-
3 Boys went missing
-
Bodies of 3 little boys discovered
The bodies of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, all 8 years old, are found in a ditch in the woods behind Blue Beacon Truck Wash in West Memphis, Arkansas. -
Damien, Jessie & Jason Arrested
Jessie Lloyd Misskelley, Jr., 17, is brought in for questioning by the West Memphis Police Department. During questioning, he makes two statements which implicates himself, Damien Wayne Echols, 18, and Charles Jason Baldwin, 16. All three are arrested. -
Hearing
Hearing in Crittenden County Circuit Court in Marion. Judge David Goodson appoints two attorneys each to represent the three defendants. -
Sampled Suspects blood, hair ect.
Prosecutors file a motion requesting samples of blood, hair, saliva, footprints and fingerprints from Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley. -
Pretrial Hearing- Plea Not Guilty
Pretrial hearing in Marion. All three defendants plead not guilty to capital murder charges. Circuit Judge Charles David Burnett severs Misskelley's trial from that of Echols and Baldwin. Prosecution's motions seeking blood, hair and saliva samples are granted. -
Pretrial hearing in Jonesboro
Pretrial hearing in Jonesboro. Judge David Burnett rules that Jason Baldwin will be tried as an adult. Trial dates and locations are announced. Misskelley's trial is scheduled for January 18 in Clay County, and the Echols/Baldwin trial for February 22 in Jonesboro. -
Knife Discovered
Police find a knife in the lake behind the trailer home where Jason Baldwin was living at the time of the murders in May. -
Period: to
Misskelly Trial Starts
life in prison plus two twenty-year sentences. -
Misskelly Final Verdict
12:10am: The jury asks to be excused for the night.
9:30am: The jury returns and continues deliberations.
11:54am: The jury reaches a verdict. They find Jessie guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Michael Moore and second-degree murder in the deaths of Chris Byers and Steve Branch.
After brief penalty phase arguments from both sides, the jury deliberates Misskelley's punishment. After twenty-six minutes, they return with life in prison plus two twenty-year sentences. -
Echols/Baldwin trial begins
-
Period: to
Echols/Baldwin trial
-
Echols/Baldwin trial Final Verdict
The jury reaches a verdict. They find both Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin guilty of three counts of capital murder. They return with death by lethal injection for Damien Echols and life in prison without possibility of parole for Jason Baldwin. -
Released From Prison
Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were released from prison as part of an Alford plea deal, a legal mechanism in which "guilty" pleas are entered but innocence is nevertheless maintained.
