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[The West Memphis Three: A Case Study in Police Misconduct and Satanic Panic]-[Episode 123: West Memphis 3 Part 2]

Morbid · B2 · 2020-03-08

True crime
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📋 Summary

The West Memphis Three: A Failure of Justice

This podcast episode provides an in-depth examination of the West Memphis Three case, focusing on the second part of a multi-part series. The hosts, Ash and Alayna, argue that the conviction of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Miskelly was a "farcical" result of a desperate police department fueled by the "Satanic Panic" of the 1990s rather than actual evidence.

The Atmosphere of Fear and Incompetence

Following the brutal murder of three eight-year-old boys—Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stephen Branch—the West Memphis Police Department (WMPD) faced immense pressure. The hosts highlight how the department was "not a highly functioning police department" and was dealing with internal investigations, leading them to be "desperate" to close the case. The narrative quickly turned toward a "ritualistic sacrifice to Satan," despite the total lack of physical evidence at the crime scene to support such a theory. As the hosts note, "nothing at this crime scene would suggest that."

The Role of "Satanic Panic"

Damien Echols, an outsider who wore black and practiced Wicca, became the primary target. The hosts emphasize how the police and community used "leading" tactics to frame anyone who appeared different. Police records were described as a "nightmare" and "a mess," with the case number being intentionally labeled "93-05-0666" to further the satanic narrative. The media and law enforcement actively encouraged rumors, such as the claim that Echols "caused people to levitate" or that body parts were found under his bed, which were treated as "fact" by the public.

The Coerced Confession of Jesse Miskelly

Perhaps the most damning section of the episode details the interrogation of Jesse Miskelly. Miskelly, who had an IQ of 72, was subjected to hours of interrogation without a lawyer or parent present. The hosts describe how detectives Gary Gitchell and Brian Ridge "fed him the story." The audio recordings show the police "correcting" Miskelly’s statements whenever his account of the timeline or details didn't match their narrative. Miskelly later stated, "they hollered at me until I got it right," and admitted he only complied because he thought his father would receive a $35,000 reward.

Fabricated Witnesses and Misdirected Investigations

The episode exposes the role of Vicki Hutchinson, a waitress who became a "self-appointed informant" for the police. She fabricated stories about an "espat" (witch gathering) and an affair with Echols. The hosts point out that these claims were demonstrably false—Echols didn't even have a driver's license, yet she claimed he drove her to a meeting. Furthermore, the police ignored two other viable suspects, Chris Morgan and Brian Holland, who had "indicated deception" on polygraph tests and had fled the state, yet their potential involvement was never pursued because it "fucked up their whole narrative."

Conclusion: A Mockery of Justice

The hosts conclude that the case was a "mockery" of the justice system. By focusing on "stupid-ass details" and building a case around prejudice rather than forensics, the West Memphis police failed the victims and their families. The episode serves as a chilling reminder of how easily the legal system can be manipulated when authorities are more interested in closing a case than finding the truth.

🎯Key Sentences

1
I'm not going to make any promises here because mama doesn't like brevity.
2
We're all in this together.
3
And then we're going to take you into the dumps.
4
I don't want to hear it but I need to hear it.
5
It's like closure, I guess.
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📝Key Phrases

1
dive into
2
get up my butt
3
make any promises
4
in my heart of hearts
5
near and dear to my heart
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📖 Transcript

Hey weirdos, it's Ash. Before we dive into today's twisted tale, let me tell you about the spooky perks of Wondery+.
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