By Melissa Antoinette Garza
The first time that I heard about The West Memphis Three was when I was attending junior college in 2001. I was working on a paper with a friend and slept over her house. She owned the HBO documentaries, Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills (1996) and Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000).
I was glued to the television and felt a mixture of outrage and disbelief. I didn’t sleep that night nor did I rest well for many nights thereafter. Of course, I had seen disturbing documentaries and touching filmmaking before, but nothing that had hit so close to home. There were so many elements that I could relate to and thus I was brought in from moment one.
For the few, who have never seen any of the original documentaries nor read the non-fiction account The Devil’s Knot, I highly suggest doing one or the other prior to delving into West of Memphis as in many ways this documentary assumes the emotional attachment to the involved parties and the basic knowledge of the events have been previously established, at least to some extent.
If you opt not to do any research prior to watching, there are a few significant details that should be known. The West
Memphis Three (WM3) refers to Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley Jr, and Jason Baldwin who in 1994 were convicted of brutally murdering 3 neighborhood boys. The young victims were between the ages of 8 and 9 years old. They had been savagely beaten and tied before they were killed. It was a horrific crime that still sends chills down my spine.
That stated, it is widely, if not near universally, believed that the WM3 were wrongfully convicted and that what transpired in the two decades that followed was a disgusting miscarriage of justice based on prejudice, fear, preconceived notions and the outlandish misconduct of the prosecution and arresting officers.
The prosecution created an unbelievable tale of Satanic Ritual alleging that Echols, who was 18 at the time, led Jason and Jesse to sacrifice the three young boys: Steve Edward Branch, Christopher Mark Byers, and James Michael Moore.
The most damning bit of evidence was a “confession” from Jesse. To put this into perspective, Jesse’s reported IQ is 72. He had been convinced that as long as he said what the police wanted to hear he could go home. Despite getting nearly every detail wrong, the police officers force-fed answers and pushed him until he repeated back the information that they gave. Many experts have attested this method is known to obtain a false confession from weak parties.
If that wasn’t enough to question the authenticity of Misskelley’s statements, there was photographic evidence placing him at a wrestling event during the timeframe in question. There were also several eyewitnesses that he had attended the show with that testified on his behalf.
Still, the jury ate the story of Satanic Ritual up. With “journalists” like Geraldo Rivera feeding the frenzy, the WM3 were made to look like devil worshipping murderers.
With lies, fear and religious propaganda, the state of Arkansas stole 18 years from these men. Equally horrifying, during this time the real murderer has most likely been free.
In 2010, there was finally light at the end of the tunnel as the Supreme Court reviewed evidence supportive to the WM3. It was at this time, that Arkansas continued its reign of low blows.
The powers-that-be made it clear that Damien Echols life was at stake, unless the trio accepted an Alford plea. An Alford plea allows the defendants to proclaim their innocence while pleading guilty. Jason Baldwin made it clear he would have preferred to stay in prison and fight until found innocent, however the fear of Damien being killed is what forced his hand and made him decide to take the deal. The three men were ultimately set free for time served though it was certainly bittersweet and left a rotten taste in the mouths of so many who fought so hard for the freedom of these three men.
It seems clear that the reason the state chose this legal mechanism was to avoid being sued by Echols, Misskelley Jr. and Baldwin for the miscarriage of justice and the police misconduct which sent them up the river.
Even with the vast amount of experts, devotees, researchers, celebrities, and most important the parents and stepparents of some of the boys that had been murdered proclaiming the innocence of the WM3, the state refused to do the right thing.
Rather than seek out the true killer and clear the names of those who had unjustly lost a great portion of their life, those in control acted in a reprehensible manner to save face and the almighty dollar. I wonder how those taking that stance can stare at themselves in the mirror or sleep with themselves at night.
With all evidence (DNA, eye-witness testimony, proof of police misconduct, etc.) pointing to their innocence, Arkansas still held Echols’ life as bait giving the men no choice but to walk out of prison branded as killers for a crime very few still believe they committed.
This is where I came into West of Memphis. I had seen all three of the HBO documentaries. I read the book. I had kept up with the website. I was a longtime devotee and donated when I could. I watched all the interviews and was relieved when they were released (despite the manner of how it took place). I really didn’t think I was going to learn anything.
To my surprise, the documentary shocked me. There was so much I wasn’t aware of. Even for those who have followed the case for years, this is a must-see. There was a lot more information about the initial police misconduct and the length that the prosecutors went to in order to seal a conviction. Everything from coercing testimony to misrepresenting the finding of evidence is explored. Long-time supporters like the Dixie Chicks and Pearl Jam Lead Singer Eddie Vedder are interviewed. Footage of celebrities like Johnny Depp and of course Producer Peter Jackson are also shown. Unlike so many documentaries, none of the interviews seem staged or forced. They don’t feel like cameos but instead each one seems to add perspective and is significant in their own way.
The documentary also focuses a lot of time on trying to determine who killed the young boys. I had seen a few YouTube videos pointing the finger at Stevie Branch’s stepfather Terry Hobbs, but there really wasn’t anything that compelled me enough to be outraged. Without providing any spoilers, I will say that I am now extremely disturbed and I profoundly hope that a full-fledge investigation is conducted surrounding the claims mentioned in this film.
I own the Paradise Lost Trilogy and I will most certainly be purchasing this documentary as well. It is over 2 hours long but never drags. Even the most diehard followers of this case will not feel as though they are hearing things they know again and again. Other than some basic introductions, most of this is new information and important material to learn. It also plays as a reminder that the fight is far from over. The WM3 are still labeled murderers in the eyes of the law and that needs to change. They need to be compensated for the blatant misconduct of the officials involved.
That, however, isn’t the only reason that I hope this story isn’t over. The man or men responsible for the murder of the three young boys needs to be brought to justice.
Scared Stiff Rating: 9/10 – Compelling from Beginning to End
