Tonight on Larry King Live!

Have these CELEBRITIES read the ENTIRE case file from 1993 to present? I am familiar with the case, but not an expert . And what makes them experts on criminals. Why should we care what they think? I would like to see Forensic evidence proving these men are innocent. People who actually know what they are speaking about! Listening to me would be as useful as listening to these people. Regardless, there are parents of slain children out here suffering. What celebrity is speaking out for their justice!

Best Regards

Doesn't the fact that there is NO evidence proving their guilt speak volumes? DNA was found but wasn't matched 2 any of the convicted-that alone should be enough for a new trial. I don't think any celebrity is claiming to be an expert-they are using their fame to draw attention to the case again and to make the public aware of a gross injustice.

Yes they deserve new trials! The juror misconduct issue in and of itself should get them new trials. The lack of any DNA from ANY of the three, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley should get them flat out exonerated. Anyone who believes that three teenagers could have committed such heinous crimes, yet taken or left NO DNA evidence, is very naive in my opinion. The state did not have any evidence to convict these boys in the first place and those jurors should be ashamed of themselves. Vicki Hutcheson should be ashamed of herself. Everyone that was involved in the investigation, prosecution, and conviction of these men in this case should be ashamed of themselves. Arkansas should be ashamed of itself for keeping three innocent men locked up for all these years while the true killer/s walk free from punishment for these crimes. The new evidence, given by several well respected experts, shows that these murders were NOT committed in the manner in which the original prosecution represented. The entire investigation was completely mishandled. The state police should have been brought in on this case from the very beginning. We would not be where we are today if that had been the case. The WMPD would not bring them in at the time because they themselves were under investigation by the state police. That should say something about the WMPD to begin with. YES! Give them new trials! We the People DEMAND IT! We will not stop until this wrong is righted!

This is the first time I feel totally disappointed by MY cnn. Was there really no worse interpreter than the one responsible to translate the speech of the Palestinian Prime Minister?
I am a fervent supporter of Israel and this can be verified by simply "googling" my name, but to accept a totally incompetent person burdained with a responsibility he could never handle, I can think only of manioulation and I am devastated! Where did meritocracy fleed to?

Absolutely! I believe that the main reason Damien, Jason and Jessie haven't been granted new trials -yet- is because the prosecution who convicted them doesn't want the new evidence to not only confirm their innocence, but show the rest of the country the faults in the West Memphis Arkansas justice system. Why won't the prosecution just admit they were wrong and grant them new trials – perhaps in a different location? Are they afraid they'd look stupid for all of the errors made that have not only wasted time, but have kept three innocent men from living their lives as free people? Too late.

I watched Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills way back in 1999 and it seemed so obvious to me that this case was a travesty of justice. As the years went by more and more evidence came out that showed that the investigation was flawed and that these men deserved a new trial or to be set free. In the 11 years since I saw that documentary I've gotten married, had children, served in the military including a tour in Iraq, and gotten my associates degree and the entire time these men have been locked in prison. It makes me very sad.

If these celebrities are demanding that they deserve new trial,i think firstly they are degrading the judges that did the first trial or maybe they think that they have paid some one who can come n pleed on their behave so that they can go free.But the bible says anyone who lives by the sowl must died by the sowl.I can promise them that they must face justice.

Yes they are degrading the judge from the initial trial. Have you studied the case at all?!? Please do not speak of things of which you have no idea what you are talking about! A horrible crime was followed by another travesty.

Absolutely the West Memphis 3 should get new trials. Read The Devils Knot by Mara Leveritt. There were way too many mistakes made in the investigation, the prosecution and the defense. Given the new DNA advances we have now a new trial is justified. Either way, the parents of Michael Moore, Stevie Branch and Christopher Byers deserve to know the truth.

I was at the rally Saturday to publicly take a stand for the West Memphis 3. It is up to people like me to provide a voice to these innocent young men who have endured the injustice and tragedy that is their 17 year incarceration .... please look at the facts and then PRAYERFULLY consider giving support (either in word or deed) to their cause for freedom. Always keep in mind, this could be you or your family member who fell through the cracks of our judicial system-this fight truly is about "Justice for All"!

Living in Arkansas and seeing this injustice first hand has been frustrating to say the least. I'm hoping Arkansas will do the right thing and release these three men and let them salvage what time they have left of their life.

I know nothing of this crime so I will give my opinion at the end .

Definitely. These three men were the victims of a modern-day witch hut. Being different should not be cause for a murder conviction. Free the WM3. People have the power.

Absolutely!!

This is exactly what this case needs...a second look! There's too much
in question. A retrial should take place.

I think they did under the influence of drugs without content of what they was doing .

I thought they were innocent too, but now that the Hollywood left are behind them, they have no chance of getting out. All legitimacy is gone for them now.

These celebrities are trying to rewrite history. They are guilty and God forbid they will get away with murdering three innocent little boys.

EDDIE VEDDER!!!!!
But more importantly they deserve a new trial.

They shoud exsume the bodies and check them for drugs .

They checked them for drugs.. Just one of them had any signs. Riddilin (spelling?) he had been prescribed, but apparently had not taken it the day of the murders.
The judge should explain why Terry Hobbs(the step father of one of the boys) hair was found in one of the knots of the sholaces used to tie up the children.. Such an injustice!

THEY ARE INNOCENT! There is absolutely no evidence convicting Damien, Jason, and Jesse! NONE AT ALL! THEY ARE INNOCENT! The last trial years ago was completely bias because it was the same judge as the first corrupt trial! THEY NEED TO GO FREE! This has been complete injustice! Further investigations were never able to link them and this is ridiculous! THEY ARE INNOCENT!

I was at the show, and it was absolutely inspiring. Since the rally, it has been THE conversation in town, and I've convinced two individuals that were convinced of their guilt to take a second look at the case given the new evidence. If nothing else, that's something amazing about this concert: it made this a major conversation topic again, and it's bringing new supporters out of the woodwork (no pun intended for us country folk).

Is there any UNIDENTIFIED DNA at the scene of the crime???

America has established a system of justice with two overriding principles: you are presumed innocent until proven guilty, and that guilt must be proven beyond a reasonable doubt. Rules of Evidence and Procedure have been established to ensure that these principles are protected and attained. In this case, not only were these rules broken, they were entirely ignored.

This case is beyond a travesty of justice on every level. It is more than unbelievable that these three men have spent half of their lives in prison for a crime they didn't commit. Even if they did, the prosecution failed in establishing this. The whole case also serves no purpose of justice for the victims or their families. Three innocent young children were butchered, and their families have not been given any closure or justice. There are more than just the 3 initial victims, and it disgusts me that the legal system is ignoring the situation.

The prosecutor has one goal: to seek justice. Here, the prosecutor abused his discretion and played on the fears of a small Christian town. The case is a modern day Red Scare. Simply focusing on a person's characteristics that make him different from you makes him awful enough that he must be a murderer, and he himself killed? In that case, I had better keep my mouth shut forever for fear of being different that someone in power.

Free the West Memphis Three and protect the rights of every American.

I live in Arkansas. I lived through this sham of a trial and believe that they deserve a new one.

This is just a tragic story of 6 young boys and our corrupt system. These officials involved in this miscarriage of justice..need to know that they will suffer the consequences of their behavior. Please release these three men and focus on the real perps of this sad and sickening crime.

Celebrities! You need to look at one thing first: no other little boys have been murdered since those 3 guys have been locked up. You have no idea what actually happened in this case. Only what you've seen on TEEVEE. I hear that lawyer saying there was poor representation for the three convicts. There is never correct representation if you get convicted. I see it in the news all the time. The three dead boys didn't have much representation, did they?

@glenese chestnut You are asking for evidence proving they are innocent? In the United States you are innocent until proven guilty. If it is found you did not receive a fair trial then you deserve a new trial.

If you gave me the time and money I'd defend these kids myself. The evidence is all there.

Evidence points to the stepfather of one of the victims. A prosecution "expert" on cults had no credentials, but was allowed to testify. See coverage in The Arkansas Times. Justice requries a new trial.

I know we will get some washed up musicians and start a controversy

YES! There is no evidence against these innocent men! A new trial would in no way be degrading the judges who tried the first case because the judge that tried them is an idiot! I was at the appeal hearings for Jason and Jessie, the judge referred to the case as a 'burden' to him. He would never admit that he was wrong.

LSD could have been done by all or another drug by all involved the bodies wont lie and manslauter charges could apply these murders are a sub normal state of mind .

The only people who know the entire case are those involved in the trial. You must always look at the totality of the evidence..... the behavior of the suspects pre and post crime; the lack of or presence of other suspects; the competency of the investigators, CSI, medical examiner, etc...

Be careful not to follow the popular opinion even if by celebs if in fact their information is incomplete and/or otherwise flawed.

I lived in West Memphis when this happened. The evidence obtained (knife found in pond, testimony from those whom Echols admitted that he did it, etc.), point to the three boys guilt.

Ask the director of "Paradise Lost" about his personal agenda.

These people ("entertainers" and attorneys) are using these killers for media attention.

Additonally, Pam Hobbs is a media queen. She called a local televeision station and invited them to film her at her son's grave on his birthday. She sprayed Silly String over his grave.

First of all, it is not true that their DNA was not at the crime scene. The partial DNA samples test could NOT rule out their presence at the crime scene. If they were to win this point on appeal, the DNA must demonstrate absolute innocence. But the samples collected could not rule them out.

Secondly, Misskelly confessed three times. One time was AFTER he was convicted. He confessed to the police taking him from the courthouse to the jail and then again to his own attorney, Dan Stidham. Stidham had his client swear on a Bible that he was involved. Misskelly did. In addition, he provided a piece of corroborating evidence: he told his lawyer and subsequently the prosecutors the location of a whiskey bottle he threw the night of the murders. The prosecutor, the police, and Stidham found the bottle in the location Misskelly indicated. Same brand. Same location.

They are guilty. Beyond a reasonable doubt.

These three kids are falesly imprisoned.

David Leonard Wood is another innocent man on Texas death row despite DNA clearing him of any of the 87 bodies or serial killings of El Paso he is accused of. Only fingerpointing, paranoia, circumstantial evidence (which can link anyone to a crime scene), media sensationalism trying to get higher ratings, and massive city corruption by border cops got this man on death row. Exonerate David Leonard Wood.

I agree with Tim M. These men shouldn't be punished for being different. I've been following the case for about 3 years and hang on every piece of new information that comes out.

David Leonard Wood is another innocent man on Texas death row despite DNA clearing him of any of the 87 bodies or serial killings of El Paso he is accused of. Only fingerpointing, paranoia, circumstantial evidence (which can link anyone to a crime scene), media sensationalism trying to get higher ratings, and massive city corruption by border cops got this man on death row. No physical evidence. Exonerate David Leonard Wood.

These boys deserve a new trial! They were wrongly convicted of a crime that they did not commit. These boys have served enough time in jail for a crime that they never committed, its time to set them free. Time for a new trial with the newly presented evidence!

There should be a new trial. You should not execute someone with these circumstances. We studied this case for a whole semester in college (Criminal Investigations) and the police force in West Memphis was a joke at the time. New trial!

Glenese: Pearl Jam have been involved with this, seemingly, from the beginning. They know the WM3 and one of them has even contributed to their music (Army Reserve?). I can't say for sure, but I would say that Eddie has read the case and knows what's what.

Absolutely, without a doubt! These men deserve a new trial and the opportunity to be PROVEN innocent.

For all you skeptics, please do your research before assuming and making ignorant comments about the celebrity supporters.

They were convicted of murder. Be a man and take your punishment. Just because some some so-called celebrities add their two cents to this story does not make them innocent nor does it make these murderers deserving of a new trial.

When in doubt, punt. If there is any question about the trial, then they should be granted a new trial.

if there is any doubt about the crime so they should have new trial,
if they killed the children for sure so they should countinue their life in the prison.

i just recently read up on the case and have been following the case on the free the west memphis three website. I think this is an absolute outrage that these teens were patsyed. It is blantanly apparent that these three are innocent. It sickens me to know that we as a society let this go on and let the real killers of these three beautiful boys walk among us free. Free the wm3!!!

new trial definitely!! they should be freed. too much info not followed up on, i feel sorry for these boys (men) if listening to heavy metal music is a crime than i should have been locked up a long time ago!!

I am SURE CNN will not put this on.

Hey, Larry King, how about having a show for the THREE LITTLE BOY VICITIMS!!!!!!!!!!!

"BAD SHALL BE GOOD AND GOOD SHALL BE BAD"!!! Way to go CNN and LARRY KING.

Absolutely the West Memphis 3 need a new trial. The original investigation was flawed in so many ways, and tainted by prejudice on the part of the officers (and offices) involved that leads were not properly followed, and once they had their minds set that these men (then boys) were the ones responsible, they quit looking elsewhere.

@you wish, get year Eddie Vedder and the rest of the people supporting this young men only want there freedom so dont insult them just because they are not scientist or anything like that.

Its disapointing that these people would waste their talents, time and energy on this. Maybe they will work on getting Charles Manson out next! Let the investigators solve cases and singers sing! Stay in our lane.

I learned about this case in 2002 when I read Devil's Knot : The True Story of the West Memphis Three. Then I watched the documentaries. I believe they deserve new trials.

I utilize this case study for my forensic science classes and what is documented is fascinating. In my 27 years of working criminal cases and CSI work the case that is presented by the documentary and follow up spots has all the makings for a retrial, however, that does not equate to the suspects being innocent. The discussion by the medical examiner about mutililation to the genitals of one of the boys is especially disturbing in that he never commits to a position. He is led around the courtroom by the attorneys and agrees to just about anything they lead him to say. The profiler utilized by the defense to argue the bite mark evidence has a very poor reputation in the forensic science community and in fact isn't a member of the leading associations. His interpretation of the alleged bite marks is terribly flawed. Don't forget that Damien boasted to the camera about how he knew he'd be infamous and enjoys being known as the boogeyman under the bed.

I dont believe that these men are Guilty, I think they completely deserve a Retrial.

My opinion comes from the fact that they are rock stars and rock stars do drugs and when you mix wierd religion and strange drugs stuff is bound to happen .

To win on appeal and get a new trial, the WM3 have to show that evidence exists which can prove actual innocence. In this case, the DNA cannot eliminate them from the crime scene. The partial DNA profile included the 3.
As a result, the defense needs to find evidence from another killer. It doesn't exist.

I guess no mention of the years Echols spent in a psychiatric hospital before the murders. His personality was label as having psychotic tendencies.

If they do not give these men a new and fair trial, there will never be justice. I am a midwestern parent and a professional who has worked for the department of corrections and division of youth services. I have seen and heard it all and I believe them. I have been researching and following their case, since college. I empathize with the parents of those poor slain children, but just putting people behind bars does not bring closure. They focused on the wrong people and created more victims. They allowed a murderer to escape. My heart goes out to all of the victims and their families.

LARRY KING comments as though they are ABSOLUTELY INNOCENT! What's that about???

there is definate unjustice in the arkansas judicial system.. the judges and lawyers are so afraid of looking bad now and they know they falsely imprisoned 3 innocent men.. so its actually always been wm6 to me..

Larry,

Have you considered the 3 young children who were brutally beaten and murdered and the jury who unanimously convicted their murderers. This program has offered no evidence of these convicted murderers innocence except to say "they're not guilty" Well then who is? I am traditionally a fan of yours but it sickens me that you would grasp on to this mockery and desperate attempt to save murderers. This is truly unbelievable and my heart goes out to the 3 young boys families and I wish yours did too!

I CANNOT believe this has not been resolved with the freedom of these three innocents...despicable.

Free the westmemphis3 now!

I live in Arkansas and would like to say after talking with many people in the state over these years, I have not found one person who thinks they are guilty of these crimes, and most are very upset with the situation. The people of Arkansas want the three men released.

You ain't talked to everybody in Arkansas and miskelly told his family they did it! They are the ones who turned him in to the police!

The early post by a listener regarding the fact that no other similar crimes have occured since the arrests of the three convicted is very powerful evidence of guilt. Killings such as these are frequently repeated. The FBI utilizes the VICAP system to track especially violent and serial type crimes across the US. I have heard nothing since these crimes were committed to make me believe there are any like crimes.

I and my family have been living through this nightmare along with Damien, Jessie, and Jason for the past 17 years, and not only have the 3 convicted suffered but we the families have suffered too and I most definitely think they deserve a new trial..! It is time for the truth to come out and for all of us to have a peace of mind and the 3 boys that lost their lives back in 93 can once and for all rest in peace. I myself have always had doubts about the 3 being involved in the murder of my nephew and his friends and cant for the life of me understand why they didnt use this DNA evidence all these years ago, and the fact of the matter is that it doesnt connect these boys to the murders at all, in no way shape or form.. It is time that Arkansas admit that they were wrong and wrongfully convicted 3 innocent people to prison for a crime they did not commit! How will they ever be able to repay those boys for the life they have lost in prison due to the fact that they didnt do their job right the first time? Thats the only reason a new trial hasnt been granted yet is because the justice system doesnt want to admit that they are wrong!! Its time for the truth so we can all go on with our lives and finally find some peace!!

Theses celebrities are so concerned with justice and making this case right, are they willing to put this much time and energy into finding the "real killers"?

@Jeff
The director of Paradise Lost said he knew Damien was innocent five minutes after meeting him.

Anyone who says they were brought to the movement based on that documentary entered the fray with wool over their eyes.

Misskelly knew details of the crime not published. At trial, the coercion issue was discredited as well as his impaired intelligence. Misskelly confessed when he had nothing to gain, post conviction where no deal was possible.

Confessions are powerful tools for the State. And this case is buttressed by these statements.

to Erik, I don't know what evidence you are speaking of but you should get your facts straight. The original dna evidence that was taken was mysteriously lost by the police department. But I guess you have all the facts

You don't need to be an expert to know that these men have been railroaded by ignorance. I have followed this case since the first airing of Paradise Lost. It is an injustice that needs to be righted.

Almost immediately after the show started one of the cnn reporters stated that one of the boys was dismembered. This is a false statement. NONE of the boys were "dismembered". One child, Christopher Byers, was degloved (Part of his penis and testicles) which is now attributed to post mortem animal predation.

Lindsay-We supporters always think of those poor little boys. Some of those boys' parents are supporters and now believe that the WM3 are innocent. You should REALLY inform yourself on this case before you speak. It is not the defenses job to prove who the perpetrator of this horrible crime is. We have a pretty darned good idea though. Educate yourself, PLEASE, or don't speak regarding this matter. You are spreading lies and only backing an injustice.

I find it very interesting, in this time where they may be numerous cases of innocent individuals in jail, that the media & celebrities decide on ONE to pursue.
With this being a known issue (innocent people in jail) to resolve. I find more important to depict more than one case.
Many hosts/celebrities have chosen for us the ones we need to watch, when many are out there just as important. Having a so-called "high profile" case does not overwrite the numerous nameless cases out there.
Something to think about guys.

@Dave <>

Absolutely. He looked at the camera and made his own case for guilt.

These three men deserve new trials. Anyone who has educated themself about the case and the evidence can see that the original trial was an outrageous miscarriage of justice. Goth attire and metal music do not a murderer make.

The WM3 case is an ongoing embarrassment to our entire legal system.

Forget the arguments here about innocence or guilt - reading the entire case file will convince an open minded person that they're innocent, but that takes a LOT of time.

What is quick and easy and indisputably obvious s that these trials were an abomination. No one should be on death row - no one should in prison - based on what happened in that courtroom. A mail-order degree "occult expert" testifying before a jury? In modern America? A judge who tells a deliberating jury that they'll "have to return for sentencing"? A jury foreman who admitted he was convinced of their guilt and "had to convince the others because the state's case was so weak"?

It's disgusting .... it's an embarrassment. Fogelman (who prosecuted them) was recently defeated in his run for office. Every single member of the Arkansas hierarchy (judges, justices, prosecutors, attorneys general, etc) needs to be voted out of office if they can't stand up and DO THE RIGHT THING ..... FREE THE WM3

Larry,

So where is the spokesman for the victims?

What is this new evidence which exonerates them?

This panel offered nothing.

I'm not a Pearl Jam fan but Eddie Vedder is right. Anyone who has seen the documentary, Paradise Lost, knows those 3 guys were scapegoats!

Yes Yes yes! They deserve a new trail. If there is forensic evidence of who commented this crime they why should there not be? And so what if celebrities want to get involved! Just shows how strong they believe in the cause.

Our society should learn from this case. Despite being a good system and arguably the best in the world our system of justice is still flawed. As long as humans are responsible for making the decision it will be subject to bias, differing education levels, etc... Also, higher academic degrees does NOT equate to logic and commonsense. We would hope so, but unfortunately they two don't always balance.

Until we, the taxpayer, invest in a higher level of training for ALL the parties involved in the investigation and prosecution we unfortunately will be stuck with poor cases on occasion.

I've done quite a bit of research in this case. For those who say that you'd like to see forensic evidence that these men are innocent you've obviously have not paid attention or done any kind of research. There has been findings of DNA evidence in which would make the step father of Stevie Branch-Terry Hobbs- a major interest or even a suspect that was found AFTER the trials. This is the whole reason they want a retrial other than the many questions left untied during the trials..

For those saying that this is hurting the 8 year old boys families, many of them have come out saying they think the conviction was wrong and the Damien, Jason and Jessie are innocent. John Mark Byers, Chirstopher's father was a very vocal person against these three, has come out and said after the trial that he believes these boys are now innocent. Don't just think of the boys families, please think about the three men in prison/ death row families who have to suffer because of a hasty conviction and investigation. I believe Damien, Jason and Jessie should be given a retrial underneath a new judge and in a different jurisdiction other than any part of Memphis.

Stevie, Michael, Christopher, Damien, Jason, Jessie's family, I feel for you all.

I don>t see why these people beieive that they are innocent why are they not trying to find out who killed those boys

They are talking as if only Damien is in jail.. there are two other men in there two possibily wrongfully convicted..

Well, I saw the docu years ago and I am still on the fence. But I will say the trial was rushed and I don't think they got a fair trial. I would like to see a new trial so I can be able to make my mind up.. these men in prison, the three little boys murdered and their families deserve at least that.

I've watched most of the Larry King Live show on this topic, and with the exception of them telling us that they really, really, really believe they are innocent, and some anecdotal stories, they have given us no proof or reason, except their word, that they should be given a new trial. These three should rot in their cells for what they did. They killed three innocent young boys, and the celebs should start to think about how their actions are affecting the families of the young cub scouts, and not these vicious murderers.

Those three little boys were killed by somebody and these friend were to close to the crime I think that a closer investigation should be observed with more D.N.A. investigation including the bodies .

larry, the thing about a "devil" it is a spirit and it has probally left him by now. Most of the times you dont remember doing the evil because
the spirit has left. Does not mean that the demon did not use him at the time.
It's good that those musician recognize that they have been cleansed.

they can be pardoned, but not exhonarated. In Canada there is man who cut off a passenger head and was found mentally insane and not guilty. the point is, is that it is still a force using the person whether there are aware or not.

In both cases it is a Spirit......

@David

Joe Berlinger, director of Paradise Lost, made a great documentary, but it was a filtered look at the case. The post trial confession of Misskelly was not even covered.

I lived in Memphis, Tennessee throughout the trial and I was heartbroken and appalled by what I saw going on in Arkansas. There has never been sufficient evidence to prove that any of the three were remotely involved – the only "confession" was from Jesse Miskelley, whose IQ is way below normal! His first confession was riddled with errors and inconsistencies, and from what I remember the circumstances around the confession were -very- suspect. They most certainly deserve new trials!! Let justice FINALLY be served.

CNN,

the hair on the shoe lace had a partial DNA profile which included Terry Hobbs. But it was not a match.

Even if it was Hobbs' hair on the shoelace, ever heard of secondary transfer? He was the father of one of the victims.

How sad that these three boys were convicted because of the clothes they worn, the books they read, and the music they listened to. If that is cause for prison I should be locked up too.

@Erik Kubik - Yes, Jessie confessed but, keep in mind that Jessie has a low IQ of only 72 and that he was interrogated for 12 hours without an attorney or guardian present and only 46 minutes of it was recorded. During the 'confession' everytime Jessie would 'confess' a detail that didn't match the actual details of the crime or scene, the detective would give him the word or actual detail of the part of the crime he was supposed to be 'confessing' to.
Not only is Terry Hobbs a more probably suspect than any of the men serving time for this, but, there was also a man who came into a restaraunt the same night of the murders, covered in blood. He left blood in the bathroom stalls, police were called and collected DNA but the DNA was lost.

I think they performed a Satan crime on drugs and were so stoned that they dont remember and I would bet that they gave the kids drugs to make it easy .

NO are they trying to find out who killed the boys

Again, Larry,

Are you going to present the evidence from the State instead of this filtered view ?

The authorities were pressured to find a killer(s) and they naturally were hell bent on satanic panic while ignoring facts. The evidence has clearly shown these 3 men were screwed from the start and the real killer has been allowed to run amok, tragedy is not giving these 3 a new trial and further damaging those lives. I would be embarrassed to be in the Arkansas legal system after all this time, they all look clownish.

Natalie's response to the lawsuit filed by the father of one of the three boys who was murdered ....'It's been awesome".. " I'm a fighter", "Bring it on"

Okay, i'm done with her, at least have some respect for the family members who lost their children Natalie. Yes, I believe the WM3 deserves a new trial but at least have some respect and remember these people had a child murdered... my goodness..

Based on the evidence and lack of proper investigation, these three men should most certainly get a new trial as soon as possible. Justice has not been served in this case beyond a reasonable doubt.

Before anything else, remember the 3 little boys whose rights were taken by nothing better than scum of the earth. What is the evidence that was used to convict these three? You are talking about 3 people here; seems there would have been a crack in the evidence during the trial of one or the other. Celebrities tend to cling to certain cases; such as Abu Mumia Jamal in Phila. PA. It's clear that he is guilty yet Hollywood types gravitate to this type of thing. What about the little boys who were murdered? Was anyone else questioned? What brought attention to the 3 suspects to begin with? The real tragedy here is that three innocent little boys were murdered. Be sure of what you are saying before getting involved with convicts: they are always innocent; ask them, they'll tell you. I am the mother of a murder victim; the murderer still tries to appeal constantly, using ridiculous reasons to try to get out of prison. Sorry, no mercy here for convicts. If you believe what they say, all prisons are filled with innocent inmates. Don't believe it. Remember the victims; their rights, their voices have been taken.

I've been interested in the case for about 3 years now. I watched all the documentaries on it, I own books on it, and I strongly believe that they are where they are just for being different. I guess being goth and listening to rock music in a small town back in the 90's makes you a killer... This is one of those pretty rare chances that the Judicial System has to redeem itself. It is unacceptable to give someone the Capital Punishment when you CANNOT be 100 percent sure they are guilty!

Would like to know about investigations on
who would be the real culprit and why this crime occured.

There are about 16,000 murders in the United States each year. Of those well over half are committed by people who are known to the victim.

Be extremely cautious when you hear what the attorney just said...that the DNA was consistant with Terry Hobbs. This is a meaningless statement unless explained. Depending upon how many loci on the DNA strand they are using for comparison it could be that 80 percent of our male population could be in the suspect pool.

Terry Hobbs should be looked at very carefully, but again unless you/we have the entire case file we don't know the facts of the case.

Hair and fiber evidence are some of the most useless evidence in violent crimes where the victims and suspects are known to eachother, or at least known to the same environments. Locards exchange principle in simplistic terms states that when a person enters an environment he leaves something and takes something away. In the case of fibers it is extremely rare that finding similar or like fibers means much at all. Unless the fiber is rare and unique it may mean nothing since most of us buy clothing from just a few sources. The CSI Effect leads us to believe that fibers are the "smoking gun" in criminal cases. Reality – they aren't except in unique cases. Hairs are the same way unless they have the root/skin tag or follicle attached which if in decent shape will contain the DNA of the donor. But here again if the victims and suspects share common environments the hair may not be the smoking gun.

Imagine all those people sitting on death row despite DNA clearing them and they have no talk shows, no celebrities, no one to speak out for them. Free David Leonard Wood

Attn Eddie Vedder... Got the answer for all 3 of the accused legal problems. Pls contact me about the "Redemption Process"

Very heart-wrenching for the parents experiencing their precious 8 year old sons not only murdered but also mutilated. This must be the most painful of all deaths. I cannot fathom anything more painful! My heart goes out to the families! Even after 16 years, you can still see the deep pain experienced by these families! So very sad!

@Guice Howell-You are so very wrong. These people HAVE examined every piece of documentation with this case, as have I. I have been involved with this for over 14 years now. YOU are the one who knows nothing of this case other than what YOU have seen on TV. You should read up and learn before you say things like that.

Yes – a new trial should be allowed!!
Something is not Kosher!

There is no way these boys (now men) are guilty of the awful crime they're in prison for. No way, no how. Arkansas officials should be ashamed of themselves- that is, until they right this horrible wrong. A new trial MUST be granted.

@Heaven. Jesse had a driver's license, GED, and the defense's own expert demonstrated that his intelligence did not impair his ability to know right/wrong and control his actions.

His interrogation was not 12 hours long. Read the timeline from the WMPD; he had a dinner break. Was given a Coke between interviews and saw his father that day. This coercion issue was settled at trial.

Hobbs is viable? There were more samples of DNA connected to the WM3 at the scene than Terry Hobbs.

Erik – Yes, Terry Hobbs was the stepfather (abusive stepfather, to be more precise) of Stevie, one of the boys were were murdered.

But the secondary transfer argument? I suspect you already know this, but let's review THE OTHER HAIR.

There are two hairs in play – one from Hobbs himself, found in the shoelace not of his stepson but one of the other murdered boys (Micahel Moore). The other hair was from David Jacoby – a friend of Hobbs' who Hobbs hadn't seen on the day the boys were killed until AFTER the boys were missing.

Innocent transfer? Yeah, try: Jacoby --> Hobbs -–> murder scene.

There is no other explanation.

Natalie Maines was 100% correct - Terry Hobbs, in a rage, murdered his stepson and the two unfortunate witnesses to his crime.

FREE THE WM3!!

@Erik

This piece of hair was NOT found on Stevie Branch.DO you really believe a transferred hair would stick on a 8 year old boy playing at school all day?! Why would a piece of hair that could potentially be Terry Hobbs be on another child's shoelace and STILL be there after playing at school all day?!

The knife was refuted??? When did that occur?

Is Riordan floating the animal predation theory again.

Pure fiction.

has any defendant taken a lie detector test?

Erik I feel sorry for you. keep living in your fishbowl buddy. You have got to be from west memphis. And why is it the same judge who convicted the three is the only judge been allowed to preside on the appeals?

Some people believes in religion so deep that they can go into a trance and thats what I think went wrong they were doing what they thought was right by the holy Satan a Charles Manson case .

@David Esq

You have jumped from a hair found on a tree left by a source which could not rule out David Jacoby to Hobbs and Jacoby committing the murders. Sorry, but again, there is more DNA which could be from source connected to the 3 than there was from Hobbs and Jacoby combined.

The Hobbs hair is clearly a herring.

yes they should get a new FAIR trial. the prosecution had no evidence against them except for the coerced confession from a scared kid with mental problems. this is nothing but a modern day redneck witch hunt. i mean come on just because you listen to heavy metal music wear all black clothes and read strange books does not make you a murderer. if so than more than half the kids in this country are murderers. and we are suppose to have religious freedom in this country and we are not supposed be persecuted for our beliefs.

FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3

@Valerie.

The boys had played at each other's house, that day and previous days. There was plenty of opportunity for secondary transfer. If there was semen at the scene which could not rule out Hobbs but did not come from the 3 then you have evidence of absolute evidence. Not a hair on a shoelace which most likely was picked up from secondary transfer.

@A2 sweet-You apparently are uninformed on this matter. The person whom Natalie Maines was referring to was a STEP FATHER of one of the victims. Terry Hobbs. The parents who lost their children in this tragedy back Natalie Maines and what she said. THE ONLY PARENTS OF THE VICTIMS WHO DO NOT BELIEVE IN THE INNOCENSE OF THE WM and do not back Natalies statement are Todd and Dana Moore.

Ah, yet another person commentating who assumes things from watching TV, but really knows nothing about this case.

Of course they should get a new trial! If there is ANY doubt that they are guilty, do we want to be responsible for their deaths if they are innocent? I want to commend Eddie, Natalie, and Johnny for their work in helping to solve this case once and for all. I have been a fan of both Eddie Vedder and Johnny Depp for decades and I feel I know them well enough to know that they would not dedicate themselves to this case unless they were 100% sure of the innocence of these kids, and that's good enough for me. Oh, and seeing Eddie and Johnny together on stage tonight was almost more than my poor heart could take. You guys are the best. I know you won't stop until you get these kids out of jail and off death row.

I HAVE never blogged ...this is something i feel very passionately about these boys must be given a new trial!!!! It is imperitive...they are innocent....all the facts do not add up this is not justice it is injustice..the police in West Memphis will NEVER admit that they botched this investigation...It is now up to the spreme court to make this right...

@Pat G.

The reason the attention was brought to Damien, Jason and Jessie by a juvenile probation officer who claimed to be an expert at occult because he suspect Damien( his ward waaaay before this happened) of being part of an occult. He suggested to the police that Damien and his friends could have possible committed the crimes because of this. This man, when he came to accuse of the boys, was out of his jurisdiction and was practically stalking Damien.

They have alot of bad points against them and being Satan worshipers is the biggest .

@Erik

What needs to be "refuted" about the knife? The Rambo knife, while there wasn't a single deep stab wound on any of the boys? (Hobbs beat them and threw them in the drainage canal, he didn't stab them). The knife that even the state said was no more than "consistent with some of the wounds"? Or are you talking about the absurd grapefruit demonstration?

The knife, though – great topic. Found five months after murder. Prosecurot Fogelman tells the divers exactly where to look behind Jason's trailer in the lake. The diver finds it in just under 45 minutes. And it's a nice scary prop for trial. Boy, that almost just fits TOO WELL, doesn't it? Yes, to be clear, I AM implying Fogelman – personally or through third party put it there.

I am almost 29 now & this gets me just as angery as it did when I was 17!!! I was 17 & I knew they were innocent. there was NO evidence linking them to the murders... unless you want to count the music they listened to, the books they read, & the way they dressed as evidence. Now they have spent 16 years in jail for a crime they didn't commit!!!! The Arkansas legal system needed someone to blame right then & unfortunatly these 3 teenagers got blamed for no other reason then they were "goth". If thats all it takes then you better lock up 1/2 the teenagers in the world right now. AHHHHHHHH!!!!! this is all BS!! They should have never been put on trial in the first place!!! Everyone should organize a Free the West Memphis 3 sit in on the day of the appeal hearing. Call your local news station & try to get them to do a story on it. Do something people.
That being said, I am sorry for the loss of those little boys who were murdered. I am sorry for the parents & family of those kids. It was tragic & nothing like that should ever happen. But innocent people going to jail should never happen either

I cannot even imagine after 16 years of mourning now bringing up all the pain to cope with all over again.

Most cold blooded killers leave a fingerprint when they kill and often once they have a taste for it, they would not stop then. It might be interesting to see if there were any other children missing around that time.

@Erik - The WMPD is a joke. And have you ever spoken to Jessie?
Go to an appeal hearing, visit him, whatever and talk to him, his IQ level is below that of a normal person.
And the transferred hair, Terry Hobbs denied even seeing the boys on the day of the murder...So the hair stayed there overnight, all day through school...etc.?

Hey Ashley,

HOW ABOUT THEIR CONFESSIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Well, great show, Larry! Hopefully awareness was raised tonight and more people are interested in learning about the case.

Anyone who has additional questions or wants to discuss it further, well, I won't give a link as the site might reject it as spam – but Google the phrase "Blackboard WM3" and check out the board - run by Mark Byers (father of murdered Chris Byers, one of Hobbs' victims) and visited by the attorenys who represent the WM3.

Stay involved, folks – learn and read. Sort through the noise from folks like Erik and FREE THE WM3

(And .... Arkansans ..... MAKE IT A VOTING ISSUE! GIVE 'EM ALL THE FOGELMAN TREATMENT UNTIL THEY DO THE RIGHT THING!)

I know first hand how crooked the justice system is. My son went to jail for 10 years for having sex with a girl 13 years old and he was 18. The girl had boys come get my son from watching television at home with me because she wanted to "be with" my son. He was not out trolling for girls and had just broken up with his girlfriend who was 18 so he was down in the dumps. Anyway after serving a few years my son had been placed in lock down because he did not want to transfer to a dorm with high male on male raped. After about the 22 day of being in darkness with only an hour of light every my son started banging on the glass window and kicking the door to try and get the guard's attention. Just as the guard opened the flap to the door the glass broke in the guards eye. They charged my son with assaulting an officer and destroying property. They gave my son another 20 years in a kangaroo court. How can you expect glass to break in a prison? How could you think the intent was to assault an officer? Yet now my son must do another 20 years because his 10 years is finished. How is that right? My son did not mean for the glass to break. Glass is not suppose to break in prison because if it did convicts would break it all the time to cut each other or to keep pieces of glass to cut someone later. Now for these boys... I tell you these boys deserve a second trial just because of all the ones who have been exhonorated in the past. You are going to fry Damien. How would you feel after you do this to find out he was a victim too!

It is UNBELIEVABLE how people in this country can WATCH A BIASED TELEVISION show OUT OF HOLLYWOOD, "Paradise Lost" , and then those same GULLIBLE PEOPLE start stating "FACTS".

UNBELIEVABLE how the television can ALTER GOOD JUDGEMENT.

New evidence needs to be considered if it is legitimate. What we don't want is to bring a bunch of evidence in that simply creates doubt instead of introducing facts- we don't need conspiracy theories nor do we need circumstantial evidence. If there are facts and actual DNA evidence, this case should absolutely be reopened and retried or our justice system has failed. Further- it seems to me that freeing these 3 should be secondary to the real issue- THE REAL KILLER MAY STILL BE AT LARGE! Can you imagine that horrible feeling for these parents? I say, the focus of exoneration of the WM3 should be to find the real killer and get justice for the victims and their families!

CObobbi – Hobbs not related by blood but the little boy was his step child and if I lost a step child, I would be heartbroken... it be almost as if I lost a child from my womb.. so, what's your point?

and second, Natalie is doing exactly what people have done to the west memphis three, jump before getting all the facts. Let's have a new trial and air everything out before accusing someone..

@ Erik

What is this DNA evidence that links these three men to the murders? As far as I am aware there is only a micro fiber that had like .0001 percent chance it matched an article of clothing the a boy wore./

They lived in the same TOWN so the clothing in it are usually from the same batch of string/yarn/material. So it is possible that the teen (at the time) had a similar shirt as the boy that had come from the same batch of material being OF COURSE IT WAS SIMILAR. Other than this micro fiber what other (and fiber isn't really DNA) DNA evidence had been given proving these men guilty?

@Judy Hicks Sadler (Pams sister and Stevies aunt) .... My continuing condolences to you and your family. I wish there was more that could be said. Pam's heroic strength is an example to us all. God bless you all.

YES!!! I'm not as familiar with the case as some of you seem to be but I believe when there is doubt (or at least this much doubt) and new evidence we must reexamine. Innocent people have been wrongfully convicted and executed in the hands of our justice system (as well as the guilty having been set free). Our justice system isn't perfect and admitting to it will result in loosing credibility, having more re-trails and large financial compensations.

In addition admitting having had the wrong people in prison while the real killers have been on the loose is a horrifying scenario. Let's take the charge out it and reexamine the new evidence with a clear head.

Larry, I feel that these young men should have a new trial. What about the real murderer? Still out there?

Currently I am dealing w/man who has walked the streets for 30 years after brutally murdered an 18 year old Mother of a 3 month old baby in the next room. The town banished the husband who had a solid alibi. The twin sister of the murder victim has been terrified for years that the murderer would come after her.
Why, because the small town Police Dept. never followed through with the investigation, because the twins were considered "white trash".

Peace,
Mary Jo Oathout

@Erik

There was no sign of the boys being sodomized! So how could there be semen at the crime scene or on the boys?! Just because a boy was partially castrated does not mean that the boys had been Sodomized.

Again.... anyone interested in talking to the investigators, the attorneys representing the WM3, and the families of the victims, google Blackboard wm3 and follow the link. Mark Byers co-runs the board.

Goodnight all....

FREE THE WM3! The day's coming: My wager is April 1, 2011 will be freedom day.

Having had extensive experience in our courts I can state with certainty the following:
1. Cases can be made with little to no reality based evidence and
2. The system hates to admit error and will only do so after extensive and lengthy pressure or heavy publicity.
God help any American if they end up in our courts. While justice is still possible and experienced, the amount of injustice that goes on is beyond belief.
The Memphis case is clearly a case of the system not wanting to admit error.

YES! This is one of the worst miscarriages of justice I have ever read about. Thank goodness there are celebrities willing to help spread the word on this travesty. Thank you LKL for the show tonite. The media helped form public opinion at the time of these young men's trial and subsequent convictions and now need to step up and publicize this unbelievable failure of the right to a fair and unbiased trial for these men (now) that have spent almost 2 DECADES in prison. There is new evidence, DNA, etc. I pray that Arkansas will right this wrong and soon. FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3- NOW!

I am disgusted at this program, it was very one sided and biased. For those who watched the first interview are you not curious why Larry did not interview Damien... could it be that he lied so much the first time that
his handler's could not risk him being caught in more lies.

Mr. Byers and Ms Hobbs look to make money if they help get a retrial that is their sole motivation and nothing more. HOW SAD! They were convicted by two separate and independent juries. Those convictions were upheld by the Arkansas Supreme Court.

If Damien and the other 2 boys did not do it? Who did? Who could do such a crime and get away with it? Who would want to do such a thing to 3 small children? Questions, questions, questions that needs some answers. The family of all involved needs some closure, new trial PLEASE!

Until the Prosecutors are held accountable for false arrest and wrongful conviction, this will keep happening. I know from personal experience. Please see; " Dismissed: A True Story of Injustice in the Heartland"

I TOTALY, IN ACORD WITH THE FACT THAT THIS THREE CONVICTED, ARE GUILTY.
AND SURPRISE HOW THIS GROUP, OF ARTIST ARE SPENDING TIME ON THIS CASE.
HOPING NO ONE OF THEM ARE FANS OF EVIL SECTS.

HOW ABOUT THE VICTIMS, AND THE FACT THAT THOSE CONVICTED, WERE IN A EVIL SECT.

Dave:

David Jacoby and Terry Hobbs purportedly were playing guitars together on the evening the boys went missing. They both were involved in the search and according to Terry Hobbs, he later claimed he must have been a few feet from the discovery. There was also their DNA near a tree stump. I dont know that Terry Hobbs was involved. This case boils down to sketchy circumstantial evidence used to convict the WM3 in the first place–the mail order occult 'expert', 'Mr. Bojangles", the bloodied man spotted in the Bojangles restaurant after the murders, his scraped blood on the wall WAS LOST by the WM Police Department! Jesse's (a border-line retarded defendant) confessions shouldn't have stood up in court-they kept him for hours and hours without an attorney trying to get him to say what they wanted and the details in his confession didn't even match what happened at the crime scene. The police department kept recording, turning the recorder off until he said what they wanted after 12 hours.

@ heaven-lets not also forget that any DNA evidence that was coincidently or "casually" transfered from father to the other child had to also survive the murder event itself AND a night spent submerged in water/

I have been following this case for many years-I have read many of the legal documents; statements; evidence; psychological reports autopsy reports available on line and I have read the two popular books released on the case and watched both versions of Paradise Lost.

I have also kept up on the latest trial developments, appeals and the latest DNA evidence-there is PLENTY of DNA evidence connecting the children who were murdered with one of the fathers AND HIS FRIEND who was with him that night-there is nothing on these imprisoned men except, a unrelated knife found in the river behind one of the convicted's house 6 MONTHS after they were arrested.

It was a huge knife that did not conclusively match any of the children victims wounds and no one knows who it belonged to or how it got there; how long it was there in the river etc.

None of the convicted had ANY blood or DNA evidence on their clothing-these were teen age boys living in trailer parks with little education-there was no true crime TV etc-they couldn't have killed those boys and left no blood or DNA evidence.

The boy victims were killed somewhere else and carried with their bikes to the river-there is no crime scene found and no evidence of ritualized "anything" in the woods-there is NO evidence.

This was a hyper religious and hyper sensationalized crime-It was a woven story of fundamentalism and satanic panic; media driven frenzy of story telling; rumors; parents with drug problems and prison histories and connected to the police working for the police.

This was about step fathers, absent fathers, crazy fathers, mothers with addictions and secrets; this was about dirty secrets, hushed alibis; botched and corrupt police work and everyone wanting a witch trial. The story of all six of the boys, the three dead and the three found guilty was about corruption and miscarriage of justice; politics and the problems with the judicial system in Arkansas. It was about poor white kids that were not given a fighting chance and their crime was being adolescent, poor and not actively Christian.

None of the three found guilty had any motive or legitimate connection to the boys killed. I could go on and on...

YES THE THREE DESERVE A NEW TRIAL!

Well it looks like a lot of you have not read the case files and just listened to the mocumentaries and celebrity opinion. I want to know when the media is going to inform the public of Jessie making a confession even after he was convicted? When are they going to inform the public none of the three killers had alibis? When are they going to inform the public of Damien's violent history that landed him in a psychiatric facility numerous times? There is just so much that points the three to the crime. You would have to be blind not to see.
Also, the DNA tested did not prove the WM3 were not at the scene of the crime. In fact some of the alleles on the DNA matched the 3 killers. This is why they are not eligible for the Innocence Project but Riordan failed to inform the public of this.

I would like to say I have always admired Larry King on whatever subject he is talking about, he stays on "the fence." I have never seen him take obvious sides until tonight. As far as the WM3 being guilty or innocent, I am not sure but I have seen the Paradise Lost videos and how could someone just convicted of murder just sit there unphased after being found guilty if they didn't commit the crime?

@Todd Moore- Michael's dad .

This is your conscience speaking. I'm getting really worn out here and it's time you manned up.

I know how tempting it was back in 2000 to start posting on the Yuku Board that you and Dana saw Damien at the crime scene. People sure were shocked that you never mentioned it before (like... during the trials, when it would have been most relevant).

But now that you've said it, you've boxed yourself into a lie and you can't get out of it. So, you and Dana (and you two alone among the families) continue this charade of pretending you think the WM3 are guilty.

Damn, trying to keep up that level of lying could wear at a person.... maybe even drive them to drink, know what I'm saying?

But don't too much – if someone so solidly "on the state's side" were to have a DWI accident and seriously hurt someone, the State would probably go very easy on them.... I mean, IN THEORY.

*** Free the 3 ***

Same old tired rhetoric from you, hey Kerrie? Farm will be proud.

From Todd Moore:
"Mr. Byers and Ms Hobbs look to make money if they help get a retrial that is their sole motivation and nothing more. HOW SAD!"

How do you figure that, Todd? You and your friends have been saying that for some time now and none of you have offered up exactly how you figure that will happen.

Your constant refusal to actually listen to the recent evidence and consider it, is what is sad.

Did anyone else read through those comments and think to themselves, "ALL of the people that think they're guilty are probably friends and neighbors in the same trailer park in West Memphis"...? As someone that's followed this story out of interest for years, and now out of profession because I work for media in the state, I will say, unequivocally, without a doubt, give these boys a new trial. There's absolutely, positively no reason not too.

THE CONVICTIONS BEEN UPHELD TIME AND AGAIN. HUMMMMM
I wonder why?????

Please try to stick with case facts and not BS you hear and see

jurior misconduct... he is not willing to stand by that now hummm?

lie much?

Rugs give it up. You know there is no recent evidence to consider. You also know the three are guilty so stop playing games.

@Erik-Please tell us how " there is more DNA which could be from source connected to the 3". THERE IS NO DNA WHICH COULD BE FROM SOURCE CONNECTED TO THE 3! NONE!

@Kerrie-

All three had alibis-they were either not investigated or dismissed by the prosecution.

One of my favorites was Damien's alibi the night of the murder. He was seen walking with his girlfriend down the road by his girlfriend's family and the police and prosecutors had the witnesses look like idiots-that maybe skinny Jason was who Damien was walking with, after all he had "longish fair hair ". Casting doubt in the minds of the jurors. Meanwhile, Jason was at home with his mother-this alibi was not considered good enough. Presumably, calling his mother a liar and Jason's girlfriends family stupid.

Secondly, Chris Myers was so criminal, had given HBO a knife with his son's dna; was dealing drugs; had been in prison, had a violent past and was working for the police-NONE of this came up in trial (except the knife incident)

As for Jessie MisKelly's confession-It was 12 hours without a parent, or a lawyer present and most of the facts he openly reported were wrong-the police lead him to the answers they wanted-most of the taped confession was lost except what was presented in court. His friend, who would later come forward admitted that her family member had been involved in the search and told her about the boys-she and Jessie naively wanted to get some reward money for providing information so Jessie went to the police saying that he watched the event from a tree. This was the police's "BIG BREAK". Jessie came to them trying to get reward money-not confessing.

He never confessed or tried to offer testimony (lie to get a more lenient sentence) He maintained his innocence.

The confession in jail was supposedly by Jason Baldwin NOT Jesse MissKelley

You are talking about the only evidence against Jason Baldwin-an non-credible kid in prison ( a chronic liar by his prison counsellor) "claimed" that Jason confessed the whole thing to him while they met the second time, after Jason was arrested. Jason Baldwin, who had an alibi, had no violent history; no connection to the children; no DNA evidence against him; no blood; none of the children's possesions; no bloody or dirty clothes-was convicted on that testimony and the fact that he connected to Damien Echols.

witnesses have come forward claiming they lied in court or the police put pressure on them to give testimony and now have recanted their testimony and have shared their regrets for being complicit in this travesty of Justice. Other witness have come forward to give new evidence against Terry Hobbs.

This is so unbelievably corrupt and injust that you have to be in a state of active denial to believe that the right men are in jail.

Todd Moore,

Why don't you ask your wife what time she pulled into Terry Hobbs' driveway and asked Hobbs if he had seen the boys?

Compare her answer with what Hobbs has said.

Then ask her why Terry didn't talk to Officer Meek when he followed her to Mark Byers' house.

If you had been looking for your son for 3 hours, knew he was with Chris Byers, and saw a police car in Byers' driveway...wouldn't you run straight over and talk to the police like your wife did?

Ask yourself why Hobbs stayed away until Meek drove off.

Once you realize that the initial attack occurred at about 7:10 pm, the bodies were left hidden in a storm drain (as Hobbs, himself, alludes to in his WMPD interview and again in the civil deposition) in the woods until about 3:30 am, and then moved to the ditch....it's obvious who THe real killer is.

Has anyone ever claimed to have been with Terry Hobbs from about 3 am until 5 am.....I didn't think so.

these guys were railroaded because of how they dressed and music they listened to.anybody who takes the time to read everything on this case will see that.FREE WEST MEMPHIS 3!

There was a partial hand/fingerprint left at the crime scene that does not match the three in prison.
There was a shoe print at the crime scene that does not match the three in prison.
There is a hair in the bindings of the victims that does not match the three in prison.
There is a hair found on a tree stump near the crime scene that does not match the three in prison.
There is an allele on the penis of a victim that does not match the three in prison.
A step father of one of the victims puts himself in and out of the woods all night of May 5 1993 and does not see or hear any of the three in prison.
Give them a new trial! Let all of this evidence be argued!

without a doubt they are innocent. The idiots in the south could not figure out who to pin it on so they took the easy way out. They are the ones who should be sent to jail. Even if these kids are released they will have a tough road ahead. Shame on our justice system.

I have to admit that the boy Damien looked to be a disturbed person with almost the same kind of eyes of Charles Manson both then and now. I have to admit that he was high on the attention of being infamous forever. I have to admit there have been no such killings since. I have to admit that the killing could have been an isolated killing that could have been done by Terry Hobbs and his friend. A killer can kill once out of being hopped up on drugs where once clean and sober they no longer commit the crime. This could have been the circumstance here with Terry and his friend. I just don't think they should kill Damien until they have exhausted all of the doubt. To tell you the truth I would hate to have him on the streets because to me he looks to be filled with demons but that is my opinion not fact.

Horrific police work, shifty prosecutors, and underpaid, inexperienced defense attorneys with next to no resources to even to begin to defend these boys are the things that lead to this most terrible travesty of American justice. Not only is it clear that the WM3 could not have committed these murders, it's obvious the real killer has been smirking about his achievement right under everyone's noses all along. Ironic that his hubris in suing the Dixie Chicks will be his final undoing.

I only wish that Michael Moore's parents would make even a small attempt to open their eyes to the truth. I have nearly the entire trial on VHS and can confirm they were convicted on nothing but smoke, mirrors and ineffective counsel. It will be very hard for the Moores to deal with the eventual release of the Three and the (we hope) ultimate prosecution of Terry Hobbs unless and until they stop clinging to the lies they've been told and make some effort to open their minds to the truth. The victims deserve that as much as the persecuted young men do.

if there is new (old evidence) in this creime, please ,please, let them prove their innocence !!!! what could it hurt ????

Yes, absolutely, they should get a new trial.

I have been a supporter for 8 years and I have studied the transcripts, watched the documentaries, and red Blood of innocents. There are tons of inconsistances in this case that need to be revisited. All our praying has come true! WE WILL FINALLY GET A NEW TRIAL FOR DAMIEN!!!

The facts are clear and simple. On review of only a small amount of the evidence in this case, it is inherently clear that these three are innocent, or, if you don't want to go that far, at the very least deserve a new trial. But having said that, there is an enornmous amount of evidence that just piles up – huge inconsistencies, misconduct, incompetence, as well as evidence that clearly points to their innocence, as well as that that points away from them.
For those non-believers, I can only assume that you have not made yourselves familiar enough with the case, as the arguments you make are generally factually incorrect. However, if you truly believe they are guilty, surely you would like to see them convicted based on all the evidence they have today, so why keep fighting it?
I believe 100% that these men are innocent, and I don't think anyone can deny that at the very least, they deserve a new trial.

I've been following this storey and I agree, these boys should get another trial.

I have followed this case for about 5 years since I saw Paradise Lost in a college English class...I was completely shocked...I absolutely believe that they all deserve new trials...It was so insane to try to wrap my mind around how these 3 guys could get convicted with no real evidence to prove they did anything wrong...there are so many things that don't add up and any normal intelligent person could get that...it was a different time then but I am ashamed of the people involved in this case because they come off so ignorant...these 3 deserve some sort of justice even though after all that's been taken from them they will never have real justice...and one way or another what goes around comes around even if we don't get to see it...

I watched Paradise Lost as a child and then knew these 3 were innocent and believe the step-father Mark should have been investigated more thorougly! I definitely believe these 3 men deserve a new trial!!! My thoughts and prayers r with Damien!!!!!

what i want to know is why in 1993 did these boys say they committed the crime when they did..yeah police might have interrogated them but still why lie? I feel that yes if there is proof that they are innocent then they should get another trail but still if they were innocent why did they have to lie about killing those children.

Lorrie Davis is just looking for her 15 minutes of fame. Damian Echols confessed that he sodomized and murdered an 8 year old innocent child. He deserves nothing less than the same.

ONE THE BOYS OF THREE BOYS TRIED TO RUN AWAY
MISSKELLY AFTER HIM AND BROUGHT HIM BACK!!!!!!!!!

Many teenagers confess to crimes (even murder)that they did not commit (later evidence exonerates them)-this is not unusual. Damien Ecohols has never confessed to murdering or sodomizing any of those children-

Jessie Misskelly confessed. Even after his trial he refused to testify against Echols and Baldwin because he knew he was innocent as were the other two-If you read the actual transcript of the confession the glaring inaccuracies with the forensic evidence, location, crime scene discriptions how the boys were tied etc. is obvious-and when you observe the manipulative manner of the police interview it becomes even more obvious how this teen of low IQ was led into a confession.

Absolutely they should be granted new trials. That should have been a very long time ago. Better yet, they never should have been convicted in the first place. I have been following this case for a while and I have read everything there is to read on it and I can't belive that they are still in prison! Free Jason, Damien and Jesse!!

By all means! If there is a sliver of evidence at all that shows the possibility that they have been wrongfully convicted, then there is no reason to deny a new trial.

SET THEM FREE! SET THEM FREE! THEIR IS NO EVIDENCE TO CONVICT THEM! LORI GIRL, YOU KEEP FIGHTING .DAMIAN, JESSE, JASON YOUR ALL INNOCENT. THE TRUTH WILL PREVAIL..........

It is disgusting that these three men are still incarcerated. The evedence, if you call it that, points in every direction except toward the three people convicted of this horrible crime. It is shameful that this has continued so long.
The incompententcy in West Memphis is sickening. Free the West Memphis 3. Jason Baldwin, Jesse Misekelley Jr., and Damien Echols are as innocent of this crime as I am! They should certianly get a new trial, be found innocent and freed finally.
How can the people responsible for the crime and responsible for charging and convicting these three live with themselves?
Do the three young boys, Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore, not deserve to the justice of having thier TRUE murderer behind bars? Has he not been free long enough? And aren't Mr. Echols, Mr. Baldwin and Mr. Misskelley victims as well?
FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3!

I'm sooo tired of people stating it was the way they were dressed or their music, my dad worked for CCSD and my brother was a "skater" had friends with black hair, strange music, that's just y'alls copout to make them look like biggots, that's not the case, miskelly told friends and family first, they are the ones who turned him in! Then let's not forget these weren't choir boys! They all had a long criminal history. And I believe there were more involved than the 3 that were convicted! But hindsite is 20/20, and those boys have had 2 trials with multiple jurors and nothing like that has happened since then, not to mention all the strange animal abuse that was going on the park, when they were here, it all stopped! So Larry King where's the other side, why wasn't anyone there who thinks there guilty, why wasn't both sides represented!!!!

First of all, I would like to say that I believe that anyone who is innocent should get and receive a fair trial. I am the daughter of a police officer who truly, in his short life, taught me honor, respect, and fairness.

What I would like to know, and I think along with many others, is to who Damian Echols prays, if at all, to help him be released due to his innocence?? Does he pray to God or the devil? I have not heard this mentioned? Does Lorrie Davis now, or has she always believed in the devil, and that is another connection with this "marriage?"

That would be a hard thing to compromise for any woman or man, believing in God and then the devil, if the case, to be married to someone!

I believe that the stars who are supporting these three men believe in God and that that has led them to get involved in what they believe is unjust and unfair.

What is Mr. Damien's current beliefs?

Is he honest enough to admit them?

If so, and it is still the "devil," what happens in the future if he is released?

I have not even mentioned the other two and their current beliefs, as the major focus on the show seems to be directed to Damien.

My favorite actor is Depp, and one of my favorite musician/artists would be Eddie Veddler, by all means. I'm 44, and have always followed this story. However, not too much is being mentioned about the horror that these 3 beautiful young boys went through. I have 3 boys of my own... and I can only imagine what they went through. Being chased down, when it came to the last one. I am highly dissappointed in the actions of two of my most favorite artists. Honestly, I just can't believe it. I feel that Damien, and his friends were 100 % guilty. They are much older now, and regretting a lot. Obiously. However... people... wake up! What they did is real. This is so sad.

I've watched this case from the beginning and am saddened by the loss of 6 innocent lives. DNA will set free 3 of those lives. Unfortunately, the other 3 will never be able to continue their lives here but they could be vindicated and be able to rest in peace. I believe this case has a lot of political ties that should be researched. Keep this case in the public eye- not only for the 3 murdered children but also for those falsely accsused. This case NEEDS to be reopened before more lives are lost!

I think that it is time for arkansas to addmitt that they made a mistake. i think damien echolsdeserves another trial . theres no evidence just let them go there innocenntt !

Biased media can make people believe, without any proof or reasonable evidence, in either the guilt or innocence of a person. The more media hype there is the more people believe it as absolute truth – when you hear a lie over and over it begins to sound like the truth. In this case the media is trying to convince people the M3 are innocent and although I would never believe anything based on any kind of media outlet I don't see how it could hurt to have a retrial if there is new or better evidence available now. The belief that it is better to free a guilty person than convict an innocent one is at the heart of America's presumption of innocence.

Something to consider.... the hair found in the shoelace that bound little MichaelMoore, was described as being red and it originating from facial hair (beard hair). This hair was not found on the step son of Terry Hobbs, but that of another of the victims. The shoelace was black.

Terry Hobbs has written in his journel writings submitted in his failed Dixie Chicks civil suit, that it was found in the actual knot.

The 3 convicted did not have facial hair.

The hair has been attributed to belong to Terry Hobbs, based on mtDNA, passed on down the maternal blood line. Eliminate all the children and women because they don't have beards (or moustache's such as Terry Hobbs wore).

Food for thought...

Yes. I do think they should have a new trial. From what I have been reading, sounds like some of the evidence is leaning towards Hobbs.

Invite you clebs, I hate iPhone spell ck

Already commented earlier but just noticed the statement that artists are just now speaking out about this case 16 years later... Check your facts CNN. Artists and everyday people have been on top of this case since it happened. Look up the documentary produced by MTV...........

I just finished reading this book last week. There was so much done wrong in trying these young men. Unbelieveable that in this day and age, this kind of injustice still happens. Those boys need a new trial and the truth needs to come out. Shame on Arkansas for such really bad work on this case...My heart goes out to all three of the boys family, but its time the truth be known and those 3 innocent boys set free...LOOK AT THE EVIDENCE! HOW CAN THOSE BOYS BE IN JAIL...

Some of you all obviously have not researched ALL the information & new information and findings that are out there, including (Defense Q & A Session – Damien Echols)! I studied criminal Justice and received my Bach degree in that field..that doesn't make me an expert by any means, but I do know for a Fact that it is very common for people to make false confessions....esp after 12 hours of intense interrogation and an individual who has a below average IQ!!!! Not to mention, being convicted of capital Murder with one on death row without any physical evidence...only some 'circumstancial evidence'....there is No Way you can convict 3 people of capital murder on this type of evidence without 'Reasonable Doubt'! Also...ALL the corruption and jury misconduct that took place before & during their trials! Look it up folks...and not just the things you want to hear...ALL OF IT!
New Trials for Damien, Jason, & Jessie....NOW~!
Cheryl, NC

I have always believed that the West Memphis three are inocent.Because of DNA and other evidence they deserve a new fair trial.They were just easy scape goats and to comment on James Moores' comment above,Damian never confessed it was Jessie who did.

This is my last statement: why did Damien try to kill himself while awaiting trial, and I qoute" I'm sorry for what I did"

I'm new to all this and I have read all about I think 100% that they are not guilty of the murder of the three boys if there is nothing leading to them then they need to let these 3 boys go and look for the person or people who actually did it!!!

Talk about the justice system failing these boys. I mean we are used to seeing the guilty go free and not be paying for their crimes. OJ simpson ppl but for an innocent man to die by lethal injection is messed up. give them a new trial what u have to lose. if he is killed then we will loose something we wont get back.

Absolutely, these 3 boys need a new trial. I believe all 6 boys deserve justice. I pray for the families of the 3 murdered children and God give them strength to get through this ordeal. I have followed this from the beginning and there is absolutely no evidence to convict these innocent young men. Please Arkansas make us all proud to be Arkansans and relook at the case objectively and not with blinders. Juries have been wrong many many times. This very well could have been one of those times. What do you have to lose?

Yes, definitely they should have a new trial. They are innocent. Police just wanted to arrest someone quickly. They coerced a confession out of Jessie, didn't record all of their interviewing of him, tried getting Jason and Jessie to say that Damien did it in return for lesser sentences, mysteriously lost the DNA taken from the Bojangles Restaurant after a "bloody" man used the restroom there to wash off the blood. Damien did NOT have a violent history. No DNA evidence has been found to link them to the crime. They were targeted right from the start – and I believe even before this awful crime happened. Things were going on inside the WMPD – they were under investigation and wouldn't have State Police help in this case. People, you should read every piece of paper relating to this case, like I have over the years and then you will see how very wrong this whole thing is. Good on the celebs for speaking out. This could happen to any one of us.

Yes! they deserve a new trial 100%!!! if you read the books and watch the two documentaries on this case you will see that these three men are completely innocent. it sickens me to know that these men have been in prison for 16 years for a tragedy that they did not committ. They should not still be in prison because the Arkansas PD lost A LOT of evidence. Evidence that could have proved these men innocent and put the real murderer in jail many years ago. With this new trial I hope that Damien, Jesse, and Jason get released from prison because this has gone on way too long. These poor men deserve to be out living their lives but instead tehy are sitting in jail cells for something that they had nothing to do with. I have followed this case for about 6 years now and there is nothing that i have come across that proves that these men are guilty of this disgusting crime. I think that people should take the time to read the books and watch the documentaries before they jump to conclusions on whether or not Damien, Jesse, and Jason are guilty. I promise you if you do your research you will find that these mean are completely innocent. I think that the Arkansas Police Department should be investigated for "losing" so much evidence on this case. Free The West Memphis Three!!! The dont deserve to be in prison!!

Having lived accross the river and being about the same age the case of the WM3 stinks of injustice. I am not personally assured of their innocence, but I have always felt that the case was not based on real evidence, only on good bible belt stereotypes that they did not fit. At the very least they deserve a chance to prove their innocence away from the kangaroo courts of west Memphis.

Rumors; Gossip; Lies and non confirmed evidence, statements taken out of context etc. have been used against these young men and called "EVIDENCE"-

@ Cassie-this is both a false statement and also incredibly uninformed.

Why do you think Damien tried to kill himself in prison???? If you are from Arkansas then you know what the prison system did to him-

Anything you "heard" or was quoted is a rumor-like so much of the crap that convicted these men in the first place-lies; rumors; inuendo; they look guilty; sound guilty; dressed like satanists; etc.

Evidence like blood; DNA; a weapon found with the boys; possessions of the children; motive association eye witnesses to the crime; confirmed testimony from one of the convicted against the others (other than misskelly's obvious false confession-read the transcript -all of it Cassie) and a history of violence against children.
None of it-NONE of it surfaced.

Alibis were wrongly ignored or discredited; unrelated evidence and gossip was what convicted these young men.

have been spoken about these young men in order

Yes, and my father worked at CCSD and I lived and still live in lakeshore trailer park, I have a AA in criminal justice, my family was a victim of baldwins since he was the age of 10, I saw how their criminal behavior effected our neighborhood and my family long before robin hood hills and I invite any of you to come here, not little rock, Hollywood, or any other place and talk with us!

I would just like to know where you live? These boys lived not just in my hometown but in my neighborhood, went to my school, I saw them all the time! Who are u to say of there innocence from a book, a tv show, what some celeb tells you!

MissKelly went to the police believing he could get reward money with the information given him by his friend who put him up to it. Her father was part of the search crew when the bodies were found. He is not the brightest bulb just read the confession!

His parents had nothing to do with it-some people are just bent on keeping lies and rumors going-this is evil.

Innocent until proven guilty is the way our justice system is supposed to work. These men do not have to prove that they are innocent. The state must prove that they are guilty using evidence, not prejudice and opinion. Justice requires that these men be allowed re-trial with the new evidence that contradicts the state's case.

@ "Cassy from west memphis' – I'd like to know just where you found this information that you are claiming....."I'm sorry for what I did" ???

the restimony of atleast one of the 3 clearly tells what happened to those young boys.which of the stars are friends of one of the parents and what drew them to this case if they don't know any of the memphis 3's family. don;t waste the courts time nor money.they told their story and it move on because they willwas detailed as to the horrible things they did to those little boys. the court and jury have spoken.another life is taken.they will kill again. too many people second guess then someone else pays.the other dna could be the stepfather but they may have been afraid to tell his part think about that.

For the few people posting that believe the WM3 are guilty. If they are guilty then why are the three little boys families coming forward saying that they believe the WM3 are innocent and they deserve a new trial? Obviously the three little boys families have been shown evidence proving that the WM3 are innocent.

Is the Innocence Project going to help David Leonard Wood who was cleared by DNA for the serial killings in El Paso, yet he sits on death row?

this is written for the behind-the-scenes players in the case. i'm a writer/director in los angeles who's followed this story for years – but like most have done nothing about it. watching lking tonight finally lit a fire in me.

i know a documentary's already been made, so am not sure what i can do to help. am moving to houston in october for a year which puts me in closer physical proximity, so if there's any way i can contribute please let me know and i'll be there.

i admire and am incredibly moved by all your efforts. all the best...

Jesse was coerced into that confession as has been well documented. The cops told him he could go home if he gave up Damien...Jesse never went home again. Those boys have been in prison for a long time for an awful crime, but there's a lot of evidence that they did not commit it. It deserves to be looked into again. There was a lot of "Santanic Panic" going around at that time and made these kids an easy scapegoat. It really needs to be looked into again, even if someone high up has to swallow their pride and admit they made a mistake.

To those of you who point to Damien's behavior at the trial as proof of his guilt, do you know anything about teen agers? I taught them for 25 years, and I know that they can be arrogant. That's what you saw with Damien – an arrogant and alienated teen ager who "acted out" in a very public manner, much to his detriment. He even admits that he was wrong. To those of you still harping on Jessie's "confessions" on arrest and later, he has an IQ of 72. If you know anything about people with low IQs, you would realize that they will parrot back whatever they think is wanted. Yes, Big Jessie gave permission for Jessie to be interrogated, but he didn't give permission for the police to intimidate and coerce a confession from his son. Also, if Jessis's confession was accurate, why did he refuse to testify against Damien and Jason? To those of you relying on Jason's supposed confession to a cell mate, get real! The guy he supposedly confessed to is not reliable. These young men are innocent, and it's a terrible miscarriage of justice that they are still in prison. I would very much like to have the real killer or killers found. With a truck stop so close by, it could have been a truck driver who killed and left. It could have been "Mr. Bojangles" (the bloody man that wandered into a restaurant and whose DNA evidence was lost). It could have been Terry Hobbs and David Jacoby or Terry Hobbs and John Mark Byers or all three of these men. I believe that Byers made statements at the time admitting to whipping Chris with a belt on the day of the crime. And what about the death of his wife? That's another unsolved mystery. Pam Hobbs has indicated that Terry Hobbs was abusive with Stevie. Even Terry Hobbs himself made statements that could be interpreted to indicate abusive behavior. However, it is not my job to find the guilty party or parties. That is the job of the police department, a job which they have failed at miserably in this case, in my opinion. Isn't it a fact that in the large majority of child killings the guilty party is a family member or close friend? To my knowledge, Damien, Jessie and Jason didn't really know the three victims. Burnett will fight against a new trial, in my opinion, because he used this trial as a political stepping stone. Justice cries out for a new trial in this case.

Rain your comment: "My god, the one kid confessed for godsakes!"

Yeah, first claimed the kids skipped school which they didn't. Then claimed they were killed before lunch time, then in the afternoon, then in the evening – the same time Terry Hobbs gives statement he was in those very same woods himself. He didn't see or hear nothin.
Tied with brown rope, which ended up being black and white shoe laces instead.Then, he claims a single straight bladed 6 inch knife was used, but Peretti claimed it was a serrated one instead. Which turns out to be animal predation after they were killed.

And regarding alibis, how can one even give one, when they don't have a proper time of death.

@Cassie – Like someone above said : "Read the Transcripts"!!!
Go to (Callahan dot 8k dot com), Click on "Documents", then Click on "Documents A-Z", Scroll down to "Damien Echols", then click on "Suicide Report" & "Suicide Note"! This incident that happened on 06-09-93(while in jail awaiting trial) tells that Damien saved up his medication and took 12 tablets at one time. 10 minutes later he buzzed the intercom to tell the guards what he had done! NoWhere does it say anything about him saying "I'm sorry for what I did"...and these are official transcripts!!! Do you think that the guards or Anyone for that matter, would leave this HUGE piece of evidence out???? No, I think not! This rumor/hearsay/lying crap is what helped get him where he is now!!!

Two Words: NOT GUILTY

Yes! Why would anyone not want to prove , one way or the other, with new evidence that they are innocent or guilty. If they are innocent, which I strongly feel they are, why would you want them to remain in prison? If you think they are guilty, then why not have a trial to prove what you think is the right verdict. There is so much more evidence , why would anyone want to deny them a fair trial based on that!

I was skeptical when I first heard about this and then after becoming more informed about the case, I am convinced that these three have been unjustly accused of these crimes. Anyone who takes the time to read the books and watch the documentaries will quickly become aware that this terrible tragedy was compounded by these three young men being framed for crimes they did not commit. Now with additional DNA evidence that exonerates them, they deserve a new FAIR trial.

The late American philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard, said it best, "The very basis of human rights is freedom from false accusations and from brutality and punishment without offense."

Glenese Chestnut said:
"I would like to see Forensic evidence proving these men are innocent"

To put it very simply Glenese...That is NOT how our justice system works in the United States. The way the system is SUPPOSED to work would be forensic evidence proving these men guilty beyond a reasonable doubt.

There was ZERO evidence in this case linking any of the 3 to this crime. That is why it is such an injustice and getting so much publicity. What if this happened to you, or someone you loved? Is your job to PROVE your innocence? Or is it the state's job to prove your guilt?

Like this is new? Celebrities, promoters, record labels, and many other folks that regard "justice" in our great nation have been involved with this case for many years.

My best friend was murdered by a serial killer... so you'd think that i would be of the mind to "punish" the three. That said – there's questions and doubt here, and I firmly believe in reasonable doubt. I have had doubts about the guilt of these three for years. Look at Texas (they executed an innocent man for an arson charge last year). I don't want blood on my hands. Our system, though we want to believe it's perfect, has flaws – big time. Let's take a pause... and open up the review before the chain of tragedy continues.

I absolutely believe that these guys deserve new trials! Yes, it's tragic that the three children died, but this isn't going to bring them back. It's now about saving the lives of three guys who I, and many others, believe are innocent.

I have read up on what is going on. And honestly me and my husband believe that they should get a new trial. But I also agree with what I read from one comment on here. All these celebities can prance up and down sing songs but in the end they need forensic proof and alot of it to get those young men out. Because alot of the DNA and stuff that was there so long ago was lost due to the idiocy of the cops that did the crime scene. But I also won't forget about the boys who died due to this. If and I mean IF they young men in prison are innocent which my husband and I hope they are. They need to find the jerks who killed those young boys. my husband and I will keep this in our prayers. God bless and good night.

This happens all to often. Judges get promotions or pay offs and the proecuting attorneys get promoted, especially in FEDERAL CASES AND THEIR POWER IS OVERWHELMING. Of course they should get a new trial that is obvious. There is Just us and no JUSTICE.

How can a country that claims to be civilised still have a death penalty.

And many of the supporters of the states right to kill it's citizens would claim to be christians desoite having a commandment specifically stating " thou shalt not kill".

More shocking than the injustice of the trial is the ill informed opinions of people who comment on this blog. Any rational person knows the boys are innocent. It is great that we have celebrities that dedicate themselves to worthy causes and use their fame to keep the story alive.

Absolutely these 3 young men need new trials! There is NOT one piece of evidence linking them to these murders! Those 3 little boys deserve justice and now, so do the 3 men sitting in prison! This is the United States of America, we are better than this! Admit there was a terribly flawed investigation, and now, correct the wrong and make it right!

If Jesse Miskelley, whose IQ is way below normal makes a confession then by all account it should be all the more credible as it would be more difficult for his lawyer to coach him what to say. If fact he repeated the confession a few more times. The other 2 can always dispute Miskelly's allegation by coming up with leak proof alibis if they can.

I most definitely do think they deserve a new trial....its very obvious that these boys are not guilty!

I think after watching this interview, there are 3 things that are clear. One 3 innocent little boys lost their lives in a senseless act, 3 young men are imprisioned injustly, & the real killer or killers of those 3 innocent little boys has so far gotten off scot free. I base this not on the fact that there are celeberaties willing to go out on a limb for justice, but when seeing the film it is evident that the justice system in this case, just did not work. If anyone thinks that there can't possibly be injustice in trials & evidence to this magnitude should read "An Innocent Man" by John Grisham. It is the true story of two men unjustly convicted of murdering a young lady in a small town in Oklahoma, based on nothing but the fact that they were "different", an alcoholic & another man who was his friend. Injustice does happen.

Watching Larry last night was my first introduction to the story. (Canadian)
I have not seen the documentaries or read the book. I will be looking for them now.
A few things people should be aware of :
1. Documentaries are to inform but can also be used to persuade. I would want to know who the film maker is and what is his connection to the story. All 3 guests featured state their interest came from the documentary. We must always be considerate of both our logic and our hearts when receiving information. One can outdo the other.

2. As a teacher of teen age boys I can appreciate the footage of Damien looking so hard and disinterested as a way to protect himself when being led by police but is there no footage of him looking a little bit worried about he proceedings. I think if he truly had nothing to do with this horrific tragedy that his body language should have conveyed at some point.

3. Each juror in the case should be interviewed to find out if they influenced to bring back a guilty verdict.

I would not want to be held accountable for judging these boys innocent or guilty but I would certainly stand up for the belief that they have a right to a retrial in the light of new evidence.
It makes me angry to see that it takes raising thousands of dollars to get that! This is America. This is our right.

ABSOLUTELY YES, they deserve a new trial.

Jason, Damien, and Jessie were given their constitutional right to a fair trial. When they did not like the outcome they were given a re-trial. They did not like the outcome of that one either, so now has-been celebrities are trying to gain a little publicity by coming out and supporting them in their quest for another trial.

Thank you! Not one but two trials 24 people in two separate counties found them GUILTY!!!!!

There is no greater crime fathomable than the brutal murder of innocent children, and no greater loss to bear than the parent who has had their child’s life taken so cruelly. For the memories of the victims and their families, it is critical to seek justice in this case and ensure that the people being punished are in fact the murderers. In our justice system, people are innocent until proven guilty. They are not required to prove innocence. In the case of Damien, Jessie, and Jason, there is more than a reasonable doubt that they committed these crimes. If the case against them is strong and factual, than there is no reason why the case should not go forward in our legal system. For the sake of the victims, please seek justice.

This bumbled trial and subsequent 16-year imprisonment is a shame of the South. As a Memphis resident, I am at a loss for words when people ask me how this could possibly have happened, and is still happening. I joined the freethewm3's mailing list in '99, but after watching the way their last appeal was handled, I didn't see much chance in a fair appeal even happening.

Thank you, Vedder and Maines, for choosing to give this case the national publicity it needs and deserves. I hope that this awareness will lead to a fair and impartial retrial.

Damien, Jason and Jessie were given something which their victims were not, "a constitutional right to a fair trial". When they did not like the outcome of their trial they were given "a second trial". They didn't like the outcome of that one either.
This has brought out the celebrities who entertain us with their singing. They want to go on talk shows and show support for the convicted murderers of children. I am not a singer but I would like to give my support to the victims of the crime.
I think in their quest to find these people innocent they overlook so much. There was a confession, evidence, and a conviction and a second conviction. Do we really need a third conviction?
This is why the death penalty should have been enacted the day after their conviction. The world would be a better place without them in it.

To those who still think the WM3 are guilty — I strongly suggest you do more research into the REAL facts...

– Watch both Paradise Lost documentaries
– read Mara Leveritt's amazingly detailed book "Devil's Knot"
– read Damien's book "Almost Home"
– watch interviews with Damien, especially Larry King's
– watch the Defense Press Conference on YouTube and the following Q&A

I challenge you, DARE you, to do all these things and see if you STILL insist on the guilt of these 3 men after doing so.

Oh and by the way, the fact that someone is an actor or a musician does NOT mean they have no intelligence, nor does it mean they haven't researched the case thoroughly. Oh yeah, they also know these prisoners personally...do you?

they need a new trial....

The Three are guilty, supporters have put the familes through hell for the last 17 years, Jessie confessed 3 times and Jessie is still confessing to this day if by some chance in hell there is a new trial, Jessie is going to sing like a sweet little birdie. Last night I threw out all my Pearl Jam cd's along with all Johnny Depp Movies these so called stars if they want to help someone help someone that needs it not three convicted child murderers. Byers is a not in his right mind, Byers will do anything for a buck, by the way Mark did you ever get around to making those wedding rings for Damien and Lorri, I didn't think so. I feel sorry for the celebs that stick up for child murderers, besides wasting your money, your looking like real fools to your fans, or ex-fans..

My heart goes out to these 3 men who sooo deserve a new trial. I have been keeping up with this case and I believe that not only did these 3 men NOT kill those kids, but that the justice system and their home town has treated them poorly from the very beginning!! If Johnny, Eddie and Natalie can help with their new trial/release, then by all means keep fighting! I applaud you all!!!!

I've followed this case from the beginning and am very thankful to Larry King for covering it yet again. The fact that my favorite singer and favorite actor are behind these young men would not change my mind one bit. I just happen to agree with them. There was a severe miscarriage of justice in this case and at the very least they deserve a new trial. I'm reminded of the case of Amanda Knox in Italy. It seems that all one has to do is yell "Satanism" and all responsible, thorough and objective investigation goes out the window.

They do deserve a new trial. In reading the trial transcripts and case files over the last few years, it's pretty evident that there was not enough evidence to convict these three men – well, boys at the time. A new trial is the very least we can do for them. Sixteen years they have been in jail for something there is no real evidence they did. The murdered boys deserve true justice and not convienent justice. I realize it may help some people sleep at night to have SOMEONE behind bars for the horrible crime but if the true killer(s) are still out there, how safe can you actually feel? So many convictions are being overturned these days due to shoddy police work, DNA evidence and poor legal representation. This case seems like it needs to be given a 2nd (3rd, 4th, 5th??) look and give these men the justice they deserve. My personal opinion is that they should be freed and I hope that I will get to see that day.

I hope that they can give the 3 men an new trial and that DNA will be able to be used. I feel bad for the 3 victims, but also for the 3 men wrongly accused due to the police not handling the case properly.
thank you Mr. King for having Eddie Veider, Natalie and the lawyer for Damien and Damien's wife on your show last night.

Yes, they are innocent. I'm from W. TN and know all the ins and outs of this case!

Yes yes yes.. the it's proven that people will make a false confession if pressured or flat out lied to. It was never these boys .. and now those that just wanted to satisfy the masses don't want the back lash for thier shoddy detective work. There is no DNA linking these boys and the bite marks on the bodies do not match the boys... check out the red neck step dad who mysteriously had ALL his teeth knocked when the bite mark evidence was going to be re-examined.

The case is pretty simple. There was Zero evidence that pointed to these three. There is, on the other hand, evidence that points to others as being the perpetrators. And by the way, there doesn't have to be evidence to prove a person innocent of a crime. There has to be evidence some DID commit the crime. There is none in this case against these three.

Yes I believe the WM3 deserve new trials. They are INNOCENT and anyone who has been studying and following this case knows that....My heart goes out to ALL of the families involved. FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE!!

What do you mean have they read the entire case file? Have you NOT read the entire case file? There is DNA evidence showing they were NOT the murderers, and destroyed evidence from lack of investigating and covering up their tracks to further prove that they had their guys because the fact of the matter is that at the time people wanted answers, and they couldn't find any answers. Who do they go to? They go to the slow kid for a confession, the kid who wears black makeup and listens to metallica and was interested in other "religions". The murderers are still roaming the streets because Arkansas will NOT admit their fault. On september 30, 2010 if the supreme court does NOT accept damien echols ORAL appeal he is one step closer to being killed for a cirme he did not commit! Look at the evidence people. Anyone with half a brain, and I am sorry for how angry I get about this, but I am passionate about this subject. I actually wrote in to CNN to ask them to cover the story (don't know if it was coincidence that they covered it the same week my letter was received), but people need to be aware that a country that is so proud of their justice system would allow so much injustice to go on all these years! Read the books, do the research, contact the arkansas government, i have NO DOUBT in my mind that these guys are wrongly accused. Funny how it's the same judge in every case.

im not saying who is innocent or guilty but at the very least these guys deserve a new trial and no verdict should be made until every detail is picked apart. that should have been done right the first time.

Having read all the preceding comments, both for and against the WM3 and their supporters, a couple of things stand out: those opposed just have not and don't seem to have the ability to LISTEN – they may hear what is being said but they are just not listening; and, also, after all these years and no matter how forward the American society portrays itself to be, some people still insist on casting backward, discriminatory claims and judgements against certain groups of people.

I came to know of the case a few years ago purely by chance via the Internet and set about educating myself on available facts. I have kept myself updated as well as possible via the Internet.

To those who are so quick to point the finger at the WM3, I implore you think sensibly and not take anything emotionally/personally nor fall prey to social stereotyping. Educate yourselves on proper legal process and the just application of legislation. You will clearly see that the initial investigations and trials were riddled with unbelievable mistakes – failure to investigate plausible leads, failure to question families of the victims, lost evidence, wrongful interrogation of a key witness ... the list goes on.

At the end of the day, we all want the same thing – to find out the truth, i.e. find sufficient proof, that will prove beyond a reasonable doubt, that a particular individual(s) brutally tortured and killed those three innocent children. This is ultimately about JUSTICE FOR THE INNOCENT. Justice for those who have been wrongfully convicted – due to a blatant miscarriage of justice and the continuance of the State to uphold such mistaken verdicts. Justice for the three young victims – although they are gone we know they are not forgotten and they deserve to have their murderer(s) brought to justice. Justice for the 6 families involved. And, finally justice to be served on the true perpetrator of this horrid crime.

If we all stop and think – God (or whatever powers-that-be you may believe in) gives us not the will and ability to cry or call out when there is no need. It is only when evil and wrong-doing seems to be winning that we are able to plead for help and make enough noise so that our cause is heard and mended. There would not be so many shouting out to retry the WM3 and free them, if there were no element of truth, necessity and urgency for it. Stop and listen. Let facts guide you in deciding where you stand.

When the truth comes out, we'll all eventually have to face the music and be able to hold our heads up high. I'd rather be on the side that is lead by common sense, informed judgements and the strength of civil liberties.

Peace.

I have to really think about what I want to post here because I live in Memphis and have since well before these murders. I have spent countless hours over many years reading every trial transcript and viewing all available evidence. I keep informed of all DNA testing, all judicial decisions and all opinions on every possible side. I have read every comment made on every message board that I have ever been a visitor to by the victim's family members, including Mark Byers, Todd Moore, Dana (Diana) Moore, Dawn Moore, Amanda Hobbs, Pamela Hicks Hobbs, Her sisters, Mark Byers' present wife Jacki, Todd Moore's present wife, and I hope I have not left anyone out.
Having said all of that, I have witnessed personally some crooked justice in Arkansas, although it was not in West Memphis. I have witnessed injustice in many judicial systems.
Nothing anyone has to say on either side will influence this matter in the Arkansas justice system. It is admirable that people can express their opinions on this case. But they are only opinions, and we all have them.
For anyone to claim 100% innocence of these three convicted men would be foolish if they were not at the crime scene at the time the three innocent boys were murdered themselves. Logic is that the only people on this earth that know 100% what happened in that muddy ditch are the guilty parties. There is no arguing with that. I cannot say what happened as I was not there that night. I did not commit these murders. I would like to think that no one else posting comments here on either side committed them either.
I do have an opinion as to their guilt but that doesn't matter because it is just an opinion.
I don't think anyone should be attacking these parents for what side they are on as I don't know in my personal knowledge why they believe what they do. They suffered a terrible loss and my heart is with them 100% and that is a statement I CAN make.
As for the families of the convicted three, I feel their loss also.
This is a matter for the courts and for those directly involved to settle.I still have faith in the court systems in this country and I have also come to see all the released men from DNA-proven innocence.
There is not enough evidence to prove actual innocence of the convicted in this case. I realize every possible point should be considered before anyone is executed. I am sure the legal system will do so.
Please just remember that no one here can say what happened the night these three little boys were killed except for the guilty party.
Respect the families of the murdered children and have faith in whatever it is that keeps you going in this world, be it a belief in God, karma, atheism, buddhist, hindu, or nothing at all. If you believe justice can only be found on this earth, then I respect that. I believe that there is always justice in the end. And whatever is to be will be.
This is my belief as one who still believes this is the best country in the world and that our judicial system is also. Mistakes can and are made but that doesn't change my total belief that there is ultimate justice.
Todd and Dana, please know my thoughts are with you always.
Mark Byers, please know my thoughts are with you always also.
Pam Hicks Hobbs, please know my thoughts are with you always.
Terry Hobbs, please know my thoughts are with you always.
Dawn and Amanda and Ryan please know my thoughts are with you always.
I hope I didn't leave anyone of the victims' family members out. If so, then you are in my thoughts always also.
You are the only ones left on this earth that really matter concerning this situation. The three murdered boys cannot speak what happened to them because they aren't here to do so.
Anne

these guys need a new trial. the only "evidence" against them is that they wore black, listened to metallica and damian was into wicca. the only reason they got convicted is that they are poor and a satanic panic. the lives of six boy ( and their friends and families ) were destroyed by this crime – the three young boys who were murdered, and the three young men who were scape-goated.
this miscarriage of justice is an emberrasement to the states.

@Jeigh:

"To those who still think the WM3 are guilty — I strongly suggest you do more research into the REAL facts...

– Watch both Paradise Lost documentaries
– read Mara Leveritt's amazingly detailed book "Devil's Knot"
– read Damien's book "Almost Home"
– watch interviews with Damien, especially Larry King's
– watch the Defense Press Conference on YouTube and the following Q&A"

So those are the "REAL facts" are they?

The words of the convicts their attorneys, and the supporters who echo them?

How about the trial transcripts?

How about looking at what the jurors looked at?

You see, THIS is the only reason there is even a controversy over this case.

Good advice there Farm, I invite anyone to please do look at what the Jurors had to see because even the jurors were unable to convict based on the prosecutions case. It is even recorded as the jury saying, the prosecutions case is too weak. It was only when Jessie's 'story' was illegally introduced by a rogue juror that the jury managed to reached a decision. Albeit the wrong decision.

One day soon all 3 will be free and my only hope for all the parents of Stevie, Chris & Michael is that THe true guilty culprit is finally caught and brought to Justice so they can finally rest in peace.

@ Anne

I understand that no one except the murderers can know what happened that night. However, you must remember that the "convicted killers" don't have to prove their innocence. The State must prove their guilt. I don't believe a confession from a mentally-challenged youth (at the time), a few fibers that could have come from anywhere and a knife, found over a month later and never really connected to the crime are sufficient proof to put two men away for life and place a third on death row. It's just my opinion, but I don't feel that the State met its burden of proof. At least there's enough doubt for a new trial.

I agree that the WM3 should get a new trial. They should be proven guilty beyond a shadow of doubt– That's what the legal system is for. A lot of people are hanging onto the notion that "They weren't proven innocent." Yeah but they also weren't proven guilty. If they are guilty, they are guilty.. If they aren't, they aren't. But there needs to be evidence to support it either way. They don't have any real evidence either way. So they need to get qualified professionals back on this case. The families of all 6 of these boys involved need rest, either way.

The West Memphis 3 were found guilty and lost every appeal.

Echols (one of the 3) was seen in muddy clothes near the crime scene. He bragged about the murder to two other teenagers, stating he killed the three boys. This was presented as evidence at the trial. Echols also had a history of psychiatric treatment. His reported actions included brutally killing a dog, starting fires at his school, threatening to kill his teachers and parents and stating he liked to drink blood.

Baldwin (another of the 3) confessed to a friend and described the crime to this friend. This evidence was presented at trial.

Fibers on the murdered victims’ clothing were found to microscopically similar to things in the Baldwin and Echols homes.

@they were guilty

While what you have stated is common 'belief', all has been proven to be untrue and nothing more than the prosecution scraping the bottom of the barrel. As was the basis of such 'evidence' presented at the trial.
Nothing you have stated have ever been substantiated, only refuted!

Feel free to update and educate yourself from any of the websites quoted above. Callahan's is a good place to start if you are willing to invest your time to learn the truth.

Based on the mishandling of evidence and the misconduct of the juror, there should be a new trial. With a different judge.

Yes, without a doubt these boys shouldn't just get new trials, they should be FREED! The evidence is out there, any doubters need to do their research!

I take um-bridge with the ramblings of ANNE above. In a legal sense her comments make little sense as opinions do count and it will be a sorry day in America when opinions of both the defense and the prosecution don t matter in a court of law.
The simple fact of the matter is that the OPINIONS of those who testified against the wm3 are exactly what have put them behind bars all these years. The opinion that wearing black clothes, listening to metallica and reading books on Wicca are in the OPINION of one so called expert witness ample cause to believe that these three believe in satanism and that , as this expert stated, these murder were definitely committed by satanist, thus, by simple deduction it must have been them. It was this simple OPINION among others , that so overwhelmed this jury and led them to return a guilty verdict, To say that its only an opinion and opinion do not matter is totally illogical and the argument of someone with little ability to undertstand simple logic. The west mephis three deserve a new trial and that is my opinion and my opinion is based on the fact that the opinions put forth by the prosecution can not possibly lead one to believe beyond reasonable doubt that these three are guilty, given the lack of any physical evidence,

I've been following this case for many years now and just can't believe that these three guys are still in prison. This case has dragged on for far too long! There were too many unanswered questions to be able to convict these men. There was definitely a large degree of doubt in the minds of those on the jury.

If you can't be 100% sure that these men were guilty, then by law they should be INNOCENT.

For goodness sakes, why not just release them and be done with it.
Surely after what they've been through, they deserve the chance to live normal lives.

YES! With out a doubt they should get a new trial. Although, I think the WM Police Dept fabricated a lot of things that convicted them and put others in positions to commit other crimes I think they should be on trial and the WM3 should be exonerated. Deal with the REAL murder(s) and put the people who were accomplices on the line (WMPD) what have they been doing for the last 17 years while Damien, Jessie and Jason have been locked behind prison walls?

The memories of the young victims are best served if the right people are punished for their deaths. The Arkansas justice system is being questioned for the way the original investigation and trial were conducted, the jury verdict and the possible wrongful conviction. The same judge has been dealing with this throughout - it is time to get someone else (or more than one person), who has nothing to gain or lose, to review this entire mess. It is difficult to fathom that Mr. Echols has spent so much of his life in a small cell for a crime he may not have committed - facing the possibility of execution. Is there an objective body from out of State that can investigate this matter. It is scary to think that such a horible injustice might have occurred in our "enlightened" time! I support a review of the case. Are there any capable lawyers who are able to fight for the "wrongfully convicted". Such lawyers have had some remarkable successes in Canada. Arkansas taxpayers get ready - IF the WM3 are freed, they will have to be generously compensated for the unbelievable tragedy of being imprisoned for so long!

Guilt is always pushed rapidly toward its complement, punishment...and whoever blushes is already pronounced guilty..but if true, their true innocence should set them free and they should be ashamed of nothing, except the ignorances that unjustly convicted them..and how can I not escape the biases of the inflamed jury within this blog bog..silly human race...caj

@ Erik: "Hobbs is viable? There were more samples of DNA connected to the WM3 at the scene than Terry Hobbs." Uhhhh... no??? There was NO DNA evidence placing Damien, Jessie and Jason at the crime scene, yet hair consistent with that of Hobbs and his friend David Jacoby (who was WITH hobbs around the time the boys were murdered) in a ligature binding Steve Branch. Yes – I understand DNA from Hobbs could have been transferred because they lived together, but IN the ligature??? I don't buy it. And how does one explain Jacoby? How did HIS DNA get there?
Us supporters are not "jumping on the celebrity bandwagon". If anything, c elebrities jumped on OUR bandwagon because they felt this was a cause worth risking the possibility of harsh criticism from the media and fans alike. I think Eddie Vedder is a travesty to music – but I applaud his efforts and appreciate his help.

oops – my bad. I think the hair was found in Michael Moore's ligatures.

The WM3 case is an ongoing embarrassment to our entire legal system.

Forget the arguments here about innocence or guilt – reading the entire case file will convince an open minded person that they're innocent, but that takes a LOT of time.

What is quick and easy and indisputably obvious s that these trials were an abomination. No one should be on death row – no one should in prison – based on what happened in that courtroom. A mail-order degree "occult expert" testifying before a jury? In modern America? A judge who tells a deliberating jury that they'll "have to return for sentencing"? A jury foreman who admitted he was convinced of their guilt and "had to convince the others because the state's case was so weak"?

It's disgusting .... it's an embarrassment. Fogelman (who prosecuted them) was recently defeated in his run for office. Every single member of the Arkansas hierarchy (judges, justices, prosecutors, attorneys general, etc) needs to be voted out of office if they can't stand up and DO THE RIGHT THING ..... FREE THE WM3

@MaggieBenjamin
I totally see your logic also.
However, the law holds that the only time that the state has to prove guilt is during a trial.
They can't just release anyone convicted of murder without proving what is legally known as "actual innocence". This can be tried only with the bringing forth evidence not submitted during the trials.
The DNA evidence people are referring to here is not enough to prove this. The depositions taken in the Maines' suit are not enough to prove actual innocence.
Those who wish fervently to free the three convicted of these murders have to endeavor to find new evidence that will stand the test of actual innocence.
Feelings of all of us who comment aside, this is the truth.
If you believe these three are innocent, then endeavor to find evidence not seen before that will meet this legal standard.
I know about the supposed juror misconduct. If true, the state of Arkansas has so far found it not to be enough to throw out these convictions.
And the new witnesses who came forth during the recent round of depositions claiming that they saw somethings way back in 1993 while living very close to the crime scene and being very aware of the trials don't compel enough because their reasons for not speaking to the police back then are curious. They claim "nobody asked us" and I am not judging them. But isn't that still a little hard to believe with everything going on back then in West Memphis?
All I can say to supporters is: the burden to try to get these convictions overturned is with their defense. So far they haven't been able to do so.
I just think the fingerpointing at any of the family members should stop.
Following the logic of Vedder saying conjecture and rumors led to the convictions, then we should hope that no one else is subject to unfounded rumors ruining their lives.
Anne

For those of you SO convinced that because they had trials and were convicted, there's confessions, etc, so they couldn't possibly be innocent, I'm going to ask that you watch a documentery.

Not, Paridse Lost. the Thin Blue Line.

Watch that movie and see if you still have faith that our judicial system is perfect.

Watch The Exonerated.

Actualy read some of the cases that The Innocence Project has worked on.

False convictions happen.

All the time.

Dallas county itself has released nearly a dozen people in the past few years based off of shoddy evidence, false confessions, lying witnessess.

We have two and a half MILLION americans in Jail. If we were 99% accurate in our convictions that leaves 25,000 innocent American in jail right now.

The sad fact is once your get that Prosecutorial ball rolling, it's hard to get it to stop.

Not many D.A. are going to stop trying a high-profle case due to lack of evidence. Their Win-loss record is more important than sending an innocent to jail to rot or die.

Open your minds. Take a look at the facts, or lack thereof and you too will have serious doubts about their guilt.

Without a doubt they deserve a new trial. The evidence, or I guess I should say "lack of evidence against the 3 accused" speaks for itself. I'm like Damien, I don't want to point the finger at any particular person at this time because no one deserves to end up like these 3 did, without having the hard evidence there to convict. I can't help but think that some answers walked out the door at Bojangles that night. That person is long gone and so are the scrapings that were taken from the wall the next day. Funny how that was just "lost". I"m from Arkansas and used to proud of it. I can't say that anymore. Such a shame.

@ceemee
"It is even recorded as the jury saying, the prosecutions case is too weak."

No, it isn't – not even close.

"It was only when Jessie's 'story' was illegally introduced by a rogue juror that the jury managed to reached a decision."

You are again confused.

The jurors acknowledged they were aware that Misskelley had made a statement during Vior dire.

"Feel free to update and educate yourself from any of the websites quoted above. Callahan's is a good place to start if you are willing to invest your time to learn the truth."

You should heed your own advice, because absolutely nothing you have said is even close to true.

One more point I feel I need to make.
Eddie Vedder was not accurate in referring to West Memphis as a rural area in 1993. It was not then and it is not now. The fact that the major highway I-40 runs through West Memphis and it is full of truck stops and busy restaurants is one point. Many thousands of people pass through this town every day and many of them stop there.
Also, West Memphis is only separated from Memphis by the Mississippi River bridge. Memphis' skyline is very visible from many parts of West Memphis.
Many people from West Memphis and the now bustling "twin city" of Marion work in Memphis and many Memphians cross the 55 bridge or the I-40 bridge to work daily.
There are rural areas around West Memphis, but West Memphis itself is not rural at all.
Marion, which is referred to often in this case and the home of many principal parties in this case, is a very nice place to live. Many very talented lawyers and doctors and professionals that practice in Memphis live in Marion and the surrounding areas on the Arkansas side of the river.
Memphis is a city of almost a million people. Easily accessible to all of West Memphis dwellers. Damien Echols had at least one girlfriend who has given depositions regarding her experiences with him. She lived in Bartlett at the time they were boyfriend and girlfriend and meeting at the West Memphis skating rink.
To be more specific, Bartlett is a thriving suburb of Memphis to the far eastern side of I-40 heading east towards Nashville.
The distance didn't keep them apart at all because it is not a very long drive to even the far east side of Memphis. And West Memphis is of course called that because it lies to the immediate west of Memphis.
Just a correction for those that don't know much about the areas involved in this case.
Anne

ONE POINT ABOUT MARION ARKANSAS:
It was not nearly as nice in general at the time of these murders as it is today. It has grown exponentially since 1993. Just wanted to correct this so no one else has to.
Anne

1. The Jurors were instructed not to consider Jessies statement, and they did. Proof of them doing so is in their hand written notes filed as Exhibits by the Defence.
2. Additionally to that, the Juror Foreman, took it upon himself to ensure a guitly verdict was obtained, as he feared the Prosecutions case "was weak" – his own words, as also filed in a Defence Exhibit by the person he had confessed it all to.
3. Regardless of any juror having pre existing knowledge of any story Jessie gave during Vior dire, they had been instructed at that time and they had insisted, they would not have regard to what they had heard, when making their determination. Clearly, they did which is against the rights of a fair trial.
4. The statement/story by Jessie was not used as evidence in Damien and Jasons' trial, and had it been, they would have had the right to face such allegations. They weren't given the right to face and argue against such statement, as it was used within the confines of the Jury room and not the court room. It was unconstitutional and was unfair judicially.

@ PK.

The red beard hair found attributed to belonging to Terry Hobbs, was found within the binding of Michael Moore. A black shoe lace in fact.

In Terry Hobbs Deposition in his failed Dixie Chicks civil suit, words from his own journel writings, told of that hair being found in the knot, tied to bind Michael Moore.

@Anne

What about the lost evidence from the "Bojangles" man? In my opinion, if that evidence had not been conviently lost by the WMPD, we might not be having this conversation/controversy now. Unfortunately, we'll never know about that. The problem here, again in my opinion, is that the State of Arkansas will never admit its fault. There are people involved (you know to whom I refer) who owe their current positions to this case. They cannot back down now. So many people in this case have told so many lies that it boggles the imagination. Personally, I just don't see how three ill-educated teen agers could have committed such a horrendous crime without leaving any evidence. I think that where the bodies were found was a dump site and not the murder scene. Who would have access to a place in which to kill the three boys and then clean up the scene? Certainly not the three teen agers. How about the trailer of a big rig? Could a truck driver (Mr. Bojangles perhaps) have killed the boys and then dumped the bodies and left the area? It's certainly possible. That's why I say that without the Bojangles evidence we can never know. To me, that should satisfy the "reasonable doubt" clause in the law. I'm no lawyer. Maybe you are. I just don't see why (other than certain parties' attempts to keep the status quo) we just can't have a new trial based on reasonable doubt along with the DNA that was fairly recently discovered. Just my opinion.

This trial (or mistrial) was all about the crooked and incompetent West Memphis Police and the good ole boy system that sadly still operates in Arkansas.

Even Dan Stidham (Jessie's former lawyer) has sold his soul to save his career as a Judge and is now defending Fogleman, as per the radio recent blog interview.

Stidham's girlfriend (a State police officer) is very friendly with the major players, Judge Burnett, Davis and Fogleman. Go figure.

These people made their careers out of this case and how they sleep at night is totally beyond me.

Shame on you all.

Damien, Jason and Jessie deserve a new trial at the very least. What are these people afraid of? The Truth?

I watched the show on this topic and since then have been reading trial transcripts, police reports, watching videos, reading the free WM3 website, etc. It's a very tragic case for the families of the victims and I'm sure it's been equally difficult for the families of the convicted. But I am not convinced that these 3 are innocent.

As for Mr. Hobb's DNA being found on one of the boys shoelaces, why is that so unusual? He was known to all the boys. The boys were playmates, it's very possible that he helped tie an 8 yr old's shoe laces one day or maybe the killer didn't tie each boy up with his own shoelaces? Who knows? But to publicly accuse the step-father of a murdered 8 year old without absolute and undeniable proof is unconscionable and cruel. The same goes for the finger pointing at Mr. Byers. Shameful.

Sure, give them a new trial based on new evidence, but nothing the supporters are saying proves they are innocent. Seems to me the supporters have done as much – if not more – twisting of the facts as they have accused the police and courts of doing.

And what's with all the appeals for money? They have some of the richest movie stars and musicians in America supporting their cause. Why don't they just ask Johnny, Ed and Natalie to put up the money as well as their celebrity.

Doesn't take much of a rock scientest to figure this one out. hear the case again cowards. Way to jump in Dixie Chick...

Now, please start touring Nathalie.

All of Canada.....

@karen

As has been stated numerous times before, including on this blog, in this country a person is innocent until PROVEN GUILTY. My biggest problem with this case is that the three in prison weren't proven guilty beyond a reasonable doubt. The case at the time brought out "Satanic panic" and the railroading of a mentally-challenged young man into a false confession. If you have read the transcripts, then you know that the only evidence against the convicted young men was a red fiber that was consistent with many other garments and not only the robe in Jason's house. Hardly conclusive evidence. Also admitted was a knife, found in a pond behind the trailer park where Jason lived six weeks after the arrests. However, it could not be conclusively linked to the crime. The jury convicted, in my opinion, because the parents of the victims needed closure and the town needed someone to blame. Who better to blame than a youth who was, in some respects, the town "bad boy" who obviously did not help his cause with his arrogant actions at the trial. The lost evidence from the Bojangles restaurant could have provided a real suspect, but the WMPD conveniently "lost" this crucial evidence. I'm not blaming anyone and I have a great deal of sympathy for the parents of the murdered boys, but I just don't see how three ill-educated teen agers could have committed such a horrific crime and not left one shred of evidence at the scene. To me, that is proof that they didn't commit the crime. As to who did, I'm not sure. However, history has proven time and time again that in a case of child murder, the perpetrator is usually a relative or close friend of the murdered child. The three in prison only knew the victims in passing. Yes, they need a new trial, with a judge and prosecutor who are not trying to feather their own political nests. As for the money issue, I'm sure that all celebrities involved have donated cash. I know that they have donated time and talents (through benefit concerts, etc.) for this case. To me, there's just too much doubt for a man to be executed or even to be in prison for life. I would like nothing better than for the true culprits to be found. I hope that happens. Regardless, the three in prison deserve a new trial.

There are 6 victims in this case, the three little boys who were killed and the three who were wrongfully convicted and have been serving 16 years in prison.
Three deserve to have their real killer(s) found, they should be remembered and their lives honoured by finding the person(s) who took their lives. The evidence points to people they would have trusted, people they knew, people with a history of abuse and violence like Terry Hobbs.
Three have not only lost their youth but have been damned by the very society and justice system that should have protected them. They need US as a world wide community to show them that the corruption that took place in Arkansas can be corrected, the wrongs righted and the truth revealed at last. Until we do, the world is watching and the three little boys will never rest in peace. FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE, grant them a new trial which will prove without a shadow of a doubt that the three men never committed this crime.
I am from Australia and I have followed this case since the early days, read all the books, seen the films and read the court transcripts etc etc I have read the experts reports, seen footage of Steve Hobbs police 'interview' (if you can honestly call it that with the lack of investigative technique) and heard over and over how the Prosecution team who put the 3 away do not and will not allow the case to be re-opened, keep trying to knock it back hoping it will all go away and that people will forget. Burnett even asked to be kept on the case after retirement as a special favour. He does not want to admit he was wrong, that they were wrong and that Justice failed. Why can't they all be real men and do the right thing, admit they made mistakes and that it was the witch hunt we all know it was.
WE WILL NOT REST UNTIL THEY ARE FREE.
I am travelling to America for the Sept 30 hearing in Little Rock, many others are doing the same. Why? We care, we want to show the 3 we care and the 3 whose lives were taken that we care enough about them to see the REAL killers brought to justice. Let's see justice done at last.

Three simple letters D-N-A. That's the determining factor here. You can't argue against it. It's scientific fact of who was involved in a crime. If the DNA testing of the crime scene evidence links non of the 3 to the crime, then how can you say they're guilty? Also, how do you explain Terry Hobb's hair being intertwined within one of the knots used to tie up the boys? The presence of another unidentified man's DNA evidence was also found at the scene. So you're telling me that 3 kids with long "heavy metal" hair didnt shed one single strand of it while wrestling with these kids in a muddy drainage ditch? I have friends who can't sit on my couch without leaving a long strand of hair on it. This case needs to be re-examined with modern technology to determine innocence.

I saw this case in my U.S. Government class in my senior year,2010. Since than, I have supportted this unfair case against innocent young boys who became victims of a case that had nothing to do with them. This case helped to see how corrupt and misguided our legas system is. Even after the DNA and lab tests that were done, it scares me that we still live in a society where men are not given fair trials and convicted just so the courts can rest paperwork. These men DESERVE their rightful freedom. I hope one day they will get out of this miserable hole the courts have put them through. Damien, Jason, and Jessie, you are in our prayers and justice will come for you; the world will never forget you. Even the new generations are well informed about your case and staggering numbers of us are in your side and we WILL FIGHT for your needed justice as long as it takes. We are all too stubborn to give up so easily to the court systems for such good hearts. ~ Be safe. 🙂

SAD....... to read some comments here, wanting to deny justice. The little boys that were killed will get justice indeed, from God. Last I heard, all we can do is try suspects in a court of law, and make sure they have a fair and just trial. Its easy not to want to give people who you have condemned no justice. But it is the right thing to do.

BTW "celebraties" are American citizens and have a right to speak up!

I absolutely believe they deserve a new trial.......its been too long a wait as it is..........they must have a new judge the old one will never admit he was wrong!!!

Of course they should get a new trial...they never had a fair trial in the first place...and they are 100% ABSOLUTELY INNOCENT!!!

Absolutely they should get a new trial. And a FAIR one. Anyone who has heard the details, knows there is more than reasonable doubt, to justify a re-trial. More than likely, those guilty for the murders, are still running free, and still killing innocent children, and if so, whose fault is *that*?

I've been keeping up with this story for about two years now. I've seen the documentary and I've also had the pleasure of reading the book "Devil's Knot." It is clear that these three boys are innocent. How can there be such a corrupt judicial system today? They have no evidence linking these three to the crime. This story hurts my heart. These men have had their lives stolen from them. The state of Arkansas should be ashamed of themselves.

Give them a new trail what are they scard of them proved that they are not guilty America knows that.

GUILTY, GUILTY, GUILTY. KEEP THESE MURDERERS LOCKED UP.

Yes!!! Free the WM3!! there is absolutly no evidence to convict these men! Just a bible belt state scared of anything that can say boo!! Damian echols was not satanic and from what I have read was Wiccan! And it is against Wiccan belief to EVER hurt a child! Let these innocent men have their day of justice!!!

I have studied this case since it was first reported in the news. I firmly believe in the innocence of Damien, Jason, and Jessie. This injustice has affected so many people. It is appalling that despite the lack of evidence linking them to the murders, and the new evidence that will exonerate them, that they are not granted new trials.

I feel that anyone who is in jail for a crime that they did not commit, we should do everything possible to get them out. But, this makes me sick. When this happened, I watched and read everything on this case. These guys did it and they are sick criminals.

If these guys are not guilty, Manson is innocent and Elvis is alive.

Are you kidding me? After watching Natalie and other Celebs discuss their concern/involvement, it's not very convincing that they know all the details with regards to the crime that took place. There are families involved with this tragic incident and the media is glamorizing this incident and celebs capitalizing on this opportunity. Shame on them. Celebs, do your research first before endorsing.

Lorrie's statement makes it worst, how can you be obssessed or subject herself to this kind of marriage and again Celebs seem so more captivated by this status vice the killing.

Give me a break.

I would like to extend my condolences to the families of the boys. I would also want the three to get fair trials, if we look at it , if these three are innocent, it's six families now suffering the loss of 6 children, could you believe if these three are innocent, the killer or killers are walking the streets, and who knows, probably involving in countless other crimes. If there is other evidence that will show that these three was no where near the boys, it should be brought into trial, and what about this man, who had blood all over him, why are they not getting his DNA ? We are now living in modern times, this is not when we didn't have the technology to get to the bottom of things. Forensics helloooooo! I am with the Larry King panel 100% percent. I wish everyone well, and I hope you get best results for your much deserved efforts. I hope the real killer, killers are brought to justice, and put this thing to rest, once and for all. Natalie I have adored your from times, but the others I am just getting to know and love, your efforts will not go down the drain, something good will come out of this for the sake of all the families that have been affected by this.

America's legal system is out of wack, bigtime. In todays trial system you are guilty till proven innocent, and not the other way around like it is suppossed to be. There is no way anybody should be convicted based soley on circumstantial evidence, but it happens all the time.

There is suppossed to be a proponderance of the evidence to convict somebody, but it simply is not that way anymore. There really needs to be a complete overhaul done to America's legal system. There has been so many innocent men and women convicted of crimes they did not commit and that should NEVER happen in America.

Pls ask Eddie Vedder and Natalie if they've talked to the parents of the victim.

Their cause is very troubling to me and almost makes me sick to my stomack

Save David Leonard Wood.

He has been cleared by DNA evidence for the serial killings in El Paso, Texas yet he is sentenced to die. Wood is another case involving Satanic Panic, media sensationalism, a local witch hunt and a cover up to hide the massive corruption on the border. Don't let Texas execute another innocent man.

Let Justice prevail!!! The system is too afraid to show the egg on their faces that they are willing to let these 3 innocent boys suffer for their their errors and ignorance...

Give them a fair trial and convict the one or ones truly behind this h anus crime .Bless the boys that were brutally murdered and their families, But holding innocent people is not the answer!!!
Thank you, Larry King for bringing this story in the open again and raising awareness...

Free the west Memphis three!!

Why would these guys be involved in a Satanic cult in the first place?

The spiritual forces of darkness are EVIL and DEMONIC! PERIOD!

And for all of you out there who don't believe in this very real presence, it disguises itself and is very cunning and convincing.

Whether or not these guys are innocent .... they are all guilty of the crime of losing their souls to the EVIL ONE.....I prayed for the little boys' souls who were murdered and I pray that The Lord,Jesus, will release the Satanic bondage on Damien and they others, including their families.

These celebrities are sickening!
Three confessions and the other two couldn't give a reliable account of they were that day. Why on earth would anyone use an HBO special as their primary source for a triple child murder??
Echols had a huge history of major violent psychiatric illnesses and was on parole when these murders happened. That is no minor detail and these fools dont even admit it!

Disgusting display of ignorance and arrogance...there is NO NEW EVIDENCE!!!

Yes, give them new trials. It's important to prove that we have the right criminals behind bars for these horrific crimes. Otherwise 6 innocent people lost their lives while the real criminal is still on the street. JUSTICE NOW!

I find it strange that as all three quest panelists gave their opinions, none of them could look directly into the camera as they began to state their opinions. Isn't that the first rule of being disingenuous? You can't look someone in the eye? I find it disturbing that all of this attention is paid to the accused. What about the three little boys who were brutally murdered? Celebrities, go back to your singing, for those who want to hear it, and get off your high horses that you have special knowledge and that folks will follow your beliefs because you are "you". Get a life. Not everyone believes or cares what you think. I do believe I am not alone. My heart goes to the parents and family of the 3 murdered boys. How many years they have lost. These boys were convicted by a jury. Let them endure the punishment.

They absolutely deserve new trials. The DNA evidence as well as the juror misconduct is enough to warrant a new trial. The only reason these kids were even accused was because they were different. They were convicted before the trial began. Had that trial taken place outside of that district there is no way they would have ever been convicted. Hopefully people in Arkansas come to their senses and free these guys.

I lived in West Memphis when this happened. The boys were just typical teenage boys. No way did they do this crime. The West Memphis police fouled up and had to blame it on somebody. The news media was so sure that these three boys did it that they had no chance of a fair trial. There is a BoJangles there that had blood all over the bathroom floor and when they reported it to the police the cop came up to the drive through window and that's as far as that investigation went..YES INDEED THESES BOYS SHOULD GET A NEW TRIAL !!!!!!

I was obsessed with this case years ago and had to stop reading about it because it was so maddening to me. I'm thrilled to see that it is again getting publicity and can only hope that one day these men will finally not only be released but clear their names for good. I don't understand how anyone couldn't at least agree on the fact that they deserve a new trial. FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE! The injustice of this case sickens me!!!

mental illness and a criminal record does not mean they are guilty of murder. It just makes them an easy scapegoat for a town's frustration.

Yes they do. We did not have the technology to prove whether they were or were not connected at the time of their trial. They were convicted on circumstantial evidence as well as how they dressed and what music they were listening to. This came about at a time there was many shootings by teenagers and believe this came into play, also.

I have been following this case, and please note that the appeals have all been done by the same judge who tried the case. How is this not a conflict of interest?

Would Johnny Depp let Damien Echols babysit his kis kids if he got out?

HELL NO!!!!

Wonder why.

NICELY SAID: Guice Howell.

YOU HAVE BY FAR HIT THE NAIL ON THE HEAD. INNOCENT UNTIL PROVEN GUILTY.

WAIT TILL ALL THE OTHER INMATES AROUND THE COUNTRY AND GLOBE GET WIND OF THIS, ITS GONNA BE TOTAL CHAOS.

THE WOMAN MARRIED TO HIM IS MARRIED TO HIM ONLY FOR PUBLICITY. COME ON NOW

At a minimum, DNA evidence and indications of jury tampering should be enough to grant a new trial. Backwoods justice cannot be allowed to prevail.

Free the "West Memphis 3".

America ! hmmmmmm a land when dreams coming true !!!! But watching this case i see it's not – only nightmares is coming true !!! So what i'm trying to say is USA has no rights for mistakes !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I believe in this country and i don't want to be disappointed !!!

I do believe that the men should have another trial. After watching the documentary, I thought that. However, I feel for the families of the victims. If the documentary was true, I feel the step-father should have been checked out more(since he had his teeth all pulled) and the man in the bathroom who was all bloody should have been checked out. I believe that there should be closure for all involved in this: victims, families and offenders. We have not forgotten the REAL West Memphis Three.

Free David Leonard Wood

Cleared by DNA evidence for the serial killings in El Paso, Texas yet he is sentenced to die.

I have followed this case since I read about it in 2004. I have been amazed that such shotty police work and a community could blame 3 young men who I believe are innocent. This was a tragic crime that I am surprised that there was not more of an effort to find the guilty person or persons. This is a tragic miscarriage of justice. Damien, Jesse and Jason should be freed. There is no amount of compensation that can give them back all that has been lost. It is so sad to see that this can happen in this day and age. Free The WM3!!!

Should they get a trial? OF COURSE!! They didn't get a fair trial to begin with!

There is more evidence that they DID NOT do it than there is that they did!! I CANNOT believe that they are actually still in jail!!! What a failure in system!

These states like Texas and Arkansas don't want to make it right because it boils down to polictics, and also alot of money owed to the wrongly imprisoned.

I have read the files and the autopsy reports and this was not a crime committed by these young men! I applaud the celebrities for helping and donating all the time that they have!

God Bless You – Damien, Jessie and Jason!

playing rock and roll does not make you a lawyer, find another cause for your life.

This case was mismanaged from the beginning. The police, judge, prosecution, and jury were all tainted. Watch "Paradise Lost" and "Paradise Lost 2" and you will get the correct information. These boys (men, now) should never have been arrested, much less convicted of this horrific crime.
Yes, I do feel sorry for the three boys that were killed. But what about the three who are unjustly accused? We need to speak for them, because obviously no one is listening TO them.
This isn't just simply the cause du jour. This battle has been going on for 17 years. We will not go quietly away. We want justice for Damien, Jessie, and Jason!!

Regardless if they are quilty or not I think that Eddie Veder and the Dixie chick girl should stick to what they know. Why are either of them involved? Does Pearl Jam need a update version of Jeremy? Is the Dixie chick girl trying to be conterversial since Bush is no longer our president? It's ridiculus that celebrites or pseudo celebrities get involved in legal matters

They should be set free. There is so much evidence supporting that they are in no way connected to the murders. They state of Arkansas needs to grow a set of balls and let them go. The dna shows someone else did. DAMIEN, JESSE, JASON WE SHALL BE FREE SOON. Damien was convicted solely on his belief of wicca. Well i am wiccan and we are not murders. Damien Jesse and Jason know that i am praying to the gods and the wrongs against you shall be made right. To the parents of the sweet angels whos lives were taken too soon, please know they are in a place with no pain.

Pretty sure the parents would rather have their kids alive and I think your comment about not being in pain anymore was a little insensitive

I believe there should be a retrial for those three men. Arkansas needs to take a hard look at their justice system. Fairness and willingness to look at new evidence is key. Dare to admit that justice was not done. Thank you.

I grew up in West Memphis on the same block as the three young men who lost their life that day, the inmates and the three little boys both suffered. I understood the fear that was set throughout the Bible Belt Community that there had to be devil worshipers involved because they dressed differently, I myself at the time was scared to leave the house. No a officer of the law and studing forensic science I know better now,Free The West Memphis Three__ of West Memphis Arkansas

Seriously, what the hell is wrong with our legal system? Aren't all of the inconsistencies in this case that have been uncovered enough for a new trial? What about the DNA? I mean how many other cases in the U.S. have been exonerated due to inadequate results on these tests. Why are these boys not getting the same justice? I believe the Memphis police department were more worried about a race riot then these boys. There is an officer out there that will crack I guarantee. This is horrible...they deserve to be exonerated.

Has anyone in this case checked for other leads in other parts of the state of Arkansas??? I had a cousin outside of Lavaca, that was murdered in a satantic ritual the police never found the killers. My cousin was visiting relatives , he was from California and unfamilar with the roads. He was walking late at night back to his grandparents house. There were wittnesses that said he was beening followed by three men. This took place around 1993.!!!!

The part that bothers me is that both Terry Hobbs's DNA and that of his friend (who provided his alibi ) is present at the crime scene, and no DNA from any of the three is associated with the crime scene. How in the world did the DNA of the FRIEND get there? There's no way to explain that (if that is indeed correct – I read that)

That being said, I read the statement from the mother, and I want her
to know all I think about is these 3 precious little boys who were denied
their lives.

I am 39 years old I lived in Memphis,TN during the time of this crime I watched all of the media coverage of the trial while I am skeptical of the outcome of the trial, I believe there may be a new result in a retrial I feel there are other potential suspects that were not thoroughly investigated however, my biggest question at the moment is this, why are Eddie Vedder and Natalie Maines so involved in a case and desput that had nothing to do with their lives at that time? I never heard of their involvement prior to this evening.

Do these celebrities not have anything better to do than to get involved in a cause for a bunch of low-lifes... I would think these celebrities could get involved in a cause where they could inlfuence or aid actual vicitms or decent people...It is a shame that they choose to get involved in case like this, "well, I guess we have learned to expect something moronic like this from Natalie M." I still do not listen to her music and this gives me more reason to never support her. Eddie Vedder disappears and now he is involved in this cause-–PLEASE!

A fair trial with the allowing of DNA should be granted for the Memphis 3. No justice has been served to either side. Once this is put into a new trial questions will be answered. I truly believe in order to heal and move forward for the families of the little boys this has to be done.

I think that if there is real evidence that could free then they need to give them a new trial and free them. I just don't know if that will ever happen since the original prosecutor and judge would have to admit that they put three men in jail and took 17 years from there life.

Innocent people are sentenced to prison and even on death row throughout the country and no one can hear them. These celebrities lend their voice

I have been interested in this story since Paradise Lost appeared on HBO for the first time all these years later im still not 100% sure they didnt do it, but I no there was not enough evidence to convict these three men so im still to this day thinking they are innocent but still think they could of done it 3 lil boys 3 teenagers just dont no how 3 teens dont leave any evidence at all....Just a krazy case that we will never no.

I believe there should, without a doubt, be new trials for the these three men.

I was a West Memphian at the time of this tragedy. I did not then and still do not think that Jason,Jessie and Damien are guilty. This town wanted someone to payfor this,who better to arrest than 3 teenagers one of whom I believe has an I.Q in the 60s,a boy who's family practiced the wiccan religion and oh yeah ,lets throw their best friend in the mix for the heck of it. There are alot more people in and around West Memphis that believe they did not get a fair trial,they won't say it publicly though. Jessie did not have legal representation at the police station and did not know that he could have demanded his parents and attorney be called, evidence dissappeared, people have admitted being under the influence of drugs at the time they tesstified for the prosecution. Robin Hood Hill adjacent to a very busy interstate, transients, hitchhikers and others in this community that should have been questioned were not. It is my hope that this new evidence will bring about what has been so long in coming. JUSTICE!!!!!!!!!

THEY DID IT i have followed this since day one, ok jessie confesses, oh now we are innocent, but cops pushed me lol, oh how lame as damien said, i will be remembered for years , as the boogeyman, kids will be looking under their beds, ,, why would you say that about children being scared ? talking about boogeymen? what a sick man. With a smurk on his face does he talk about scaring children into thinking he is the boogeyman. Shows you he is a sick sick it.

LOL, 17 years later and not another triple child murder...anywhere!

Free them???

FAIL

To Katrina: When dDamien made those comments they were coming from a 17 year old mind.He had been convicted, in his mind it was over, thank God someone has relized that this was a total travisty of justice. The prosecution wittness who said she heard Damien ,Jason and Jessie talking about this at a ball game has admitted being under the influence of valium that very night and that she lied! That alone is reason enough for a new trial! Know what you are talking about BEFORE you start typing. PLEASE.

ok cindy,,, i guess all of us at 17 are still too young to think , i guess at 17 we dont have a mind ... sorry to say to all of you who think they are innocent well at 17 i could yell and scream and say no i didnt even on the bench... oh so damien stayed on the bench so cool to let everyone think he is innocent,, well if you were blamed and put on stand would you be that cool ? Please stop people, come on,,, one admits others dont of course not ,, one admits cause he isnt smart enough to lie, the rest lie to save them selves , stop thinking about these losers as not guilty,, where were they all day? come on where were they all day this was going on..l.l.l all day,,,, alll day alll day all day, where were they where were they?????????? all day

Keith, you are dead on, soooo correct

Free the West Memphis Three!

oh it is funny how some say that witnessess say lol.. but jessie says himself,,,,, himself,,,,, himself,,,, that they did it... oh ok come on people say he wasnt himself, say he is dumb ,, if he is not smart enough to be guilty,,, why are you believing he is smart enough to fool police ? He wimped out got scared and just had a flood of info come out and oops im in trouble, to late jessie your done, and for all others your done too, stop trying to free these losers, they are there and be glad your not,, cause you didnt comit murder., they wont get the death penalty i think, but they will die in jail,,, thank god,,,, and as i said where is damiens ex girlfriend who he has a child with who stood by him at the trial? They showed her on the documentary on HBO so where is she now? Now he has a cyber woman, LoL, of course, why not,,? who else would want a child killer?

I'm from Memphis, TN and was living there when this happened... I watched it on channel 3 news in Memphis, TN and read the commercial appeal everyday after this all happened. And I knew it then and now that these KIDS had nothing to do with these three little boys being killed. West Memphis and Marion Ark wanted something to put these boys away for the rest of their life's. The media coverage had these KIDS rotting in jail before they went on trail... How sad is that! Oh good god they were just poor kids that had nothing and they went after them... I have a son that dresses in all black should I lock him the house and never him let out... He could go to jail for years for something he had nothing to do with. He wrote his senior paper about this case and got and F for it because of all of the closed minded people who thinks they did it. Oh come on people it was a WITCH HUNT these guys had nothing to do with these little boys getting killed...Get a clue and read more about this case. Should these guys rot in jail because they were poor. Yes Jessie confessed but if you remember he has and IQ of what 60 think about it... These two towns are like Mayberry and Barney Fife was on the case! So how sick was that... Yes it was very SAD about these three little boys but it also very SAD that these three very young teenage boys had their life ripped away from them and one may be put to death due to a very jacked up justice system... WE NEED JUSTICE FOR THE WM3! I remember MAY 5, 1993 like it was yesterday...

Katrina...the pesky clown..

Please consider rescinding your Constitutional Right's and offer them to someone with some common sense, who will use them in a manner that eliminates bias and prejudgment of something you only feel in your head. Then consult with a qualified specialist and appease your temporal lobes of the hidden guilt you use to usurp fairness from those, whom the majority within this blog see as been given an unfair trial. The convicted three are now the ones that appear most likely to be the quintessential violated victims.. Silly dude...festering on a pachyderm's rump...caj

The West Memphis 3 should go free right now. This trial was a shambles before it even got started. The 2 lead detectives were just looking for a new feather for their hat and did care ware it cam from. Both of them together couldn't find a hog in a pig pen. I have been to a lot of towns in my line of work and West Memphis was the worse. They got one of those good old boy clubs. The reason they are fighting a new trial is Arkansas is broke and if those boys are found not guilty , Good gosh they are going to have to find a way to make restitution.

i've been following this case since 1997 after seeing the documentries. these boys lives are at stake and deserve another trial. let the evidence be looked at with a fresher pair of eyes and a more open mind. authorities jumped the gun and botched the case and the boys took the fall. someone in AK is holding too much power over this case. they need a whole new panel of people all the way around on this case.

These kids do deserve a new trial. These kids were scapegoats. I have seen the documentary and read books regarding the case. The DNA evidence did not point to the kids. The only reasonable evidence pointed to the stepfather of one of the murdered boys. What needs to be considered is the part of the country that this crime occured in. Arkansas is in the bible belt of America. These kids were different. They were not what was considered "normal" in the community. I am very happy to see so much public support for these poor kids. My hopes and prayers are with them.

Norman Wolack

Very good comments in a unique presentation. Most states, if not all, have a formula to provide restitution to the wrongly convicted and the Innocence Project fights tooth and nail for them. Sadly, they are not successful in time to prevent unwarranted executions or release for those, not guilty, before they succumb in prison...innocent...caj

It wa a tragic day when those three boys were murdered. and i will still say they are guilty i will never say they are not guilty i think they should stay in jail. no they do not deserve a new trial anyone that can kill a child deserves to be on death row and not in this world this is my opion i dont see how anyone can say they are not guilty if it asnt for those eddie and natatlie thats the only reason th west memphis 3 is gettin this attention thanks for lettin e voice my opinion

This is so insensitive to the victims' families!

I HAVE A GRANDSON WHO IS IN PRISON FOR SOMETHING HE DIDN'T DO AND COULDN'T GET OUT OF IT SO HAD TO PLEAD GUILTY TO LESSER CHARGE OR FACE 21 YEARS IN JAIL.

OUR JUSTICE SYSTEM STINKS AND ISN'T RIGHT ALOT OF THE TIME. HE EVEN TOOK LIE DETECTOR TEST TO TRY AND PROVE HE WAS NOT GUILTY.

Yes, these men need new trials. After reading and re-reading all of the evidence and resources available to me, I am convinced that the West Memphis 3 are innocent.

I bought tickets to attend "Voices for Justice" on Saturday, August, 28th, 2010. Sadly, my father passed away that morning. Although it seemed as if my world was crumbling underneath my feet, my heart still went out to the men who have been wrongfully imprisioned for the past 16+ years. Arkansas has a chance to make this right. As an Arkansan, I have hope that our state government will do the right thing.

FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE!

Absolutely they should get a new trial! I have believed in their innocence since 1995 after reading "The Blood of Innocents" by Guy Reel, Marc Perrusquia and Bartholomew Sullivan. This book uncovered a lot of evidence that was never included in the trial, such as a call to police at the time of the crime of a man covered in blood at a nearby fast-food restaurant. The responding police officer checked out the situation by going through the drive-thru long after the call had been made!!

katrina...the witlus pulpiteer uv justis

Proppar edumication wood hep yu in sulving crimze wen yu r abel tu undarstannd tha evadense...caj

Juries are tainted by publicity and the public's frenzy and hysteria. Juries are contaminated and NOT perfect.

Sometimes police and detectives are more dangerous than any criminal on death row. Some lie and destroy lives.

katrina

Yes indeed, you followed the evidence since day one...that would be the day you were born. You would make an excellent Clarice Darrow, but your youth should keep you reticent from making diapered judgement...caj.

What drugs are these happy people on? These people should be tested. Not sure if the 3 people are guilty or not but the support looks like scenes in the 60's drug days. Also, when did we give the right to the people in prison to marry when the victims couldn't and get visitation????

GUILTY!!! but I hope there's another trial for the THIRD time then when it's GUILTY AGAIN!!!! What will you people do???

Absolutely! It truly sounds as if these three where wrongly convicted and what about the real killer? do we want him to kill again?

I believe they are guilty of murder. And should not get out of this they lost their childens life they shouldn't be able to have there's that's the only way justice will be served.

ok i see the diggs you are doing, and that is what i expect a defensive person to say,,, everyone knows defense attourneys talk a lot of crap, its just a matter of what side your on, good or bad, but i am open minded and sane, so its ok the diggs dont matter to me, they arent getting out and no matter what anyone who likes these freaks say , the laugh is on you, and watch they wont get out, and you will just be here defending them for no reason. good luck believing they didnt,,, but the laugh is on you when you defend the one who blamed his 2 friends of commiting this crime and he said he just watched and help keep michael moore being tied down and beat.... go ahead and keep up that cheer , but think, they arent going anywhere, no matter what you want to blab about, they are done. Say bye bye and wave nicely to the murderers

No matter how you look at this case...ONE THING IS CERTAIN! The confession was inaccurate! There were too many inconsistencies. Many experts believe it was coerced. Jessie Miskelley's rights (as a minor) were clearly violated when he was interviewed without a parent or attorney present. Jessie Miskelley who is border line mentally retarded was guided by the questioning into telling police exactly what they wanted to hear. This was after the police told him he had failed the polygraph. Without Miskelley's confession, the other two would never have made it to trial.

In my opinion, the investigation was botched due to the media's pressure on the police to solve the case. No DNA evidence. No reasonable circumstantial evidence. No evidence at all. Instead we have a coerced confession, a mail order PHD in occultism for a witness, a slanted judge who refused to allow the jury to hear relevant evidence on the defense's side, recanted prosecution testimony from at least three witness that took the stand, and two of the victims parents saying "You have the wrong guys". We have DNA evidence pointing at two other men. We have a police department who admitted to simply "loosing" evidence. We have a juror who broke the rules by talking to his attorney about the case. This same juror discussed with other jurors the inadmissible confession of Jessie Miskelley.

If all of these facts don't scream "miscarriage of justice" ...I don't know what does!

Yes...Jessie, Jason, and Damien deserve a new and FAIR trial this time!

I was 10 years old when I learned about this case. I have always and still till this day feel that Mark Byers is the one who needs to be convicted on this case. I have several reasons: He had his teeth pulled after the murders, then low and behold there was a bite mark discovered on his step-son; He knows the area real well where the boys bodies were found; His step-sons blood was on the knife that he gave to the person from HBO who filmed the documentary and his step-son was the only boy mutilated; During the second documentary, he was talking about his wife being "murdered" when she supposedly died of natural causes. So many things point to this man. I feel so much pain for the three boys who were slain and the three boys who have been imprisoned for this horrific crime. These men need a new trial and Mark Byers needs to be investigated.

This is one of the biggest miscarriages of justice I have witnessed since I have been alive! I'm 35 roughly Damien's age and I shudder to think that these boys have spent half their precious lives behind bars for a crime that they DID NOT commit! Free the Three!

The state of Arkansas should be ashed of themselves. My opinion is if you truly believed in the so called truth and justice you say that you want for these three eight year boys, then you have nothing to fear. Why aren't you willing to look at new evidence? Don't you want the real person/persons who did this horrific crime punished? Do the right thing and at least look at the new evidence otherwise the REAL person who did this is walking free!!!!! Is your pride that great that you would prefer these kids, at the time, staying in jail instead of admitting to a mistake and punish the person who really did this. Pride cometh before the fall and hope your office falls on your face and charges brought against all of you for this terrible, terrible injustice. Shame, shame on all of you.

Could someone PLEASE tell Eddie Vedder to try and cut out all the "and", "um", and "ah" from his interviews. He's an extremely intelligent man who ought to sound better than George W. Bush when speaking in public!

and talking latin dosent help you , talk more educated , ,,, just talk english , i have nothing to hide do you? others may not know what you are saying.

To Wendy Burrow: You have an incredible grasp of this case, which is more than Ican say for some of the above commentators. I am from Marion, Ak and have never believed they did it . It is nice to know someone with a little common sense thinks there is something really wrong with the convictions of these kids.

does anyone know where and what Michelle is now up to and what she believes in? Has anyone talked to her about this lately?

isnt ark the home of the legend of boggy creek? lol

If the prosecutors are so certain the jury got it right the first time they should not be afraid to go to trial again. What with the discovery of the new evidence admissions of lying from a prosecution witness and the comment of the judge on the case that "as long as I am alive they will never get another trial" it certainly appears that they are afraid they may be brought up on misconduct charges. I have to wonder how many times the prosecution would have appealed had these boys been found innocent the first time.( As they should have been)!.I hope the new trial is far away from Crittenden County.

First of all if you want a spokesperson,don't use that Dixie Chick,most people don't like her.Besides that,I've read alot about this case and I'm just not totally convinced they're quilty.I would have a retrial,to see all the evidence today.Second,I think that Mr Bojangles man is a witness to either it happening or finding the boys.I think he was so scared he ran into the ladies bathroom to hide.He knows he could have been accused of it if seen around the crimescene or he was seen by those who did this and hid.If they can find that man in a retrial,they might have thier witness.Then again,if he's kept quiet,he might know he's still in danger from who saw him,if someone did.

Katrina–

It has to be said that Cajazz76:24:8 is not speaking Latin. He is making fun of you and your slaughter of the English language. And, judging from his comments on this blog, he is taking it easy on you.

Cajazz76:24:8–

Ditto.

To all–

I wrote previously that I had just lost my stepfather. Fifteen years ago, I lost my father. He was murdered. If there was even an ounce of doubt in my mind that the state of Arkansas had convicted the WRONG person, I would be the first person on the steps of the capitol demanding justice; shouting at the top of my lungs that a MURDERER was still roaming free and an innocent man was wrongfully imprisioned.

If noone else is going to stand up for the West Memphis 3, then WE have to be their voice. SOMEONE has to do SOMETHING.

I'll be that someone. Alone, my voice is small. Join me (US) so we can be heard; so we can be the voice for Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley.

Again, FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS 3!

Cindy... Thank you not only for your comment, but for your commitment to this case and for your courage to stand up for truth, JUSTICE, and the American way!!

Now, if could "Soapbox" for a minute:
There are certain aspects of this case that should be brought to light that I feel have been overlooked. First I'd like to bring up the FACT that the West Memphis "Police Department" was under investigation by the state for missing evidence and that each and all of the fathers of the victims had been working with the WMPD in various ways. Mainly being informants. The state was to launch a formal investigation two weeks after the murders took place which would have exposed the entire operation in this most corrupt department. Think about it.

Second, the FACT that there was jury tampering would by itself constitute a mistrial. In any other case in any other part of the country a new trial would have been ordered immediately.

Third, "Judge" Burnett has had his dirty hands in this case for way too long. And it's awesome that his cowardice will no longer be a factor in the outcome of three other innocent lives.

I am embarrassed and ashamed of a legal system that in this day and age would stand so firm, as to protect their reputations, that the sacred oath they swore to uphold has been violated in such a manner. SHAME ON YOU!!!

As I have familiarized myself with this case I have a thousand FACTS that I would love to share. So if anyone who believes the West Memphis Three are guilty would like to challenge said FACTS, let me hear from you.
To quote Judas Priest: "I take on all comers, they back down or they fall..."

Take a break from hangin' out with Uncle Dad at the bait shop and lemmie hear from ya!!!

Mr. King – How can you possibly conduct this interview without asking about the confession? You never even challenge the statement of the Dixie Chick lead singer that there was no evidence. I bet if you ask each of these people if they oppose capital punishment in all cases you will find that they do and will thereby uncover there true motivation and justice has nothing to do with it!

families,the world need 2 know the truth.The only way 2 find the truth is Retrial.

PLEASE GOD SAVE THE WM3! IVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE CASE FOR SOME TIME. AND I AM 100% CONVINCED THEY ARE NOT GUILTY! SAVE THESE MEN! WE DEMAND A NEW TRIAL!

'Am sincerely of the opinion that both sides of the coin on this issue should be practicaly examined, both from the berieved and the convicted family, Just as the sentiments of lossing a child plays a strong role in this case so also does it apply when it overshadows the role of having all stones turned, and the families of the convicted get to experience the case of loss of a child the second time ....(..it now becomes the case of an Eye for an Eye) ...and this is not the function of justice ....Sentimentality and Bias should be excluded from this case ....

InC你那Complicated getting鸥鸟 line。

The parents of these slain boys need to be upset with the Arkansas Judicial System, not the celebrities that are trying to make a difference before 3 more lives are taken. The West Memphis Three are innocent!! The truth will come out and set them free!!!
FREE THE WM3!!!

Echols own mother hasnt kept a relationship with her son...weird?

Moore's mother, who was actually at the trials and whose opinion is being completely discarded by B-list rockers has made it clear she believes the group is guilty. And the celebs comments on her statement are disgusting and cruel and clearly publicity stunt for two morons pandering to their surviving pot-head fan base.

Paradise Lost was a joke and made for PROFIT...where is the intrigue if they didnt drag out the crazy trailer trash, accuse two juries of stupidity and witch-hunting?? There would be none, the case was not a great mystery to anyone. Instead of clearly implicating Byers for most of the show, why didnt the go into detail of Echols parole, violent psych history, drug use, animal torture, alienation by his family, biting a kids head, etc etc etc.

Three formal confessions and a refusal to provide an actual timeline alibi when your freaking life is on the line...I dont care who you are....You remember when your facing a death sentence.

Jason's face during the trial wasnt pure guilt and shame...get real people

Yes, these men have suffered enough and the WMPD and the DA need to admit their rush to judgement and do the right thing. I need to add that I helped a woman that used to work in a hospital, that one of the mothers of the murdered boys had a brief stay in. During our conversation, she mention the torment the mother was going through, I offered my prayers, and asked her to pray for the WM3 also. She said but they killed them, and I asked her what she knew about the case. She said they were guilty because thats what the news said. She, being a resident, had no idea of the details of the case, and when I gave her some background, she was outraged.

After reading about this case for a few years and looking at claims of both sides, I am not convinced of innocent or guilt. The are a lot of mistakes in police conduct. The fact that three seemingly dumb kids at the time would be able to pull off a triple homicide with no real evidence left behind is very telling. The family members of the children killed are very suspect as well. They should be given a new trial. There is no way they were convicted beyond reasonable doubt years ago.

If they want a new trial I certainly wouldn't want Natialie Maines sticking her nose in, the woman has no credibility.

For all the bleeding hearts that wish to believe in their inocense, I have only one thing to tell you.

STAND IN THE SHOES OF ONE OF THE PARENTS WHOSE CHILD WAS MURDERED IN THAT WAY.

Enough said!!!

They were NOT wrongly convicted just because Eddie Veder disagrees with two juries verdicts....um, that would imply everyone in prison who says they are innocent was wrongly convicted....LOL

THESE DUDES ARE LAUGHING THEIR BUTTS OFF IN PRISON AT THE STOOGES DEFENDING THEM ON TV!

While there is no question that this case was botched from the beginning and that the three young men absolutely deserve a new trial (with a new, impartial judge), I don't think it is fair to them, nor to the families of the victims, to justify the need for a new trial by declaring the men in question innocent, as so many posters have done. The men may indeed be innocent, but saying they deserve a new trial BECAUSE they are innocent is faulty reasoning and is acutally doing them a disservice. It detracts from the main issue, which is that there was a major injustice committed in the way they were tried and convicted. Unless we have read the entire case file, are presented with all the evidence availabe and are seated among peers on a jury panel, we, the general public, are in no way equiped to judge the men guilty OR innocent. The only thing we can say with passionate conviction and certainty, regardless of what we personally believe, is that this case was seriously mishandled and the men deserve a new trial; and I, for one, hope they get one. My heart goes out to the families of the young victims, as well as to the accused and their families.

Unless you are GOD or there when it happened, no one has a right to judge someone especially if it involves taking their life, which the death penalty does.

To Wendy Burrows: My comments came from the heart. Wendy if only more people with our passion could see what a railroaded case this was they would be out in no time! Thank God David Burnett will not be involved. I made several comments above if anyone needs to know the facts as well. Bring it on! we will get them out, maybe not tommorrow ,maybe not next week or even next year but I have to believe that if for no other reason the fact that there was jury misconduct and witnesses who now admit to telling lies on the stand for the prosecution this alone should get them another shot at freedom! People have the power!!!! Ionly wish i'd saved all my Evening Times newspapers it tells alot!!!!!!!

Just my 2 cents regarding Police in general:

Having been arrested 20 or so times with 40-50 odd charges, I must admit I was never arrested for something someone else did. I often didn't do what I was accused (or convicted) of, but they never got the wrong guy.

It is a real shame that the loved ones of the murder victims have to be dragged through this. That being said, it is an even greater shame if those responsible for this horrific crime still walk free while those locked up for the past 17 years are not guilty and facing life in prison or death by lethal injection. Time and time again the judicial system has been shown to be an imperfect system. When new evidence, in this case DNA evidence, surfaces and calls into question a verdict, a new trial must be granted at least and at most, verdicts should be overturned and sentences commuted, no matter how great the pain to those who thought justice had been served to the murderers of their loved ones. The forced confession from someone with an IQ of 70 should never have been considered evidence to convict and if it was then this alone was cause for a mis-trial. There was a good reason the judge did not allow the confesion as evidence and whatever juror brought up the confession during deliberations did the wrong thing.

YES!!!!! THEY SHOULD GET A NEW TRAIL. This entire thing is insane. A jury convicted them of a crime with no physical evidence and no witnesses. THEY DID NOT DO THIS. Anyone who knows the details of the case and has even half a brain should be able to see how insane the charges against these kids were. It scares the crap out of me that someone can end up on death row when they didn't do anything wrong because they dressed differently and didn't fit in. Seriously – the fact that damien echols wore all black clothing was considered evidence that he worshiped satan and for this he is on death row. Honestly, someone needs to grant these kids a new trial in the year 2010 where people aren't as completely and totally ignorant about this kind of stuff as they used to be. PLEASE, SOMEONE HELP THESE GUYS.

Winning an appeal is like playing the lottery!

"We must go on facts – not opinion. If the facts – past or present indicate innocence, then our presumption of innonence must acquit."

This comment is a very powerful comment. I was convicted and sentenced to 35 years based on OPINIONS. I could not overturn any opinion based on my defense facts. I have spent 6 years in the Arkansas Prison System, better known as ADC. Wondering how in the hell am I ever going to get out of here when everyones OPINIONS keep me here. New evidence of "MORE FACTS" have come forward as well, to clear up all the OPINIONS based on my conviction YET the appeals court choose to turn down my appeals.

What the courts hold tight to is OUR JURY. 12 people who can decide our faith.......who may not have listen to all the FACTS. Who may have formed an OPINION ALREADY when the defense presented the FACTS. Let alone may not have understood all our FACTS. OR maybe even slept while listening to our facts. BUT yet might have heard loud and clear an OPINION.

I have been walking this walk and until you walk it, you can NEVER believe it can happen to you. You want to believe there is such thing as justice but my life was based on OPINIONS, I knew my FACTS were screwed. I hope the families of these 3 boys seek justices, I know how you just want it to end and for the OPINIONS to go away. BUT I am like these 3 men in prison fighting for my freedom too. It has not been 16 years for me but behind this wall it feels like 50 years. I upset a lot of people arguing my facts and hoping someone will listen. I know how it must hurt the family of these 3 boys because I continue to fight like these 3 men fight. IF the Stevie, Michael and Christopher's family could for one day picture yourself in our shoes behind this wall begging for someone to listen to the FACTS, and not go on ALLLLL the OPINIONS that were given through out the trial and in the media, and in the paper and in the interviews and focus on the facts. Maybe the fog could lift and you might begin to agree on the FACTS.

I live behind the wall believing the truth will follow me into the future and that the lie will stop in its tracks and no longer be able to keep me behind this wall. It's all I have.

As a mother I can't imagine the loss these families of the 3 murdered boys have felt. But as an American I would expect to get a fair and honest trial especially with my life at stake as Damiens was and is. There's way too many inconsistancies in the original trial, evidence and testimonies to not give them a new trial. Reading and watching whats been available Damien especially was judged from the get go by appearance and attitude. Not by common sense of adults and law enforcement envolved. This was a very sloppy and incomplete 'investigation" and I use that term loosely. The only DNA evidence stated to be found was family related. There was no evidence directly tying any of these teenagers to the crime. The confession never should have been allowed to be used...DO THE RIGHT THING, NOT ONLY FOR THE DEFENDANTS, BUT FOR THE INTEGRITY OF THE JUSTICE SYSTEM. GIVE THIS CASE A NEW TRIAL WITH A NEW JURY, NEW JUDGE AND FRESH EYES FOR ALLTHE INFORMATION.

No way. Read the so called coerced confession of Jessie Misskelley if you can stomach the details. Compare what he said happened to the 3 little boys to their autopsy. You can't make up a confession that detailed and exact to what actually happened to those litlle boys if it was just coerced or leading. Look at what Damien Echols was doing that lead up to this happening. Shoddy policework doesn't mean the West Memphis 3 are innocent. Remember if the glove doesn't fit you can't convict? I guess you all think OJ was innocent too? Circumstantial evidence is just as good as DNA and it's overwhelming in this case. If there's anybody that deserves to be free and have their lives back is those 3 poor little boys who went through unbelievable fear, torture, and death at the hands of the West Memphis 3.

Tom....Yes there is a way!! I had to stomach reading the confession of my trial too........yes there is a way it can happen and be coerced in to saying anything......happens WAY more then anyone care to believe it! so dont go there with me.......

I live about 2 hours from where those murders occured, and I'm humiliated by the injustices that took place 17 years ago. Of course it's terrible for the families of the murdered children, but anyone with a brain can read the facts and realize that Jesse, Jason, and Damien are innocent. The recent forensic findings, alone, proves that two other men were at the crime scene that night. They found hair tied into the knots that bound the boys' hands. That hair didn't belong to any of those convicted. Also, the West Memphis police department was under investigation for drug trafficing. When the murders initially took place, they seemed completely stumped. When the public became infuriated at the incomtepence of their police force, they were magically able to pull these kids out of a hat. Perfect targets. Black hair. Rock music. During the ridiculous Satanic Panic of the 1990's. These kids never got a fair trial. Justice for the murdered little boys will never be served until they admit that the REAL killers are still out there.

Let's see justice for the three little boys and the three imprisoned. I have read every document relating to this case and I am 100% certain that they did not commit this crime. Take a closer look at the WMPD and also the juvenile officer who I believe had it in for Damien and had to pinpoint something on him. When you do look closer into this case, you will find the truth.

i have raised two teenage sons. They also went through stages of black eyes, black shirts sationism. They also got passed it. The fact is at one time my son even frighten me. I know they are good kids and from then on kept my mind open. These kids even open doors for the elder. Thanks to this case I had to tell them that if they ever got arrested not to say any words by "I want to lawyer up." This saddens me but I need to protect my kids. They have gone to college and work every day. I also do not teach my kids to rely on the system but to go with their gutt feeling on adults. Poor does not mean uneducated.
Let this boys go immediately.

How long will a new trail take if they win? It won't be immediate right?
Sending Good Vibes only to everyone.

They for sure deserve a new trial. For all of those that are saying they are guilty then why not let them have a new trial? if they were actually guilty then they would be able to prove it in a new trial! But I also think that the boys should be taken away from Arkansas for the new trial because if not they are liable to go through the same thing as they did 17 years ago ..they need to go somewhere were people don't know all about them and the families of the three little boys were the trial will be based all on physical proof and evidence. These men deserve to have their lives back. FREE THE WEST MEMPHIS THREE!!!!

You all watch CSI too much. Most all evidence and convictions as a result of murder does NOT come from DNA evidence. Of course DNA can be present from other family members and people. That don't make the WM3 innocent and those people guilty. What DNA do you think you're going to find from the WM3? These were little kids that could put up a defense. I'm sure the police didn't preserve all the possible DNA evidence back in 1992. However, the mountains of other details leads directly to the WM3. I don't care if they have a new trial or not. The result is going to be the same. My sympathy is with the 3 little innocent boys who were beaten, tortured, sexually abused, mutilated, and YES murdered by the cowardly WM3!!!

TOM.......hope you dont ever find yourself on the defense.......or maybe you have and your loosing..........

Glenese chestnut, have YOU read the ENTIRE case file from 1993 to present? If you had you would know that they deserve a new trial.