Blackangel
Member
The three of them were offered the alford plea in 2011, and initially Jason Baldwin refused it. I don't remember the exact details as to why he ended up accepting it, but if I remember correctly it had something to do with Damien. After release Damien moved to New York City with his wife, and is living a quiet life there. Jesse is back in West Memphis taking care of his father who has been suffering several health problems. Jason on the other hand has been working extremely hard with the Innocence Project, helping innocent prisoners get exonerated. I personally met Jason Baldwin 2 years ago at KC Crypticon. After serving 18 years for a crime he was in no way connected to I would have expected him to be bitter and angry at the world. He is the exact opposite. He is one of the sweetest men a person could ever meet. I hope I have the honor of meeting him again.
The thing about their case that has bothered me the most is the incident at the Bojangles restaurant the night the boys were murdered. It was reported to the police that a black man that was covered in mud and blood went into the women's restroom for approximately 30 minutes. After he left there was one stall that had the blood and mud he was covered in all over it. It is my understanding that the police never investigated it.
Another thing was that there was evidence that would have proved their innocence that was denied at trial. I understand that the town was screaming for blood. I would have been also. But there was so much outrage that they latched on to 3 boys that were different. Prior to the arrest, Jason and Damien had never met Jesse. Jason told me personally that fact. Jesse was chosen because he is just over the line of mentally retarded. He is slow. Jason and Damien were chosen because they preferred dark almost gothic clothing and heavy metal music. Damien at the time claimed to be a Wiccan. If West Memphis is anything like the area I live in, then non Christians are completely hated.
I was 11 when the murders happened, and I followed their case all the 18 years they were incarcerated. I also follow their lives now through social media and the Innocence Project. For surviving the pure Hell they were in for 18 years, I personally will always admire them. I couldn't have made it 3 days, let alone 18 years.
The thing about their case that has bothered me the most is the incident at the Bojangles restaurant the night the boys were murdered. It was reported to the police that a black man that was covered in mud and blood went into the women's restroom for approximately 30 minutes. After he left there was one stall that had the blood and mud he was covered in all over it. It is my understanding that the police never investigated it.
Another thing was that there was evidence that would have proved their innocence that was denied at trial. I understand that the town was screaming for blood. I would have been also. But there was so much outrage that they latched on to 3 boys that were different. Prior to the arrest, Jason and Damien had never met Jesse. Jason told me personally that fact. Jesse was chosen because he is just over the line of mentally retarded. He is slow. Jason and Damien were chosen because they preferred dark almost gothic clothing and heavy metal music. Damien at the time claimed to be a Wiccan. If West Memphis is anything like the area I live in, then non Christians are completely hated.
I was 11 when the murders happened, and I followed their case all the 18 years they were incarcerated. I also follow their lives now through social media and the Innocence Project. For surviving the pure Hell they were in for 18 years, I personally will always admire them. I couldn't have made it 3 days, let alone 18 years.