Like Echols, Misskelley was a high school dropout and was known for getting into fistfights and trouble around town, according to, "To be honest, I didn't really think of him at all," Echols told, But it was the testimony of Misskelley, who was brought in for questioning on June 3, 1993, that led to the teenagers' arrests. Other evidence is even more circumstantial. In 1993, such . When the men were smoking pot, they saw the three boys spying on them, he said. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { The word "just" is used to minimize things. For them, somebody eventually said something. How much wouldn't even be admitted in the first place? If you want to plan the perfect spring picnic, food and drink are important, but its certainly not the only factor to consider. The DNA results also revealed, according to court documents, that most of the DNA at the crime scene came from the victims, but some of it cannot be connected to the victims or the defendants. Officer: "Daylight? The Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a new evidentiary hearing for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley in the fall of 2010. ), The tale of three metal-loving misfits who may have been scapegoated for being different resonated with many, including several prominent musicians, celebrities and activists, including Johnny Depp and Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder. That we The Hobbses are the mother and stepfather of Steve Branch, who was one of three 8-year-old boys found murdered in May last year, in a wooded area near where the family used to live in West Memphis . (This story was originally published on March 19, 2020 and has been updated with new information.). Ill be posting bits and pieces in the future. },false) Hobbs says he is not bothered by the . He is tying Damien Echols to the victims. The case against him was dismissed when he agreed to undergo counseling. The police sent their findings, as well as blood and urine samples to their counterparts in West Memphis, but there is no indication he was ever investigated as a suspect. of 72 and that his mental capacity rendered his confession involuntary, according to court documents obtained by Oxygen.com. "He would have been a heart breaker if. This alleged picture has never surfaced. "If Michael Moore or Christopher Byers had a piece of my hair on shoes strings, these little boys came to my home and played with our little boy pretty regularly," Hobbs said. let gads_event; window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { Whats known is that three 8-year-old boys Steve "Stevie" Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, in 1993. talking about." Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch were found dead in a ditch, naked, bound, and mutilated, on May 6, 1993. He was held for 12 hours and interrogated without his parents present. }); Close to three decades later, investigators are still stumped by the brutal murders of three young West Memphis, Arkansas, boys that had left the country reeling. Many have theories, including one where Terry Hobbs, the step-father of one of the boys, is the killer. But I've heard about this picture Officer: "Was that suppose to be out there in the wooded area also?" Stevie was How much of this evidence would hold up in court? Contradictory explanations as to why his search focused near the discovery woods. Multiple instances of contradictory statements. But it was the testimony of Misskelley, who was brought in for questioning on June 3, 1993, that led to the teenagers' arrests. A different neighbor recalled seeing Hobbs with the three boys soon before they disappeared on the night of the murders, even though Hobbs denies it. eventAction: 'click_ads' To this day, it inspires fierce debate and accusations of guilt, while the facts and evidence remain contested. }) eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ --------------------------------------------, Officer: "Well all I'm asking you is if there is anything that you feel might be, uhh, There should be a time when you draw the line and you say you don`t cross this line and its been crossed, said Hobbs. Restraining order for spanking neighbor's child. "I can't understand why exactly people are glossing over the obvious when it comes to Byers and the death of Melissa Byers and all the things that Byers has said and done since this trial," says Echols from jail. All these years later, the country is still divided on who murdered those three little boys in Arkansas in 1993. Officer: "Mark Byers." Twice Hobbs was asked about anything unusual that he "saw." Alibi unsupported or contradicted by some of those he claims to have been with, including Ryan Clark and the Garners. Officer: "You did?" The debate rages to this day, and no one has a definitive answer. Based on the flimsiest of evidence, including a confession from Misskelley that the filmmakers say was coerced, Misskelley and Baldwin got life sentences while Echols, the supposed ringleader, was sentenced to death. However, it also could have been the. The second-graders' bodies were found bruised and mutilated in a West Memphis, Arkansas, ditch; . OF BILLY WAYNE STEWART AND BENNIE GUY Several, including beating his stepson and wife. Located across from Memphis, on the west bank of the Mississippi River, West Memphis shares many problems with its more famous neighbor. Details below! A witness said she saw the boys on their bikes around 6:00 p.m. Yet, theories keep coming that point to Hobbs as the man behind the murders. of 72 and that his , mental capacity rendered his confession involuntary, according to court documents obtained by, He was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison in February 1994, according to the, Echols and Baldwin went on trial a month later, and the prosecution argued they had murdered the boys in a Satanic ritual. Friend is possible source of mtDNA found at crime scene. Misskelley even confessed to the crime, a confession Hobbs says he heard because he sat through every day of their trials. But that along with the fact that he's a huge asshole was all people needed to hear to start spreading the story that they absolutely 100% found his dna. When Echols was asked about how the boys died, he guessed as to the nature of the killings and suggested "purpose of the killing may have been to scare someone," according to the appeal. pg.acq.push(function() { Read Terry Hobbs' story about the West Memphis Three murders. I still believe in my heart that Jessie, Jason, and Damion Echols [sic] are responsible for what happened to our children, Hobbs told Memphis ABC affiliate. 'I am content in my heart that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley did not murder my son,' Stevies mother Pam Hobbs said as she pleaded for investigators to look at new evidence. Two were sentenced to life in prison, and the third received the death penalty. Lucas has been described as mentally 'slow', WREG reported. Hobbs hasnt done a TV interview in years, but agreed to sit down with WREGs Sabrina Hall to answer some questions. at 9:00 p.m. WM3 Main Page Baldwin, 34, Echols and Misskelley, both 36, pleaded guilty to first- and second-degree murder charges through an Alford plea which allowed them to simultaneously proclaim their innocence, according to The New York Times. After ending his first marriage, he wed Pamela Hicks Branch in 1986, when her son Stevie was almost 2 years old. Even if it could be proven to be Hobbs's, however, there's a chance it got on the shoelace through "secondary transfer"in other words, Stevie's shoes might have picked up one of Hobbs's hairs just from lying around at home. He moved away to live with his daughter and son-in-law, Jessica and David Combs, in Macclenny when Hurricane Michael hit last October. hitType: 'event', Terry Hobbs is the stepfather of Stevie Branch. Until recently, Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were the ones who got the bad rap in this complicated and confounding case. I am happy about that., Hobbs can find humor in a story thats brought him so much pain over the last twenty years, There is not a day that goes by, seriously, that you don`t think about it.. French reported the attack to police the next day. The creators of West of Memphis decide not only what evidence the audience gets to see, but also how it should be interpreted. After about an hour, Pam Hobbs' sister came out and talked. Unless Hobbs actually goes on trial, we won't ever know. Ex-wife's family contacted police saying he may have committed the murders. Claimed to have told Pam to get over the murders. Daily Mail Reporter, Christopher Byers, James Michael Moore and Steven Branch were found dead, and their bodies tied up and mutilated in 1993 Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin, were convicted of the murders in 1994 and sentenced to death, They were released in 2011 after agreeing to an Alford plea, The West Memphis Three were supported by celebrities like Johnny Depp and Pearl Jam singer Eddie Vedder, 1,400 rounds of ammo, three Samurai swords and photos of dead people: Warrants reveal the chilling haul found in Adam Lanza's home - and how he shot 155 bullets in less than five minutes, 'It felt like the right thing to do': How reporter meticulously planned to kill the man who brutally raped him when he was 7, FIRST PICTURE: Foxy Knoxy's ex Raffaele Sollecito breaks cover after being ordered to stand retrial over the death of British student Meredith Kercher, 'We're not your enemies!' Jessica drove. Terry Hobbs was reported missing from Kinard on April 20, but his family said the last time anyone. Their bikes were found by a pipe nearby. Four new possible suspects in the brutal killings of three boy scouts in Arkansas in 1993 have been named by attorneys in the case - and the stepfather of one of the boys is among them. Byers was later cleared, and he and Echols forgave each other. It doesn`t make it true.. Hobbs was 24 and married to his first wife at the time. If youd like a chance to receive a free copy, signed by both Terry and Vicky, please go Like/Share or Love/Re-tweet the photo below on Facebook on Vicky Edwards, Author page or @svedwards on Twitter. women's bathroom + Entrance hall Three local teenagers who became known as the 'West Memphis Three', Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr. and Jason Baldwin, were convicted of the murders and sentenced to death but staunchly maintained their innocence. You can also get a signed copy of the book at the Arts in the Park author signing hosted by the Garland County Library on May 2nd. Their suspicions were seemingly confirmed when the DNA from a cigarette they lifted from his home was a match with the hair they found on Michael's shoe. The gruesome nature of their murders led investigators to theorize there was a satanic element to it -- something that wasn't too farfetched in the Bible Belt considering 'Satanic Panic' was still making the rounds back then -- and zero in on Echols, Misskelley Jr., and Baldwin, mischief-makers with an unruly reputation that preceded them. a picture that uh, Damien Echols sitting on my couch at my house with Chris This would explain why there was very little physical evidence at the supposed crime scene in the woods around the ditch. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Everyone has a story and this just happens to be mine, said Hobbs. Anybody else?" In the articles I read back in December 2021, all the evidence was intact after being believed to have been lost in a fire and Echols was pushing for the hair and shoelaces to be submitted for testing because the shoelaces were used as ligatures. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Their bodies were discovered that afternoon in a drainage ditch. The information that Hobbs volunteers to talk about is the manholes! Or did you just hear . Criminal record and admissions of drug use. The filmmakers present a series of findings that seem to bode ill for Hobbs. Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of eight-year-old victim Stevie Branch, has been named in documents released in Marian, Arkansas by the attorneys for Pam Hobbs, Stevie's mother. In 1993, he was married to Pamela Hobbs and was the step father of Stevie Branch. Terry Hobbs's Interview. Website:https://hotspringsarts.orgFacebook:https://www.facebook.com/hotspringsareaculturalalliance/, Excited to share the finalized book cover! The former fire chief, arson investigator and host of the "Truth and Justice" podcast is launching a docu-series titled "The Forgotten West Memphis Three" on Oxygen, which reexamines the 1993. The TMNT dwelled in the sewers (manholes). Reese Witherspoon, laughed Hobbs. That was you know, help calling, }); But the lawyers say evidence does point to another possible suspect -- Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of Steve Branch. On June 21, 2007, Terry Hobbs was interrogated by the West Memphis Police Department. In 2011, after almost two decades in prison, the West Memphis Three agreed to an Alford plea, which allowed them to proclaim their innocence while admitting the prosecution had enough evidence to convict them, and they were released from prison. Last year, the Three were freed from prison after their lawyers successfully argued that new evidence dug up in the years since the convictions warranted an appeal in front of the Arkansas Supreme Court. Criminal record and admissions of drug use and dealing. By Subsequently, HBO produced three documentary films about the casethe Paradise Lost trilogyall of which strongly insinuate, and in some cases outright argue, that the Three are innocent. The bodies of all three boys, all eight-years-old, had been found in a creek in Robin Hood Hills, a stretch of forested land in the city that was popular among the children on May 6, 1993. The second Paradise Lost, subtitled Revelations, allows the Three's supporters to suggest the possibility that he killed both her and the kids. "But for them to try to blame it on Mark, blame it on me, blame it on, and not, not let somebody rest from this is wrong." "A gripping documentary," said the Guardian's review. Its been a while since Ive paid attention to this blog but I have a story to share plus some exciting things happening in the Hobbs world. }) }); You said the one with Damien and, and the two boys." Per a bio on the website, he is seeking a degree and plans to attend law school. Read: Emotions run high among parents of slain Arkansas boys (2011) The hair found in the ligature was consistent with Branch's stepfather, Terry Hobbs, while the hair found on the tree. Byers, a figure with his own criminal past and a love for the camera, was once held up as a prime suspect by the West Memphis Three's supporters and by Damien Echols himself. ga('ads.send', { However, Jacoby can't seem to recall the exact sequence of events that nightperhaps understandably, given that it took place 18 years ago. I still believe in my heart that Jessie, Jason, and Damion Echols [sic] are responsible for what happened to our children, Hobbs told Memphis ABC affiliate WATN in June 2019. March 26, 2019 March 26, 2019 vicky Leave a comment. Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of eight-year-old victim Stevie Branch, has been named in documents released in Marian, Arkansas by the attorneys for Pam Hobbs, Stevie's mother. Furthermore, a hair found in one of the ligatures used to bind the boys was found to be consistent with the DNA of Terry Hobbs, Stevie's stepfather, according to court documents obtained by . He was one of four children and came from a strict and religious family. Because of the DNA matches and Hobbs's checkered background, many people feel Terry Hobbs was responsible for the death of the three boys. }); Oxygen Insider is your all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Shortly before 5:00 p.m. "I got in a DWI after my wife was murdered." The most startling revelation came during questioning when he claimed he had blackouts and memory lapses and suggested in a statement he later recanted that he "might have" killed the victims. Rain, it seems, had washed away any. He used the phrase "you know" over 50 times in this interview. While the Arkansas State and U.S. Supreme Courts repeatedly denied the West Memphis Threes appeals, a new batch of DNA testing done in 2007 showed that no genetic material on the crime scene evidence was a match to Echols, Baldwin or Misskelley, reported the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. This is very suspicious. gads_event = event; . In 2007, DNA found at the crime scene was tested. were talking about. Hobbs then killed the boys with a pocket knife and mutilated their bodies, according to the papers. Have you seen that?" Terry Hobbs: "David." (Memphis) Its a murder mystery thats captivated America for the last twenty years: the West Memphis Three. Cause of death undetermined, case still open. Perhaps this is why he used the word "just" which is not needed. Several, including beating his stepson and wife. Is he pausing because he knows this is not a truthful statement? One scene shows John Mark Byers, the stepfather of another of the murdered boys, taunting Hobbs outside a courtroom. Yet while their quest for justice is admirable, with West of Memphis, they have overstepped. somewhere out here.". Its a case built on a shoddy confession and community bias, and includes allegations of Satanism, sexual abuse and mutilation. Updated: 9:42 AM CDT June 11, 2019. Lorri Davis and Damien Echols at a panel entitled "Wrongfully Accused," part of the Death Becomes Us true crime festival. He then tells the officer that in viewing the wooded area he determined this is not a place that he would hang out at. Because people can, said Hobbs. In 2007, DNA testing came back matching a hair found in the shoelaces as Terry Hobbs'. out, No. Twice he used the phrase "seems like" which means he is uncertain. Which Celebrities Supported The West Memphis Three? It also suggested that The West Memphis Three were victims of lingering Satanic Panic, a widespread fear in the 1980s that Satanism would infect society. The purported victim of a miscarriage of justice doesn't seem to appreciate West of Memphis's unsettling irony. Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. Said to have confessed to killing neighbor's cat. Moment commuter blasts eco-zealots, Moment bull suffers catastrophic injuries after leaping from bridge, Russian freight train derails and bursts into flames after explosion, Royal superfans camping on The Mall ahead of King's Coronation, Historic chairs to be reused by the King for the coronation service, Women's rights activists and pro-trans campaigners separated, Saboteurs wreck Russian train cut power cables 37mi from Ukraine, Cambridge students party in the park during annual celebrations, Devastating tornado picks up car and hurls it through air in Florida, Student kicked out of school for 'there are only two genders' t-shirt, Unseen footage of Meghan Markle during her teenage years, Hundreds of Household Division members rehearse for coronation. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), Well sure, said Hobbs. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. After the case garnered national and celebrity attention, the three were freed in 2011 after agreeing to an Alford plea, allowing them to maintain their innocence while pleading guilty. How much would withstand interrogation? window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotOnload', function(event) { (Source: News Channel 3) Jason Baldwin, Damien Echols, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. were detained as suspects in the murder. "I seen a picture that uh Damien Echols sitting on my couch." It also suggested that The West Memphis Three were victims of lingering , The tale of three metal-loving misfits who may have been scapegoated for being different resonated with many, including several. Multiple accusations by ex-wife's family and his daughter regarding sexual acts involving his daughter and his stepson. The witness said he contacted the West Memphis police to tell them what he had learned but no one ever returned his call. eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Possible source of mtDNA found with binding of Michael Moore. Jesse Misskelley's Confession Alleged to have admitted to having discovered the victims before the police. Officer: "Did you go into the woods before you picked up Pam?" Terry Hobbs says he is a church member, a father, and working man and in no way a killer. Ruff hoped to. This is not a theory of who did this, this is evidence, said an attorney. Book News! The three 8-years-old boys were kidnapped and was later found dead. The state medical examiner told the jury that a knife found in a lake behind Baldwin's parents' home could have been the murder weapon. One of the 8-year-olds is Hobbs stepson, Stevie Branch. Multiple old scars on stepson's corpse. eventAction: 'load' Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Pam Hobbs divorced Terry Hobbs in 2004 and has reversed her position on the West Memphis Three's guilt. Jackson and friends argue that the West Memphis Three were the victims of a witch hunt in bible-belt Arkansas, convicted in throes of "Satanic Panic." But for them to try to blame it on Mark, blame it on me, blame They were found nude and hogtied in a creek in a wooded area in West Memphis. "The film," wrote Entertainment Weekly's Owen Gleiberman, "casts a hypnotic spell all its own.". Some business clients accused him of guilt. Terry Hobbs: "I know I seen umm a picture, and I don't know if this means anything. 16:05, 29 Mar 2013. was our couch, that, that picture got tooken. He then goes on to tell the officer about something that he did not see but only heard about. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. Thursday, Hobbstold Action News 5 he didn't do it. Hobbs has consistently denied having anything to do with the killings of his stepson and his two best friends. An analysis by Mark McClish Terry Hobbs: "I don't, Mark?" Now, guilty or not, it's Terry Hobbs who could use some powerful allies. A neighbor once accused him of attacking her. Why Were Damien Echols,Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr. Investigators soon zeroed in on 18-year-old high school dropout. Hobbs claimed a private investigator from the defense team told him one of his hairs was discovered in a knot in one of the shoe laces used to tie up the three eight-year-olds. Following a series of documentaries that cast doubt on the investigation and law enforcements conclusion, high-profile supporters began to rally behind the imprisoned teens, later dubbed the West Memphis Three.. He does not finish his second sentence. 2020 Mara Leveritt | All Rights Reserved | Website byKevin Waltermire. One of the Three's most ardent supporters, Lorri Davis, became pen pals with Echols and eventually married him in jail. Rebecca Sapp/WireImage, While the Arkansas State and U.S. Supreme Courts repeatedly denied the West Memphis Threes appeals, a new batch of DNA testing done in 2007 showed that no genetic material on the crime scene evidence was a match to Echols, Baldwin or Misskelley, reported the, Furthermore, a hair found in one of the ligaturesused to bind the boys was found to be consistent with the DNA of Terry Hobbs, Stevies stepfather, according to court documents obtained by, The Arkansas Supreme Court ordered a new evidentiary hearing for Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley in the fall of 2010. it on, and not, not let somebody rest from this.". French was 54. "To be honest, I didn't really think of him at all," Echols told 48 Hours in 2010. At around 8:42 pm that fateful evening, workers in a Bojangles restaurant located a mile from the crime scene had reported seeing a male who had seemed "mentally disoriented" inside the restaurant's ladies' room. Do you wish you had a different story? asked Hall. In 2007, DNA found at the crime scene was tested. The victim shared a home with Pamela Hobbs, his mother; Terry Hobbs, his stepfather; and Amanda, his half-sister, who was then four years old. Hobbs's language indicates he is making up the story of having seen or heard about a picture of Damien Echols sitting on his couch. Davis said he believes the West Memphis 3 are guilty,but he has agreed to allow thedefenseto do more DNA testing. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), https://hotspringsarts.org/workshop-sign-up/, The Opperman Report: Terry Hobbs~Boxful of Nightmares, https://www.facebook.com/hotspringsareaculturalalliance/. ga('ads.send', { Free shipping for many products! People can say whatever they want to say. Then the filmmakers highlight Hobbs's history of abuse. However, he does not tell us that it is wrong. However, it also could have been the work of wild animals. In Jackson's mind, the courts have already failed.
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