Exonerate the WM3 Official Blog

Updated Information Concerning the WM3 Request for Consideration of New Information

Please read the letter from Jason Baldwin's attorneys, John Philipsborn and Blake Hendrix, to Scott Ellington regarding results of forensic hair and fiber testing that were not in hand by the defense or the state when Damien, Jason and Jessie took Alford Pleas in order to be released on 8/19/11. In the opinion of Baldwin's attorneys, this new information underscores that this case should not have ended in Alford Pleas at all and further undermines the basis that AR erroneously relies on to salvage the validity of their convictions. We eagerly await Mr. Ellington's reply. 

Download WM3 Testing Letter 8-28-12

 

New tests on crime scene fibers produce no link to WM3

By Marc Perrusquia

Thursday, August 30, 2012

In yet another twist in case of the West Memphis Three, defense attorneys say new testing excludes the only crime scene evidence prosecutors had to convict defendants Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley in 1994 — a series of tiny clothing fibers.

Testing completed in May by three experts — including a former FBI crime lab scientist — found serious flaws in government's fiber testing conducted in 1993-94, says Baldwin's attorney, John T. Philipsborn, in a letter to Arkansas Attorney General Dustin McDaniel.

"What is … disturbing and clearly indicative of the problematic evidence that the State introduced in the Baldwin/Echols trial, is the clear evidence that the State's fiber evidence is flawed,'' Philipsborn says in the letter dated Aug. 28.

A report by Max M. Houck, former physical scientist in the Trace Evidence Unit of the FBI's crime lab, offers a more blistering critique of the state's fiber evidence testing.

"The sloppiness of the notes, the lack of data and documentation, the erratic nature of the color analysis data all suggest scientists who were poorly trained to do the casework they were responsible for and were operating at the margin of competency, were derelict in their assigned duties, or were otherwise unable to properly conduct this kind of scientific work,'' Houck says in the report.

Full story available at commercialappeal.com.

Damien Echols of #WM3 sits with Dawn Scott on life after prison

LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) -- Echols was released from prison one year ago, following a unique plea deal in the case of the West Memphis Three.

Click HERE to watch Part 1 & 2 of the videos

In an interview with THV anchor Dawn Scott, Echols says "everything" about post-prison life feels different.

"The first two to three months out, I was in an extreme state of shock and trauma," says Echols. "This is a gradual process."

Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley left behind their jail cells in August 2011 and took a step outside in the real world for the first time in eighteen years.

All three entered an Alford plea which means they pleaded guilty while still maintaining their innocence. The judge sentenced them to 18 years, the time they've already served. Now they will have 10 years probation which means if they commit any crime during the next 10 years, they could go back to prison.

Echols is preparing to release his second book, "Life After Death," September 18. His message is to encourage people "just not to waste life."

"It's a very bizarre time in life for me right now," Echols shares. "I'm still trying to get used to the world again."

Echols lives in New York City now with his wife, Lorri Davis. He has not returned to Arkansas. "I've thought about it, talked about it" but says the thought of returning is "psychologically and emotionally distressing" and says he "can't make myself face it yet."

Echols reminds that he was completely isolated and removed from society for nearly twenty years and says he still becomes anxious at simple things such as directions and social interactions.

Echols also often thinks back on his time in prison, adding that he will be "haunted by it for the rest of my life."

Echols maintains contact with Misskelley and, until recently, Baldwin. He also keeps in contact with some of the victims' family members, sharing that the family of Stevie Branch gave him a pocketwatch engraved with the date of his prison release and the words "time begins now."

He still maintains his innocence and says he is working to uncover who killed Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers back in 1993.

"This isn't over," says Echols. "We are not going to allow officials to sweep this under the rug. We will continue to fight this case as long as we have to until the right thing is done. Really that's what the rest of our lives are gonna be dedicated to until this is finally and completely resolved. This is not gonna go away." 

Download "Golden State" by Vedder & Maines, Benefit Freedom Fund #wm3

The itunes and Pearl Jam website links to this inspiring live recording from the 2010 Voices for Justice concert in Little Rock, AR are now live. Download now! 100% of the proceeds go to the WM3 Freedom fund, which helps the three with their living and educational expenses.

Status Update: Jason Baldwin #wm3

As most of you already know, this past year began with a tremendously difficult decision for me and those around me. I am not entirely aware of what went on before the Alford plea was brought to me and to my incredibly dedicated and hard-working attorneys, Blake Hendrix and John Philipsborn. So I can only say I originally turned down the deal after Blake explained it in-depth to me the evening after he first learned of it. I maintained from the start that Damien, Jessie and I are innocent, and though I know nothing was certain, I believe we stood a good chance of that fact being proven in court. Being fully informed of all the ramifications of both choices, I decided I did not want to plead guilty with the possibility of complete exoneration so close at hand.

Ultimately, I changed my mind for Damien and Jessie and their families. I gave no real credence to the idea that I wouldn’t be supported if I chose to stay in while Damien and Jessie walked free (which was not an option anyway). The truth is, I am fortunate enough that both of my parents are still in good health, and I could have survived another couple of years. But I knew that even when we were exonerated, it was likely that Damien’s mother and Jessie’s father—perhaps even Damien himself—wouldn’t be alive to see it. I couldn't make that decision for them, and that is why I took the deal, after Holly and I both spent the few short days we were given agonizing over this impossible choice.

Having said that, this has truly been a year of miracles and wishes come true. At the age of 35, I learned what most kids in America do at the age of 14 to 16, and that was to drive. I bought my first vehicle and earned my first paycheck, beginning work at a construction job three days after my release. (I am now working at a husband and wife law firm here in Seattle.)

A Year of Freedom in Pictures #WM3

A random sampling of photos from our personal archives of Jason, Jessie and Damien in the free world... 

Memphis rooftop party after Damien, Jason and Jessie's release.

 

Could anything define freedom more than this picture of Jason Baldwin?

 

 

 The big news.

 

 NY Brunch the weekend of the NY Film Festival premiere of Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory.

 

We take Jessie shopping for some new shades.

 

Burk and Grove with lawyer, Steve Braga, at the HBO After-Party for the NY Film Festival premiere of Paradise Lost 3.

 

Jason and Kathy at the Memphis rooftop party.

 

The whole gang with Jason at Damien's first Halloween Party in NYC as a free man.

 

Burk hanging out with Jason at a cool bar on Broadway.

 

 Eddie Vedder says a few words at the Memphis rooftop party that he threw for the WM3 after their release.

 

Jessie goes shopping for his favorite cereal.

Damien and Jonathan Silberberg.

Jason and Mike Bonfiglio in Memphis post rooftop party. 

 

 Lots of smiles at the Memphis rooftop party.

 

Hanging out with Jessie on Broadway. 

Jessie finally breathing easy, so much time has passed  he's babysitting Stephanie's grandkid(s)...

At the press screening for Paradise Lost 3 in NYC.

 

Damien's first Halloween party in NYC as a free man.

 

 Jason and Holly in NYC.

 

 Damien and the gang play the longest game of pool ever at the HBO After party.

 Chad and Kathy have dinner with Jason and Holly on Broadway at a place that served pasta in plates bigger than your head.

 Jason getting beamed up at Disneyland.

Paradise Lost 3 screening in Los Angeles.

 

Jason and Kathy at the pre-Oscar party.

 

 Jessie consults with a tattoo artist about getting his clock tattoo finished (and touched up).

Lisa's best birthday ever:  Lalo Yunda finished  the hands on Jessie's clock at Sacred Heart Tattoo!

 

Jessie gets his clock tattoo finished.

 

Damien and Burk at the HBO After Party in NYC.

 

 

Kathy and Chad with Jason and Jessie at the NY Brunch the weekend of the NY Film Festival.

We're going to Disneyland!

 

Jason in Hollywood with Kathy, Chad and Weston.

 

 Jason pulls a Dr. Doolittle in Los Angeles. 

 Jason in the Hollywood Hills.

 

 Jason with Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky at the Oscar pre-party.

 Kathy and Chad with Damien at the HBO afterparty in NY.

 The gang with Holly and Jason at the Oscar pre-party.

Jason and Jessie on Broadway.

 Jason accepts award on behalf of WM3 at Death Penalty Focus dinner in Los Angeles.

#WM3, a Year Out of Prison, Navigate New Paths

By KIM SEVERSON

Read the full story at NYTimes.com

ATLANTA — The list of things you learn about yourself when you get out of prison after 17 years is long: You’re allergic to shrimp, or you’re paralyzed by the choices in a grocery store or moved to tears by the softness of the night sky.

From left, Jessie Misskelley, Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin, the West Memphis Three, after their 1993 arrests in the murder of three boys.

The men known as the West Memphis Three thought they would die in prison, linked forever as the torturers and killers of three young boys. They have been free for a year now, living as little more than acquaintances in a world flooded with possibilities.

Yet they are still linked, not only by a series of coming books and movies but by a legion of fervent supporters who hold them as a symbol of a flawed legal system.

“Honestly, we all lived through this horrible time in our own way and got through it differently, so now I guess we all have a different way of healing,” said Jason Baldwin, 35, who went into prison a quiet, heavy metal-loving teenager ready to start a job as a grocery store bagger and came out — much to the amazement of most people who meet him — a sweet, optimistic and slightly goofy man who wants to help people who have been wrongly accused.

Vedder & Maines Release "Golden State" on 8.19, Benefits WM3 Freedom Fund

From RollingStone.com:

August 19th marks the one-year anniversary of the release of the West Memphis Three, three men who were controversially convicted as teenagers in 1994 for the murder of three young boys. About a year before Jessie Misskelley, Charles Baldwin, and Damien Echols gained their freedom, Eddie Vedder from Pearl Jam and Natalie Maines from the Dixie Chicks joined forces onstage at the West Memphis Three Rally in Little Rock, Arkansas. On this new track, Vedder and Maines cover the John Doe track "Golden State," a Vedder favorite, in the spirit of freedom.

This version of "Golden State" will be available for download on August 19th on iTunes and Pearl Jam's website, but you can stream it on RollingStone.com now. All proceeds go to the WM3 Freedom Fund.