The West Memphis Three Trials: 1994 - The Trial Of Damien Echols And Jason Baldwin
found testified home killed
The trial of Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin began on February 22, 1994, also before Judge Burnett. The prosecution again relied heavily on Jessie Misskelley's confession, but they also went to considerable lengths to try to establish that the murders were part of an occult sacrificial ritual led by Echols. Books had been found at his home in which spells had been written, and pentagrams and upside down crosses had been drawn. Books had also been found indicating an interest in neopagan religions and the history of witchcraft. Attention was drawn to his interest in heavy metal rock music and his liking of black T-shirts with occult designs. Dr. Dale Griffis testified for the prosecution as an expert witness on occult killings. He presented 11 aspects of the murders which he felt indicated that the killings were Satanic in nature. These aspects included such things as the facts that three eight-year-old boys were killed and their bodies found in water, and water and the numbers three and eight have mystic significance in Satanic cults.
A mother and daughter testified to having seen Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin together in a car on the night of May 5, and to seeing Echols and his girlfriend later in the evening walking near a truck stop not far from where the bodies were found. A 12-year-old girl and a 15-year-old girl testified that at a softball game they had overheard Damien Echols say, "I killed the three little boys and before I turn myself in I'm going to kill two more and I already have one of them picked out." Under cross-examination by Val Price, the public defender assigned by the court to represent Echols, the girls admitted that the game was very noisy, and they could not recall anything else they had overheard during it. A young addict, Michael Carson, who had met Baldwin when they were both being held in detention, testified that Baldwin had admitted to him that he had killed the boys. A hunting knife which could have been the murder weapon, was recovered from a lake behind Baldwin's home. Fibers similar to some found on the victims' clothing (which had been discovered near the bodies) had been located in Echols's home, but they were apparently from a widely used fabric. Other than this, no physical evidence was introduced that would link the three accused to the victims.
On April 18, both were found guilty of three counts of capital murder. The following day Echols was sentenced to death by lethal injection, and Baldwin, who was just 16 at the time of the murders, was sentenced to life in prison without parole.
User Comments
over 1 year ago
ron
Are you the worst thing that you have ever done ?
Are you the worst thing that you have ever been accoused of ?
ARe we realy innocent until proven guilty , after all this is the greatest country on earth....
Some times things happen that we will never know the truth about....
I dont think its very likely that three boys ended up murdered and three boys were accidentaly convicted in this great nation just because someone had to pay !
I was a state corrections officer at one time.... The one thing you never see or hear is"get me out of here I,m innocent." Mabe they are -not-
guilty- Mabe they arent the worst thing they ve ever done....But will you accept the verdict and closure if it turnes out that they are the worst thing they have ever been accoused of. May GOD Bless and comfort you all RON
over 2 years ago
briana
It's been yrs since I saw the documentry on these boys.And I swear I watched it 3 times.I was in shock,I from the beginning beleived these boys who are now men were innocent!I on the other hand did not beleive a word the step dad of one of the murdered little boys said.I remember him talking about how his stepson was in trouble for something...I knew he was lying.forensics showed there were teeth marks on either one or all of the boys..they did not match the three accused...but what was so damn suspicious and screamed guilty to me was the step dad had his teeth all pulled out soon after teeth marks were mentioned...not because they needed to be pulled but because he wanted them out.I strongly beleive Arkansas knows the three teenagers did not commit these murders,but they refuse to say they were wrong...and release these men.I think this is the worst case of injustice I have seen happen..It was a southern state needing a scapegoat and they were the easiest target...Too bad they did'nt look just a little harder at the boys who were murdered families step daddy killed those boys.All we can do is pray that someday truth will come out...The Government should really intervene,and get these men who lost their whold childhood out.pure and simple injustice.
almost 3 years ago
After just seeing the HBO documentary I am in a state of shock! The first thing that strikes me is how unbelievably STUPID all the people involved is, except for the attorneys and Damien. I can not believe how these two boys could be sentenced with NO SOLID PROOF. All the people interviewed seems to have the same IQ as Jessie Misskelley, whom the police officers used and mislead and pressured into answer what they wanted to hear. They should be ashamed of themselves as well as the jury!!
And that "doctor" who had a fake diploma, why did the even used him in the trial? Why didn´t anyone else question him? And the two girls who clearly LIED, have you no shame people!?! White trash, that's what they are!
How can you convict somebody with murder when the only "proof" is that they looked different and were outcasts? The whole trial is an embarrassment and if I were American I would be ashamed over my own countrymen. I agree with the rest of you, this insanity must stop.
over 3 years ago
I have just started following this case in our english class. Even though I have seen the HBO documentary, I have also looked up the facts. I do not think that echols, misskelly, or baldwin comitted this crime and even if they did there was almost no evidence against them and definately not enough to put them in jail. there is more evidence against one of the fathers but do you see him in jail? NO! I'm not saying that he did it I'm just saying that there is more evidence supporting the theory that he did. They put damien on a death sentence with absolutly no physical evidence and the only other evidence is the books he reads and those clothes he wears. Thats is wrong. The only reason they were convicted is because miskelly was pressured into agreeing with the police. This is ridiculous and needs to end. They were just boys when they were imprisoned and need the chance to live their lives. This insanity needs to stop.
over 3 years ago
I have been following this case since it began I was thirteen or so when this terrible nightmare happened. I have always stood behind damien and Baldwin I have never believed them to have done this and as you can look now I think everyone should look and see that not only were the small children victoms of death but these boys have been victomized by a prison life that they did not deserve and the state of Arkansas has allowed the real people or person to walk free in the streets of our communities while innocent men are sitting in a dark world with no way of ever getting fourteen years of their life back. So on that note I would like to add I mean where did anyone get their education in Arkansas does it take a brain surgeon to see the evidence in court come on there was so many errors and so many things that proved their innocents just makes you wounder who's working for who or what? if you are not wrapped in a brand new suit your not entitled to a fair trial, for one why cant someone here in Jonesboro see the truth and let these guys out so they can enjoy what life they may get to have they deserve it and for Echols and Baldwin good luck hang in there you are in my prayers
over 3 years ago
You are so right ..just because 3 teenagers brutally kill 3 children, why would there be any DNA on of the killers on the victims clothing and vice versa DUH! I mean OJ had evidence but was thrown out and aquitted.
There most certainly has to be DNA to prove it was done by Echols and the other two convicted men. It would be physically impossible to do such crime and not leave a strand of hair or fragment of clothing behind... people have been convicted on a STRAND of hair and a FIBER of cloth.
The DNA will convict or set free. I believe they deserve this trial and the parents of the victims as well. There very well may be a murder out there still.
almost 4 years ago
Those boys did not do anything. my uncle damien would never do something like that and jen u can just go and ...i dont even know
about 4 years ago
David, how do you think DNA proved their innocence? Just because they didn't find their DNA does not mean they didn't do it.It only means that if they did do it they didn't leave any DNA at the scene.
Absents of evidence is not evidence of absents.
Personally after reviewing the evidence that is out there I believe they are guilty.Maybe there are other facts that would change my mind but I've yet to see them and I've read much about the case.
about 4 years ago
I hope there is a heaven when we die because these sought of people have seen nothing yet Damien Echols was the leader the other boys were scared i wish i was in the jail with them i would show them a good time ive been to jail heaps let me at them
over 4 years ago
This page should be updated - on July 17, 2007, the State and Defense teams released a joint "DNA Status Report" to the Arkansas Supreme Court. the report acknowledges 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. . . . 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."
So "Jen", go soak your head.... its attitudes & ignorance like yours that have put these three guys in prison for 14+ years and why it took DNA to prove their innocence (instead of the State having to prove their guilt).
over 4 years ago
I have only seen the HBO special on the case; however, I think it is clear that those three boys are murderers...they are disgusting. I hope Damien is put to death- he is sick.
I do not understand what is wrong with people, thinking that he, along with the other two are innocent. Showing their support and "love" towards these three disgusting monsters. They should be ashamed of themselves.