By Marc Perrusquia
The Commercial Appeal
MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The West Memphis Three are free, but their larger goal - exoneration - remains unrealized.
Advocates are taking a step today they hope will help attain that goal, announcing a $100,000 reward for information that proves who killed three 8-year-old West Memphis boys in 1993.
“Finding out who really is responsible for this (is) first and foremost,” said Patrick Benca, attorney for former death row inmate Damien Echols.
Following sensational trials in 1994, Echols, then 19, was sentenced to death and two co-defendants, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, also teenagers, received life sentences. Amid ever-growing doubt over those convictions, the trio were released in August 2011 under a deal requiring them to plead guilty yet allowing them to maintain their innocence.
“We are not looking for theories, but for real information that can put the true criminals behind bars,” Benca said.
The reward, financed by an anonymous donor, is being offered “for new information that leads to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons responsible,” a news release says.
Responding to the reward announcement, prosecuting attorney Scott Ellington repeated a vow he made last fall to “look at all credible evidence” presented by the defense. “We’re honoring that commitment as we speak,” he said, indicating the state crime lab is cooperating with ongoing DNA testing.
The announcement of the reward comes as Echols’ attorneys pressure Ellington to reopen the investigation of the 1993 murders of second-graders Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, who were stripped, bound and beaten before being thrown in a creek.
Last month, Echols’ Washington lawyer, Stephen L. Braga, sent Ellington affidavits of three witnesses who purport to have new information about the stepfather of one of the victims. That stepfather,
Terry Hobbs, has been the focus of wide suspicion among West Memphis Three supporters since DNA testing in 2007 found his hair in the knot of a shoelace used to bind one of the victims.
Since then, two witnesses have emerged to say they saw Hobbs with the boys shortly before they disappeared.
Last month, Braga gave Ellington sworn statements of three more witnesses who contend that Hobbs’ nephew told them “my Uncle Terry murdered those three little boys.” The witness claimed Terry Hobbs’ nephew was told the revelation was “the Hobbs family secret,” according to a news release issued by the defense.
Ellington declined comment on the affidavits.
Hobbs, 53, denies any involvement in the murders.
Hobbs said Monday he’s “tired of the games” and has written a 2,500-word presentation for an unnamed publisher for a book he is writing.
“I’m really close to securing a book deal. I’m going to tell my story,” Hobbs said in a phone interview.
“I’m tired of the games. This isn’t a game.”
A defense news release said billboards and radio advertisements will promote the reward to encourage anyone with credible information to call a confidential tip line at (501) 256-1775 or write to P.O. Box 183, 6834 Cantrell Road, Little Rock, AR 72207. Echols’ attorneys will review all calls and verify information before turning any evidence over to Ellington, the release said.
Copyright 2012 The Commercial Appeal, Inc.