MEMPHIS, Tenn. ( WMC /Gray News) - A FedEx pilot was shot in the middle of the night while asleep in bed, WMC confirmed. Memphis has rich people, but many people live average lives making average wages. Their trial, which included assertions that the killings were part of a cultic . Generally, Memphis is a safe place for tourists. To view the purposes they believe they have legitimate interest for, or to object to this data processing use the vendor list link below. Crime in West Memphis - West Memphis, AR Crime Map | SpotCrime Get Alerts Crime Map for West Memphis, AR Crime Map Trends Analytics Cold Cases Missing Persons Daily Archive Shooting 02/06/2023 2:49 PM 2900 BLOCK OF SL HENRY Other 08/29/2022 1:02 PM 500 BLOCK OF S WOODS ST Shooting 06/17/2022 1:00 AM 700 BLOCK OF NORTH 18TH STREET Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. Most tourist attractions and landmarks enjoy enhanced security than other areas in the city. There is some crime, but it doesn't impact me much. On the evening of May 5, 1993, three 8-year-old boys disappeared from the streets of West Memphis, Ark. The West Memphis Three who are known as Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley, were convicted in 1993 for the murders of three young boys. Over two decades after the murders, what really happened to Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore on the evening of May 5, 1993, remains a mystery. With a population of over 26,000 residents, West Memphis has a crime rate (violent and property-related crimes) of about 117 per 1000 residents. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. However, criminals are always lurking, aiming to make a quick buck or steal from oblivious tourists. The police have tried to bring sanity into the area by increasing their presence day and night. This was one of the most high profile savage murder. Crittenden County Sheriff's Office. 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. FedEx employs more than 5,500 of the world's most experienced pilots. Lying in the open air in near 80-degree temperatures accelerated the decomposition of the bodies. The only possible culprits were 18-year-old Damien Echols, a poor teen with an interest in the occult and a record of mental illness, his friend Jason Baldwin, a quiet kid whose talent for art tended toward dark subjects, and Jessie Misskelley, a 17-year-old misfit with an IQ of 73. Most unsafe neighborhoods in Memphis are on the citys outskirts. Bray asked her if she knew about rumored cult activity in the community. Spawn is one of the most picturesque areas in Memphis. The bodies had been removed from the water and placed on the adjacent embankment, possibly disturbing physical evidence or otherwise contaminating the scene. At the request of West Memphis authorities, the two were picked up and questioned by Oceanside police. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. Echols' disdain for authority, penchant for black clothes, and propensity to make shocking statements didn't help his plight. This is compared to communities of all sizes, from the smallest to the largest. West Memphis is pretty much like a second Salem," Echols stated in the 1996 documentary Paradise Lost: The Murders at Robin Hood Hills. The next day their bodies were found in a secluded, wooded area known as Robin Hood Hills. Continue with Recommended Cookies, : This data reflects the 2020 calendar year and was released from the. There's a county Crime Stoppers line if you have information about a crime and want to stay anonymous. The action you just performed triggered the security solution. Is Memphis safe? As the movement to free the West Memphis Three gained traction, a number of celebrities joined the cause, bringing the case under more scrutiny. They were nude and hogtied, and all three had what appeared to be scratches, bite marks and possible stab wounds. This towns Commercial Historic District is on the National Register of Historic Places and has buildings as old as 1870. " Every crime, no matter what it is, gets blamed on Satanism.". Criminals are good at spotting visitors who seem aloof and will easily steal from you. What are the most charming towns in Arkansas? However, all unsolved investigations are ongoing.". When the bodies of three 8-year-old boys Steve "Stevie" Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore were found in a West Memphis, Arkansas, drainage ditch in 1993, investigators discovered they had sustained multiple, brutal injuries. At approximately 1:30 p.m., Steve Jones, a juvenile parole officer from Crittenden County, peered over the steep bank of a water-filled ditch in the woods near the Blue Beacon truck wash. Echols' attorneys finally got access Tuesday to the evidence they believe can exonerate all three men. But you might as well exercise more caution during your time here or avoid it altogether. In a recent op-ed in the L.A. Times, Professor Jennifer L. Mnookin (pictured) of the UCLA Law School provided an analysis of how preconceptions and biases toward the unconventional suspects known as the West Memphis Three may have led to their wrongful convictions and a death sentence in Arkansas in 1994. Raw data sources: Travellers Worldwide is reader-supported. Terry Hobbs, Todd Moore, and Dana Moore still maintain that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley murdered their sons. Based on 10 responses. Luckily, most areas where violent criminal cases are high are far from where tourists are likely to visit. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. " (Detective Allen) told me if I knew anything, that there was a $35,000 reward, and if I could help them out, we'd get the money," said Misskelley, as quoted by Mara Leveritt in Devil's Knot. Read on for an in-depth look at prevalent dangers and tips on what you can do to stay safe. Other possible suspects includedBrian Holland and Chris Morgan, two young men from Memphis, Tenn., with a history of drug offenses. What are the odds that you'll be safer in West Memphis, Arkansas compared to other areas of Arkansas, as well as the rest of America? Classmates at Weaver Elementary School, the three were active in their Cub Scout troop and responsible enough to be trusted to roam their neighborhood without supervision. The wounds, however, appeared to have been made post-mortem and could be the result of bite marks from animals like turtles and fish. That there were three victims was a link to the biblical number of the beast. The chance of being a victim of violent crime in West Memphis is, The chance of being a victim of property crime in West Memphis is, The chance of being a victim of crime in West Memphis is. Two questions plagued the conservative, middle-class community: Why would anyone commit such a heinous act, and, more importantly, who? The odds of becoming a victim of a crime in West Memphis are one in nine. The amount of violent crime in West Memphis has increased by 36%, the amount of property crime in West Memphis has decreased by 21%, and the total amount of crime in West Memphis has decreased by 4% year over year. Pretty safe. He was 62. The city ranks in the top fiveof most dangerous cities in the U.S. Memphis has a thriving food, art, and music scene. Even Byers stepfather, John Byers, became convinced of the mens innocence after its publication, reported, To learn more, watch The Forgotten West Memphis Three on. In regards to Byers' extensive genitalia injuries, Dr. Hsu said if they had been inflicted with a knife, the wounds would be more consistent and cleaner. She said, however, that "there's a really good chance, high probability that that is purely animal activity post-mortem.". Memphis police said, right now, there's no investigative evidence pointing towards a serial killer. "I felt like Benedict Arnold. In this first confession, Miskelley often agreed to details suggested by the police or attributed to prior statements which he did not make. By examining the photographs of Stevie Branch, Dr. Hsu noticed several gouging, large gaping injuries.. This TikTok videogaining traction has nearly 500,000 views, with a Westwood native worried about safety - after some believe multiple people have been shot and then turned. Is Memphis Safe to Visit in 2023? The aviator was staying in a home in Sherwood Forest, a neighborhood right next to the University of Memphis Park Avenue campus. As rumors of a Satanic sacrifice swept the community, the minds of many in West Memphis were already made up. The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in West Memphis, AR per 100,000 people. We and our partners use data for Personalised ads and content, ad and content measurement, audience insights and product development. NeighborhoodScout has done just that. Not very safe. The first being that boys were killed by someone they knew. Signature outdoor festivals, the infamous Graceland, and Sun studios are a few reasons why some people will bear the relentless Memphis summer heat to get a taste of what lifes like on this side of the Mississippi river. There are a total of 97 West Memphis police officers. This town has less than 600 people and is next to the North Fork River and the White River. One's chance of becoming a victim of either violent or property crime here is one in 15. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Reflects 2021 calendar year; released from FBI in Oct. 2022 (latest available). Stating that she would ask around, Hutcheson agreed to "play detective.". Although the bodies were discovered at 1:30 p.m., investigators didn't call the coroner until 3:58 p.m. By the time the coroner arrived, fly larvae were already present in the nostrils and eyes of the victims. Therefore, its easy to lose track and unintentionally end up in a risky area thats crime-ridden. While there were some obvious differences between the Salem Witch Trials and the "West Memphis Three trials," there were a lot of distinct small characteristics. As a result, if you are a visitor, avoid walking alone in Downtown Memphis at night. On the other hand, vendors will try to convince you to buy stuff from the trunk of their cars at incredible discounts.. 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