BONUS - SMALL TOWN MURDER - THE WEST MEMPHIS 3 (PART 1)
Added 2025-01-05 02:30:44 +0000 UTCThis week, James and Jimmie discuss the West Memphis 3 case from West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993. (This case is still ongoing... and this will be part 1 of a series! Don't worry! We'll get to it!)
Happy New Year!!
Comments
I do think that a trucker could’ve very easily done this. Truck stops are usually very dark and VERY loud - trucks are either running or have an APU going (to have heat or A/C while sleeping,) plus if you haul reefer (refrigerated) trailers, those are usually running too. They could’ve done this in an empty trailer, and with the Blue Beacon right there, could’ve gotten it washed out and been gone. I don’t think blood would raise any suspicions to the Blue Beacon staff either - I used to work on a dedicated Perdue route, and sometimes I’d get loads of byproduct, which were giant plastic bags full of guts and liquids and other really disgusting stuff, that would inevitably leak all over the trailer and I’d have to get it washed out. I’m sure the Blue Beacon staff have seen and smelled all kinds of crazy shit 🤷♀️
Monika DeLeeuw-Tanchyk
2025-09-11 15:12:55 +0000 UTCSame here!
Benjamin Fleming
2025-08-11 14:52:42 +0000 UTCI just heard you guys talking about how you long have offended Christians so we probably don't like your show... I've been listening for years. I've been to your live shows and I'm going to keep on listening. You guys are hilarious
ty everett
2025-04-28 22:47:42 +0000 UTCI might be the only person on the planet who knew nothing about this, likely due to being a teen in a small town at the time. You did great! Looking forward to part 2.
Alan’s Mom
2025-04-24 23:34:15 +0000 UTCFrom west Memphis and I had to get patreon just to listen to what the guys say about WM3.
MisledChef
2025-02-18 18:07:00 +0000 UTCEveryone lost except the killer.
Travis WTAF
2025-02-13 03:02:00 +0000 UTCLate comment: I think it’s worth watching ‘The Forgotten West Memphis Three’ 2 part documentary with Bob Ruff. It is available on YouTube. I’ll own up to my terrible sense of humor- I don’t think Bob Ruff prepared the Herpetologist enough for showing her the crime scene photos. I half expected her to scream, “Oh Jesus, I just like turtles!” As a Psych RN, I agree that JMB was seriously looney tunes and there are legit questions surrounding his wife’s death, but this crime was more organized than I believe JMB could carry out. I think this was committed by a psychopath and Terry Hobbs exhibits characteristics consistent with a the psychopath who killed these 3 boys.
LostAuroraX
2025-02-11 19:23:45 +0000 UTCThere is also a really good 6 or 7 or so part podcast (also on YouTube) called Crime Weekly with a true crime YouTuber and a former detective. They go really, really deep with it. I would recommend watching the Paradise Lost Trilogy (or is it 4 now?) and then watching the Crime Weekly podcast. It’s one of the cases that has really stuck with me and makes me sick. My heart just aches for not only the little victims, but the falsely accused victims as well. It haunted me like the case with the Central Park 5. Fun fact: Metallica heard about the situation and allowed their music to be played in the Paradise Lost documentaries in lieu of a soundtrack free of charge in support of Damian, Jesse, and Jason.
Jen Meents
2025-02-01 12:09:12 +0000 UTCThere is! Its a really big 3 part-er called Paradise Lost. It's excellent
Ashley Ann
2025-01-31 16:37:16 +0000 UTCHow is it that I was born in ‘93, from Arkansas, and have never heard of this case???
Sydney
2025-01-23 03:15:30 +0000 UTCMy partner did the exact same shit as Damien when he was in middle school and high school. His reasoning was the same: the weirder and scarier he could portray himself, the less likely people were to fuck with him. And it worked.
Donielle Leonardis
2025-01-21 14:59:16 +0000 UTCJust the show Byers put on for the cameras was enough to convince me he knew more than he said, gonna have to listen to Devils Knot because holy shit all this other stuff.
Tiffany Zeiss
2025-01-20 19:14:45 +0000 UTCThe most in depth podcast I’ve ever heard on the subject.
Sarah Wickham
2025-01-20 02:18:52 +0000 UTCI'm watching the hbo documentary, again. This case is horrific. The corruption is the worst. Not a single shred of evidence against them. I truly hope they get cleared. And the real killer is found.
Laura T
2025-01-19 19:43:27 +0000 UTCI’m scared for life after seeing those poor boys 😢
Nyssa Bailey
2025-01-19 06:18:03 +0000 UTCI’ve never been able to watch this doc. 2 min in I was near vomiting and crying. Those poor babies.
Amber Nicole
2025-01-18 19:23:52 +0000 UTCAgreed! I’d like a ten parter from them!
Fran Hitzke
2025-01-13 23:33:08 +0000 UTCI was looking for an in depth podcast about this case and Bob Ruff’s Truth & Justice season 5 is pretty good so far.
Fran Hitzke
2025-01-13 23:32:44 +0000 UTCI’ve never delved into WM3 because I was looking for the right outlet to break it down for me. Once again, you guys do not let us down. Downloaded Devil’s Knot (Jimmy, I can’t say that out loud now without chuckling after what you said 😆) so now I have some reading homework before the next episode. Excellent work you guys.
Amy Sousa
2025-01-12 23:53:05 +0000 UTCI believe terry hobbs did it. He has too many boxes checked
Nikki Gonzalez
2025-01-12 22:09:06 +0000 UTCI’m so keen for this!
Fran Hitzke
2025-01-12 05:35:32 +0000 UTCSorry, not trying to be that asshole, but this is really an awesome museum, and it was hurting my soul that Jimmie was saying MLK Jr. was shot in West Memphis. 😂
Kristin Morris
2025-01-10 19:57:26 +0000 UTChttps://www.civilrightsmuseum.org/
Kristin Morris
2025-01-10 19:55:55 +0000 UTCThere's an interview with JMs original lawyer where he says it's almost certain he didn't because of the timeliness and how well he was accounted for. Most likely a trucker or bojangles.
mark
2025-01-09 23:08:58 +0000 UTCThere are several, but the original, most famous one is ‘Paradise Lost’ from HBO. Another one that is newer is ‘West of Memphis’
Ryan J Critchett
2025-01-09 16:57:26 +0000 UTCWhat is the name of the documentary
Amy Brassard
2025-01-09 15:46:48 +0000 UTCYou guys killed it i also think J M Byars did it
Pat West
2025-01-09 04:35:01 +0000 UTCAwesome episode, take as many episodes as you need with this topic! I’ve seen all the HBO documentaries and a few other presentations of this case but you guys talked about things I still didn’t know. Looking forward to the next one 🙂
Samantha
2025-01-09 04:03:51 +0000 UTCYou can do 4 episodes of this topic, I always love when you give us the details we otherwise wouldn’t know! You do such a great job with your research!! Thanks guys 💝
LouLou Rogers
2025-01-08 19:14:22 +0000 UTCThis could have been 4 hours long & I would have listened. We don’t care how long or how many parts an episode is!!! We love y’all!
LauraSue
2025-01-08 15:06:00 +0000 UTCHome run guys!! please keep these episodes coming. I learned so much from this. Your research really shows this was one of my favorites.
Laura Errera
2025-01-08 03:34:09 +0000 UTCTotally been waiting for you guys to cover this. It’s so infuriating….
Matt Eberhardt
2025-01-07 20:06:36 +0000 UTCI can't wait for more parts. Excellent coverage on this case.
Kristie Hoppe
2025-01-07 18:32:33 +0000 UTCWe LOVE along episodes!
Jacki Soukup
2025-01-07 18:27:41 +0000 UTCLooking forward to the next episode on this. James don't ever apologize for going long on any subject. You and Jimmy are the best.
Michael Johnson
2025-01-07 17:29:30 +0000 UTCI love you guys so much - a 30 year old Wiccan who loves tea. Clocked me💀
Jessa FitzWilliam
2025-01-07 17:22:18 +0000 UTCWell howdy fellers. Been having you guys in my ears at work, all day everyday for 6 months. You're hilarious of course. Just wanted to drop by and say that I am a redhead from Arkansas so today I fell a little attacked. Lmao. Just kidding. There will also be poop at my job. I'm in Fort Wayne, Indiana now and work as a residential cleaner. Hense the poop and the name Cinderella Barbie. I was also a dj for 20 years and retired on 4:20. I did that so I could remember my sobriety from alcohol date, but may have switched my addiction to spicy candy from Michigan! 😜 Anyways.. Looking into one of your live shows close to me! Can't wait!
Cinderella Barbie72
2025-01-07 15:17:55 +0000 UTCI live in Glasgow and when I was like 13 I first heard those noises from a fox. Just as James said I thought it was a woman being attacked or raped or something horrible. This went for a couple of weeks of me looking out my room window and I finally seen a fox in my street open its mouth and make the noise I was like wtf that’s what it’s been the whole time 😂😂😂
David Smart
2025-01-07 13:35:49 +0000 UTCThis is one of my fav bonus episodes you’ve done. Would love to hear more on your takes on the “mainstream” cases and your thoughts and breakdowns like this.
Travis Ares
2025-01-07 12:21:35 +0000 UTCAs someone who lived in an even poorer part of the state at the same time, I was basically the female version of Damien. I can’t put into words the level of insanity and the hell we (wild youts) went through with our families and small communities. Our parents would seek FINS or CINC petitions and judges would send us to some fairly fucked up places. My own mother did this and had the apartment (aka projects) blessed and “exorcised” of my presence, once I was locked up. It was wild in AR in the late 80s/early 90s, and not in a good way. I was even sent to one of the adolescent units Damien was sent to (not at the same time). This type of thing messed all of us up. Many of my friends went on to OD, trying to cope with what fearful, religious zealots created - lots of trauma. Sorry for the book but this case is very close to my heart. I remember watching the whole thing unfold on the news. I thought, no way. Graffiti, sure. Threats/acting tough, absolutely. Murder, hell no. James nailed it, it was the only way to get the preps to leave us tf alone.
Laura B.
2025-01-07 02:21:48 +0000 UTCI would love to hear you guys do this whole case even if it’s 10 parts. I’ve heard a couple other podcasts and none of them do it quite like you two
Erica Magliochetti
2025-01-06 22:54:02 +0000 UTCWow. Wife and I have tapped out twice on this doc due to the footage at the beginning. Glad to hear it in my preferred format. Excellent.
Matthew Fisher
2025-01-06 21:43:11 +0000 UTCI didn't know it was after the fact! What a completely random inconvenience for the investigation! 🙄
Riley
2025-01-06 20:38:02 +0000 UTCYes please don’t apologize!!! Cannot wait for other episodes regarding this! I love that you do such a thorough deep dive on subjects!
Katelyn Hallam
2025-01-06 19:09:18 +0000 UTCJAMES please don’t ever apologize for going long !!!!
Dawn Sherman
2025-01-06 18:47:43 +0000 UTCParadise Lost
Crime in Sports and Small Town Murder
2025-01-06 17:21:59 +0000 UTCI've been listening to this show for years and don't think they have ever blamed religion directly, rather the acts of people in the name of religion being the issue.
Ken Kuipers
2025-01-06 15:30:57 +0000 UTCmy sister worked on the free the WM3 website for years. I know too much about this case. The hair you mentioned was tied in the knot made to bind the child with the shoelace. The teeth removal happened just after the crimes (knowing there were bite marks on the children). JMB did it for sure. I cant wait to see what the new DNA tests show.
Ken Kuipers
2025-01-06 15:19:45 +0000 UTCWhich particular doc are the guys referencing?
Matthew Villeneuve
2025-01-06 15:01:19 +0000 UTCParadise Lost. It's on Max.
Braylen
2025-01-06 10:32:01 +0000 UTCI love any good content that covers this story. I was in HS (2003) when I watched Paradise Lost. And at the time I played DnD (still do) listened to heavy metal and was a smart ass. I didn't get into the occult shit because I thought that was too nerdy. But I also went to church at my little rural town in Oklahoma, and this story pissed me the fuck off. We're not all dumbass rednecks and those sister fucking hicks in West Memphis didn't help.
Braylen
2025-01-06 10:26:15 +0000 UTCI actually am religious but I never take offense and you guys do banter better than anyone 💯
Johnny Jordan
2025-01-06 09:21:57 +0000 UTCWhat's the documentary called? What a fascinating episode
Stevie Barr
2025-01-06 09:13:55 +0000 UTCHow James manages to fit in a wrestling reference into nearly every episode of their shows is awesome 🤣 Great show as always!
Nat
2025-01-06 08:54:01 +0000 UTCI was a black clothes and band Tshirt kid in 97. In southern California. I was in middle school and often read books to keep out of trouble, in class, because of my ADHD. Stephen King was my favorite at the time. My English teacher, kept me after class to warn me that I was letting "Satan into my heart!!! And banishing Jesus!!! Oh Lord! Stephen King can banish Jesus!!" Again this is in a diverse city in SoCal. So I can imagine 93 Arkansas was 20x as nuts. These poor kids. All of them.
Alexis Smith (You're Welcome Jimmie)
2025-01-06 04:41:10 +0000 UTCWhat single shred of evidence is there that ties any of those kids murdered those boys????
Alexis Smith (You're Welcome Jimmie)
2025-01-06 04:33:03 +0000 UTCJames don’t you dare apologize for going off on tangents! That’s what we all love! Great episode, as always 🤗
Abby
2025-01-06 01:48:06 +0000 UTCYou know you can simply stop listening to something you don’t like, and, get this - not say anything?
Abby
2025-01-06 01:42:20 +0000 UTCSadly, it’s reality in a lot of places here in the us! I wish it was only satire 🤦♀️
Abby
2025-01-06 01:34:18 +0000 UTCYes! I listened to that interview as well, and really enjoyed it. Damien is an interesting guy.
Abby
2025-01-06 01:32:53 +0000 UTCI agree he’s a really interesting person. And to have come out of everything he’s been through and still be able to find positivity and happiness? Pretty impressive! That’s interesting about the knots, hopefully that will yield some good info
Abby
2025-01-06 01:31:36 +0000 UTCPretty sure they were referring to fire and brimstone style christians
Abby
2025-01-06 01:29:44 +0000 UTCIt was Mr Bojangles!
Don Brodka Jr
2025-01-06 01:00:55 +0000 UTCYes! 😆
Angelina Marconi
2025-01-06 00:56:37 +0000 UTCThis is a case we could talk about for years. The Paradise Lost documentaries are good, and I'm grateful they were made because of they weren't this case would have been swept under the rug and three innocent boys would have been put away forever. But, please don't forget to watch West of Memphis and the Forgotten West Memphis Three. Dan Stidham and Mara Leverett are heroes. My heart aches for Pam Hicks. They're also testing the evidence right now using new DNA technology. (Damien Echols just announced it. )
Katie McIntosh
2025-01-06 00:02:57 +0000 UTCI will listen to as many West Memphis three episodes as you are willing to make. This case is equal parts horrifying fascinating, and disappointing. Whats not disappointing in the least Is the way you guys tell it 🖤🖤🖤
Dixin Hanns
2025-01-05 23:50:06 +0000 UTCWhen James' new neighbors call the cops about "a screaming woman in the woods", I'm surprised the cops don't respond with: "Are you neighbors with the Pietragallos? Yeah? That's James' wife, Sarah, venting to the universe about stupid people doing stupid things. You're probably safe." Love Sarah's videos where she walks into the woods and screams then gives 2 🖕for her sign off.🤣🤣🤣
Michelle Miller
2025-01-05 23:42:19 +0000 UTCI am wiccan and pay to listen to you!! Love you guys. Everyone is entitled to their own opinions!
Nurse Ratchet
2025-01-05 23:28:23 +0000 UTCI think Terry Hobbs did the killing and the fbi covered it up to fund their "research " on killers.
Catherine Brooks
2025-01-05 23:27:52 +0000 UTCBojangles! Hail nimrod moment
Eric Wright
2025-01-05 22:53:42 +0000 UTCDamien is an interesting cat. Sometimes I listen to him narrating his audio books at night to help me sleep; his voice is very soothing. Hoping we get some answers soon with that new DNA testing. It’s my understanding those knots are being untied and tested. Skin cells found inside could indicate a common handler. Results are supposed to be early this year.
Nicole
2025-01-05 22:40:52 +0000 UTCIt was really sus that the one step dad had his teeth removed. The boys had bite marks. He knew the cops wanted his bite impression and all the sudden he gets all his teeth yanked. Ok
Kat Irving
2025-01-05 21:49:00 +0000 UTCThank you so much for this one. The amount of people I’ve see in online groups still saying they are guilty is astounding. I don’t think with all I’ve read and watched I even know about the reward money, what a difference that tidbit adds even with all the other doubt Also still laughing about u2
Nicole Armstrong
2025-01-05 20:34:29 +0000 UTCAdopted
Ben Dover
2025-01-05 19:40:42 +0000 UTCI enjoy this case, but it’s so skewed towards wrongful convictions in documentaries. There’s absolutely physical evidence tying them to the crime scene (ie suspects DNA on the bindings and the Evan Williams Bottle) I think they did it and I’m not a Jesus freak lol
EMS Rusty
2025-01-05 19:27:42 +0000 UTCI seriously get so mad (for the victims and teens) every time I hear about this case but you could do a whole series on patreon about it and I'd gladly listen. I thought I knew a lot about this case but you mentioned some things I either forgot or just didn't know.
JJ (Jesslyn)
2025-01-05 18:48:06 +0000 UTCThere's a great book on truckers being murderers. Long Haul, there's an estimated 300-500 serial killers that are truckers. I still think the CI step dad scum bag did it. There's a good interview w Damian Echols on Last Podcast.
Dr Phil Goode 👹🌲🔥
2025-01-05 18:37:43 +0000 UTCI was thinking the same. Genitals were removed post-mortem by snapping turtles.
Angelina Marconi
2025-01-05 18:08:46 +0000 UTCThis is true.
Angelina Marconi
2025-01-05 18:05:32 +0000 UTCI grew up in Ireland, a country that was coming to terms what it's hyper conservative Catholic policies had done through abuse and the Magdalenes. And whenever religious weirdos were brought up the stereo type was always some form of a US Southern Satanphobic Christian. This almost feels like a satire at times it is so ridiculous how the local police and authorities handled it.
Stephen Watts
2025-01-05 17:53:04 +0000 UTCGuys, you can do twenty bonuses on WM3 and you’ll never hear me complain! This is one of few cases I literally never get sick of hearing information about or talking about. Thanks!!!
Maggie79
2025-01-05 17:05:37 +0000 UTCSatanic panic is still very much a thing in the south unfortunately. Thanks for covering WM3. Looking forward to the next episode.
Jesse White
2025-01-05 15:55:35 +0000 UTCWhen I watched the first documentary I was sold on the idea that Byers did it but by the end of the third I think Terry did it. He had threatened it before.
Alex Staples
2025-01-05 15:27:25 +0000 UTCI love when James goes Italian accidentally Astrangeaphysicalagression
CJ
2025-01-05 12:46:32 +0000 UTCLove your podcasts. New to Patreon.
Sheila Jaggard
2025-01-05 12:32:03 +0000 UTCI took tegretol for seizures when I was a child and it certainly didn’t make any of my teeth fall out
Jeff Stanton II
2025-01-05 11:09:50 +0000 UTCI don’t fully agree with all the points you’ve made here, but as you’ve said, this is a huge case. And I don’t think we can fully know how this case went to “satanic teens” within a month until we find out who did it. (I’ve wondered before if they were covering for one of their own.) It’s also incredibly infuriating that West Memphis has continued to try to keep this covered up. The fight to test DNA evidence has been brutal. (And if you’re interested, I was at the “hearing” held in June 2022. If you want to know how that went and how we were treated, I wrote up a reflection.) But they finally have a prosecutor who is cooperating, and testing should happen in the next few weeks, so maybe soon we can find out who did this. Also, an interesting thing about Damien is that he isn’t religious BUT he is interested in religion and spirituality. He probably knows more about the Bible than everyone in Arkansas combined.
Sarah Wickham
2025-01-05 10:33:58 +0000 UTCI think Terry Hobbs killed them. He is the most obvious suspect to me. They now believe their was no genital mutilation. It was caused by turtles after death
Libby Lynn
2025-01-05 09:47:49 +0000 UTCTegretol is a seizure and migraine drug, not a cancer drug
Libby Lynn
2025-01-05 09:44:04 +0000 UTCMost of my true crime knowledge comes from your shows and I usually don‘t care much for comedy. A lot of comedians are trying too hard which I find annoying. But with you guys it works and I love the shows ☺️
Nina
2025-01-05 08:46:46 +0000 UTCWell, this is the first one I had to “nope out” from. I’m sure you guys were funny as ever, but the 8-year old genital mutilation in the first 3 minutes was too much for me (not saying you shouldn’t cover it at all, just saying “wow, that’s a lot”)
Patrick Kadian
2025-01-05 08:46:25 +0000 UTCLove you guys. ❤️
Sphynx
2025-01-05 07:45:49 +0000 UTCI'm a religious person and I still listen. And I'm also a day one listener, plus Patreon subscriber. Hahaha..
21FuZzYnIps
2025-01-05 07:23:29 +0000 UTCTried to watch the Paradise Lost documentary. I can't with John Mark Byers. His behavior just screams that he did it, in my opinion.
Becca Thomas
2025-01-05 06:57:00 +0000 UTCPretty sure turtles mutated the kids genitals
Teodoro Urias
2025-01-05 06:26:20 +0000 UTCI never knew of this story. Like at all. Holy shit it's fucked up. I'm personally cool if it goes more than 2 episodes. I enjoy James getting heated lol. Fuck Jerry and Fuck Byers. How can we shame them?
Rick Schmitz
2025-01-05 06:04:33 +0000 UTCNo shit? Never knew that.
Rick Schmitz
2025-01-05 06:02:21 +0000 UTCI can’t wait to hear part 2!!!
Kari Kelly
2025-01-05 05:59:54 +0000 UTCYall said something about people long left listening to yall that were fire and brimstone Christians, not all of them🙋🏼♀️🙋🏼♀️, and Jimmie added that they definitely don't pay, I pay! lol. I just look over the stuff yall say I don't agree with, yall are hilarious and I can be adult and accept that people have different opinions lol. I'm also from the South (AL/MS line) when y'all do come close to me, I'm coming to see yall live!
Whitney Lindsey
2025-01-05 05:45:54 +0000 UTCSorry to hear about that. Unfortunately people are fickle
Stephen Tot
2025-01-05 05:36:57 +0000 UTCHe did :)
Jenn W
2025-01-05 05:16:32 +0000 UTCParadise Lost was where my true crime obsession started. I live in Wisconsin and I was a teenager in the 90s….in middle school people started calling me & my friends Satan worshippers because we wore band tshirts and ripped jeans. People are fucking dumb!
Jenn W
2025-01-05 05:16:03 +0000 UTC3 by disturbed is a great song about this case
Eric
2025-01-05 04:28:10 +0000 UTCByers alabis were totally double checked. Nobody had their dicks chopped off, the kids were maimed by animal bites etc this makes me sad you're usually so well researched
Claire Aitch
2025-01-05 04:20:39 +0000 UTCDidn't Henry Rollins do an album to assist with paying for their legal services?
Stephen Tot
2025-01-05 03:02:43 +0000 UTCAlso to add the first alabama episode yall did in decatur was my cousin. It's been a crazy story in the family for years! His girls have thrived and lived amazing lives. While he continues to rot fuck him 🤣💚
Bethann Tripp
2025-01-05 02:57:02 +0000 UTCI love that yall covered this! One of my favorite true crime cases. They didn't want to get it right by conflicting tjise boys. For reference Jimmy you say my name like "it's britany bitch" but add bethy instead. I cackled listening to yall read it cause my Gma name is Betty it was just great 🤣🤣 I love you guys keep being great 🥰🥰
Bethann Tripp
2025-01-05 02:43:04 +0000 UTCYaaaaaaaaaay!
Plinio Flavio Gonzalez Segovia
2025-01-05 02:38:29 +0000 UTCI love to see a 'part one'. Hell yah
imaweirdy2
2025-01-05 02:37:56 +0000 UTCI have been waiting so long for them to cover the WM3 oh this is going to be awesome so stoked..
Dan Forbes
2025-01-05 02:36:53 +0000 UTCi feel like i've been waiting for this my entire life
nora pseudophan
2025-01-05 02:35:54 +0000 UTCYay!!
Tim Olson
2025-01-05 02:35:26 +0000 UTC
