Local police accused of lying about fire in ‘Satanic Panic’ cover up

West Memphis Arkansas is in the midst of a decades old cover up.

The children were found bound by ligatures on their hands and feet. With defensive wounds on their hands and faces.

With little physical evidence of the heinous crimes committed against these children, investigators were desperate to find the culprit before hysteria took hold of the community.

Arrests were soon made on teenagers Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelly Jr. and Jason Baldwin.

Clutching Pearls

In a move that rocked the community, police alleged this was done in participation for a “satanic ritual.” The evidence supporting that claim? Testimonies from satanic “experts” saying that Echols’s interest in the occult, black nail polish, and rock ‘n’ roll bands “proved” that he was capable of three heinous murders.

During this time, some areas, like West Memphis, were in the midsts of a “Satanic Panic.”

Baseless conspiracies that circulated at the time equated listening to bands like Metallica and ACDC, to “worshiping the devil.”

Echols was literally demonized in court for his taste in chart-topping music.

“The trail was a farce!”

Physical evidence, such as DNA, was not tested due to the lack of technology and education at the time. The trials of the three teenage boys were carried out on “expert” testimony on what a “satanic ritual” looks like.

Police obtained a “confession” from Jessie Misskelly, which defense teams have insisted was illegally obtained without a parent or guardian present. Other witnesses have since remitted their testimony, claiming police pressured them to testify.

However, the confessions were admitted as evidence and the 3 were found guilty. Echols was sentenced to death, while Misskelley and Baldwin were both given life sentences.

The three teenagers maintained their innocence during the trial, and claimed that the confession that Jessie Misskelly gave was due to his low IQ and police coercion.

The alleged Cover Up

The “West Memphis Three” were released from prison in 2011, in an “Alford Plea” deal. This is typically done when a suspect is still asserting their innocence, but fears circumstances or lack of exonerating evidence will result in a guilty verdict.

As a result, the terms of a Alford Plea may require a suspect to submit a guilty plea for a lighter or suspended sentence.

Now adults, the men still maintained their innocence. Previous attempts for a retrial were unsuccessful. This was based on police reports that potentially absolving evidence was lost in a fire.

After 18 years in jail, the trio reluctantly accepted a plea. Although full exoneration did not apply to this deal, and the three are still had the conviction on their records.

However, an investigation from earlier this year revealed that the “evidence destroying fire” never happened.

In 2011, West Memphis Police officers reportedly told the legal teams they were not able to access the evidence of the case, due to a fire that destroyed it all. During the course of the pandemic, the legal teams were able to uncover the truth and a potential cover up.

Echols tweeted that his attorney “was in the evidence room and saw it with his own eyes. Every piece is still there.”