New Evidence In The West Memphis Three Case

Cell Block Four at Varner Supermax in Grady, Arkansas is without a doubt one of the worst places a person can find himself. The seventy-eight cell structure, which is one of six such cell blocks housing the most violent offenders in the state, is especially troubling because about thirty-six prisoners comprise the bottom tier and half of the second which comprises Arkansas’ version of Death Row. But inmate Damien Echols may sleep a little better these past few nights, due to new evidence in what is without a doubt the most famous criminal case in Arkansas history and what many will tell you is one of the greatest miscarriages of justice ever seen.

On May 5, 1993 three young boys went missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. Parents, friends, and neighbors searched a secluded patch of wilderness where the boys were known to play not far from their homes. The next morning, the West Memphis Police Department discovered the grizzly bodies of the three boys, all of whom had been tied up and beaten to death, and one of which had been emasculated. The shocking crime brought fear and turmoil to the small town sitting on the edge of the mighty Mississippi River, and the police were pressed to make an arrest.

Less than one month later, a (some say coerced) confession by Jessie Misskelley Jr resulted in his arrest and the arrest of Damien Echols and Charles Baldwin. Misskelley was convicted solely on his confession and sentenced to life without parole for three instances of capital murder. In a separate trial, Echols and Baldwin were tried together and found guilty on little more than the fact that they wore black, listened to heavy metal, and were generally atypical of teenagers at the time. The murders were said to be the result of a satanic cult which also caused a jury to sentence Baldwin to life without parole. Echols was largely considered to be the ringleader of the mysterious cult and was sentenced to death.

After 14 years, two books, two HBO documentaries, and endless support from actors and musicians, many thought that the case was essentially over. Echols began writing his memoirs, certain that since his appeals were nearly exhausted in the state judicial system; he wasn’t too far away from a date with death. All of the support from both members of the Hollywood community and a support group that formed not long after the trials seemed unable to convince a judge that a new trial was needed. For the parents of the victims and for West Memphis in general, it seemed this already tiring saga was drawing to a close.

In a last ditch bid to save their client’s life, lawyers for Echols discussed the possibility of DNA testing. Echols agreed and testing began on February 23, 2005. After more than two years the results finally came to light on June 17, 2007. In an official DNA Status Report, counsel for Damien Echols revealed shocking results:

(2) The DNA testing results returned to date disclose that none of the genetic material recovered at the scene of the crimes was attributable to Mr. Echols, Echols co-defendant, Jason Baldwin, or defendant Jessie Misskelley (Arkansas v. Misskelley [CR 94-848]).

Even more startling than the fact that none of the DNA evidence pointed at any of the ‘West Memphis Three” is the fact that evidence does indeed suggest someone else:

(3) Although most of the genetic material recovered from the scene was attributable to the victims of the offenses, some of it cannot be attributed to either the victims or the defendants.

Included in the genetic material was a strand of hair found tangled into one of the child’s shoelaces. The strand of hair belonged to Terry Hobbs, stepfather of victim Stevie Branch.

While prosecutor Brent Davis says he still believes the three imprisoned are the three responsible for the brutal murders, he has acknowledged that none of the DNA testing showed any evidence that would link either Echols, Misskelley, or Baldwin at to the crime. He has also allowed the defense to continue testing.

Terry Hobbs is now subject of police questioning, and while he hasn’t been made an official suspect yet, he is being looked at. Stevie Branch’s mother, who is now divorced from Hobbs says she now believes the three who are behind for the murder of her son and two others may not be guilty at all.

Pam Hobbs said she “chose to believe all those years” that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were guilty, despite her realization during the trials that the prosecutors “didn’t have anything” and persistent doubts afterwards that the defendants “were smart enough or hateful enough to have done it by themselves and clean it up.”

Also in question is a knife that Pam Hobbs had found that belonged to her son. She claims her son always kept the knife on him and should have had the knife with him the day he was murdered. Hobbs has since sent that knife and others to the police for testing.

As for Terry Hobbs, he says he is completely innocent and that this so-called new evidence isn’t going to change a thing. But perhaps Damien said it best when asked to sum up just why he believes he’s in prison even though he says he’s innocent. “It’s scary to believe that Satanists are murdering kids, but it’s scarier to believe that parents are murdering their own children.”

The Official DNA Status Report may be viewed here. There is also coverage in the Arkansas Times, on WMC-TV, Fox-13, as well as an exclusive interview with Terry Hobbs on WMC-TV. Case information may be found at the official support website for The West Memphis Three.