WM3: Victim's Mom Questions Convictions
Monday July 23, 2007
Most people in the Pagan community are familiar with the story of the young men known as the West Memphis Three -- three teenagers accused and convicted of the heinous murder of three little boys. The convicted teens, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Miskelly have been in prison since 1994. Echols in particular has been of interest to the Pagan community because he was labeled almost immediately as a "Satanist" and "devil-worshipper" by investigators.
Fast forward to this year -- new DNA evidence has been examined, and Pam Hobbs is speaking out about it. Hobbs was the mother of one of the murdered eight-year-olds, Stevie Branch. Along with Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, Branch was found tied up and brutally murdered in the small rural town of West Memphis in May 1993. According to forensic specialists, a hair found in the shoelaces used to tie the boys has been identified -- and it doesn't belong to Echols, Misskelly, or Baldwin. Instead, it belongs to Hobbs' ex-husband, Stevie's stepfather, Terry Hobbs. Pam Hobbs says she was "blown away" by the findings.
When asked if she thought Terry Hobbs was capable of killing the boys, Pam Hobbs replied, "I would say there is a possibility that he could be capable. I hate to say it because I'm going on my thoughts and feelings."
West Memphis Deputy Police Chief Mike Allen has stated that at this time, Terry Hobbs is not a suspect in the trial. Pam Hobbs says that she doesn't believe Echols, Baldwin and Misskelly killed her son.
As more examination of DNA evidence goes on, thanks to advancements in testing methods, Damien Echols sits on death row, and Jason Baldwin and Jamie Misskelly spend their days in prison. You can read more about the evidence and chronology of the case at WM3, a site dedicated to getting a new trial for Echols and the other two men.
Fast forward to this year -- new DNA evidence has been examined, and Pam Hobbs is speaking out about it. Hobbs was the mother of one of the murdered eight-year-olds, Stevie Branch. Along with Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, Branch was found tied up and brutally murdered in the small rural town of West Memphis in May 1993. According to forensic specialists, a hair found in the shoelaces used to tie the boys has been identified -- and it doesn't belong to Echols, Misskelly, or Baldwin. Instead, it belongs to Hobbs' ex-husband, Stevie's stepfather, Terry Hobbs. Pam Hobbs says she was "blown away" by the findings.
When asked if she thought Terry Hobbs was capable of killing the boys, Pam Hobbs replied, "I would say there is a possibility that he could be capable. I hate to say it because I'm going on my thoughts and feelings."
West Memphis Deputy Police Chief Mike Allen has stated that at this time, Terry Hobbs is not a suspect in the trial. Pam Hobbs says that she doesn't believe Echols, Baldwin and Misskelly killed her son.
As more examination of DNA evidence goes on, thanks to advancements in testing methods, Damien Echols sits on death row, and Jason Baldwin and Jamie Misskelly spend their days in prison. You can read more about the evidence and chronology of the case at WM3, a site dedicated to getting a new trial for Echols and the other two men.
So why do you think it is unusual to find a family member’s DNA or hair on a crime victim? I would be more surprised if there was NO evidence that the victims had relatives.
Of course hair and DNA from family members was found! It simply proves that the victims weren’t homeless, and had parents.
We already knew that.
Yes, there is the chance that a family member’s DNA would be on the child, but I would think that there would have been some DNA from the mother whom I would believe he was much closer to than the step-father. And I find it interesting that with the violence and work that had to go into this crime, that there was no DNA of the 3 convicted boys at all on this little boy. I feel that these Forensic Specialists may actually know what they are talking about.
The interesting part is that the hair was found in the shoelaces used to tie the boys up. Not the shoelaces on their shoes. That should not be in that place if the stepfather was not involved. Especially if he was an ex-husband at the time of the murders.
stupid comments^fact is no dna linked those convicted of the crime.