To this day, it inspires fierce debate and accusations of guilt, while the facts and evidence remain contested. For the latest true crime and justice news,subscribe to the Crime Stories with Nancy Grace podcast. Chris Byers was a typical 8 year who loved to ride his bike and play with friends. Home. She died of undetermined causes on March 29, 1996. John Mark Byers left Christopher at home with his mother when he went to pick up his elder son, Ryan, from court. On the afternoon of May 5, 1993, the three friends were enjoying a warm spring afternoon outdoors. With a penchant for wearing all black, listening to heavy metal music and studying Wicca, Echols was theorized to be the leader of a local Satanic cult that killed the boys in a disturbing ceremony. A new batch of DNA testing in 2007, however, showed that no genetic material from the crime scene evidence was a match to Echols, Baldwin or Misskelley, and they were released from prison four years later after agreeing to an Alford plea, reported the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette. Though he was medicated, his doctors were unable to determine why his behavior was not improving. 18 Related Question Answers Found Where was the Devil's Knot filmed? Metz had been one of the last people to see Melissa Byers alive. Des Moines police said Marquice Morris, 18, of Des Moines, and Joshua McCoy, 20, of Des Moines, were charged in the Wednesday shooting death of Christopher Byers, 20. Judge Walls imposed the sentence today in . John Mark Byers, the stepfather of victim Chris Byers, was called to testify about a knife he had given an HBO film crew working on a documentary about the case and that later was turned over to police. The rumors about him possibly having killed . In 2011, after almost two decades in prison, the West Memphis Three agreed to an Alford plea, which allowed them to proclaim their innocence while admitting the prosecution had enough evidence to convict them, and they were released from prison. Byers asked Metz to come over and see if she had a pulse. Call - 949 645-6244. Attackers set the U.S. mission in Benghazi, Libya, on fire on September 11, 2012. Both wrists bore multiple, well-healed, linear scars. He was sentenced to a year in jail, with nine months suspended, and ordered to pay half of the injured boys medical bills. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! Adopted by Mark Byers at a young age. JOHN MARK BYERS: Talking to reporters in 2011. Ultimately, they were tried and convicted of the murders. The victim had a silver-colored necklace with a cross around her neck.. Stream It Or Skip It: 'Disconnect: The Wedding Planner' on Netflix, A Nollywood Rom-Com Stream It Or Skip It: 'A Sunday Affair' on Netflix, a Lukewarm Nollywood Love-Triangle Drama Throughout the trials, Melissa Byers and her husband, John Mark Byers, were seen frequently on TV, often cursing the defendants. Before granting his permission for the search, John Mark Byers had told a deputy sheriff that police would probably find a small amount of marijuana in the house. how did christopher byers die. He told Witt that at a little after 5 p.m. that evening, John Mark Byers had called him on the phone, saying that he could not awaken his wife. how did christopher byers die how did christopher byers die. Christopher Dickey, the foreign correspondent and editor who covered war, terrorism and espionage for more than 40 countries, died last week from a heart attack at his home in Paris. The puncture marks on the top of her right and left foot were not covered. Byers testified that the blood found on the knife was his, coming from a cut, despite the fact that he had repeatedly told authorities he had . 5:30pm - Melissa Byers testified that Mark Byers found Chris "laying flat on his stomach on a skateboard going down the middle of the street". Melissa Byers was only 40 years old. As if he still had his underwear on when the head was cut off with the blood saturating his underwear and it remained for some time. Melissa was the biological mother of Chris Byers and Ryan Clark. how did christopher byers die. With heavy hearts, we announce the death of Christopher Byers Jr. of Bumpass, Virginia, who passed away on December 4, 2022 at the age of 29. Would you like to offer Christopher Byers Jr.s loved ones a condolence message? Overview. Donald Adams . So, who is responsible for the murders of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers? Metz could not remember it but thought it started with the letter D. Metz advised that John Mark Byers also told him he thought her death was a drug overdose and that they were going to accuse him of smothering her. Two hours later Christopher Byers father reported him missing. The side of Branchs face was ripped apart, and Byers' genitals were so badly mutilated he was essentially castrated, according to the documentary special , Host Bob Ruff, who is also the creator of the, , noted that the mutilation led the original investigators to believe that this was a Satanic ritual., Ultimately, they were tried and convicted of the murders. http://callahan.8k.com/wm3/img/q_gregory_statement.html, http://callahan.8k.com/images2/c_rico/rico_c_statement.jpg, http://callahan.8k.com/wm3/img/c_wahl_notes.html. He passed away from his injuries. At the time of her youngest son's murder in May of 1993, Melissa was married to John Mark Byers. sweet things to write in a baby book. By subscribing or donating, you'll not only have access to all of our articles, but you'll also be supporting our efforts to hire more writers and expand our coverage. Murder . Byers brought Chris home for a spanking and then gave him instructions to clean the carport. Step up and make a difference by subscribing or donating to the Arkansas Times, the progressive, alternative newspaper in Little Rock that's been fighting for truth for 48 years. The police department has said that they are investigating the death as a suicide after the ABC 33/40 newsman was found deceased just after 8 am on June 12. Starting Seeds with Cactus Mix: Challenges and Tips for Optimal Results, Using cactus mix for seed starting is an interesting idea, but it has its own set of challenges. Times 12/26/97, The Strange Demise of Melissa Byers. The nude, bound and mutilated bodies of three eight-year-old Cub Scouts were found in a . He was never charged in connection with the deaths. Joshua O'Neal Adams. The side of Branchs face was ripped apart, and Byers' genitals were so badly mutilated he was essentially castrated, according to the documentary special The Forgotten West Memphis Three, streaming now on Oxygen. Steven, usually referred to as "Stevie", was the son of Steven Branch, Sr. and Pamela Hicks Hobbs. The wounds, however, appeared to have been made post-mortem and could be the result of bite marks from animals like turtles and fish. Link your TV provider to stream full episodes and live TV. He declared he had no involvement in the deaths and, after initially speaking angrily against the three men charged, ultimately said hed decided they were innocent. Christopher Byers had lacerations to various parts of his body, and mutilation of his scrotum and penis. Byers' brain was also abscessed and holes were forming in his skull. Christopher G. Byers, DVM, DACVECC, DACVIM (SAIM), CVJ is a practicing dual board-certified veterinary specialist, recognized international speaker, and respected author. The documents show that the Major did speak to Byers, who reportedly admitted making the comment - though he refuted using the word d***, even as other co-workers who overheard the comment stated . Finally, a month after the murders, three West Memphis teen-agersJessie Lloyd Misskelley, 17; Charles Jason Baldwin, 16; and Damien Wayne Echols, 18were arrested and charged with the crimes. Echovita Inc is a registered trademark. The following day, authorities launched an extensive search for the boys where they were last seen playing a wooded area off Interstate 40 known as "Robin Hood . He lived with his mother, Melissa Byers, and stepfather, John Mark Byers. Create your free profile and get access to exclusive content. Lorri Davis and Damien Echols at a panel entitled "Wrongfully Accused," part of the Death Becomes Us true crime festival. It took them 18 years to clear their names. Stevie had already left to ride bikes with Michael and so Chris remained at the Hobbs' residence and watched an episode of "Muppet Babies" with Amanda. Leave a sympathy message to the family on the memorial page of Christopher Byers Jr. to pay them a last tribute. Copyright 2023 Echovita Inc. All rights reserved. On Aug. 28, 1995, he entered into a plea agreement negotiated by his attorney and Stewart Lambert, a deputy prosecutor for the Third Judicial District. It was 7pm because Chris Wahl got out of night school at that time and saw the boys after class let out. Poc temps desprs van decidir unir els dos webs sota el nom de Xarxa Catal, el conjunt de pgines que oferirien de franc sries doblades i/o subtitulades en catal. He died on May 5, 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansas, USA. Various sightings of Chris throughout the afternoon and early evening of May 5th suggest that he met up with Stevie and Michael before he was found riding his skateboard, belly down, on North 14th Street. To learn more, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three on Oxygen. Christopher Byers was born on June 23, 1984. Motorcycle, trucks, car, pedestrian and bicyclist. Nor were any opiates were found in her blood. Lonnie, played by Ross Partridge, is Will and Jonathan's real dad. In June 1996, HBO aired Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills, the first of three documentaries that took a critical look at the case, highlighting law enforcements questionable investigation tactics and lack of physical evidence tying Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley to the murders. In 1996 they appeared on television again, this time in a highly praised documentary about the West Memphis murder case that was shown on HBO. Two of those, which were covered with bandages, were clearly the result of unsuccessful medical attempts at cardiopulmonary resuscitation, as were a couple of fractured ribs. tournament in particular, a television product . Whats known is that three young boys were murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas, in 1993. While the three, better known as the West Memphis Three, entered an Alford plea and are therefore not innocent in the eyes of the law . The West Memphis Three were charged with the murder of three boys in 1994.