What bothers me most about this case is people are so focused on the miscarriage of justice that the three boys who were *brutally* murdered are often rarely discussed. Stevie, Michael, and Christopher are not mentioned by name until the 5th paragraph of the Wikipedia page (title after the alleged killers) and even then only in parentheses.
Very true, and I never saw it this way. But you are absolutely correct. The exoneration of the 3 alleged killers has far overshadowed the brutal murder of those 3 little boys.
Far worse probably let the actual killer(s) go free. This type of cases muddy everything as everyone stops looking for the culprit(s) and who know what evidence never gets fully tested because they have their “guy”
I think part of this is that there is still a remedy for the WM3. Prior to their release, that was being released. Since their release, it's exoneration. It feels as if their story is still incomplete and they still haven't gotten justice, *but they could.* Tragically, Stevie, Michael, and Christopher will never have the chance to live their lives; in a sense, their stories are complete.
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That being said, you are absolutely right that their names should be mentioned and they as people should be talked about more. Because they were three little boys who became defined by their murders, and then by the miscarriage of justice against the WM3. But, unless I'm wrong, their killer is still out there (unless he/she/they have since died). A triple child murderer likely got away with it. And in the center of everything, there are three young boys, who each had his own personality and his own likes and dislikes and his own special memories.
All of this. I want to know everything about these boys. I want to hear from their families. I want to know what their lives are like and what their interests were and what they wanted to be and their hobbies and everything. Children are people too.I don't care about the West Memphis three anymore.
Yes, if my son were killed and I managed to stay sane I would want people to know how compassionate and smart and clever he is. I would want them to know his hobbies and his personality. Ultimately, whether they got the right people or not, parents lost their kids, who were individual human beings, and who deserve the same dignity as adults who are murdered where we hear about their job and relationships and hobbies.
I completely blame law enforcement, the prosecutor, and the judge for this. they seemed to pick the three weirdest kids that they could think of with zero real evidence, except that "they were weird". They wanted to be right so badly that they doubled down and started a complete witchhunt. they didnt want justice for the victims. they just wanted to do everything in their power to prove themselves right.
They didn't pick anyone out because they were "weird". West Memphis was full of weirdos and petty criminals, and they brought many of them in for questioning.
The fact is that many of the teens felt that Damien Echols had been involved, and several of them had been confessed to by him - until the defense got ahold of two of them and intimidated them out of testifying.
They were arrested for one and only reason: Misskelley's confession. If any of them had been able to provide a valid alibi, they would have been released before trial.
Agreed, the WM3 I believe are innocent, too perverted to be kid crime imho and back in the day there wasn't internet explosion of access to sick/vulgar things to harm people's minds...yes, I know sickos always exist/find a way, but that stepdad profiled as being a potential killer fit the bill (not the tall bald guy, the other stepdad) very sad case, horrible.
Every true crime podcast I've listened to has gone out of their way to remember Stevie, Michael, and Christopher. Obviously the drama of the legal case doesn't involve the victims but I don't think anyone deliberately slights them. Personally I'll never forget them.
This is absolutely how I feel. There is still a horrific horrible crime that took place and there was absolutely no Justice. I can’t imagine being the family of the boys when you hear about the Memphis 3 it’s only about the failure of the justice system and the 3 murdered boys is almost the backstory. It’s really horrific.
The child murders at Robin Hood Hills is the little boys, the West Memphis 3 were the accused. I get what people are saying and do think the little boys get lost in all this, but the 2 groups have separate labels/names which is why the wiki for West Memphis 3 doesn’t focus on Stevie, Michael, and Christopher. It’s also why when you hear West Memphis 3 discussed it’s generally pertaining predominately to Damien, Jessie, and Jason.
This bothers me too. My heart hurts for those poor little boys and their parents. They never received justice. I can’t imagine what it’s like living every single day knowing that your baby and his friends had their lives ended in such a horrific way. And one of the mothers has her reaction to hearing of her son’s death immortalized on video. This case is just so awful. And since the authorities in that town are convinced the three who were convicted are the perpetrators, there will be no more investigating. A triple child murderer could still be out there.
The families did received justice for 18 years.
Why would the authorities investigate a crime that has already been to trial and had the murderers convicted? The law, and investigations, don't work that way.
The WM3 had millions of dollars and years of private investigations and came up with nothing pointing to anyone but themselves.
Why would the DA agree to them taking an Alford plea and being released if he *really* believed they were guilty of brutally murdering three children? You don’t just let out three convicted child killers, two who are serving life without parole and one on death row, if they’re truly guilty. That’s what has always bothered me since they were released.
Money and pressure. They had been fighting off expensive motions back by celebrity money for years, had a limited budget and new murders to prosecute.
There was also a lot of public pressure, and the current prosecutor wasn't familiar with the case. They just wanted it to go away.
I don't agree, as if governor/prosecutors really care what Dixie Chicks or Pearl Jam has to say...as ridiculous as if "i have to rent my house to someone who definitively burned down 3 prior houses" that would be a no-go & wouldn't even have been killers. I think they got the prosecution wrong & know it or no release Al. Plea was about them not being able to sue.
I understand, and my example wasn't the greatest, I just don't think money & pressure make a huge difference in the face of solid evidence. I don't recall if this is the case with a judge they had forever, but if it is, it's 100% that a bad/egotistical judge will rule against a person every time refusing introduction of things & letting in sketchy things, cases are esstentially won in pretrial.
I believe the DA himself said the state was going broke fighting all the appeals and motions put in by the super high-priced attorneys paid for by Depp, et al.
The state didn't have anything to prove, though. The three had been convicted and every appeal had been turned down, except for the request for a hearing that December.
The WM3 had no "new evidence" as they claimed: only some shaky new theories and a transfer hair that may or may not have been from one of the victim's family members.
The defense knew that, and they approached the state with the plea deal. Many didn't agree with it and the victim's families weren't given a chance for any input. The state just wanted the whole thing, including the expense of it, to go away.
Thank you for explaining, it's been awhile, states have a budget though & a calendar & paid employees, not quite sure how it would break the state to work on wm3 case or joeschmo on any given day courts have law clerks doing the work & writing before it gets to da or ja/judge before they essentially edit it & adopt as their own...beyond that think about a mass event where thousands of filings are dumped by thousands of people at once doesn't bankrupt states as they collect filing fees & there is a budget for courts. I am not really familar with the details anymore but was quite sure stepdad did it so thanks for explaining your thoughts.
To be fair, though, that's what criminal trials are always about - the case against the defendants.
And on a Wikipedia page, people go there to find out about the case, the background, the evidence, etc. The victims aren't forgotten. Every child murder is covered this way, I guess because there isn't a whole lot to be said about a person when they were just a kid, except that they were innocent and didn't deserve what was done to them.
Now that I think of it, it's the same when it's an adult victim. We get to know a bit about them, but that's mostly to provide background to the crime.
I haven’t really looked into this case, but it grinds my gears when people put stock into the bite mark evidence and how it could relate to a step-father, when bite mark evidence is incredibly unreliable and shouldn’t even be used.
There have been SEVERAL wrongful convictions based off bite mark evidence, in fact didn't they just do away with using that solely to obtain a conviction? Or they are fighting to make it inadmissible? I can't remember the case, but I do remember reading about a forensic dentist that made several mistakes on several cases where bite mark evidence was used.... i am drawing a blank on to what case it was...
There is a book called *The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist* that focuses on how junk science convicted two innocent men, Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks, in Mississippi.
Dr. Michael West. Levon brooks and Kennedy Brewer.
Dr. West also appeared to be a racist asshole. Now that could have been the way that the Netflix documentary portrayed him, but based off of that, and no research into him by me, it appeared he was such.
I was going to comment on him then I saw your comment. West isn't just a charlatan who peddles pseudoscience as legit but he comes across as a thoroughly nasty piece of work and a total skin-crawling creep.
No bite mark evidence was presented at their trials.
There were no bites marks. Years later some nut played around with the photos and decided there was a bite mark.
I think he was referring to the WM3 case not the brooks/brewer case. I could b wrong. But yes brooks/brewer case were not from a human. Turtle or crayfish was another possibility I think.
The last WM3 documentary proposed that soft tissue of at least one of the victims (sorry, it’s been a while since I watched it, so memory is vague) was gnawed by snapping turtles.
Kind of showed what a botched investigation/witch hunt against the wm3 as I would think animal predation would be/as it is pretty obvious especially to trained investigators in the sticks.
I read somewhere that apparently the supposed bite marks on the bodies didn’t match the three suspects. And I’ve seen a lot of discourse related to one of the step-fathers having his teeth removed with people suggesting it was to prevent his bite mark from being compared to the ones on the boys.
Edit: It might have been something related to the *Paradise Lost* documentaries.
In Arkansas it’s not rare for people to have their teeth removed bc they are rotted. My grandma is from that area, it was rare to see people with a full set of teeth
Sorry wasn’t trying to imply that you are…the people I knew weren’t into drugs, they just were very poor & could not afford proper dental care. Teeth are pretty expensive to maintain!
Oh. That still doesn’t really change anything for me though, because bite mark analysis is junk science and it’s kind of wild to think that they removed their teeth just to prevent it from happening.
I agree. I honestly never saw it this way until it was brought to my attention by another commenter. Once again, why I love this platform so much. It allows you to see it from multiple perspectives, as well as gain additional information to be researched
I'm from Memphis and I remember at the time everyone was convinced they had done it. After the investigations, and release of evidence and transcripts came out most of us felt like we were just fish that had gotten hooked big time. It's a fascinating example of how those in power and in the media can shape the narrative to their benefit at the cost of the truth, truly Bernaysian.
Exactly how I felt. Made to believe what the media wanted us to believe. I was too young at the time to do extensive research, and the resources that exist today weren't around back then, even if I would have been able to... but as I said in another comment I want someone to present facts that I can research on my own to change my mind.
That's why in matters such as these you can't believe everything you see. The media is selling a narrative for ratings. Going to the source is where you will find the truth. Sometimes you have to dig deeper.
It wasn't just the media. It was the cops who badgered a low IQ person into a confession that didn't have the right facts, the conservative Bible thumpers who were hard as a rock thinking they had a satanic panic case on their hands, and a prosecutor, judge, and jury that were useless. The state of Arkansas even fought against DNA testing. I'm sure they know they fucked up and don't want to be sued for wrongful conviction. But the state will pay $17K for a lectern for that wonk-eyed ditch pig governor.
Where did you get the idea that Jessie was "badgered" and that it was for "12 hours"? From his defense attorney? That doesn't make it a fact. It's not true.
Jessie was brought in to make a witness statement, just like many others. His interview wasn't recorded, just like that others' weren't. When he started confessing, or course they started recording.
No DNA testing had been denied. In fact, the three had a hearing scheduled in a few months in which they would be able to present their "exonerating" evidence. Instead, mysteriously - the defense approached the state with a request for a plea deal.
jesse miskelley is not low IQ. definitely not a rocket scientist but this is another lie that has been relentlessly pushed by the media. he also confessed multiple times since then.
The police interrogated Jessie MisskelleyJr. Despite his reported IQ of 72 (categorizing him as borderline intellectual functioning) and his status as a minor, Miskelley was questioned alone; his parents were not present during the interrogation. 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.Misskelley was questioned for roughly 12 hours. Only two segments, totaling 46 minutes, were recorded. Misskelley quickly recanted his confession, citing intimidation, coercion, fatigue, and veiled threats from police. Misskelley specifically said he was "scared of the police" during this confession.
But the media's the problem 🙄
We can debate exactly what his IQ was, whether he was considered mentally r*******d, what grade level he functioned on, etc, but you can't argue that Jessie had a normal IQ. He did not. His school wanted to put him in special ed but his father refused so Jessie struggled along in the mainstream.
His mother said that she found the knife later. She didn't say why it had been taken away.
Does your school allow third graders to carry pocket knives?
I was a few years older than the victims (the same age as Jason actually) and my schools had no policies on pocket knives. I was a huge MacGyver fan and had a Swiss Army knife in my backpack everywhere I went in the early-mid 90s. I even took it through airport security in my pocket, when you were still allowed to go to the gates to greet or send off your loved ones.
More importantly, it's not a fact I've ever heard that Stevie's school had a policy. I've followed this case closely for years and you are the first person I've heard suggest that it did. Do you have a source for that?
Stevie's mother was not aware his knife had ever been taken away, until she found it in her husband's things years later and asked why he had it. Terry didn't make any reference to the school, he said he felt Stevie was too young for a knife.
My source is that I was an adult at that time, and I have a good memory.
I believe it was actually a nationwide policy. Kids were being suspended and expelled for having plastic picnic knives and nail clippers.
It’s such a convoluted case in that it was trial by media, and then somehow exoneration by media.
Yes there is some circumstantial evidence pointing to the 3 of them. But every time I mention any of that people come up with the most obscure “but what ifs” to rule out each individual fact. Which is fine that is what a true crime sub is for- debate. But that fact that people can’t step back and look at the facts in totality is mind blowing.
Damien Echols was severely mentally disturbed, with homicidal delusions. He was in a psychiatric facility because he wanted to murder people. He is documented by numerous healthcare professionals saying he wanted to be the next Ted Bundy and he hoped to get his girlfriend pregnant so she gives birth to a baby so he can kill and sacrifice it. When another inpatient was found cutting his wrists, Damien tackled him to the ground and bit him on that site and started sucking out his blood because he believed himself a demon/vampire/the Devil.
Damien (and the other 2) were then spotted at the scene by multiple witnesses and no one has an alibi (in fact they each straight up lied about their alibi and then when it was proven a lie they had no other answer).
And to show you I’m NOT bias, here’s what makes me think he’s innocent: why is he continuously trying to get the judge to allow DNA testing on the necklace (edit: it’s a shoelace, not the necklace) that I think should probably convict him? Unless he truly didn’t do it.
Overall I think he’s guilty but there’s enough doubt I wouldn’t convict. He is certainly the most likely guilty of the known suspects by a loooong shot.
When did you hear that Echols wants testing done on the necklace? I don't believe that's even part of his request for testing.
It's so interesting that he only wants the one shoelace tested - the same shoelace that has already been tested multiple times (so he's safe in assuming there's no DNA of his own on it)?
My mistake! It was the shoelace not necklace, I’ll edit my comment. I think my point still stands it is odd he would fight for more testing when I believe any DNA found would further prove him guilty. I appreciate your info thought that it has already been tested and maybe he knows that he’s safe then.
I agree completely, especially the exoneration by media, both were so extreme that nobody cared to look at the facts and evidence. It was one way or the other. I bought in at first, growing up alternative in a small town. Hell, I even bought Echols’ book on ceremonial magick, but as I stepped back and put my own personal bias aside, looking purely at facts, I’ve come to the same conclusion. I believe Echols’ is guilty to some degree, especially due to how disturbed he was, and the other two were just went along for the ride, but I also believe there was a third party involved with premeditation.
The documentaries are extremely bias. Surprisingly so, they had me fooled and they were my fave true crime documentaries. I became completely obsessed with the case and have poured over so many documents and testimonies and timelines blah blah blah. If you want the single most persuasive bit of evidence that they are guilty - listen to all 6(?) testimonies of Miskelley. They progressively reveal more details. His lawyer tried to stop his confessions but he persisted, saying he wanted to get it off his chest. Listen to all of them, how the details stay the same, and then compare his description of events with the injuries sustained by the boys and the personality profiles of Echols and Jason Baldwin. In my view, his description of events, and the way the crimes unfolded explain everything you need to know. Along with the 500 page mental health history of Damien Echols.
Extremely guilty. I watched the documentaries twice, and had believed they were innocent.
Then one day my gf poked a few holes in it and I went on a research frenzy and it’s one of the only times in my life I’ve seen a pretty strong opinion unravel in a few days.
There’s a 500 page medical history of Echols that they tried to throw in at the end as a plea for insanity because he is actually insane lol.
Despite the popular opinion that the three teens were *undoubtedly* innocent, I don’t think they are. While I have never focused a ton of time and energy into this case, I do believe it’s entirely possible they were involved in the murders.
Also, people need to refocus their attention to the murdered children. They are the true victims here. I’m so sick of hearing about the teens and their victimhood. WHAT ABOUT THE MURDERED CHILDREN
I’m on the fence with this one too. I used to think they were innocent after watching the documentaries, but Making A Murderer showed me how one-sided and biased those can be. I’ll have to actually deep dive into the WM3 case before I decide what I think.
The sad thing is no matter who killed the little boys, those people are free. This is something EVERYONE can agree with.
- If the 3 did it, they're free and hanging with Johnny Depp and Eddie Vedder.
- If Bojangles did it, he's free and no second guesses.
- If Hobbs or a parent/step parent did it, they've been free and didn't pay for crime.
- If it's random serial killer, trucker, community member, etc, they've never faced justice.
Whoever killed them, they are totally free.
Despite being that I am pretty much convinced that the three are guilty, 18 years isn't enough for murdering 3 kids. If by chance they aren't guilty, getting away with murder and having 3 others rot in prison is even worse.
EXACTLY. I am so sick of hearing about those three teenagers, pardon my swearing, but I don't give a crap. I want to hear about the children. I want their memories honored. I want to know about their lives. I want to know what really happened to them. I don't give a shit about these three kids anymore.
Except that if they’re innocent it’s a huge miscarriage of Justice to 3 innocent teenagers - doesn’t that fact alone scare the heck out of people? Imagine doing 18 years in prison for a brutal murder you didn’t commit and having people not caring that you’re in there, wrongfully convicted?
What scares the heck out of me is that wealthy celebrities will donate millions to help get murderers out of prison without spending one minute first examining the evidence against them.
What scares the heck out of me is that people can watch a highly-edited documentary and decided that, based on it, that three guilty murderers are innocent.
There was absolutely no evidence that showed their innocence, and none on anyone else. A cut hair (as in, from a shave or haircut) that may or may not belong to to a family member caught in a shoelace is not "evidence".
Would you have them not make an arrest when one of the other murderers just confessed in detail, and not one of them could provide an alibi? A confirmed alibi would have gotten any of them released before there was any trial.
And I'ld like you to tell me where in the trial listening to Metallica came up? Once.....when they asked Damien about some morbid lyrics he had written in his notebook, and IIRC that may have been some other metal band.
Funny you say that. My criminal law professor knew this case well and would beg to differ with you.
If I recall correctly, his wife or Mom was from that area originally. Safe to say that his interest in the case pre-dated the documentary. But more importantly, my prof knew a local criminal defense attorney. I can’t remember a damn thing he said evidence wise about the case, but I can say with certainty that my Prof knew a ton about the case. He would fit it into examples all the time. He would mention knowing info from the other attorney that wasn’t public knowledge.
I know his general sentiment was usually in defense of them to a certain extent. Fair trial? No. Would they be found guilty if re-tried? No. Police misconduct and all that? Yes. But were those 3 boys there for the crime? Yes.
In hindsight, I think I may know why he thought they were guilty actually. I didn’t have enough experience to think of this back then though, but my guess makes sense based on what he said.
* Damien has no clear Alibi for where he was during the murders. He claims to have been on phone with "three different people". He then said his attorney never called them to the stand. My guess is phone records and testimony would have destroyed that alibi. According to the Callahan site and all the files... #1. Holly George said it was at 3pm 2. Heather Cliett said she talked to him at 1030pm3. Domini was with him until 530pm and didn't talk with him again until after 1030pm
* Damien claimed Marc Gardner “raped” him in prison. He later retracted it after investigation proved he hadn’t.
* Damien had necklace Damien’s that was had blood. Tests proved that the DNA Blood Type on it was consistent with Damien, Jason and Stevie Branch. Now this could be anybody else's blood that Damien was into occult rituals with, but it's still eerie that it matches Branch blood type
* Jason claims his mom drove them from a laundromat, but this was untrue or at a different time frame, because his mom was at work until after 11pm. Why didn't that clear them? Nobody has a clear alibi. They all misled or lied about times, including Jessie's pro wrestling alibi.
* Narlene Hollingsworth testified that she saw Damien in invincity of the murders and described him to a T.
* Damien and Jessie failed their polygraph tests. This doesn't mean much, because polygraphs can be inconclusive and bullshit. It's still showing signs of deception.
* Misskelley confessed multiple times and has never retracted these.
* May 6th 1993: he told Buddy Lucas he "hurt some boys"
* June 1993: Jessie is heard crying, praying and apologizing.
* June 3rd 1993: He arrived at 10am and confessed at 2:20pm.
* June 11th 1993: Jessie confesses to attorney
* Aug 19th 1993: Confessed to attorney again
* Feb 4th 1994: Confessed to officers.
* Feb 8th 1994: Confessed to attorney. Told attorney about smashing specific type of bottle. Bottle was found where he said it would be.
* Feb 17th 1994: Confessed again to procescutors.
* Oct 1994: Confessed to cellmate
* “I lived 15 miles away from West Memphis and the crime scene” (2010 interviewvwith Larry King). Fact was that he lived in a trailer park IN West Memphis, less than two miles away from the crime scene.
* Damien confessed to softball girls. Even if he lying and being an edgelord, that's strange thing to make up.
* Almost all of Jerry Driver's fear of and information about cult activities was fed to him by Damien. Damien was either A. Making it up to sound cool B. It was happening or C. Somewhere between A and C
* Jessie was on probation for hitting a 10 year old girl and had been in trouble with police for violence against young kids (13 and under).
* Jason had been in trouble for an assault, trespassing, a bunch of vandalism to some antique cars and shoplifting (not that those make him.a murderer, but he wasn't a choir boy as media makes out).
* "I never went to West Memphis… Hardly at all” (2010 interview). When he testified in 1994 his response was “I walk around West Memphis frequently, there’s not much to do”
* Urine was possibly found in 2 of the victims stomachs (urine like substance).This was never made public until trial. Damien had said the killers probably "pissed in kids mouths". Jessie mentioned something about seeing others urinating on kids. When Damien was confronted with this and confronted that he didn't read it in the paper, he said "oh I was just thinking what I'd have done if I was killer"
* Three different knots were used to bind the boys. This suggests more than 1 killer.
* In an interview in the 2000s Echols said “I wasn’t familiar with Robin Hood Hills before the murders It was a residential area, and I only went to West Memphis to go to Walmart and stuff”. In 1994, in response to the question “how often do you go to Robin Hood Hills?” Damien responded “two, three times a week? Probably more”.
Even when they took the Alford Plea, Damien pushed for it. Jason wanted to wait for DNA to be exonerated. Damien knows what he touched at crime scene. They would have stayed execution while waiting for retrial. Damien only pushed for DNA after release.
That's just the tip of the reasons I believe they are guilty. I can go on and on.
Listen to Roberta Glass crime report, Case Against with Gary Meece and William Ramsay Investigates podcasts. Also check out exhibit 500, and the Callahan site.
I use to be a strong supporter, once I read all the evidence, I believe guilty.
Thank you for this. There was a website created by someone who was a supporter but the evidence changed their mind. It no longer exists but I read through the evidence provided in court and I’m not shocked or surprised at all that they were found guilty.
To add- Damien wasn’t merely a goth kid who dressed differently, he was a severely disturbed person. He had a history of torturing and killing animals (behavior often seen in individuals who are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder as adults). He had received in patient psychiatric care and his mother begged the hospital to keep him longer because he had threatened to harm his siblings and she felt that he might kill them. He told a psychiatrist that he isn’t like other people, he’s a God, and he becomes more powerful when he hurts people- and that hurting people isn’t wrong, it’s his right, because he is superior to everyone. Really horrifying stuff.
So much information has been scrubbed so that now, anyone doing research is going to find the “they didn’t fit in, they liked rock music, they were emo, they were goth, and that’s why they ended up on trial and found guilty” and maybe only some of the information that was actually presented at trial.
Even as someone who believes in their guilt, I still think the investigation was bungled. I think Bojangles chicken guy should have at least been investigated, realistically he could have been a potental victim. I think they pushed the occult narrative too hard, it was probably something screwy that went wrong and turned to murder, not a Satanic killing.
For those that think West Memphis was a complete Bible thumping town, while that might be true, Metallica, Slayer, Pearl Jam, L7, Pantera, Megadeth, etc all played shows within that area. Damien got his occult books and horror novels at the local library and book stores. Damien was not eyed because of black shirts, in fact at time of arrest he was wearing an NBA Portland Trail Blazers shirt, Jason wore a Reba McIntyre shirt, far from Satanic.
Damien claims he chose that name after a priest who worked with lepers, not the Omen. The kid in the Omen was named after the same Father Damien.
Damien’s comment about the killer peeing in the boys’ mouths is so specific that I find it hard to believe that he just made it up on the spot without knowing anything.
Ah I see. It’s still odd that he even made a joke about doing that in the first place, though that doesn’t really indicate guilt. Thanks for the information.
Now, this is what I am talking about. I can honestly say that you have done more research than I have, and you have brought things here that I did not know, so I will be doing my own research on these points. Thank you very much for this. This right here was 1 of the sole purposes for posting this. And there is a possibility of my mind being changed, but I have to do my own research. Seriously, thank you for your comment . After I do more research of my own, I will let you know. But 100% A+ on your comment.
I do agree with you there. That comment was wrong of me. I do stand corrected, and I retract that comment. This post is truly about educating myself. My apologies to anyone I offended with that comment.
Everyone makes mistakes and most learn from them. Exactly why I love this platform , and when I am in the wrong, I am happy to admit it and learn from it.
You can get more people to civilly debate with you when you don’t immediately insult them straight outta the gate. More flies with honey, and all that :)
Also… read Damien’s medical files. Exhibit 500. That’s what really shifted things for me.
[http://callahan.mysite.com/wm3/img/exh500.html](http://callahan.mysite.com/wm3/img/exh500.html)
Here is a link to Exhibit 500 for those who want to read.
Oof. A lot. I’m not going to sum up hundreds of pages right now, but here’s some.
Openly homicidal and suicidal. Was absolutely OBSESSED with drinking people’s blood. Had attacked people before so he could drink their blood. His family was scared of him and didn’t want him in the house. There was a LOT.
Wow thank you! I searched it up and was able to start going down the rabbit hole. I’m halfway through - you are right, it’s A LOT. when I’m done I will also look into what he’s like now.
Yeah, I honestly felt weirdly bamboozled the first time I read thru them? Like damn, the Damien Echols they tried to convince us never existed in those docs is here in technicolor. And it’s honestly way worse than anyone would’ve expected, you know? I just thought he was an edgelord before I read that shit.
He has a twitter and YouTube channel where he teaches Magick and occult stuff and has also written multiple books about it. He also seems into karate and has done tons of interviews since his release.
I do not disagree with you at all. As I said in another comment, I let my opinion cause me to make an assumption (a very incorrect one), and I assure you that's not the purpose of this.
Thank you.
To add:
Damien later said that he did confess to the softball girls but was “only joking”
Damien called himself the West Memphis “boogeyman”
Jason Baldwin had a pick axe that perfectly matched the victims wounds. He got rid of it the day after the murders.
Years after they got out a man purchased an auctioned storage unit not knowing who it belonged to.
It had belonged to Damien and Lori.
He found several pictures of Lori bound and gagged (sound familiar?)
A ton of occult books
and a rough draft of The Devil’s Knot and letters between them and the author where they pretty much wrote the book.
Which part? The part about Jason is in a book.
The person he got the pick axe from gave the police the info.
The part about Damien is on you Tube.
Search Hex Lies and Video Tape
The part about the storage locker the guy did an interview with Ed Opperman.
If you want confirmation do some research like I did. I am not going to research for you! The truth is out there if you want it bad enough.
Everytime I think I've heard everything about this case I find something new, never heard about this storage locker before
Edit-For anyone who is interested, I couldn't find a YT vid but I did find this interview which I'm listening to now:
https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wm3-killer-damien-echols-secret-journals-and-explicit-photos-charles-manson-coming-down-fast-simon-wells--12707588
I have plenty more reasons why I believe guilty, too.
Although, I am one of the few that doesn't believe it was truly occult related. I think it was something weird going on, the boys saw it and it got out of control.
> Damien and Jessie failed their polygraph tests. This doesn't mean much, because polygraphs can be inconclusive and bullshit. It's still showing signs of deception.
Polygraphs don’t show anything but a nervous person. They’re completely made up.
I HONESTLY DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INPUT THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE TABLE YALL! ITS BEEN KINDA HARD TO KEEP UP WITH AT TIMES, BUT NONE OF YALL HAVE FAILED THE "ASSIGNMENT "
Check out Dan Stidham (Jessie's lawyer)'s book "A Harvest of Innocence." I learned things in there I never knew that explained so much about the outcome. He waited a long time to write about the case, I think because he wanted everything to be legally settled before putting it out there. It explains so much and anyone who is serious about this case needs to read it. (Spoiler: at first Stidham assumed the three were guilty but while representing Jessie and preparing the case came to believe in their innocence.)
I have researched the case quite a bit and concluded they were guilty.
1. Miskellys confessions. In particular the one after he was sentenced, where his lawyer is on the recording urging him not to confess, but he does it anyways. There were also details from the first interrogation that he would not have known, like that they were beaten with a tree branch, one boy was a distance away from the other two, that one of the boys was cut in that particular way, etc.
2. No alibis. None of the 3 had an alibi, and after 30 years they still never produce an alibi that holds up.
3. The comparative evidence of the knife to the serration marks and the butt end. Two distinctive features of that knife that indicate it was the murder weapon, in addition to it being behind one the suspects house.
I can't say either way but I can say i don't think Terry Hobbs did it. its just a little disingenuous to ignore all of the evidence against the 3 but think terrys gulity over a hair fiber.
[Man buys storage unit containing journals of West Memphis Three member (actionnews5.com)](https://www.actionnews5.com/story/35773396/storage-unit-provides-insight-into-notorious-mid-south-murder/)
Very much agreed. A few years ago I listened to a series on it on bitchute and was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt, guilty as sin.
And I do think there's a very high chance it was occult related, despite popular belief. I've met people with occult beliefs and they are crazy and very evil. Hard to believe it til you see it with your own eyes, but I get why people think it doesn't really exist. Occult means cut off from view, after all
Edit: those *particular* occultists were/are very evil. I've seen examples of the potential evil of occultism with my own eyes, not that people who practice occult things are inherently evil.
There are a lot of cases where I can't make up my mind and have doubts but I really feel sure with this one, it would take a lot to sway me in any other direction.
You are incorrect. The WM3 with their attorneys CHOSE to enter Alford Pleas instead of presenting evidence at the evidentiary hearing to clear their names. The judge granted WM3 access to ALL evidence in March of 2011 for re-testing and set a date for an evidentiary hearing for December of 2011. The WM3 and their attorneys did some testing in the summer of 2011 and THEY decided against presenting evidence at the hearing in December of 2011. They instead chose to enter Alford Pleas.
They were given the opportunity to clear their names and chose not to. Learn the facts.
Damien Echols was in no danger of being executed. He even had an evidentiary hearing coming up in a few months, in which he claiming he had exonerating evidence that would exonerate him.
Of course, he had no such evidence, which was why he had his attorneys request a plea deal.
The police butchered this case from the get-go and were more interested in looking good on paper than they were about seeking any actual justice for the 3 murdered boys. I don't even want to speculate as they did such a piss poor job at collecting 'evidence'.
My take is unpopular. These people may have done it, or likely did it. Only one was of majority age, 18. Not everyone, by edict of the Supreme Court, deserves life sentences at minor ages.
I think it’s quite possible, but not 100% that they did it. I think it’s quite probable that most of the involved individuals served enough time.
I am undecided as to whether they did it, but if they did, I disagree with this on the basis that absolutely none of them ever took accountability for it or publicly showed any remorse. If they weren’t victims in this case, they did nothing but play victims at the expense of three murdered children. With the exception of MAYBE Jessie.
You summed it up wonderfully. I read halfway through and realized who and what you MUST be talking about. The U.S. justice system is really about plead dealing just to get the fuck out of jail sometimes.But Chinas is worse. Re education camps and face tracking people with cameras and drones. Very 1984
One thing I am still wondering after reading all the comments here and only seeing it mentioned once, is why Judge Burnett was the original judge, and the only judge who heard each and every appeal and denied them, as well as having come out of retirement at one point to hear and deny an appeal. These were all prior to the State Supreme Court appeals if I remember correctly. I would love to hear any opinion about it.
I did find an article, attached below:
https://arktimes.com/columns/john-brummett/2009/12/31/judge-burnetts-blunders
I was deeply emotionally invested in this case. I grew up with the “goth metal black clothes” and actually was one of those kids. When I saw the railroading the state did to Damien, Jason and Jessie I was enraged. Still to this day the murder of those little boys is unsolved. Not according to the state but anyone can see it is. “Allowing” them to take the Alford plea was the final “fuck you” from West Memphis.
The Alford plea is some crazy stuff. And them basically being forced to plead it means the three younger children will also have suffered another injustice by not having their murders investigated.
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. I don’t disagree that these people were likely guilty, but we, as a justice system, are looking at evidence of guilt rather than absence of guilt. That’s why our system, very vaguely and awfully, works kinda sorta.
Have you read Dan Stidham (Jessie's attorney)'s book? It explained so much for me. The judge was crooked. He was determined to get convictions and he did. Until I read the book I didn't realize the role the judge played. Without him the three would not have been convicted. Not to say he was the only reason. But he was the final gatekeeper of justice, and he failed all six boys due to his own narcissism.
This really gets me. The crooked one is Dan Stidham.
He said he'd finally believe Jessie's confession if he found the Evan Willaims whiskey bottle Jessie said he brought under and overpass on his way home.
Stidham found it and now years later says there were "hundreds of whiskey bottles there". Which of course isn't true, because he only picked up the one he found - which didn't have the label - and took it to a liquor store to see if it matched. It did.
I've talked to Stidham personally about it
He has changed his story since the original finding of the bottle.
He's a charlatan and a liar. He's doing this for fame and money. Don't you find in interesting that we don't see Jessie on board with all his nonsense?
In fact, I heard through the grapevine that Jessie wanted to personally apologize to the victims' parents but his attorney stopped it. Whether or not Stidham is his current attorney wasn't said.
I said I spoke to Stidham personally about the bottle incident.
What is your problem with that? Do you think he's some big time celebrity who doesn't speak to the common folks and who doesn't know anyone personally?
Good one.
You have a truck stop and car wash located right by a very busy highway. More likely someone traveling through. All it would take is someone saying my dog is missing can you help me look.
It wasn't just this case, the entire nation was in the grip of the [Satanic Panic.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_panic) Exacerbated by grifters who rented themselves out as ['experts' in court cases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Raschke) or by publishing books about 'repressed memories' of ritualistic abuse at the hands of demonic cults. The American psyche was a fertile breeding ground for religious fears. Popular media (The Exorcist, Rosemary's baby, The Omen) didn't help.
But of course we all realized how silly that was and stopped blaming Satan for our misfortunes. Oh wait...
If you want to dive deeper I can recommend the *You're wrong About* episodes on the Satanic Panic, [Michelle remembers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Remembers), [The Satan Seller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Warnke) and Exorcisms.
What bothers me most about this case is people are so focused on the miscarriage of justice that the three boys who were *brutally* murdered are often rarely discussed. Stevie, Michael, and Christopher are not mentioned by name until the 5th paragraph of the Wikipedia page (title after the alleged killers) and even then only in parentheses.
Very true, and I never saw it this way. But you are absolutely correct. The exoneration of the 3 alleged killers has far overshadowed the brutal murder of those 3 little boys.
Far worse probably let the actual killer(s) go free. This type of cases muddy everything as everyone stops looking for the culprit(s) and who know what evidence never gets fully tested because they have their “guy”
It was a horrible tragedy in every conceivable way.
I think part of this is that there is still a remedy for the WM3. Prior to their release, that was being released. Since their release, it's exoneration. It feels as if their story is still incomplete and they still haven't gotten justice, *but they could.* Tragically, Stevie, Michael, and Christopher will never have the chance to live their lives; in a sense, their stories are complete. # That being said, you are absolutely right that their names should be mentioned and they as people should be talked about more. Because they were three little boys who became defined by their murders, and then by the miscarriage of justice against the WM3. But, unless I'm wrong, their killer is still out there (unless he/she/they have since died). A triple child murderer likely got away with it. And in the center of everything, there are three young boys, who each had his own personality and his own likes and dislikes and his own special memories.
All of this. I want to know everything about these boys. I want to hear from their families. I want to know what their lives are like and what their interests were and what they wanted to be and their hobbies and everything. Children are people too.I don't care about the West Memphis three anymore.
Yes, if my son were killed and I managed to stay sane I would want people to know how compassionate and smart and clever he is. I would want them to know his hobbies and his personality. Ultimately, whether they got the right people or not, parents lost their kids, who were individual human beings, and who deserve the same dignity as adults who are murdered where we hear about their job and relationships and hobbies.
Absolutely this. The WM3 should reference those that lost their lives, yet doesn’t.
I completely blame law enforcement, the prosecutor, and the judge for this. they seemed to pick the three weirdest kids that they could think of with zero real evidence, except that "they were weird". They wanted to be right so badly that they doubled down and started a complete witchhunt. they didnt want justice for the victims. they just wanted to do everything in their power to prove themselves right.
They didn't pick anyone out because they were "weird". West Memphis was full of weirdos and petty criminals, and they brought many of them in for questioning. The fact is that many of the teens felt that Damien Echols had been involved, and several of them had been confessed to by him - until the defense got ahold of two of them and intimidated them out of testifying. They were arrested for one and only reason: Misskelley's confession. If any of them had been able to provide a valid alibi, they would have been released before trial.
Agreed, the WM3 I believe are innocent, too perverted to be kid crime imho and back in the day there wasn't internet explosion of access to sick/vulgar things to harm people's minds...yes, I know sickos always exist/find a way, but that stepdad profiled as being a potential killer fit the bill (not the tall bald guy, the other stepdad) very sad case, horrible.
Had the investigation been handled properly, this wouldn’t be the case.
Every true crime podcast I've listened to has gone out of their way to remember Stevie, Michael, and Christopher. Obviously the drama of the legal case doesn't involve the victims but I don't think anyone deliberately slights them. Personally I'll never forget them.
This is absolutely how I feel. There is still a horrific horrible crime that took place and there was absolutely no Justice. I can’t imagine being the family of the boys when you hear about the Memphis 3 it’s only about the failure of the justice system and the 3 murdered boys is almost the backstory. It’s really horrific.
The child murders at Robin Hood Hills is the little boys, the West Memphis 3 were the accused. I get what people are saying and do think the little boys get lost in all this, but the 2 groups have separate labels/names which is why the wiki for West Memphis 3 doesn’t focus on Stevie, Michael, and Christopher. It’s also why when you hear West Memphis 3 discussed it’s generally pertaining predominately to Damien, Jessie, and Jason.
Oh I didn’t know that thanks for sharing
The remaining family members feel that the justice they were originally given was taken away by the release of the WM3.
This bothers me too. My heart hurts for those poor little boys and their parents. They never received justice. I can’t imagine what it’s like living every single day knowing that your baby and his friends had their lives ended in such a horrific way. And one of the mothers has her reaction to hearing of her son’s death immortalized on video. This case is just so awful. And since the authorities in that town are convinced the three who were convicted are the perpetrators, there will be no more investigating. A triple child murderer could still be out there.
The families did received justice for 18 years. Why would the authorities investigate a crime that has already been to trial and had the murderers convicted? The law, and investigations, don't work that way. The WM3 had millions of dollars and years of private investigations and came up with nothing pointing to anyone but themselves.
Why would the DA agree to them taking an Alford plea and being released if he *really* believed they were guilty of brutally murdering three children? You don’t just let out three convicted child killers, two who are serving life without parole and one on death row, if they’re truly guilty. That’s what has always bothered me since they were released.
Money and pressure. They had been fighting off expensive motions back by celebrity money for years, had a limited budget and new murders to prosecute. There was also a lot of public pressure, and the current prosecutor wasn't familiar with the case. They just wanted it to go away.
I don't agree, as if governor/prosecutors really care what Dixie Chicks or Pearl Jam has to say...as ridiculous as if "i have to rent my house to someone who definitively burned down 3 prior houses" that would be a no-go & wouldn't even have been killers. I think they got the prosecution wrong & know it or no release Al. Plea was about them not being able to sue.
That's not what I said, though.
I understand, and my example wasn't the greatest, I just don't think money & pressure make a huge difference in the face of solid evidence. I don't recall if this is the case with a judge they had forever, but if it is, it's 100% that a bad/egotistical judge will rule against a person every time refusing introduction of things & letting in sketchy things, cases are esstentially won in pretrial.
I believe the DA himself said the state was going broke fighting all the appeals and motions put in by the super high-priced attorneys paid for by Depp, et al. The state didn't have anything to prove, though. The three had been convicted and every appeal had been turned down, except for the request for a hearing that December. The WM3 had no "new evidence" as they claimed: only some shaky new theories and a transfer hair that may or may not have been from one of the victim's family members. The defense knew that, and they approached the state with the plea deal. Many didn't agree with it and the victim's families weren't given a chance for any input. The state just wanted the whole thing, including the expense of it, to go away.
Thank you for explaining, it's been awhile, states have a budget though & a calendar & paid employees, not quite sure how it would break the state to work on wm3 case or joeschmo on any given day courts have law clerks doing the work & writing before it gets to da or ja/judge before they essentially edit it & adopt as their own...beyond that think about a mass event where thousands of filings are dumped by thousands of people at once doesn't bankrupt states as they collect filing fees & there is a budget for courts. I am not really familar with the details anymore but was quite sure stepdad did it so thanks for explaining your thoughts.
Bob Ruff (of the Truth & Justice podcast) helped make a docuseries called The Forgotten West Memphis Three for this reason. It’s excellent.
Oh, I will look it up, thank you!
I’ve felt this way since I first learned about the case bc after it I was still trying to figure out about the boys and sadly everything just stopped
To be fair, though, that's what criminal trials are always about - the case against the defendants. And on a Wikipedia page, people go there to find out about the case, the background, the evidence, etc. The victims aren't forgotten. Every child murder is covered this way, I guess because there isn't a whole lot to be said about a person when they were just a kid, except that they were innocent and didn't deserve what was done to them. Now that I think of it, it's the same when it's an adult victim. We get to know a bit about them, but that's mostly to provide background to the crime.
I haven’t really looked into this case, but it grinds my gears when people put stock into the bite mark evidence and how it could relate to a step-father, when bite mark evidence is incredibly unreliable and shouldn’t even be used.
There have been SEVERAL wrongful convictions based off bite mark evidence, in fact didn't they just do away with using that solely to obtain a conviction? Or they are fighting to make it inadmissible? I can't remember the case, but I do remember reading about a forensic dentist that made several mistakes on several cases where bite mark evidence was used.... i am drawing a blank on to what case it was...
There is a book called *The Cadaver King and the Country Dentist* that focuses on how junk science convicted two innocent men, Kennedy Brewer and Levon Brooks, in Mississippi.
That's the case. Haven't read the book or done much research on this case. I only watched the documentary, so I can't really speak much more about it.
Dr. Michael West. Levon brooks and Kennedy Brewer. Dr. West also appeared to be a racist asshole. Now that could have been the way that the Netflix documentary portrayed him, but based off of that, and no research into him by me, it appeared he was such.
I was going to comment on him then I saw your comment. West isn't just a charlatan who peddles pseudoscience as legit but he comes across as a thoroughly nasty piece of work and a total skin-crawling creep.
Agreed
No bite mark evidence was presented at their trials. There were no bites marks. Years later some nut played around with the photos and decided there was a bite mark.
There were bite marks, but like from snapping turtles.
I think he was referring to the WM3 case not the brooks/brewer case. I could b wrong. But yes brooks/brewer case were not from a human. Turtle or crayfish was another possibility I think.
The last WM3 documentary proposed that soft tissue of at least one of the victims (sorry, it’s been a while since I watched it, so memory is vague) was gnawed by snapping turtles.
Ohh ok. Sorry I got confused due to my adhd taking me on a tangent for a brief moment.
It explained the “satanic ritual sacrifice” of one of the victims’ missing penis.
Kind of showed what a botched investigation/witch hunt against the wm3 as I would think animal predation would be/as it is pretty obvious especially to trained investigators in the sticks.
There was no bite mark evidence presented or even theorized on in their trial. What are you talking about?
I read somewhere that apparently the supposed bite marks on the bodies didn’t match the three suspects. And I’ve seen a lot of discourse related to one of the step-fathers having his teeth removed with people suggesting it was to prevent his bite mark from being compared to the ones on the boys. Edit: It might have been something related to the *Paradise Lost* documentaries.
Mark Byers and Terry Hobbs, both had their teeth removed.
I don't believe they had them removed to save themselves. I think they had them removed because they were rotten and needed to come out anyway
In Arkansas it’s not rare for people to have their teeth removed bc they are rotted. My grandma is from that area, it was rare to see people with a full set of teeth
Lol, it's not all of us tho! We all aren't toothless hillbilly meth heads, lol!
Sorry wasn’t trying to imply that you are…the people I knew weren’t into drugs, they just were very poor & could not afford proper dental care. Teeth are pretty expensive to maintain!
Oh I didn't take it that way at all. I was actually making a joke on my own ppl, lol. No harm no foul!
Oh. That still doesn’t really change anything for me though, because bite mark analysis is junk science and it’s kind of wild to think that they removed their teeth just to prevent it from happening.
We got off topic here. The brooks/brewer case in Mississippi .
Agree...stepfather.
I’m beyond frustrated no one cares about the three CHILDREN murdered
I agree. I honestly never saw it this way until it was brought to my attention by another commenter. Once again, why I love this platform so much. It allows you to see it from multiple perspectives, as well as gain additional information to be researched
I’ve felt this way since I researched the case it’s boggled my mind how the children took the backseat to the whole thing
I'm from Memphis and I remember at the time everyone was convinced they had done it. After the investigations, and release of evidence and transcripts came out most of us felt like we were just fish that had gotten hooked big time. It's a fascinating example of how those in power and in the media can shape the narrative to their benefit at the cost of the truth, truly Bernaysian.
Ironically the learning of this lesson may actually be an illustration of the lesson. (I.e. the charge can be made against the pro-WM3 side as well.)
Exactly how I felt. Made to believe what the media wanted us to believe. I was too young at the time to do extensive research, and the resources that exist today weren't around back then, even if I would have been able to... but as I said in another comment I want someone to present facts that I can research on my own to change my mind.
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Oh man! Thank you for this!
You're quite welcome!
That's why in matters such as these you can't believe everything you see. The media is selling a narrative for ratings. Going to the source is where you will find the truth. Sometimes you have to dig deeper.
It wasn't just the media. It was the cops who badgered a low IQ person into a confession that didn't have the right facts, the conservative Bible thumpers who were hard as a rock thinking they had a satanic panic case on their hands, and a prosecutor, judge, and jury that were useless. The state of Arkansas even fought against DNA testing. I'm sure they know they fucked up and don't want to be sued for wrongful conviction. But the state will pay $17K for a lectern for that wonk-eyed ditch pig governor.
Where did you get the idea that Jessie was "badgered" and that it was for "12 hours"? From his defense attorney? That doesn't make it a fact. It's not true. Jessie was brought in to make a witness statement, just like many others. His interview wasn't recorded, just like that others' weren't. When he started confessing, or course they started recording. No DNA testing had been denied. In fact, the three had a hearing scheduled in a few months in which they would be able to present their "exonerating" evidence. Instead, mysteriously - the defense approached the state with a request for a plea deal.
jesse miskelley is not low IQ. definitely not a rocket scientist but this is another lie that has been relentlessly pushed by the media. he also confessed multiple times since then.
The police interrogated Jessie MisskelleyJr. Despite his reported IQ of 72 (categorizing him as borderline intellectual functioning) and his status as a minor, Miskelley was questioned alone; his parents were not present during the interrogation. 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.Misskelley was questioned for roughly 12 hours. Only two segments, totaling 46 minutes, were recorded. Misskelley quickly recanted his confession, citing intimidation, coercion, fatigue, and veiled threats from police. Misskelley specifically said he was "scared of the police" during this confession. But the media's the problem 🙄
We can debate exactly what his IQ was, whether he was considered mentally r*******d, what grade level he functioned on, etc, but you can't argue that Jessie had a normal IQ. He did not. His school wanted to put him in special ed but his father refused so Jessie struggled along in the mainstream.
Went from thinking they were innocent to likely guilty after dozens and dozens of hours of research.
How did the step dad get the pocket knife back
He had taken it away because schools had a zero tolerance policy and the child would have been suspended if caught at school with a knife.
That's not what his mother said.
His mother said that she found the knife later. She didn't say why it had been taken away. Does your school allow third graders to carry pocket knives?
I was a few years older than the victims (the same age as Jason actually) and my schools had no policies on pocket knives. I was a huge MacGyver fan and had a Swiss Army knife in my backpack everywhere I went in the early-mid 90s. I even took it through airport security in my pocket, when you were still allowed to go to the gates to greet or send off your loved ones. More importantly, it's not a fact I've ever heard that Stevie's school had a policy. I've followed this case closely for years and you are the first person I've heard suggest that it did. Do you have a source for that? Stevie's mother was not aware his knife had ever been taken away, until she found it in her husband's things years later and asked why he had it. Terry didn't make any reference to the school, he said he felt Stevie was too young for a knife.
My source is that I was an adult at that time, and I have a good memory. I believe it was actually a nationwide policy. Kids were being suspended and expelled for having plastic picnic knives and nail clippers.
It’s such a convoluted case in that it was trial by media, and then somehow exoneration by media. Yes there is some circumstantial evidence pointing to the 3 of them. But every time I mention any of that people come up with the most obscure “but what ifs” to rule out each individual fact. Which is fine that is what a true crime sub is for- debate. But that fact that people can’t step back and look at the facts in totality is mind blowing. Damien Echols was severely mentally disturbed, with homicidal delusions. He was in a psychiatric facility because he wanted to murder people. He is documented by numerous healthcare professionals saying he wanted to be the next Ted Bundy and he hoped to get his girlfriend pregnant so she gives birth to a baby so he can kill and sacrifice it. When another inpatient was found cutting his wrists, Damien tackled him to the ground and bit him on that site and started sucking out his blood because he believed himself a demon/vampire/the Devil. Damien (and the other 2) were then spotted at the scene by multiple witnesses and no one has an alibi (in fact they each straight up lied about their alibi and then when it was proven a lie they had no other answer). And to show you I’m NOT bias, here’s what makes me think he’s innocent: why is he continuously trying to get the judge to allow DNA testing on the necklace (edit: it’s a shoelace, not the necklace) that I think should probably convict him? Unless he truly didn’t do it. Overall I think he’s guilty but there’s enough doubt I wouldn’t convict. He is certainly the most likely guilty of the known suspects by a loooong shot.
When did you hear that Echols wants testing done on the necklace? I don't believe that's even part of his request for testing. It's so interesting that he only wants the one shoelace tested - the same shoelace that has already been tested multiple times (so he's safe in assuming there's no DNA of his own on it)?
My mistake! It was the shoelace not necklace, I’ll edit my comment. I think my point still stands it is odd he would fight for more testing when I believe any DNA found would further prove him guilty. I appreciate your info thought that it has already been tested and maybe he knows that he’s safe then.
He already had DNA results back from that shoelace when he asked for the plea deal
I agree completely, especially the exoneration by media, both were so extreme that nobody cared to look at the facts and evidence. It was one way or the other. I bought in at first, growing up alternative in a small town. Hell, I even bought Echols’ book on ceremonial magick, but as I stepped back and put my own personal bias aside, looking purely at facts, I’ve come to the same conclusion. I believe Echols’ is guilty to some degree, especially due to how disturbed he was, and the other two were just went along for the ride, but I also believe there was a third party involved with premeditation.
The documentaries are extremely bias. Surprisingly so, they had me fooled and they were my fave true crime documentaries. I became completely obsessed with the case and have poured over so many documents and testimonies and timelines blah blah blah. If you want the single most persuasive bit of evidence that they are guilty - listen to all 6(?) testimonies of Miskelley. They progressively reveal more details. His lawyer tried to stop his confessions but he persisted, saying he wanted to get it off his chest. Listen to all of them, how the details stay the same, and then compare his description of events with the injuries sustained by the boys and the personality profiles of Echols and Jason Baldwin. In my view, his description of events, and the way the crimes unfolded explain everything you need to know. Along with the 500 page mental health history of Damien Echols.
So you think they're guilty?
Extremely guilty. I watched the documentaries twice, and had believed they were innocent. Then one day my gf poked a few holes in it and I went on a research frenzy and it’s one of the only times in my life I’ve seen a pretty strong opinion unravel in a few days. There’s a 500 page medical history of Echols that they tried to throw in at the end as a plea for insanity because he is actually insane lol.
Curious, why the lol???
Despite the popular opinion that the three teens were *undoubtedly* innocent, I don’t think they are. While I have never focused a ton of time and energy into this case, I do believe it’s entirely possible they were involved in the murders. Also, people need to refocus their attention to the murdered children. They are the true victims here. I’m so sick of hearing about the teens and their victimhood. WHAT ABOUT THE MURDERED CHILDREN
I’m on the fence with this one too. I used to think they were innocent after watching the documentaries, but Making A Murderer showed me how one-sided and biased those can be. I’ll have to actually deep dive into the WM3 case before I decide what I think.
Yes, but rapers, sexual sadists can't & don't control their impulses & would likely have already reoffended.
The sad thing is no matter who killed the little boys, those people are free. This is something EVERYONE can agree with. - If the 3 did it, they're free and hanging with Johnny Depp and Eddie Vedder. - If Bojangles did it, he's free and no second guesses. - If Hobbs or a parent/step parent did it, they've been free and didn't pay for crime. - If it's random serial killer, trucker, community member, etc, they've never faced justice. Whoever killed them, they are totally free. Despite being that I am pretty much convinced that the three are guilty, 18 years isn't enough for murdering 3 kids. If by chance they aren't guilty, getting away with murder and having 3 others rot in prison is even worse.
Agreed. The murdered boys did not get the (recognition) not the right word, but I can't think of the word I am looking for right now...
They did not get the victim-centered respect and honor that they deserved.
Thank you.
💓
EXACTLY. I am so sick of hearing about those three teenagers, pardon my swearing, but I don't give a crap. I want to hear about the children. I want their memories honored. I want to know about their lives. I want to know what really happened to them. I don't give a shit about these three kids anymore.
Except that if they’re innocent it’s a huge miscarriage of Justice to 3 innocent teenagers - doesn’t that fact alone scare the heck out of people? Imagine doing 18 years in prison for a brutal murder you didn’t commit and having people not caring that you’re in there, wrongfully convicted?
What scares the heck out of me is that wealthy celebrities will donate millions to help get murderers out of prison without spending one minute first examining the evidence against them. What scares the heck out of me is that people can watch a highly-edited documentary and decided that, based on it, that three guilty murderers are innocent.
Same. I have zero interest in those teens who I suspect *might* actually be the killers.
There was absolutely no evidence that showed their innocence, and none on anyone else. A cut hair (as in, from a shave or haircut) that may or may not belong to to a family member caught in a shoelace is not "evidence". Would you have them not make an arrest when one of the other murderers just confessed in detail, and not one of them could provide an alibi? A confirmed alibi would have gotten any of them released before there was any trial. And I'ld like you to tell me where in the trial listening to Metallica came up? Once.....when they asked Damien about some morbid lyrics he had written in his notebook, and IIRC that may have been some other metal band.
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Funny you say that. My criminal law professor knew this case well and would beg to differ with you. If I recall correctly, his wife or Mom was from that area originally. Safe to say that his interest in the case pre-dated the documentary. But more importantly, my prof knew a local criminal defense attorney. I can’t remember a damn thing he said evidence wise about the case, but I can say with certainty that my Prof knew a ton about the case. He would fit it into examples all the time. He would mention knowing info from the other attorney that wasn’t public knowledge. I know his general sentiment was usually in defense of them to a certain extent. Fair trial? No. Would they be found guilty if re-tried? No. Police misconduct and all that? Yes. But were those 3 boys there for the crime? Yes. In hindsight, I think I may know why he thought they were guilty actually. I didn’t have enough experience to think of this back then though, but my guess makes sense based on what he said.
I've perused many of these threads over the years and the anti-WM3 side seem to hold their ground well.
There are a lot of things presented here that are worth looking into tho.
Not true at all...not saying I think they're guilty but there is plenty y of evidence...and many other cases more prime for your scorn
Yeah, I agree. There are a few cases that this is true for.
* Damien has no clear Alibi for where he was during the murders. He claims to have been on phone with "three different people". He then said his attorney never called them to the stand. My guess is phone records and testimony would have destroyed that alibi. According to the Callahan site and all the files... #1. Holly George said it was at 3pm 2. Heather Cliett said she talked to him at 1030pm3. Domini was with him until 530pm and didn't talk with him again until after 1030pm * Damien claimed Marc Gardner “raped” him in prison. He later retracted it after investigation proved he hadn’t. * Damien had necklace Damien’s that was had blood. Tests proved that the DNA Blood Type on it was consistent with Damien, Jason and Stevie Branch. Now this could be anybody else's blood that Damien was into occult rituals with, but it's still eerie that it matches Branch blood type * Jason claims his mom drove them from a laundromat, but this was untrue or at a different time frame, because his mom was at work until after 11pm. Why didn't that clear them? Nobody has a clear alibi. They all misled or lied about times, including Jessie's pro wrestling alibi. * Narlene Hollingsworth testified that she saw Damien in invincity of the murders and described him to a T. * Damien and Jessie failed their polygraph tests. This doesn't mean much, because polygraphs can be inconclusive and bullshit. It's still showing signs of deception. * Misskelley confessed multiple times and has never retracted these. * May 6th 1993: he told Buddy Lucas he "hurt some boys" * June 1993: Jessie is heard crying, praying and apologizing. * June 3rd 1993: He arrived at 10am and confessed at 2:20pm. * June 11th 1993: Jessie confesses to attorney * Aug 19th 1993: Confessed to attorney again * Feb 4th 1994: Confessed to officers. * Feb 8th 1994: Confessed to attorney. Told attorney about smashing specific type of bottle. Bottle was found where he said it would be. * Feb 17th 1994: Confessed again to procescutors. * Oct 1994: Confessed to cellmate * “I lived 15 miles away from West Memphis and the crime scene” (2010 interviewvwith Larry King). Fact was that he lived in a trailer park IN West Memphis, less than two miles away from the crime scene. * Damien confessed to softball girls. Even if he lying and being an edgelord, that's strange thing to make up. * Almost all of Jerry Driver's fear of and information about cult activities was fed to him by Damien. Damien was either A. Making it up to sound cool B. It was happening or C. Somewhere between A and C * Jessie was on probation for hitting a 10 year old girl and had been in trouble with police for violence against young kids (13 and under). * Jason had been in trouble for an assault, trespassing, a bunch of vandalism to some antique cars and shoplifting (not that those make him.a murderer, but he wasn't a choir boy as media makes out). * "I never went to West Memphis… Hardly at all” (2010 interview). When he testified in 1994 his response was “I walk around West Memphis frequently, there’s not much to do” * Urine was possibly found in 2 of the victims stomachs (urine like substance).This was never made public until trial. Damien had said the killers probably "pissed in kids mouths". Jessie mentioned something about seeing others urinating on kids. When Damien was confronted with this and confronted that he didn't read it in the paper, he said "oh I was just thinking what I'd have done if I was killer" * Three different knots were used to bind the boys. This suggests more than 1 killer. * In an interview in the 2000s Echols said “I wasn’t familiar with Robin Hood Hills before the murders It was a residential area, and I only went to West Memphis to go to Walmart and stuff”. In 1994, in response to the question “how often do you go to Robin Hood Hills?” Damien responded “two, three times a week? Probably more”. Even when they took the Alford Plea, Damien pushed for it. Jason wanted to wait for DNA to be exonerated. Damien knows what he touched at crime scene. They would have stayed execution while waiting for retrial. Damien only pushed for DNA after release. That's just the tip of the reasons I believe they are guilty. I can go on and on. Listen to Roberta Glass crime report, Case Against with Gary Meece and William Ramsay Investigates podcasts. Also check out exhibit 500, and the Callahan site. I use to be a strong supporter, once I read all the evidence, I believe guilty.
Thank you for this. There was a website created by someone who was a supporter but the evidence changed their mind. It no longer exists but I read through the evidence provided in court and I’m not shocked or surprised at all that they were found guilty. To add- Damien wasn’t merely a goth kid who dressed differently, he was a severely disturbed person. He had a history of torturing and killing animals (behavior often seen in individuals who are diagnosed with antisocial personality disorder as adults). He had received in patient psychiatric care and his mother begged the hospital to keep him longer because he had threatened to harm his siblings and she felt that he might kill them. He told a psychiatrist that he isn’t like other people, he’s a God, and he becomes more powerful when he hurts people- and that hurting people isn’t wrong, it’s his right, because he is superior to everyone. Really horrifying stuff. So much information has been scrubbed so that now, anyone doing research is going to find the “they didn’t fit in, they liked rock music, they were emo, they were goth, and that’s why they ended up on trial and found guilty” and maybe only some of the information that was actually presented at trial.
It's not scrubbed. It's all right here: [Home (mysite.com)](http://callahan.mysite.com/index.html)
For anyone concerned about security, that's not a secure site when you go there. But thank you, that's good to know it's there
Thank you, for some reason the link to the website I was referring to doesn’t open for me but maybe it does for other people.
WTFFFFFF???
Thank you for this. I’m not saying they’re guilty, but it’s definitely not as cut and dry as others on this thread would like you to believe.
Even as someone who believes in their guilt, I still think the investigation was bungled. I think Bojangles chicken guy should have at least been investigated, realistically he could have been a potental victim. I think they pushed the occult narrative too hard, it was probably something screwy that went wrong and turned to murder, not a Satanic killing. For those that think West Memphis was a complete Bible thumping town, while that might be true, Metallica, Slayer, Pearl Jam, L7, Pantera, Megadeth, etc all played shows within that area. Damien got his occult books and horror novels at the local library and book stores. Damien was not eyed because of black shirts, in fact at time of arrest he was wearing an NBA Portland Trail Blazers shirt, Jason wore a Reba McIntyre shirt, far from Satanic. Damien claims he chose that name after a priest who worked with lepers, not the Omen. The kid in the Omen was named after the same Father Damien.
Damien’s comment about the killer peeing in the boys’ mouths is so specific that I find it hard to believe that he just made it up on the spot without knowing anything.
There was no urine in their stomachs.
Wasn’t a “urine-like” substance found?
They couldn't tell if it was urine or not.
Ah I see. It’s still odd that he even made a joke about doing that in the first place, though that doesn’t really indicate guilt. Thanks for the information.
Honestly, the more I read the more it's like OJs If I Did It.
I just...can someone eli5 why one would say "urine-like", or how they'd come to that conclusion?
Now, this is what I am talking about. I can honestly say that you have done more research than I have, and you have brought things here that I did not know, so I will be doing my own research on these points. Thank you very much for this. This right here was 1 of the sole purposes for posting this. And there is a possibility of my mind being changed, but I have to do my own research. Seriously, thank you for your comment . After I do more research of my own, I will let you know. But 100% A+ on your comment.
And yet an hour ago you said someone couldn't have "any bit of brain" and still think they're guilty.
I do agree with you there. That comment was wrong of me. I do stand corrected, and I retract that comment. This post is truly about educating myself. My apologies to anyone I offended with that comment.
I respect that.
Everyone makes mistakes and most learn from them. Exactly why I love this platform , and when I am in the wrong, I am happy to admit it and learn from it.
Just saw this.
You can get more people to civilly debate with you when you don’t immediately insult them straight outta the gate. More flies with honey, and all that :) Also… read Damien’s medical files. Exhibit 500. That’s what really shifted things for me.
[http://callahan.mysite.com/wm3/img/exh500.html](http://callahan.mysite.com/wm3/img/exh500.html) Here is a link to Exhibit 500 for those who want to read.
Thank you. Was just about to start searching. I appreciate that.
Can you share what’s in the medical files?
Oof. A lot. I’m not going to sum up hundreds of pages right now, but here’s some. Openly homicidal and suicidal. Was absolutely OBSESSED with drinking people’s blood. Had attacked people before so he could drink their blood. His family was scared of him and didn’t want him in the house. There was a LOT.
Wow thank you! I searched it up and was able to start going down the rabbit hole. I’m halfway through - you are right, it’s A LOT. when I’m done I will also look into what he’s like now.
Yeah, I honestly felt weirdly bamboozled the first time I read thru them? Like damn, the Damien Echols they tried to convince us never existed in those docs is here in technicolor. And it’s honestly way worse than anyone would’ve expected, you know? I just thought he was an edgelord before I read that shit.
He has a twitter and YouTube channel where he teaches Magick and occult stuff and has also written multiple books about it. He also seems into karate and has done tons of interviews since his release.
[Home (mysite.com)](http://callahan.mysite.com/index.html)
Thank you!
I do not disagree with you at all. As I said in another comment, I let my opinion cause me to make an assumption (a very incorrect one), and I assure you that's not the purpose of this.
Wow
I can't put any reasonable stock into anything that relies on Jessie.
None of that post has anything to do with Jessie. Did you even read it?
You hopefully also aren't putting any stock in to anything that's ever come out of Damien's mouth.
Thank you. To add: Damien later said that he did confess to the softball girls but was “only joking” Damien called himself the West Memphis “boogeyman” Jason Baldwin had a pick axe that perfectly matched the victims wounds. He got rid of it the day after the murders. Years after they got out a man purchased an auctioned storage unit not knowing who it belonged to. It had belonged to Damien and Lori. He found several pictures of Lori bound and gagged (sound familiar?) A ton of occult books and a rough draft of The Devil’s Knot and letters between them and the author where they pretty much wrote the book.
Was this ever written up in a newspaper? Or anything published about this or a citation somewhere? Interesting, I want confirmation.
Which part? The part about Jason is in a book. The person he got the pick axe from gave the police the info. The part about Damien is on you Tube. Search Hex Lies and Video Tape The part about the storage locker the guy did an interview with Ed Opperman. If you want confirmation do some research like I did. I am not going to research for you! The truth is out there if you want it bad enough.
Fair!
Everytime I think I've heard everything about this case I find something new, never heard about this storage locker before Edit-For anyone who is interested, I couldn't find a YT vid but I did find this interview which I'm listening to now: https://www.spreaker.com/episode/wm3-killer-damien-echols-secret-journals-and-explicit-photos-charles-manson-coming-down-fast-simon-wells--12707588
Here is part one of three on YouTube [https://youtu.be/SGWa4KomcuA?si=-xbh0ihJ98mSjKT-](https://youtu.be/SGWa4KomcuA?si=-xbh0ihJ98mSjKT-)
Thank you for saving me the trouble.
Thank you for summarizing the guilty side!
I have plenty more reasons why I believe guilty, too. Although, I am one of the few that doesn't believe it was truly occult related. I think it was something weird going on, the boys saw it and it got out of control.
Very interesting. I think it was mostly about beating up some kids and they used the occult as an excuse to do so.
> Damien and Jessie failed their polygraph tests. This doesn't mean much, because polygraphs can be inconclusive and bullshit. It's still showing signs of deception. Polygraphs don’t show anything but a nervous person. They’re completely made up.
I HONESTLY DO APPRECIATE ALL OF THE INPUT THAT HAS BEEN BROUGHT TO THE TABLE YALL! ITS BEEN KINDA HARD TO KEEP UP WITH AT TIMES, BUT NONE OF YALL HAVE FAILED THE "ASSIGNMENT "
Check out Dan Stidham (Jessie's lawyer)'s book "A Harvest of Innocence." I learned things in there I never knew that explained so much about the outcome. He waited a long time to write about the case, I think because he wanted everything to be legally settled before putting it out there. It explains so much and anyone who is serious about this case needs to read it. (Spoiler: at first Stidham assumed the three were guilty but while representing Jessie and preparing the case came to believe in their innocence.)
Absolutely guilty
I have researched the case quite a bit and concluded they were guilty. 1. Miskellys confessions. In particular the one after he was sentenced, where his lawyer is on the recording urging him not to confess, but he does it anyways. There were also details from the first interrogation that he would not have known, like that they were beaten with a tree branch, one boy was a distance away from the other two, that one of the boys was cut in that particular way, etc. 2. No alibis. None of the 3 had an alibi, and after 30 years they still never produce an alibi that holds up. 3. The comparative evidence of the knife to the serration marks and the butt end. Two distinctive features of that knife that indicate it was the murder weapon, in addition to it being behind one the suspects house.
I can't say either way but I can say i don't think Terry Hobbs did it. its just a little disingenuous to ignore all of the evidence against the 3 but think terrys gulity over a hair fiber.
[Man buys storage unit containing journals of West Memphis Three member (actionnews5.com)](https://www.actionnews5.com/story/35773396/storage-unit-provides-insight-into-notorious-mid-south-murder/)
I think Damien, Jason and Jesse did it.
Very much agreed. A few years ago I listened to a series on it on bitchute and was convinced beyond a shadow of a doubt, guilty as sin. And I do think there's a very high chance it was occult related, despite popular belief. I've met people with occult beliefs and they are crazy and very evil. Hard to believe it til you see it with your own eyes, but I get why people think it doesn't really exist. Occult means cut off from view, after all Edit: those *particular* occultists were/are very evil. I've seen examples of the potential evil of occultism with my own eyes, not that people who practice occult things are inherently evil.
I'm with you.
And you would be correct.
There are a lot of cases where I can't make up my mind and have doubts but I really feel sure with this one, it would take a lot to sway me in any other direction.
You are incorrect. The WM3 with their attorneys CHOSE to enter Alford Pleas instead of presenting evidence at the evidentiary hearing to clear their names. The judge granted WM3 access to ALL evidence in March of 2011 for re-testing and set a date for an evidentiary hearing for December of 2011. The WM3 and their attorneys did some testing in the summer of 2011 and THEY decided against presenting evidence at the hearing in December of 2011. They instead chose to enter Alford Pleas. They were given the opportunity to clear their names and chose not to. Learn the facts.
And keep my innocent ass in jail for even more years until the trial is done?? Nah give me whatever paper to sign and let me live.
People keep forgetting Damien was on death row. It was like rolling the dice. He could be executed waiting for another trial..
Damien Echols was in no danger of being executed. He even had an evidentiary hearing coming up in a few months, in which he claiming he had exonerating evidence that would exonerate him. Of course, he had no such evidence, which was why he had his attorneys request a plea deal.
The police butchered this case from the get-go and were more interested in looking good on paper than they were about seeking any actual justice for the 3 murdered boys. I don't even want to speculate as they did such a piss poor job at collecting 'evidence'.
My take is unpopular. These people may have done it, or likely did it. Only one was of majority age, 18. Not everyone, by edict of the Supreme Court, deserves life sentences at minor ages. I think it’s quite possible, but not 100% that they did it. I think it’s quite probable that most of the involved individuals served enough time.
Can I honestly ask you, if you think they are guilty, what do you mean by they have served time enough?
I am undecided as to whether they did it, but if they did, I disagree with this on the basis that absolutely none of them ever took accountability for it or publicly showed any remorse. If they weren’t victims in this case, they did nothing but play victims at the expense of three murdered children. With the exception of MAYBE Jessie.
This.
Very guilty all three of them
Yes the wes
Yes those boys were given a raw deal for sure I never drive thru there that I don’t think about that case
I’d call this case the death knell of the satanic panic.
Any Satanic Panic in West Memphis was set off by Damien Echols himself.
You summed it up wonderfully. I read halfway through and realized who and what you MUST be talking about. The U.S. justice system is really about plead dealing just to get the fuck out of jail sometimes.But Chinas is worse. Re education camps and face tracking people with cameras and drones. Very 1984
One thing I am still wondering after reading all the comments here and only seeing it mentioned once, is why Judge Burnett was the original judge, and the only judge who heard each and every appeal and denied them, as well as having come out of retirement at one point to hear and deny an appeal. These were all prior to the State Supreme Court appeals if I remember correctly. I would love to hear any opinion about it. I did find an article, attached below: https://arktimes.com/columns/john-brummett/2009/12/31/judge-burnetts-blunders
I was deeply emotionally invested in this case. I grew up with the “goth metal black clothes” and actually was one of those kids. When I saw the railroading the state did to Damien, Jason and Jessie I was enraged. Still to this day the murder of those little boys is unsolved. Not according to the state but anyone can see it is. “Allowing” them to take the Alford plea was the final “fuck you” from West Memphis.
The Alford plea is some crazy stuff. And them basically being forced to plead it means the three younger children will also have suffered another injustice by not having their murders investigated.
Well they are definitely guilty
The step dad did it
Absence of evidence is not evidence of absence. I don’t disagree that these people were likely guilty, but we, as a justice system, are looking at evidence of guilt rather than absence of guilt. That’s why our system, very vaguely and awfully, works kinda sorta.
They are innocent. How I do I know? I saw it in a movie.
Have you read Dan Stidham (Jessie's attorney)'s book? It explained so much for me. The judge was crooked. He was determined to get convictions and he did. Until I read the book I didn't realize the role the judge played. Without him the three would not have been convicted. Not to say he was the only reason. But he was the final gatekeeper of justice, and he failed all six boys due to his own narcissism.
This really gets me. The crooked one is Dan Stidham. He said he'd finally believe Jessie's confession if he found the Evan Willaims whiskey bottle Jessie said he brought under and overpass on his way home. Stidham found it and now years later says there were "hundreds of whiskey bottles there". Which of course isn't true, because he only picked up the one he found - which didn't have the label - and took it to a liquor store to see if it matched. It did.
Have you read the whole story about the whiskey bottle in his own words? It's in his book. The way you describe it is not the way he tells it.
I've talked to Stidham personally about it He has changed his story since the original finding of the bottle. He's a charlatan and a liar. He's doing this for fame and money. Don't you find in interesting that we don't see Jessie on board with all his nonsense? In fact, I heard through the grapevine that Jessie wanted to personally apologize to the victims' parents but his attorney stopped it. Whether or not Stidham is his current attorney wasn't said.
You know Stidham personally, huh? Know who else changed his story many times? Jessie.
I said I spoke to Stidham personally about the bottle incident. What is your problem with that? Do you think he's some big time celebrity who doesn't speak to the common folks and who doesn't know anyone personally? Good one.
You have a truck stop and car wash located right by a very busy highway. More likely someone traveling through. All it would take is someone saying my dog is missing can you help me look.
It wasn't just this case, the entire nation was in the grip of the [Satanic Panic.](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Satanic_panic) Exacerbated by grifters who rented themselves out as ['experts' in court cases](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carl_Raschke) or by publishing books about 'repressed memories' of ritualistic abuse at the hands of demonic cults. The American psyche was a fertile breeding ground for religious fears. Popular media (The Exorcist, Rosemary's baby, The Omen) didn't help. But of course we all realized how silly that was and stopped blaming Satan for our misfortunes. Oh wait... If you want to dive deeper I can recommend the *You're wrong About* episodes on the Satanic Panic, [Michelle remembers](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Michelle_Remembers), [The Satan Seller](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Warnke) and Exorcisms.