West Memphis Three Case Study

From the summer of 1979 to the summer of 1981, at least twenty-eight people were abducted and killed during a murder spree in Atlanta, Georgia; these killings would come to be known as the Atlanta Child Murders. While the victims of the killings were people of all races and genders, most of the victims of the Atlanta Child Murders were young African-American males. These murders created great racial tension in the city of Atlanta, with its black population believing the murders to be the work of a white supremacist group. (Bardsley & Bell, n.d., p. l) However, when police finally apprehended a suspect in the case, they found it was neither a white supremacy group, nor a white person at all; it was a 23 year-old African-American man named

John Williams was recently incarcerated for the violent murder of three young women. Prior to his arrest, police were on edge because the small town in Arkansas had never experienced anything like that before. Each girl was taken within a week from each other, all while they were out after dark taking a short cut home. Sadly they were all found buried deep in the woods after weeks of searching. The town went into shock; citizens were exhibiting both fear and rage for the loss of the precious girls from their community.

Prejudice is the “injury or damage resulting from some judgment or action of another in disregard of one's rights,” according to Merriam Webster. In simpler terms, prejudice is being judged regarding one’s religion, race, personality, physical appearance, etc. Unfortunately, everyone has given or received some form of prejudice. Prejudice also exists in the government, when cases and trials are solved. This can be shown through Reginald Rose’s novel, Twelve Angry Men.

Memphis, Tennessee is listed in the top five most violent cities in America. Memphis’ homicide rate is close to two hundred and we have one more month to go before the end of 2016.

Prejudice is when we have a preconceived opinion about someone or a group of people that is formed without knowledge, or even a real understanding about them.

The people of West Memphis were convinced this was an act of satanic evil. From the jump police said that they believed that these brutal killings were a sacrifice to satan from the way that the bodies were tied up. According to The Truth Behind Echols v. State: How an Alford Guilty Plea saved the West Memphis Three; Detectives found all three bodies naked and hog-tied, mutilated with wounds that had been allegedly caused by a serrated knife, and bruised from what investigators deemed to be the result of sexual abuse. The police conclution of this being part of a satanic ritual lead them to believe that Echols was responsible because he is a self proclaimed

There was no evidence collected and tested at the crime scene which could have proved who committed the murders. A lieutenant who contacted a juvenile officer in Memphis both agreed that the murders had to have been done by someone in a cult. The juvenile officer quickly knew of someone who was involved in a cult and said this juvenile could be capable of a crime like this. The accused, Damien Echols, was immediately interviewed and asked questions that the police believed no one but the killer would know the answers to. The answers that were given by Damien Echols were known answers throughout the community and this made Damien look guilty. Damien’s appearance was very strange and different and he was not considered “normal” in the communities beliefs. He was considered guilty by his Wiccan beliefs and his gothic appearance. Not only was Damien deemed guilty of this crime, but two other boys were also accused of these murders. There are many inconsistencies with the case. The police did not collect all evidence in the woods that could have been collected to possibly link the murders to someone. According to TruTV Crime Library, there was a boy who claimed he saw who committed the murders. He claimed he even saw men who spoke Spanish commit the murders. He later changed his story and said he saw one of the victim’s fathers killing the three boys. This same boy could not even identify two of the boys

During the early nineteen hundreds many people especially in the south were often convicted of crimes for no other reason than their skin color and contrary to many ideas about our court system, we have not always been the most honest and unbiased people. One prime example of this is the case of the Scottsboro Boys and how they were accused of rape and had to go to court numerous times, almost everytime ending in the death sentence. The evidence in the case clearly points towards the innocence of the Scottsboro boys, evidence such as unclear stories from the girls, lack of bruises and marks indicating assault as well as a previous history of prostitution from both of the girls. This evidence helps to prove that Charles Weems and the Scottsboro boys were innocent and wrongly accused and convicted.

“Murder begins where self-defense ends.” This quote from Georg Buchner can be used to describe the tragic deaths of three little boys who were rendered defense-less against their attackers. On May 5, 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansas, three young second-grade boys, by the names of Christopher Byers, Steven Branch, and Michael Moore, were brutally murdered after being beaten and hogtied by their own shoelaces. A year later, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley were convicted and sent to prison for this heinous crime. Even though the three men were convicted for the crime, there is still great controversy as to who actually killed the three boys. Throughout all this controversy, evidence, testimony, confessions, and more point towards the three men known as the “West Memphis Three”, to be the real killers.

The justice system was designed to put away criminals, while maintaining the security and wellbeing of society. A process is followed by trained and well educated people, yet this doesn’t go without mishaps and wrong doings. The justice system is looked upon as part of societies safety net, yet can be demonized when it falters. The case of the West Memphis 3 is a case of injustice, while showing how easily the justice system can fail us, yet how important it is to our society to get it right. Between the detectives, the prosecution, and the public, three teenagers, Michael Wayne (Damien) Echols, Charles Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Loyd Misskelley Jr., were wrongly convicted and as of today the real killers are still out there. Twenty-three years

Wrongful convictions occur every day. With a legal system that is at times dependent on eyewitness accounts and hearsay there is room for error. Sometimes these errors of justice are quickly rectified, but at other times the process can be long and drawn out. In the case of the West Memphis three: Damian Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, were teenagers when they were arrested for the murders of three young boys: Chris Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch. For nearly two decades, although convicted of the crimes, the West Memphis three denied any involvement in the murders. The West Memphis three case is a prime example of how small town misconceptions and rumors can take hold of a criminal case and twist non-existent

Prejudice is an opinion in which is not based on any reasoning, and may cause harm. Prejudice can be seen just about anywhere, and it affects our daily lives. There are many different ways a person can show prejudice beliefs, but why do they believe things they have never experience? Some may say it’s something personal with one’s self that causes prejudice thoughts, or some may think it their surroundings contribute as a motive.

Memphis, TN is a place full of culture and is known for its delicious food and music. However, Memphis is in demand of many aspects due to natural disasters, poverty, crime, and other reasons. The neighborhood in Memphis that I believe is in need is East Memphis. In East Memphis there are many schools in the area, and where there are schools there are children. This particular area suffers from poverty and crime which puts a strain on the community as a whole. To improve this neighborhood with residents I would provide through community service groups, participate in volunteer work and donations, and also get the community to be involved. Also considering that the community should be a world where everyone has a decent place to live to bring

Prejudice is a burden that confuses the past, threatens the future and renders the present inaccessible. (Maya Angelou) By definition prejudice is a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or actual experience. Prejudice to others is hate, judgement, and evil. The effects of prejudice are shown in the novel The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, the novel To Kill a Mockingbird, the play The Merchant of Venice, and the tragedy known as the Holocaust. Prejudice affected all people differently, but one thing is true for all; prejudice is crippling and disables those who experience it from being who they truly are and doing as they please.

Prejudice, a preconceived opinion that is not based on reason or personal experience. The amount of prejudice differs from person to person, but no one is free from it. In the film, American History X, Derek is a great example of how prejudice someone can be. Derek agrees with the white power movement because he feels victimized and threatened by everyone who is not white, but in prison he learns his stereotypes are full of holes; from the film I learned there is no reason to hate one another based on race or stereotypes. Life is too short to live a life based on hate.