John,
For the past 30 years, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley — known as the West Memphis Three — have been trying to clear their names after being wrongfully convicted as teenagers.
In 1993, Damien, Jason, and Jessie were arrested for the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. Despite the fact that no physical evidence or motive tied them to the crime, they were all convicted. Both Jessie and Jason were given life sentences, and Damien was sentenced to death. But in 2007, DNA from the crime scene evidence was tested and excluded all three of them, detecting the DNA of another man, who could not be identified at the time.
Based on this new evidence, in 2011, the three men were offered a plea deal in exchange for their release. Because Damien was facing execution at the time, they all signed Alford pleas — a type of plea that allows a person to maintain their innocence — and were released from prison after 18 years.
But just because they’re no longer behind bars, doesn’t mean their fight is over. Now, they’re trying to clear their names for good, and they need your support. Add your name to the petition to support Damien’s appeal for new DNA testing of the evidence in this case or text MEMPHIS to 97016. Then share the story with your community. [[link removed]]
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Thank you so much for joining us in this fight,
— The Innocence Project Team
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The Innocence Project works to free the innocent, prevent wrongful convictions, and create fair, compassionate, and equitable systems of justice for everyone. Founded in 1992 by Barry C. Scheck and Peter J. Neufeld at the Benjamin N. Cardozo School of Law at Yeshiva University, the organization is now an independent nonprofit. Our work is guided by science and grounded in anti-racism.
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