(Photo courtesy of Oxygen) 'REBEL WITHOUT A CAUSE' STAR SAL MINEO WAS 'ON A GOOD ROAD' BEFORE HORRIFIC MURDER, AUTHOR SAYS. How safe do you feel in this area? With a crime rate of 66 per one thousand residents, West Memphis has one of the highest crime rates in America compared to all communities of all sizes - from the smallest towns to the very largest cities. I dont know if she got shot in the car or if she got burned in her car. These types of crime include burglary, petty theft, and theft of motor vehicles. Among them was a disoriented, muddy, and bleeding African-American man who stumbled into a West Memphis Bojangles restaurant men's room less than a mile from the crime scene. The bodies had been removed from the water and placed on the adjacent embankment, possibly disturbing physical evidence or otherwise contaminating the scene. Raw crime incidents are sourced from all 18,000+ local law enforcement agencies municipal, county, transit, park, port, university, tribal and more, assigned to localities, then built into NeighborhoodScouts proprietary predictive models to provide a comprehensive crime risk profile for every neighborhood and address-vicinity in the U.S. More about NeighborhoodScouts crime data methodology, By sending this Report you agree to NeighborhoodScout's, My Chances of Becoming a Victim of a 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. Be forewarned this is not an article that states these Arkansas towns are completely dangerous. Some of our partners may process your data as a part of their legitimate business interest without asking for consent. You are advised to avoid putting on expensive jewelry or flashy clothing because it brings attention to you, making it easy for pickpockets to spot and target you. The film makes a persuasive case that the accused men - Damien Echols, Jessie . Despite its alarming levels of violent crimes, tourists can feel more secure in Memphis if they stay away from dangerous areas. Because I was thinking, if you haven't done anything, then they can't prove you did something you haven't actually done. Memphis has the highest violent and property crime rate in the U.S. The court hearing was held on . Its a number that brings a frown on anyone who may want to explore this area, given how you may not want to end your holiday without properly exploring Memphis. They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. Eureka Springs. Performance & security by Cloudflare. Murfreesboro. The arrest, trial, and conviction of the three young men known as the West Memphis Three came under national scrutiny as details of the case became public. Also, watch out for taxi drivers or vendors who will overcharge to get more out of you unscrupulously. WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. 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. Daytime or nighttime walking in Memphis is risky. If the opinion of the residents is anything to go by, crime reports have much to do with property theft, physical assault, and gang-related activities. There is some crime, but it doesn't impact me much. Some of the boys head lacerations, however, appeared to be inconsistent with turtle activity or other animal predation, which aligns with Dr. Hsus theory that they may have sustained those wounds before drowning. These are the most dangerous places to live in Arkansas. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. After 18 years in prison, the West Memphis Three were finally free, but not exonerated. Violent Aerial photo of area where bodies discovered. The top areas in Memphis you should avoid include: Downtown Memphis has thousands of people crisscrossing the streets, making it the perfect breeding ground for pickpockets and buglers. Poor. This is a story of justice delayed and justice denied. Morrilton. ", According to Devil's Knot, a week after the discovery of the bodies, Detective Don Bray interviewed Vicki Hutcheson, a truckstop employee. According to NeighborhoodScout's analysis of FBI reported crime data, your chance of becoming a victim of one of these crimes in West Memphis is one in 37. 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. The area is full of young professionals who want to live in the city but without chaos. Spotting a small, black tennis shoe in the water, Jones radioed for help. The evidence was once thought to be destroyed but was discovered in. To bolster their assertions that the killings were related to occult activity despite virtually no evidence prosecutors brought in their own so-called expert on cult murders. The boys' bodies were found submerged in a creek Thursday afternoon, and their bikes were found 50 yards away in the bayou. Lying in the open air in near 80-degree temperatures accelerated the decomposition of the bodies. The violent crime rate in Memphis is 25.1. Also, law enforcement chose not to focus on the victims' families as the starting point of the investigation as is the norm. " Every crime, no matter what it is, gets blamed on Satanism.". Good. During Misskelley's trial, Hutcheson testified that she had attended an "an occult Satanic meeting" she referred to as an "esbat." This was one of the most high profile savage murder. 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. Again, you are advised to stay on guard in this part of Memphis. See the table on nearby places below for nearby cities. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. Little kids will be looking under their bed 'Damien might be under there! One of the keys to understanding the West Memphis Three murders is the phenomenon known as the Satanic Panic. Reports show that there are an average of 1,900 reported cases of violent crimeper every 100,000 people in Memphis, Tennessee. Midtown has a population of over 62,700 and a violent crime rate of2,967 per 100,000 people. While people here enjoy a fair amount of security during the day, things turn for the worst at night. It was higher than in 99.2% U.S. cities. 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. One street may look friendly, safe, and kempt, and the next street, barely a stones throw away, will be ridden with criminals, dingy neighborhoods, and sketchy people. The same research revealed that the number of registered sex offenders who reside in West Memphis is 60 as of 13th February 2019. Mike Allen arrived on the scene. Under order of the Arkansas Supreme Court, there were to be new evidentiary hearings in the case. The most recent numbers on the police departments website are from 2019. Whitehaven has a very black-and-white appearance. Despite the high crime potential, Memphiss cultural, historical, and musical allure is undeniable. Crime West Memphis police looking for suspect of deadly shooting on S L Henry Street. The next day their bodies were found in a secluded, wooded area known as Robin Hood Hills. That the slain boys were each 8 years-old was important because eight was a "witch's number." Reports include arrest logs, mugshots, bookings and more. The case has long been referred to as a prime example of , , and Ruff even called the investigation a witch hunt., Former FBI profiler John Douglas noted in his 2014 book, Law & Disorder: Inside the Dark Heart of Murder, " that the West Memphis Three defense team hired forensic pathologist Dr. Werner Spitz and forensic scientist Dr. Jon Norby, who concluded that the genital wounds on Byers were from postmortem animal predation., Their report was released in 2007 and helped to alter the publics view of the case. 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. Other possible suspects includedBrian Holland and Chris Morgan, two young men from Memphis, Tenn., with a history of drug offenses. However, criminals are always lurking, aiming to make a quick buck or steal from oblivious tourists. Read more about Scout's Crime Data. They were nude and hogtied, and all three had what appeared to be scratches, bite marks and possible stab wounds. Poll. To remain safe, stay alert and watch your belongings while paying attention to whos around you. Its no secret that Memphis hasnt had the best reputation regarding crime. At the time of the West Memphis Three trial, Griffis claimed to have given seminars to 38,000 police officers all over the globe. In addition, NeighborhoodScout found that a lot of the crime that takes place in West Memphis is property crime. However, if you let your guard down, you can become a crime victim. In her recantation, Hutcheson stated that when she asked Echols directly if he had killed "those three kids," he replied, "No. '", In 1999, a more mature Echols explained the comment. There are several actions that could trigger this block including submitting a certain word or phrase, a SQL command or malformed data. That's 199.55% higher than the national rate of 2,346.0 per 100,000 people and 113.90% higher than the Arkansas total crime rate of 3,285.3 per 100,000 people. Common crimes ailing Memphis are violent crimes and property crimes. The west Memphis Three. "I knew from when I was real small that people were going to know who I was," Echols said in 1994. Some parts 2023 Advameg, Inc. Crime rate in West Memphis, Arkansas (AR): murders, rapes, robberies, assaults, burglaries, thefts, auto thefts, arson, law enforcement employees, police officers, crime map, Crime rate in West Memphis, Arkansas (AR). The first being that boys were killed by someone they knew. Crime scene photo from the West Memphis Three case. Misskelley's coerced confession, as contradictory as it seemed to the evidence, was consistent in implicating Echols and Jason Baldwin. 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This area has a significantly higher property crime rate as poor peoplewill rob people, break into cars, and homes to steal things that they can sell for a quick buck. Discover your neighborhood's best match, anywhere. This towns Presbyterian church has 58 stained glass windows and is n the National Register of Historic Places. Knowing that the police were already focusing on Damien Echols, Hutcheson asked her neighbor, Jessie Misskelley Jr., about the brooding teen and his occult connection. The amount of violent crime in West Memphis has increased by 36%, the amount of property crime in West Memphis has decreased by 21%, and the total amount of crime in West Memphis has decreased by 4% year over year. 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. 8,376,755. Common criminal cases here involve petty crimes that may not threaten your life as a tourist. Minutes later, Sgt. The most historic towns in Arkansas include: Learn more about the most historic towns in Arkansas. Reflects 2021 calendar year; released from FBI in Oct. 2022 (latest available). Baldwin is the co-founder of the legal advocacy organization Proclaim Justice. Covered in wounds, all three showed signs of having been beaten. The crime and investigation. As a result, if you are a visitor, avoid walking alone in Downtown Memphis at night. I avoid walking in most areas at night. | Safety Concerns, Where to Stay in Hawaii in 2023 | Best Islands & Hotels, 19 Best Snorkeling Spots in Hawaii in 2023, The 15 Best Places to Visit in Guatemala in 2023, The 16 Best Places to Visit in Sicily in 2023, The 15 Best Places to Visit in Florida for Couples in 2023, The 15 Best Places to Visit in Sweden in 2023, The 15 Best Places to Visit in Texas in 2023. Pretty safe. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a town. 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