", 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. And what did they tell you on the telephone? RIDGE:Steven Branch and Christopher Byers. 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.[55]. [9], In October 2003, Vicki Hutcheson, who had played a part in the arrests of Misskelley, Echols, and Baldwin, gave an interview to the Arkansas Times in which she stated that every word she had given to the police was a fabrication. Okay, what was he choking him with? RIDGE: Okay. By then, the man had left, and police did not enter the restroom on that date. Hutcheson claimed that, at the Wiccan meeting, a drunken Echols openly bragged about killing the three boys. [57], In early December 2010, David Burnett was elected to the Arkansas State Senate. ), Murphy Exposed is Back Online! RIDGE:You havent heard anybody? JESSIE: Right, we walked and then uh, JESSIE: We went up to Robin Hood. Jessie, in front of me I have a rights form, and it has your signature at the bottom of it, is that your signature? JESSIE: Then they tied them up, tied their hands up, they started screwing them and stuff, cutting them and stuff, and I saw it and I turned around and looked, and then I took off running, I went home, then they called me and asked me, how come I didnt stay, I told them, I just couldnt. RIDGE: Okay, so they were just messing around in the water. His lawyer, Dan Stidham, remained in the room and continually advised Misskelley not to say anything. ), RIDGE: Alright, you got in front of you a picture, that was taken out of the newspaper I believe, its got three boys and these are the three boys that were killed on that date in Robin Hood Woods, okay, which one of those three boys is it you say Damien hit? Nonetheless, they claimed he was not regarded as a direct suspect but a source of information. Misskelley ignored this advice and went on to detail how the boys were abused and murdered. JESSIE: Uh, like a regular knife blade. In his efforts to win a new trial, Echols, 27 at the time of the appeal, claimed he was incompetent to stand trial because of a history of mental illness. (There is no way this phone call could have taken place. JESSIE: He was wearing some blue jeans and boots, army boots like, RIDGE:Army boots? JESSIE: I got a little bit ways out of there and got half a mile up the road, is when I threw up, and couldnt hardly run and I just threw up. RIDGE:hes going to Blue Beacon, is he going out towards the fields, wheres he running too? Statement of Jessie L. Misskelley, Jr. 6/3/93. In 2011, Echols would reflect that, should investigators attempt to proceed to trial with the same evidence compiled in 1993 and with the external scrutiny which had not then existed, he and his co defendants would not have been brought to trial, stating: "They knew that there would be more people watching this, more attention on this case. On May 5, 1993, Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branchall of whom were eight years oldwent bike riding in West Memphis. RIDGES:Cutting him in the face. JESSIE:They, Jason stuck his in one thems mouth and Damien was screwing one of them up the ass and stuff. Discover Jessie Misskelley's Biography, Age, Height, Physical Stats, Dating/Affairs, Family and career updates. Misskelley was convicted by a jury of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. A news story about Jessie Misskelley's curious behavior following his release from prison; avoiding media interviews and going into hiding. Did they get into the water with you all? [74] 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. No way did this happen; it is a straight-up invention said to tell Ridge what he wanted to hear. RIDGE:Did anybody see you leaving? All three were released from prison that same day. (WMC-TV) - Jessie Misskelley is the lone member of the West Memphis 3, who shied away from the spotlight. (Again,if the anal dilation evidence was at all ambiguous, this type of sodomy would cause obvious tearing and ripping; it wouldnt be a close call). Misskelley, 42, is . Currently in the office with Jessie Lloyd Misskelly, Jr., DOB:7/10/75, education: 9th grade, the place: Detective Division, todays date is 06/03/93, the time is 2:44Pm. 30 minutes or an hour? [68] "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. This is consistent with the language ofArk. JESSIE: He didnt know nothin about that. The relevance of Morgan's recanted statement would later be debated in trial, but it was eventually barred from admission as evidence. RIDGE:And, what kind of blade did it have on it? The14thStreetWoods are down the street from the BB woods; a good distance). [18], At the time of their arrests, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. was 17 years old, Jason Baldwin was 16 years old, and Damien Echols was 18 years old. "Jason sends him texts and stuff all the time asking him why don't he come to this. Jason Baldwin. That's right, the man I was about to pledge my life to was a convicted murderer. Gary Gitchell and Jessie Misskelly. Misskelley and Echols had dropped out of high school; however, Baldwin earned high grades and demonstrated a talent for drawing and sketching, and was encouraged by one of his teachers to study graphic design in college. Hutcheson was unable to recall the Wiccan meeting location and did not name any other participants in the purported meeting. [9][28], On May 6, 1993 (before the victims were found later the same day), Hutcheson took a polygraph exam by Detective Don Bray at the Marion Police Department, to determine whether or not she had stolen money from her West Memphis employer. [10] The police interviewed Echols on May 7, two days after the bodies were discovered. RIDGE: Okay. Ok. RIDGE:Okay, and Jasons black and lace up? RIDGE: Im not saying when they called you. JESSIE:We usually skin it, then make a bon fire and eat it and stuff. . RIDGE: Okay, the knives, was it one knife, two knives, was your knife there? Steve Branch was the son of Steven and Pamela Branch, who divorced when he was an infant. He is currently single. And Susie Brewer Boggan says she is now out of Jessie Misskelley's life. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. Then I came down here when he got out," she said. [75], Many songs were written about the case, and two albums released in support of the defendants. RIDGE:They are sick okay. [77], Investigative journalist Aphrodite Jones undertook an exploration of the case on her Discovery Network show True Crime with Aphrodite Jones following the DNA discoveries. He was considered the leader of the three. (Again, the hog tied postion doesnt align with the boys being on their backs. Baldwin and Echols were acquainted with Misskelley from school, but were not close friends with him. [9], On February 5, 1994, Misskelley was convicted by a jury of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. Police said the recording was "inaudible", but Hutcheson claimed the recording was audible. [48], After an expert examined autopsy photos and noted what he thought might be the imprint of a belt buckle on Byers' corpse, the elder Byers revealed to the police that he had spanked his stepson shortly before the boy disappeared. Baldwin and Misskelley were sentenced to life in prison. (As unusual a character as Damien was, youd think the local photo developer might have remembered him coming in to get pictures developed especially when those photos were of kids who later turn up murdered; or theyd have found a camera or some corroboration?). Stevie Branch's mother, the ex-wife of Terry Hobbs, and Mark Byers have publicly stated the WM3 were wrongly convicted. 3:30 PM - 7:00 PM - Jessie with Susie Brewer. (Jessie was never taken to the woods with a video camera for this purpose.). RIDGE: okay, so he was choking him to the point where he actually went unconscious, so at that point, you felt like he was dead? After the initial investigation, the police failed to control disclosure of information and speculation about the crime scene.[38]. RIDGE:When you left from there, did you leave running? Good! [66] 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. Also, Matthew states Jason came in around 7:30. GITCHELL: Youre talking about the Byers boy again? (Echols and Lorri Davis . JESSIE: And started doing the same thing, then the other one took off, Michael uhhMooretook off running, so I chased him and grabbed him and held him, cause they got there and then I left. JESSIE: His hands, like a stick, he had a bit old stick, kinda holding it over his neck. GITCHELL:Have you ever seen them with a briefcase before? [61] As part of the plea deal, the three men cannot pursue civil action against the state for wrongful imprisonment. RIDGE:Okay, Damians didnt come up that far? JESSIE: When I was there, I saw Damien hit this one (pause) hit this one boy real bad, and then uh, and then he started screwing them and stuff and then uh, (There is no evidence from the Medical Examiner whatsoever that any of the boys were raped; it was inconclusive. Michael Moore was the son of Todd and Dana Moore. In May 2013, for the 20th anniversary of the slayings, Weaver Elementary School principal Sheila Grissom raised funds to refurbish the memorial. During the course of his interrogation, which lasted for several hours, Jessie was given a lie detector test and the police succeeded in securing a confession from Jessie of his own part in the murders of the three boys. [6], On May 5, 1993, three eight-year-old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers) were reported missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. JESSIE: By uh, Blue Beacon Truck Wash. (The location was widely reported in the media in May 1993), (Ridge might as well say: reat afte me A little patch of woods). Early in the investigation, the WMPD briefly regarded two West Memphis teenagers as suspects. 17. RIDGE:Old t-shirt, where are these shoes at now? The plea deal did not technically result in a full exoneration; some of the convictions would stand, but the men would not admit guilt. The film stars Reese Witherspoon and Colin Firth. That night? Douglas served as FBI Unit Chief of the Investigative Support Unit of the National Center for the Analysis of Violent Crime for 25 years. RIDGE:Okay, how long was the knife that Jason was using? [3][9] Misskelley's father gave permission for Misskelley to go with police but did not explicitly give permission for his son to be questioned or interrogated. The song is about the West Memphis Three, with 100% of the proceeds going to their benefit foundation for their release. JESSIE: Um-mm, they were going to catch, they were going somewhere and like I said, Damien and nem left before I did, I told them that I would meet them there and stuff, and I had to get ready it was early in the morning and so, they went ahead and met me, they went on up there and then I come up later on behind them. , for the 20th anniversary of the National Center for the 20th of. 20Th anniversary of the proceeds going to their benefit foundation for their release one knife, two knives was... 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