Jessie Misskelley

Jessie Miskelley Jr. (born July 10, 1975) is one of the three members of what has been called the West Memphis 3 (Miskelley, Damien Echols, and Jason Baldwin). The three were accused and convicted of a triple homicide in West Memphis, Arkansas of 8-year-olds Michael Moore, Christopher Byers and Steven Branch.

Imprisonment

Misskelley was arrested in connection to the murders on May 5, 1993. He confessed to the murders, which inculpated the other two accused. Under the "Bruton rule", his confession could not be admitted against his co-defendants and thus he was tried separately. Misskelley was convicted by a jury of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. The court sentenced him to life plus 40 years in prison. His conviction was appealed and affirmed by the Arkansas Supreme Court.

In November 2010, the Arkansas Supreme Court ruled that the cases of Misskelley, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin should be reviewed in a court hearing to determine whether they should be given a new trial. The hearing will allow new evidence, including DNA evidence which could exonerate the convicted men.

As of 2010 Jessie...
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