Suffer the Little Children - Episode 180: The West Memphis Three (An Interview with Dan Stidham)

Episode 180: The West Memphis Three (An Interview with Dan Stidham)

08/25/24 • 103 min

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On the evening of May 5, 1993, three eight-year-old boys—Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers—went missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. The next day, in a nearby wooded area, the boys were found brutally murdered, bound, and submerged in a drainage ditch. The horrific nature of the crime shocked the community, and police quickly arrested three local teenagers—Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley—based on a coerced false confession, no solid evidence, and Satanic panic.
This is the story of three innocent children whose lives were stolen in an unspeakable act of violence. It’s also the story of three wrongfully convicted teenagers who spent 18 years in prison, one of them on death row, for a crime they didn’t commit—the victims of a flawed justice system and a community in the grip of fear.
In today’s episode, I’m honored to discuss a case that has gripped me for many years with the one man who has been involved since the beginning: Jessie Misskelley’s original defense attorney, case advocate, and author of the recent book, A Harvest of Innocence: Judge Dan Stidham.
This is our discussion about his book and the tragic case of the West Memphis Three.

A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Innocence-Untold-Memphis-Murder/dp/B0CMYZ2BT7
Judge Stidham’s website: https://www.danstidham.com
Email Judge Stidham with information about the case: [email protected]
Truth & Justice with Bob Ruff podcast: https://www.truthandjusticepod.com
Paradise Lost documentary series: https://www.max.com/shows/paradise-lost/d509d74f-3c01-4367-9a42-a3aece5de4c9
The Forgotten West Memphis Three docuseries: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12092348/
West of Memphis documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2130321/

Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
You can also follow the podcast on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod
My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod
Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.
By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive rewards. Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod.
You can also support the podcast on www.Ko-Fi.com/STLCpod.
Join my Supporters' Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support
This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
Music for this episode is licensed from https://audiojungle.net.
Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
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...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.

A Harvest of Innocence by Dan Stidham on Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Harvest-Innocence-Untold-Memphis-Murder/dp/B0CMYZ2BT7
Judge Stidham’s website: https://www.danstidham.com
Email Judge Stidham with information about the case: [email protected]
Truth & Justice with Bob Ruff podcast: https://www.truthandjusticepod.com
Paradise Lost documentary series: https://www.max.com/shows/paradise-lost/d509d74f-3c01-4367-9a42-a3aece5de4c9
The Forgotten West Memphis Three docuseries: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt12092348/
West of Memphis documentary: https://www.imdb.com/title/tt2130321/

Previous Episode

Episode 179: Jonathan Carey (Part 3)

Over the past two episodes, I told you the story of non-verbal, autistic 13-year-old Jonathan Carey, who was smothered to death in 2007. His killer was a care worker from a facility for people with developmental disabilities. How could something like this happen?
In this episode, you’ll hear my conversation with Jonathan’s father, Michael Carey, who has spent the last 17 years pushing for a massive overhaul of New York State’s mental health system as well as legislature to help protect others with developmental disabilities.
This is part three of the mind-boggling story of Jonathan Carey.

Form letter to print and send: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1VogzAAW9Kh1by2-IDOgN94ZI73-BxyxZ/view?usp=sharing
“Prevalence of Violence”: https://www.mass.gov/info-details/prevalence-of-violence
Article about sexual predator Stephen DeProspero: https://www.ydr.com/story/news/crime/2017/02/20/predators-dream-ny-pays-3m-family-molested-boy/98154714/
Article about whistleblower Jeffrey Monsour: https://www.adirondackdailyenterprise.com/news/local-news/2017/11/opwdd-whistleblower-asks-workers-to-speak-up/
“Jane Lynch” affidavit (“coherent oversight scheme”): https://drive.google.com/file/d/17vYWA2DY_HqwIluGcyyadExmDqckjRHh/view?usp=sharing
Jonathan’s Law: http://jonathanslaw.com
Jonathan Carey Foundation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JonathanCareyFoundation
New York Times Abused and Used series: https://archive.nytimes.com/www.nytimes.com/interactive/nyregion/abused-and-used-series-page.html
Spotlight movie (2015): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt1895587/

Next Episode

Episode 181: Vayda Vasquez

When Vayda Vasquez was a month away from turning two, her custodial maternal grandma trusted her overnight with a long-time family friend, Kellie Barthel. The following morning, after several 911 calls from Kellie’s residence in Stanton, Michigan, police responded and found little Vayda unresponsive. She was pronounced dead at the scene.
This is the story of a sweet, happy little girl who loved dancing, “Baby Shark,” and listening to her mommy sing. It’s also the story of a woman who valued her meth and alcohol cravings over the life of a joyful, much-loved toddler.
Also in this episode, you’ll hear from Vayda’s mom, Danielle Maybee, who has turned her life around in the four years since Vayda’s death. Dani and I had a candid, honest conversation about Vayda’s life, her death, and the memories she left behind.
This is the heartbreaking story of Vayda Vasquez.
Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
You can also follow the podcast on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod
My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod
Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com.
By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive rewards. Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod.
You can also support the podcast on www.Ko-Fi.com/STLCpod.
Join my Supporters' Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support
This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.
Music for this episode is licensed from https://audiojungle.net.
Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts: https://playmusic.app.goo.gl/?ibi=com.google.PlayMusic&isi=691797987&ius=googleplaymusic&apn=com.google.android.music&link=https://play.google.com/music/m/I5mx3lacxpdkhssmk2n22csf32u?t%3DSuffer_the_Little_Children%26pcampaignid%3DMKT-na-all-co-pr-mu-pod-16
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/0w98Tpd3710BZ0u036T1KE
iHeartRadio: https://iheart.com/podcast/77891101/
...or on your favorite podcast listening platform.