With that said, though, any newcomer to Arkansas or any Arkansas traveler, in general, should know which places in the state to be more careful due to crime or other unsavory factors. The number of homicides stood at 8 - a decrease of 8 compared to 2018. West Memphis is in the heart of the Bible Belt: just a two-hour drive from where, legend has it, the devil tuned Robert Johnson's guitar, in a state that's 46 percent evangelical Protestant.. According to our research of Arkansas and other state lists, there were 98 registered sex offenders living in West Memphis, Arkansas as of March 01, 2023. This results in 3.7 police officers per 1,000 residents which is 25.8% greater than the Arkansas average and 14.1% greater than the National average. However, in 2010, a series of rapidly unfolding developments turned the tide for Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley. Police responded shortly after 9:40 a.m. at West Essex and Arkansas Street. No explanation has yet been given as to why such a seemingly important lead was dropped. She has since expressed her belief that her ex-husband was involved in the murders,citing the discovery of her son's favorite pocket knife in Terry Hobbs' belongings. Property To the community in West Memphis and all over the world, weve got to come together and really try to fight this thing because, as I see it, its not getting better. However, there are a few safe neighborhoods where you can find secure accommodation, but many are super expensive. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Baldwin is the co-founder of the legal advocacy organization Proclaim Justice. 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. MEMPHIS, TENNESSEE AUGUST 25, 2017: Blues Clubs on Beale Street at dawn/Sean Pavone/Shutterstock. MPD says the tractor-trailer driver was not injured. Memphis has the highest violent and property crime rate in the U.S. Bray asked her if she knew about rumored cult activity in the community. Making his way through the muck on his hands and knees, Ridge soon discovered clothing twisted around sticks and thrust into the ditch's bottom. With their 2007 request for a new trial rejected, time was running out for the West Memphis Three. 27.50.92.141 If you find yourself in Spawn, beware of people standing on the street corners, even if they appear to be kids. Misskelley told Hutcheson that he really didn't know much about Echols other than that he was "a weird person." Welcome to Famous Trials, the Web's largest and most visited collection of original essays, trial transcripts and exhibits, maps, images, and other materials relating to the greatest trials in world history. On May 5, 1993, three young boys from West Memphis, Arkansas left their homes for a bike ride. Now let us turn to take a look at how West Memphis does for violent crimes specifically, and then how it does for property crimes. Get an all-access pass to never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! This town has less than 600 people and is next to the North Fork River and the White River. As recounted in Mara Leveritt's book, Devil's Knot, a thorough search of Robin Hood Hills directed by Chief Inspector Gary W. Gitchell of the West Memphis Police Department commenced early on the morning of May 6, 1993. "I didn't want to see it," Byers said in 2007. Cloudflare Ray ID: 7a123774fe70a814 The mayor also shared additional information about the West Memphis Crime Rates: Year Violent Crime Property Crime2018 298 7552019 229 7772020 237 6442021 321 6362022 263 532, Violent Crime 2018 2019 Down 23.00%, Violent Crime 2018 2020 Down 20.00%, Violent Crime 2018 2022 Down 12.00%, Violent Crime 2021 2022 Down 18.00%, Property Crime 2018 2019 UP 3.00%, Property Crime 2018 2020 Down 15.00%, Property Crime 2018 2021 Down 16.00%, Property Crime 2018 2022 Down 30. However, within the first crucial hours after the bodies were discovered, mistakes were made at the crime scene that negatively impacted the investigation. The film makes a persuasive case that the accused men - Damien Echols, Jessie . Echols, one of the West Memphis Three, has been fighting for more DNA testing of newly uncovered evidence from the crime. Ruff then met up with herpetologist Dr. Lori Neuman-Lee, who introduced him to multiple turtles that would typically be found in environments such as the crime scene. Click to reveal Select your ideal criteria and let Scout do the rest. West Memphis is in Crittenden County. One of the prosecution's key pieces of evidence linking Jason Baldwin to the crime a survival knife with a serrated edge recovered from a lake behind his home has also come under scrutiny. The case has long been referred to as a prime example of Satanic Panic, and Ruff even called the investigation a witch hunt., Its been said to me that anything in West Memphis that wasnt Baptist was Satanism, Ruff said on The Forgotten West Memphis Three.. Currently, there are no travel advisoriesthat the government has put out on Memphis. Among those active in the cause were singer Eddie Vedder of the band Pearl Jam, the country music trio The Dixie Chicks, punk rock icon and poet Henry Rollins, and actor Johnny Depp. Echols' attorneys finally got access Tuesday to the evidence they believe can exonerate all three men. On the morning of June 2, 1993, Jessie Misskelley Jr., a 17-year-old high school drop out with a reported IQ of 73, was taken into custody by Detective Mike Allen. You can email the site owner to let them know you were blocked. Because I was thinking, if you haven't done anything, then they can't prove you did something you haven't actually done. Your IP: However, if you let your guard down, you can become a crime victim. Note: Because the rates of crime are so low in America, we use "per . There wasn't any good eyewitnesses at the crime scenes, and one main confessor that accused some innocent people after a while of interrogations. From international atrocities to heinous stories on (US) home turf, dive head-first into a . Several other injuries inflicted on the boys, including Branchs facial wounds, were also consistent with turtle beaks and claws, Neuman-Lee said. The same research revealed that the number of registered sex offenders who reside in West Memphis is 60 as of 13th February 2019. Norfork. 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. Baldwin, 34, Echols and Misskelley, both 36, pleaded guilty to first- and second-degree murder charges while proclaiming their innocence, according to The New York Times. NeighborhoodScout has done just that. Escape To This Hidden Oasis In Arkansas To Find Peace And Quiet, This Candy Store in Arkansas Was Ripped Straight From The Pages Of A Fairytale, Every Spring, Thousands Flock To This Arkansas Town For The World Championship Toad Races, Countless Celebrities Have Loved This Iconic Arkansas Restaurant For Decades, Here Are The 11 Most Dangerous Places In Arkansas After Dark, These 16 Towns In Arkansas Are On Santas Naughty List This Year, These 15 Cities Are The Unhealthiest In Arkansas, Most People Dont Know These 20 Super Tiny Towns In Arkansas Exist, most dangerous places to live in Arkansas. Wilson. That number is (870)732-4444. The City-Data.com crime index weighs serious crimes and violent crimes more heavily. A Memphis Police spokesperson released this statement saying in part:"At this point, no ongoing homicide investigation has been determined to be connected. As a result, officials soon pointed the finger at three local teen outcasts, Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley. In 2004, Vicki Hutcheson recanted her trial testimony, stating that she had lied on the stand. Despite the best efforts of the police, dozens of volunteers, a search-and-rescue team, and a helicopter dispatched from nearby Memphis, Tenn., searchers came up empty handed. Even Byers stepfather, John Byers, became convinced of the mens innocence after its publication, reported ABC News. An estimated figure of 1,748 crimes took place for every 100K people in the city of West Memphis. Crime News is your destination for true crime stories from around the world, breaking crime news, and information about Oxygen's original true crime shows and documentaries. 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. 45.32.87.30 Investigators theorized the bodies of Stevie Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore had been mutilated in a Satanic ritual, but could they have been torn apart by animals? Notorious motorcycle gang crews here have a reputation that goes beyond Memphis. Crittenden County Sheriff's Office. Updated annually. Few people who have watched the documentary film Paradise Lost remain unconvinced by its central tenet, that the young men imprisoned in 1994 for the murder of three boys at Robin Hood Hills in West Memphis, Arkansas, were wrongly convicted. All the trademarks displayed on this page are the property of Location, Inc. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities. 00%, Property Crime 2021 2022 Down 16.00%, Total Year-to-Date Crime Rate Down 17.00%. The chart above shows the number of daily crimes in West Memphis, AR per 100,000 people. That there were three victims was a link to the biblical number of the beast. TBI has taken over the investigation. Memphis is divided into many blocks. Be forewarned this is not an article that states these Arkansas towns are completely dangerous. Gun violence, homicides, burglaries, aggravated assault, theft, and gang wars are some of the highest occurrences reported in this category. Two questions plagued the conservative, middle-class community: Why would anyone commit such a heinous act, and, more importantly, who? 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. Many are military veterans. Best selling books such as Lawrence Pazder's Michelle Remembers and disgraced evangelical comedian Mike Warnke's The Satan Seller fueled the madness with tales of ritual abuse and human sacrifice. Bill requiring rape kit testing within 30 days after receipt moving through legislation, MSCS believes 35-plus acre property near Shelby Farms is best option for new Cordova high school, Strong storms likely this evening and again on Thursday night, Everything you need to know to prepare for severe weather, MPD looking for shooting suspect after 1 critically injured in North Memphis, Second suspect in murder of missing UofM nursing student arrested, 1 dead, 1 critically injured in Hickory Hill double shooting. Discuss West Memphis, Arkansas (AR) on our hugely popular Arkansas forum. According to the most recent data from the FBI, the total crime rate in West Memphis is 7,027.5 per 100,000 people. Manage Settings While Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley have been free since 2011, they are still technically convicted killers. West Memphis, AR, USA Despite the FBI statistics, there are still a lot of great things about these towns. Blood and urine samples from both men were collected and sent to the West Memphis Police Department. Also, law enforcement chose not to focus on the victims' families as the starting point of the investigation as is the norm. Things seem to have improved today, but in a not-so-distant past, Orange Mound was the most dangerous neighborhood in Memphis. Pam Hicks, Mother Of West Memphis Three Victim, Names New 'Suspects' In Affidavit. Also, watch out for taxi drivers or vendors who will overcharge to get more out of you unscrupulously. Memphis police said, right now, there's no investigative evidence pointing towards a serial killer. The Messed Up Truth About The West Memphis Three Murders, citing the discovery of her son's favorite pocket knife, One of the prosecution's key pieces of evidence linking Jason Baldwin, With their 2007 request for a new trial rejected, Baldwin is the co-founder of the legal advocacy organization Proclaim Justice. Search for West Memphis, Crittenden County, AR police and arrest records. City-data.com does not guarantee the accuracy or timeliness of any information on this site. The bodies had been removed from the water and placed on the adjacent embankment, possibly disturbing physical evidence or otherwise contaminating the scene. In addition to the above, other safety concerns for visiting Memphis include: Theres cause for concern among tourists traveling to Memphis regarding their safety and well-being due to the rising criminal cases reported daily. You could also strictly stick around areas like Germantown, Cooper-Young, Binghamton, Midtown, and East Memphis because they are much safer. "I knew from when I was real small that people were going to know who I was," Echols said in 1994. Authorities confirm six homicides took place between November 8 and January 5 in the Westwood. Poor. Click to reveal Traveling to new places has changed our lives, and we hope to share our experience, insight, and passion with you in order to inspire you to change yours as well! WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. There is some crime, but it doesn't impact me much. Are you set to travel to Memphis soon? "I lived 15 miles away from West Memphis and the crime scene" (2010 interview, Larry King interview). "Match Any Neighborhood" calculates the Match Level of one neighborhood to another using more than 200 characteristics of each neighborhood. Tornado activity: West Memphis-area historical tornado activity is near Arkansas state average.It is 102% greater than the overall U.S. average.. On 4/21/1984, a category F3 (max. I avoid walking in most areas at night. This website is using a security service to protect itself from online attacks. Again, you are advised to stay on guard in this part of Memphis. Its getting worse, said Cox. MEMPHIS, Tenn. West Memphis citizens are voicing their concerns following the recent rise in crime. Its great for outdoor activities. As a tourist, you must furnish yourself with enough information and master your surroundings to mitigate any challenges likely to crop up. On December 21 in the 1800 block of West Raines, a shooting victim died on the scene. . Im really concerned about the crime in my community, said Marvin Cox, West Memphis resident. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. It was higher than in 99.2% U.S. cities. Your risk of being a victim of property crime is 1 in 26. 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