Exonerate the WM3 Official Blog

Last Days to Bid on Marilyn Manson Portrait of Damien Echols! #wm3

Manson's statement regarding his portrait 19: Damien Echols, political prisoner: I wanted this painting to be the hand that once waved goodbye, now waving hello to a new life.

This auction ends TOMORROW, July 31. Click here to register and bid before it's too late!

Multi-talented and controversial artist Marilyn Manson donated an original watercolor depicting Grove Pashley’s photographic image of Damien Echols with his hand against a prison glass window to SKA for auction. The winning bid will entirely go to the defense fund of Damien Echols (who is on death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—also known as the West Memphis Three —who were unjustly convicted of murdering three elementary school children in 1994. The auction has gone on for 18 days- one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars.

June 3, 2011 marked the 18 year that the WM3 have been behind bars for crimes they did not commit. 100% of your tax deductible winning bid will go towards the aforementioned Damien Echols Defense Fund, which pays for forensic testing, legal and investigative fees for Damien, Jason and Jessie's evidentiary hearing on December 5 before Judge Laser in Jonesboro. The painting is on watercolor paper and measures 22" X 30" and is signed "MM 2011".

 

Free the WM3... Now #wm3

By Brent Hatley

On May 5th, 1993, three eight-year-old boys from West Memphis, Arkansas — Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch and Michael Moore — disappeared. They were reported missing around 7 p.m. by Byers’s stepfather, John Mark Byers. The next day, the three boys’ mutilated bodies were found in the Robin Hood Hills, where the boys were last seen.

Three teenage boys — Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Miskelly Jr. — were arrested and charged with three counts of first-degree murder.

Read the full story in DailyCaller.com here.

Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory

Paradise Lost 3 is on its way. The final chapter...

PARADISE LOST 3:  PURGATORY (Nov.) revisits the case of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, who were incarcerated for the 1993 “West Memphis Three” child murders, which they maintain they did not commit.  For nearly two decades, Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky have chronicled the fight to prove their innocence.  From full courtroom access and jailhouse interviews to behind-the-scenes strategy meetings and intimate portraits of grief-stricken families, this third, comprehensive look at the case uncovers shocking new developments since the last film ten years ago.  Directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky.

via press release:

via tvbythenumbers.zap2it.com

 

New! WM3 Shirts for December 5 Evidentiary Hearing #wm3

New shirts have been added to the official WM3.org store on zazzle.com. This stencil design symbolizes and honors the West Memphis Three and the motivated people out there who have worked so hard for so many years to help free Damien, Jason and Jessie from their unjust imprisonment. Since 1993, the WM3 have had supporters working for them and bringing their situation to the world, and this mobilization has grown in strength from a few people to a few million people. The fight for freedom isn't over yet. We're counting down the days until the hearing but they still need your help and support. The West Memphis Three and all of us who stand behind them have waited so long for 12/5/11-- the beginning of an evidentiary hearing where the whole truth regarding their unjust convictions will be laid out in no uncertain terms. Help Damien, Jason and Jessie to finally come home by creating awareness, donating whatever you can afford, and talking about their case with anyone who will listen.

Don't forget to "like" the new WM3 12/5/2011 facebook page!

Hair DNA Found with WM3 Crime Scene Evidence Excludes Echols, Baldwin & Misskelley

In a final report on DNA testing filed in the court of Second Judicial District Judge David N. Laser, mitochondrial DNA testing of hair found with crime scene evidence conclusively excludes Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley.

Most of the hairs tested were from the victims. However, one hair found with one of  the victim’s blue jeans and wallet has a DNA profile that remains unidentified.  In a DNA report filed last week, it was revealed that human DNA found on the shoes of murder victim Chris Byers also conclusively excluded the three men, but was linked to two unidentified male individuals.

According to the report, “Bode’s (Bode Technology) further comparative testing analysis also (once again) excludes Echols, Baldwin or Misskelley as the source of this new, non-victim hair.” A scientific analysis of the shoelaces used to bind the three children is expected shortly. 

It was previously established that a hair found in the ligatures that bound one of the victims is linked to Terry Hobbs, stepfather of victim Stevie Branch. According to three new eyewitnesses who have come forward, Terry Hobbs was with the three children at his home at approximately 6:30 p.m., shortly before the boys disappeared and were murdered. Hobbs has denied under oath that he was with the children at any time on the day of their murders.

Capi Peck, co-founder of Arkansas Take Action, said, “This newly discovered DNA evidence that excludes Damien, Jason and Jessie, combined with all other evidence of their innocence, will hopefully lead to a new trial for the three young men who have now served close to 18 years in prison for a crime many Arkansans believe they did not commit.”

Download Dna-motion-hairs

Read the 7/18/11 DNA Testing Status Report #wm3org

Download StatusReport_7.18

New DNA From Victim in WM3 Case Excludes Echols, Baldwin & Misskelley

A DNA report filed today with Craighead County Court Judge David Laser in the West Memphis 3 case reveals that new DNA material found on the shoes of murder victim Chris Byers conclusively excludes Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley. The human DNA came from two separate individuals who remain unidentified.

"Bode's testing revealed that the DNA samples from Nos. 1 and 2 are from the same male source, while the DNA sample from No. 3 is from a different male source. Bode's further comparative analysis then also conclusively excluded Echols, Baldwin or Misskelley as the source of any of these new DNA samples."

Bode Technology's  Laboratory in Lorton, Virginia, one of the country's leading DNA testing facilities, is still testing hairs found at the crime scene and will soon report its findings. A fiber analysis of shoelaces is still in progress, but green vegetable-like material found in the stomach of Stevie Branch was not preserved. Paper sheets used to dry the victims' clothes which was requested by the defense was not found in the West Memphis Police Department files.

Lorri Davis, wife of Echols and co-founder of Arkansas Take Action, said, "This is further proof that Damien, Jason and Jessie are innocent. They were not at the crime scene and have no connection to these terrible murders. We have now tested a large amount of material and there is no evidence that points to them and much evidence that points to their innocence".

 

Marilyn Manson Auction of Damien Echols Portrait Goes Live!

Manson's statement regarding his portrait 19: Damien Echols, political prisoner: I wanted this painting to be the hand that once waved goodbye, now waving hello to a new life.

Multi-talented and controversial artist Marilyn Manson donates original watercolor depicting Grove Pashley’s image of Damien Echols with his hand on the glass of the prison window during a visit. This original piece will be auctioned to raise money for the defense fund of Damien Echols (who is on death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—also known as the West Memphis Three —who were convicted for murdering three elementary school children in 1994.

The auction will last for 18 days—from July 14 to July 31 —one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars. June 3, 2011 marked the 18 year that the WM3 have been behind bars for crimes they did not commit. 100% of the tax deductible winning bid will go towards the Damien Echols Defense Fund, which pays for forensic testing, legal and investigative fees for Damien, Jason and Jessie's evidentiary hearing on December 5 before Judge Laser. The painting is on watercolor paper and measures 22" X 30" and is signed "MM 2011".

Click here to register and bid!

July 10: Jessie Misskelley's 36th Birthday #wm3

Jessie's birthday is July 10th-- surely his last one at Varner Unit-- so we're asking everyone to send Jessie their kindest birthday wishes with a snail mail letter or card. His address and mail restrictions are here. You can also send Jessie books or magazines via Amazon if you so desire. Click here for his Wish List.

He can always use a donation to his commissary account.The ADC commissary is the only way Jessie, Jason and Damien are able to obtain nutritious food and supplies such as stamps and paper for all the mail they get so a decent balance is essential to their health and mental well-being while they're stuck there. Any amount is appreciated! Or-- consider sending a donation to the Defense Fund to pay for the staggering DNA testing and legal and forensic expert fees for the December 5 hearing.

Please show Jessie your support on this birthday-- he has now spent half his life in prison for crimes that he didn't commit. Thank you!

Downloadable WM3 Flyer for Awareness & Fundraising Events

Download WM3_FLYER_2011

Download WM3_FLYER_OUTSIDE

Marilyn Manson Aids in West Memphis Three Defense Fund

Multi-talented and controversial artist Marilyn Manson donates original watercolor depicting Grove Pashley’s infamous image of Damien Echols with his hand on the glass of the prison window during a visit. This original piece will be auctioned to raise money for the defense fund of Damien Echols (who is on death row), Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.—also known as the West Memphis Three —who were convicted for murdering three elementary school children in 1994. Since the horrific crimes, DNA from the crime scene and victims was tested by Bode, the country's most trusted crime lab, and none of it matches these three unjustly imprisoned men. For three weeks starting December 5, Judge David Laser will be holding an evidentiary hearing for the three men to review all post conviction evidence.  

 

The auction will last for 18 days—from July 13 to July 31 —one day for each year the West Memphis Three have spent behind bars. June 3, 2011 marked the 18 year that the WM3 have been behind bars for crimes they did not commit. 100% of the tax deductible winning bid will go towards the Damien Echols Defense Fund, which pays for forensic testing, legal and investigative fees for Damien, Jason and Jessie. The painting is on watercolor paper and measures 22" X 30" and is signed "MM 2011".

 

For further information about this original artwork and to place a bid, log on to Skeleton Key Auctions,