Torn by 3 Lost Boys and 3 Convicted Youths ~ New York Times

[mzmolly]

WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. — The patch of woods has been cleared, the shallow ditch has been rerouted, the Blue Beacon Truck Wash has been torn down and 16 years have passed. But though the setting where three 8-year-old boys were found killed, naked and bound, in 1993 is unrecognizable, the crime still has the power to dominate the front page of the small newspaper here and bring tight smiles to the lips of civic boosters.


Christopher Byers ------------- Michael Moore --------------- Steven Branch

For years, outsiders have raised questions about the guilt of the three misfit teenagers, Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols and Jessie Misskelley Jr., who were convicted of the murders. But more recently, a steady dribble of new evidence has begun to seep into the consciousness of West Memphis, eroding the once nearly unanimous belief that those outsiders — including rock stars, HBO filmmakers and the creators of “South Park” — did not know what they were talking about.

To Shaun Hair, 30, who left West Memphis for college after the killings, it was a jolt to hear friends and neighbors begin questioning the verdict. “I was like, ‘That’s stupid, quit buying the hype,’ ” he said.

But when Mr. Hair, who returned to the area in 1999 and now works as a criminal defense lawyer, re-examined the case, he found it troubling. “If I were the defense attorney,” he said, “I would want a retrial.”

Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Misskelley are serving life sentences; Mr. Echols is on death row. Their convictions were based on an error-riddled confession by Mr. Misskelley, who later recanted, and testimony about satanic cults. Scant physical evidence was presented.

More at the NEW YORK TIMES

You can learn more about the case at http://freewestmemphis3.org /

[Quantess]

1. Have you seen the documentary Paradise Lost?

I highly recommend it. It's about the West Memphis Three.

[mzmolly]

3. I have.

Imagine if no cameras has been present? We'd never know about these three men.

A tragedy in so many ways. I'm glad that two of the parents are now advocating for a new trial. One is Mark Byers, who was featured in the documentary as a potential suspect. He's no longer considered one, after DNA tests found a hair from another step father in a ligature which was used to bind the boys.

I'm following the blog pretty intensely these days. Hoping for new developments.

[proud2BlibKansan]

2. One of the worst travesties of our time

DNA links one of the stepfathers to the crime.

[mzmolly]

4. Yes.

And, man the stuff that has come out about him is stomach turning.

[mitchum]

5. The stepfather

[mzmolly]

6. There was a stepfathter featured in the film who now demands

a new trial for the three. Another stepfather, Terry Hobbs, is coming under scrutiny however and DNA evidence is pointing his way.

[mitchum]

7. Hobbs' behavior, account, and statements have been so hinky for so long

[mzmolly]

8. Indeed

and hairs at the crime scene??

[prole_for_peace]

9. Which stepfather was it that had his teeth pulled

when the defense wanted to do more investigation on the bite marks on one of the victims?

Who does something like that? Of course he said that he had his teeth pulled for dental reason but the timing sure was suspecious

[mzmolly]

10. The tooth thing got me for a moment too but the latest evidence, according to some,

points to another stepfather who's hair was found at the crime scene.

Here is Mr. Byers now, with his wife (his first wife has passed away.) He wishes to see a new trial for those convicted of the crime involving his son.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KxKyQJg_Xjk

More here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uR32HViQRnc&feature=rela...