False Confessions and Judicial Failures

Murder and Mimosas Podcast

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Can a community's fear and paranoia lead to the wrongful conviction of innocent teenagers? Our latest episode grapples with this haunting question as we continue to dissect the infamous West Memphis Three case. We shine a spotlight on Damien Echols, whose troubled past and community suspicion made him a prime target during the satanic panic of the early '90s. The dubious actions of juvenile officer Jerry Driver, local teen LG Hollingsworth, and the fabricated tales spun by Vicki Hutchinson only deepened the shadows hanging over Damien, creating a maelstrom of accusation and fear. Adding to the chaos, we scrutinize Jesse Misskelly's grueling 12-hour police interview, of which only 45 minutes were recorded, casting significant doubt on the legitimacy of his confession.
The injustice doesn't stop there; we unravel the wrongful conviction of 17-year-old Jesse Miskelly, whose coerced confession and intellectual disabilities were overlooked by a flawed legal system. Highlighting his attorney, Dan Stidham's recognition of Jesse's mental incapacity, we expose the procedural failures that led to his unjust imprisonment. We also question the prosecution's evidence, from the suspiciously retrieved knife to the questionable credentials of occult expert Dr. Griffiths and the unreliable jailhouse confession by Michael Carson. Tune in as we challenge the integrity of the evidence and the broader implications of this miscarriage of justice, offering a critical perspective on the trials and tribulations faced by the West Memphis Three.
Sources:
https://famous-trials.com/westmemphis/2287-home

https://www.investigationdiscovery.com/crimefeed/murder/the-west-memphis-three-case-an-evolving-story-of-doubt-misinformation

https://shakedowntitle.com/cases/west-memphis-3/

https://law.jrank.org/pages/3599/West-Memphis-Three-Trials-1994-Appeals-Fail.html

Jessie Miskelley, Jr. - First Taped Confession - 6/3/93 - Audio + Transcript

https://www.facebook.com/watch/live/?ref=search&v=381949830464647

https://www.oxygen.com/the-forgotten-west-memphis-three/true-crime-buzz/celebrities-advocated-release-west-memphis-three

https://www.oxygen.com/the-forgotten-west-memphis-three/crime-news/victims-injuries-animal-predation-west-memphis-three-case

Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham
Paradise Lost Trilogy
Devil's Knot by Mara Leveritt
Life After Death by Damien Echols
Dark Spell by Jason Baldwin and Mara Leveritt
West of Memphis

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Chapters

1. False Confessions and Judicial Failures (00:00:00)

2. True Crime Podcast (00:00:01)

3. The West Memphis Three Trial (00:08:34)

4. Satanic Panic and Convictions (00:17:53)