#095 Jason Flom with Joe Berlinger

Wrongful Conviction

Lava for Good Podcasts

True Crime

4.4 • 5.8K Ratings

🗓️ 22 April 2019

⏱️ 72 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

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Summary

In the late 80’s and early 90’s, the US found itself wrapped up in the “Satanic Panic” - a general state of fear revolving around Satanism and satanic ritual, real or imagined. On May 5th, 1993, in West Memphis, AR, three 8-year-old boys—Steven Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers—were reported missing. Their lifeless bodies were found the following day in a Robin Hood Hills creek, naked and hogtied. Christopher Byers had suffered lacerations, and his genitals had been mutilated. Details of the bizarre and brutal scene in Robin Hood Hills brought Satanic Panic to a fever pitch in the largely conservative Christian city of West Memphis. Coming off their first film success with Brother’s Keeper, documentarians Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky were tapped by HBO documentaries to head down to get the story. Joe Berlinger sits with Jason Flom and recalls his experience of the case, the moments that inspired his fight for criminal justice reform, and the films and events that have helped shape public opinion of wrongful convictions.

Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.

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Transcript

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0:00.0	In May 1993, three young Arkansas boys, Stevie Branch, Christopher Buyers, and Michael
0:07.2	Moore went missing.
0:08.5	Three little cub scouts hog tied and left in an Arkansas ditch.
0:11.9	One of the most controversial legal cases in the state's history.
0:15.0	A jury found the man guilty of murdering the eight year old boys back in 1993, in what
0:20.5	prosecutors at the time had called some sort of a satanic ritual.
0:24.4	Celebrities fighting for the teen's release claimed the kids were railroaded because of
0:28.5	their mums, dark clothes, and fascination with the occult.
0:32.0	Signing killings that might have been part of a satanic ritual.
0:35.8	Convicted murderers Jason Baldwin, Jesse Miss Kelly and Damian Eccles are now free men.
0:41.7	They spent 17 years in prison for a crime that stunned Arkansas.
0:45.4	West Memphis 3 would be allowed to walk out of prison, but prosecutors agreed to sign
0:50.1	off on the deal only if the defendants would plead guilty.
0:53.8	A long time on death row for something that you insist you didn't do.
0:57.9	There's always the possibility that the person that you're killing is innocent.
1:02.2	This is wrongful conviction.
1:10.5	Welcome back to wrongful conviction.
1:12.5	Today I have a special show for you, and I think it's going to be a real treat because
1:18.7	with me I have a guy who has done profound work in film dealing with wrongful convictions.
1:27.5	I'm super excited to have him here to share some stories and some wisdom and his outlook.
1:33.4	So Joe Burlander, welcome to wrongful conviction.
1:35.9	Jason, thanks.
	...

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