Editor’s Note:
This post recounts my experience at a 2012 Garland County Library event featuring Mara Leveritt, author of Devil’s Knot, following a screening of Paradise Lost. It remains a pivotal moment in my exploration of the West Memphis Three and Arkansas true crime stories.
The Garland County Library’s Great Arkansas Read summer reading program hosted a viewing of Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills. After the movie/documentary, Mara Leveritt, author of Devil’s Knot, spoke about the book, the Paradise Lost movies, and the West Memphis Three case. Mara gave a brief synopsis of the case, followed by a question-and-answer session.
One thing was clear: Mara is passionate about her story and the direction it has taken. She joked that she wrote Devil’s Knot several years ago and it had taken this long to “catch on.” Now, almost twenty years later, her book, her child if you will, is being made into a movie with mainstream actors playing key roles. As Mara spoke, she literally glowed with excitement.
Some of the things Mara spoke about included the Alford plea, the release of the WM3, the new lawsuit filed by Pam Hicks (Hobbs) to view the physical evidence in the case, and the fact that this story was far from over. In addition, Mara answered a variety of questions from the audience and signed books.
In 2006, I had the pleasure of meeting Mara as she worked with my husband, writing a powerful article about the unsolved murder of his mother, Linda Edwards, another story of corruption and murder that has shaped Arkansas’s true crime history. You can read about Linda’s story at www.lindaedwards.com, and read Mara’s article, “So, Open the Grave,” in the Arkansas Times.
Meeting Mara Leveritt in person was both inspiring and unforgettable. Her commitment to uncovering the truth about Arkansas’s most notorious cases, including the story of Linda Edwards and the West Memphis Three, has left a lasting impact on our family and so many others.
To explore more of Mara Leveritt’s investigative work, visit her website at maraleveritt.com.
Boxful of Nightmares: Same Story, Different Voice
If you want to see this case from another perspective, I share the same story as Mara—but from the viewpoint of Terry Hobbs and our family. For more details and ongoing updates, visit Boxful of Nightmares.
Updated Synopsis: The West Memphis Three Case (2012–2025)
Since 1993, the West Memphis Three case has remained one of the most scrutinized and debated criminal cases in Arkansas history. The murders of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Chris Byers led to the convictions of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr., who became known as the “West Memphis Three.”
In 2011, after years of public debate, legal appeals, and new evidence, the three men were released from prison under Alford pleas—a legal arrangement that allowed them to maintain their innocence while acknowledging the state had enough evidence to convict. Their convictions were not overturned, and they were not exonerated.
Since their release:
- The West Memphis Three have continued to assert their innocence, and the case has drawn ongoing national attention, amplified by high-profile celebrity supporters and multiple documentaries.
- Debate about the original investigation and the identity of the true perpetrator(s) continues to this day. Various theories have been proposed and discussed in the media and legal filings, but no one else has been charged or convicted.
Legal and Investigative Updates:
- In 2024, an Arkansas Supreme Court ruling opened the door for new DNA testing on crime scene evidence.
- In August 2025, a judge ordered advanced DNA testing on key items from the case, including ligatures and other forensic evidence, using technology unavailable at the time of the original investigation.
The results of this new testing are pending and may provide clarity on events that have remained controversial for more than three decades.
While debate continues about what really happened in West Memphis in 1993, one fact remains clear: whomever committed this heinous crime deserves to be identified and punished to the full extent of the law. No one responsible for such an act deserves to be free.
In August 2025, a judge ordered new DNA testing on evidence from the case. Read more about the latest developments here: Judge orders DNA testing of WM3 evidence.
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