All language subtitles for Paradise.Lost.3.Purgatory.2011.1080p.WEBRip.x265-RARBG2_English

Tony Brooks:
CAMERAS ARE ROLLING
ON EVERY WORD AND MOVEMENT

OF THE WEST MEMPHIS
MURDER TRIALS

AS REPORTERS SCURRY
TO GET THE STORY.

BUT AS DEIRDRE KOON
REPORTS,

THE CREW BEHIND ONE CAMERA
ISN'T CHASING A STORY.

THEY'RE CREATING
A COMMENT ON SOCIETY.

Deirdre Koon:
THIS IS THE SCENE
AT THE CORNING COURTHOUSE--

THE DEFENSE,
THE PROSECUTION,
AND THIS FILM CREW

GETTING READY
FOR THE DAY AHEAD.

THESE NEW YORK FILMMAKERS
SPENT THE LAST EIGHT MONTHS

GETTING TO INTIMATELY KNOW
THE PEOPLE INVOLVED
IN THE CASE.

THE FILMMAKERS ARE CONSIDERING
CALLING THE DOCUMENTARY

"PARADISE LOST."
THEY EXPECT IT TO AIR ON HBO
IN ABOUT A YEAR.

Woman:
IS IT FAIR TO SAY

THAT FOLLOWING
THE HBO DOCUMENTARIES,

- THE "PARADISE LOST"
DOCUMENTARIES...
- YES.

- ...THERE BECAME
SORT OF A PUBLIC--
- THAT'S--

LET ME FINISH MY QUESTION,
I'M SORRY--

THERE BECAME
SORT OF A PUBLIC DEBATE

OR CONTROVERSY ABOUT WHETHER
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE

- HAD BEEN WRONGFULLY
CONVICTED?
- YES.

AND THAT PUBLIC
CONTROVERSY--

AND I UNDERSTAND
YOUR POSITION

THAT IT WAS CAUSED
BY THE DOCUMENTARIES,

BUT THAT PUBLIC
CONTROVERSY

REALLY DID EXPAND TO BE
A NATIONAL CONTROVERSY?

RIGHT.
IT'S ALMOST A CAUSE.

Mark Byers:
LAST TIME WE SAW THEM,

THE THREE BOYS WERE
RIDING BIKES TOGETHER,

AND THEY HEADED DOWN
TOWARDS A WOODED AREA
AT THE END OF THE STREET,

WHICH WAS ABOUT 6:30
YESTERDAY EVENING.

AND THEY'RE ALWAYS
IN THE HOUSE BEFORE DARK.

NONE OF THE THREE
HAVE EVER BEEN MISSING

OR TAKEN OFF
EVER BEFORE.

Male reporter:
WHAT'S GOING THROUGH
YOUR MIND AS A PARENT?

I'M SCARED TO DEATH.

THAT'S, YOU KNOW,
PLAIN AND SIMPLE.

I'M SCARED FOR
THE SAFETY AND WELFARE
OF ALL THREE BOYS

AND WOULD APPRECIATE
ANY HELP THAT ANYONE
WOULD GIVE US

IN RECOVERING
OUR THREE SONS.

* WELCOME TO WHERE TIME
STANDS STILL *

* NO ONE LEAVES
AND NO ONE WILL... *

GREEN ONE
ON THE LEFT SIDE THERE,

RED ONE ON
THE RIGHT SIDE.

* DREAM THE SAME THING
EVERY NIGHT *

* I SEE OUR FREEDOM
IN MY SIGHTS... *

Man over radio:
Don't let nobody
come up here.

Don't let nobody
in here.

* MY BRAIN
SEEM SCARRED *

* SLEEP, MY FRIEND,
AND YOU WILL SEE *

* THE DREAM IS
MY REALITY *

* THEY KEEP ME LOCKED UP
IN THIS CAGE *

* CAN'T THEY SEE
IT'S WHY MY BRAIN SAYS *

* "RAGE"?

* SANITARIUM

* LEAVE ME BE

* SANITARIUM

* JUST LEAVE ME ALONE...

( wailing )

* BUILD MY FEAR
OF WHAT'S OUT THERE *

* CANNOT BREATHE
THE OPEN AIR... *

Jenna Newton:
WEST MEMPHIS INVESTIGATORS

CONTINUE TO TRACK DOWN
LEADS IN THE CASE,

BUT THEY STILL HAVE
NO SUSPECTS.

WE'VE GOT 28,000-30,000
PEOPLE IN WEST MEMPHIS.

AND AS FAR AS I'M CONCERNED,
EVERYBODY'S A SUSPECT.

Diana Davis:
INSTEAD OF LETTING THEIR KIDS
WALK HOME FROM SCHOOL,

PARENTS STARTED
PICKING THEM UP.

Jenna Newton:
AND IN THIS MIDDLE-CLASS
NEIGHBORHOOD,

PEOPLE WONDER WHY NO ONE
HAS BEEN ARRESTED
FOR THE MURDERS.

Diana Davis:
THE REWARD FOR INFORMATION
LEADING TO THE CONVICTION

OF THE KILLER OR KILLERS
HAS SKYROCKETED

AND IS NOW AT $25,000.

ALL OF WEST MEMPHIS--

ALL OF WEST MEMPHIS
IS JUST TORN UP.

( child crying )

GET OUT OF THE WAY
OF THE VAN.

Male reporter:
PEOPLE IN WEST MEMPHIS
GATHERED IN CHURCH TODAY

TO COUNT
THEIR BLESSINGS

AFTER AN EMOTIONAL WEEK
CAPPED BY THE ARRESTS.

FOR MORE THAN A MONTH,
THE SAVAGE MURDERS

OF STEVE BRANCH, CHRIS BYERS,
AND MICHAEL MOORE

HAD NAGGED
PEOPLE'S CONSCIENCE.

Jenna Newton:
AT A PRESS CONFERENCE,
INSPECTOR GARY GITCHELL SAID

THE CASE AGAINST THE ACCUSED
TEENS IS VERY STRONG.

Man: ON THE SCALE
FROM ONE TO 10, HOW SOLID
DO YOU THINK THE CASE IS?

11.

( laughter, applause )

JESSIE MISSKELLEY,
DAMIEN ECHOLS, AND
JASON BALDWIN

ARE NOW
CONVICTED KILLERS.

Judge Burne
DO YOU HAVE ANY
LEGAL REASON

TO SHOW THE COURT
OR GIVE THE COURT
AT THIS TIME

AS TO WHY SENTENCE
SHOULD NOT BE IMPOSED?

- BECAUSE I'M INNOCENT.
- PARDON?

BECAUSE I'M INNOCENT.

( crossing bells
ringing )

MICHAEL WAS
KIND OF LIKE--

KIND OF LIKE
BART SIMPSON.

HE HAD A GREAT
SENSE OF HUMOR.

HE COULD MAKE YOU LAUGH
NO MATTER HOW DEPRESSED
YOU WAS,

NO MATTER HOW BAD
THINGS WERE GOING.

HE ALWAYS WANTED EVERYBODY
TO BE IN A GOOD MOOD.

AND HE-- HE COULD MAKE
ANYBODY LAUGH.

HE'D COME UP WITH
THE SILLIEST THINGS.

I DAMN SURE MISS HIM.

Terry Hobbs:
STEVIE WAS A FINE BOY.
HE WAS.

WE GAVE HIM A NICE HOME,
WE FELT LIKE.

AND, YOU KNOW,
WE'RE SAD

THAT THIS-- YOU KNOW,
THIS HAS HAPPENED.

WE'RE SAD
THAT HE'S GONE.

I ALWAYS SAID THAT
CHRISTOPHER WAS A GIFT,

THAT CHRISTOPHER WAS
MY GIFT.

I HAVE ASKED GOD "WHY?"
YOU KNOW?

"IF YOU WERE GOING TO
TAKE HIM,

WHY DIDN'T YOU TAKE HIM
WHEN HE WAS TINY?"

YOU KNOW?

"WHY DID IT--?"
YOU KNOW,

"WHY DID YOU
LET ME LOVE HIM
FOR EIGHT YEARS?"

DAMIEN ECHOLS,
JASON BALDWIN,

JESSIE MISSKELLEY JR.,

I HOPE YOU ALL
BURN IN HELL

AND ARE TORMENTED
FOR ETERNITY AND A DAY.

I COULDN'T
EVER PUT INTO WORDS
HOW MUCH I HATE YOU.

Damien Echols:
I KNOW, NO MATTER
WHAT I SAY OR DO,

THERE ARE STILL
GOING TO BE PEOPLE

WHO WON'T BELIEVE IT,
NO MATTER WHAT.

BUT I DID NOT

KILL THOSE CHILDREN
OR ANYBODY ELSE.

I HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT,

AND I KNOW
NOTHING ABOUT IT.

Jason Baldwin: IF I COULD
TALK TO THE FAMILIES OF
THE VICTIMS RIGHT NOW,

THEY WERE LED TO BELIEVE
BY THE POLICE THAT
WE'D DONE IT,

AND SO I UNDERSTAND
IF THEY HATE US,

YOU KNOW, HATE ME.

BUT I DIDN'T DO IT,
YOU KNOW?

I DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH IT.

AND I'M SORRY THAT
YOUR KIDS ARE DEAD.

I'M SORRY
ABOUT THAT.

BUT ALL I ASK IS

THAT Y'ALL GO BACK
AND LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE.

JUST-- JUST STOP
AND THINK

AND DON'T LET YOUR
EMOTIONS ABOUT IT ALL

GET TO YOUR HEAD

AND JUST STOP
AND THINK AND LOOK BACK
AT THE EVIDENCE.

AND LOOK WHERE
THE EVIDENCE DOES POINT.

AND ASK YOURSELF,

"NOW WHO DO YOU THINK
REALLY DONE IT?"

Jessie Misskelley:
THEY KNOW THAT THEY GOT
THREE INNOCENT PEOPLE

LOCKED UP FOR A CRIME
THEY DIDN'T COMMIT.

I DIDN'T KILL NOBODY.

BUT, YOU KNOW, TO ME,
I THINK IT'S WRONG,

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
IT AIN'T ABOUT US.

IT'S ABOUT
THE VICTIMS THEIRSELVES,
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

THEY NEED PEACE.
THE VICTIM'S FAMILY
NEEDS PEACE.

AND I THINK THE POLICE
OWES THAT TO 'EM.

THE FACTS OF THE CRIME SCENE
ARE ACTUALLY

A PRETTY INTERESTING
PART OF THE CASE,

BECAUSE THIS CRIME

TOOK PLACE
IN A WOODED AREA.

IT WAS NEAR
TWO MAJOR FREEWAYS.

IT HAPPENED RIGHT NEAR
A TRUCK STOP,

WHICH IS NOW CLOSED.

BUT IT WAS A MAJOR
TRUCK STOP.

PEOPLE WOULD BE IN AND OUT
OF THAT TRUCK STOP

24 HOURS A DAY.

IT WAS OPEN 24 HOURS
A DAY.

AND IT ALSO ADJOINED

A 24-HOUR-A-DAY
TRUCK WASH PLACE.

SO THERE WAS-- THERE WAS
TRAFFIC IN THAT AREA.

Don Horgan:
THERE WAS SO MUCH HYSTERIA

AROUND THE NATURE
OF THE CRIMES.

THERE WAS A LOT OF FEAR
IN THE COMMUNITY.

AND NATURALLY THERE WAS
AN INCREDIBLE AMOUNT
OF PRESSURE

ON THE POLICE
TO FIND WHO'S RESPONSIBLE.

BUT AS DAYS GO BY,
THERE ISN'T--

THE EVIDENCE DOESN'T
OBVIOUSLY POINT

TO ANY PARTICULAR
INDIVIDUAL, AGAIN,

BECAUSE THERE'S VERY LITTLE
LEFT AT THE SCENE.

AT ABOUT 6:00
ON MAY THE 5th,

CHRIS BYERS, STEVIE BRANCH,
AND MICHAEL MOORE

WERE LAST SEEN HEADED
TOWARD ROBIN HOOD HILLS.

Mike Allen:
THE PIPE CROSSES
10-MILE BAYOU.

THIS IS THE TRAIL THAT
GOES ACROSS THE AREA

WHICH IS KNOWN
AS TURTLE HILL.

THE TRAIL WILL EITHER
SPLIT AND GO THAT WAY,

WHICH LEADS INTO THE AREA
OF THE CRIME SCENE,

WHICH LAYS
RIGHT IN THIS AREA,

OR THE TRAIL CONTINUES
STRAIGHT FORWARD

AND GOES INTO THE BACK END
OF BLUE BEACON.

I WAS DIRECTED BY AN OFFICER
THAT THEY HAD--

HAD FOUND
A TENNIS SHOE

FLOATING IN A DITCH.

I HAD TO GO DOWN
TO CROSS

TO GET ON THE OTHER SIDE
TO GET CLOSER

AND FELL INTO
THE WATER HERE

AND CAME UP THE BANK

AND AROUND,
OVER TO THE AREA

WHERE THE TENNIS
SHOE WAS.

I WALKED
AROUND A TREE

AND STEPPED OFF
INTO THE WATER

AND WAS REACHING
FOR THE TENNIS SHOE.

AND WITH MY FEET
I COULD FEEL

AN OBJECT.

AND I RAISED UP

AND I DISCOVERED
THIS BODY.

John Fogleman:
DETECTIVE RIDGE, I BELIEVE
THAT YOU'D INDICATED EARLIER

SOMETHING ABOUT
A STICK IN THE WATER
STUCK IN THE WATER?

- YES, SIR.
- TELL ME ABOUT THAT AGAIN.

Ridge:
THERE WAS A STICK
IN THE WATER

THAT HAD A SHIRT
AROUND THE END OF IT,

AND THAT SHIRT WAS
JOBBED DOWN INTO THE MUD
WITH THE STICK.

EXHIBIT NUMBER 22.

YOU KNOW, THE LIGATURE--
THE WAY THAT MICHAEL MOORE
WAS TIED

AND STEVIE BRANCH WAS
TIED WITH LIGATURES,

RIGHT HAND TO RIGHT FOOT,
LEFT HAND TO LEFT FOOT.

AND CHRISTOPHER BYERS'S
PENIS HAD BEEN REMOVED.

I FOUND HIM TIED
AS THE OTHER VICTIMS
HAD BEEN TIED.

Man:
WAS THERE ANY VISIBLE BLOOD
FOUND AT THE CRIME SCENE?

ANY VISIBLE BLOOD?
NOT ON THE GROUND.

IF YOU REALLY LOOK
AT THE CRIME SCENE

AND THE CONDITION
OF THE BODIES
AND SO FORTH,

IT'S ALMOST A BLANK
CRIME SCENE.

THE BODIES ARE CONCEALED,
AND THEN THEY'RE BROUGHT UP,

AND THE KIDS ARE HOGTIED
WITH SHOELACES,

AND THERE'S NOT A LOT
OF BLOOD AT THE SCENE.

SO IT'S ALMOST LIKE
A PROJECTION SCREEN

ON WHICH YOU CAN CREATE
ANY KIND OF THEORY

ABOUT HOW AND WHY
THE CRIME WAS DONE.

WELL, RIGHT DOWN HERE
WOULD BE THE HOUSE,
1400 EAST BARTON.

IT MAKES YOU KIND OF THINK
WHAT LIFE MIGHT HAVE BEEN

IF THIS CRIME
HADN'T HAVE HAPPENED.

FEARS OF SATANIC CULTS
IN CRITTENDEN COUNTY

REACHED THEIR PEAK LAST WEEK
WHEN THE TEENAGERS
WERE ARRESTED.

Male reporter:
NAMES OF SEVERAL SUSPECTS
APPEAR ON RAILROAD TRESTLES

ALONG WITH WHAT APPEAR TO BE
SATANIC SYMBOLS.

PEOPLE FROM SCHOOL
THAT DON'T EVEN KNOW HIM

SAID THAT HE WAS
A DEVIL WORSHIPPER.

AND HE DOESN'T
WORSHIP THE DEVIL

AND HE'S NOT
IN ANY CULT.

SO MANY UNANSWERED
QUESTIONS,

ALL FROM
A SENSELESS ACT.

Jenna Newton:
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD,
RUMORS BEGIN.

WELL, I'VE HEARD THINGS
BEFORE ABOUT CULTS

AND I REALLY DIDN'T
BELIEVE IT,

BUT SOME OF THE KIDS
IN THE NEIGHBORHOOD
I'VE TALKED TO

SAY THERE IS--
THEY HAD FOUND SOME
ANIMALS BACK THERE

WHEN THEY PLAYED BACK THERE.
IT LOOKS LIKE THEY'VE
BEEN CUT UP.

BOY, IT SURE LOOKS ROUGH--

WINDOWS BOARDED UP,

MAN, THE YARD BOARDED UP.
DOESN'T LOOK GOOD.

David Steinhart:
AT SOME TIME, ALL THREE
SUSPECTS

IN THE WEST MEMPHIS
MURDER CASE

HAVE LIVED IN THE LAKESHORE
TRAILER PARK.

RESIDENTS HERE
CLAIM TO HAVE SEEN

STRANGE, RITUALISTIC
MEETINGS AT THE PARK
PRIOR TO THE MURDERS.

Jenna Newton:
JONI DWYER LIVES
NEXT DOOR TO JASON BALDWIN.

HER THREE BOYS
OFTEN PLAYED WITH JASON.

BUT THAT ALL CHANGED
AFTER HER HUSBAND

FOUND SOME DRAWINGS
JASON HAD DONE.

MY HUSBAND JUST DIDN'T LIKE
WHAT HE SAW IN THEM DRAWINGS.

HE SAID--
YOU KNOW, HE TOLD MY SON,
"THIS IS DEVIL WORSHIPPING,"

THAT, YOU KNOW, HE HAD SNAKES,
AND THE SAYINGS THEY HAD.

SOME OF THEM WERE
IN LATIN AND STUFF.

( door alarm ringing )

A LOT OF MEMORIES.
A LOT OF MEMORIES.

CHRISTOPHER'S ROOM
RIGHT THERE

WHERE YOU SEE THE SET
OF THREE WINDOWS.

THIS HOUSE AND
THE MOORES' HOUSE--
I WOULD SAY,

THE MAJORITY OF THE PAST
17 YEARS, THEY APPEAR
TO HAVE BEEN EMPTY.

YOU COULD HAVE
PEOPLE-- THEY'RE GONNA GO,
"OH, THE HOUSE IS CURSED,"

OR "THAT'S WHERE
THE LITTLE BOY LIVED

THAT THE DEVIL WORSHIPPERS
KILLED."

THE PEOPLE THAT BOUGHT
INTO THE PROPAGANDA

THAT THE WEST MEMPHIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT

AND THE MEDIA
PUT FORTH--

DEVIL WORSHIPPERS--

BECAUSE OF SOME
GRAFFITI AROUND.

THEY GOT ON
THAT BANDWAGON

AND EVERYBODY
JUMPED ONBOARD.
AND IT WAS HYSTERIA.

PEOPLE WOULDN'T LET
THEIR CHILDREN OUT.

Joe Berlinger:
YOU JUMPED ON THAT
BANDWAGON, TOO.

OH, I LED THE BANDWAGON.

"YEA, THOUGH I WALK
THROUGH THE VALLEY

OF THE SHADOW OF DEATH,

I SHALL FEAR NO EVIL."

AND I'M NOT SCARED
OF THE DEVIL.

I KNOW
WHO MY COMFORTER IS.

THESE THREE ANIMALS
WORSHIPPING THE DEVIL

MADE A SACRIFICE

OF THREE BABIES
TO SATAN,

TO THINK THAT IT WOULD
EMPOWER THEM TO FLY,

WALK THROUGH WALLS.

YOU KNOW,
WHAT INSANITY.

WE DID A LITTLE GRAFFITI,

LIKE SPRAY-PAINT
ON UNDERPASSES,

BUT THERE WAS NOTHING SATANIC,
ANYTHING LIKE THAT.

IT WAS JUST LIKE
OUR NAMES,

OUR FAVORITE BANDS,
THINGS LIKE THAT.

AND THEY SEEM TO PLACE

SOME BIG IMPORTANCE ON IT
OR SOMETHING.

SOME EXPERTS HAVE SAID THAT
THE MAIN THREE DRIVING FORCES

OF SATAN WORSHIP
AMONG TEENAGERS

IS SEX, DRUGS,
AND ROCK 'N' ROLL.

AND THAT'S PROBABLY TRUE.

WHEN YOU'RE TALKING
ABOUT ROCK 'N' ROLL,

YOU'RE PROBABLY TALKING ABOUT
THE HEAVY METAL GROUPS.

MOST PEOPLE DON'T
UNDERSTAND

THE SITUATION
AS IT WAS THEN.

THE AREA HAD HAD

A RUMORED HISTORY

OF DEVIL WORSHIPPING
AND THAT TYPE OF THING.

THAT WAS SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE WERE SAYING

AROUND THE COUNTRY
AT THIS TIME.

IN DAMIEN'S CASE,
IT WAS THE KIDS

THAT CAME IN AND SAID
THAT THEY SAW HIM

EATING THE HINDQUARTER
OF A DOG.

BUT THE RUMORS
WERE RAMPANT.

THE POLICE DEPARTMENT
ASKED ME

TO COME UP WITH
A LIST OF PEOPLE

THAT WE HAD HAD
DEALINGS WITH

IN THE JUVENILE
DEPARTMENT

THAT-- THAT MIGHT HAVE HAD
SOMETHING TO DO WITH THIS.

DAMIEN'S NAME
WAS MENTIONED

VERY EARLY ON
BY A LOT OF PEOPLE.

HE-- HE-- HE DOES
ACT STRANGE.

HE WEARS
THE BLACK CLOTHING,

WHICH CREATES
ATTENTION TO HIM.

WE WERE TOTALLY
UNAWARE

THAT THERE WAS
A SATANIC CULT
IN WEST MEMPHIS,

THAT THERE WERE
SATAN WORSHIPPERS
IN WEST MEMPHIS.

I DIDN'T HEAR
ANYTHING ABOUT THIS

UNTIL MY CHILD
WAS SACRIFICED TO SATAN.

THEN I HEARD
ABOUT IT.

WHY IS IT THAT I DIDN'T
KNOW THIS BEFORE?

I'M ALL FOR BURNING THEM
AT THE STAKE

JUST LIKE THEY DID
IN SALEM.

I DON'T HAVE
A PROBLEM WITH IT.

AFTER WHAT THEY
HAVE DONE TO US,

THAT STILL WOULD NOT BE
GOOD ENOUGH.

GOOD EVENING.
I'M DIANA DAVIS.

AND I'M TONY BROOKS.
IN A STATEMENT GIVEN
TO THE POLICE,

17-YEAR-OLD
JESSIE MISSKELLEY

ALLEGEDLY CONFESSES TO
WATCHING TWO OTHER SUSPECTS

CHOKE, RAPE,
AND SEXUALLY MUTILATE

THREE WEST MEMPHIS
SECOND-GRADERS.

Jenna Newton:
MISSKELLEY TOLD POLICE
HE WATCHED

18-YEAR-OLD DAMIEN ECHOLS
AND 16-YEAR-OLD JASON BALDWIN

BRUTALIZE THE CHILDREN
AS PART OF A CULT RITUAL.

CAN YOU JUST SAY AGAIN
HOW STRONG YOU FEEL
THIS CASE IS?

SOMEONE ASKED ME
ON A SCALE FROM ONE TO 10.

AND I TOLD THEM, "11."
SO THAT'S HOW STRONG IT IS.

Jenna Newton:
GRAPHIC DETAILS HAVE
ALREADY BEEN PRINTED

IN TODAY'S "COMMERCIAL APPEAL."
JESSIE MISSKELLEY JR.,

IS ONE OF THREE
OF THE MURDER SUSPECTS.

I DON'T BELIEVE IT.

HE'S NOT
THAT TYPE OF BOY.

MISSKELLEY, SR.,
DISPUTES A CONFESSION

ALLEGEDLY MADE BY HIS SON
AND QUOTED IN TODAY'S
NEWSPAPER.

THE PAPER DOESN'T
MENTION HOW IT OBTAINED
YOUNG MISSKELLEY'S STATEMENT.

AN UNIDENTIFIED WOMAN CALLED
ACTION NEWS 5 LAST FRIDAY

OFFERING TO
SELL US THE TRANSCRIPT FOR
SEVERAL HUNDRED DOLLARS.

WE DECLINED
BECAUSE WE DO NOT PAY
FOR NEWS STORIES.

Man:
THE MISSKELLEY CONFESSION

GOT LEAKED
TO THE PRESS.

- YOU DIDN'T LEAK IT,
DID YOU?
- NO.

AND WAS THAT
AN ITEM OF CONCERN

TO YOU AT THE TIME?

NOT REALLY.

Jenna Newton:
ECHOLS, BALDWIN,
AND MISSKELLEY

PLEAD NOT GUILTY
TO THREE COUNTS EACH
OF CAPITAL MURDER.

David Steinhart:
MISSKELLEY WILL BE THE FIRST
OF THREE DEFENDANTS

TRIED FOR THE MURDERS
OF THREE WEST MEMPHIS BOYS
EARLIER THIS YEAR.

Jenna Newton:
THE JUDGE SETS ONE TRIAL DATE
FOR LATE FEBRUARY

AND RULES ECHOLS AND BALDWIN
WILL BE TRIED TOGETHER.

Woman:
CAN YOU DESCRIBE FOR ME

WHAT THE PRESS COVERAGE
WAS LIKE?

OH, IT WAS ANYTHING

YOU WOULD SEE TODAY

DEALING WITH

A MAJOR CELEBRITY.

I MEAN, IT--

LOOK AT THE MICHAEL JACKSON
COVERAGE.

THAT'S THE KIND OF COVERAGE
WE WERE GETTING.

Woman:
AND THAT SORT OF COVERAGE WAS
AT THE TIME OF THE MURDERS,

- BUT ALSO CONTINUING
THROUGH THE TRIALS?
- YES.

Male reporter:
REPORTERS HAVE WRITTEN
THOUSANDS OF STORIES

ABOUT THESE TWO TRIALS.
ON K.A.I.T. ALONE,

OUR VIEWERS HAVE SEEN

MORE THAN 130 STORIES
ABOUT THE THREE DEFENDANTS.

Female reporter:
THE ATTORNEYS WILL BE
LOOKING FOR JURORS

WHO CAN PUT ASIDE
THE THINGS THEY'VE HEARD
IN THE MEDIA

AND MAKE A DECISION
BASED ON THE FACTS

AS THEY ARE PRESENTED
IN THE TRIAL.

THIS CASE
POSES A DIFFICULT
BALANCING ACT:

ON ONE SIDE--
THE DEFENDANT'S RIGHT
TO A FAIR TRIAL;

THE OTHER SIDE--
THE PUBLIC'S RIGHT TO KNOW.

I DO RECALL
BEING ASKED

A SPECIFIC QUESTION
BY THE MEDIA ONCE

OF HOW I FELT
THIS CASE WAS

BETWEEN A ONE
AND A 10,

AND I MADE A DUMB REMARK
OF "11."

AND YOU'VE GOT TO
KEEP IN MIND

THE ATMOSPHERE
AT THAT TIME.

WE WERE 30 DAYS
INTO THE CASE

WHEN AN ARREST
WAS MADE.

THERE WAS A LOT
OF BURDEN

TAKEN OFF OF EVERYONE

THAT WAS INVOLVED
IN THAT CASE.

WE FELT LIKE WE HAD
A VERY SOLID CASE.

Woman:
IF YOU HAD IT TO DO
ALL OVER AGAIN,

WOULD YOU HAVE MADE
THE COMMENT

ABOUT 11
ON A ONE-OUT-OF-10 SCALE?

Gitchell:
I PROBABLY WOULD NOT HAVE.

IN SIX MONTHS FROM NOW,
WHEN THE TRIAL'S ALL OVER,

I'LL BE
WITH MY PARENTS AGAIN
AND MY FAMILY.

AND EVERYTHING
WILL BE HAPPY,
THE WAY IT WAS.

BUT I'M SCARED ABOUT
WHAT COULD HAPPEN

IF THEY DID
FIND ME GUILTY.

BUT I KNOW THEY CAN'T.

BUT THEN AGAIN,
THEY MIGHT.

I JUST DON'T LIKE
TO THINK ABOUT THAT.

THE DAY HE GOT ARRESTED,
NO ONE CALLED ME.

AND I GOT HOME
AND THERE WERE POLICE

GOING ALL THROUGH
MY HOUSE.

AND I KEPT ASKING
WHERE MY SON WAS.

THEY GAVE ME THAT
TESTIMONY OF JESSIE'S

THAT SAID THAT IT HAPPENED
DURING THE DAY

AND THAT JASON
HAD SKIPPED SCHOOL.

I HAD PROOF
THAT JASON WAS IN SCHOOL
AND THAT IT WAS A LIE.

BUT THAT DIDN'T MATTER
TO GITCHELL.

THEY ALREADY HAD HIM
IN THE COURTROOM

BEFORE I COULD GET UP THERE
WITH HIS SCHOOL RECORDS.

AND I HAD TO FIGHT MY WAY
THROUGH A CROWD.

MA'AM, WHAT DO YOU
THINK ABOUT THE REPORTS
THIS MORNING

OF YOUR SON'S INVOLVEMENT
IN THIS THING?

HE DIDN'T HAVE ANYTHING
TO DO WITH IT.

- WAS HE AT SCHOOL?
- Mr. Grinnell: HE WAS
AT SCHOOL.

- THE WHOLE DAY?
- THE WHOLE DAY.

Gail Grinnell:
HE WAS NOT THERE.
AND I WAS IN SHOCK--

TOTAL SHOCK.

I FIRST MET JASON

THE MORNING OF HIS
VERY FIRST APPEARANCE

AT THE WEST MEMPHIS
MUNICIPAL COURT.

Paul Ford:
MY IMPRESSIONS OF JASON ARE

THAT HE APPEARED
VERY SHY AND VERY TIMID.

HE DOES NOT APPEAR TO BE
AN ANGRY YOUNG MAN.

HE DOES NOT APPEAR
TO BE A VIOLENT YOUNG MAN.

HE DOES NOT APPEAR
TO BE A MAN

WHO IS CAPABLE
OF A HEINOUS ACT

FOR WHICH
HE'S CHARGED.

Joe Berlinger:
HOW DID YOU GUYS MEET?

- AT SCHOOL.
- YEAH, I THINK SO.

IN A STUDY HALL.
I HAD, LIKE, A BOOK BAG
FULL OF TAPES.

I USED TO TRY
TO STEAL THEM.
( laughs )

WE DID ABOUT
EVERYTHING TOGETHER

BEFORE WE GOT ARRESTED,

USED TO GO TO PLACES
ON THE WEEKENDS.

TO MALLS.

John Philipsborn:
MY CLIENT JASON BALDWIN

WAS ESSENTIALLY
INVESTIGATED

MAINLY ON THE BASIS

THAT HE HUNG OUT
AROUND DAMIEN ECHOLS

AND WAS KNOWN TO BE
A GOOD FRIEND OF HIS.

JASON WAS DAMIEN'S
CONSTANT SHADOW.

WHEREVER DAMIEN WENT,
JASON WENT.

GUILT BY ASSOCIATION.

IT'S A SCARY THING

TO BE ACCUSED OF SOMETHING
BECAUSE OF YOUR FRIENDS.

WHY EVERYBODY THOUGHT
IT WAS JASON

WAS BECAUSE HE HUNG OUT
WITH DAMIEN.

AND WHY DID EVERYBODY
THINK IT WAS DAMIEN?

'CAUSE HE WAS THE--

HE WAS THE GUY
WHO HAD THE WEIRD SUIT.

MY SON WORE BLACK.

THEY WEREN'T PROSECUTED
BECAUSE THEY--

THEY WORE
BLACK T-SHIRTS

OR LIKED
HEAVY METAL MUSIC.

Joe Berlinger:
CAN YOU TALK A LITTLE BIT
ABOUT, YOU KNOW,

THAT DAY WHEN THEY
BROUGHT YOU IN FOR--

YOU KNOW, FOR QUESTIONING,
AND THEN, YOU KNOW,

LATER ON
EVERYBODY WAS ARRESTED?

CAN YOU TALK TO US
WHAT IT WAS LIKE?

THEY JUST ASKED ME
WHO DID IT.

AND I DIDN'T KNOW
WHO DID IT, YOU KNOW.

THEY KEPT--
THE POLICE KEPT ON
ASKING ME WHO DID IT

AND I TOLD THEM
I DIDN'T KNOW, WHICH I
DIDN'T KNOW.

YOU KNOW, I TOLD--
I TOLD THE POLICE WHERE
I WAS AT THAT DAY.

I WAS IN DYESS, ARKANSAS,
WRESTLING, WHICH I WAS.

I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE TO KEEP ON
ASKING ME QUESTIONS

AND I DONE
TOLD THEM ONCE.

YOU KNOW,
I DON'T LIKE PEOPLE

ASKING ME AND ASKING ME
AND ASKING ME.

YOU KNOW, I'M GONNA
TELL YOU ONE TIME.

AND, YOU KNOW,
IF YOU JUST EGG IT ON,

THEN I'M GONNA
JUST SAY SOMETHING
JUST TO LEAVE ME ALONE.

YOU KNOW,
AND THAT'S WHAT I DID.
AND, YOU KNOW, I JUST--

THEY JUST EGGED IT ON.
AND FINALLY I JUST
TOLD THE COPS,

"LOOK, YOU KNOW,
ALL RIGHT, I DID IT,
YOU KNOW.

I KILLED THEM
AND EVERYTHING."

- ( phone rings )
- Man: HELLO.

Woman: Operator.
I have a collect call.
Your name, please?

- Jessie: Jessie.
- Woman: Will you pay?

- YES, MA'AM.
- Thank you.

- HEY, SON.
- Hey.

HOW ARE YOU DOING?

THAT'S GOOD.

OH, HELL, YES.
IT SNOWED LIKE HELL UP HERE.

GOT ABOUT 3 INCHES OF SNOW
OUT HERE ON THE GROUND NOW.

Yeah?

IT DIDN'T?

WELL, IT IS HERE,
I GUARANTEE YOU.

Woman over radio:
Go ahead.

Jessie:
YOU KNOW, I TALK TO MY DAD
EVERY FRIDAY.

I CALL HIM
EVERY FRIDAY.

"I WANT YOU
TO COME HOME, SON."

YOU KNOW, HE TELLS ME
THAT ALL THE TIME.

HE TELLS ME HE LOVES ME.
OF COURSE I KNOW THAT.

YOU KNOW, I LOVE HIM.
I LOVE HIM TO DEATH,
YOU KNOW.

I'M TRYING TO GET HOME
TO BE WITH HIM.

Jessie Sr.:
SO DO YOU EVER THINK
ABOUT THAT-- THAT HAPPENED,

THE WAY THE POLICE
TREATED YOU UP HERE
IN THAT QUESTIONING?

YEAH, I KNOW.

MIKE ALLEN ASKED MY DAD,
COULD HE TALK TO ME?

AND MY DAD SAID,
"WELL, SURE, YOU CAN
TALK TO HIM."

SO I GOT IN THE COP CAR
WITH HIM AND WE RODE
TO WEST MEMPHIS.

MIKE ALLEN ASKED ME,
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE IF
I KNEW WHO DONE IT?

THAT WAY I COULD BUY
MY DAD A TRUCK.

'CAUSE AT THE TIME, I THINK,
THE REWARD WAS LIKE $30,000.

I SAID YES, I COULD USE THAT--
YOU KNOW, THAT MONEY--
THE REWARD MONEY,

BUT I-- YOU KNOW,

BUT I DIDN'T KNOW
WHO DONE IT, THOUGH.

Younger Gitchell:
OUR INTENTIONS FOR WANTING
TO TALK TO JESSIE MISSKELLEY

WERE FOR THE PURPOSE
OF GIVING US SOME NAMES

OF INDIVIDUALS THAT
HE MAY KNOW FIRSTHAND OF

OR EVER HEARD OF
WHO WERE INVOLVED

IN THE CULT ACTIVITY
OR SATANISM.

IN THE COURSE OF

WHAT WAS A VERY LONG DAY
OF INTERVIEWING,

JESSIE MISSKELLEY
GOES FROM BEING

A SOURCE
OF INFORMATION

TO BEING A SUSPECT
WHO HAS,

ACCORDING TO THE TAPE-RECORDED
STATEMENTS,

CONFESSED TO INVOLVEMENT
IN THIS CRIME.

( recorder clicks )

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN
OF THE JURY,

THIS STATEMENT THAT
MR. MISSKELLEY GAVE

TO THE WEST MEMPHIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT

IS A FALSE STORY.

Dan Stidham:
NO ONE IN 1993 UNDERSTOOD

THE PHENOMENON
OF FALSE CONFESSIONS.

WE NOW KNOW WE'RE NOT
GONNA LET THE POLICE

TAKE A KID
OFF THE STREET,

INTERROGATE HIM
FOR 12 HOURS,

AND YET ONLY HAVE
41 MINUTES OF AUDIOTAPE

TO SUPPORT THIS
SO-CALLED CONFESSION.

Jessie:
WELL, IN A YEAR FROM NOW,

HOPEFULLY I CAN BE OUT
AND BE WITH MY FAMILY.

I'LL HOPEFULLY BE
MARRIED TO SUSIE.

HOPEFULLY I'LL HAVE
A KID.

YOU KNOW,
I LOVE KIDS A LOT.

I THINK
I'LL HAVE SOME.

Younger Dan Stidham:
JESSIE IS MILDLY RETARDED.

IT'S MUCH EASIER

TO GET A CONFESSION
OUT OF SOMEONE

WHO IS 17
AND OPERATING

AT MAYBE A FIVE-
OR SIX-YEAR-OLD LEVEL

OF INTELLECTUAL
FUNCTIONING

THAN IT IS SOMEONE
WHO GRADUATED FROM HARVARD.

THE POLICE, YOU KNOW--
THEY QUESTIONED ME

FOR, LIKE,
11 OR 12 HOURS.

AND FINALLY I JUST GOT
TIRED, YOU KNOW?

MY MIND WAS,
YOU KNOW,

DRAINING ME OUT.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING?

I COULDN'T-- I COULDN'T
FOCUS NO MORE.

MY BODY WAS DRAINING.

I WANTED TO GO HOME
AND BE WITH MY DAD.

YOU CAN TELL
THE DIFFERENCE

BETWEEN A REAL,
BONA FIDE,

VALUABLE CONFESSION
AND A FALSE CONFESSION

BY LOOKING AT

HOW WELL DO THE THINGS
THE SUSPECT TELLS YOU

STACK UP WITH
THE OBJECTIVE FACTS
OF THE CRIME?

AND WHAT JESSIE MISSKELLEY
TALKED ABOUT

DOESN'T STACK UP TO
WHAT THE EVIDENCE SHOWS.

Don Horgan:
WITH, YOU KNOW, PERSISTENT
POLICE FOLLOW-UP QUESTIONING,

HE KEEPS MOVING
THE TIME OF THE OFFENSES
LATER AND LATER IN THE DAY

UNTIL FINALLY,
WITH LEADING QUESTIONS,

THE POLICE GET THEM--

GET JESSIE TO PLACE
THE TIME OF THE CRIMES

AFTER THE TIME
THE KIDS DISAPPEARED.

Jessie:
IT WAS MY VOICE
THAT YOU HEARD.

I WAS SAYING
WHAT THE POLICE
WANTED ME TO SAY.

EVERYTHING THAT I SAID
REALLY CAME FROM THE POLICE

LIKE, "WELL,
YOU TOLD ME EARLIER

SOMETHING ABOUT THIS
AND THIS AND THAT."

THAT'S WHEN I SAID,
"OKAY."

THAT'S WHEN I REPEATED
WHAT THEY SAID.

A LOT OF GOOD COPS
ARE GONNA PRESS HARD

TO TRY TO GET
AN ANSWER TO

WHO'S RESPONSIBLE
FOR A TERRIBLE CRIME.

SO, CERTAINLY, YOU KNOW,
PUSHING HARD--

THERE'S NOTHING WRONG
WITH PUSHING HARD.

IT'S HAVING YOUR END
IN MIND SO FIXED

AND YOU'RE SO
DETERMINED TO ENSURE
THAT A PARTICULAR PERSON

BE HELD RESPONSIBLE
FOR A CRIME,

THAT YOU
LOSE SIGHT OF--

OF, YOU KNOW,
HOW COERCIVE YOUR
TACTICS ARE.

THAT'S WHERE YOU--
YOU STEP OVER THE LINE.

AND I THINK IT'S CLEAR
THEY OVERREACHED WITH
JESSIE MISSKELLEY.

THE PRESENCE
OF FALSE CONFESSIONS

AND HOW FREQUENTLY
THEY PLAY A KEY ROLE

IN SECURING CONVICTIONS
FOR THE PROSECUTION--

IT'S BEEN VERY
WELL-DOCUMENTED NOW.

AND THAT'S WHAT HAPPENED
IN THIS CASE.

AND IT CONTINUES TO
HAPPEN ALL OVER THE COUNTRY,
AND IT'S GONE ON FOR DECADES.

BUT IT'S ONLY NOW
THAT PEOPLE ARE BEGINNING

TO REALLY, YOU KNOW,
UNDERSTAND THE SCOPE
OF THAT PROBLEM.

I SAID WHAT THE POLICE
WANTED ME TO SAY.

THAT'S THE REASON
WHY I SAID THAT.

WAS IT TRUE?
NO, IT WAS NOT TRUE.

DID I RUN ANYBODY DOWN?
NO, I DID NOT.

I DIDN'T KILL NOBODY.
I HAVE NOTHING TO HIDE.

I HAVE NOTHING
TO BE ASHAMED OF.

ALL RIGHT, YOUR VERDICTS
ARE IN GOOD FORM

AND READ AS FOLLOWS:

"WE THE JURY, HAVING FOUND
JESSIE LLOYD MISSKELLEY JR.,

GUILTY OF FIRST-DEGREE MURDER
IN THE DEATH OF MICHAEL MOORE,

FIX HIS SENTENCE
AT A TERM OF LIFE

IN THE ARKANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

COUNT TWO--
WE THE JURY, HAVING FOUND
JESSIE LLOYD MISSKELLEY

GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE MURDER
IN THE DEATH OF STEVEN BRANCH,

FIX HIS SENTENCE
AT A TERM OF 20 YEARS

IN THE ARKANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS.

COUNT THREE--
WE THE JURY, HAVING FOUND
JESSIE LLOYD MISSKELLEY JR.,

GUILTY OF SECOND-DEGREE
MURDER IN THE DEATH OF
CHRISTOPHER BYERS,

FIX HIS SENTENCE
AT A TERM OF 20 YEARS

IN THE ARKANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS."

IS THIS YOUR
UNANIMOUS VERDICT,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN?

- YES.
- ALL RIGHT,

YOU WILL RECEIVE A LIFE
SENTENCE PLUS 40 YEARS.

AND THAT WILL BE
THE JUDGMENT OF THE COURT.

PRISON'S NOT
A SAFE PLACE,

JESSIE, SWEETIE.

I'M GONNA MAIL HIM
A SKIRT.

ONE DOWN, TWO TO GO.

HOPEFULLY THE SAME THING
WILL HAPPEN TO THE NEXT TWO

AND WE'LL GET
THE SAME VERDICT.

ALL RIGHT, GENTLEMEN,
IF YOU'D HAVE YOUR CLIENTS
STAND, PLEASE.

MR. BALDWIN AND MR. ECHOLS,
IF YOU'D STAND.

IN YOUR CASE,
MR. BALDWIN,

YOU'LL BE
ADJUDICATED GUILTY

OF THREE COUNTS
OF CAPITAL MURDER.

YOU'LL BE SENTENCED

TO THE ARKANSAS
DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS

TO A TERM OF LIFE
WITHOUT POSSIBILITY
OF PAROLE

ON EACH
OF THE THREE COUNTS.

DAMIEN ECHOLS
SHALL BE SENTENCED TO DEATH
BY LETHAL INJECTION.

YOU'LL BE ADMINISTERED
A CONTINUOUS INTRAVENOUS

INJECTION OF
A LETHAL QUANTITY

OF AN ULTRA SHORT-ACTING
BARBITURATE

IN COMBINATION
WITH A CHEMICAL
PARALYTIC AGENT

- INTO YOUR BODY
UNTIL YOU ARE DEAD.
- ( woman sobbing )

IT'S MY OBLIGATION
TO LET YOU KNOW

YOU DO HAVE
A RIGHT TO APPEAL,

AND YOU NEED
TO CONSIDER THAT
WITH YOUR ATTORNEYS.

HE'LL BE IN YOUR CUSTODY,
MR. SHERIFF,

FOR IMMEDIATE TRANSPORTATION
TO THE DEPARTMENT
OF CORRECTIONS

TO CARRY OUT THE ORDERS
OF THIS COURT.

Male reporter:
QUESTIONS ABOUT WHETHER
JUSTICE WAS SERVED

HAS LOOMED IN THIS CASE
SINCE THE VERDICTS.

THE HBO DOCUMENTARY
"PARADISE LOST"

GAVE THE CASE
WORLDWIDE ATTENTION.

SINCE THE FILMS,
THOUSANDS ARE QUESTIONING
THE CONVICTIONS.

16 YEARS AGO,
I BELIEVE,

I SAW THE DOCUMENTARY
"PARADISE LOST."

IT WAS ON HBO.

I GOT INVOLVED IN THE CASE
THINKING THAT

THERE WAS MAYBE SOME WAY
I COULD MAKE A DIFFERENCE.

IS THERE SOMETHING
ABOUT THE WAY

DAMIEN ECHOLS WAS
TREATED AS A TEENAGER

THAT YOU CAN
RELATE TO?

I CAN REMEMBER BEING
KIND OF LOOKED UPON

AS A FREAK OR,
YOU KNOW, DIFFERENT,

BECAUSE I DIDN'T DRESS
LIKE EVERYBODY ELSE.

SO I CAN EMPATHIZE
WITH BEING JUDGED

BY HOW YOU LOOK
AS OPPOSED TO WHO YOU ARE.

- I'D LIKE TO SAY SOMETHING,
IF YOU DON'T MIND.
- Woman: SURE.

I WOULD LOVE TO SIT DOWN
WITH SOME PEOPLE

THAT I HAVE HEARD
MAKE STATEMENTS,

THAT ARE
IN THE PUBLIC EYE,

AND ACTUALLY TALK
TO THEM AND SAY,

"THIS IS WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED

THAT WAS NOT SHOWN
ON THE DOCUMENTARY."

AND I THINK THEY'D HAVE
A WHOLE DIFFERENT
UNDERSTANDING.

- BUT ALL THAT EVIDENCE
HAS BEEN MADE PUBLIC.
- YES, IT HAS.

IT MAY NOT HAVE SHOWN UP
IN THE DOCUMENTARIES

OR IN A PARTICULAR
NEWS REPORT

OR A SPEECH BY SOMEONE,
BUT IT IS PUBLIC RECORD.

MOST ANYONE CAN MAKE
THE PROPER CONTACTS

AND VIEW THAT--
THAT INFORMATION.

MY UNDERSTANDING
IS THAT ANY CITIZEN
OF THE UNITED STATES

CAN COME DOWN AND SIT
IN THE WEST MEMPHIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT

AND LOOK THROUGH
MOST OF THAT EVIDENCE.
AM I CORRECT?

Gitchell:
THAT'S WHAT I UNDERSTAND.

SO THERE'S NOT
A SECRET BAG

OR POCKET
OF INFORMATION

THAT THE WEST MEMPHIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT

OR THE PROSECUTORS HAVE
THAT CONVINCES THEM

THAT THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE
ARE GUILTY,

BUT THAT THE REST
OF THE PUBLIC CAN'T KNOW.

RIGHT, THERE'S NO--

THERE'S NO SECRET
IN THERE WHATSOEVER.

IT'S JUST--
AS I MENTIONED BEFORE,

IT'S THE PERCEPTION
PEOPLE RECEIVED

FROM THE MEDIA
AND HBO.

I SAW THE MOVIE.
I GOT AN ADVANCE SCREENER

BECAUSE I WORK FOR
AN ADVERTISING AGENCY.

WE SAW THE FILM
TOGETHER, KATHY AND I,
AND WE IMMEDIATELY SAW IT

AND SAID, "OH, GOSH,
BURK WOULD PROBABLY
LIKE THIS."

( laughter )

ACTUALLY NOT
LIKE IT, BUT--

HE CALLED US UP AND HE SAYS,
"THESE GUYS ARE INNOCENT."

WE START CONTACTING
THE LAWYERS, 'CAUSE YOU
JUST WANT TO KNOW MORE.

AND WE'RE SHOCKED TO FIND OUT
THAT NOTHING WAS GETTING DONE,

THEY WERE JUST
LANGUISHING THERE.
IT WAS HORRIBLE.

AND SO WE WERE LIKE,
"WELL, WHAT CAN WE DO?

WE WORK IN THE ENTERTAINMENT
INDUSTRY.

WE CAN DESIGN THINGS."

AND THEN YOU SAY,
"WELL, WHAT CAN YOU DO
WITH THAT?"

WE'RE LIKE,
"WE CAN MAKE A WEBSITE."

Male reporter:
ECHOLS HAS HIS BACKERS.

A WEBSITE IS NOW ONLINE
TO RAISE MONEY

FOR THE THREE MEN
CONVICTED OF KILLING

THE WEST MEMPHIS
EIGHT-YEAR-OLDS.

WE'RE NOT EXPERTS
OURSELVES,

BUT WE'VE HIRED
EXPERTS

TO LOOK INTO THE CASE
FOR US

BECAUSE THERE WAS
JUST SO MUCH DOUBT.

Burk Sauls:
ONE OF THE SADDEST THINGS
THAT I CAN REMEMBER

ABOUT THIS
WHOLE THING

AND ABOUT OUR TRIPS
OUT HERE

IS I REMEMBER BEING
IN A RENTAL CAR LIKE THIS,

HEADING OUT
TO THE PRISON.

AND I REMEMBER SAYING,
"CAN YOU BELIEVE

THAT THESE GUYS
HAVE BEEN LOCKED UP

IN PRISON
FOR THREE WHOLE YEARS?"

AND HERE WE ARE,
17 YEARS LATER,

HEADING TO
PINE BLUFF

TO VISIT OUR FRIENDS AGAIN
IN 2011.

ALL RIGHT.

Kathy Bakken:
HERE WE ARE.

I DON'T LIKE
BEING HERE AGAIN,

BUT IT'S GOOD
TO SEE THESE GUYS.

( gate buzzes )

- Sauls: WHENEVER YOU'RE READY.
- Bakken: JUST THANK EVERYBODY.

Sauls:
THIS WILL BE SHORT.

Jason:
THERE'S NOT LIKE AN "ACTION"
OR NOTHING?

- Sauls: ACTION.
- Bakken: GO.

HI. MY NAME IS--

HI. MY NAME IS
JASON BALDWIN.

AND I WANT TO THANK
ALL OF THE SUPPORTERS,

ALL OF THE PEOPLE OUT THERE
WHO HAVE WRITTEN ME
OVER THE YEARS,

WHO'VE RESEARCHED
THE CASE,

DID THEIR-- YOU KNOW, WHATEVER
IT IS IN YOUR MEANS--

THAT DID YOUR BEST,
YOU KNOW,

TO LET ME,
DAMIEN AND JESSIE
AND OUR FAMILIES KNOW

THAT, YOU KNOW,
WHAT'S HAPPENED TO US

WILL NOT BE FORGOTTEN
AND IT'LL BE MADE RIGHT.

Younger Jason:
AMERICA'S SUPPOSED
TO BE BASED ON

"INNOCENT UNTIL
PROVEN GUILTY,"

BUT IN THIS CASE,
IT'S THE OTHER WAY AROUND--

YOU'RE GUILTY
UNTIL PROVEN INNOCENT.

I NEVER
WOULD HAVE DREAMED

THAT ANYTHING LIKE THIS
COULD HAVE HAPPENED TO ME.

Announcer:
NOW LIVE FROM
THE MID-SOUTH NEWS LEADER...

Male reporter:
CONVICTED WEST MEMPHIS
CHILD MURDERER DAMIEN ECHOLS

GIVES AN EXCLUSIVE INTERVIEW
TO ACTION NEWS 5.

I THINK IF IT WAS--
IF THEY WERE CAPABLE,

THE PUBLIC WOULD PROBABLY
FORM A LYNCH MOB
AND COME GET ME.

Male reporter:
DAMIEN ECHOLS SAYS
HE WAS RAILROADED

BY THE POLICE, PROSECUTORS,
AND THE JUDGE.

Judge Burne
MR. ECHOLS, YOU ARE
REMANDED TO THE CUSTODY...

Male reporter:
IT'S BEEN PAINFUL FOR
THE MOTHER AND STEPFATHER

OF STEVIE BRANCH
TO WATCH DAMIEN ECHOLS.

THEY'D PREFER
HE GET NO ATTENTION.

I'M GLAD HE'S IN PAIN
AND MISERABLE AND ALL THAT.

I'M GLAD HE'S JUST
SO MESSED UP AND--

AND I WOULD LIKE
TO SEE PRISON KILL HIM.

I WAS A STEP-PARENT
BACK IN 1993

WHEN THIS HAPPENED.

I WAS A GOOD
STEP-PARENT.

AND TO WATCH IT ALL
GO AWAY

ON ACCOUNT OF THIS,

YOU LOSE YOUR LIFE
TO A DEGREE.

YOU CAN SAY I SORT OF
LIKE DIED MYSELF

BECAUSE I SHUT OUT
HUMANITY.

STEVE'S DEATH
WAS SO DIFFICULT
FOR PAM TO ACCEPT

THAT OTHER PROBLEMS
RESULTED.

SHE SEPARATED
FROM HER HUSBAND
AND MOVED HERE

TO HER PARENTS' HOME
IN BLYTHEVILLE.

A CRIME
OF THIS NATURE

WILL TAKE A TOLL
ON ANYBODY.

AND I HAVE SEEN THIS
HAPPEN TO OUR HOME.

TOMORROW, 19-YEAR-OLD
DAMIEN ECHOLS'S ATTORNEYS

WILL FILE
WITH THE COURT

THE TRANSCRIPTS
FROM ECHOLS'S TRIAL--

MORE THAN 4,000 PAGES
OF TESTIMONY.

THAT WILL SET IN MOTION
THE APPEALS PROCESS

THAT ECHOLS BELIEVES
WILL LEAD

TO THE OVERTURNING OF HIS
CONVICTION AND SENTENCE.

Male reporter:
CONVICTED MURDERER
DAMIEN ECHOLS

APPEARED IN
CRAIGHEAD COUNTY COURT

FOR THE LATEST HEARING
SINCE HIS 1994 CONVICTION.

Female reporter:
DAN STIDHAM, WHO REPRESENTED

JESSIE MISSKELLEY
IN THE ORIGINAL TRIAL,

SAYS MANY QUESTIONS
REMAIN UNANSWERED.

I FIRMLY BELIEVE THAT
THIS IS A MISCARRIAGE
OF JUSTICE

AND WE'RE GONNA KEEP GOING
AND KEEP GOING,

DOESN'T MATTER
HOW MANY YEARS IT TAKES.

Female reporter:
IT WAS ALSO AN
EMOTIONAL DAY,

ESPECIALLY FOR
THE VICTIMS' FAMILIES.

Pam Hobbs:
DAMIEN'S NOT
GOING ANYWHERE.

JUSTICE PREVAILED
THE FIRST TIME.

I HAVE ALL THE FAITH
IN THE WORLD

THAT JUSTICE WILL
PREVAIL AGAIN

AND SOMEDAY
I'LL GET TO WATCH
DAMIEN ECHOLS DIE.

Female reporter:
BUT THEY'RE NOT THE ONLY ONES
WHO WANT JUSTICE TO PREVAIL.

Gail Grinnell:
ANYBODY WITH A SET OF EYES
CAN SEE

THAT THESE
BOYS ARE INNOCENT.
THEY DID NOT DO IT.

AND IF SHE WANTS
JUSTICE DONE,

SHE NEEDS TO BE TRYING
TO GET THIS CASE REOPENED

AND FIND THE REAL MURDERERS
OF THOSE THREE CHILDREN.

EVERY APPEAL
THAT HAS COME UP

HAS CAUSED GRIEF

AND CAUSED PROBLEMS
IN THE HOME.

IT BRINGS BACK ANGER
STILL TODAY

TO SEE THEIR PICTURES
OR FACES ON THE MEDIA.

RELIVING IT
IS A NIGHTMARE AT TIMES.

Female reporter:
DAMIEN ECHOLS STILL WALKS,

EVEN THOUGH FOUR YEARS AGO
HE WAS SENTENCED TO DIE.

Man:
ARE YOU HOPING
THIS WORKS?

YEAH, BUT I DON'T
THINK IT WILL.

- WHY DON'T YOU THINK
IT WILL WORK?
- SAME JUDGE.

HIS APPEALS
HAVE BEEN DENIED

TIME AND TIME
AND TIME AGAIN.

NOW TODAY
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
DID MAKE A REQUEST

THAT JUDGE DAVID BURNETT
BE RECUSED FROM HEARING
THESE CASES.

BUT THAT MOTION WAS
QUICKLY DENIED
BY THE JUDGE.

Female reporter:
THE ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT

HAS DENIED EVERY APPEAL
BY DAMIEN ECHOLS,

AND DEFENSE IS COUNTING
ON D.N.A. TESTING

TO SHED NEW LIGHT
ON THE CASE.

Terry Hobbs:
THIS CASE WAS SOLVED
IN 1994.

AND ONE DAY
IN ARKANSAS

THEY'RE GOING TO INJECT
DAMIEN ECHOLS,

AND HE WILL PAY
WITH HIS LIFE

FOR WHAT HE HAS DONE

TO THREE LITTLE
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOYS.

A FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST,
A BITE MARK EXPERT,

A CRIMINAL PROFILER,

EVEN A HUMAN BLOOD
AND BODY FLUID STAIN
SPECIALIST

BROUGHT THEIR EXPERTISE
HERE TO THE LAW SCHOOL

AT THE UNIVERSITY OF ARKANSAS
IN LITTLE ROCK

IN HOPES OF PROVING
WHY THE DEFENSE TEAM

FOR CONVICTED KILLER
DAMIEN ECHOLS SAYS

HE IS INNOCENT.

GOOD MORNING,
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.

MY NAME IS
DENNIS RIORDAN.

WE REPRESENT PETITIONER
DAMIEN ECHOLS

IN THE EASTERN DISTRICT
OF ARKANSAS

HERE IN LITTLE ROCK,

ARISING OUT OF
THE 1994 TRIAL--

TRIALS REALLY--

OF THREE TEENAGERS
WHO WERE TRIED AND CONVICTED

FOR THE MURDERS OF THREE
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOYS.

AND WE ARE HERE TODAY
TO DISCUSS THE EVIDENCE

THAT ESTABLISHES
THAT NO REASONABLE JUROR

WOULD CONVICT
DAMIEN ECHOLS

ESSENTIALLY KNOWING
WHAT WE KNOW TODAY.

THE HEART
OF THIS PRESENTATION

IS FOUR EXPERTS WHO WE
WILL BE CALLING TODAY,

WHO PROVIDED
THE CORE

OF THE NEW EVIDENCE
BEFORE THE DISTRICT COURT.

THEY ARE:
WERNER SPITZ,

PROBABLY THE COUNTRY'S
LEADING FORENSIC PATHOLOGIST,

CERTAINLY
THE AUTHOR OF THE BIBLE
OF FORENSIC PATHOLOGY;

RICHARD SOUVIRON,
RENOWNED FORENSIC
ODONTOLOGIST

WHO WAS THE KEY WITNESS
FOR THE PROSECUTION

IN CONVICTING
TED BUNDY;

TOM FEDOR,
WHO IS A D.N.A. EXPERT

TO DISCUSS
THE NEW D.N.A. EVIDENCE;

AND JOHN DOUGLAS,
WHO HEADED

THE CRIMINAL ANALYSIS UNIT
OF THE F.B.I. FOR 25 YEARS.

BUT WHAT IS
THE NEW EVIDENCE

THAT PROVES NOT MERELY
THAT THIS WAS AN UNFAIR TRIAL,

BUT THAT INNOCENT MEN
WERE CONVICTED?

AND WITH THAT, I'LL TURN
TO MY PARTNER DON HORGAN.

GOOD MORNING.

I'M GONNA TAKE
A MINUTE OR TWO HERE

JUST TO REVIEW SOME OF
THE D.N.A. EVIDENCE

THAT HAS RECENTLY
SURFACED IN THE CASE.

FIRST WITH
A LITTLE BACKGROUND--

IN 2001, ARKANSAS,
LIKE A LOT OF OTHER STATES,

PASSED A STATUTE
THAT ALLOWS

CONVICTED CRIMINAL
DEFENDANTS

TO CHALLENGE
THEIR CONVICTIONS
WITH NEW D.N.A. EVIDENCE

THAT SHOWS THEM TO BE
ACTUALLY INNOCENT.

UNDER THAT
STATE STATUTE,

RELEVANT ITEMS
FROM THE CRIME SCENE
IN THIS CASE

WERE TESTED
AT THE LABORATORY
CHOSEN BY THE PROSECUTION,

AND THAT'S
BODE LABORATORIES
IN VIRGINIA.

IN LATE 2005, BODE ISSUED
ITS FIRST REPORT

SHOWING D.N.A. PROFILES
OF GENETIC MATERIAL

FOUND ON THE VICTIMS
AND ON OTHER

PIECES OF EVIDENCE
FROM THE CRIME SCENE.

IN THE END,
NONE OF THE BODE REPORTS

COULD LINK ANY OF THE D.N.A.
PROVIDED BY THE DEFENDANTS

TO THE VICTIMS
OR TO THE CRIME SCENE.

NEW EVIDENCE HAS EMERGED
IN WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS.

Male reporter:
NEW EVIDENCE RELEASED TODAY
CLAIMS

TESTING UNAVAILABLE
IN 1993

SHOWS NO D.N.A. FROM
THE THREE IMPRISONED DEFENDANTS

WAS FOUND ON THE BODIES
OF THE MURDERED BOYS.

FOR 14 YEARS,
JOHN MARK BYERS

WAS CONVINCED HE KNEW
WHO TIED UP AND KILLED

HIS EIGHT-YEAR-OLD SON
AND TWO OTHER CUB SCOUTS

IN A BRUTAL
MUTILATION MURDER.

NOW BYERS AND
THE STATE OF ARKANSAS

HAVE BEEN SHOWN
NEW EVIDENCE

THAT THE FATHER TELLS
A.B.C. NEWS

HAS CHANGED HIS MIND
ABOUT THE GUILT

OF THE THREE BOYS KNOWN AS
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE.

I HATED YOU.

I BELIEVED WITH ALL MY HEART
YOU KILLED MY SON.

AND I'M SORRY
FOR THAT.

THE QUESTION IS

WHY AM I
SO DIFFERENT NOW

THAN YEARS BACK?

UH...

COMING TO DEAL
WITH THINGS,

COMING TO DEAL WITH

THAT I KNOW
I DID ALL I COULD

TO KEEP CHRISTOPHER SAFE,
THAT IT WASN'T MY FAULT.

NO, I WASN'T
A PERFECT DAD,

BUT I-- I DID
THE BEST I COULD.

I'M JUST A COUNTRY BOY
FROM MARKED TREE.

THAT YOU KILL MY SON,

YOU MADE ME
MADDER THAN HELL

AND I WANTED
TO KICK SOMEBODY'S ASS.

Male reporter:
DAMIEN ECHOLS QUIT
TALKING TO REPORTERS

AFTER GETTING WARNINGS
FROM HIS ATTORNEYS.

LAST WEEK, ECHOLS SAID
MARK BYERS COMMITTED
THE MURDERS.

DOES IT COME
AS A SURPRISE, MARK?

Mark Byers:
WE DON'T HAVE ANY COMMENT.

HE'S GOT KNOWLEDGE
ABOUT THE AREA.

HE KNOWS WHEN THE SEARCH
IS OVER WITH.

HE'S BIG ENOUGH
THAT HE CAN

CARRY THE BOYS THERE
AND THROW THEM IN.

HIS SON WAS
THE ONLY ONE MUTILATED.

THE OTHER TWO
WEREN'T MUTILATED.

ALL OF THE PIECES
FIT TOGETHER

WITH A PERSON
LIKE BYERS.

Male reporter:
AFTER THE SENTENCING,

THE MOTHER AND STEPFATHER
OF CHRISTOPHER BYERS

MOVED OUT OF
WEST MEMPHIS.

ECHOLS CLAIMS
BYERS IS THE REAL KILLER.

I THINK BASICALLY
IN A FIT OF ANGER
HE KILLED THEM.

HE'S GOT TO BE THE BIGGEST
PATHOLOGICAL LIAR.

I HOPE HE ROTS AND BURNS
IN HELL FOR ETERNITY.

I HATE HIS GUTS

MORE THAN ANYTHING
ON THE FACE OF THE EARTH.

MARK AND MELISSA BYERS
MOVED TO CHEROKEE VILLAGE

TO GET AWAY
FROM THE MEMORIES

OF THEIR SON'S MURDER
IN WEST MEMPHIS.

BUT THE TROUBLE
FOLLOWED THEM.

Jenna Newton:
THEY'RE ACCUSED OF TAKING

$20,000 WORTH OF PROPERTY
FROM A NEIGHBOR'S HOUSE.

BUT THAT'S ONLY THE BEGINNING
OF THEIR LEGAL PROBLEMS.

ACCORDING TO
COURT DOCUMENTS,

MARK BYERS WAS
WITH A JUVENILE

WHO ALLEGEDLY ASSAULTED
ANOTHER YOUNG MAN.

BYERS SAYS
HE LET THE BOYS FIGHT
IN HIS PRESENCE

BECAUSE HE WANTED
TO MAKE SURE IT WAS
A FAIR FIGHT.

ALL I COULD
THINK ABOUT IS

THINKING ABOUT MY SON
GETTING BEAT TO DEATH.

BYERS STOOD BY WATCHING
THE FIGHT HOLDING A GUN.

NOW A FEW OF THE BYERS'
NEIGHBORS SAY

THEY NOW HAVE QUESTIONS
ABOUT MARK BYERS

AND THE WEST MEMPHIS
MURDERS.

THESE ARE FOR YOU,
MELISSA.

Male reporter:
BYERS'S WIFE DID
DIE RECENTLY.

AN AUTOPSY SHOWED
SMALL AMOUNTS OF DRUGS
IN HER BODY,

BUT NOTHING THAT SHOULD
HAVE CAUSED HER DEATH.

SO THAT DEATH
REMAINS A MYSTERY.

I MADE
A GOOD SCAPEGOAT.

I MADE A GOOD TARGET.

BUT I DIDN'T CARE.

YOU KNOW, THERE WAS
NO ONE LEFT BUT ME.

- BURN, YOU
SON OF A BITCH, BURN.
- AND I REALLY DIDN'T CARE.

- BURN. GO TO HELL. BURN.
- I MEAN, DEEP DOWN INSIDE

- I KNEW I DIDN'T KILL ANYBODY.
- I'LL STOMP ON YOUR GRAVE.

- I FELT LIKE THE STATE HAD...
- I'LL STOMP ON YOUR GRAVE.

...WHO THEY'RE SUPPOSED
TO HAVE.

BURN AND GO TO HELL!

BUT WHAT'S RIGHT
AND WHAT'S WRONG

ARE TWO DIFFERENT
THINGS.

AND THE RIGHT THING IS

THAT THESE THREE MEN
ARE INNOCENT.

THAT'S THE RIGHT THING.

AND, YES, IT WAS HARD
FOR ME

TO STAND UP AND ADMIT
THAT I WAS WRONG,

BUT WRONG IS WRONG.

THIS IS A LETTER

FROM DAMIEN ECHOLS,

VARNER UNIT,
P.O. BOX 400,

GRADY, ARKANSAS.

"DEAR JOHN,
FIRST I WANT TO START OFF

BY APOLOGIZING TO YOU.

I KNOW HOW IT FEELS
TO BE ACCUSED

OF SOMETHING
YOU DIDN'T DO.

NOW, ALL THESE
YEARS LATER,

I SEE JUST
HOW WRONG I WAS

AND I'M SORRY.

I DID THE SAME THING
TO YOU

THAT EVERYONE ELSE
DID TO ME.

THE SECOND THING
I WANT TO SAY

IS THANK YOU.

I KNOW IT CAN'T
HAVE BEEN EASY

TO PUT ASIDE
ALL OF YOUR EMOTIONS

AND LOOK
AT THE EVIDENCE

WITH COLD, HARD LOGIC,

BUT YOU DID.

I CAN'T HELP
BUT BELIEVE

THERE'S A REASON
FOR ALL OF THIS

FOR BOTH OF US.

TAKE CARE

AND KNOW THAT MY THOUGHTS
ARE WITH YOU.

DAMIEN ECHOLS."

HI.

Bruce Sinofsky:
HOW ARE YOU DOING?

I'M DOING GOOD.
GLAD YOU CAME BACK.

HOW LONG HAS IT BEEN
SINCE THE LAST TIME
YOU WHERE HERE?

WE WERE TALKING
ABOUT THAT IN THE CAR.

- 10 YEARS.
- 10 YEARS.

IT'S BEEN A LONG TIME.

Damien Echols:
TIME IS VERY, VERY
STRANGE IN HERE.

I'M--

I'M SURPRISED BY THINGS
SOMETIMES, I GUESS.

LIKE BEING TOLD
THAT I HAVE ARTHRITIS

OR LOOKING
IN THE MIRROR

AND REALIZING
MY HAIRLINE IS RECEDING,

THAT MY HAIR
IS GETTING THIN.

AND IT'S HARD
TO ACCEPT THAT

BECAUSE IN A WAY

MY LIFE

JUST SORT OF
STOPPED ABRUPTLY

WHENEVER I CAME HERE.

DECEMBER THE 11th

IT WILL BE
MY 35th BIRTHDAY.

IT WILL BE THE 17th
BIRTHDAY

THAT I'VE SPENT
IN THIS PRISON.

I HAVE A SON WHO IS NOW
ALMOST THE SAME AGE I WAS

WHENEVER I WAS
LOCKED UP.

WE WERE ABSOLUTELY

POVERTY-STRICKEN
WHITE TRASH.

I REALLY DO BELIEVE
THESE PEOPLE

WOULD HAVE GOTTEN AWAY
WITH MURDERING ME

IF IT WOULD NOT HAVE BEEN
FOR WHAT YOU GUYS DID,

FOR BEING THERE
IN THE VERY BEGINNING

AND GETTING THIS WHOLE
THING ON TAPE

SO THAT THE REST OF THE WORLD
SEES WHAT WAS HAPPENING.

IF NOT FOR THAT,
THESE PEOPLE WOULD HAVE
MURDERED ME,

SWEPT THIS
UNDER THE RUG,

AND I WOULDN'T BE
ANYTHING BUT A MEMORY
RIGHT NOW.

Male reporter:
A GROWING NUMBER OF PEOPLE

ARE NOW STANDING BEHIND
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE

SAYING THE MEN CONVICTED
OF MURDER ARE INNOCENT:

FROM JOHNNY DEPP
TO THE DIXIE CHICKS,

EVEN A NEW YORK
ARCHITECT

WHO QUIT HER JOB,
MOVED TO LITTLE ROCK,

AND MARRIED DEATH ROW
INMATE DAMIEN ECHOLS.

I'VE BEEN WORKING
ON THIS CASE--

ACTUALLY I'VE BEEN
INVOLVED

AND KNOWN DAMIEN
FOR NINE YEARS.

BUT I'VE BEEN REALLY
ACTIVELY WORKING

ON THE CASE
FOR ABOUT SEVEN.

I AM IN LOVE

AND VERY LOVED
BY A WOMAN-- LORRI,

WHO LIVED IN BROOKLYN,
NEW YORK,

AT THE TIME THAT
"PARADISE LOST" CAME OUT.

AND IT HAD A VERY POWERFUL
IMPACT ON HER.

I HAD TO SORT OF THINK
ABOUT THINGS OVERNIGHT.

AND I WOKE UP
THE NEXT MORNING
JUST KNOWING

THOSE KIDS--
THEY DIDN'T DO IT.

AND THEN TRYING TO--
IT JUST PLAGUED ME.

SHE COULDN'T STOP
THINKING ABOUT IT,

SO SHE STARTED
TO WRITE TO ME

AND I RESPONDED
TO THE LETTERS.

IN THE COURSE OF WRITING
TO DAMIEN, I THINK WE--

THAT'S WHEN
WE FELL IN LOVE
WITH EACH OTHER.

IT WAS--

BECAUSE INITIALLY,
I THINK, WE-- WE--

WE FELL IN LOVE
WITH EACH OTHER'S MINDS.

BECAUSE HE DIDN'T EVEN
KNOW WHAT I LOOKED LIKE

OR, YOU KNOW--
IT WAS JUST REALLY--

IT WAS JUST
WHAT WE WERE THINKING,

AND LATER ON, OF COURSE,
WHEN WE TALKED TO EACH OTHER.

SO THAT WAS--
IT WAS ALREADY A DONE DEAL

BY THE TIME
I GOT TO ARKANSAS

OR WENT TO VISIT HIM
IN ARKANSAS.

AND THEN I STAYED
IN NEW YORK

FOR ANOTHER, I THINK,
YEAR AND A HALF
AFTER I MET HIM

BEFORE I MADE
THE DECISION TO MOVE.

SHE LIVES NOW HERE
IN LITTLE ROCK,

45 MINUTES AWAY
FROM THE PRISON,

JUST SO THAT SHE CAN
COME HERE MORE OFTEN.

AND NOW WE ARE SET
TO BE MARRIED

NOVEMBER THE 1st.

AND THAT'LL BE
A BUDDHIST WEDDING CEREMONY
ON NOVEMBER THE 1st.

OH, I THINK WE'RE GONNA
GET HIM OUT.

I THINK
IT'S GOING TO--

I THINK THINGS ARE
HAPPENING MUCH QUICKER,

BUT I THINK WE'RE GONNA
GET HIM OUT.

INASMUCH AS THE STATE
HAS THE BURDEN...

( clears throat )
OF PROOF IN THIS CASE

AND INASMUCH AS--

FOR A GOOD PORTION OF
THE CASE IS CIRCUMSTANTIAL,

IT IS NECESSARY
AND APPROPRIATE

THAT THE STATE
PROVE MOTIVE IF IT CAN.

CALL YOUR NEXT WITNESS.

Fogleman:
I CALL DALE GRIFFIS.

IN LOOKING AT YOUNG PEOPLE
INVOLVED IN THE OCCULT,

DO YOU SEE ANY PARTICULAR
TYPE OF DRESS?

I HAVE PERSONALLY
OBSERVED

PEOPLE WEARING
BLACK FINGERNAILS,

HAVING THEIR HAIR
PAINTED BLACK,

WEARING BLACK T-SHIRTS.

DOES THE NUMBER THREE--
THREE VICTIMS--

HAVE ANY SIGNIFICANCE?

ONE OF THE MOST
POWERFUL NUMBERS

IN-- IN THE PRACTICE

OF SATANIC BELIEF
WAS 666.

AND SOME BELIEVE
THE BASE ROOT OF SIX
IS THREE.

Don Horgan:
THE WHOLE IDEA OF THIS
BEING A SATANIC RITUAL

WAS A KEY ELEMENT
OF THE STATE'S CASE
AT THE TRIAL,

BECAUSE THEY CALLED
DALE GRIFFIS,

WHO HAD ALMOST
NO QUALIFICATIONS WHATSOEVER.

BUT NONETHELESS
HE MAINTAINED THAT

ALL THOSE BLANK SPACES,
YOU KNOW,

THAT ATTACHED
TO THE CRIME SCENE

WERE THEMSELVES EVIDENCE
OF A SATANIC CONNECTION.

EVERY ONE
OF THESE FILES

IS JAM-PACKED
FULL OF CASES OR DATA

ON PARTICULAR GROUPS
AND SO FORTH--

THE THINGS
THAT I COULD USE

TO EDUCATE OTHER PEOP--
YOU KNOW, THERAPISTS

AND EDUCATORS
AND POLICEMEN.

IT WAS IN THE START
OF MY CAREER

INTO OCCULTISM--

ABOUT 1985, I BELIEVE.

AND THERE WAS
AN EXPLOSION OF CASES.

Male reporter:
Tonight, the startling,
sobering results

of a "20/20"
investigation:

Satanism,
devil worship

is being practiced
all across the country.

We have all types
of perversion

going on,
and it's affecting America.

Male Reporter:
Perverse, hideous acts
that defy belief.

All of them were
investigated by police,

but usually
without much result.

Paul Ford:
BETWEEN 1982 AND 1984,

WHEN YOU BECAME A Ph.D.,
WHAT CLASSES DID YOU TAKE?

- NONE.
- NONE.

Val Price:
JUDGE, I'D JUST LIKE
TO MAKE AN ARGUMENT

AT THIS POINT
ON BEHALF OF MY CLIENT.

IT'S OUR POSITION THAT,
BASED ON A MAIL-ORDER Ph.D.

IN WHICH A PERSON DOESN'T
HAVE TO TAKE CLASSES,

DOESN'T HAVE TO TAKE
ANY RESIDENT COURSES

FROM A NON-ACCREDITED
SCHOOL,

DOES NOT QUALIFY HIM
AS AN EXPERT IN ARKANSAS.

AND WE OBJECT
TO THE COURT

QUALIFYING DR. GRIFFIS
AS AN EXPERT.

I'M NOT SURE IN ARKANSAS
OR ANY OTHER STATE

THAT YOU HAVE TO HAVE
ANY KIND OF DEGREE

TO BE AN EXPERT
IN A PARTICULAR FIELD.

- THAT'S TRUE--
- IF YOU CAN DEMONSTRATE

KNOWLEDGE, EDUCATION,
EXPERIENCE,

AND TRAINING
IN THE FIELD,

YOU COULD HAVE
A THIRD-GRADE EDUCATION,

IF YOU HAVE OTHER EDUCATION,
EXPERIENCE, AND TRAINING

THAT QUALIFIES YOU
AS AN EXPERT.

SO I'M NOT
PERSUADED AT ALL

ABOUT YOUR ARGUMENT
ABOUT A MAIL-ORDER Ph.D.

SO IS THERE
ANYTHING ELSE?

IN THE EARLY 1970s
AND '80s,

WE BEGAN TO SEE
AT THE F.B.I. ACADEMY

POLICE OFFICERS COMING IN
FROM AROUND THE WORLD,

AND THE COPS WERE
KIND OF THROWING AROUND
WORDS LIKE "RITUAL"

AND USING IT
INTERCHANGEABLY WITH
SATANIC CRIMES.

WE DID A CLOSE EVALUATION
AND WE DIDN'T SEE ONE.

WE DIDN'T--
WE DIDN'T SEE ONE CASE.

Horgan:
IF YOU CAN PAINT THESE GUYS

AS INVOLVED IN SATANISM,
ANYTHING IS POSSIBLE.

AND THE APPARENT CASTRATION
OF CHRISTOPHER BYERS

FIT INTO THE SATANIC THEORY
FOR GRIFFIS AS WELL.

Griffis:
THEY USED KNIVES TO CUT UP

THE THREE BOYS
THAT WERE KILLED,

THE EIGHT-YEAR-OLD
BOYS.

DO THE TYPES OF INJURIES
HAVE SIGNIFICANCE?

THE REMOVAL OF SEX--
SEX ORGANS--

IN SOME BOOKS
ON OCCULTISM,

THEY WILL TALK ABOUT

REMOVING OF THE TESTICLES
FOR THE SEMEN.

A LOT OF THE EARLY
UNDERSTANDINGS
OF THIS CASE

WERE REALLY PREMISED
ON A MISUNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT WAS THERE.

AND THE INFORMATION,
BY AND LARGE,

WAS THERE TO BE SEEN
AND INTERPRETED.

IT JUST WASN'T LOOKED AT
BY THE RIGHT PEOPLE

AND IT WASN'T
INTERPRETED CORRECTLY.

STATE'S EXHIBIT 68A

IS A PHOTOGRAPH
OF AN ABRASION

THAT'S PATTERNED

AND HAS, LIKE, A SERRATED
APPEARANCE TO IT.

AND THAT'S 68A.

Brent Davis:
HAVE YOU HAD A CHANCE
TO LOOK AT THAT KNIFE

AND EXAMINE
THAT KNIFE, SIR?

YES.

YOU REFERRED
IN YOUR TESTIMONY

TO WOUND PATTERNS
ON THE THREE VICTIMS

THAT WERE SERRATED
IN NATURE.

THAT'S CORRECT.

OKAY.

DID YOU FIND WOUND PATTERNS
ON THE THREE VICTIMS

THAT WOULD BE
CONSISTENT

WITH HAVING BEEN CAUSED
BY A KNIFE

WITH THAT KIND OF
SERRATED PATTERN?

THERE ARE INJURIES
CONSISTENT WITH THIS TYPE
OF SERRATED PATTERN.

AS SOME OF YOU KNOW,
A CRITICAL PROSECUTION THEORY

AT THE 1994 TRIALS

WAS THAT THE DEFENDANTS
USED A SURVIVAL KNIFE

TO INFLICT
MOST OF THE INJURIES
ON THESE VICTIMS

AND THAT THEY
USED THE KNIFE

BEFORE
THE CHILDREN DIED.

IS IT A COINCIDENCE

THIS KNIFE
IS FOUND BEHIND--

IN THE LAKE, HIDDEN,

BEHIND JASON BALDWIN'S
HOUSE?

Horgan:
THE KNIFE WAS CRITICAL

BECAUSE IF IT LOOKED LIKE
ONE THAT DAMIEN ECHOLS
HAD ONCE OWNED

AND IF THE INJURIES
TO THESE KIDS WERE
CAUSED BY A KNIFE,

IT TIED DAMIEN ECHOLS TO--
TO THE CRIME ITSELF.

SO IT WAS A KEY LINK
IF IT WAS TO BE BELIEVED

THAT IT HAD BEEN INVOLVED
IN MUTILATING THESE KIDS

AND HAD BEEN USED IN,
YOU KNOW,

PROBABLY CASTRATING
CHRISTOPHER BYERS.

BUT NOW WE KNOW
THAT'S JUST NOT THE CASE.

GOOD MORNING.

I ANALYZED
A LOT OF PICTURES.

I ANALYZED A LOT OF
WRITTEN MATERIAL.

IT IS MY OPINION--

OR THE FOLLOWING ARE
MY OPINIONS:

INJURIES ON
THE BODY SURFACE

OF ALL THE THREE VICTIMS,
THREE BOYS,

INCLUDING THE EMASCULATION
OF CHRIS BYERS,

WERE PRODUCED BY ANIMALS
AFTER DEATH.

WHEN A DOG OR OTHER
CARNIVOROUS ANIMAL

ATTACKS A BODY
AFTER DEATH,

OR BEFORE DEATH
SOMETIMES,

THEY SCRAPE
THE BODY.

THEY MOVE THEIR CLAWS
ON THE BODY

AND TRY TO BRING THE BODY
CLOSER TO THEM.

THEY DO THIS
SEVERAL TIMES.

AND YOU HAVE HERE
TWO OF THE VICTIMS

THAT HAVE THE SAME
IDENTICAL INJURY.

THEY WERE OBVIOUS
CLAW MARKS.

THE SPACING
AND THE CONFIGURATION
OF THOSE INJURIES

IS NOT COMPATIBLE
WITH A SERRATED KNIFE
SUCH AS THIS

OR, FOR THAT MATTER,
ANY KNIFE.

OVER A PERIOD OF TIME,

OUR UNDERSTANDING
OF WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENED

HAS CHANGED.

WHAT WE KNOW NOW
IS THAT THE LAWYERS
ON THE CASE

HADN'T GONE
TO THE CRIME LABORATORY

AND LOOKED
METICULOUSLY

THROUGH ALL OF
THE LABORATORY'S NOTEBOOKS

OF WHAT WAS DONE
OUT AT THE CRIME SCENE.

THE CRIME SCENE TECHS
RECOVERED

A BUNCH OF
ANIMAL HAIR.

Dr. Richard Souviron:
THERE'S NO POSSIBLE WAY
THIS COULD HAVE BEEN DONE

WITH THIS KNIFE.
ANIMALS DO THIS.

THIS IS WHAT HAPPENS
TO A BODY THAT'S DUMPED

IN A WOODED AREA,
IN THE WOODS,

IN A CREEK,
IN A SWAMP.

THIS IS WHAT
YOU'RE GOING TO GET.

DOG, COYOTE,
FOX, POSSUM--

I'VE SEEN
ALL OF THOSE.

IT'S A CARNIVORE.

COULD IT BE TURTLES
THAT HAD DONE THIS,

AQUATIC CRABS,
FOR INSTANCE? SURE.

ANYTHING THAT WOULD
EAT FLESH

IS WHAT DID THIS.

Joe Berlinger:
CAN YOU TALK ABOUT
THE ORIGINAL CASE,

I MEAN,
JUST IN GENERAL TERMS?

I MEAN DO YOU THINK
IT WAS A SOLID CASE?

DO YOU THINK
IT WAS A CASE-- I MEAN,

DO YOU THINK DAMIEN GOT
A FAIR TRIAL?

OH, I DON'T--
IN MY MIND,

THERE'S NO QUESTION
THAT ALL THREE RECEIVED
A FAIR TRIAL.

THE JURY HEARD
THE EVIDENCE

AND WERE CONVINCED
OF GUILT.

SO THAT SPEAKS FOR ITSELF,
I THINK.

A JURY TAKES AN OATH
TO BASE THEIR VERDICTS

ONLY ON THE EVIDENCE
THAT COMES BEFORE 'EM.

AND THEY'RE
NOT TO CONSIDER ANYTHING

OTHER THAN THE EVIDENCE THAT
COMES FROM THE WITNESS STAND,

THE EXHIBITS THAT ARE
INTRODUCED IN THE EVIDENCE.

AND IF THEY VIOLATE
THAT OATH,

IT'S A VERY, VERY
SERIOUS MATTER.

Female reporter:
LORRI DAVIS, WIFE OF
DAMIEN ECHOLS,

SPOKE FOR THE FIRST TIME
ABOUT A NEW

DEFENSE ALLEGATION
OF JURY MISCONDUCT

IN THE TRIAL
OF THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE.

DAVIS SAYS THE JURY FOREMAN
CONTACTED AN ATTORNEY

DURING THE TRIAL
15 YEARS AGO.

Philipsborn:
WE KNOW FROM A LAWYER

WHO HAS NOW SUBMITTED
SOME PAPERWORK TO THE COURT

WHO TALKED TO THAT
JURY FOREMAN

AND WHO BECAME AWARE
THAT THE JURY FOREMAN

WAS CONSIDERING
SOME INFORMATION

THAT THE JURY FOREMAN

SHOULDN'T HAVE BEEN
CONSIDERING.

Lloyd Warford:
ANYTIME YOU'RE CAUGHT
IN A SITUATION

WHERE YOU KNOW
SOMETHING

THAT CALLS
INTO QUESTION

A JUDGMENT THAT'S BEEN
MADE BY A COURT,

WHEN YOU'RE SITTING AT HOME
IN YOUR EASY CHAIR

AND YOU READ AN ARTICLE
ABOUT SOMEBODY'S FACING
THE DEATH PENALTY

AND YOU FEEL LIKE
THERE'S SOMETHING YOU MIGHT,
COULD HAVE DONE,

IT'S-- IT'S TROUBLING.

YOU KNOW, I'M GETTING
DANGEROUSLY CLOSE

TO THE WHOLE ISSUE
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED
IN THE JURY ROOM.

AS AN OFFICER OF THE COURT,
I'M NOT PERMITTED

TO TALK ABOUT CERTAIN THINGS
WITH REGARD TO THIS CASE.

Gina Reynolds:
I HAD STARTED WORKING
FOR LLOYD WARFORD

AT THAT POINT IN TIME
AS A LAW CLERK.

I MET THE JURY FOREMAN
KENT ARNOLD.

THE FIRST TIME

I ENCOUNTERED KENT
AT LLOYD'S OFFICE

WAS WHEN HE HIRED LLOYD
TO REPRESENT HIS BROTHER

ON A DIFFERENT CASE.

BUT AT THAT TIME,
KENT ALREADY KNEW

HE WAS BEING CALLED
FOR JURY DUTY

FOR BALDWIN
AND ECHOLS TRIAL.

DURING MISSKELLEY'S TRIAL,
HE TALKED ABOUT

ALL OF THE THINGS
THAT HAD BEEN PRINTED
IN THE NEWSPAPER.

KENT ARNOLD
WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT
WHAT HE THOUGHT HE KNEW.

HE-- HE BELIEVED

THAT THEY WERE GUILTY
AND THEY HAD BEEN CAUGHT

AND THEY SHOULD BE
CONVICTED.

I WAS SITTING
IN LLOYD'S OFFICE

AND HE WAS
TALKING TO KENT
ON SPEAKERPHONE.

AND HE WAS SAYING,
"WELL, I'VE GOTTEN
MY JURY SUMMONS.

HOW DO I MAKE SURE
I GET ON THIS JURY?"

AND LLOYD WAS GOING,
"YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT SOME
PRETTY STRONG IDEAS

ABOUT WHETHER THESE GUYS
ARE GUILTY OR NOT.

YOU KNOW, YOU'LL
NEVER GET ON THE JURY.
DON'T WORRY ABOUT IT."

AFTER KENT WAS ON THE JURY,
LLOYD SPECIFICALLY SAID,

"HOW DID YOU
GET ON THIS JURY?"

AND HE BASICALLY SAID,
"DUMB JUDGES AND
DUMB LAWYERS--

THEY DON'T ASK
SPECIFIC QUESTIONS."

DURING THE TRIAL,
KENT WAS STILL
CALLING LLOYD

ON A REGULAR BASIS
ABOUT WHAT WAS GOING ON.

HE REALLY WANTED LLOYD
TO TELL HIM THINGS ABOUT

HOW TO GET THIS JURY
TO CONVICT THESE BOYS.

AND LLOYD WOULD JUST
KIND OF BRUSH HIM OFF
AND SAY,

"OH, YOU KNOW,
THAT'S NOT SOMETHING
I CAN TALK TO YOU ABOUT."

HE ALSO ASKED LLOYD

SPECIFICALLY
ON THAT PHONE CALL,

WHEN WERE THEY GONNA PLAY
THE CONFESSION?

MR. ARNOLD WOULD BE
SAYING STUFF LIKE--

ONE PARTICULAR PHONE CALL--
"THE STATE HASN'T PROVEN
THEIR CASE.

THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO
REST TOMORROW.

IF ANYBODY'S GONNA BE
ABLE TO GET THESE
BOYS CONVICTED,

IT'S GONNA HAVE TO BE ME
IN THAT JURY ROOM."

THE NEXT THING WE KNOW,
HE'S FOREMAN OF THE JURY.

HE'S FOREMAN
OF THE JURY,

WHICH IS EXACTLY
WHERE HE WANTED TO BE,

BECAUSE HE WANTED
THESE BOYS CONVICTED.

KENT ARNOLD BELIEVED

THAT WHAT HE KNEW
WAS THE TRUTH

AND THAT IT WAS GONNA BE
UP TO HIM

TO MAKE SURE HIS IDEA
OF JUSTICE HAPPENED.

HE HAD TO
INTRODUCE THE CONFESSION
TO THE JURY ROOM.

HE HAD ALREADY
BASICALLY TOLD US
HE WAS GOING TO.

IN THE LAST COUPLE OF YEARS,
QUITE FORTUITOUSLY--

AND THIS IS
THE SORT OF FORTUNE THAT
CAN SAVE A MAN'S LIFE--

WE HAVE FOUND THAT THE JURY
PUT UP BIG SHEETS

OF FACTORS THAT THEY
CONSIDERED IN CONVICTING
ECHOLS AND BALDWIN.

AND THEY'VE BEEN
KEPT IN EVIDENCE.

AND HERE
THE ECHOLS' ONE IS.

NO ONE HAS REALLY ASKED
WHAT THAT MIGHT BE.

WHY WAS IT CROSSED OUT?
WHO CROSSED IT OUT?

ONE OF THE JURORS
HAD COPIED

A FACSIMILE OF THAT LIST
INTO HER NOTEBOOK.

THE CROSSED-OUT ITEM IS

THE JESSIE MISSKELLEY
TESTIMONY.

WHAT WE NOW KNOW
IS THAT IN FACT

JESSIE MISSKELLEY'S
STATEMENTS

PLAYED A PRETTY
MAJOR PART

IN THE WAY
THAT THE JURY

IN THE ECHOLS
AND BALDWIN CASE

CAME TO UNDERSTAND
THE CASE

AND CAME TO HAVE CONFIDENCE
IN THE NOTION

THAT THEY SHOULD
CONVICT,

WHICH IS WRONG.

Griffis:
I'D LIKE TO SHOW YOU
SOMETHING.

APPROXIMATELY A YEAR

BEFORE THE ECHOLS CASE,

I LECTURED IN LITTLE ROCK,
ARKANSAS.

ONE OF THE PEOPLE
WHO ATTENDED THAT COURSE--

I BELIEVE HIS NAME WAS
JERRY DRIVER--

HAD CONTACTED ME
ABOUT KIDS

THAT WERE ACTIVE
IN THE WEST MEMPHIS AREA.

SO THE YEAR PRIOR,

I STARTED SEEING
SOME OF THE MATERIALS.

THESE WERE DRAWINGS
FROM THE AREA.

THAT'S HOW
IT CAME TO ME. AND...

YOU COULD SEE...

HERE

DEATH SYMBOLS
AND USE OF A--

WHAT WAS CALLED
A CEREMONIAL SWORD
OR AN ATHAME.

AND ALL OF A SUDDEN
YOU START TO SEE

SYMBOLS, THIS SYMBOLOGY

OFTEN USED
AS A SATANIC SYMBOL.

A YEAR AHEAD OF TIME,
THEY KNEW THEY HAD A PROBLEM
IN THE AREA.

THEY KNEW THAT IT WAS
GETTING WORSE.

YOU HAD SOME
GOOD POLICE OFFICERS
DOWN THERE

CONCERNED WHAT THE HECK
NEXT IS GOING TO HAPPEN.

John Fogleman:
ANYTHING WRONG WITH
WEARING BLACK

IN AND OF ITSELF?
NO.

ANYTHING WRONG WITH
THE HEAVY METAL STUFF

IN AND OF ITSELF?
NO.

BUT WHEN YOU
LOOK AT IT TOGETHER

AND YOU BEGIN TO SEE
INSIDE DAMIEN ECHOLS,

YOU SEE INSIDE
THAT PERSON,

AND THERE'S NOT A SOUL
IN THERE.

Echols:
WHEN I WAS THAT AGE--
I WAS A KID BASICALLY--

IN COURT, HEARING
THE THINGS THAT PEOPLE
WERE SAYING,

I DON'T THINK
I REGISTERED

THE FULL IMPORTANCE
OF WHAT WAS GOING ON THEN,

BECAUSE I ALWAYS FELT--
I KNEW I DIDN'T DO IT.

SO THEREFORE
IT'S IMPOSSIBLE FOR THEM

TO PROVE YOU'VE DONE
SOMETHING YOU HAVEN'T DONE

WITH NO EVIDENCE,

NOTHING BUT A BUNCH
OF RUMORS

AND GHOST STORIES
AND SMOKE SCREENS.

I DIDN'T THINK THERE WAS
ANY WAY IN HELL

THEY WERE GONNA BE ABLE
TO GET AWAY WITH THAT.

Lorri Davis:
WE'RE HEADING
TO GRADY, ARKANSAS,

WHERE THE VARNER UNIT IS.

IT'S DAMIEN'S BIRTHDAY
TODAY, YEAH.

TIME HAS BEEN AN ODD THING
IN THIS SITUATION,

BECAUSE IT SEEMS LIKE
IT JUST DRAGS ON FOREVER

AND THEN,
WHEN YOU THINK BACK ON IT,
IT'S BEEN FLEETING.

IN THE PAST 17 YEARS,

I'VE MADE FRIENDS

THAT HAVE STUCK WITH ME
THROUGH THICK AND THIN,

THAT HAVE BEEN HERE

BEYOND WHAT EVEN
MY BLOOD FAMILY MEMBERS
HAVE BEEN WITH ME BEYOND.

I MET LORRI.

WE'VE BEEN TOGETHER
FOR ABOUT 14 YEARS NOW.

WE JUST HAD OUR
10th WEDDING ANNIVERSARY
LAST WEEK.

I'M SURE IT'S DIFFERENT
FROM EVERYONE ELSE'S MARRIAGE.

BUT THEN I DON'T KNOW WHAT
EVERYONE ELSE'S MARRIAGE IS.

I JUST KNOW THAT OURS IS
A GOOD ONE.

IN THE VERY BEGINNING,
I WOULD WAKE UP

IN THE MIDDLE
OF THE NIGHT SOMETIMES,

CURSING HER, LITERALLY
CURSING HER OUT LOUD

FOR MAKING ME FEEL
THE WAY SHE MADE ME FEEL,

ESPECIALLY IN HERE,
YOU KNOW.

IT'S ONE OF THOSE THINGS
THAT WHENEVER YOU REALLY,

REALLY LOVE SOMEBODY,

IT'S NOT ALL, YOU KNOW,
FLOWERS AND POETRY,

LIKE THE SONGS
TRY TO MAKE YOU THINK.

IT HURTS.

IT GETS ITS CLAWS
INTO YOU

AND IT JUST RIPS.

AND I FELT LIKE
THAT WAS THE LAST THING

I NEEDED TO BE
DEALING WITH

ON TOP OF TRYING TO DEAL
WITH ALL OF THIS.

BUT IT TURNED OUT
TO BE

THE ABSOLUTE
BEST THING

THAT HAS EVER HAPPENED
TO ME IN MY LIFE.

Terry Hobbs:
WHAT KIND OF PERSON

WOULD COME
FROM ACROSS THE COUNTRY

TO A DEATH ROW INMATE

AND MARRY THIS MAN?

THIS IS A KNOWN
CONVICTED CHILD KILLER

RIGHT HERE.

HE KILLED THREE LITTLE
EIGHT-YEAR-OLD BOYS

IN WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS,
IN 1993.

WHAT KIND OF MIND

DOES THIS
YOUNG LADY HAVE

WHO WOULD COME DOWN HERE
AND MARRY SOMEBODY LIKE THAT?

THIS WHOLE THING
HAS GONE FROM

WHAT HAPPENED
TO THREE LITTLE BOYS

TO MORE LIKE A CIRCUS
OF SOME KIND.

OUR INVESTIGATORS
WERE OBTAINING

D.N.A. SAMPLES IN THE FORM
OF HAIRS, CIGARETTE BUTTS,

ORAL SWABS
FROM PEOPLE WHO HAD

SOME CONNECTION
TO THE EVENTS.

THESE INCLUDED SAMPLES
FROM SEVERAL PEOPLE,

INCLUDING STEVEN BRANCH'S
STEPFATHER TERRY HOBBS.

WE GAVE ALL THESE
SAMPLES TO THOMAS FEDOR,
WHO'S HERE TODAY.

HE'S AN INDEPENDENT
FORENSIC SEROLOGIST.

THE RESULT OF THAT ANALYSIS
IN MAY 2007

SHOWED THAT A HAIR
FROM A LIGATURE

USED TO TIE UP
MICHAEL MOORE

COULD BE ASSOCIATED
WITH TERRY HOBBS.

THE BIGGEST BOMBSHELL
OF THE NEW DEFENSE
INVESTIGATION

IS THAT AN UNEXPLAINED HAIR
THAT COULD BE FROM ANOTHER
VICTIM'S STEPFATHER

WAS FOUND ON SHOELACES
AT THE CRIME SCENE.

Lorri Davis:
OVER THE LAST

THREE WEEKS
OR FOUR WEEKS,

A GROUP OF PEOPLE

FROM HERE IN ARKANSAS

HAVE FORMED A CAMPAIGN

CALLED "ARKANSAS
TAKE ACTION."

Capi Peck:
WE'RE ON OUR WAY TO THE STATE
CAPITOL FOR A RALLY.

THERE'S BEEN SUCH
AN OUTPOURING OF SUPPORT

FOR A DECADE,

SUPPORTING
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE.

BUT ARKANSAS HAS BEEN
RELATIVELY QUIET.

WE HOPE THAT WITH OUR
GRASSROOTS MOVEMENT

"ARKANSAS TAKE ACTION,"

THAT ARKANSANS
FROM ACROSS THE STATE
WILL SPEAK OUT,

ASKING OUR ELECTED
OFFICIALS

TO TAKE A LOOK
AT THIS NEW EVIDENCE

AND TO GET THESE GUYS
OUT OF PRISON.

NONE OF THE D.N.A. FROM ANY
OF THE CRIME SCENE EVIDENCE

COULD BE ASSOCIATED
WITH MR. ECHOLS

OR MR. BALDWIN
OR MR. MISSKELLEY.

TERRY HOBBS COULD BE
THE SOURCE

OF THAT HAIR
ON THE LIGATURE.

APPROXIMATELY 1 1/2%
OF THE POPULATION AT LARGE

COULD BE THE SOURCE
OF THAT HAIR.

NONE OF THE DEFENDANTS
COULD BE

THE SOURCE OF THAT HAIR
ON THE LIGATURE.

Female reporter:
TAKE A LOOK AT JUST HOW MUCH
SUPPORT THEY HAVE--

THOUSANDS OF POSTCARDS,

SOME AS FAR AWAY
AS LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA,

AND EUROPE, ALL SUPPORTING
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE.

Woman:
DID YOU MURDER
THE LITTLE BOYS?

WELL, I'D HAVE TO
LAUGH AT THAT AND SAY

THERE'S SOMETHING WRONG
WITH SOMEONE WHO WOULD
THINK THAT.

Male reporter:
THAT STEPFATHER DENIES
HAVING ANYTHING TO DO

WITH THE MURDERS.
AND THE ARKANSAS ATTORNEY
GENERAL'S OFFICE

SAID IN THE STATEMENT
IT WILL REVIEW AND RESPOND,

BUT WARNS "THE LEGAL PROCESS
COULD TAKE MONTHS

AND POSSIBLY YEARS."

Female reporter:
DO YOU FEEL THAT YOU'RE
AS CLOSE AS EVER

TO ACTUALLY GETTING
A NEW TRIAL?

Lorri Davis:
WE GET CLOSER EVERY DAY.

YEAH, SO WITH THE WORK
THAT WE'RE DOING

AND THE EVIDENCE THAT
WE'RE FINALLY UNCOVERING,

I THINK WE'RE GETTING
CLOSER ALL THE TIME.

IT'S SAD TO SEE THAT
THERE'S PEOPLE OUT HERE

TRYING TO GET SOME
KILLERS OUT OF PRISON

THAT DESERVE, EVERY ONE,
TO BE HUNG BY A ROPE.

Natalie Maines:
I JUST WANTED TO SAY THANKS
FOR BEING HERE TODAY,

AND I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT
FOR ALL ELECTED OFFICIALS

TO KNOW THAT WE ARE
WATCHING THEM.

IT'S NOT ABOUT
OPINION ANYMORE.

IT'S NOT ABOUT DEBATE.
IT'S ABOUT SCIENCE.

AND I URGE YOU ALL
TO GO TO wm3.org

AND DONATE
TO THE DEFENSE FUND.

THE DONATIONS IS
WHAT HAS PAID

FOR THE FORENSIC TESTS

AND THE D.N.A. TESTING

THAT'S GOING TO
SET THESE MEN FREE.

I JUST WANT TO SAY
I'M HONORED TO BE HERE.

LORRI'S A WONDERFUL,
WONDERFUL PERSON.

AND SHE'S WHAT HAS KEPT
THIS GOING FOR 14 YEARS

AND MADE PEOPLE
NOT FORGET ABOUT
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE.

SO THANK YOU
VERY MUCH.

( cheering, applause )

WELL, KELLY'S COURT
IS BACK IN SESSION.

ON THE DOCKET TODAY--
MEET TERRY HOBBS.

THIS MAN SUED THE DIXIE CHICKS
FOR DEFAMATION.

WHY?

NATALIE MAINES HAS BEEN
VERY VOCAL ABOUT THIS CASE,

SAYING THAT NEW D.N.A.
TESTING WOULD PROVE

HOBBS WAS INVOLVED
IN HIS OWN STEPSON'S DEATH.

Woman:
RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.

DO YOU SWEAR TO TELL
THE TRUTH, THE WHOLE TRUTH,

- AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH,
SO HELP YOU GOD?
- I DO.

Man: MR. HOBBS,
COULD YOU TELL

THE LADIES AND
GENTLEMEN OF THE JURY
WHY YOU SUED MY CLIENT?

FOR HER STATEMENTS
AGAINST ME

THAT SHE MADE
ON THE INTERNET.

WHAT DO YOU HOPE TO GET
OUT OF THE LAWSUIT?

JUSTICE.

- HOW DO YOU DEFINE JUSTICE?
- IN A COURT OF LAW.

- YOU WANT MONEY, DON'T YOU?
- I DON'T WANT--

I WANT JUSTICE
AS THE COURTS DEEM.

AN APOLOGY?
IS THAT ENOUGH?

WHATEVER THE COURTS
DECIDE.

NO, I'M NOT ASKING WHAT--
I'M ASKING WHAT YOU WANT

TO GET OUT OF THIS
LAWSUIT, MR. HOBBS.

IF I WOULD SIT HERE,
TO BE HONEST--

THAT'S WHAT I WANT.
I WANT YOU TO BE
TOTALLY HONEST.

I WOULD SIT HERE AND SAY
I'D LIKE TO SEE

THE DIXIE CHICKS
HUMILIATED

LIKE THEY HAVE
CAUSED ME.

I THINK THAT'S
A LITTLE BIT FAIR.

Woman: MR. HOBBS,
I'M GONNA HAVE TO

GO INTO SOME
MATERIAL NOW

THAT MAY BE
SENSITIVE.

AND I WANT YOU TO KNOW
THAT I'M NOT TRYING

TO MAKE YOU UNCOMFORTABLE
OR EMBARRASS YOU.

IT'S JUST THE FACT
THAT YOU'VE PLACED
YOUR REPUTATION IN ISSUE

BY BRINGING
THIS LAWSUIT.

IT IS YOUR TESTIMONY THAT
YOU ARE NOT A VIOLENT MAN.

CORRECT.

- AND YOU DO NOT
FLY INTO RAGES.
- CORRECT.

Female reporter:
PAM HOBBS SAYS LAST WEEKEND

HER HUSBAND TERRY
BEAT HER UP

AT THEIR HOME
IN MEMPHIS.

WHEN PAM'S FATHER AND BROTHER
HEARD SHE'D BEEN BEATEN,

THEY WENT
TO CHECK ON HER.

HE STARTED TELLING ME
IT WAS NONE OF MY BUSINESS,

AND THEN NATURALLY
I JUST GOT MORE UPSET

AND STARTED
HITTING HIM.

AND I TOOK HIM
TO THE GROUND.

AND THE NEXT THING I KNOW,
HE SHOT ME.

Female reporter:
TERRY HOBBS FACES
ASSAULT CHARGES

AND HE IS NOW
IN A MEMPHIS JAIL.

Woman:
YOU DID BACKHAND
PAM HOBBS

THE NIGHT THAT YOU
ENDED UP SHOOTING HER
BROTHER, CORRECT?

- OKAY.
- IS THAT CORRECT?

( laughs )
YEAH, ALL RIGHT.

- IS THAT FUNNY?
- WELL, IT'S--

YOU GET TIRED OF TALKING
ABOUT IT AFTER A WHILE.

WELL, SHE HAD BEEN
PROVOKING ME

FOR THREE DAYS
OVER ONE SIMPLE WOMAN.

- SHE WAS ASKING FOR IT?
- YOU MIGHT ASK HER.

DID YOU EVER VOW
TO GET REVENGE ON PAM
FOR KISSING ANOTHER MAN?

NEVER.

DID PAM KISS
ANOTHER MAN A FEW WEEKS
BEFORE STEVIE DIED?

I'M NOT SURE WHEN,
BUT SOMETHING HAPPENED.

TELL ME WHAT YOU MEAN
BY THAT.

SHE WAS KISSING THAT MEXICAN
IN OUR HOUSE.

AND THAT HAPPENED
A FEW WEEKS BEFORE
STEVIE DIED?

I'M NOT SURE WHEN.

HOW WOULD WE
BEST DETERMINE
WHEN THAT OCCURRED?

ASK THE MEXICAN.

LET ME DIRECT YOUR ATTENTION
TO PARAGRAPH 14

OF PAM HOBBS'S
DECLARATION.

"TWO WEEKS AFTER STEVIE DIED,
TERRY LEFT TOWN.

HE SAID I WAS
TOO MUCH TO HANDLE

AND THAT HE COULD NOT
STAY AROUND ME ANYMORE."

- DID I READ THAT CORRECTLY?
- YOU DID.

AND IS THAT
A TRUE PARAGRAPH?

I'M NOT SURE ABOUT
THE TIME FRAME,

BUT, YEAH,
I HAD TO GET AWAY.

ARE YOU ALL GONNA BE ABLE
TO GET BACK TOGETHER

OR IS THE MARRIAGE OVER?

IT'S-- IT'S OVER.

DO YOU THINK YOU'D BE
STILL TOGETHER

IF STEVIE
HADN'T BEEN MURDERED?

WELL...

WE HAD TROUBLE ANYWAY,

YOU KNOW,
TO BE HONEST WITH YOU,
BEFORE THIS HAPPENED.

AND HE ALWAYS TOLD ME

THAT HE DON'T GET MAD;
HE GETS EVEN.

YOU KNOW, THAT'S WHAT
HE HAD ALWAYS SAID TO ME.

Man: PAM SURE AS HECK
THINKS THAT YOU DID IT,
DOESN'T SHE?

THINKS WHO DID WHAT?

SHE THINKS
YOU KILLED STEVIE.

SHE THINKS
WHO KILLED STEVIE?

- YOU.
- NO.

- SHE DOESN'T THINK THAT?
- NO.

- SHE DOESN'T THINK
YOU WERE INVOLVED?
- NO.

A SICKENING FEELING,
YEAH--

I STILL THINK, YOU KNOW,
HE-- HE COULD HAVE
BEEN CAPABLE.

Woman:
YOU'VE TOLD MANY
DIFFERENT VERSIONS

OF WHAT YOU DID
AFTER DROPPING PAM HOBBS
OFF AT WORK

AROUND 5:00 P.M.
ON MAY 5th OF 1993.

BUT IN ALL THOSE
VERSIONS

YOU WERE ALWAYS
SEARCHING FOR STEVIE

THE WHOLE TIME.
CORRECT?

CORRECT.

NOW DAVID JACOBY
IS SAYING

THAT YOU CAME OVER
TO HIS HOUSE

AT 5:00-SOMETHING
AND PLAYED GUITAR

FOR ABOUT AN HOUR.

I DON'T RECALL THAT.

YOU'VE REPEATEDLY SAID
THAT YOU WERE

WITH MARK BYERS
AND DANA MOORE

AT 6:00 P.M.,

BUT DANA MOORE
AND MARK BYERS
SAY YOU WEREN'T.

YOU SAY YOU WERE NOT
EVER ALONE

ON THE NIGHT OF MAY 5th
AND THE MORNING OF MAY 6th,

AND YET DAVID JACOBY SAYS
YOU LEFT HIS HOUSE

TWICE ALONE.

THAT'S CORRECT,
ISN'T IT, SIR?

I DON'T KNOW.

NO ONE CAN CORROBORATE
BEING WITH YOU

OR YOUR WHEREABOUTS

FOR THE TIME PERIOD
FROM 6:00 P.M.

TO 8:00 OR 8:30 P.M.
ISN'T THAT TRUE, SIR?

SO?

SO MY POINT IS
THERE'S NOT ANY WITNESS--

NOT ANY OF YOUR
ALIBI WITNESSES

CAN CONFIRM
YOUR WHEREABOUTS

FROM 6:00 P.M.
TO 8:30 P.M.

- ISN'T THAT TRUE, SIR?
- AND YOU'RE SAYING WHAT?

I'M SAYING THAT YOU DON'T
HAVE AN ALIBI WITNESS

FOR TWO TO 2 1/2 HOURS
ON THE EVENING OF
THE MURDERS.

I DON'T KNOW.

- DOES THAT CONCERN YOU?
- NO.

Man:
DID YOU SEE STEVIE AT ALL
THAT DAY, MAY THE 5th?

NO, I DID NOT.

YOU DIDN'T SEE STEVIE
OR MICHAEL MOORE

OR CHRISTOPHER BYERS
AT ALL

- ON MAY 5th OF 1993?
- I DIDN'T.

Man:
IF SOMEBODY TESTIFIES

THAT THEY SAW YOU WITH
THE BOYS THAT NIGHT--?

DO WHAT?

IF SOMEBODY TESTIFIED
THAT THEY SAW YOU
AND THE BOYS,

WOULD THEY BE LYING?

MM-HMM, THEY WOULD
BE LYING.

- 'CAUSE YOU NEVER
FOUND THE BOYS?
- NO, I NEVER FOUND THEM.

- NEVER FOUND THEM ALIVE?
- NEVER FOUND THEM AT ALL.

OKAY.

Man #2:
SO IF SOMEONE
WERE TO TESTIFY

THAT THEY SAW
THE THREE LITTLE BOYS

STANDING BEHIND YOU

ON THE EVENING
OF MAY THE 5th...

Man #1:
PRIOR TO THE TIME THAT
YOU WENT TO PICK UP PAM,

THEY'D BE MISTAKEN?

MOST DEFINITELY.

I CAN'T WAIT
TO HEAR THAT ONE.

( chuckles )

STEVEN BRANCH LIVED
THREE HOUSES DOWN
FROM OUR HOUSE.

AND THEY CAME THROUGH
RIGHT HERE.

THEY ZOOMED THROUGH.
THERE USED TO BE A BUNCH
OF BUSHES RIGHT HERE,

AND THEY ALL
ZOOMED THROUGH AND WENT
DOWN THE SIDEWALK.

WE CAME OUTSIDE
TO GO TO CHURCH AT 6:30.

AND I YELLED
AT CHRISTOPHER
TO GO HOME,

AND HE SAID,
"I DON'T HAVE TO DO
WHAT YOU TELL ME TO DO."

I SAID, "OKAY, WHATEVER,"
YOU KNOW.

AND WE GOT IN THE CAR
TO GO TO CHURCH.

BUT I SAW TERRY COMING DOWN
THE SIDEWALK HERE,

COMING THIS DIRECTION.

AND HE WAS CALLING
FOR STEVEN

TO COME BACK DOWN
TO THEIR HOUSE.

AND WE GOT IN THE CAR
AND LEFT,

BUT THEY WERE--
THEY WERE TOGETHER

WHEN WE WENT
PAST THEM.

AS WE WERE
DRIVING BY,

STEVEN WAS
ON HIS BIKE RIDING

AND CHRISTOPHER AND MICHAEL
WERE RUNNING BEHIND HIM.

THEY WERE LAUGHING.
THEY WERE HAVING FUN

LIKE EVERY TIME
I'VE EVER SEEN
THEM BEFORE.

THEY WERE JUST HAVING FUN
LIKE ANY OTHER REGULAR DAY.

AND WE DROVE BY.
THEY WERE--

THEY WERE RIGHT HERE
NEAR TERRY'S HOUSE.

HE WAS SITTING OUTSIDE,
CALLING FOR STEVEN.

AND THEY WERE
STILL LAUGHING.

THEY WERE LAUGHING
RIGHT HERE.

AND I WILL NEVER
FORGET THAT.

AS WE DROVE BY,
THAT WAS THE LAST TIME
WE SAW THEM.

THE POLICE OR NO ONE
EVER CAME BY OUR HOUSE.

WE KIND OF THOUGHT
THEY MIGHT,

BECAUSE WE LIVE
THREE DOORS DOWN,
BUT NO ONE EVER CAME BY.

THIS PAST YEAR,

THEY WERE MAKING
A BIG DEAL

ABOUT THE TIP LINE
ON OUR NEWS.

AND I THINK I HEARD
A LONG TIME AGO

THAT THEY WENT MISSING
AT, LIKE, 6:00.

I SAID TO MYSELF, "I THINK
THAT THEY NEED TO KNOW

THAT THEY WERE
AROUND OUR HOUSE
PLAYING AT 6:30.

THEY WERE OVER HERE
IN THIS NEIGHBORHOOD.

I THOUGHT THAT TERRY
WOULD TELL THEM

THAT HE WAS
WITH THE BOYS THAT DAY.

I NEVER KNEW
UNTIL THIS YEAR

THAT HE WAS SAYING
THAT HE DIDN'T SEE THEM
AT ALL.

HE'S NOT
TELLING THE TRUTH.

HE WAS OUT THERE
WITH THEM.

Terry Hobbs:
I DIDN'T KNOW I WAS
BEING INVESTIGATED.

NOTHING ABOUT WHAT
THEY'RE SAYING IS TRUE.

AND IT'S JUST--

THE ONLY THING REALLY
THAT'S EVER BOTHERED ME

IS KNOWING THAT
THEY'VE TAKEN MY NAME

AND SAID WHAT THEY'VE SAID
ABOUT ME.

I LEARNED A LOT
ABOUT DEPOSITIONS.

YOU KNOW,
STAY OUT OF THAT.

( laughs )

Woman:
THIS NEXT QUESTION
I'M ASKING

WITH ALL DUE RESPECT
TO YOU

AND TO THE WEST MEMPHIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT,

AND I'M NOT BEING
FACETIOUS AT ALL,

BUT IT APPEARS
THAT THE WEST MEMPHIS
POLICE DEPARTMENT

AND THE PROSECUTORS

HAVE NEVER LOOKED
AT TERRY HOBBS--

ONE OF THE STEPFATHERS
OF ONE OF THE VICTIMS--
SERIOUSLY

AS BEING A PERSON
OF INTEREST

OR EVEN A POSSIBLE SUSPECT
IN THIS CASE.

AND I KNOW YOU'VE BEEN
GONE FOR A LONG TIME.

DO YOU HAVE

ANY UNDERSTANDING
OF WHY THAT IS

OR ANY EXPLANATION
OF WHY THAT WOULD BE?

UH, I REALLY CAN'T
COMMENT ON IT.

YOU'RE UNCOMFORTABLE
TALKING ABOUT

WHAT ACTUALLY TRANSPIRED
IN THAT INVESTIGATION.
WHY IS THAT?

AND THE REASON
I AM UNCOMFORTABLE IS...

THERE IS A WEALTH
OF MONEY

SUPPORTING
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE

IN GETTING THEM
OUT OF JAIL.

NOW I BELIEVE--
I BELIEVE PERSONALLY

THEY'RE GUILTY
OF THE CRIME.

TWO JURIES SAID
THEY WERE GUILTY OF IT.

I'M AFRAID I COULD SAY
SOMETHING INAPPROPRIATELY.

I COULD BE WRONG.
I COULD BE FORGETFUL.

AND I DON'T WANT
TO SAY ANYTHING

THAT WOULD CAUSE THEM
TO GET A NEW TRIAL

JUST BASED ON
A COMMENT I MAKE.

DON'T PUT THAT MONKEY
ON MY BACK--

THAT I'VE SAID
SOMETHING INCORRECTLY

OVER 16 YEARS THAT I MAY
OR MAY NOT REMEMBER,

THAT THEY'RE GOING TO BE
ENTITLED TO A NEW TRIAL

FOR SOMETHING I SAID?
NO.

THAT'S WHY I'M NOT GOING
TO DISCUSS THE CASE.

- FAIR ENOUGH.
- IF THEY HAVE NEW EVIDENCE,

HEY, I'M ALL FOR IT.
GO FOR IT.

John Douglas: I LOOKED AT ALL
THE DIFFERENT CATEGORIES.

I LOOKED AND REVIEWED
THE INFORMATION

RELATIVE TO THE CASE

AND PRETTY--
PRETTY CLEARLY,

AND IT'S PRETTY EASY
TO ME

TO DEFINE THIS CASE AS
A PERSONAL CAUSE HOMICIDE.

THIS IS NOT A HOMICIDE
EITHER PERPETRATED
BY A STRANGER.

THE PERSON
RESPONSIBLE FOR THIS CRIME
KNEW THESE VICTIMS

AND KNEW THESE VICTIMS
RELATIVELY WELL.

THE QUESTION
I'D ASK MYSELF IS,
IF THE MOTIVATION IS MURDER,

IF THE INITIAL
INTENT IS MURDER,
GO AHEAD AND KILL.

WHY DID THE SUBJECT
DECIDE TO TIE UP THE VICTIMS

AFTER STRIPPING
THEM DOWN NAKED?

I BELIEVE
THE INITIAL INTENT,
IN MY ANALYSIS,

WAS NOT TO KILL,
BUT WAS TO TAUNT

AND TO PUNISH--
PUNISH THESE INDIVIDUALS.

I SAW CRIMINAL SOPHISTICATION
AT THE CRIME SCENE.

THE TYING OF THE WRISTS
TO THE ANKLES--

I SEARCHED CASES
ALL OVER THE WORLD.

I COULDN'T COME UP
WITH SIMILAR TYPES OF CASES.

WHEN I SAW THE OFFENDER
DECIDE TO GET INTO THE WATER

AND TO SECRETE THE CLOTHING
BY PUSHING DOWN THE STICKS--

THE STICKS IN THE CLOTHING,
HIDING THE CLOTHING

ALONG WITH
THE THREE VICTIMS,

USING THAT KIND OF
CONCERTED EFFORT--

WE'RE NOT LOOKING
AT TEENAGERS COMMITTING
CRIMES LIKE THIS.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMEBODY
WHO'S RELATIVELY CRIMINALLY
SOPHISTICATED.

WE'RE LOOKING AT SOMEBODY
WHO HAS BEEN VIOLENT
IN THE PAST,

WHO'S VIOLENT NOW
AND AT THE TIME THIS CRIME
WAS PERPETRATED,

AND WOULD ALSO BE VIOLENT
IN THE FUTURE.

THE PERSON RESPONSIBLE
FOR THIS CRIME

CAN LOOK AT YOU
RIGHT IN THE EYE--
CAN LOOK AT A CAMERA

AND SAY THAT
"I DIDN'T DO IT."

BECAUSE IT'S
THE PSYCHOPATHIC
PERSONALITY.

THERE IS NO REMORSE.
ANYONE WHO PERPETRATES
A CRIME LIKE THIS

AND LEAVES THE VICTIMS
LIKE THIS IN THIS CONDITION

IS ONLY CONCERNED
ABOUT HIMSELF.

YOU COULD PUT HIM
ON THE POLYGRAPH--
HE'LL PASS THE POLYGRAPH,

PARTICULARLY IF IT'S
14 YEARS LATER.

WHEN JOHN DOUGLAS
TOLD ME

THAT TERRY HOBBS'
RECORD AND BACKGROUND

MADE ME LOOK LIKE
A BOY SCOUT,

I ALMOST FELL OUT.

AND HE WAS
DEAD SERIOUS.

HERE'S A WORLD-RENOWNED,
30-YEAR,

PROBABLY THE FINEST PROFILER
IN F.B.I. HISTORY.

I WAS NERVOUS
JUST BEING AROUND HIM,

THINKING HE'S
PROFILING ME.

HE TOLD ME
HE HAD DONE THAT
A LONG TIME AGO.

HE KNEW I HAD NOTHING
TO DO WITH IT.

I'VE BEEN ASKED,
"DO YOU THINK

YOU'RE DOING
TO TERRY HOBBS
WHAT WAS DONE TO YOU?"

NO, NO, NO.

I'M TALKING
ABOUT FACTS.

I'M TALKING ABOUT D.N.A.
I'M TALKING ABOUT NO ALIBI.

I'M TALKING ABOUT LIES
AFTER LIES AFTER LIES.

( tuning )

WHY DON'T YOU HOLD THIS
AND LET ME HOLD THAT?

AND I'LL TUNE IT
REAL QUICK.

DON'T MAKE ME REACH OVER
AND SLAP SOMEBODY.

( muttering )

BROTHERS.

Tina Hobbs:
GOD KNOWS ALL THINGS
AND WHY THEY HAPPEN.

WE DON'T, BUT HE DOES.
AND WE HAVE TO TRUST IN HIM.

SO I CAN TELL YOU,
THERE'S ALWAYS GONNA BE TALK.

YOU KNOW,
EVEN FOR US, WE DON'T LIKE
SOME OF THE STUFF

THAT IS ON THE TV
AND THIS AND THAT

THAT HAS BEEN SAID,
BECAUSE WE KNOW, YOU KNOW,

THAT, NO, YOU KNOW,
TERRY COULD NOT HAVE BEEN--

THAT, YOU KNOW,
HE DIDN'T DO THIS THING.

THIS IS NOT TERRY.
TERRY'S--

I MEAN, YOU'VE SEEN,
YOU KNOW.

Michael Hobbs:
I HAVE NEVER CHANGED
MY MIND

FROM THE CONVICTION.

I DON'T CARE WHAT
ALL THEM OTHER PEOPLE
PUT ON THAT INTERNET,

I HAVE NEVER
CHANGED MY MIND.

I'M JUST LIKE
THE STATE OF ARKANSAS

AND I'M JUST LIKE
THE LEGAL SYSTEM.

I BELIEVE IN JUSTICE
AND I BELIEVE IT WAS SERVED.

THEY, YOU KNOW,
WENT THROUGH TRIAL
AND EVERYTHING.

THEY DID WHAT THEY DID.
THEY ARRESTED THREE BOYS.

UNTIL WE GET TOLD OTHERWISE,
WE STILL BELIEVE

THAT'S THE ONES
THAT SHOULD HAVE
BEEN THERE--

UNTIL WE GET TOLD
OTHERWISE.

I HAD SOMETHING MADE--

JUST THE PROS AND CONS
OF TERRY HOBBS.

THIS PRETTY WELL
SPEAKS FOR ITSELF.

TWO ITEMS THAT WOULD BE
ON THE INNOCENT SIDE--

THAT HE NEEDED TO TRY
TO RESTRAIN THREE VICTIMS.

SOME SAY THAT MIGHT BE
A LITTLE DIFFICULT.
NOT REALLY.

ONCE HE HIT ONE CHILD,
THE OTHER TWO

PROBABLY FROZE LIKE
A DEER IN HEADLIGHTS.

ACCORDING TO
THE MEDICAL REPORTS,

ALL THREE CHILDREN
BASICALLY

FROM BLOWS TO THE HEAD
WOULD HAVE DIED.

AND THEN POSSIBLE
SECONDARY TRANSFER--

THAT'S REFERRING
TO HIS HAIR

THAT WAS FOUND
IN A LIGATURE

TIED TO ONE
OF THE CHILDREN.

THAT'S ABOUT ALL
ON THE PRO SIDE
YOU COULD FIND.

LET'S LOOK
AT THE GUILTY.

MOTIVE, MEANS,
AND OPPORTUNITY.

HE HAD A VIOLENT PAST.

HE WORKED
IN A SLAUGHTERHOUSE.

AND HE ADMITS BEING
IN THE WOODS AT 6:30.

TERRY HOBBS ADMITS IT.

NO ONE ELSE PUTS HIM THERE.
HE PUTS HIMSELF THERE.

NO ALIBI.

CAN'T ACCOUNT
FOR THE CRUCIAL TIMES

FROM 6:30 TO 8:00,
8:30 TO 9:00,

10:00 TO 11:15
AND FROM 2:30 TO 5:00 A.M.

THAT'S A LOT OF GAP
IN TIME OF,

WHAT WERE YOU
DOING, MR. HOBBS?
WHERE WERE YOU?

CLAIMS TO HAVE BEEN
WITH JACOBY

AT TIMES, JACOBY DENIES.

NOW HERE'S
YOUR OWN WITNESS
DENYING WHAT YOU SAID.

TO ME, THAT DOESN'T
LOOK TOO GOOD.

NOT INTERVIEWED OR CLEARED
BY THE POLICE.

NOW THERE,
THE WEST MEMPHIS P.D., 101,

TOTALLY FELL
ON THEIR FACE.

THEY DIDN'T GO TALK
TO TERRY HOBBS

AND QUESTION HIM ABOUT
WHAT HE DID THAT NIGHT.

THEY DIDN'T TREAT HIM
THE WAY THEY TREATED ME.

INCONSISTENT STATEMENT--

HE NEVER SAW
ANY OF THE BOYS THAT DAY.

WE KNOW
THAT'S WRONG.

HE WAS SEEN
BY THREE WITNESSES
THAT WERE NEIGHBORS.

THAT COULD HAVE
COME OUT

BACK ON MAY 5th OR 6th
IF THE WEST MEMPHIS P.D.

WOULD HAVE CANVASSED
THAT NEIGHBORHOOD.

THEY JUST CANVASSED
THIS NEIGHBORHOOD,

NEVER WENT AROUND
AND ASKED ANY OF HOBBS'
NEIGHBORS A WORD.

THEY'D HAVE TOLD THEM
THAT BACK THEN.

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN CAUGHT
IN HIS LIE THEN.

HE WOULD HAVE BEEN
THE LAST PERSON TO
HAVE SEEN THEM.

THE POLICE WOULD HAVE
ZEROED IN ON HIM
INSTEAD OF DAMIEN

AND THEY WOULD HAVE GOT
THE REAL KILLER

AND WE WOULD NOT BE HERE
TALKING TODAY.

I BELIEVE THAT IF THIS WAS
PRESENTED TO A JURY,

THEY WOULD FIND
TERRY HOBBS GUILTY.

THIS IS MORE EVIDENCE
AND FACTS

THAN AGAINST
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE

OR ME OR ANYONE ELSE.

Man:
I'M GONNA DIRECT THIS, I GUESS,
TO THE D.N.A. EXPERTS.

OVER THE COURSE OF TIME,
IT SEEMS THAT OVER AND
OVER AGAIN

IT'S BEEN
DIFFERENT FAMILY MEMBERS
WHO HAVE POPPED UP

AS KIND OF BEING
SUSPECTS IN THIS CASE.

AND I HAVE TO ASK,
IS THERE REALLY SIGNIFICANT
ENOUGH

D.N.A. EVIDENCE
THAT COULD POINT
TO TERRY HOBBS?

MY PERSONAL OPINION
IS I DON'T THINK THAT
THAT HAIR EVIDENCE

WOULD BE ENOUGH
TO CONVICT MR. HOBBS

OR ANYBODY
IN A SIMILAR SITUATION,

BECAUSE IT'S SIMPLY NOT
STRONG ENOUGH.

THE PERCENTAGES
THAT I GAVE OF PEOPLE

WHO COULD BE THE SOURCE
OF THOSE HAIRS

ARE 1 1/2%
OF THE POPULATION.

THAT'S NOT PARTICULARLY
STRONG EVIDENCE,

AND ESPECIALLY
IN THE CONTEXT OF

WHAT MOST PEOPLE
ARE ACCUSTOMED TO
WITH D.N.A. TESTING.

Woman:
SO JUST TO CLARIFY,
THE D.N.A. EVIDENCE--

THE POINT OF BRINGING IT UP
ISN'T TO SAY THAT
HOBBS DID IT,

BUT IT'S JUST TO SAY,
ONE COULD THINK IT MIGHT BE
MORE LIKELY

THAT HOBBS
WOULD HAVE DONE IT
VERSUS DAMIEN,

BECAUSE THERE'S NO
EVIDENCE THERE AT ALL?

THE LAST THING
AS DEFENSE LAWYERS

WE WOULD
INTEND TO DO

IS INDICT
AND CONVICT SOMEONE

BEYOND A REASONABLE DOUBT
OF THIS CASE.

THE EVIDENCE
AS TO HOBBS--

I DON'T THINK
THAT IT SHOULD BE
VIEWED THAT WAY.

BUT IS IT EVIDENCE
THAT WOULD LEAD ANY
REASONABLE JUROR

TO ACQUIT DAMIEN ECHOLS?
YES, IT WOULD.

Male reporter:
DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
ANNOUNCED

THEY HAD NEW D.N.A.
EVIDENCE THAT SHOWS
NO TRACE OF ECHOLS

OR THE OTHER DEFENDANTS
AT THE CRIME SCENE.

EVEN SOME OF
THE VICTIMS' RELATIVES

WHO INITIALLY AGREED
WITH THE VERDICTS...

THAT'S WHAT ALL
THREE OF 'EM ARE--
PUNKS. PUNKS.

...NOW THINK THE MEN
IN JAIL ARE INNOCENT.

I WOULD LIKE TO SEE
ANOTHER TRIAL.

GIVE 'EM A FAIR TRIAL.
PRESENT THE EVIDENCE

THAT REALLY WASN'T PRESENTED
IN THE OTHER TRIALS.

AND IF THEY'RE
GUILTY, SO BE IT.
THAT'S WHERE THEY STAY.

BUT IF THEY'RE NOT,
GOD, DON'T PUT SOMEBODY
TO DEATH,

BECAUSE, YOU KNOW,
OOPS.

AS DAMIEN'S LAWYERS,
WE ARE NOT TAKING ON

THE BURDEN OF PROVING
WHO ACTUALLY COMMITTED
THESE CRIMES.

THE QUESTION FOR THE COURT
SHOULD BE AND WILL BE,

WOULD A REASONABLE JUROR,
LOOKING AT THE ENTIRE
PICTURE NOW--

ALL THE EVIDENCE OF GUILT,
ALL THE EVIDENCE
OF INNOCENCE,

EVERYTHING THAT WAS ADMITTED
AT TRIAL, EVERYTHING THAT
SURFACED THEREAFTER--

LOOKING AT THAT

AND THROWING INTO THE MIX
THE D.N.A. RESULTS,

WOULD A REASONABLE JUROR
CONVICT THESE PEOPLE TODAY?

AND THE ANSWER
TO THAT IS NO.

Female reporter:
JUDGE DAVID BURNETT
TENTATIVELY SET UP HEARINGS

FOR NEXT MONTH
TO DETERMINE IF THERE IS
ENOUGH EVIDENCE

TO OVERTURN THE CONVICTIONS
OF THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE.

DEFENSE ATTORNEYS
WANT TO PRESENT NEW
D.N.A. EVIDENCE

THEY HOPE WILL LEAD
TO A NEW TRIAL.

JUDGE BURNETT
MADE IT CLEAR

HE COULD FOLLOW
PROSECUTORS' SUGGESTIONS

THAT THE D.N.A. EVIDENCE
ISN'T ENOUGH FOR
A NEW TRIAL

OR TO OVERTURN
THE CONVICTIONS.

IF JUDGE BURNETT
RULES IN FAVOR OF
THE STATE'S OPINION

ON ECHOLS'S D.N.A. PLEADING,
THIS VERY WELL COULD BE

THE END OF THE ROAD
FOR HIS DEFENSE.

IN THE NEWSROOM,
WILL CARTER, REGION 8 NEWS.

IN SEPTEMBER,
JUDGE DAVID BURNETT,

WHO PRESIDED OVER
BOTH TRIALS,

RULED HE WOULD NOT HEAR
ANY NEW EVIDENCE
IN THE CASE.

SO DAMIEN ECHOLS IS NOW
APPEALING HIS CASE

TO THE ARKANSAS
SUPREME COURT,

WHICH HAS PREVIOUSLY UPHELD
THE CONVICTION.

THIS IS THE FIRST TIME
THAT THE ARKANSAS
SUPREME COURT

IS GOING TO INTERPRET
THE D.N.A. STATUTE.

SO IT'S GOING TO HAVE
ENORMOUS IMPLICATIONS

FOR EVERYBODY WHO
COMES IN THEIR WAKE.

I'M THINKING ABOUT
WHEN WE ARGUE THIS

IN THE ARKANSAS
SUPREME COURT,

THE APPROACH
WE WANT TO TAKE IS,

"JUSTICES, YOU MAY BE AWARE
THAT THIS SPECIFIC CASE

HAS GARNERED
A LOT OF INTEREST,

BUT THE INTERESTS
AT STAKE HERE ARE
A LOT BROADER

THAN THE THREE INDIVIDUALS
BEFORE THE COURT,

EVEN THOUGH ONE OF THOSE
LITERALLY HAS HIS LIFE
ON THE LINE."

Riordan:
GOOD MORNING, YOUR HONORS.
IF IT PLEASE THE COURT,

OBVIOUSLY, SINCE MY CLIENT
IS SENTENCED TO DEATH,

THE RESOLUTION
OF THIS CASE

IS OF PARAMOUNT
IMPORTANCE TO HIM.

BUT THE INTERESTS
AT STAKE HERE ARE
FAR BROADER.

AND THAT IS BECAUSE
WE ARE DEALING WITH

PURE QUESTIONS OF LAW
ABOUT THE INTERPRETATION

OF WHAT I'LL CALL
"THE D.N.A. STATUTES."

WHAT IS THE MEANING OF
THIS ARKANSAS STATUTE?

THERE'S LANGUAGE
IN THAT STATUTE

THAT SAYS THAT
IF THE D.N.A. EVIDENCE

EXCLUDES THE DEFENDANT

AS THE SOURCE
OF THE D.N.A.,

WHICH IT DID
IN OUR CASE,

THEN THE TRIAL COURT
HAS TO CONSIDER ALL
THE EVIDENCE,

WHETHER IT WAS ADMITTED
AT TRIAL OR NOT,

TO SEE WHAT A REASONABLE
JUROR WOULD DO TODAY.

THIS STATUTE WAS PASSED
TO EXONERATE THE INNOCENT.

THE STATE HAS
REALLY PROPOSED

AN ORWELLIAN INTERPRETATION
OF THE TERM "ALL."

"ALL" SIMPLY MEANS ALL.

Horgan:
THE STATE TOOK
THE POSITION

THAT IN WEIGHING
ALL THE EVIDENCE,

WHAT THE STATUTE
MEANT TO SAY WAS

THAT THE COURT CONSIDER ONLY
ALL THE EVIDENCE OF GUILT,

BUT NOT THE EVIDENCE
OF INNOCENCE,

WHICH IS NONSENSICAL,

BECAUSE, OF COURSE,

IF A TRIAL COURT
WERE TO LOOK AT
THE D.N.A. EVIDENCE,

BUT THEN ONLY CONSIDER
ALL THE EVIDENCE OF GUILT,

THE COURT WOULDN'T BE
CONSIDERING EVERYTHING

THAT MAKES A COMPELLING
CASE FOR INNOCENCE.

Judge:
LET ME ASK YOU A QUESTION,
MR. RIORDAN.

LET'S FOCUS ON
THE EVIDENCE SITUATION

AND LET'S SAY THAT
I AGREE WITH YOU

THAT MAYBE THE TRIAL JUDGE
WAS IN ERROR

WITH RESPECT TO JUST
LIMITING THE EVIDENCE
TO EVIDENCE OF GUILT.

WHAT EVIDENCE THEN
WOULD BE CONSIDERED?

WOULD IT BE THE EVIDENCE
THAT WAS PRESENTED
AT THE TRIAL

OR EVERYTHING
THAT'S OCCURRED OVER
THE LAST 17 YEARS?

I DON'T THINK THAT IT CAN
BE RATIONALLY READ

OTHER THAN TO SAY
THE COURT MUST CONSIDER--

THAT IS,
PLACE IN THE SCALE--

NOT ONLY
THE EVIDENCE OF GUILT

BUT ALSO ALL OTHER
EVIDENCE,

WHETHER OR NOT ADMITTED
AT THE FIRST TRIAL.

THE COURT WILL RECOGNIZE
THE COUNSELOR.

GOOD MORNING.
MAY IT PLEASE THE COURT,

MR. ECHOLS HAS BEEN
TO THIS COURT

SEVERAL TIMES
IN THE LAST DECADE

CHALLENGING HIS
CONVICTION

DIRECTLY AND
COLLATERALLY,

AND THIS STATUTE DOES NOT
CALL FOR A RETRIAL.

IT'S NOT ABOUT
TRYING SOMEBODY AGAIN

FOR THE STATE
TO PROVE GUILT TWICE.

COUNSELOR,
WHAT HARM IS THERE
IN ALLOWING HIM

TO PRESENT THE EVIDENCE
FROM THE LAST 17 YEARS?

I'M SORRY?

WHAT HARM IS THERE
IN ALLOWING HIM

TO PRESENT
ALL EVIDENCE?

WELL, THE HARM
IS IN THE FINALITY
OF A CRIMINAL JUDGMENT

THAT IS NOT
DEMONSTRATED TO HAVE

ANY CONSTITUTIONAL
OR PROCEDURAL DEFECT

AND JUST
TO TRY IT AGAIN.

I MEAN, YOU'RE SUGGESTING,
IT SOUNDS TO ME, JUSTICE,

AS THOUGH EVERY
15 OR 17 YEARS OR SO,

WE REALLY OUGHT
TO TRY CASES AGAIN
TO RE-ESTABLISH GUILT.

I THINK IT'S--
I THINK IT'S CLEAR

THAT THE ANIMATING
PURPOSE HERE IS NOT
TO RETRY.

SO THE HARM IS--

IS TO THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM'S INTEREST IN FINALITY

AND THE WORK
THAT GETS DONE

IN EVALUATING

WHETHER OR NOT
JUSTICE HAS BEEN SERVED

IN EACH OF THE FORUMS
THAT MR. ECHOLS HAS BEEN
THROUGH ALREADY.

IT SOUNDS AS IF
YOUR ARGUMENT IS

THAT ALL
EVIDENCE OF GUILT
WILL BE CONSIDERED,

BUT IT'S GOING TO BE
EXTREMELY DIFFICULT

TO ADMIT
ALL OTHER EVIDENCE

THAT MAY HAVE BEEN
EXCULPATORY.

I THINK THAT'S--
THAT IS THE ARGUMENT.

IT'S THE SECOND
ALTERNATIVE REASON

THE CIRCUIT COURT CONCLUDED
THAT RELIEF SHOULD BE DENIED.

AND TO ME, THAT'S--
THAT'S A REASONABLE STATUTE.

BUT WHERE DOES IT SAY,
"ALL OTHER EVIDENCE
OF GUILT"?

I UNDERSTAND
THAT IT DOESN'T
EXPRESSLY SAY THAT.

BUT YOU HAVE TO
INTERPRET THE STATUTE

IN LIGHT OF ITS
ANIMATING PURPOSE.

AND YOU HAVE TO INTERPRET IT
IN LIGHT OF RULES OF GRAMMAR.

I MEAN, I THINK
THAT'S A VERY FAIR
CONSTRUCTION.

I'M HAVING TROUBLE
FOLLOWING.

IF THE TESTING HAS TO PROVE
YOU'RE INNOCENT, WHY WOULD
YOU EVEN NEED A HEARING?

WELL, AGAIN,
I THINK YOU HAVE TO GO BACK
TO CONTEXT, YOUR HONOR.

WE HAVE TO DEAL WITH
THE CLEAR MEANING
OF THE STATUTE.

I UNDERSTAND YOUR
CONTEXT ARGUMENT,

BUT WE STILL HAVE TO DEAL
WITH THE CLEAR LANGUAGE
OF THE STATUTE.

Riordan:
IT COMES OUT OF A MIND SET
THAT SAYS,

"OUR JOB AS PROSECUTORS
IS JUST TO MAKE SURE

THAT EVERYBODY WE PROSECUTE
IS CONVICTED,

EVERYBODY WHO'S SENTENCED
TO DEATH IS KILLED.

THIS IS A WRESTLING MATCH
TO THE DEATH,

AND WE'VE GOT TO
MAKE SURE

THAT WE COME OUT ON TOP
IN EACH INSTANCE."

THE LEGISLATURE,
IN ITS WISDOM, RECOGNIZED

THAT THE CRIMINAL
JUSTICE SYSTEM,

LIKE ALL HUMAN ENDEAVORS,
SOMETIMES IS FLAWED.

BUT THE ATTORNEY GENERAL
HAS TAKEN THE POSITION

THAT THE CRIMINAL JUSTICE
SYSTEM IS FREE OF ERROR

AND THEREFORE IS
EFFECTIVELY DIVINE.

I QUOTE FROM THEIR BRIEF
IN THE CIRCUIT COURT:

"THE STATE DOES NOT SHRINK
FROM ECHOLS' CHARGE

THAT RELIEF MAY
NEVER BE GRANTED

UNDER THIS VIEW OF
THE STATUTE"-- ITS VIEW--

"BUT EMBRACES IT
OUT OF CONFIDENCE

THAT THE ARKANSAS
CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM

DOES NOT CONVICT
THE INNOCENT."

THE STATE
HAS TAKEN A POSITION

THAT'S DIRECTED NOT ONLY
ABOUT DENYING RELIEF

TO MR. ECHOLS, MR. BALDWIN,
MR. MISSKELLEY,

BUT ENSURING
THAT NO ONE WILL EVER BE
ABLE TO GET RELIEF

UNDER THE ARKANSAS
D.N.A. STATUTES.

RIORDAN,
YOUR TIME HAS EXPIRED.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

Riordan:
I THANK THE COURT
FOR ITS ATTENTION

AND RECOGNIZE
THE COURT MAY FEEL THAT
THE APPROPRIATE REMEDY

IS A REMAND
TO THE TRIAL COURT
FOR AN EVIDENTIARY HEARING.

- THANK YOU, YOUR HONOR.
- THANK YOU VERY MUCH.

THE CLOCK ON MY HEAD--
IT AIN'T GOT NO HANDS ON IT
FOR A REASON.

TO ME, IT MEANS
TIME IS STANDING STILL.

MY TIME IS
STANDING STILL.

EVERYBODY ELSE'S TIME
IS MOVING FORWARD.

BUT HERE IT IS, WHAT,
ALMOST 18 YEARS LATER?

WHATEVER TIME IT IS

WHEN, YOU KNOW,
THE POLICE FINALLY
LET ME OUT,

THAT'S WHAT TIME
I'M GONNA PUT UP THERE.

I'VE SPENT
NEARLY 60% OF MY LIFE
INCARCERATED NOW.

AND I'VE LEARNED
ALONG THE WAY

THAT NO MATTER
WHERE YOU'RE AT,

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE
THE MOST OF IT,
ENJOY IT.

NO MATTER HOW BAD
YOU MAY PERCEIVE IT TO BE

OR HOW GOOD YOU MAY
PERCEIVE IT TO BE,

YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE
THE MOST OF IT,

BECAUSE THIS IS
WHERE YOU'RE AT RIGHT NOW.

YOU KNOW, I JUST TRY
TO DO MY BEST EVERY DAY,

YOU KNOW, REGARDLESS OF
THE SITUATION.

WE TAKE THE HANDS WE'RE DEALT.
WE MAKE THE MOST OF IT.

THAT'S THE WAY
WE MAKE IT THROUGH LIFE.

Damien:
YOU NEVER, EVER
GET SUNLIGHT.

I HAVEN'T BEEN
EXPOSED TO SUNLIGHT

IN ALMOST
SEVEN YEARS NOW.

YOU'RE IN A CELL

PRETTY MUCH,

FOR ALL INTENTS
AND PURPOSES,

24 HOURS A DAY,
SEVEN DAYS A WEEK.

IF I FOCUSED
ON THE THINGS
I CAN'T CHANGE,

THE THINGS THAT HAVE HURT ME,
WHAT PEOPLE HAVE DONE TO ME,

THEN THEY WOULD'VE
ALREADY BROKEN ME.

THEY WOULD'VE HAVE
KILLED ME INSIDE AND OUT.

I GET UP
IN THE MORNING

AND I DON'T FEEL SORRY
FOR MYSELF.

I DON'T HATE MY LIFE.

YOU HAVE A LOT
OF PEOPLE IN HERE THAT

ALL THEY CAN THINK ABOUT
IS WHAT THEY DON'T HAVE

AND HOW MUCH
THEY WANT OUT

AND HOW MUCH THEY WANT
SOMETHING ELSE.

BUT FOR SOME REASON
THIS SITUATION HAS HELPED ME

TO SEE MORE
OF WHAT I DO HAVE

AND TO BE THANKFUL
FOR THAT.

YOU KNOW, I HAVE--
IN A LOT OF WAYS

I HAVE A TRULY
INCREDIBLE LIFE.

Darrell Greene:
IN LESS THAN 17 HOURS,
THE FATES OF DAMIEN ECHOLS

JASON BALDWIN,
AND JESSIE MISSKELLEY
COULD BE DECIDED.

A SPECIAL HEARING
IN JONESBORO

WILL BRING TOGETHER
FAMILIES OF THE VICTIMS

AND THE THREE
CONVICTED MURDERERS

KNOWN AS
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE

FOR WHAT COULD BE
AN EXPLOSIVE RESOLUTION
IN THIS INFAMOUS CASE.

( police siren whooping )

( police radio chatter )

Male reporter:
NOW JUDGE DAVID BURNETT--
HE WAS THE JUDGE

WHO REJECTED THAT
THE NEW D.N.A. TESTING
SHOULD GET THEM A NEW TRIAL--

HE WAS ELECTED
TO THE STATE SENATE
LAST YEAR,

SO A NEW JUDGE,
JUDGE DAVID LASER,
WAS APPOINTED.

THAT'S A MAJOR CHANGE
IN THE CASE.

ALSO THE SUPREME COURT
DISAGREED WITH FORMER
JUDGE BURNETT

AND SAID THE D.N.A.
TESTING DID WARRANT
AT LEAST A HEARING

TO CONSIDER
THE POSSIBILITY
OF A NEW TRIAL.

NOW THAT HEARING
WAS SET FOR DECEMBER,

BUT YESTERDAY JUDGE LASER
AND THE ATTORNEYS INVOLVED

SURPRISED EVERYBODY BY
CALLING THIS HEARING TODAY.

Male reporter #2:
IT COULD ALL COME TO AN END

OR JUST MARK THE BEGINNING
FOR EVEN MORE OF THE SAME.

Male reporter:
SO WHAT'S GONNA HAPPEN?
ARE THEY JUST LITERAL--

I MEAN,
THEY'VE BEEN CONVICTED
OF KILLING THESE KIDS.

ARE THEY JUST GOING TO
WALK OUT OF JAIL?

Female reporter:
WELL, WHAT WE HAVE HEARD,
WHAT COULD HAPPEN TODAY

IS THAT THEY COULD ENTER
SOMETHING THAT'S VERY UNUSUAL
CALLED "ALFORD PLEAS."

AND THE THREE MEN WILL SAY,
"LOOK, WE ARE INNOCENT,

BUT IN ORDER TO
GET OUT OF JAIL,
WE WILL PLEAD GUILTY."

I AM DAVID LASER,

CIRCUIT JUDGE,
DIVISION NINE,

THE SECOND
JUDICIAL DISTRICT

OF THE STATE
OF ARKANSAS.

SUBJECT TO THE COURT'S
APPROVAL,

CERTAIN DISPOSITIVE AGREEMENTS
HAVE BEEN REACHED

BY AND BETWEEN THE STATE
AND THE DEFENDANTS
IN THIS CASE.

THE ALFORD PLEA--

IT'S A GUILTY PLEA
WITH A PROFESSION
OF INNOCENCE.

IF YOU WOULD, PLEASE,
MR. ECHOLS,

MR. BALDWIN,
MR. MISSKELLEY,

IF YOU WOULD STAND,
PLEASE...

MR. ECHOLS, HOW DO YOU
WISH TO PLEAD IN THIS CASE?

MR. BALDWIN,
HOW DO YOU CHOOSE TO PLEAD
IN THIS CASE?

THE SAME AS RELATES
TO YOU, MR. MISSKELLEY,

HOW DO YOU WISH
TO PLEAD?

ALL RIGHT, THANK YOU.
THE COURT FINDS EACH
OF THE DEFENDANTS

GUILTY OF FIRST DEGREE MURDER
AND THE MODIFIED CHARGES...

( voice fades )

AT THIS MOMENT
THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE
ARE FREE.

Female anchor:
OKAY, SO JUST FOR CLARITY,
THEN, DAVID,

IT'S NOT THAT
THESE CONVICTIONS
WERE OVERTURNED.

THEY ARE STILL GUILTY,
BUT THEY WERE FREED.

NOW THIS-- AT THE ROOT
OF THIS CHANGE

IS D.N.A. EVIDENCE

OR LACK THEREOF.
IS THAT CORRECT?

Male reporter:
THAT WAS ONE OF
THE LAST THINGS

THAT CAME TO THE COURT'S
ATTENTION THIS YEAR.

NOW, IF THEY DID NOT
GO THROUGH WITH THIS
DEAL TODAY,

THOSE THREE WOULD HAVE BEEN
PROBABLY GRANTED

A NEW TRIAL
LATER THIS YEAR.

BUT THAT TRIAL
COULD HAVE TAKEN YEARS
TO COMPLETE.

SO THE JUDGE--
AGAIN, REITERATING,

"THIS WAS
IN THE BEST INTERESTS,"
HE SAID, "FOR EVERYONE."

THIS IS NOT RIGHT.

AND THE PEOPLE OF
ARKANSAS NEED TO STAND UP
AND RAISE HELL,

BECAUSE THREE
INNOCENT MEN

ARE GONNA HAVE TO
CLAIM TODAY

THAT THEY'RE GUILTY
FOR A CRIME THEY DIDN'T KNOW,

AND THAT'S BULLSHIT.

- Woman: AMEN.
- ( crowd cheering )

THEY'RE INNOCENT.

THEY DID NOT KILL MY SON.

AND THIS IS WRONG

WHAT THE STATE OF ARKANSAS
IS DOING

TO COVER THEIR ASS.

AND I'M SICK OF IT.

BECAUSE THE REAL KILLER
IS WALKING AROUND FREE.

SOME ARE HAPPY, SOME ARE ANGRY,
AND SOME ARE PERPLEXED.

AND THAT'S THE CASE
AT THE END OF EVERY TRIAL.

AND THIS ONE IS
NO DIFFERENT.

GUILT OR INNOCENCE
WAS NEVER ON THE TABLE.

TODAY'S PROCEEDINGS
ALLOWS THE DEFENDANTS

TO HAVE THE FREEDOM TO SAY
THAT THEY'RE NOT GUILTY,

BUT IN FACT
THEY JUST PLED GUILTY.

THE LEGAL TANGLE
THAT HAS BECOME KNOWN

AS THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE
CASE IS NOW FINISHED.

Woman:
DAMIEN, WITH
THE ALFORD PLEA,

YOU HAD TO SAY,
FOR THE COURT'S PURPOSE,

THAT YOU'RE GUILTY
OF A CRIME

THAT YOU PROFESSED TO THE JUDGE
THAT YOU DID NOT COMMIT.

- RIGHT.
- IS THIS JUSTICE?

IS THIS WHAT
YOU'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR?

IS IT BITTERSWEET?

IT'S NOT PERFECT.
IT'S NOT PERFECT
BY ANY MEANS.

BUT AT LEAST
IT BRINGS CLOSURE

TO SOME AREAS
AND SOME ASPECTS.

YOU KNOW, WE CAN STILL
BRING UP NEW EVIDENCE.

WE CAN STILL CONTINUE
THE INVESTIGATIONS
WE'VE BEEN DOING.

WE CAN STILL TRY
TO CLEAR OUR NAMES.

THE ONLY DIFFERENCE
IS NOW WE CAN DO IT
FROM THE OUTSIDE

INSTEAD OF
HAVING TO SIT IN PRISON
AND DO IT.

YOU KNOW, THIS HAS BEEN
GOING ON FOR OVER 18 YEARS,

AND IT'S--

IT'S BEEN AN ABSOLUTE
LIVING HELL.

Joe Berlinger:
WERE YOU CONCERNED ABOUT
THE EVIDENCE THAT THE DEFENSE

WAS GOING TO
PRESENT AT THE UPCOMING
EVIDENTIARY HEARING,

INCLUDING JUROR MISCONDUCT--
ALLEGATIONS OF JUROR MISCONDUCT?

Scott Ellington:
WHEN THE SUPREME COURT
HANDED DOWN THIS DECISION

ON NOVEMBER THE 4th
OF LAST YEAR,

REOPENING ISSUES
OF JUROR MISCONDUCT

AND EVERYTHING--
AND ALL THESE OTHER MATTERS

ON THE BASIS
OF NEW D.N.A.,

THEN THAT CAUSED SOME--
SOME TROUBLES.

AND THIS JUDGE WAS
MOST LIKELY GOING TO
GRANT A NEW TRIAL.

AND IF THIS JUDGE
GRANTED A NEW TRIAL,

THE DEFENDANTS
MOST LIKELY--

I MEAN, WE WOULD DO
THE BEST WE COULD TO PREVAIL
ON THE EVIDENCE,

BUT MOST LIKELY
THESE DEFENDANTS,

THE STATE BELIEVES,

COULD VERY EASILY
HAVE BEEN ACQUITTED.

- YES, MA'AM.
- Woman: WILL THE STATE
CONTINUE

TO INVESTIGATE THIS CASE
IF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION'S
BROUGHT FORTH

OR IS THE CASE CLOSED?

I HAVE NO REASON TO BELIEVE
THAT THERE WAS ANYONE ELSE

INVOLVED IN THE HOMICIDE
OF THESE THREE CHILDREN

BUT THE THREE DEFENDANTS
WHO PLED GUILTY TODAY.

LET ME JUST POINT OUT
ONE ASPECT OF WHAT
HAPPENED TODAY:

THESE MEN
NOT ONLY WALKED OUT,

THEY CREATED TODAY,
BY THIS PLEA, TO ME,

PROOF POSITIVE
OF THEIR INNOCENCE

AND THE STATE'S
RECOGNITION OF IT.

BECAUSE DOES ANYONE
BELIEVE

THAT IF THE STATE HAD
EVEN THE SLIGHTEST

CONTINUING CONVICTION
THAT THEY WERE GUILTY,

THAT THEY WOULD LET
THESE MEN FREE TODAY?

IT WOULD'VE NEVER
HAPPENED.

BUT TO ME,
THE STATE'S ACCEPTANCE
OF AN ALFORD PLEA,

IN WHICH THEY MAINTAIN
THEIR INNOCENCE,

AND RELEASING THEM,
IS EVIDENCE

OF THE STATE'S RECOGNITION
OF THEIR INNOCENCE.

Woman:
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN FOR
THE STATE OF ARKANSAS TODAY?

THE SIGNIFICANCE
OF THIS CASE

AND THAT THIS
IS OVER TODAY--
WHAT DOES THIS MEAN?

WELL, I THINK
FOR THE BENEFIT

OF THE STATE
OF ARKANSAS

AND THE OFFICE
THAT I REPRESENT,

IT MEANS THAT
WE HAVE TERMINATED

PROLONGED LITIGATION;

WE HAVE TERMINATED
ADDITIONAL APPEALS
AND APPEAL HEARINGS.

WE'VE ALSO,
AS PART OF THE--

I MEAN, WITH THEIR ENTRY
OF A PLEA OF GUILTY,

WE HAVE REMOVED
THE QUESTION

OF THEM FILING
A CIVIL LAWSUIT
AGAINST THE STATE

THAT COULD RESULT
IN MANY MILLIONS
OF DOLLARS.

I CAN'T SAY
THAT THAT WASN'T
PART OF MY THINKING

IN RESOLVING THIS
CASE FOR THE BEST
OF THIS STATE

AND FOR TRYING TO MOVE
THIS CASE FORWARD
AND END IT.

THIS WAS NOT JUSTICE,
YOU KNOW.

IN THE BEGINNING WE TOLD
NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH--
THAT WE WERE INNOCENT--

AND THEY SENT US TO PRISON
FOR THE REST OF OUR LIVES
FOR IT.

AND THEN WE HAD TO
COME HERE,

AND THE ONLY THING
THAT THE STATE WOULD DO
FOR US WAS TO SAY,

"HEY, WE'LL LET YOU GO
ONLY IF YOU ADMIT GUILT."

AND THAT'S NOT JUSTICE,
NO MATTER HOW YOU LOOK AT IT.

THEY'RE NOT OUT THERE
TRYING TO FIND

WHO REALLY MURDERED
THOSE BOYS.

AND I DID NOT WANT
TO TAKE THE DEAL
FROM THE GET-GO.

HOWEVER,

THEY'RE TRYING
TO KILL DAMIEN.

AND SOMETIMES
YOU JUST GOTTA BITE THE GUN
TO SAVE SOMEBODY.

I WANT TO PUBLICLY
THANK JASON, TOO,

JUST TO LET HIM KNOW
THAT I DO ACKNOWLEDGE
WHAT HE DID,

THAT HE DID WANT
TO KEEP FIGHTING.

HE DIDN'T WANT
TO TAKE THIS DEAL
IN THE BEGINNING.

AND I RECOGNIZE
AND ACKNOWLEDGE

THAT HE DID DO IT
ALMOST ENTIRELY FOR ME.

THANK YOU.

( cheering )

Jason:
THERE'S SOMETHING
VERY WRONG

WITH OUR
JUDICIAL SYSTEM TODAY.

PEOPLE HAVE PREJUDICES.

PEOPLE HAVE FEARS.
PEOPLE HAVE HATES.

THESE THINGS CLOUD
OUR ABILITY TO REASON.

WE ALSO HAVE

COMPASSION,

LOVE, MERCY.

BUT WHAT MAKES IT
SO DIFFICULT

IN THE JUDICIAL SYSTEM

IS THAT THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE THERE TO PROTECT
AND SERVE--

THEY GET
SO DESENSITIZED

AND THEY LOSE
THE ABILITY TO REASON.

THERE'S GOTTA BE A WAY
TO REAWAKEN THE COMPASSION

IN THE PEOPLE WHO RUN
OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM.

UNDER THE STATE SEAL
OF ARKANSAS,

ON THE BANNER,
IT SAYS

"JUSTICE" ON ONE HAND

AND "MERCY"
ON THE OTHER.

JUSTICE IS LOST.
IT'S BROKEN.

MY CASE IN POINT:
I TOLD THE TRUTH THAT
I'M INNOCENT--

THEY REFUSED TO LET ME GO
DURING MY TRIAL.

I TAKE AN ALFORD PLEA TODAY,

SAY I'M GUILTY
WHEN REALLY I'M INNOCENT,

BUT JUST SAY I'M GUILTY
AND TAKE THIS TIME--

AND WHAT DO THEY DO?
THEY LET ME GO.

THAT'S NOT JUSTICE.

IT'S UP TO US AS A PEOPLE
TO CHANGE IT.

IT STARTS
WITH ALL OF US.

WE'VE GOT TO MAKE
THE DECISION

TO TAKE EACH PERSON
ON THEIR MERIT

AND NOT JUST LUMP EVERYBODY
INTO SOMETHING

THAT WE HATE, MISTRUST,
DON'T KNOW ABOUT.

THESE ARE THE VERY
PRINCIPLES OUR COUNTRY
IS BUILT UPON,

BUT IT'S SO HARD
TO PRACTICE.

HANG ONTO THAT.
GRAB IT.

IT'S OURS.
WE NEED IT.

IT'S WHAT KEEPS US GOING,
KEEPS US ALIVE.

IT'S WHAT PREVENTS
THINGS LIKE

WHAT'S GOING ON WITH ME,
DAMIEN, AND JESSIE
FROM HAPPENING.

* JUST KEEP THEM CLOSED,
KEEP PRAYING *

* JUST KEEP WAITING

* WAITING FOR THE ONE

* THE DAY
THAT NEVER COMES *

* WHEN YOU STAND UP
AND FEEL THE WARMTH *

* BUT THE SUNSHINE
NEVER COMES, NO *

* NO, THE SUNSHINE
NEVER COMES *

* PUSH YOU ACROSS THAT LINE

* JUST STAY DOWN THIS TIME

* HIDE IN YOURSELF

* CRAWL IN YOURSELF

* YOU'LL HAVE YOUR TIME

* GOD, I'LL MAKE THEM PAY

* TAKE IT BACK ONE DAY

* I'LL END THIS DAY

* I'LL SPLATTER COLOR

* ON THIS GRAY

* WAITING FOR THE ONE

* THE DAY THAT NEVER COMES

* WHEN YOU STAND UP
AND FEEL THE WARMTH *

* BUT THE SUNSHINE
NEVER COMES *

* LOVE IS
A FOUR-LETTER WORD *

* AND NEVER SPOKEN HERE

* LOVE IS
A FOUR-LETTER WORD *

* HERE IN THIS PRISON

* I SUFFER THIS NO LONGER

* I PUT AN END TO

* THIS I SWEAR,
THIS I SWEAR *

* THE SUN WILL SHINE,
THIS I SWEAR, THIS I SWEAR *

* THIS I SWEAR.