West Memphis 3

**Dakota Valkyrie** · August 18th, 2011, 06:23 PM

1994 & Most Recent: Jessie Misskelley / Damien Echols / Jason Baldwin

Prosecutors and defense attorneys are working out a deal that could result in the release of the West Memphis Three murder defendants as early as Friday, according to legal sources and relatives of victims.

"It's a high probability," said Jackie Byers, 44, wife of John Mark Byers, whose son was one of three 8-year-old boys found nude and hog-tied in 1993 in a watery ditch in West Memphis. "We've been asked not to say anything until after tomorrow."

A source close to the case said the pending deal involves the immediate release of defendants Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley in return for pleas to lesser charges. All three were convicted of capital murder in 1994. Echols was sentenced to death, while Baldwin and Misskelley are serving life terms

"This deal is going to make everybody happy," said a source who asked not to be identified because of a gag order barring parties to the case from discussing it.

Byers said she, too, was told of the pleas. She said she's glad the three defendants will be released but is upset that they must plea to something she believes they didn't do.

"This means they will never be proven innocent," said Byers, who, like many other followers of the case have been persuaded of the three's innocence by new evidence, including DNA evidence, uncovered in recent years. "All of that (new evidence) might go down the toilet and be lost forever."

Recent DNA testing pointed a finger at a fourth, uncharged individual.

The judge in the West Memphis Three triple murder case has scheduled a hearing for Friday in Jonesboro, Ark., in which all three defendants will be present.
[...]

http://www.commercialappeal.com/news...memphis-three/

**Pete Bondurant** · August 18th, 2011, 06:33 PM

Shoot them anyway. Why take any chances? That is what I think.

**Whisper** · August 18th, 2011, 06:46 PM

My animals think Im nuts I just did a happy dance all over the house
I agree with the woman who said that they have to plea to something they prob didnt do
But hopefully once they get out they themselves can use the resources that support them and prove their innocence

**princessgrandma** · August 18th, 2011, 07:24 PM

What an f'd up case! I've gone back and read over the history of the whole thing and I don't see how they were convicted in the first place with no DNA. I don't get it. There's more evidence against the stepfathers (of two of the boys who died), ffs.

I don't know if I'd take the deal offered. They'll never be proven innocent, and I believe they have an excellent chance to fight this.

FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3!!

**Aena** · August 18th, 2011, 09:14 PM

Was just going to post an update to this but Dakota beat me by a long shot lol Free the WM3!!!

**Aena** · August 18th, 2011, 10:02 PM

Just heard they are releasing two of the three including Echols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO I am doing the happy dance and just had surgery on my feet today!!!!! FINALLY JUSTICE IS DONE!

http://www.wreg.com/

**groovy135** · August 18th, 2011, 10:54 PM

Originally Posted by Aena

Just heard they are releasing two of the three including Echols!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! WOOHOO I am doing the happy dance and just had surgery on my feet today!!!!! FINALLY JUSTICE IS DONE!

http://www.wreg.com/

Excellent! I really felt for these three, I also read about this case and thought they were rotting away in jail for something they did not do. It is a joy to see that all three will be released! You are so right..Finally Justice! Watch your poor feet lol

**MC30** · August 18th, 2011, 11:14 PM

its about damn time.

**Valasca** · August 18th, 2011, 11:58 PM

@Pazuzu and I have been discussing this. She says they need to plead guilty so the state won't have to admit they fucked up. Big time.

I am still SURE one of the kids dad did it. I can feel it in my bones.

**Hellsbells** · August 19th, 2011, 02:02 PM

Jonesboro, Arkansas (CNN) -- Three men convicted in the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, were ordered released after entering new pleas following a court hearing, prosecutor Scott Ellington said Friday.Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin pleaded guilty and were sentenced to 18 years in prison with credit for time served, a prosecutor said. They were to be released on Friday.

The three entered what is known as an Alford plea, which allows a defendant to maintain innocence while simultaneously acknowledging that the state has evidence to convict, Ellington said.

Critics of the case against the men argued that no direct evidence tied the three to the murders and that a knife recovered from a lake near the home of one of the men could not have caused the boys' wounds. More recent DNA testing also demonstrated no links, according the mens' supporters.

While Ellington said the pleas entered Friday validate the decision of jurors who sent the men to prison, it also spares Arkansas the possibility of a retrial that would have been difficult to prosecute after so many years. The trio was likely to win the right to new trials later this year.

"This is an appropriate resolution to this case at this time," Ellington told reporters. "Only time will tell as to whether this was a right decision on my part."

Echols said in a news conference after his release Friday that he will continue to work to clear his name.

Baldwin said he initially opposed the deal worked out between the men's attorneys and prosecutors. "This was not justice," he said.

The case drew national attention, with actor Johnny Depp and singers Eddie Vedder and Natalie Maines trying to rally support for the men's release. Vedder and Maines were at the courthouse on Friday, according to CNN affiliate WMC-TV.

John Mark Byers, whose son Christopher Byers was one of the three victims, said he believes the three men are innocent. He said releasing them without exonerating them of the crime is an outrage

http://www.cnn.com/2011/CRIME/08/19/...ngs/index.html

**princessgrandma** · August 19th, 2011, 03:38 PM

Man, I think it's awful that they have to plead guilty when they have fought for so long to prove their innocence. That's just wrong. I hope they can finally clear their names from the outside now and do what should have been done 18 years ago. With no DNA belonging to the WM3, they never should have been convicted in the first place.

Were they all three released? I read some place that two of the three were released, then I read that all three were released.

FINALLY..... THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE ARE FREE!!!

**Nell** · August 19th, 2011, 03:53 PM

Imagine how different the world will be to them. From 1993 to now. I was in High School in the early nineties and the technology and way of just, like, living has changed so drastically.

**Pete Bondurant** · August 19th, 2011, 04:39 PM

They will kill again and be returned to prison.

**Tits McGee** · August 19th, 2011, 08:51 PM

I actually have a letter from Damien Echols. After watching the documentaries, my hubby decided to buy Damien a book off his prison Amazon.com wish list. I knew nothing of this, and imagine my shock when we received a letter from him. He came across as really nice (of course, you wouldn't think he would say "I'm gonna guy you when I get out") but the most surprising thing to me was how he didn't come across as bitter, just glad that people cared about him. If ya'all are interested, I could scan and post it.

**MC30** · August 19th, 2011, 10:13 PM

i would love to read it @Tits McGee

**4Cats** · August 19th, 2011, 10:45 PM

Originally Posted by mommacrazy30

i would love to read it @Tits McGee

me too

**TheMorningStar** · August 19th, 2011, 10:47 PM

I think the saddest thing about this is that the case is now considered closed. That means the DNA will never be used to find the real killer(s).

**MC30** · August 19th, 2011, 10:49 PM

i still say it was the step-father.

**Valasca** · August 19th, 2011, 11:01 PM

Ditto @mommacrazy30.
In my gut, I am sure of it.

**badfish76** · August 20th, 2011, 12:34 AM

Originally Posted by princessgrandma

Were they all three released? I read some place that two of the three were released, then I read that all three were released.

FINALLY..... THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE ARE FREE!!!

All three were released today;. I watched the coverage via live stream on the internet.

This is a day I have waited about half my life for. I have followed the case and donated since the first documentary aired and I was very active in the WM3 support community for a LONG time. Like Damien said today, it isn't perfect. I can still handle it tho. : D

**Jerri Blank** · August 20th, 2011, 04:07 AM

I just sat and read up allot on the case cause I really didn't know squat about it. I still don't but I have to agree with those who say the step father did it. I need to read more cause at this point I'm not sure which one (though I am pretty convinced it's Hobbs after the hair being in binding on the one child who was not his step son and his multitude of lies through out).

I kinda wish they would have held out for a new trial because it seems very likely they would have gotten one this year but I can't blame them for taking the deal. after all this time I wouldn't have hope that I'd get a new trial and win my freedom either.

I feel really bad for these boys and the murdered children that have not gotten justice. I hope the truth one day will prevail.

**badfish76** · August 20th, 2011, 08:23 AM

They wouldn't have gotten a new trial until mid- to late next year because the evidentiary hearing was set for December this year.

The thing that pisses me off about the deal is that when the DA gave a speech at the press conference yesterday after the hearing he said that the guys were going to be granted a new trial more than likely and that because of the passage of time it would be very hard to get a conviction again, yet they only offered Alford Pleas which means that the defendant acknowledges that the state has enough evidence to convict them while they still maintain their innocence. He also mentioned that by doing it this way the WM3 can't sue the state, the state saves money by not having to go thru appeals and new trials. The state never have to admit they were wrong about the case which has been a HUGE problem with this case all along.

I am just very, very happy to sit here and imagine Damien dashing outside this morning to feel dew on the grass and watch the sun rise after 18 long years in a hell he never deserved. Imagining Jesse and Jason having good coffee and getting to pick their breakfast. All the small things we all take for granted.

Long Live The WM3!

**SqueezeBoxx** · August 20th, 2011, 08:32 AM

HOw about we get the real killer(s) convicted then?

**MC30** · August 20th, 2011, 09:05 AM

Originally Posted by SqueezeBoxx

HOw about we get the real killer(s) convicted then?

you tell me how to do that and i will do all i can to make sure it happens

**walkingeagle** · August 20th, 2011, 09:37 AM

The state never have to admit they were wrong

They would never do that. That is why they drug the Alford in here.

**princessgrandma** · August 20th, 2011, 07:44 PM

Of course the state of Arkansas is NEVER going to admit that mistake was made. The closest they will ever come was when they said that there would most likely have been a new trial granted and after all this time, a conviction would be hard to secure. THEY'D NEVER BE ABLE TO CONVICT. As Damien Echols said, they never be able to pull all the tricks and stuff they did with the evidence now, with the eyes of the world on them.

@Tits McGee, I'd definitely love to read the letter. Thanks!

**Tits McGee** · August 20th, 2011, 08:32 PM

@princessgrandma @mommacrazy30 @4catsmama

Got this in December 2000

**princessgrandma** · August 21st, 2011, 04:47 PM

What got me was that in that letter, this guy who was on Death Row already for years at that time, wished your Dave a happy holiday season. I've never met Damien Echols, and probably never will, but in everything I've ever seen or read about the WM3, they were and are so grateful for whatever is done for them, however large or small.

I'm glad the poor guy at least had books. I'd go nuts if I didn't have books. I usually read 2 - 3 books a week.

I was looking for stuff about the WM3 and say a video on youtube where Johnny Depp read a page from Damien's journal for one day. It was so compelling. Check it out. I love Johnny Depp! Thanks @Tits McGee, for sharing the letter. That is awesome.

**badfish76** · August 21st, 2011, 06:13 PM

**4Cats** · August 21st, 2011, 09:16 PM

@Tits McGee, thank you so much for sharing the letter. I don't know enough about this case to have a personal opinion one way or the other, but after reading your letter (and I know this will sound odd) but all I can think of is, what if they really didn't do it.