West Memphis Three Walk Free
Three convicted murderers, known as the “West Memphis Three,” were freed from jail on August 19 after almost twenty years behind bars. Damien Echols, 36, Jason Baldwin, 34, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., 36, were found guilty of killing three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993. Echols was given the death penalty and Baldwin and Misskelley received life sentences.
However, following a complicated legal maneuver, the trio were released on an agreement known as an Alford plea. Under this arrangement the men did not admit to the crime, but agreed that the prosecution could most likely prove the charge. The Alford plea is not a complete exoneration and some of the convictions still stand, although the men did not admit guilt, the New York Times has reported.
A district court judge said the men had served their time, however a 10-year suspended sentence was issued against each of them.
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Prosecuting attorney Scott Ellington said, “I believe this case is closed, and there are no other individuals involved."
With his release, Echols became the highest-profile death row inmate to be freed in recent years.
He said at a press conference after the hearing, “It’s not perfect. It’s not perfect by any means. But it at least brings closure to some areas.”
One of the defense attorneys for Echols told ABC's “Nightline” that the men were convicted “in a sort of speedy case back in 1993 -- part of a Satanic panic in small town community. They were the unusual kids in town. ... They dressed in black. They listened to heavy metal music. They were goths before goths were fashionable, so they were easy targets."
The case has been controversial from the start because prosecutors could not present a strong enough motive for the murders. Also, lawyers defending the men brought to light new evidence that proved none of the men’s DNA was found at the crime scene.
John Mark Byers, whose son Christopher Byers was one of the murdered boys, has said that the three were not guilty of killing the boys and argues that they should be exonerated upon their release. He said, “They’re innocent. They did not kill my son.”
However, the father of another victim, Steve Branch, told WMC-TV, “I don’t know what kind of deal they worked up. Now you can get some movie stars and a little bit of money behind you and can walk free for killing somebody.”
The “West Memphis Three” were convicted of killing second-graders Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore in May 1993.
The boys’ bodies were found in a drainage ditch in a wooded area of West Memphis, Arkansas, called Robin Hood Hills. The boys were mutilated and hogtied with their own shoelaces.
Prosecutors believed that due to the monstrous nature of the crimes the defendants were inspired by satanic cult activity.
After almost 12 hours of questioning, Misskelley confessed to the murders and connected Echols and Baldwin. Misskelley was convicted mainly on the strength of his confession, although it differed in important details with the facts of the crime known by police.
Echols and Baldwin were convicted mostly due to witness testimony which said they say heard the then teenagers talk of the murders.
