The Suspects
The three suspects arrested for the murders of 3 second graders Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Were three teens named Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. Damien was suspected because the crime was believed to have been "satainc" and Damien wore black a lot, and listened to "Metallica." Jason, was targeted because he was friends with Damien, and Jessie was friends with Jason. Jessie Misskelley Jr. also made a confession that stated that he helped and saw Damien and Jason murder the victims. However, this confession is believed to have been "false" and been forced upon him by the police officers. Jessie's IQ is only 72 which classifys as "mildly retarded" and could have been easily been tricked into giving a false confession. Jessie was integrated for 12 hours straight, and yet only 45 minutes was recorded. and within that 45 minutes there were obvious signs of manipulation. including a section where a police officer changes what Jessie says until it matches the case.
The Trial
During the trial, lots of evidence was brought up, including several knifes, Damien's journal, and whitenesses. But in the end, Damien, Jason, and Jessie were all found guilty. Damien was sentenced to Death by lethal injection, Jason was sentenced to life in prison, and Jessie was sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years.
Jury Misconduct
After the trial, evidence of Jury misconduct was found. For one thing, the jury foreman already knew about the case from the newspapers and stated to this sister that he needed to get on the jury so he could convince everyone that the WM3 were guilty. Which is not aloud, the people on the jury are supposed to have no other information on the case, other than what is brought up in court. Also, perhaps one of the biggest tings involving jury misconduct, was Jessie Misskelley's confession. which the foreman found in the newspaper. Since Jessie was classified as "mildly reared" he had a different trial than Damien, and Jason. which meant that Jessie's confession was not aloud to have been brought up in Damien and Jason's trail. However, on one of the "to do" lists found that was used by the jury the words "Jessie's confession" were written on it and then hidden. If Jessie's confession was brought up then they were required to "throw it out" but the jury misconduct was looked over and the case was never thrown out, like it should have been.
New Evidence
after many long years of Damien, Jason, and Jessie, had been rotting in prison, new evidence started to arise i the case. Such as, a knife, jury misconduct, some bite marks, animal scratches, DNA, and new whiteness, and old whiteness that came back and admitted to lying. and even evidence that pointed o someone else. There was enough evidence to re open the case.
A New Trail
Even with all the new evidence, the judge still denied a new trial, so the new evidence was brought in front of the Arkansas supreme court. And after the evidence was analyzed the possibility of a new trial was brought up. However, the new trial would start for at least another year and Damien's execution date was approaching quickly, which brought up the topic of an "Alford plea"
The Alford Plea
Damien, Jason, and Jessie were offered an offered the option of an "Alford Plea." An Alford Plea is where the defendant must plead gullibility, whether they are guilty or not, and then they will be let free. Damien, and Jessie both agreed to it. "I'm not guilty, but I was willing to say anything they wanted me to say at that point. I was dieing in there, I needed to get out." Damien said. But the thing was, that even thought Damien and Jessie both agreed to move forward with the "Alford plea", all three of the suspects needed to agree, and Jason refused, He said that he was not going to admit to something that he did not do, and he wanted to wait for the new trial. And since the deal was either all three, or none, that meant that if Jason wanted for a new trial, Damien could die. So Jason finally changed his mind, and agreed to the Alford plea. After having served 18 1/2 years in prison, (8 years of Death row, and 10 years of solitary confinement for Daimien) The WM3 were finally released on an Alford Plea with a 10 year suspension. They are free men, but in the states eyes they are still classified as "guilty", which is why, even tough the state is done with the case, Damien, Jason, and Jessie are not, they are continuing to investigate the crime in hopes of a full exoneration.