West Memphis Three: Damien Echols Jessie Miskelley and Jason Baldwin Released
Jonesboro, AR- In a statement released Thursday, new judge David N. Laser announced an unscheduled hearing in the case of The West Memphis Three.
Damien Echols, Charles “Jason” Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley have been incarcerated for 18 years for the murders of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Chris Byers.
Speaking on the condition of anonymity to www.blinkoncrime.com, a source connected to the West Memphis Police Department has confirmed that Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin have already been released from the Arkansas Department of Corrections; Misskelley has not.
Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley, along with their families, and the families of the victims, are expected to attend today’s hearing.
Check back to www.blinkoncrime.com for this developing story.
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christy says:
August 20, 2011 at 7:21 pm
“In the deposition in the suit against her brought by Hobbs, she openly she admitted that she knows very little of the facts of the case. That surprised me.
B”
Who did please, Blink?
Natalie Maines
B
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Not me. The more I read on this case and the more news coverage I watch none of the facts Blink has presented us with are mentioned (reporters are telling a blatent lie by saying there is no DNA evidence that link the WM3 to the crime scene) and that’s why I want to see the rest of facts of the case that the public is unaware. I’m just praying prosecutors and state attorneys will educate theirselves about the mistakes made in this case and that it will prevent future murderers to be set free.
Wait, I was wrong, Misskelley was asked one question and the paranoia kicked in major.
B-
Question-
Being from the area, I find it odd that I never heard about any of this stuff. The 500 pg report, the ice pick- how it was traded & given back, basically many of the things that led the prosecutors & cops to believe they did it.
Was this because there was a gag order?
If there was a gag order, how could all of that other info be released? Or has it all always been around?
As of right now, I’m confused-
His wife, Pearl Jam (whose album was likely #1 in 1993) Dixie chick etc…did they just choose to not look at it?
Did they look at this evidence & discount it (in their own opinions)?
Was it gagged? Or was it just that the only people who did stories on the cases- were ones trying to prove their innocence?
Please answer and please post other parts ASAP!
The 500 page report was introduced in the penalty phase based on a competency hearing. To my knowledge, it has only been available publicly 2007-2008?
The mountain ice axe, imo, was just missed. I don’t know by whom, and I don’t know at what level.
B
“50.Ragdoll says:
August 19, 2011 at 5:18 pm
-snipped-
I have to say I found the difference in their body language toward each other- um, odd.B
B, you hit MY bullseye. He was clearly turned away from her, his right arm up as if to block her out completely. No acknowledgement of any kind.
I don’t know if they’re guilty or innocent. Why such a hasty decision to release rather than retry this case? What about the truth and finding out who killed these boys? If WM3 innocent but pled guilty, does that mean we can assume a search for a killer will take place?”
Ragdoll, I’m right there w/ya.
Who, if not Blink, will be the voice for Stevie, Chris and Michael? Who will be their voices?
-snipped-
It is the antithesis of the state’s last motion, and a new trial was not even on the table, it had been denied several times.
B
I totally misrepresented information in my comment. BIG APOLLIES! My understanding is that the WM3 and wife were working on getting a new trial for themselves. My comment implies there was going to be a trial.
Honestly, I thought these 3 were innocent. Hands down without a doubt. However, as suggested, I was reading up on info with the innocent slant. Blink asked us to keep an open mind. I wish I had done that way back when I was first reading up on this case.
Just a couple of questions…please and thank you…
Does double jeopary apply in this case? Also, if this agreement was not made on the up and up, could there be repercussions (or is there an ‘understanding’ so to speak)?
I expect Mr. Echols and Mr. Misskelly will see themselves in trouble in the not so distant future. Just a hunch.
The Alford plea and acceptance by the court is a conviction. All three are convicted murderers with no rights of appeal under this conviction. Technically speaking, the only new charges that could be brought, would have to survive the eighteen year mark, statute of limitations, and as was discussed, at best a new trial would have resulted in second degree convictions and likely freed them for time served. The prosecution has to work under the 1993 statute at the time, although from an evidentiary burden perspective, those advances applied.
The only other possible charges would have to be from a federal jurisdiction, not covered under state law in ’93 that would also need to survive the statute of limitations. There are none I can come up with.
These 3 are admitted, convicted child murderers that have been paroled.
B
It is the antithesis of the state’s last motion, and a new trial was not even on the table, it had been denied several times.
B
Check your facts, there were new trials on the horizon
You check YOUR facts, that is incorrect. I specifically said NOT ON THE TABLE, because they were not.
There was a new evidentiary hearing scheduled for December 5-21 as a result of a remand and reversal from the Arkansas Supreme Court of the Circuit courts DENIAL for requests for a new trial, based on a a new DNA statute they felt was misinterpreted/applied by the lower court. In fact, Jessie Miskelley was not even eligible for a new trial because his appeal was not timely, iirc, by 10 years.
In essence, the state even concluded in their response that the higher court was, in effect, based on it’s ruling, putting themselves in a position of determining guilt or innocense without the need or benefit of a new trial under Rule 37, making that ruling (37 as to new trial) moot. ( All cited in my piece). The burden for this prosecutor in this phase of the case, was not the same as a prosecutor faced with an issue of “to indict or not to indict” based upon their burden that they COULD win a conviction. The court recognized it already had 9 convictions in this case, which had been upheld numerous times, “surviving” numerous strategies by 3 different defense teams.
All evidence, whether it was introduced at trial or not was up for review at this hearing by both sides.
Whether one agrees with the outcome or not, Scott Ellington acted for the Supreme Court, period. I really am not sure citizens understand the full scope of this abuse of power, regardless of how you feel it was applied to this case. The law is based on precedent, and this is a biggie.
He unilaterally, for all three defendants, usurped the Arkansas Supreme Court, and if anyone is comfortable with that scenario, I recommend highly that they take a look at who is on death row, or in prison for life, both at the state level as well as the Federal jurisdiction, and ask themselves who they don’t mind getting out and into society.
B
I understand why the police can and do lie to suspects when it comes to interrogation, but it seems to me that particular technique comes back to bite their butts more times than not. I am still researching this but right now I’m thinking they did not have enough evidence to convict.
As with the Caylee case a lot of evidence was supressed, unlike Caylee’s case the prosecution looks a little suspect to me right now. Hopefully as I look thru some more documents my opinion on that will change.
I didn’t realize that the bodies where “dumped” (I hate that word) until I started looking for information, nor had I heard of Arron Hutchinson until now.
Looks like after my research I’m going to have to make a trip to the bookstore as well.
Looking forward to the next in your series, please don’t let this current news keep you from publishing it…people like me need all the info we can get!
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/08/20/west-memphis-three-movie-_n_932081.html
Sorry, that these new developments happenned before Blink finished her investigation. Please Blink, continue your research and find out the truth. Thank you for your never ending cease for judgment and truth.
Blink I am not suprised at the report you reference regarding Dr. Spitz having one of the best in your opinion. He didn’t get his reputation by being lazy or incompentent.
However, in the Caylee case, he IMO had reached the stage in his life that he could no longer function effectively in his profession. Everyone does that and it reminds me of the old boxing addage of getting old during a single bout. I have lived long enough to have witnessed this with some who were collegues.
Some will never admit that they should retire at some point. Some grow old gradually and with some it almost seems to happen over night.
One would think that a person with Dr. Baden’s reputation and experience that he would certainly recognize a wound based on the compression of skin from a round or semicercular shaped object versus an animal bite. However, he seems to be affected by the money he makes on TV appearances.
When I am trying to make a determination about something technical, I usually try to find photos, drawings and charts to get a general overview and then begin to read the details. Some do the reverse. If the written details adequately support the other information, then everything is probably ok. When they don’t, that is the time to formulate questions and look for answers.
It had not occured to me that the court in Jonesboro was into the process of overstepping its bounds regarding the supreme court until you pointed it out. That is very disturbing. One of my pet peeves is a court reaching outside law and jurisdiction to apply their own verdicts.
Too say the least, from what I can tell, the case was remanded as to the evidentiary hearing only, not open to changes in plea deals or convictions, and the new hearing rejection was upheld-
B
Does anyone know if someone on death row has ever been released in this way. I know people have been wrongly convicted, but have they been released without a hearing on the evidence or gone from death row to out the door in the same day?
As Blink said, it appears the prosecutor went against the Supreme Court in this case and I wonder how he can have that much power?! Would they have to sign off on it? Dang it, I helped one of our (Arkansas) supremes get elected and then found out the campaign run or rather who she is was a lie so we don’t speak.
I am researching this now, and my short answer is no.
B
@mom 3.0 – Certainly Maines has the right to her opinion, which I never said she didn’t, as I have to mine. Celebrities certainly have the right to crusade. Their crusades usually are in support of something I disagree with, or they have a political agenda. As for the WM3, I just don’t know for sure. This is my first exposure to detailed information on the case and initially I have to say that it doesn’t look good for them. Another factor that carries weight with me is that people who commit crimes like this usually don’t just up and stop doing it, unless of course they are unable to do so.
Is there any website I can go to that has a correct retelling of this case? I actually remember when these children were found, but that time
with no computer and very little on the case reported in California
I never followed it.
I am going to be the closest as far as analysis/case file synopsis and objectivity, everything else is slanted that I could find.
The best case file:
http://callahan.8k.com/custom.html
I wonder if skin scrapings were done under Echols talons when he was brought in for questioning. And they were talons, Blink was right on in her description of them. I watched a video of him in a jail interview and his hands are clearly shown and gave me a major chill factor.
B,
I thank you for your response. Thank for taking the time to teach and inform the willing and blatant arrogant.
-snipped-
I absolutely believe he would confess again.
B
Do we believe Misskelly’s confession was the truth?
http://freewestmemphis3.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=60&Itemid=75
Ragdoll, that is only the first one, just fyi.
B
Just Wow at Ragdoll’s link. Was any of the info Misskelley stated known to the public or anyone other than LE or someone who was at the scene? Are the WM3 supporters saying that LE gave Misskelley this info then coaxed it back from him? If the description is accurate and the only way he obtained it was being there, I don’t see how his confusion with the time overrides that.
1. Jessie Misskelley confessed to police on June 3, 1993, he later clarified the time issue, and if you listen carefully it all starts when someone assumes when he says he got off roofing work was dinnertime…
2. After he realizes he accidentally implicated himself he recants.
3. AFTER being convicted in 1994, he confesses to Stidham, on a bible, and on the way to jail he confesses to the transport detail.
4. After days of meeting with his attorney’s, he demands to give a statement to the prosecutor, all of which is against advice of counsel, which they reitterate before and after, and THIS time he is not short on the details. I recommend listening to it first, and reading it second. The thing is, one cannot have it both ways, you can’t say he is incapacitated, and then he is smart enough to match details he heard at trial after the fact.
B
Blink, I understand this guy believes that the WM3 were not guilty, and that he was court appointed to represent Jesse Misskelly,have you read any of his court transcripts?
http://web.archive.org/web/20070718073440/http://www.wm3.org/live/caseintroduction/synopsis_dan.php
In his synopsis he claims that Jesse Misskelly would have plead guilty to the murder of JFK even though he wasn’t even born when JFK was killed and he actually did manage to get him to admit to a crime that was totally made up just to prove his point.
What do you make of that claim? For that matter what’s your take on his claim that the prosecution kept trying to convince people that he was going to testify against the other two?
I really need to see what you have dug up on these guys…I’ve looked at the website you recommend but frankly I need more. I know I know…I’m a greedy country bumpkin.
The prosecution was told by Jessie himself he would testify, in fact, he testified in front of Stidham against his wishes.
B
Hi Blink, I have been reading your work for years. I think this is the first time I have commented. I was wondering what you think of the Terry Hobbs &/or Mike Byers theory? I have been reading into this case & I have to say – most of the people are seriously messed up /:
For those that may be interested, I found the 2007 interview with Terry Hobbs here:http://www.wm3blackboard.com/forum/index.php?PHPSESSID=130d474d1c3b4b9cf35c61017d90ebfd&topic=41.0
Although there are MANY disturbing things in this interview, I must say that THE MOST disturbing thing to me is that he readily admits to being in the woods @ 6-6:30 on the day in question,…..but was NEVER interviewed in 1993.
I also found at this same site: “the manhole theory”.
PLEASE NOTE: The “manhole” theory thread contains VERY GRAPHIC photos, and it might be hard for some to take. I would also like to note that this site IS PRO DEFENSE, so it might not be to everyones liking.
In the woods, nowhere near the crime scene. I would encourage all to not just read statements, but check geograpy and logistics to match statements.
B
Have you found any evidence to point towards Mike Byers or Terry Hobbs as being guilty instead of the WM3?
I do not know of a Mike Byers
B
I do not believe the confessions are factual-
Each are different. Each contain wrong information. Each time police correct or try to correct his statements.
He says they were in a cult that ate dogs and that they took a picture of the boys before and that this guy that looks exactly like Damien when he shaves- is the one that told Damien what to do. He says they had orgies in the woods and carried girls there.
After his conviction He does confess then immediately afterward asks if he can talk to his Dad. As if he has been a good boy now and should be able….o IMO
I am not sure why people are questioning his mental aptitude- it is a well established fact that the kid was borderline mentally handicapped or retarded.
He had just sat through the trial with demonstrative aids -visual auditory ect- and yet, He still was unable to get essential parts right. The parts he was able to hold onto- and changed from his first confession, are seemingly details and information which he was able to retain.JMO
A person with mild to borderline developmental/mental disabilities can retain information.
I dont think it can be said that a (borderline) mentally handicapped person would be smart enough to lie about it or omit certain facts that would be self-incriminating. Then say This same person was unable to match details from his trial, where the “evidence” was laid out and explained in great detail with the help of demonstrative aids-
It is just my opinion that Jesse was listening to the gossip around town same as everyone else- he incorporated rumors with media info along with what he heard at trial, in addition to what he thought the police wanted to hear……AND HE STILL GOT IT WRONG-
I agree with those who said he would confess again- I think he would- in his 2nd confession he is asked why he lied in his previous confession- He says “I dont know”- “just for something to say”- “I made it up…..” -”can I talk to my dad now?”
AJMO
I have not made a judgement on this case, however, I see some very contradictory comments. Those who say that there is absolutely NO evidence to convict the 3, must not be aware of the plea they agreed to. I belive they basically admitted there is so much evidence against them that they would be convicted, but didn’t really do it? So those that support them, which is it? It makes it hard to consider the supporters if their statements are obviously not based on facts? JMO
I do not know if these 3 committed these horrible disgusting murders- but in my opinion Jesse’s confession/s should not be weighed as evidence proving guilt or innocence.
His word has no more weight with me than that of C- Anthony- both are proven liars- and storytellers- both used details they had heard or borrowed ect…. although both had different motivations for talking to police and saying what they said…
AJMO
Mom 3.0- Casey never confessed, I submit that is an important difference. I agree that is should not, on it’s own, be weighed under these circumstances as a singular determination of guilt.
That said, it is strongly corroborated in it’s first version, and uncannily in it’s 5th.
Mom 3.0 is correct that we must visit the totality of the evidence in a circumstantial case, I am not aware that the depth of Casey’s elaborate deceptions are comparable to Jessie’s. I really don’t think he had the capacity for narcissim as Cword did.
B
I meant John Mark Byers /: Sorry.
Mom 3.0~ I TOTALLY agree…. Miskelly’s statement/confession is so laden with inconsistancies… it is unreliable!
Also~ I don’t believe I have stated this before….. BUT this IS about finding justice for the three little souls that were taken on
5/5/93……and I DO NOT believe that has been done yet.
What inconsistencies specifically do you note Xara?
What, in your view, if anything, are affirmative to the crime and or scene?
Are you referring to the first confession, or fifth, depending on the reference?
What details do you feel evolved from outside sources, and what are those sources?
Respectfully submitted, of course. I am affectionately picking on you because what I want to insure, is that our opinions, concurring or dissenting come with “the reason”, as eloquently put by mom 3.0.
I wish to say this in an effort to relate some of the conversations I have had with insiders in this case over the weekend-
There is no such thing as justice in a case where three young boys were tortured and murdered.
Not for them, and not for those that love them.
The best we can do as advocates, is to do our level best to advocate.
B
mom3.0 ,your points are well taken,thats why i like boc, constructive agreement and disagreement over these gray area details.wordgirl, thanks ,i’ll try to watch my punc’s.i used the word “playmate” to convey my meaning ,either john mark byers or hobbs might match the motive a la ‘american beauty’,if hobbs went into the woods at 6 30 looking for the boys , the alleged motive could be that he found his son in a compromising position with c byers and raged at the scene.i propose ata pays for him to take a polygraph if he passes, natalie mains waivers the lawyers fee he is required to pay her.with the links that are being provided by ya’ll i am now understanding a little bit why jesse’s low iq ,suggests an alternate reality for confessing to a crime one didn’t commit.the problem is that ,as others have mentioned,most of the info is coming from defense attorney and there fore biased. i am impressed that it is being said that wm3 want to continue clearing their names and (one of the attorney’s said)that includes finding the person who did this.if they do follow through….,if they dont…..,.i find it mind blowing, thinking about how they will deal with their heads ,if they are quilty and lying ,given the limelighted/ego/ rareified air,that brushes with celebrity/fame bring with it.i also ,hope they are rehabilitated.
The woods where the crime was committed are shown in a group of aerial photos taken from a helicopter or low and slow flying fixed wing aircraft. The can be found on the Callahan.8k site.
The photos show the woods to not be large, but fairly dense. Certainly dense enough to conceal activities from those who might have been looking toward the area.
This crime occured in 1993. The area has changed in many ways during the 18 year span. Those that will want to compare the aerials to something that is currently shown on Google Earth will need to spend some time in matching the photos.
The defense attorney’s case synopsis is IMO slanted in a way to defend his client Misskelly. His discription of the management of the crime scene, if accurate, shows a police department with almost zero training in that type of work.
Where is the sherrif in all this? He should have known the limitations of the WMPD and secured the scene himself unless he too lacked proper training.
Was the county coroner two hours late and did the bodies rest on the hot creek bank during this wait as the snyopsis indicates, or is this just made up stuff to slant the report? Was the attorney actually there to witness this or did he acquire that informaion from testimony?
His conclusion that there was a primary crime scene somewhere else and the bodies were simply dumped in the creek is based on his claim of no blood on the creek bank or any nearby vegetation.
We also have to ask ourselves about the role the media and the celebrity characters played in getting this IMO overreaching court action to happen in Jonesboro.
Technically Blink- C- Anthony DID confess- to what she believed would be a believable story- ( and I guess in the end- it was…Not to you and I but…)
Blaming other non-existent people is not a confession, it is a lie designed to evade complicity. At NO TIME did she ever implicate herself in a crime, or name anyone that was even a real person.
Might I add, this new story/confession she had formed and “beautified” through listening to testimony- and reading depos- ect She formulated/molded her new and better story to actually come close to following known evidence-
Details which she found out from others.
She “confessed” finally to her baby daughter never haven been missing. She “confessed” to her baby daughter’s “accidental” death.
She also confessed/ pointed the finger at her mother’s culpability by leaving the ladder down- She went even further in her newer and better version of the story- by saying her father is the one that disposed of little Caylee- She went even farther in her newest and better “confession” by claiming her father molested her for years-
According to Maya & cookie-she did “confess” to using chloroform or cold medicine as a sleeping aid, according to cookie she also “confessed” to knowing about the black trash bag ect BEFORE the info was released.
In her letters to cookie she “confessed” that she was moving with her daughter and Zanny was not a nanny but a friend-
No C- word did not actually admit guilt- but she did mold her interviews /defense to what she thought they needed and wanted to hear in order to be believed- to prove she wasnt a liar-and not guilty.
I dont know whether or not Jesse is narcissistic- but he clearly likes to spin a yarn for the rapt audience of LE – and he clearly wanted to not be a liar- He passed the poly- but LE told him he was lying so he made his story better and molded it into something he thought they would believe-and want to hear.
The biggest difference I can see between C- Anthony and Jesse is not that she didnt actually confess, its that she wasnt borderline retarded.
I have only read 3 confessions of Jesses- and if he gave 5 I would hope by that time he would get most of the details right…
Thanks for letting me weigh all the evidence and give my different perspectives- I am waiting for the totality of the evidence before I even venture to come into a port.
Installment # 2 tomorrow-right Blink? I’ll have my thinking cap on-
AJMO
My dearest Mom 3.0, I completely disagree that there is any evidence that Jessie is borderline retarded,outside of his own defense testing. The testing itself belies interviews and footage of him.
Did he have challenges emotionally and developmentally?- yes, I concur. But the goal of the testing was to mitigate sentencing and hopefully have his case tried as a juvenile.
While I agree he had some learning challenges, I should note that not a single associate of ANY of the witnesses in this case, saw him that way, at any time.
He failed a polygraph, prior to his confession, he never passed one to my knowledge.
I dont agree with the argument that his confession was co-erced, but if I had to pick one thing I might need to concede on, it would be that LE was skilled in their handling of him to get one, which is not against the law- they sought and got his Dad’s permission.
We may have to agree to disagree on this one, never the less, I respect your opinion and reasoning behind it.
B
Blink~ For the life of me… I can not see how ANYONE could read Jesse’s first statement….and take is as factual..????
The TIME…The fact that he say’s they were sexually molested????
When you take into account that the tape recorder was TURNED OFF for a substantial amount of time…..it is obvious to me that he was more concerned with collecting the reward money than he was with telling the truth.
I am sorry that I do NOT agree with you..(REALLY I am, beacause I LOVE you and LOVE reading here) …..But I just DON’T……So far you have given me a red fiber that was “microscopically similar” and a pick axe that was NEVER even tested…I guess what I am saying is that I need MORE…..
Also,… I want to THANK YOU for letting my last post fly.
I am TRYING my best to have an open mind here….Really I am.
lol, it is a common misconception that I need everyone to agree with my opinion, what a huge bore that would be and I would never learn anything from so many of you, who imo, are some of the best critical thinkers on the web. I have said repeatedly, all I ask for from anyone is an open mind, and I dare say, that is what is asked of me by readers and contributors.
The pick axe was tested as to prints, and blood, but never as to wound patterning. I am going to get to some more points about why I believe that was used in this crime when I post part 2.
I don’t know that I am going to be able to get many past a reasonable doubt based on the evidence, known, and interpreted, in this case.
You are newer Xara, and glad to have you, so I will share something “off color” my long time blinkers have heard me say more than once, which I learned from one of the best investigators I know, a mentor and personal friend.
He taught me “You can’t un-f*ck a case.” Once it is effed, you have to work with what you have and do your best. You can’t make it anything else and if you try to, you stand to eff it some more.
He told me to work it the best you can, and it is what it is.
That is exactly what I am trying to do here with this soup sandwich of 18 years.
Thanks for hearing me out.
B
Just want to clarify my thoughts- I guess what I was trying to to say is that both C- Anthony and Jesse gave statements I believe never helped LE get any closer to the truth of what happened.
That is not to say that both did not know the truth of what happened….just that their statements/confessions and stories IMO were fabrications.
For all I know, Jesse may have been involved and decided to point his finger at the most likely culprits to divert attention from himself…for all I know Damien and jason did it, and told him about it but he wasnt there….
I do not know the truth of what happened- and as Blink said- and I agree- his confession/s should not be taken as the be all end all IRT guilt or innocence.
AJMO
Here’s what’s frustrating me (for starters)
I did not know there was another confession by Misskelly. If it was already mentioned on BOC, then it’s my problem. BUT…..
Why would Misskelley confess, period, if he was innocent? No one in their right mind confesses to a crime they didn’t participate in. For that matter, no one would implicate ANYONE in a crime if they didn’t know it for themselves. What about the facts of the murder which Misskelly seemed privy too? I realize information was getting out to the community wrt details of the murder, but Misskelly seemed particularily informed. He knew more than an innocent person should know. Personally, I can’t get past the ‘why’ he confessed to anything at all, if innocent.
Most are in agreement that Misskelly’s testimony carries no weight. I think that’s a mistake. It’s not what he didn’t know, it’s what he did know! Echols, on the other hand, tells investigators they should look at Baldwin and Misskelly. Why go there at all? Usually, that kind of move is made by someone who’s blame shifting.
I’m looking at the jury’s pros and cons list @ jivepuppi.com. I know nothing about this site. I don’t know if the facts are credible or slanted. I do think the jury’s’ ‘coles notes’ so to speak, present a decent picture (imo). At this point, I think they got it right.
http://www.jivepuppi.com/case_for_innocence_baldwin.html
There is nothing to suggest that anyone else pulled this murder off. Evidence at the scene was not properly interpreted or ruled out (finger prints for example). I’m still trying to figure out how pro WM3er’s can claim there’s nothing to link these boys to the scene…except for that teenie tiny fibre from Baldwin’s mother’s robe. Why did that crucial piece get a pass? Terry Hobbs was the only other person I felt was capable…but all 3 boys by himself? This crime had to be done by more than 1 perp. TH would have had to be missing for a considerable amount of time. I don’t recall anyone claiming he was missing during the time the boys were murdered. Call me out if I’m wrong, PLEASE!
I’m grieving for my beloved cat, Meow Meow Elizabeth. We had to put her down Friday. I’m not handling this very well, so my research is put on hold (not that it’s a loss to BOC).
Don’t forget to live your lives, sweet friendies of mine. <3
-Give the heavens above more than just a passing glance, and if you get the choice to sit it out or dance…
I. Hope. You. Dance.- (sung by Leeanne Womack)
Sweet dreams beloved scouts <3
I am very sorry to hear about Elizabeth my friendly
B
Mom3.0 says:
August 21, 2011 at 6:43 pm
-snipped-
I do not believe the confessions are factual-
Each are different. Each contain wrong information. Each time police correct or try to correct his statements.
Dearest Mom3.0
Agreed. They’re not factual. Just the same, they felt the need to lie.
That’s what I’m not getting. If they’re truly innocent, why make up stories? C word did the same thing. Embellished her lies to cover her lies. It completely defies an innocent mind. Why did any of them offer confessions, testimonies, statements or feel the need to elaborate if they weren’t involved?
I’ll admit I’m not familiar with the totality of evidence. Even if I did, I’d still come back to why any of these ‘ickies’ would feel compelled to offer their 2 bits if they were completely innocent.
It is so eerily similiar to the c word case. Cindy covers for c word, even lies and obstructs justice. Could Baldwin be the Cindy in this case…the enabler?
As always, Mom, you’re posts are brilliant. Next to Blink, you’ve given us infinite reasons to think deeper, try harder. I tip my stetson to your advocate heart. <3
*Sigh.
What impresses me most about all of this is the change in the outspoken stance of John Mark Byers. Up until 2007, when DNA evidence came to light, if but a few hairs and fibers, he strongly and even most adamantly maintained the guilt of the WM3. Since 2007, when it was determined that the DNA of Hobbs and Jacoby were found on the scene, whereas no DNA of the WM3 were, nor was his own, John Mark’s been as strong an advocate of the three as he was an adversary. I find this remarkable and deserving of further consideration.
I have to admit though that for a time I didn’t understand why Byers wasn’t a suspect, having known little about Hobbs at the time, and in consideration of the scars that were found on Christopher’s small being, the result of rather severe beatings inflicted upon him by John Mark. On the day of the murders Byers readily admitted to being quite mad at Christopher because Christopher had broken into the house when no one was home to let him inside. Both John Mark and Christopher’s mother admitted to the beating Christopher suffered at the hands of John Mark, over the incident.
And then there is Hobbs, and Jacoby, neither of whom were investigated as thoroughly as was Byers, who had to give an account of his every waking moment and whereabouts. Hobbs was not required to take a polygraph, and refuses to now, nor did he testify at trial, though according to Jacoby, Jacoby saw Hobbs with the boys shortly before their disappearance, though Hobbs denied having seen the boys. Jamie Clark Ballard, a neighbor of Hobbs, along with two of her family members have said that they saw Hobbs with the boys at around 6:30 p.m. on the day of the murders. I find it rather odd that Hobbs would admit to having found the bodies of the boys before the police did, but kept the finding to himself, or so it’s been alleged.
Understand that I am not accusing Hobbs, nor am I excusing the WM3. I simply believe that in light of new evidences, there is reason to believe that the murders could have been committed by other than the WM3, and this is deserving of our utmost attention for the sakes of Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and Stevie Branch, for whom justice will never truly be served.
I know this is the unpopular opinion but I still think the 3 are innocent. With that said, and if I am right, then we still have a brutal killer(s) walking the streets. I think it’s at least worth the time to investigate the possibility of their innocence and look deeper into the unidentified DNA even if to rule out other perps. I really hope that I am right becasue if I am worng then our country set 3 brutal killers free to live among us.
At the press conference, I believe I heard Damien commit to that.
B
blink, do you think that adolescents like damien (the way he was when 17,18) can/could be rehabilitated as they grow older?
do you think he will have “arrested development” at that age?
what i thought notable was that in the callahan archives, i think his biological father said he would hit his head against things and one time hit his head so hard against the concrete his dad saw red (it didn’t say blood but i assumed).
there is a correlation between traumatic head injury and sociopathic behavior, right?
do prisoners on death row receive psychiatric counseling?
also, one more question – “if” the WM3 are innocent, do you think that the people/person who committed the crime would offend again over 18 years in the same manner? or would that triple homicide be classified as a one time murder? have there been any similar murders around the area during the last 18 years?
oops, one more question –
“if” the WM3 are guilty, do you think any of them would re-offend?
@ Rubyrose-it doesnt matter any longer who is right and who is wrong, one way or another, whoever is responsible for the murders of these little guys is walking among us now…
Ugh….that press conference made me sick. Damien Echols is already acting like a star! What a joke!
And to the folks that think the body language towards his wife could be explained away because he’s been in solitary….um, hello? It his WIFE for crying out loud! He made a sacred vow to her, but it somehow seems ok to squirm away when she touches him? Especially when she is one of the main reasons he is free today! He should have initiated the hug and acted as if he never wanted to let go!
I just can’t believe how much crap supporters will explain away for this guy!
uh oh, the ouiji board done did move my cheese ,i thought the hand covering the mouth,was the the most common association with lying ,looked it up ,yep, #1.the interview with baldwin ,in the documentary ,where he swivels ,and swivels,and swivels ,cia technique for deception detection,put em in a swivel chair ,and watch trunk movement.i find jessie’s confession to be exactly in line with the feelings a kid with a heart would have ,that would get mixed up in a murder, who was known as a guy who kids liked and was a baby sitter.i can follow his confession, whoever did it ,it would have pretty much happened the way he told it. i also thinks he abstractly mentions the ice axe ,its one of the “sticks” he and the police officer talk about,imo,but ,i also could see how maybe he and vicky concocted the story for the reward money.he reminds me of a variation of james dean’s character in ‘east of eden’.he did it all per his dad’s respect.
You touch on something I think is very important and I agree with. I think when Jessie ran off to get Michael Moore, he missed some of the beginning and what he did see was from a distance for a few minutes. He filled in those blanks, imo.
Just to give all a heads up, editing issues are going to postpone part 2 until tomorrow, sorry but our fact checking given the case status is critical.
B
oh sorry ,in my above comment ,re hand covering mouth , echols body language at the press conference.and did you see the comment about the hard core porn popping up on the iphone, not a very good sign, freudian leakage.
Blink,
Iknow i am not being fair asking all these questions before you supply all the story parts, therefore probably making you repeat things you already have set for your story parts…. but
Did any of the 3 get into notable trouble while in prison, aside from Death row, as u are limited to the troubles you can cause as i assume he was on 23 hr lock down… any violence against other inmates or were either jason or jessie in admin seg/protective custody, in fear for themselves….
thanks
Stephanie says:
August 21, 2011 at 6:41 pm
Have you found any evidence to point towards Mike Byers or Terry Hobbs as being guilty instead of the WM3?
I do not know of a Mike Byers
B
Perhaps the poster meant John Mark Byers, father of Christoper Byers. Melissa Byers, Christopher’s mother died under suspicious circumstances March 29th, 1996.
http://helpfindthemissing.org/forum/showthread.php?t=808
Thank you we covered this, I am well aware of Mr. Byers and Mrs. Byers death.
I have read her autopsy, which states her COD as undetermined with more than a few drugs in her system.
Mark Byers did pass a polygraph.
B
“He failed a polygraph, prior to his confession, he never passed one to my knowledge.”
Blink on your statement about the polygraph…what did he fail? All or part. From what I can find he failed when asked about drugs but passed the rest of the test.
This goes back to my earlier statement regarding what police can and do say…LE can make up a bald face lie and tell it to a suspect and it’s legal. I’m not a fan of this technique, especially when the suspect is a minor and has asked for his guardian.
I am looking forward to your next article!!
cbickel, do you have a link for a source saying Jessie passed a poly- he did not.
He was deceptive in the following questions:
http://callahan.8k.com/images2/jm_polygraph.jpg
Pre Interview Notes:
http://callahan.8k.com/wm3/jmin.html
as you can see, permission was sought to take a polygraph based on not implicating himself:
http://callahan.8k.com/wm3/jm_ridge1.html
When he was told he was lying, which he was, clear as a bell in the report, his story obviously changed.
B
Thank you, my friendly. Heart ya like the Trump hearts his comb over. <3
Lol, technically I just learned it is a “double” combover, so it is a thatch.
B
Ragdoll says:
August 21, 2011 at 11:20 pm
TH would have had to be missing for a considerable amount of time. I don’t recall anyone claiming he was missing during the time the boys were murdered. Call me out if I’m wrong, PLEASE!
—————
From what I have read in the past, Terry Hobbs played guitar with his friend David Jacoby at David’s house, then left around 6pm. Although TH says he never saw the boys at all that day, witnesses have come forward and said that they saw TH with all three boys around 6-6:30. I also believe that DJ said at one time that TH left his daughter at DJ’s house during the time he was gone. TH supposedly returned to DJ’s house around 7-7:30.
There is a lot of information about TH on the site that you had linked before http://www.jivepuppi.com/Terry_Hobbs.html. I don’t know how accurate this information is, but it makes TH look very suspicious to me.
mjh
that site is pro defense, and highly subjective, but I agree has a great deal of case info.
It has to be noted that NO witness spoke out against Hobbs until after the hair was found, and the word was out the WM3 had major funding.
B
With an open mind… i’ve read Blink’s first part… possibly waiting on the other parts…
I’m just a bit… um, I dont know the right word for it…. shocked.. disappointed… annoyed… maybe all combined into one.
MOM3.0….. Thank you for your open minded posts. I read every word you write….
A few examples of what’s gotten to me on this site.. And i know… I’m more than welcome to carry on somewhere else…. ANYWHO…..
Have I missed where it’s been proven that Damien isn’t “in to girls” his wife’s age???? Has it been reported and proven that he’s been with “little girls”???
Their body language??? You tell me YOU can be on death row.. for 18 years… it’s been reported he’s been raped over and over… and we ALL know this happens in prison…. to my knowledge, he’s not really had the opportunity to be intimate…. you’d be able to walk out and KNOW the right way to act where people will agree that you have a right “body language” ?
Even with a “snark alert”……. “retardation training”???? Come on now…. “snarking” doesnt even make that ok…. Hope no parents here have a mentally challenged child here….
I might get some heat for this post… but I had to get it off my chest… And it’s not that i’m all the way PRO defense… Most everyone here makes good points… Some, a little more tacky than good points.
With love to all!!! Lord, please hug those scouts!!!
-Bam
Bam-
I do not believe Jessie is challenged or borderline retarded or I would never have made such a comment, obviously. It is clear as day on the first PL 1 where Stidham instructs Jessie to hang his head ( thus the training comment for starters.) That said, if you were offended I apologize, I take for granted sometimes that I will be taken in the spirit for which I intend.
As far as other comments, people are entitled to them, just like you just were now, and are welcome to in the future. We can see things differently and just because I noted the body language, which was obvious, does not make it critical, it is what it is, my observation.
Damien had significant issues prior to his incarceration that are well documented, and no treatment I am aware of in prison, so it is probable he will need to seek care now. At least I certainly hope so.
B
http://callahan.8k.com/wm3/jmin.html
http://callahan.8k.com/wm3/jm_ridge1.html
Am I the only one having difficulty understanding how to read this? Are these notes from the polygraphs or statements from the perps?
Reading on!
Hey Bam from Mississippi. I just wanted to say that I have a very dear friend who’s son is metally challenged and you know what she calls him? Mentally retarded. Because 30 some years ago when he was diagnosed, they asked her is she preferred “idiot” or Mentally retarded” and she chose the latter. I have never thought Blink meant to offend or “make fun of” or make light of any situation. These cases are very stressful and disturbing to me so imagine working on them and having inside knowledge as she does? We need to lighten up or stress will kill us. I made a comment one time to my friend, without thinking, about a sales person. I said “does she think I’m retarded or something?” I wanted to crawl under something at that time. But my firend just laughed and said “well, really?”. She knows that I would never poke fun at her son ever. He is very endearing. We just have to be so darn politically correct now a days that it sometimes borders on being rediculous in itself. And I’m not saying that you aren’t entitled to your feelings. No offense, really. Just wanted to share my story and take up for Blink a little. Although I know Blink can hold her own. LOL It is my opinion that Jessie Misskeeley could articulate just fine when he did speak.
Sorry for my above typos.
Thanks Angellica!!!
Sometimes I type be4 I let things roll off my back… and take it the way the writer intends…. as Blink said in response to my post…..
Blink seems to be a wonderful Mother to her kids.. Some of us who were never blessed to have babies take that sorta thing wrong sometimes… Because I’d take a mentally challenged one over not one at all anyday… Even worse, my x husband went on to have 5482215 kids with my “best friend”….. Ho hum………I love love love my Hairy Bear (new hubby) now!!!!!! <3
I didnt post my thoughts to try and get anyone to NOT comment as they wish… I simply said I needed to get it off of my back.. Now, I feel better… LOL
We can agree to disagree that I simply see Jessie and hear words come out of his mouth.. and yes I do believe "something" is wrong.. I just don't know what… I'm not educated in that field to know "what". (I threw up every day of nursing school and eventually went back to accounting lol)
Whether these guys are innocent or guilty… great points made to both… they need therapy and med help transitioning back into society… Damien and Lorri… need therapy together…
-Bam