WM3 may now seek DNA testing according to Arkansas Supreme Court

Echols will have chance to see evidence tested with new method

By DON WILBURN

donaldfwilburn@gmail.com

Arkansas Supreme Court orders new DNA testing in 30-year-old murder case, marking a major development in the investigation of the West Memphis Three Three decades after the brutal murders of three Cub Scouts in West Memphis the Arkansas Supreme Court has ruled that new DNA testing of evidence from the crime scene can proceed. This signi_cant decision overturns a previous ruling by a circuit court that denied a request for further testing by Damien Echols, one of the men convicted of the crime.

Damien Echols, along with Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley Jr., were teenagers when they were convicted of the triple murder in 1994. The men, known as the “West Memphis Three,” served 18 years in prison before being released in 2011 after signing Alford pleas, maintaining their innocence but acknowledging prosecutors had enough evidence to convict them.

Echols, through his lawyer Stephen Braga, expressed gratitude for the Arkansas Supreme Court’s decision to allow the new DNA testing. Echols stated that he hopes the testing will _nally reveal the truth about the case.

The Supreme Court’s decision was based on the Arkansas Code Annotated Act 1780, which allows for DNA testing to demonstrate a person’s actual innocence. Echols’ defense team plans to work on an agreement with the prosecutor to ensure the testing is done expeditiously and accurately.

Prosecutors had argued at trial that Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley committed the murders as part of a

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satanic ritual, with Echols portrayed as the ringleader. The children’s bodies were found bound and left in a ditch, sparking a high-pro_le case that garnered national attention.

The recent request for DNA testing was denied in 2022, based on the argument that Echols was no longer in custody at the time of the request. However, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that Echols’ request was legal under Act 1780, emphasizing the importance of exploring new technological advancements in forensic testing.

The men have maintained their innocence throughout the years, with supporters and critics alike questioning the evidence used to convict them. The case was the subject of the “Paradise Lost” documentary trilogy, which raised doubts about the validity of the prosecution’s case. The new DNA testing may prove to be a turning point in the investigation, potentially shedding light on who was truly responsible for the tragic murders of Steve Branch, Chris Byers, and Michael Moore. The ruling by the Arkansas Supreme Court paves the way for further scrutiny of the evidence and a renewed effort to seek justice in a case that has haunted the local community for nearly 30 years.