No connection between police chief’s resignation and West Memphis 3 evidence suppression, says mayor

McClendon says Pope leaving WMPD unrelated to Echols murder case

news@theeveningtimes.com “I just got off the phone with the L.A. Times — this social media rumor has gotten out of hand and the mayor will release a statement soon,” said West Memphis Communication Director Nick Coulter last Wednesday Afternoon.

The west coast print media was not the only one to pick up on West Memphis Three convict Damien Echols’ social media post claiming that the West Memphis Police Department and former Chief Michael Pope hid evidence containing DNA that would overturn his original 1993. Echols’ latest assertion was covered far and wide including MSN.

Echols posted: “The chief of police was not truthful. He has now resigned, and we know that none of the evidence was destroyed. It can now be tested, to see who left DNA at the crime scene. My attorney was in the evidence room this morning and saw it with his own eyes. Every piece is still there” “Devil’s Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three” author Mara Leveritt amplified details in her December 21 Tweet: “Patrick Benca, an attorney for Damien Echols, said he’s been advised that WMPD Chief Mike Pope resigned. Benca was in WM this morning to examine evidence in the case of the WM3, some of which was reported missing.

Benca texted, “We found the ligatures. We got what we needed.”

West Memphis Mayor Marco McClendon said saying it was so did not make it so. The mayor denied Chief Pope’s resig-

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File photo RESIGNATION (cont.)

nation December 7 written notice had to do with the evidence room search two weeks later. Reportedly everything in the search had been properly stored and labelled. The mayor considered Echols’ speculation as unfounded. The mayor indicated resignation and the search were coincidental but unrelated.

Mcclendon also stated the city would be cooperative with any lawful inquiry in the triple homicide case.

“Chief Pope’s resignation is completely unrelated to the West Memphis 3 rumors being sent out on social media,” read McClendon’s response on December 22. “We have no vested interest in trying to withhold any evidence from anyone on either side. We will fully comply to any lawful request made regarding this case.

I am hopeful that this will bring closure to the families of Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers, Michael Moore and justice is finally brought to light for Echols, Baldwin, Misskelley. My prayers go out to the families of victims and to everyone involved in trying to seek justice, restoration and closure to this case.”