The Witching Trial of West Memphis

On May 5th, 1993, three eight-year-old boys (Michael Moore, Steve Branch, and Christopher Byers) were reported missing in West Memphis, Arkansas.

The following day a search was made of a wooded area known to the locals in the small town of West Memphis as Robin Hood Hills.

And sadly, the remains of the three best friends were discovered in a drainage ditch, beaten, naked, and bound.

It didn't take long for the police and the locals to consider this murder as a cult sacrifice.

The authorities set their sights on three teenagers who they felt fit the perfect description of a Satan worshipper by their long hair, black clothing, and worst of all, they listened to heavy metal music.

One month after the three boy's bodies were discovered, the three teens were arrested based on a confession that many say is more of a fairytale than an admission of guilt.

In the early months of 1994, the three teens went to trial.

And we have put together the entire transcript of the trial of Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin.

From the pretrial hearing right up to the sentencing day.

We did not alter any of these transcripts so you will read them just as the spectators in the courthouse in Jonesboro, Arkansas.

And now you can read the words as the jury heard them so many years ago. And come to your conclusions on the guilt or innocence in The Witching Trial of West Memphis.