Abomination: Devil Worship and Deception in the West Memphis Three Murders (42 page)

While in jail, he read books by devout occultists, and even attempted the Abramelin working to contact his Holy Guardian Angel (HGA). Crowley openly stated his HGA was Lucifer.

And what does Echols do upon release? He gets heavily tattooed with every occult, black magic insignia imaginable, including four magical circles on his body with the Theban alphabet used in Wicca. He also associated with transhumanist occultist Genesis P. Orridge and satanic musician Marilyn Manson, among others---an obvious willingness to communicate with other practitioners of the black magic. Continued interest by Echols in witchcraft and Satanism after his release further informs the accusations and evidence of occult involvement prior to his arrest in June of 1993.

It is remarkable how easy it seems Echols got others to believe what he wanted them to believe. His ability to obtain the assistance of so many adherents is one of the astonishing mysteries of the West Memphis case. The topical nature of the information in the
Paradise Lost
“documentaries” is part of the problem. I also suspect the basis for his achievement is rooted in two of the fundamental principles of occultists as described by Eliphas Levi: the primacy of their own will and the use of deception, even at the expense of others.

Echols is older, wiser, better read now, having digested most, if not all, of the foremost occult works of past centuries. I recently heard that he wants to spend his days teaching other people about what he learned in jail. The leopard has not changed his spots.

It proves that professional journalists who have written vile puff pieces about Damien Echols for People, Rolling Stone, the New York Times, GQ and elsewhere have failed to engage in even minimal research, considering that the evidence in this case overwhelmingly shows that Jessie Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols committed the crime. I cannot imagine a situation that should necessitate a heightened inquiry and investigation of national media and journalists---three eight year olds were horrifically murdered. As the truth of the crime becomes known, one question will be asked of this case: how can so many get it so wrong?

The astonishing acquiescence of the national media is hard to believe. The total failure to complete even the simplest inquiry into this murder case will endure as vicious indictment of the entirety of United States television and print journalism. A venal celebrity culture, overflowing with easily bamboozled observers hypnotized by flash-bulb media presentations and choking on topical lies pervades current American culture. American culture which sadly now influences the entire world. The public cannot or will not grasp the unimaginable reality: that a vicious, narcissistic occultist of the vilest stripe, an unrepentant child killer, travels to and fro across the United States, lying to a credulous public about the murder of three children.

The national media’s continued support for Satanists convicted twice for the murder of three innocent children playing in a vacant lot is the kind of utter moral failure known to Old Testament societies prior to the just affliction of God’s judgments. My sincere hope is that the American people read the evidence in this case and realize that the release of the three murderers, Jessie Misskelley, Jason Baldwin and Damien Echols is a mistake and a blatant injustice. Due to the seemingly willful distortion and lies about the actual evidentiary record, three convicted killers now walk free in America, capable of the brutal torture and murder of three eight year olds. You have been warned.

William Ramsey

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Timeline

May 5th, 1993

Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore reported missing in the evening of the 5th in West Memphis, Arkansas.

May 6, 1993

The bodies of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore, all 8 years old, are found in Robin Hood Hills in West Memphis, Arkansas.
June 3, 1993

Jessie Lloyd Misskelley, Jr., 17, is brought in for questioning by the West Memphis Police Department. During questioning, he makes two statements which implicates himself, Damien Wayne Echols, 18, and Charles Jason Baldwin, 16. All three are arrested.
June 4, 1993

Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin are arraigned in West Memphis Municipal Court by Judge Jones P. Rainey. Judge Rainey appoints temporary attorneys for the three murder defendants and schedules a hearing for Monday, June 7.

June 7, 1993
Hearing in Crittenden County Circuit Court in Marion, Arkansas. Judge David Goodson appoints two attorneys each to represent the three defendants.
Representing Echols - Craighead County chief public defender Val P. Price and Jonesboro attorney Scott Davidson.
Representing Misskelley - Paragould attorneys Daniel T. Stidham and Gregory L. Crow.
Representing Baldwin - Jonesboro attorneys Paul N. Ford and George Robin Wadley Jr.

June 17, 1993

Prosecutors file a motion requesting samples of blood, hair, saliva, footprints and fingerprints from Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley.
June 25, 1993

Attorneys for Jessie Misskelley file a motion stating that compliance with the state's request to obtain blood, saliva and hair samples from their client, would be "an unreasonable intrusion" and would violate his constitutional rights.
June 28, 1993

Attorneys for Jason Baldwin file a motion to suppress any evidence seized from Baldwin or his residence on the night of June 3, arguing that the nighttime search did not comply with state law.
July 26, 1993

Attorneys for Jessie Misskelley file a motion for a change of venue claiming their client cannot get a fair trial because of the publicity the case has generated. With a change of venue, a jury would be selected from a county other than Crittenden County.
August 4, 1993

Pretrial hearing in Marion. All three defendants plead not guilty to capital murder charges. Circuit Judge Charles David Burnett severs Misskelley's trial from that of Echols and Baldwin. Prosecution's motions seeking blood, hair and saliva samples are granted.
September 27, 1993

Pretrial hearing in Marion. Presiding Judge Burnett grants defense attorneys' request for a change of venue over the prosecution's objection. Burnett also rules that Echols and Baldwin will be tried together, and he denies defense requests to suppress evidence seized from the defendants' homes on the night of their arrests.
October 11, 1993

Attorneys for Jessie Misskelley file a motion that seeks to suppress his June 3 statement (confession).

October 15, 1993

Attorneys for Jason Baldwin file a number of motions, including: an order to prohibit any mention of sodomy when the case goes to trial because of lack of medical evidence to support; another request for a severance from Echols' trial; and suppression of Baldwin's juvenile record and school records.
October 19, 1993

Pretrial hearing in Jonesboro. Judge David Burnett rules that Jason Baldwin will be tried as an adult. Trial dates and locations are announced. Misskelley's trial is scheduled for January 18 in Clay County, and the Echols/Baldwin trial for February 22 in Jonesboro.
November 15, 1993
Attorneys for Jessie Misskelley file a motion asking that Misskelley be ruled mentally retarded, thus not eligible for the death penalty if convicted.
November 16, 1993
Pretrial hearing in Osceola. Judge Burnett rules Misskelley will be tried as an adult.
November 17, 1993
Police find a knife in the lake behind the trailer home where Jason Baldwin was living at the time of the murders in May.
December 21, 1993
Pretrial hearing. Judge Burnett rules that Jessie Misskelley is not mentally retarded and could face the death penalty if he's convicted.
January 13, 1994
Pretrial hearing in Marion, dealing with suppression of Misskelley's statement.

January 15, 1994
Judge Burnett rules Misskelley's taped confession will be admissible at trial.
January 26, 1994
Jessie Misskelley's trial begins.