Chronology of Events

AT A GLANCE

1993

May 5: The three victims are last seen at approximately 6:30pm.

May 6: The first body is found in a ditch in the woods behind the Blue Beacon Truck Wash at approximately 1:45pm.

May 7: Damien Echols is interviewed regarding the crime by juvenile officer Steve Jones and WMPD Lt. Sudbury.

May 9: Damien Echols is interviewed again, as are Jason Baldwin and Domini Teer.

May 10: Damien Echols is interviewed at the WMPD.

June 3: Jessie Misskelley "confesses." Damien, Jason and Jessie are arrested.

June 7: Lawyers for the three are appointed.

August 4: Damien, Jason and Jessie plead not guilty to capital murder charges at a pre-trial hearing.

1994

January 19: Jury selection begins for Misskelley trial in Corning, AR.

January 26: Misskelley trial begins.

February 4: Misskelley trial ends. Jessie is convicted of first-degree murder in the death of Michael Moore and second-degree murder in the deaths of Chris Byers and Steve Branch and sentenced to life in prison plus two twenty-year sentences.  Please click HERE to continue with Jessie's post-conviction legal chronology.

February 22: Jury selection begins for Echols/Baldwin trial in Jonesboro, AR.

February 28: Echols/Baldwin trial begins.

March 18: Echols/Baldwin trial ends.  Damien and Jason are both found guilty of three counts of capital murder.

March 19: Damien is sentenced to death by lethal injection and Jason to life in prison without possibility of parole.  Please click HERE to continue with Damien's post-conviction legal chronology.  Click HERE for Jason's.

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IN DETAIL

[NOTE: Where applicable, sources follow an entry. Those marked with an asterisk (*) can be found in the Document Archive.]

1993

Wednesday, May 5

2:45pm: Pam Hobbs picks up her son, Steve Branch, early from Weaver Elementary School.
Principal Sarah Kirkley in The Commercial Appeal

2:55pm: Pam Hobbs arrives home with Steve.
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Pam Hobbs
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Pam Hobbs

3:00pm [shortly before]: Christopher Byers’ grandfather drives over to the Byers’ home to baby-sit Christopher. John Mark Byers is home and tells him that he doesn’t have to stay.
Devil’s Knot by Leveritt, p. 311-312

3:00pm: Weaver Elementary school day ends.
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Dana Moore
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Dana Moore

3:00pm [shortly after]: Michael Moore drops by Steve Branch’s house and asks if Steve can play at his house. Pam Hobbs tells Steve to be home by 4:30pm.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Pam Hobbs

3:10pm: Dana Moore arrives home and sees Michael and Steve Branch riding bicycles on 14th Street.
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Dana Moore
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Dana Moore

3:38pm: Ryan Clark returns home

from school. Christopher is not at home.
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *

3:50pm: John Mark Byers drives Ryan Clark to court so he can testify as a witness in a reckless driving case. Chris is still not home at this time.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 25 *
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *

4:50pm: John Mark Byers leaves the courthouse to pick up Melissa from her job in Memphis.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 25 *

4:50pm: Pam Hobbs leaves her house to go to Catfish Island, where she works as a waitress. On the way to work, she drives by Michael Moore’s house to look for Steve. She does not see him.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Pam Hobbs

5:00pm: Melissa Byers gets off work at Fargotsteins, a jewelry store in Memphis.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Melissa Byers

5:20pm: John Mark Byers and Melissa Byers return home. Christopher is still not there. There is evidence that he tried to break into their locked house, as Chris was not permitted to have a key.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Melissa Byers
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *

5:30pm: John Mark Byers leaves to pick up Ryan from court. As he is driving to the courthouse, he sees Christopher. He takes Christopher back home, spanks him and orders him to clean up the carport. 
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 1, p. 25 *
Posey, Bobby, Undated notes from door-to-door questioning *

5:30-5:45pm: Melissa Byers sees her son underneath the carport of their home. This is her last apparent sighting of the boy.
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Melissa Byers
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Melissa Byers

5:30-6:00pm: Kim Williams sees Steve and Michael going into Robin Hood Hills woods and their bikes parked on Goodwin. She does not see Christopher. 
Williams, Kim, Undated file note *

5:45pm: Allen Bailey sees Michael and Steve. The boys tell him they are going to pick up Christopher. 
Bailey, Allen, Notes of response to door-to-door questioning *

5:45pm [approximate]: Debra O’Tinger sees three boys she identifies as Christopher, Michael, and Steve passing through her yard. They head in the direction of Robin Hood Hills.
O'Tinger, Debra, 6/30/93 Handwritten statement *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Debra O'Tinger
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Debra O'Tinger

6:00pm [approximate]: John Mark Byers picks up Ryan Clark from court.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 1 *
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *

6:00pm: Dana Moore sees Michael, Steve and Christopher riding bicycles north on 14th street. Michael is riding his bicycle. Chris and Steve

are sharing Steve’s bicycle. She sends Dawn Moore, her daughter, after Michael to bring him home for supper.
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Dana Moore
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Dana Moore

6:30pm: Robert Jeff Martins and his mother, Betty Lou Martins, see three boys they identify as Chris, Michael and Steve on Goodwin.
Martins, Robert Jeff, Door-to-door questionnaire *
Martins, Robert Jeff, 9/7/93 Handwritten statement *
Martins, Betty Lou, 9/7/93 Handwritten statement *

6:30-6:45pm: Bryan Woody claims to see four boys enter the 14th Street woods, while driving by at 40 mph. He does not see the faces of the boys but notes that one of the boys had a haircut similar to his own son's.
Woody, Bryan, 5/28/93 Report on interview *
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Bryan Woody

7:30pm: John Mark Byers, Melissa Byers and Ryan Clark, while driving around looking for Christopher, stop and speak to a West Memphis police officer. The officer advises them to wait until 8:00 and then call the police.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 2 *
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Melissa Byers
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Melissa Byers

7:30-8:00pm: The Byers family stops by Clint Garner’s house looking for Christopher. 
Garner, Clint, 2/21/94 interview *
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 14-15 *

8:08pm: Officer Regenia Meek arrives at the Byers’ home to take a missing person's report for Christopher.
Police Documents, 5/5/93 WMPD Station Logs, 3-11 shift, p. 5 *
Byers, Christopher, 5/5/93 Missing person's report *

8:10pm: Dana Moore arrives at the Byers’ home while Officer Meek is taking the missing person's report. She tells the Byers and Officer Meek that Michael and Steve are with Christopher.
Source: Byers, Christopher, 5/5/93 Missing person's report *
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 2 *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Dana Moore

8:30pm: Ryan Clark calls his friend, Britt Smith, to help search for the missing boys. Britt Smith, his mother, Richie Masters and Robbie Young all go to help with the search.
Smith, Britt, 5/13/93 Statement *
Masters, Richie, 5/13/93 Notes on interview *
[Note: Richie places the time at 9:15pm, but this conflicts with all other accounts]
Young, Robbie, 5/15/93 Notes on interview *

8:30pm [approximate]: The Byers family, Dana Moore, Terry Hobbs and friends of Ryan Clark begin searching in and around the 14th Street woods, after hearing that the three boys were seen going into the woods. John Mark Byers leaves to change clothes.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 4 *
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *
Masters, Richie, 5/13/93 Notes on interview

*
Smith, Britt, 5/13/93 Statement *
Young, Robbie, 5/15/93 Notes on interview *

8:50pm: Officer Regenia Meek arrives at Bojangles Restaurant to investigate a report of a bleeding black man who has made a mess in the ladies restroom.
Police Documents, 5/5/93 WMPD Station Logs, 3-11 shift, p. 5 *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Marty King
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Marty King 
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Regenia Meek

9:00-10:00pm [approximate]: John Mark Byers is in the Blue Beacon woods, where the bodies of the three boys would later be found.
Byers, John Mark, 5/10/93 Report by Burch *

9:00pm: Officer Meek leaves Bojangles to answer another call.
Police Documents, 5/5/93 WMPD Station Logs, 3-11 shift, p. 5 *

9:00pm: Ryan Clark and Britt Smith begin to search the 14th Street woods. They hear several splashes in the bayou and become scared. They run out of the 14th Street woods and head over to the dead end of McAuley where they meet up with Richie Masters and Robbie Young. 
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *
Masters, Richie, 5/13/93 Notes on interview *
Smith, Britt, 5/13/93 Statement *
Young, Robbie, 5/15/93 Notes on interview *

9:15pm [approximate]: Ryan Clark, Richie Masters, Britt Smith and Robbie Young cross the pipe and enter the Blue Beacon woods, where the bodies of the three boys would later be found. They search the woods.
Source: Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *
Masters, Richie, 5/13/93 Notes on interview *
Smith, Britt, 5/13/93 Statement *
Young, Robbie, 5/15/93

9:24pm: Officer Regenia Meek arrives at the Moore home to take a missing person's report for Michael.
Moore, Michael, 5/5/93 Missing person's report *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Regenia Meek
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Dana Moore

9:26pm: Officer John Moore arrives at Catfish Island, in response to a call made to the police by Pam and Terry Hobbs. He begins a missing person's report for Steve.
Police Documents, 5/5/93 WMPD Station Logs, 3-11 shift, p. 6 *
Branch, Stevie, 5/5/93 Missing person's report *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Pam Hobbs
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, John Moore

9:30pm [approximate]: Officer Regenia Meek goes to the dead end of McAuley to look for the missing boys. She stops by the pipe that leads into the Blue Beacon woods (where the bodies of the three boys would later be found) and heads back because the mosquitoes are so terrible. On McAuley, she runs into Ryan Clark, Britt Smith, Richie Masters and Robbie Young. Together, they search empty houses in the neighborhood.
Smith, Britt, 5/13/93 Statement *
Young, Robbie, 5/15/93 Notes on

interview *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Regenia Meek
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Regenia Meek

9:35-9:40pm: Officer John Moore leaves Catfish Island.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, John Moore

9:42-10:10pm: Officer John Moore searches around 1200 Goodwin, in an attempt to locate Chris, Michael and Steve. Officer Moore runs into John Mark Byers. Together, they search the 14th Street woods.
Police Documents, 5/5/93 WMPD Station Logs, 3-11 shift, p. 6 *
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 4-5 *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, John Moore
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, John Moore

10:10pm: Officer John Moore leaves the 14th Street woods to answer another call.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, John Moore

11:00pm: John Mark Byers returns home and calls the Sheriff’s Department to request more help in looking for the missing boys.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p. 5 *

11:15-11:20pm: Officer Regenia Meek returns to the WMPD, her shift ended.
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Regenia Meek

12:00am: John Mark Byers makes Ryan stop searching and go to bed.
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *

Thursday, May 6

1:00-2:00am [approximate]: Dana Moore and her daughter Dawn stop searching for the children. Todd Moore is out of town at the time.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Dana Moore

5:00am [approximate]: Dana Moore resumes the search.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Dana Moore

8:30-9:00am: Parents of the missing boys meet with Denver Reed and other members of the Search and Rescue Squad.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview, p.  *
Blood of Innocents, by Reel, Perrusquia and Sullivan, p. 46

12:30pm: Search and Rescue Squad indicate they've covered "all they know of" and will stop for a while.
Police Documents, 5/6/93 Search Notes, p. 2  *

1:45pm: The first body of one of the missing boys is located by Sgt. Mike Allen and Steve Jones. 
Police Documents, 5/6/93 Crime scene notes, p. 1 *

2:45pm: The first body is pulled from the creek by police officers. 
Police Documents, 5/6/93 Crime scene notes, p. 1 *

2:56pm: Det. Bryn Ridge locates the second body approximately 25 feet south of the first body. 
Police Documents, 5/6/93 Crime scene notes, p. 2 *

2:59pm: The third and final body is located in the creek 5 feet south of the second body. 
Police Documents, 5/6/93 Crime scene notes, p. 3 *

3:20pm [approximate]: Crittenden County Coroner Kent Hale is contacted by the West Memphis Police Department. 
Byers, Moore or Branch, 5/6/93 Coroner's report, p. 1 *

3:55pm: Coroner Hale arrives on scene. All three bodies have been removed from the water, placed on the banks and covered with black plastic.
Police Documents, 5/6/93 Crime scene notes,

p. 4 *
Byers, Moore or Branch, 5/6/93 Coroner's report, p. 1 *

3:58pm: Coroner Hale pronounces Steve E. Branch dead.
Branch, Stevie, 5/6/93 Coroner's report *

4:02pm: Coroner Hale pronounces Christopher M. Byers dead. 
Byers, Christopher, 5/6/93 Coroner's report *

4:02 and 4:10pm: Coroner Hale pronounces James M. Moore dead, but lists two different times on his reports. 
(4:02pm) Moore, Michael, 5/6/93 Coroner's report, p. 2 *
(4:10pm) Moore, Michael, 5/6/93 Coroner's report, p. 3 *

9:00pm: Dets. Allen and Ridge, still wearing the same clothes in which they handled bodies at the site where they were found, visit the nearby Bojangles restaurant. Ridge allegedly takes "blood scrapings," which are later lost.
Police Documents, Bojangles Restaurant, 5/6/93 Report regarding incident *
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Marty King
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Marty King 

Friday, May 7

12:00pm: Damien Echols is interviewed by Lt. Sudbury and juvenile officer Steve Jones, due to alleged "cult involvement."
Echols, Damien, 5/7/93 interview *

1:00pm: Autopsies completed on all three victims.
The Commercial Appeal

4:00pm: Dr. Peretti releases statement that "all three children died of multiple injuries."
The Commercial Appeal

Saturday, May 8

The Commercial Appeal reports the reward fund is up to $6,000.

Todd and Dawn Moore meet with Det. Ridge.
Source: Moore, (Roy) Todd, 5/8/93 Ridge report *
Moore, Dawn, 5/8/93 Ridge report on interview *

4:00pm: Mr. Byers is interviewed by Insp. Gitchell.
Byers, John Mark, 5/8/93 Investigation notes by Gitchell *

Sunday, May 9

3:40pm: Damien Echols is interviewed by Det. Griffin at Echols' residence.
Echols, Damien, 5/9/93 Griffin notes on interview *

5:00pm: Domini Teer, Jason Baldwin and Echols are interviewed by Dets. Durham and Griffin at Baldwin residence.
Echols, Damien, 5/9/93 Durham notes on interview *

Monday, May 10

Dr. Peretti sends Cause of Death forms for all three victims to Prosecutor Brent Davis, Coroner Kent Hale and WMPD.
Crime Lab documents, Cause of Death forms *

11:54am: Echols subject description form is filled out at WMPD, questioning and polygraph follow.
Echols, Damien, 5/10/93 documents *

1:00pm: Det. Burch interviews Mr. and Mrs. Moore regarding whereabouts on May 5/6.
Moore, (Roy) Todd, 5/10/93 report by Burch *

2:00pm: Det. Burch interviews Mr. Byers and "friend" regarding whereabouts on May 5/6.
Same as above

2:30pm: Det. Burch interviews Mrs. Hobbs regarding whereabouts on May 5/6.
Same as above

4:20pm: Narlene Hollingsworth is interviewed by Det. Dabbs and Lt. Hester. She claims to have seen the victims in the afternoon, and Damien and Domini walking on the service road at approximately 9:30pm on May 5.
Hollingsworth, Narlene, 5/10/93 interview *

8:10pm: Domini Teer is interviewed by Dets. Ridge and Kesterson. 
Teer, Domini

5/10/93, Report on interview *

Tuesday, May 11

Michael Moore's funeral, Holy Cross Episcopal Church, West Memphis.

Wednesday, May 12

Christopher Byers' funeral, Ingram Boulevard Baptist Church, West Memphis.

10:28am: Pam Hutchison, Damien's mother, is interviewed by Det. Ridge and Lt. Sudbury.
Hutchison, Pamela, 5/12/93 interview *

5:45pm: Ryan Clark is interviewed by Lt. Hester and Kesterson, describes search efforts.
Clark, Ryan, 5/12/93 Notes of interview *

8:30pm: Luminol testing in Robin Hood Hills. 
Crime Lab documents, numerous Luminol reports *

Thursday, May 13

Steve Branch's funeral, Bradshaw's German-Aumon Funeral Home, Steele, Missouri.

9:00am: Luminol testing in RHH, second attempt.
Crime Lab documents, numerous Luminol reports *

Friday, May 14

The Commercial Appeal reports that Insp. Gitchell has suspended daily news briefings.

'America's Most Wanted' tv show about the case airs, leading to a flood of tips.

Saturday, May 15

Jessie Misskelley, Dennis Carter & David Sims call in a tip to the WMPD regarding Tracy Laxton after they find his behavior suspicious.
Laxton, Tracy, 5/15/93 Allen report on incident *

Sunday, May 16

The Commercial Appeal reports the reward fund is up to $31,500.

Wednesday, May 19

3:59pm: John Mark Byers arrives at the WMPD and his subject description form is filled out at this time.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 subject description *

5:20pm: John Mark Byers is officially interviewed by Det. Ridge and Lt. Sudbury on tape.
Byers, John Mark, 5/19/93 interview *

After dark: Vicki Hutcheson claims to have attended an "esbat" with Echols and Misskelley.
Hutcheson, Victoria, 5/28/93 interview *

Thursday, May 20

The Commercial Appeal reports the reward fund is up to $32,000.

3:58pm: Ryan Clark is interviewed by Lt. Hester and Det. Allen, and provides a list of Christopher's friends.
Clark, Ryan, 5/20/93 Notes from interview *

Friday, May 21

Mr. and Mrs. Byers tell Lt. Hester of suspicions regarding neighbor and contractor Jimmy Sellers.
Byers, John Mark, 5/24/93 Report by Hester *

Tuesday, May 25

9:00am: Melissa Byers is interviewed by Lt. Hester and Det. Allen, names people she suspects could be responsible.
Byers, Melissa, 5/25/93 Notes *

Wednesday, May 26

Insp. Gitchell sends a letter to the Crime Lab begging for more information, stating "we feel as though we are walking blind folded through this case at this moment."
Crime Lab documents, WMPD letter from Gitchell *

12:36pm: Ridge interviews William W. Jones, who claimed Echols had confessed to him on May 22. He later recanted, but his statement was used as a probable cause hearing exhibit to obtain search and arrest warrants.
Jones, William Winford, 5/26/93 Interview *

Friday, May 28

The Commercial Appeal reports that the Crime Lab finally mailed final autopsy reports to

the WMPD.

Wednesday, June 2

Vicki Hutcheson takes a polygraph test. Oddly, it does not appear she was asked if her "esbat" story was truthful.
Hutcheson, Victoria, 6/2/93 Polygraph report *

Thursday, June 3

9:13am: Det. Allen leaves the WMPD to locate Jessie Misskelley.
Testimony, Misskelley Trial, Mike Allen, part 2

10:00am: Misskelley's subject description form is filled out at the WMPD. Interrogation begins.
Misskelley, Jessie, 6/3/93 Subject Description *
Misskelley, Jessie, 6/3/93 WMPD time log *

11:00am: Misskelley is advised of his Miranda rights.
Misskelley, Jessie, 6/3/93 Rights form *

11:15am: Det. Allen and Misskelley leave the WMPD to get his father's permission to polygraph Jessie.
Misskelley, Jessie, 6/3/93 WMPD time log *

11:55am: Det. Durham administers Misskelley's polygraph. 
Misskelley, Jessie, 6/3/93 WMPD time log *

2:44pm: Taped statement begins.
Misskelley, Jessie, 6/3/93 First statement *

3:18pm: Taped statement ends.

Time unknown: Second taped statement begins.
Misskelley, Jessie, 6/3/93 "Clarification" statement *

9:06pm: Probable cause hearing with Judge Rainey to obtain search and arrest warrants.
Miscellaneous Documents, Probable Cause Hearing transcript *

9:50-9:55pm: Search and arrest warrants are signed by Judge Rainey.
Miscellaneous Documents, Search warrant *

10:28pm: Search warrants are executed at Echols, Baldwin, Misskelley and Teer residences.
Devil's Knot, by Leveritt, p. 92

10:32pm: Echols and Baldwin are arrested at Echols' residence.

11:50pm: Baldwin is advised of his Miranda rights at the WMPD.
Baldwin, Jason, 6/3/93 Rights form *

11:55pm: Echols is advised of his Miranda rights at the WMPD.
Echols, Damien, 6/3/93 Rights form *

Friday, June 4

9:00am: Press conference. Insp. Gitchell announces his case is an "eleven."

10:00am: Arraignment in West Memphis Municipal Court. Temporary attorneys are appointed by Judge Rainey.  A hearing is scheduled for Monday, June 7.

Monday, June 7

The Commercial Appeal publishes excerpts of Misskelley's statement to police.

A hearing is held in Crittenden County Circuit Court in Marion. Judge Goodson appoints lawyers to represent the three.  Echols: Val Price and Scott Davidson. Baldwin: Paul N. Ford and George Robin Wadley, Jr. Misskelley: Dan Stidham and Greg Crow. 

Thursday, June 17

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

Friday, June 25

Stidham and Crow, Misskelley's attorneys, file a motion in Crittenden County Circuit Court stating that compliance with the State's request to obtain blood, saliva and hair samples from Misskelley would be "an unreasonable intrusion" and would violate his constitutional rights.
The Commercial Appeal

Monday, June 28

Ford and Wadley, Baldwin's attorneys, 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.

Thursday, July 1

Det. Ridge returns to Robin Hood Hills and retrieves

two sticks that are later entered into evidence at the trials.
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin Trial, Bryn Ridge, part 2

Monday, July 26

Stidham and Crow file a change of venue motion for Misskelley, arguing that the amount of publicity the case has generated will prevent a fair trial in Crittenden County.

Wednesday, August 4

Pre-trial hearing in Marion. Misskelley, Baldwin and Echols plead not guilty to capital murder charges. Judge Burnett severs Misskelley's trial from that of Echols and Baldwin. Prosecution's motions seeking blood, hair and saliva samples granted.

Friday, September 10

Pursuant to prosecutorial subpoenas, the following give statements to Fogleman on this date:

10:16am: Pam Hutchison
10:57am: Michelle Echols
11:33am: Joe Hutchison
1:51pm: Dian Teer
2:33pm: Domini Teer

Wednesday, September 22

Paul Ford sends a letter to Insp. Gitchell alleging police misconduct. Ford claims Det. Ridge attempted to coerce a confession out of Baldwin while obtaining hair and blood samples. Ford alleged Ridge told Baldwin his attorney ''didn't care about him'' and ''could not be trusted.''
The Commercial Appeal

Thursday, September 23

Pursuant to prosecutorial subpoenas, the following give statements to Fogleman on this date:

9:56am: Terry Grinnell, Sr.
10:19am: Matthew Baldwin
10:50am [approximate]: Gail Grinnell

Friday, September 24

Defense attorneys file 39 motions, bringing the total pending to over 50.

Monday, September 27

Pre-trial hearing in Marion.

Monday, October 11

Stidham and Crow file a motion to suppress Misskelley's June 3 statement.

Friday, October 15

Ford and Wadley file a number of motions on Baldwin's behalf, 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.

Tuesday, October 19

Pre-trial hearing. Judge Burnett rules that Jason will be tried as an adult. Trial dates and locations are announced.  Misskelley's trial is scheduled for Jan. 18 in Clay County, and the Echols/Baldwin trial for Feb. 22 in Jonesboro.

Monday, November 15

Stidham and Crow file a motion asking that Misskelley be ruled mentally retarded, thus not eligible for the death penalty if convicted.

Tuesday, November 16

Pre-trial hearing in Osceola. Judge Burnett rules Misskelley will be tried as an adult.

Wednesday, November 17

10:30am: Police being searching a small portion of a lake in Lakeshore Trailer Park (near former Baldwin residence).
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin trial, Mike Allen, part 2

11:35am: Police locate a knife later entered as evidence in court.
Source: Police Documents, Lake Knife, 11/17/93 Report on items found *

Sunday, December 19

John Mark Byers gives a knife later

found to have human blood on it to a member of the HBO documentary film crew.
Cooper, Doug 1/24/94 Handwritten statement *
Berlinger, Joe 1/24/94 Handwritten statement *
Sinofsky, Bruce 1/24/94 Handwritten statement *

Monday, December 20

11:21am: Mark Byers signs a consent form allowing the WMPD and the Arkansas State Crime Lab to search his home. The Byers and Moore residences are searched on this day, but the Branch and Hobbs homes are not.
Byers, Mark 12/20/93 Consent to search *
Testimony, Echols/Baldwin trial, Lisa Sakevicius

Tuesday, December 21

Pre-trial hearing. Testimony by Dr. Wilkins. Judge Burnett rules Misskelley is not mentally retarded and can face the death penalty.


1994

Thursday, January 13

Pre-trial hearing in Marion, dealing with suppression of Misskelley's statement. Testimony by Jerry Driver, Gheric Bruce, John Murray, Det. Mike Allen, Det. Bill Durham, Det. Bryn Ridge, Warren Holmes. Dr. Richard Ofshe was present but not called to the stand.

Saturday, January 15

Judge Burnett rules Misskelley's taped confession will be admissible at trial.

Wednesday, January 19

Jury selection begins for the Misskelley trial.

Thursday, January 20

Jury selection continues. Seven women, two men, and two alternates are chosen.

Wednesday, January 26

Misskelley trial begins.

Thursday, February 3

11:12am: The State and Defense rest their cases, on the seventh day of the trial. 

4:17pm: The jury begins deliberations after hearing closing arguments from both sides.

Friday, February 4

12:10am: The jury asks to be excused for the night.

9:30am: The jury returns and continues deliberations.

11:54am: The jury reaches a verdict. They find Jessie guilty of first-degree murder in the death of Michael Moore and second-degree murder in the deaths of Chris Byers and Steve Branch.

After brief penalty phase arguments from both sides, the jury deliberates Misskelley's punishment.  After twenty-six minutes, they return with life in prison plus two twenty-year sentences.

Please click HERE to continue with Jessie's post-conviction legal chronology.

Wednesday, February 9

Pre-trial hearing in Osceola.  Paul Ford asks again for a severance.

Friday, February 11

Judge Burnett rules that Echols and Baldwin will be tried together.
 
Wednesday, February 16

Pre-trial hearing. Val Price alleges that Aaron Hutcheson has made statements implicating Mark Byers in the murders.  Co-counsel Scott Davidson asks to see the HBO documentary crew's film of John Mark Byers where he describes being tied up, sodomized and thrown in a ditch at the age of 18 or 19. Judge Burnett denies the request.

Tuesday, February 22

Jury selection for the Echols/Baldwin trial begins, but is put on hold when lawyers file a motion alleging prosecutorial misconduct regarding the State's attempts to get Misskelley to testify against Jason and Damien.  After a hearing,

Judge Burnett rules there has been no misconduct.

Wednesday, February 23

Jury selection continues.

Thursday, February 24

Jury selection continues.

Friday, February 25

Jury selection continues. A jury of eight women, four men and two male alternates is selected.

Monday, February 28

Echols/Baldwin trial begins.

Tuesday, March 15

1:07pm: The State and Defense rest their cases, on the eleventh day in court. 

Judge Burnett agrees to grant the prosecution a continuance until Thursday.

Thursday, March 17

4:59pm: The jury begins deliberations after hearing closing arguments from both sides.

10:35pm: Jury deliberations end for the evening.

Friday, March 18  

9:30am: Jury deliberations continue.

3:33pm: The jury reaches a verdict. They find both Damien and Jason guilty of three counts of capital murder.

Saturday, March 19

Penalty phase testimony from Dr. Moneypenny, Jack Echols and Joe Hutchison, followed by brief arguments from both sides.

2:00: The jury begins to deliberate their sentences.

4:22: They return with death by lethal injection for Echols and life in prison without possibility of parole for Jason Baldwin.

Please click HERE to continue with Damien's post-conviction legal chronology.  Click HERE for Jason's.