JESSIE: Thats the one that I seen them cutting on. "[93] 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. [9], Shortly after Misskelley's first confession, police arrested Echols and his close friend Baldwin. [9] On May 9, during a formal interview by Detective Bryn Ridge, Echols mentioned that one of the victims had wounds to the genitals; law enforcement viewed this knowledge as incriminating. Following their convictions, Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin submitted imprints of their teeth. Hutcheson was never charged with theft. He was preceded in death by his spouse, Kathy Bartoush; his daughter, Loretta Townsend; and his parents and other siblings. The man was bleeding and had brushed against the restroom walls. Not long after three teens were arrested, including Damien Echols, 18, Jason Baldwin, 16, and Jessie Misskelley, 17. Only logical answer is that Jessie had no idea where the bikes were put down), JESSIE: When they hollered, when they seen them boys. 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 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. [22], The day after the victims' bodies were found, Bojangles' manager Marty King, thinking there was a possible connection to the bleeding man found in the bathroom, reported the incident to police officers who then inspected the ladies' room. [16] James Michael Moore is buried in Crittenden Memorial Park Cemetery in Marion, Arkansas. RIDGE:These blue jeans that Jason was wearing, designer jeans, or were they old jeans, wore out, holes. RIDGE:What kind of shirt were you wearing? . [11], The autopsies by forensic pathologist Frank J. Peretti indicated that Byers died of "multiple injuries",[11] while Moore and Branch died of "multiple injuries with drowning".[12][13]. [21], The citing of a black male as a possible alternate suspect was implied during the beginning of the Misskelley trial. And be truthful. Arrested in Oceanside on May 17, 1993, Morgan and Holland both took polygraph exams administered by California police. [57] 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. Circuit Court Judge David Laser was selected to replace David Burnett and preside in the evidentiary hearings mandated by the successful appeal. If you will look at John Mark Byers statement of 5-19-93 he describes Todd Moore becoming confused that all boys were castrated and John finding out it was only his son; so there was dicussion between the families and possibly those who knew them. JESSIE:Ive seen them once that night, I seen them with it that night. That's right, the man I was about to pledge my life to was a convicted murderer. [26][43] In June 1996, Misskelley's lawyer, Dan Stidham, was preparing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. [44], 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 bodies, he said, had been removed from the water before the coroner arrived to examine the scene and determine the state of rigor mortis, allowing the bodies to decay on the creek bank and to be exposed to sunlight and insects. Jump to 2:46 (where the below begins). RIDGE OR GITCHELL? "[69] 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. He stated in his report for Echols's legal team that there was no evidence the murders were linked to satanic rituals and that post-mortem animal predation could explain the alleged knife injuries. He was last seen wearing blue jeans and a white T-shirt, and riding a black and red bicycle. After the documentary crew returned to New York, Berlinger and Sinofsky were reported to have discovered what appeared to be blood on the knife. RIDGE:Are you scared of Damien now? GITCHELL:Have you ever seen them with a briefcase before? JESSIE: I was just wearing regular blue jeans, my shoes. RIDGE: Okay, he had his legs up in the air, alright, what was to keep the little boys from running off, but just their hands are tied, whats to keep them from running off? I seen them going down right there real close to his penis and stuff and I saw some blood and thats when I took off. RIDGE: Alright, when did they take their clothes off? There was a small amount of blood found at the scene that was never tested. This more accurately describes the14thStreetWoods, which are normally known as the RHH woods by locals, not the site where the bodies were found (The Blue Beacon Woods). For the former Australian rules footballer, see, DNA testing and new physical evidence (2007). director of photography Film Editing by Susan Shipton Casting By Production Design by Phillip Barker Art Direction by Thomas Minton Set Decoration by Melinda Sanders Costume Design by Kari Perkins RIDGE: Okay. RIDGE:No kind of design or anything? RIDGE:Okay, Damians didnt come up that far? JESSIE: I went down there and sit there, and after what they did to the boys, I just sit there. According to Leveritt, "Police records were a mess. He then realized, he has said, that his refusal would have meant that Echols stayed on death row. Alright, another boy was cut I understand, where was he cut at? The police did not telephone the coroner until almost two hours after the discovery of the floating shoe, resulting in a late appearance by the coroner. Was he faced down and he was cutting on him, or. In 1994, a memorial was erected for the three murder victims. Stidham said the judge closed the door without answering. RIDGE:The boots that Damien had on, are they army type boots too, or what kind of boots were they? The relevance of Morgan's recanted statement would later be debated in trial, but it was eventually barred from admission as evidence. [22], Police officers James Sudbury and Steve Jones felt that the crime had "cult" overtones, and that Damien Echols might be a suspect because he had an interest in occultism, and Jones felt Echols was capable of murdering children. The prosecution accused the three young men of committing a Satanic murder. JESSIE: I was just wearing a regular one of my old greasy up t-shirt. RIDGE:Alright, youre describing a knife that would be about 6 inches long, is that right? A little gun? GITCHELL: Does just everybody takes a turn. They were known for wearing black and listening to heavy metal. If he had been, there would have been clear forensic evidence of it. JESSIE: Different shirts, different Metaalica shirts have different pictures. [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. RIDGE: Okay, one of them were cut on the face real bad, is that what you said? At trial, the defense team argued that news articles from the time could have been the source for Echols' knowledge about the genital mutilation, and Echols said his knowledge was limited to what was "on TV". Metalcore band Zao's 2002 album Parade of Chaos included a track inspired by the case named "Free The Three". [61] As part of the plea deal, the three men cannot pursue civil action against the state for wrongful imprisonment. Also learn how He earned most of networth at the age of 46 years old? April 11, 1977, West Memphis, Arkansas, U.S.), and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. (b. July 10, 1975). Branch was eight years old, 4ft. 2 tall, weighed 65lbs, and had blond hair. What did you do there? None was found to match DNA from Echols, Baldwin, or Misskelley. (*****During this statement Jessie says that the boys were beaten by Damien and Jason with their fists, then he is asked if they were hit with sticks, and he answers yes. RIDGE: So, there is like a tall bank, were you where were you at on that bank? RIDGE:Okay, was it a designed shirt, like this bull run type shirt, or was it just a plain white, old. RIDGE: so, your time period may not be exactly right in what youre saying? [59], Echols relocated to Salem, Massachusetts with his wife and has no intentions of returning to Arkansas. The judge said Hobbs had chosen to involve himself in public discussion over whether the convictions were just. The polygraph examiner claimed that Echols' chart indicated deception. JESSIE: He was cutting him in the face. So, how much is Jessie Misskelley worth at the age of 47 years old? Misskelley was arrested in connection to the murders on June 3, 1993. Jessie Misskelley Jr., released from prison in 2011 in the infamous West Memphis Three case was jailed Saturday night after he was arrested on a slew of traffic citations. RIDGE:Metalica shirt, alright, was he wearing a cap, anything like that? JESSIE: They laid their bikes down when they come out to the, when they hollered for them to come out there, (When they hollered for them to come out there conflicts with claim that Jessie and Jason were hiding and Damien [singular] called the boys over). Miller dismissed a suit Hobbs filed over Maines' remarks and writings implying that he was involved in killing his stepson. Police refused an unsolicited offer of aid and consultation from the violent crimes experts of the Arkansas State Police, and critics suggested this was due to the WMPD's being under investigation by the Arkansas State Police for suspected theft from the Crittenden County drug task force. JESSIE: Yes, and I took off and run home. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. The films marked the first time Metallica allowed their music to be used in a movie, which drew attention to the case. Dont like the answer? [53], In September 2008, attorney (now judge) Daniel Stidham, who represented Misskelley in 1994, testified at a postconviction relief hearing. RIDGE: okay, what occurred while you were there? Jason Baldwin. Police said the recording was "inaudible", but Hutcheson claimed the recording was audible. .no . Discover today's celebrity birthdays and explore famous people who share your birthday. JESSIE: I couldnt stand it to see what they were doing to them. (Jessie does not state the location of the crime scene; Ridge tells him, and Jessie repeats it. RIDGE:can you describe to me what in those woods, whats the location where you were? "I said, 'Look, you get mad because they're living a good life but they're earning. GITCHELL: What did the stick look like, I mean was it like a a big log like that or is it a stick? [33] His conviction was appealed, but the Arkansas Supreme Court affirmed the conviction. Arent we getting a little Aaron Hutchinson here? JESSIE:Yes, I think when we had that cult. JESSIE: My dad woke me up this morning. Further testing of the knife produced inconclusive results about the source of the blood. RIDGE: okay, the knife that you said Jason was using, where is it? [40][n 1], In May 1994, the three defendants appealed their convictions;[42] the convictions were upheld on direct appeal. It is not yet known whether the jury had an accurate transcript that included the next, critical portion wherein Jessie is told they are correcting his statement ]]]. RIDGE: And you mentioned that you heard some voice in the background? [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. RIDGE: And who made that phone call? RIDGE: Yeah, you dont know what time it is? 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. When told the blood matched both his and Chris' blood type, Byers said he had no idea how that blood might have gotten on the knife. [65] Ellington said that, although he still considered the men guilty, the three would likely be acquitted if a new trial were held because of the powerful legal counsel representing them now, the loss of evidence over time, and the change of heart among some of the witnesses. "We were writing each other two years before he got out. ", On March 23, 2016, Echols gave a presentation about his art processes at the, The transcript of Echols' spoken word performance in. GITCHELL:Were your clothes wet still? RIDGE: This is Det. Seeing a bruised up photo taken later would explain this statement; a recollection of the events as they were occurring could not). The man reportedly wore a "blue cast type brace on his arm that had white Velcro on it", which would have made it difficult to tie up and murder three young boys. [29], During Misskelley's trial, Richard Ofshe, an expert on false confessions and police coercion, and Professor of Sociology at UC Berkeley, testified that the brief recording of Misskelley's interrogation was a "classic example" of police coercion. [76], A website by Martin David Hill, containing approximately 160,000 words and intending to be a "thorough investigation", collates and discusses many details surrounding the murders and investigation, including some anecdotal information. RIDGE OR GITCHELL?Someone makes a brief snorting sound as if to say youre wrong listen closely. Note:This is a transcription of the taped confession of Jessie Misskelley, Jr. regarding the murder of Chris Byers, Steve Branch and Michael Moore. RIDGE: Alright, what occurred, what did he talk about? they they skipped school, (The children did not skip school; they were all accounted for that day in class). On May 5, 1993, Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branchall of whom were eight years oldwent bike riding in West Memphis. 0:49 Jessie Misskelley Jr., one of the "West Memphis Three" convicted of killing three boys in the 1990's, faces a court appearance Monday after a weekend arrest for driving without a license,. JESSIE: I was looking down, and after I seen all of that, I took off, (Were going to correct that??? RIDGE: Has he done things with them before? [73], There have been a number of books about the case, also arguing that the suspects were wrongly convicted: Devil's Knot by Mara Leveritt; Blood of Innocents by Guy Reel; and The Last Pentacle of the Sun: Writings in Support of the West Memphis Three, edited by Brett Alexander Savory & M. W. Anderson, and featuring dark fiction and non-fiction by well-known writers of speculative fiction. Trace amounts of sperm DNA were found on a pair of pants recovered from the scene. The defense's expert testified that the mark in question was not an adult bite mark, while experts put on by the State concluded that there was no bite mark at all. JESSIE: He keeps on asking me what are we going to do next, I told him, I cant do nothing now cause I go to work with my daddy everyday. Present in the interview is Insp. In 2005, Damien Echols completed his memoir, Almost Home, Vol 1, offering his perspective of the case. 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. Copyright 2012 WMC-TV. (Ridge leads Jessie again; Jessie doesnt state on his own where he was, he is told. [54], On October 29, 2007, papers were filed in federal court by Echols's defense lawyers seeking a retrial or his immediate release from prison. [6][59] Under the Bruton rule, his confession could not be admitted against his co-defendants and thus he was tried separately. The prosecution called Dale W. Griffis, a graduate of the unaccredited Columbia Pacific University, as an expert in the occult to testify the murders were a Satanic ritual. JESSIE: Yeah, weve been in the water, we were in it that night, playing around in it. He lived with his parents and his nine-year-old sister, Dawn. GITCHELL:Did you have some blood on your clothes? We don't have much information about He's past relationship and any previous engaged. The three were accused and convicted of a triple homicide in West Memphis, Arkansas. He was last seen wearing blue jeans, dark shoes, and a white long-sleeved shirt. GITCHELL: Alright, thats uh the Byers boy. His parents divorced when he was four years old & shortly afterward his mother married John Mark Byers, who adopted the boy. (There is no way this phone call could have taken place. RIDGE:Was it a knife that you fold up, or was it like a hunting knife? [6] Baldwin pleaded guilty to three counts of first degree murder while still asserting his actual innocence. Jessie Misskelley (Jessie Loyd Misskelly Jr.) was born on 10 July, 1975 in 1975, is a Producer. JESSIE:We go out kill dogs and stuff and then carry girls out there. Directed by Atom Egoyan Writing Credits ( WGA) Cast (in credits order) Produced by Music by Mychael Danna Cinematography by Paul Sarossy . Good! He was last seen wearing blue pants, a blue Boy Scouts of America shirt, and an orange and blue Boy Scout hat, and riding a light green bicycle. [6], On May 5, 1993, three eight-year-old boys (Steve Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers) were reported missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. Early in the investigation, the WMPD briefly regarded two West Memphis teenagers as suspects. JESSIE: Well after, all of this stuff happened that night, that they done it, I went home about noon, then they called me at 9 oclock that night, they called me. [9] Echols and Baldwin were close friends, and bonded over their similar tastes in music and fiction, and over their shared distaste for the prevailing cultural climate of West Memphis, situated in the Bible Belt. JESSIE:yes, out there in Lakeshore. He lived with his mother, Pamela Hobbs, his stepfather, Terry Hobbs, and a four-year-old half-sister, Amanda. JESSIE:I didnt see a briefcase, not unless they left it there at that day before it happened, unless they left it there by accident then but I didnt see one that day. 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? RIDGE:okay, which one did you see killed? He is not dating anyone. JESSIE: A friend of mine, he borrowed them. GITCHELL: Okay, what is kept inside of that briefcase? JESSIE: We were just sitting there, throwing stuff at each other. They switch the side of the creek he was on from BB toMemphis), (Jessie leaves again and again he is guided to give more details after he says he left), [[Tape omission / blank 20 seconds jumps to here]]. [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. "You shouldn't be mad about it, you could do it too," said Boggan. According to his mother, Christopher was a typical eight-year-old. Okay, what was he choking him with? [64] Prosecutor Scott Ellington said the Arkansas state crime laboratory would help seek other suspects by running searches on any DNA evidence produced in private laboratory tests during the defense team's investigation. He is from 1975. RIDGE: And what else, I think you said that he made the call from his house? (You need to hear Jessies voice on his bottom Is a question, not a statement), RIDGE: On his bottom? RIDGE:Are you willing to go down there with us and us having a camcorder and show us where these things took place? According to our Database, He has no children. (In Gitchells testimony on the stand he states that Jessie knew about the castration of Christopher Byers and that was not public knowledge, when in fact, that was not true. This would include running the results through the FBI's Combined DNA Index System database. Misskelley's confession eventually served as the basis for all three arrests. Present in the interview will be Inspector Gary Gitchell and Jessie Misskelley. GITCHELL: Where the pipe is that goes across the water? RIDGE:What kind of shoes were you wearing? From the scene & # x27 ; s confession eventually served as the basis for three. 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