The state of Arkansas probably accepted the Alford Plea because they knew they would be up against a well funded OJ type defense. It would have cost them a lot of money to retry the WM3. The WM3 could have waited for trial to exonerate themselves, but they did not, perhaps because they feared they would be found guilty again.
Luminol evidence proved that the crimes were committed at the site the bodies were dumped. Traces of blood were found at the crime scene. WM3 truth is a good website backing the viewpoint that the 3 were guilty. It is a good balance to the one sided movies and supporter websites. It sites callahan 8k repeatedly as a source.
Echols was more that a "disturbed isolated teenage boy." He was a violent teenager who committed acts of violence against others and threatened others and himself with violence. He was very psychotic. It is a lie that everyone recanted who heard him brag about committing the crimes. Several did not recant.
The crime was committed on a full moon by three members of a teenage cult. At least three people committed the crimes, because the victims were tied up with three different knots. Almost all of the evidence points to the WM3. This is why they were found guilty the first time and probably plead guilty last year instead of waiting for a trial.
Many people believe the West Memphis Three were guilty as charged. They were found guilty by a unanimous jury the first time and plead guilty last year instead of waiting for a trial, because they were guilty. Echols was not found guilty because of his clothes or musical tastes. He was found guilty because of the repeated confessions and braggings that the three committed the crime.
Misskelley (one of the 3) confessed FIVE times, three times to the detectives, once to the police and once to his own lawyer. All of the West Memphis three had failed alibis.
Echols had a history of threats of violence, violence, psychiatric treatment and psychotic behavior. His reported actions included brutally killing a dog, starting fires at his school, threatening to kill his teachers and parents and stating he liked to drink blood. See court documents exhibit 500 for evidence of this. Echols' stated under cross-examination that he was interested in the occult. Echols' journal contained morbid images and references to dead children.
Police took a necklace from Echols when he was arrested. An outside crime lab later found blood from two distinct DNA sources on the necklace. One source was consistent with Echols himself. The second source was consistent with both victim Steven Branch and co-defendant Jason Baldwin (one of the 3). A car load of people saw Echols in muddy clothes near the crime scene. Echols went around bragging he committed the crimes to at least three different people after the crimes were committed.
for more information on this case, see wm3truth com
Re: “West of Memphis' happy ending isn't really very happy”
The West Memphis Three were found guilty once and plead guilty a second time last year instead of waiting for a trial. Misskelley (one of the 3) confessed FIVE times, three times to the detectives, once to his lawyers and once to the police. Both Echols and Baldwin (one of the 3) told others they committed the crimes. Echols had a long history of violence, threats of violence and psychotic behavior (see Exhibit 500).
Police took a necklace from Echols when he was arrested. An outside crime lab later found blood from two distinct DNA sources on the necklace. One source was consistent with Echols, the other with Baldwin and one of the victims. A car load of people saw Echols in muddy clothes near the crime scene. Read alternative sources about the case like wm3truth, not just the one-sided movies,