For many years now, I have followed the case best known as The West Memphis 3, which involved the convictions of three young men (Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley, Jr.) from West Memphis, Arkansas following the discovery of three eight-year-old boys (Todd Moore, Stevie Branch, and Chris Byers) found raped, beaten, and mutliated in the woods of the same town.

While several books and magazine articles have been published regarding this highly controversial case, I recently came across The Blood of Innocents by Guy Reel, Marc Perrusquia, and Bartholomew Sullivan. Although it bears a copyright date of 1995, with no apparent updates, I realized that this was one version I had missed reading.

Every book or other publication that I have read regarding this case focus on the controversy of the verdicts rendered in this case. Considering that the West Memphis 3 were convicted solely on circumstancial evidence, testimony provided by a variety of characters including one of three who has tested to be mildly retarded, a wanna-be-detective named Vicki Hutcheson whose story is both outrageous and later recanted, and a slue of hysterical townspeople caught up in the satanic hype.

I was disappointed, to say the least, when I found that, while it does offer insight into much of this bumbled trial, The Blood of Innocents almost seemed to have been written in a hurry. As a general rule, a reader can feel the desperation of an author to show how these three boys were convicted with no forensic evidence and debatable verbal testimony. In The Blood of Innocents, there wasn't the same feel. As a matter of fact, it came across as if the authors were somewhat afraid to cross the paths of law enforcement but had to follow suit of other writers and be sure to disclose the real occurences surrounding this case.

When it comes to the story of the West Memphis 3, it's extremely difficult to believe someone could be, in a word, blase'. This is a case that has clear lines drawn; you either believe in their innocence or you believe in their guilt, but there is no gray area - which is obvisouly what these three writers were attempting to create.

Are the West Memphis 3 guilty? In my opinion: no. Were they arrogant and/or dumb teenagers? Absolutely. Is my opinion the right one? DNA evidence from this case recently tested by today's standards says that I am as said evidence resulted in no connection to any of the three, however it did in fact match to one of the three victims' stepfather, Terry Hobbs (whose now ex-wife has provided statements to police that appear to implicate her ex-husband in the murders). Unfortunately, this new development alone cannot reverse the conviction of the West Memphis 3 and they currently await new trials anticipated to be held in September and October 2008.

If this is a case that you have not yet read about, I strongly encourage you to read The Devil's Knot by Mara Leverrit along with the January 2008 issue of People Magazine.

When reading any material focused on this case, be sure to take the time to really study the evidence used to convict these young men. Afterwards, form your own opinion...chances are, it won't be much different than mine!

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