10 months ago
ShareIts been nearly 16 years since Damien Echols was sentenced to die for the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis. Echols' wife says new evidence proves the wrong men are behind bars. Lorri Davis has been married to the death row inmate for 10 years.
"I am not going to stop until we get them out of prison," says Davis.
Freeing her husband is Davis' mission.
It's a fight she lives and breaths every day.
She explains, "Once you meet him its just like everyone says there's no going back."
Damien Echols is one of only about 40 inmates on Arkansas' death row. It's been nearly 16 years since he and two others were convicted of murdering three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis.
Echols spends at least 23 hours a day in solitary confinement.
Davis says, "It is amazing how someone who has pretty much grown up in a box how intelligent and knowledgeable he is on so many things."
Davis sees him only once a week, but sooner rather than later she says that will change.
"If it were tried today and we knew what we know now on all three cases there is no way they would have been convicted," she says.
Last month, Echols requested to the Arkansas Supreme Court to grant him a new trial. The petition is based on new DNA evidence that defense lawyers say doesn't tie the three men to the crime scene.
Also listed is alleged juror misconduct that is associated with the Jessie Misskelley confession.
"It is strong compelling evidence to prove their innocence. It does. It proves their innocence," Davis says.
It's a confession that the judge ordered not be used in deliberations.
Davis says, "We found one of the jurors and she had her original notes. Sure enough five lines down [there was] Jessie Misskelley confession and it was used to convict."
It will likely be a few months before they hear if a new trial will be given. Until then, Davis' mission will continue, in hopes of one day having a marriage outside prison walls.
She explains, "I would hope that everyone's marriage or relationship would be as amazing as ours is on that level."
The defense says DNA found at the crime scene does not match Echols, Baldwin or Misskelley. That was enough to change the mind of Christopher Byers' father. Byers is one of the victims. Early on, he was convinced the West Memphis Three were responsible for his son's death. Now he believes they are innocent.
The Attorney General and prosecutors will not comment on the case because of a gag order.
You can click the links to the right to read history on the West Memphis Three case.
