Free the West Memphis Three

August 6, 2007

Dear Friends & Supporters:

For more than a decade, thousands of you from all over the world have spoken out about the grave injustice in West Memphis, where three men, including my husband, were wrongfully convicted of murder. You have spoken out to raise money and awareness; you have brought widespread attention to this case and refused to let people forget that three men are in prison for a crime they did not commit; and you have made a difference, through creativity, passion and sheer force of will. The families of the West Memphis Three (Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and Jason Baldwin) can never thank you enough.

Today, I am writing to you because we urgently need your help. Whether you have supported and followed the case over the years, or you are just learning about this tragic injustice, we need you to step up today.

Over the last two years, compelling new evidence has been discovered by DNA tests, forensic pathologists and investigators. The lawyers are working to assemble what will be a dynamic appeal; one that will change forever the way this case has been perceived, and will prove-- once and for all -- the innocence of the three convicted. The filing will include new evidence that is backed up with factual, hard science; a miraculous development in this error-ridden case.

Your support over the years has enabled us to achieve unbelievable progress. We're now asking for your help to put all of this effort to work in the courts. We need the resources that will enable our experts, lawyers and investigators to work full time over the next couple of months, so the appeal can be filed as quickly as possible.

Time is running out, and we need your help.

If you have ever considered donating, the time is NOW. Cases like this take years and cost millions of dollars. We are in the final lap toward overturning these convictions and finally securing justice, but we simply cannot do it without the money it takes to bring all of the science and expertise and investigation into court so that the truth can finally come out.

I am not an expert on the law, science, the criminal justice system or the art of fundraising and organizing. What I know for sure is that these three men are innocent, and that we can prove it if we have the money it will take in the next four weeks to file the appeal that's been more than 10 years in the making. Please help us, and please know that your support has already gotten us farther than many people thought possible.

Thanks very much,

Lorri Davis and the Damien Echols Legal Team

Please make your check or money order payable to:
Damien Echols Defense Fund
PO Box 1216
Little Rock, AR 72203

Or use PAYPAL!

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Please use LDavis11@hotmail.com as the "recipient" address. Don't forget to include your name and address!

Posted by X at 6:16 PM | Permalink | Comments

Labels: Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, Jessie Misskelley, West Memphis three

Posted by X at 6:05 PM | Permalink | Comments

The Official WM3 site mentions that Jason Baldwin and other inmates are transferred to the Varnet unit as part of an investigation of staff abuses.

His wedding that was scheduled on the 24th of January will now have to be rescheduled at Varner.

If you would like to send Jason some mail, please send it to:
PO Box 600, Grady AR, 71644-0600

Posted by X at 2:37 PM | Permalink | Comments

Mara Leveritt, journalist and author of Devil's Knot: The true story of the West Memphis three, has interviewed Dan Stidham who is Jessie's original trail attorney. In the interview Stidham talks about DNA tests, appeals and much more.

To read the interview click here

Posted by X at 6:34 PM | Permalink | Comments

The West Memphis 3 (Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley and James Baldwin) became a household name thanks to the "Paradise Lost" documentaries, which cast grave doubts about their conviction for murdering three young boys in 1993.

The trio's cause has also been taken up by the music industry; Henry Rollins recorded an album and launched a tour to help pay for the men's defense fund, and Pearl Jam included a song with lyrics penned by Echols, "Army Reserve," on its 2006 self-titled release. And now, ex-Misfits frontman Michale Graves is showing his support by touring to support the WM3 and collaborating on a full album with Echols.

Inspired by a viewing of the "Paradise Lost" documentaries and visit to the WM3 Web site, Graves reached out to Echols' wife via email, who then put the two men in contact. "Damien and I started writing back and forth," Graves tells Billboard.com. "I challenged him to continue writing lyrics. I said, 'You can articulate what you're hearing and what kind of mood is happening, and I would put it to music.' And that's what he did. I would kind of meditate on it, pick up my guitar, and we wrote six songs together."

According to Graves, the music promises to be a departure from the singer's usual "horror punk" style. "It's, dare I say, kind of Simon and Garfunkel-ish. It's very folkie," he says. "It's powerful stuff though, because of where it came from. Damien will definitely be on the album -- he'll say something. I don't think I can get him to sing [laughs]. But I can certainly get him to talk."

While the album is still untitled, it will include "Frost Bite," "Nothing," "Worm Wood," "A Thousand Cracks of Daylight," "Silent Partner" and "Ascension," among others. Although a label isn't in place yet, Graves plans to release the album in June of 2007, to mark the 14-year anniversary of the arrest of Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin.


In the meantime, Graves' next solo release, "Return to Earth," is due on Halloween, and he says it reaches beyond Misfits-style punk. "I wanted to show a creative evolution -- I wanted it to be a much more mature record, both emotionally and musically," he says. "I think it's much more of a David Bowie record than it is anything else. It totally runs the gamut."

Lastly, Graves offers this update on Echols. "Damien is waiting the results of the second round of DNA testing -- it's still at a state level as far as the courts are concerned," he says. "He's awaiting the DNA results to present to a judge, which is the last part of his appeal process at the state level, before he has to go to federal courts. All his efforts have to be exhausted on the state level before he can petition a federal court."

written by: Greg Prato, N.Y.

Posted by X at 8:00 PM | Permalink | Comments