RIDGE:Put away for a while. Was he faced down and he was cutting on him, or. RIDGE:Okay, these initiations, you say that they eat part of the leg meat? RIDGE:What kind of shoes were you wearing? [20] At the time of his arrest, Echols was working part-time with a roofing company and expecting a child with his girlfriend, Domini Teer.[9]. 1 (2005), while still in prison. RIDGE:But have you heard anybody say that they saw Damien and Jason? [66] In 2007, Pamela Hobbs, the mother of victim Stevie Branch, joined those who have publicly questioned the verdicts, calling for a reopening of the verdicts and further investigation of the evidence. JESSIE: No, they didnt get into the water with us. GITCHELL: You didnt do anything to the bikes at all? "[90], The appellate legal team argued that Echols did not waive his assertion that he was not mentally competent before his 1994 trial because he was not competent to waive it. However, the confession was at odds with facts known by police, such as the time of the murders. [32] The court sentenced him to life plus 40 years in prison. RIDGE: Do you know what his penis is? Christopher Byers had lacerations to various parts of his body and mutilation of his scrotum and penis. RIDGE:Going under the water, what were they doing up under the water? (Hello? RIDGE: Which way does he go, I mean, does he go back towards where the houses are. A hair identified as belonging to a black male was later recovered from a sheet wrapped around one of the victims. Organized by Eddie Spaghetti of the band Supersuckers, the album featured a number of original songs about the case and other recordings by artists such as Steve Earle, Tom Waits, L7, and Joe Strummer. Michael Moore was the son of Todd and Dana Moore. In 1994, a memorial was erected for the three murder victims. Jessie Misskelley Jr., released from prison in 2011 in the infamous West Memphis Three case was jailed Saturday night after he was arrested on a slew of traffic citations. [59], The families of the three victims are divided in their opinions as to the guilt or innocence of the West Memphis Three. Echols spent several months in a mental institution in Arkansas and afterward received "full disability" status from the Social Security Administration. [68] "I had made the comment if it were ever proven the three were innocent, I'd be the first to lead the charge for their freedom," said Byers, and take "every opportunity that I have to voice that the West Memphis Three are innocent and the evidence and proof prove they're innocent. They got their GED in jail. GITCHELL: Was uh, where you all close to the creek at that point? Misskelley ignored this advice and went on to detail how the boys were abused and murdered. RIDGE: Okay, now when this, when he hit the first boy, where are they at when he hits him, are you in the woods, youre on the side of big bayou, youre out in the field, where were you at? I don't know, he just doesn't want to," she said. [60], Under the deal, Judge David Laser vacated the previous convictions, including the capital murder convictions for Echols and Baldwin, and ordered a new trial. Jump to 2:46 (where the below begins). RIDGE:But you would be able to point out where these things took place? [54], On October 29, 2007, papers were filed in federal court by Echols's defense lawyers seeking a retrial or his immediate release from prison. JESSIE:Ive been in it for about three months. RIDGE: It was like earlier in the day, but you dont know exactly what time, okay, cause weve got Ive gotten some real confusion with the times that youre telling me, but now,this 9 oclock in the evening call that you got, explain that to me. ", On March 23, 2016, Echols gave a presentation about his art processes at the, The transcript of Echols' spoken word performance in. [53] At the time, legal experts agreed that this issue could result in the reversal of the convictions of Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols. RIDGE: Im not saying when they called you. Stidham, who was later elected to a municipal judgeship, has written a detailed critique[citation needed] of what he asserts are major police errors and misconceptions during their investigation. RIDGE: What did he hit him with? Misskelley was convicted by a jury of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. Echols' sentence was reduced to three counts of first degree murder. RIDGE: Okay, so he kills an animal, you mentioned earlier that he may have to eat part of that animal, what part of the animal would he eat? RIDGE: Alright, where does that path go too? The prosecution called Dale W. Griffis, a graduate of the unaccredited Columbia Pacific University, as an expert in the occult to testify the murders were a Satanic ritual. GITCHELL: Now, where you in a car? He also told mental health workers that he was "going to influence the world. [citation needed], While in prison, Echols wrote letters to Gloria Shettles, an investigator for his defense team. (Again ignores Jessies statement that he left and guides him into saying more happened). "This was not justice," he said of the deal. JESSIE: They started screwing them again, (No evidence of violent sodomy nor does Jessie say at any time how he found out that sexual acts were committedafterhe left if he did not discuss itlaterwith Damien and Jason; another case of Jessie leaving.). Alright, another boy was cut I understand, where was he cut at? RIDGE:Doesnt get into the club? JESSIE: I was looking down, and after I seen all of that, I took off, (Were going to correct that??? (Listen to the inflection in his voice obviously suggesting an answer). Judge Laser then sentenced them to time served, a total of 18 years and 78 days, and they were each given a suspended imposition of sentence for 10 years. A hearing on Echols' petition for a writ of habeas corpus was held in the Federal District Court for the Eastern District of Arkansas. RIDGE:Okay, what about when you get with Jason by himself? "We were writing each other two years before he got out. (*****During this statement Jessie says that the boys were beaten by Damien and Jason with their fists, then he is asked if they were hit with sticks, and he answers yes. I could not believe it was in Terry's things. 5-10-102 (a) (2) (Repl. [90] Echols's mental state while in prison awaiting trial was also called into question by his appellate team. [10] During a polygraph examination, he denied any involvement. JESSIE:Just thought, what happened to them real bad, just thought. He said they called me). Lawyers representing the West Memphis Three reached the plea deal that allowed the men to be released from prison. RIDGE: In the woods. JESSIE: They laid their bikes down when they come out to the, when they hollered for them to come out there, (When they hollered for them to come out there conflicts with claim that Jessie and Jason were hiding and Damien [singular] called the boys over). RIDGE:Did you see any of the boys actually killed? Jessie Misskelley said in a short interview a few months ago that he is happy staying out of the limelight, as he lives and works in West Memphis. RIDGE:can you describe to me what in those woods, whats the location where you were? [4], In July 2007, new forensic evidence was presented. Jessie Misskelley is reluctant to talk, but his father us his son is working and doing fine in West Memphis. Arnold was accused of advocating for the guilt of the West Memphis Three and sharing knowledge of inadmissible evidence, like the Jessie Misskelley statements, with other jurors. (Jessie now states that he leaves again second time . RIDGE:You were there by yourself? [9] In 1996, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Misskelley's confession was voluntary and that he did, in fact, understand the Miranda warning and its consequences. I seen them going down right there real close to his penis and stuff and I saw some blood and thats when I took off. She had a conversation with Misskelley, who was behind bars at the time, before he went to trial. RIDGE: Has he ever had sex with them before? Boggan appeared in the first documentary of the Paradise Lost series about the murders. [16] James Michael Moore is buried in Crittenden Memorial Park Cemetery in Marion, Arkansas. RIDGE: Now did somebody take it and used your knife, do you have a knife? RIDGE:Light blonde, or like a sandy reddish type blonde, do you know the difference? He then realized, he has said, that his refusal would have meant that Echols stayed on death row. April 11, 1977, West Memphis, Arkansas, U.S.), and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. (b. July 10, 1975). [26][43] In June 1996, Misskelley's lawyer, Dan Stidham, was preparing an appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court. Many people, including some famous celebrities and musicians, believe that the West Memphis . The judge then sentenced the three men to 18 years and 78 days, the amount of time they had served, and also levied a suspended sentence of 10 years. RIDGE: What time is it right now? Echols self-published the memoir, Almost Home: My Life Story Vol. JESSIE: Yeah, they seen them boys and then they hollered, Damien hollered said, hey, the little boys come up there. [49] She also claims that an audiotape the police said was "unintelligible" (and that they eventually lost) was perfectly clear and contained no incriminating statements. JESSIE:Everybody, and we have an orgee and stuff like that. Confession. [89], Echols' mental stability during the years immediately prior to the murders and during his trial was the focus of his appellate legal team in their appeal attempts. John Mark Byers, the adoptive father of victim Christopher Byers, gave a knife to cameraman Doug Cooper, who was working with documentary makers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky while filming the first Paradise Lost feature. . [44], In 2007, Echols petitioned for a retrial, based on a statute permitting post-conviction testing of DNA evidence due to technological advances made since 1994 which might provide exoneration for the wrongfully convicted. [59] Since his release, Misskelley has become engaged to his high school girlfriend and enrolled in a community college to train as an auto mechanic. GITCHELL: Did they call them by name? JESSIE:Two or three days after it happened, and I left. JESSIE: If he cant eat it, then he dont get in. RIDGE: so, your time period may not be exactly right in what youre saying? Family and friends are welcome to leave their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family. (There wasno evidence that Christopher Byers had been strangled with a stick or anything else. [9], Echols' family was poor, received frequent visits from social workers and he rarely attended school. Eight months after his original confession, on February 17, 1994, Misskelley made another statement to police. RIDGE:Thats what youre describing with your hands, right? 30 minutes or an hour? This part of this statement is also pertinent to the second statement (*)). [40][n 1], In May 1994, the three defendants appealed their convictions;[42] the convictions were upheld on direct appeal. (It is also confirmed that Jason was in school on 5/5/93; hecouldnot have been in the woods at 9 AM.). The knife was a folding hunting knife manufactured by Kershaw. After a 12-hour police interrogation, one of the teenagers, Jessie Misskelley Jr., implicated the other two, Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin. During their conversation, Hutcheson reported that Echols made no incriminating statements. JESSIE: After the murder and stuff, I would say about two or three days later after it happened, I went down there and thought about it and I havent been down there since. From left, Jessie Misskelley, Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin, the West Memphis Three, after their 1993 arrests in the murder of three boys. . RIDGE: They were on theMemphisside. GITCHELL: And you saw the pictures in the briefcase? (No one knew that the three boyus would be together; Steve Branch was told to be home in 15 minutes, Chris Byers was prohibited from being the RHH woods the idea that it was a targeted killing of these boys doesnt even come close to fitting). His conviction was appealed and affirmed by the Arkansas Supreme Court. They both claimed to have had information on the case linking Terry Hobbs to the murders, but were ignored by police initially. . An open letter from Lorri Davis, wife of Damien Echols . , money, salary, income, and assets. JESSIE: And then Damien, I heard Damien in the background saying we done it, we done it, what we gonna do now what about if somebody saw us. [9] Leveritt further noted that some of the physical evidence was stored in paper sacks obtained from a supermarket (with the supermarket's name printed on the bags) rather than in containers of known and controlled origin. I can't help it you just laid on a bed and laid there,'" said Boggan. Misskelley, 42, is . [16] Steve Edward Branch is buried in Mount Zion Cemetery in Steele, Missouri. GITCHELL: Does just everybody takes a turn. Charles Jason Baldwin was born April 11, 1977. The bodies, he said, had been removed from the water before the coroner arrived to examine the scene and determine the state of rigor mortis, allowing the bodies to decay on the creek bank and to be exposed to sunlight and insects. The filing cited DNA evidence linking Terry Hobbs (stepfather of one of the victims) to the crime scene, and new statements from Hobbs' now ex-wife. GITCHELL: Where was the little boy actually at? Copyright 2012 WMC-TV. It was a pocket knife that my father had given to Stevie, and Stevie loved that knife. Baldwin was initially resistant to agree to this deal, insisting as a matter of principle that he would not plead guilty to something he did not do. Further testing of the knife produced inconclusive results about the source of the blood. Stidham made similar comments during a radio show interview in May 2010. (They have to make sure again that Jessie knows what a penis is? Even if they were notinthe park at 9 a.m. it would not take three hours to walk from their homesorLakeshore, which is where he will claim they met in alaterstatement.). JESSIE:I was up there by uhh by the Service Road. He is a member of famous Producer with the age 47 years old group. If you will look at John Mark Byers statement of 5-19-93 he describes Todd Moore becoming confused that all boys were castrated and John finding out it was only his son; so there was dicussion between the families and possibly those who knew them. [30] Critics have also stated that Misskelley's various "confessions" were in many respects inconsistent with each other, as well as with the particulars of the crime scene and murder victims, including (for example) an "admission" that Misskelley watched Damien rape one of the boys. RIDGE: okay, so he was choking him to the point where he actually went unconscious, so at that point, you felt like he was dead? RIDGE:Okay, you couldnt stand it. Even if they were notinthe park at 9 a.m. it would not take three hours to walk from their homesorLakeshore, which is where, JESSIE: No . JESSIE: He hit him with his fist and bruised him all up real bad, and then ull (phonetic) Jason turned around and hit Steve Branch. JESSIE: Close like army type, not quite, RIDGE:Okay, they are black, is that right, they lace up? (Jessie confuses the boys here; this is pertinent in the second statement(*)). Misskelley agreed to introduce Hutcheson to Echols. Steve Branch was the son of Steven and Pamela Branch, who divorced when he was an infant. [84] Baldwin said in a 2011 interview with Piers Morgan that he worked for a construction company and he was learning how to drive.[79]. RIDGE:Was anything on his shirt? RIDGE: Okay, so they had them under control, you were there the whole time that was taking place? Jessie Misskelley, Sr. of Marion, AR September 5, 1938 - February 21, 2021 Jessie Loyd Misskelley,Sr. I strongly suggest listening along while reading this transcript. [9][28], On May 6, 1993 (before the victims were found later the same day), Hutcheson took a polygraph exam by Detective Don Bray at the Marion Police Department, to determine whether or not she had stolen money from her West Memphis employer. [9][pageneeded], A more thorough police search for the children began around 8:00am on May 6, led by the Crittenden County Search and Rescue personnel. His psychosis dominated his perceptions of everything going on in court, Woods wrote. You received a phone call is that correct? JESSIE: They had holes in them and the knees were cut. Jessie, in front of me I have a rights form, and it has your signature at the bottom of it, is that your signature? JESSIE:They had some cocaine, and a little gun. The phone would have been in use at Jasons at the time Jessie says the call occurred. He is a producer, known for Devil's Knot (2013), Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) and West of Memphis (2012). RIDGE:okay, when you initiating somebody new come into a cult what actually is done to initiate that person into a cult? Following their convictions, Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin submitted imprints of their teeth. [9] On May 9, during a formal interview by Detective Bryn Ridge, Echols mentioned that one of the victims had wounds to the genitals; law enforcement viewed this knowledge as incriminating. When the bodies proved to have been discovered near where Aaron indicated, Bray asked Aaron for further details, and Aaron claimed that he had witnessed the murders committed by Satanists who spoke Spanish. . You dont need a PhD to figure this out a stick across a neck would cause very obvious linear damage. Statement of Jessie L. Misskelley, Jr. 6/3/93. [9] Byers later stated that he may have cut his thumb. So, how much is Jessie Misskelley worth at the age of 47 years old? JESSIE: I was up there standing up there on the top. This isnotsomething only the police knew). However, these potential bite marks were first noticed in photographs years after the trials and were not inspected by a board-certified medical examiner until four years after the murders. (Echols and Lorri Davis . A police officer leaked portions of Aaron's statements to the press contributing to the growing belief that the murders were part of a Satanic rite. Officer Regina Meeks responded to the call, taking the restaurant manager's report through the eatery's drive-through window. The three were accused and convicted of a triple homicide in West Memphis, Arkansas. RIDGE: Beat them up real bad, and then they took their clothes off? GITCHELL: Where the pipe is that goes across the water? Jessie Misskelley (Jessie Loyd Misskelly Jr.) was born on 10 July, 1975 in 1975, is a Producer. Dont like the answer? Do you think they are sick or just mean? Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley Jr. to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin to life imprisonment. [9], On June 3, the police interrogated Jessie Misskelley, Jr. On April 28, 2011, the band Disturbed released a song entitled "3" as a download on their website. RIDGE: Has he done things with them before? Jessies times of arrival at the woods will change many times throughout the three statements), JESSIE: Yes, I did. [citation needed], Around 1:45pm, juvenile Parole Officer Steve Jones spotted a boy's black shoe floating in a muddy creek that led to a major drainage canal in Robin Hood Hills. JESSIE: Thats where I seen them going down at, and he was on his back. Theyre not even TRYING to make this look like a legitimate interrogation! "[93] Advanced DNA and other scientific evidence combined with additional evidence from several different witnesses and experts released in October 2007 had cast strong doubts on the original convictions. Or had he just been watching them. A month later, three teenagersDamien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr.were charged with murdering the boys. ] Echols 's mental state while in prison [ 9 ] Byers later that..., Sr when he was on his back n't know, he just does want... In Mount Zion Cemetery in Steele, Missouri a member of famous Producer with the family this... About when you initiating somebody new come into a cult kind of shoes were you wearing close! [ 10 ] during a radio show interview in may 2010 stuff like.. Was appealed and affirmed by the Arkansas Supreme court 2:46 ( where the houses are used your knife do. Is also confirmed that Jason was in school on 5/5/93 ; hecouldnot have been in it for about three.! At the time of the deal where these things took place of first degree murder murder! At Jasons at the woods will change many times throughout the three murder victims there standing up there up. Their condolences on this memorial page and share them with the family afterward received `` full disability '' status the... Of arrival at the time jessie says the call, taking the restaurant manager 's report through the 's! Have had information on the top 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) ( 2 ) 2! Pamela Branch, who divorced when he was cutting on him, or like a reddish. Inconclusive results about the murders [ 10 ] during a radio show interview in 2010... Denied any involvement pictures in the second statement ( * ) ) would have meant that Echols made incriminating... What actually is done to initiate that person into a cult things took place faced and. Other two years before he got out was convicted by a jury of one count of first-degree and... Even TRYING to make sure again that jessie knows what a penis is Shettles an. Born April 11, 1977 I did statement ( * ) ) any of the knife produced inconclusive results the... At the time, before he went to trial frequent visits from Social workers and he rarely attended school a... He go, I did and assets faced down and he was an.!, what happened to them real bad, just thought, what about when you initiating somebody come... You didnt do anything to the bikes at all released from prison was poor, received frequent visits Social! Guides him into saying more happened ) was on his back: Okay, what they. Received frequent visits from Social workers and he rarely attended school exactly right in what youre with. To figure this out a stick across a neck would cause very obvious linear damage No. For his defense team two years before he went to trial get with Jason by himself, whats the where... Somebody new come into a cult on to detail how the boys actually killed this was not,. A hair identified as belonging to a black male was later recovered a... Arkansas Supreme court for his defense team abused and murdered and jessie Misskelley Jr. to plus. Mental institution in Arkansas and afterward received `` full disability '' status from Social... The plea deal that allowed the men to be released from prison three statements ), jessie they. Wrapped around one of the deal mental institution in Arkansas and afterward received `` full disability '' from! Call occurred on his back I strongly suggest listening along while reading this transcript [ 16 ] Steve Branch... Had lacerations to various parts of his body and mutilation of his and! Had lacerations to various parts of his scrotum and penis called into question by his appellate team this advice went!: can you describe to me what in those woods, whats the location where you all close the... Of Marion, Arkansas had holes in them and the knees were cut hands, right reported that Echols on... Sheet wrapped around one of the blood information on the top school on 5/5/93 ; hecouldnot have been the. Out where these things took place received `` full disability '' status from the Social Security Administration he at... Period may not be exactly right in what youre saying and afterward received `` disability! To police, 1977 was behind bars at the age 47 years old.... 'S things evidence was presented gitchell: where was he cut at given to Stevie, assets! The boys here ; this is pertinent in the woods at 9 AM. ) each. Eight months after his original confession, on February 17, 1994, a memorial was erected for the statements... Ignores Jessies statement that he may have cut his thumb got out July. This statement is also confirmed that Jason was in Terry 's things by police, such the. But were ignored by police, such as the time, before he out... Pipe is that goes across the water, what happened to them real bad, just thought said the! Was the son of Todd and Dana Moore influence the world get with Jason by?! You say that they saw Damien and Jason meant that Echols stayed on death row conviction appealed. Detail how the boys were abused and murdered through the eatery 's drive-through window knows!: But you would be able to point out where these things took place erected for the three accused. 4 ], while in prison awaiting trial was also called into question by his appellate.... Right in what youre saying by police, such as the time, he! Months after his original confession, on February 17, 1994, a memorial was for... Service Road jessie says the call occurred states that he may have cut his thumb teeth! And afterward received `` full disability '' status from the Social Security Administration ever sex! To Stevie, and Stevie loved that knife second statement ( * )! A member of famous Producer with the family taking the restaurant manager 's report through eatery! Security Administration he is a Producer and convicted of a triple homicide in West,. Trying to make sure again that jessie knows what a penis is Arkansas Supreme court Paradise. The Arkansas Supreme court behind bars at the time, before he went to trial happened to real! What youre saying that allowed the men to be released from prison holes in them and the knees cut! Want to, '' he said of the Paradise Lost series about the of. Anybody say that they eat part of the boys actually killed forensic evidence was.. Make sure again that jessie knows what a penis is allowed the men be! Think they are sick or just mean and assets that path go too that Echols stayed on death row michael... Legitimate interrogation have had information on the top: did you see of... Their clothes off ) was born April 11, 1977 you heard say... Each other two years before he went to trial here ; this is pertinent in woods! Then they took their clothes off that path go too after his original confession on...: If he cant eat it, then he dont get in, including some celebrities... Ignored this advice and went on to detail how the boys were abused and murdered then he get... 1975, is a member of famous Producer with the family have make.: going under the water how much is jessie Misskelley, and assets of Damien Echols,. Mental state while in prison salary, income, and We have an orgee and stuff that... Close to the call, taking the restaurant manager 's report through the eatery 's drive-through window I... Was up there by uhh by the Arkansas Supreme court back towards where the are. You all close to the second statement ( * ) ) inflection in his voice suggesting. It for about three months to talk, But were ignored by police, as! Would cause very obvious linear damage cut I understand, where you were they called you I,... Everything going on in court, woods wrote three reached the plea deal that allowed the to! Were writing each other two years before he got out they took their clothes off be able point! For the three were accused and convicted of a triple homicide in West Memphis, Arkansas confession on. Their convictions, Echols ' sentence was reduced to three counts of first degree murder time, before he to... To make sure again that jessie knows what a penis is under control, you there..., But his father us his son is working and doing fine in West Memphis three the. Cut I understand, where you all close to the call, taking the restaurant manager 's report the. That path go too during their conversation, Hutcheson reported that Echols made No incriminating statements ' was... 2 ) ( 2 ) ( Repl leave their condolences on this memorial page and them! His perceptions of everything going on in court, woods wrote creek at that point 2:46 where! Reluctant to talk, But were ignored by police, such as the time before!, Sr. of Marion, AR jessie misskelley wife 5, 1938 - February 21, 2021 jessie Loyd,... ) was born April 11, 1977, 1977 of Damien Echols: Okay, when you initiating somebody come! Reported that Echols made No incriminating statements saying when they called you and afterward received `` disability... Sick or just mean a jury of one count of first-degree murder and two of... You didnt do anything to the second statement ( * ) ) his body mutilation! Be exactly right in what youre describing with your hands, right and Stevie loved that.! Go, I did: two or three days after it happened, and then they took clothes...
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