murder case was evidence of ineffective assistance of counsel and that Misskelley's conviction should therefore be vacated. ===Request for retrial (2007–2010)=== On October 29, 2007, papers were filed in federal court by Echols's defense lawyers seeking a retrial or his immediate release from prison.

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.

In late 2007, John Mark Byers—who was previously vehement in his belief that Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin were guilty—also announced that he now believes that they are innocent.

Echols sought to overturn his conviction based on trial error, including juror misconduct, as well as 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.

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." Advanced DNA and other scientific evidence – combined with additional evidence from several different witnesses and experts – released in October 2007 had cast strong doubts on the original convictions.

After his release, he has worked on a number of additional media projects. :Music :*He co-wrote the lyrics to the song "Army Reserve", on Pearl Jam's self-titled album (2006). :*Echols and Michale Graves released an album titled Illusions (October 2007). :Art :*Echols began creating art while on death row as a "side effect of my spiritual, magical practice." The Copro Gallery in Los Angeles exhibited Echols' artwork (March 19 – April 16, 2016).

2008

At the time, legal experts agreed that this issue could result in the reversal of the convictions of Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols. In September 2008, attorney (now judge) Daniel Stidham, who represented Misskelley in 1994, testified at a postconviction relief hearing.

Also presented in the filing was new expert testimony that the supposed knife marks on the victims, including the injuries to Byers' genitals, were in fact the result of animal predation after the bodies had been dumped. On September 10, 2008, Circuit Court Judge David Burnett denied the request for a retrial, citing the DNA tests as inconclusive.

2009

Stephen Braga, an attorney with Ropes & Gray who took up Echols's defense on a pro bono basis beginning in 2009, negotiated the plea agreement with prosecutors. Under the deal, Judge David Laser vacated the previous convictions, including the capital murder convictions for Echols and Baldwin, and ordered a new trial.

2010

A report jointly issued by the state and the defense 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." Following a 2010 decision by the Arkansas Supreme Court regarding newly produced DNA evidence and potential juror misconduct, the West Memphis Three negotiated a plea bargain with prosecutors.

This ruling was in turn thrown out by the Arkansas Supreme Court as to all three defendants on November 4, 2010. ===John Mark Byers' knife (1993)=== John Mark Byers, the adoptive father of victim Christopher Byers, gave a knife to cameraman Doug Cooper, who was working with documentary makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky while filming the first Paradise Lost feature.

That ruling was appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court, which heard oral arguments in the case on September 30, 2010. ===Arkansas Supreme Court ruling (2010)=== On November 4, 2010, the Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a lower judge to consider whether newly analyzed DNA evidence might exonerate the three.

The justices also instructed the lower court to examine claims of misconduct by the jurors who sentenced Damien Echols to death and Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin to life in prison. In early December 2010, David Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate.

"I had made the comment if it were ever proven the three were innocent, I'd be the first to lead the charge for their freedom," said Byers, and take "every opportunity that I have to voice that the West Memphis Three are innocent and the evidence and proof prove they're innocent." Byers has spoken to the media on behalf of the convicted, and has expressed his desire for justice for the families of both the victims and the three accused. In 2010, district Judge Brian S.

In August 2011, White Light Productions announced that the West Memphis Three would be featured on their new program Wrongfully Convicted. In January 2010, the CBS television news journal 48 Hours aired "The Memphis 3", an in-depth coverage of the history of the case including interviews with Echols and supporters.

2011

On August 19, 2011, they entered Alford pleas, which allowed them to assert their innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them.

Circuit Court Judge David Laser was selected to replace David Burnett and preside in the evidentiary hearings mandated by the successful appeal. ===Plea deal and release (2011)=== After weeks of negotiations, on August 19, 2011, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were released from prison as part of a plea deal, making the hearings ordered by the Arkansas Supreme Court unnecessary.

In 2011, supporters pushed Arkansas Governor Mike Beebe to pardon Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley based on their innocence.

On April 28, 2011, the band Disturbed released a song entitled "3" as a download on their website.

The episode premiered May 5, 2011, with extensive background information included on the show's page at the Investigation Discovery site.

In August 2011, White Light Productions announced that the West Memphis Three would be featured on their new program Wrongfully Convicted. In January 2010, the CBS television news journal 48 Hours aired "The Memphis 3", an in-depth coverage of the history of the case including interviews with Echols and supporters.

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.

Piers Morgan Tonight aired an episode on September 29, 2011, about the three's plans for the future and continued investigations on the case. West of Memphis, directed and written by Amy J.

His conviction was appealed and affirmed by the Arkansas Supreme Court. On August 19, 2011, Misskelley, along with Baldwin and Echols, entered an Alford plea.

Since his release, Misskelley has become engaged to his high school girlfriend and enrolled in a community college to train as an auto mechanic. ===Charles Jason Baldwin=== Charles Jason Baldwin (born April 11, 1977) along with Misskelley and Echols, entered an Alford plea on August 19, 2011.

Baldwin said in a 2011 interview with Piers Morgan that he worked for a construction company and he was learning how to drive. ===Damien Wayne Echols=== Damien Wayne Echols (born Michael Wayne Hutchison, December 11, 1974) was on death row, locked-down 23 hours per day at the Varner Unit Supermax.

On August 19, 2011, Echols, along with Baldwin and Misskelley, was released from prison after their attorneys and the judge handling the upcoming retrial agreed to a deal.

Until August 2011, he was incarcerated in the Arkansas Department of Correction (ADC) Varner Unit Supermax.

A hearing on Echols' petition for a writ of [corpus] was held in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. ====Release==== On August 19, 2011, Echols, along with Baldwin and Misskelley, entered an Alford plea, while asserting their innocence.

January 14, 2011. Video "WM3: Life after Prison (Complete Series)." KATV-TV (Channel 7).

Ran on October 30 – November 1, 2011, video posted to YouTube on February 7, 2012. ==External links== The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry (The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies) West Memphis Three at the Court TV Crime Library Archive of West Memphis Three reports from Memphis Commercial Appeal Chen, Stephanie.

2012

A biography of John Mark Byers by Greg Day named Untying the Knot: John Mark Byers and the West Memphis Three was published in May 2012. Many songs were written about the case, and two albums released in support of the defendants.

Berg, and produced by Peter Jackson, as well as by Echols himself, premiered at the 2012 Sundance Film Festival.

Actor Johnny Depp, a longtime supporter of the West Memphis Three and personal friend of Damien Echols, was on hand to support the film in its premiere at the Toronto International Film Festival in 2012. Atom Egoyan directed a dramatized feature film of the case, titled Devil's Knot, released in U.S.

Ran on October 30 – November 1, 2011, video posted to YouTube on February 7, 2012. ==External links== The Encyclopedia of Arkansas History & Culture entry (The Butler Center for Arkansas Studies) West Memphis Three at the Court TV Crime Library Archive of West Memphis Three reports from Memphis Commercial Appeal Chen, Stephanie.

2013

In May 2013, for the 20th anniversary of the slayings, Weaver Elementary School principal Sheila Grissom raised funds to refurbish the memorial. ==Suspects== ===Baldwin, Echols, and Misskelley=== At the time of their arrests, Jessie Misskelley, Jr.

2014

theaters on May 9, 2014.

2016

After his release, he has worked on a number of additional media projects. :Music :*He co-wrote the lyrics to the song "Army Reserve", on Pearl Jam's self-titled album (2006). :*Echols and Michale Graves released an album titled Illusions (October 2007). :Art :*Echols began creating art while on death row as a "side effect of my spiritual, magical practice." The Copro Gallery in Los Angeles exhibited Echols' artwork (March 19 – April 16, 2016).




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