Private Detective Jay Salpeter Sets Up Confidential Tip Line Seeking
New Information about the Murders
Confidential Tip Line:
501-256-1775
(Little Rock, Ark., February 11, 2009) – Highly decorated former NYPD homicide detective Jay Salpeter, known for uncovering crucial new evidence that led to the freedom of Martin Tankleff, wrongfully imprisoned at 17 for the murder of his parents, has joined the effort to free the West Memphis Three.
Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley were convicted in 1994 for a crime they did not commit, and have served 16 years in prison. There was no physical evidence, eyewitness testimony or motive tying the three local teens to the murders—only a coerced, false confession that was immediately disavowed. Damien Echols was sentenced to death; Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin were sentenced to life imprisonment. Lawyers for Damien Echols are seeking an innocence hearing before the Arkansas Supreme Court, and Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley are currently in circuit court hearings for ineffective counsel.
A Plea for New Information
"We need the public's help. There are people who may have information about what really happened the night three 8-year-old boys were tragically murdered in West Memphis in 1993," Salpeter said. "I am convinced there are those who can help provide new evidence in this case and now want to do the right thing. Please call the confidential tip line and tell me what you might know that can prevent the execution of Damien Echols and free these innocent men."
Callers are not obliged to give their names and all information will be kept in strictest confidence. The objective of establishing the tip line is to find out the truth and finally bring some closure to the people of West Memphis and, in particular, the families of the victims.
"We have three men in prison and yet none of their DNA was found at the crime scene," Salpeter said. "Recent DNA results indicate that other individuals, who were never investigated by the police, were present at the crime scene, and all of this leads me to believe that the truth about what happened on the night of May 5th, 1993 has yet to come out.
New Evidence Can Lead to Freedom
Salpeter brings a distinguished 20-year career as a homicide investigator and hostage negotiator. As a private investigator, he has helped to develop crucial new evidence and find witnesses on many criminal and capital cases that resulted in acquittals. Recently, his investigative work led to the July 2008 exoneration of Martin Tankleff in the 1988 slaying of his parents Seymour and Arlene Tankleff on Long Island, New York. Salpeter developed dozens of new witnesses in the Tankleff case, many of whom came forth via the Tankleff confidential tip line. The evidence uncovered by Salpeter convinced the New York State Appellate Court to unanimously overturn Tankleff's conviction. Prosecutors decided not to seek a retrial in the case. Like the Tankleff case, the West Memphis Three case involved a coerced, false confession and mishandling of the case by law enforcement.
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