Update on the Book
As most of you are aware, many things have changed between the middle of 2007 and today. Although we had hoped to publish Untying the Knot: John Mark Byers and the West Memphis Child Murders by late 2008, we underestimated the pace at which the case of the West Memphis Three would crawl through the courts. There have been events and delays which have necessitated our decision to keep any publishing date open in order for the book to conclude with the true end of the story. We also did not - could not - foresee how Mark Byers would react to new evidence collected as part of the Echols habeas petition. As it becomes more and more likely that after interminable delays, the case is finally - at least for Damien Echols - winding its way out of the Arkansas courts and probably into federal court, we think it makes sense to wait. Regardless of your opinion on the guilt or innocence of the West Memphis Three, they are entitled to their day in a court that is not presided over by the same judge who convicted them. That day is coming, and we want it included in the book.
The fates of Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley are intertwined with that of Mark Byers, as it is with the other victims’ families, and the families of the convicted men. The deep divisions that exist between these factions are understandable and complex, but this much is certain: at the end of this tragic story, nobody really wins. The victims’ families will still be without their sons. The families of the West Memphis Three have been without their boys for all these years as well. "I grew up without a brother", says Matt Baldwin today. The careworn face and obvious mental duress of Gail Grinnell, Jason’s mother, tells the story. If the law decides that the West Memphis Three are indeed guilty of the crimes for which they have been convicted, thousands of supporters, as well as the Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin families will have lost, as will Mark Byers, who has come to believe so fervently in the innocense of the three. There is also the possibility that they will be granted new trials. The prevailing legal and popular opinion today reveals a belief that new trials would result in acquittals for all three men. Probably so. But an acquittal is not a verdict of innocense, as in the case of a pardon. An acquittal merely reflects the jury’s decision that the prosecutor failed to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt. Sam Sheppard knew all about that; some say it killed him. Without a smoking gun, there’s always a lingering doubt.
Perhaps most problematically, if the West Memphis Three are declared innocent - or rather "not guilty" - we would then be forced to face the reality that there is a killer on the loose. What kind of resources can we expect the State of Arkansas to devote to solving a sixteen-year-old murder? Has their competence risen to a level where the police and prosecutors can be trusted to launch an effective investigation? And what about the current members of the "Free the West Memphis Three" movement - will they simply disappear?
An investigation must be opened, but the trail is ice cold. If the only person to be physically linked to the crime scene - Terry Hobbs - is ever investigated and cleared, there is a likelihood that the killer or killers will never be caught. Jack the Ripper. The Lindberg Kidnapping. The murder of Marilyn Sheppard. The Black Dahlia. JonBenèt Ramsey. It happens more frequently than we’d care to think about. Pray it doesn’t happen here.
We’ll keep you updated.
GCD August 21, 2009
Glad to see an update. I believe in the WM3's innocence just as many supporters do. I too want to see it through to the end for not just the wrongly convicted but also the victims and their families. No matter the outcome. God willing Damien, Jason,and Jessie will walk as free men one day soon. And whoever truly committed these crimes will be found and pay the penalty.
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Glad to see an update!!! Free the West Memphis three, and John Mark Byers!!!
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As much as I truly believe that the WM3 are innocent, I have no intention of buying Mr. Byers's book. No intention at all. Too little, too late Mr. Byers; and I highly doubt he'll be 100% truthful about his past. I have a feeling this book is for Mr. Byers's profit only...not for the best interests of the three innocent men. Give me a break.
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Let me ask you a question. Where does your knowledge of the case come from? Have you seen the two HBO movies? Read Devil's Knot? Those people all made money - lots of it - from their involvement in the case. Yes, they brought awareness to the case, but much of it came at Mark Byers's expense. If the movies and Devil's Knot are you are basing your opinions on, you''re not getting even half the story.
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Dont tell me Iam getting half of the story. I have the book Devils Knot and got both documentaries and researched for yrs. on this. My opinion they have been injusticed. The WM3 are innocent and always have been. They took the fall because of their youth and apperance.If this is about buying Byers book I wouldn't give him a penny. He was the main reason they were convicted.Now he comes to their defense ,because he knew all along. For you Greg. Get your facts right. I may not have read this whole deal on Byers.I thaught you wanted my opinion on being innocent. Free WM3 and give the world true justice.
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As I suspected, you have seen the movies and "have" Devil's Knot (does that mean you've read it?) And as I stated, if these are your sources, you are only getting half the story about Mark Byers. It's not my opinion, it's just fact. I've spent the last four years researching and writing, so I think my "facts" are right. If you wish to get specific, please feel free. It's funny though; whenever someone tells me they have been "researching for years", it turns out that they saw the HBO movies years ago, and that's pretty much it.
Your statement that "he is the main reason they were convicted" is rather astounding. I can't think of a soul on either side of the issue who would agree to this. Hopefully someone else will weigh in.
As far as your buying the book, that's a personal choice.
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Free the WM3 and give the world real justice.
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I have the new dvds and I seen them over and over and read the book 4 times. I said Byers is an asshole. He is one of the main reason the three were convicted.Are you going to disagree with that. If you did so much research you should agree.It seems to me the whole two series were based more on Bryer's negatvity.I said I wouldn,t buy the book. I think Bryers should sit some time too. I lived in Cherokee Village Ar. where Bryer lived just next door. Dont tell me about Bryer,s.He was a abusitive person and a asshole.
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hmm well lets see, i was one of the biggest Byers bashers on the net, so yeah, i learnt as much as i could about him and i know there are lots of unsavoury tidbits of info that place him in a bad light, personally. He isn't the main reason the 3 were wrongly convicted. They were wrongly convicted due to a Police force riddled with what i see/believe as self preservative ways in a desperate need to railroad,using corruption,fumbling and bumbling their way through a pathetic investigation riddled with flaws and self serving practices, fabricating coroboration where ever they could, at the expense of innocence. And a Prosecution that had an agenda to fill. They lied to the Parents of the children, and they lied to the community. You are allowed to feel Mark Byers is an arsehole and was an abusive person....clearly however, he was not responsible for the wrongful convictions of Jason, Damien and Jessie. Neither is he the one responsible for the childrens demise.He is making every advance he can make to see to it, that the WM3 are freed, and that occurs in a variety of formats. He could quite easily just sit back on his laurels, and do nothing.....it certainly won't bring the children back.
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I so look forward to your book because this case has me more confused than the Ramsey case, and it isn't an easy thing to confuse this crime major/buff. Every time I think I have something figured out, my attention is drawn to something else that does not fit the puzzle. Three things stand out that really throw me off: 1) The details of Jessie's confession and the way he so readily added to it when he was driven away to prison after his indictment; 2) Terry Hobbs always LOOKED AS IF HE WERE GUILTY - and then lo and behold, the hair evidence is discovered, and no one seemed to require an accountability for his whereabouts during the crime line the way they scrutinized Mark's movements; and 3) the mysterious death of Melissa (no one can deny this), the numerous lies Mark has been caught telling (think teeth) and his drugged state during the lie detector test. Not to mention his claims to be a Christian when he acted anything but on the Paradise Lost documentaries. No one is perfect, but there is going to be "some shedding of the old man" when one repents. But if I had to make a statement as to whom I feel guilt is pointing more towards, right now it would have to be Terry Hobbs. How in the world could he have waited until time for Pam to get off of work before he let her know her son is missing. Obviously, TO GIVE HIM MORE TIME TO DO SOMETHING -- whatever that something was.
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I must say this. John Mark, you totally fascinate me with your use of the English language. Very poetic sometimes. With a lovely Southern flare to it, of course. Now, I WOULD LOVE TO READ A BOOK WRITTEN BY YOU. On WHATEVER SUBJECT. Would you please? I am serious. I think you are very talented. Drama with intelligence that seems surprising coming from such a meek character. You have been expressing yourself well for years now, and I think it would serve us all well and you would put all your thoughts in a book. This is not tongue in cheek. You would be a marvelous writer. Doesn't everyone agree?
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To be or not to be?
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If you are referring to the book, it is definitely to be even if I have to publish it myself (which I probably will). The process has been held up by the surprising (to me at least) results of the ASSC hearing last September, and the upcoming evidentiary hearing in the circuit court December 5th. The struggle to Free the West Memphis Three has become central to Mark's life, and the book just couldn't be released without at least knowing if there is to be a new trial or not. The HBO film (PL3) is being held up for the same reason, as are a number of other projects. Early next year we will know the outcome of the evidentiary hearings and hopefully I'll be at a good stopping point to publish.
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Glad to hear you will be doing the book and I will certainly buy it.
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Thanks Carol! It certainly has been an uphill battle writing it and I don't think it will please anybody, regardless of their position on the case (which is how I planned it). Because of Echols' positive results at the ASSC, it won't be ready until early next year but I hope you do read it and I hope it makes you think a little about how things are rarely as they appear. Thanks again!
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