Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast
Paul Day and Kristin Rich
Welcome to this long-form podcast series on one of the most controversial and heavily debated true crime cases in American history: the West Memphis Three.In this series, Paul Day — victim advocate, evidence researcher, and longtime friend of the Byers family — teams up with Kristin Rich, a criminologist and victim advocate who has immersed herself in the case for years. Together, they embark on an in-depth journey that tells the story from the victims’ perspective.Focusing on the three eight-year-old boys — Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch — whose lives were tragically cut short on May 5, 1993, in West Memphis, Arkansas, Paul and K...
Episodes
Episode 20: The Tacit Confession
On May 10, 1993—the day that never ends—Damien Echols leaves a grueling interrogation with Detectives Ridge and Sudbury and walks straight into a polygraph with Detective Bill Durham. What follows is a tense, unrecorded session of pretest questions, ten carefully crafted polygraph queries, and a high-pressure post-test interview that would haunt the West Memphis Three case for decades.Damien denies every relevant question about the murders. Durham scores every answer as deception. Pressure mounts. Damien claims he asked for an attorney three times; Durham insists he never did. Then comes the moment that gives this episode its name: after nearly an hour of confrontation, Damien reportedly stops denying involvement—an “admission through absence of denial,” later called a tacit confession. He mentions the electric chair. He asks to speak to his mother. And the exact wording of what he said next remains bitterly disputed.Pam Hutchinson is brought in. The prosecutor hovers nearby. Biological samples are collected. Anonymous tips flood the department—one claiming credit for the killings, another pointing a finger at Damien and a close friend. By the time the sun sets, an 18-year-old has gone from person of interest to prime suspect, and the machinery of the investigation has locked into place.Join Kristin and Paul as they break down the polygraph results, courtroom testimony, conflicting accounts, and the chilling sequence of events that turned May 10 into a point of no return…and the day isn’t over yet.
Episode 19: Damien's Interview from Hell
In this pivotal episode of Crooked Tree, forensic geologist and victim advocate Paul Day and criminologist and victim advocate Kristin Rich take a meticulous, slow-crawl look at one of the most consequential moments in the West Memphis Three investigation: the May 10, 1993, interview of Damien Echols at the West Memphis Police Department.Beginning at 11:54 a.m., Echols—brought in with his mother—sits down with lead Detective Bryn Ridge and Lieutenant James Sudbury. What starts as a “person of interest” conversation lasting roughly 90 minutes ends with Damien labeled a suspect. Paul and Kristin carefully compare Ridge’s sparse interview notes, his later handwritten report, and the final typewritten version that would be used at trial, revealing subtle shifts, omissions, embellishments, and a troubling conflation of Wicca with Satanism. They also examine how Sudbury filled out his 32-question occult questionnaire largely by listening in and mapping Damien’s answers onto the form—sometimes out of sequence and without direct questioning.No audio recording exists of the interrogation. The hosts unpack the subject description focused on tattoos, Damien’s statements about his beliefs, alibis, the crime, and potential suspects, then follow the trail into the polygraph examination and the escalating pressure that followed. Drawing on trial testimony from Ridge, Damien, and others, they show how these documents and leading questions shaped the narrative that would haunt the case for decades.A cautionary deep-dive into note-taking, confirmation bias, the dangers of unrecorded interrogations, and the moment a teenager’s decision to talk to police changed everything. Essential listening for true-crime fans who want the granular details behind the headlines.
Episode 18: Covenant of the Divine Light
In this episode of Crooked Tree, hosts Kristin Rich and Paul Day turn their focus to Murray Farris, an 18-year-old West Memphis resident whose name appears on Jerry Driver’s list of possible occult-linked individuals. On the evening of May 9, 1993—hours after Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin were questioned—Farris walks into the West Memphis Police Department.What follows is a revealing interview. Farris describes his involvement in a small group identified as the Covenant of the Divine Light, a personal blend of Wiccan practice, biblical study, and protective symbolism including a pentagram medallion bearing the Tetragrammaton. He names associates, downplays any sinister intent, and, almost as an afterthought, offers a detailed description of a heavyset, blonde, bespectacled man in his late 30s known as “Lucifer”—leader of an “evil cult,” driver of a cream-colored van, and resident near Earle, Arkansas.The next day brings more: a tip from a local Baptist youth counselor confirming that Farris and Chris Littrell were at a church youth night the evening the three boys vanished, followed by a lengthy fax from NYPD cult expert Detective Marcos Quinones outlining classic signs of occult crime scenes—missing organs, nine-foot circles, candle wax, inverted crosses, pentagrams, and more.Kristin and Paul examine how this information lands with investigators already primed by the era’s Satanic Panic, how it intersects with Damien Echols’s circle, and why the police’s growing interest in ritualistic motives begins to take sharper shape—even as the physical evidence at the crime scene fails to match many of the classic markers Quinones describes.A pivotal look at the investigation’s early pivot toward the occult, the people drawn into its orbit, and the cultural climate that shaped what detectives chose to see.
Episode 17: God, the Devil, and Damien
In the hours and days after the bodies of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers are recovered, West Memphis investigators begin receiving tips steeped in the era’s widespread fears of satanic ritual abuse. A call from a Texas Child Protective Services worker about alleged ritualistic killings in Gilmer, TX sets an early tone. Lieutenant James Sudbury and juvenile officer Steve Jones quickly zero in on Damien Echols, interviewing the teenager at his family’s trailer on May 7 based on their shared belief that the crime shows “overtones of a cult sacrifice."By Mother’s Day, May 9, the focus intensifies. Drug Task Force officers follow up on rumors of devil worship at Lakeshore Trailer Park, interview Damien, his pregnant girlfriend Domini Teer, and best friend Jason Baldwin, and administer a pointed questionnaire crafted by Sudbury. A contemporaneous tip from neighbor Narlene Hollingsworth places Damien and Domini near the service road by the Blue Beacon looking dirty—directly contradicting their alibis—and draws in additional names from the local “cult cops,” Jerry Driver and Steve Jones.This episode traces how the occult theory rapidly takes root in the investigation, examines the content and context of those early interviews and questionnaires, and raises the questions still hanging over the case: What was the Covenant of the Divine Light? Who was LG Hollingsworth, and how was he connected? What really happened on the service road the night the boys disappeared? And how did Damien Echols move from alternative teenager to primary person of interest in less than 72 hours?
Q&A #4: Cub Scout Leaders, Dismemberment Profiles & Other Listener Questions
In this gripping Q&A installment of Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast, West Memphis Three researchers and victim advocates Kristin Rich and Paul Day confront listener questions that cut straight to the heart of the case—and the shadows still lingering over the 1993 murders of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore.They open by addressing accusations of bias, revealing how their close ties to the Byers and Branch families formed only after years of independent, evidence-driven research—and why those relationships change nothing about the facts they’re presenting. From there, the episode descends into the unresolved details that continue to haunt the investigation: Did the victims’ parents or the search teams even know the unnamed creek existed before the bodies were found? What really happened to Stevie’s stolen bicycle, and why was he so fiercely protective of the new one? Where exactly were the boys’ bikes recovered in the murky waters of Ten Mile Bayou—and what do the missing tracks in the Discovery Woods suggest?Kristin and Paul dig into one of the investigation’s most glaring failures: the near-total failure to thoroughly interrogate the families in those critical first days. They examine the Cub Scout leader who had regular contact with the boys, the polygraphs that cleared some while raising questions about others, and the mysterious cloth material recovered from Michael Moore’s hand—evidence whose true origin remains murky.The conversation turns darker still with a detailed look at the offender profile of someone capable of the dismemberment injury inflicted on one of the boys. Drawing on studies of sexual sadists, body-disposal methods, and multi-offender crimes, the hosts explore what the violence—and what was not done to the other two children—may reveal about the killer’s motives, experience, and whether this was the work of one person or more.Along the way they address non-public crime scene materials, the reliability of the polygraphs administered by Bill Durham, a widely circulated (and thoroughly debunked) serial-killer theory, the partial print recovered early in the case, and the origin of the podcast’s haunting theme music. They also clarify their strong working relationship with the current West Memphis Police Department—separate from the investigative failures of 1993.No spoilers are held back this time. Every question is answered. And the episode ends with a chilling preview of what’s coming next: the first deep dive into how Damien Echols and two other teenagers were pulled into the investigation—and how that fateful focus began.Submit your questions via Facebook, X, Instagram, or YouTube.The search for answers continues.
Episode 16: West Memphis Confidential
In this episode of Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast, forensic geologist and victim advocate Paul Day and criminologist and victim advocate Kristin Rich pull back the curtain on the law-enforcement climate surrounding the murders of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore.Why did West Memphis Police Inspector Gary Gitchell decline substantial help from the Arkansas State Police—even as three children lay dead and the department reached out to the FBI? The hosts examine the West Memphis–Crittenden County Drug Task Force, its high-profile seizures of cash, vehicles, and guns, and the cloud of investigations that hung over it in early 1993. Through contemporary newspaper reporting, they document allegations of confiscated property diverted for personal use, unaccounted cash, weapons handed out far beyond the evidence locker, and the subsequent state and federal probes that followed key officers for years.Names that surface repeatedly in the boys’ case—James Sudbury, Tony Miller, Shane Griffin, and others—also appear in these drug-unit controversies. The episode traces how those parallel scandals, personnel changes, and later criminal cases (including firings, indictments, and other serious misconduct) raise hard questions about integrity, priorities, and culture inside the agencies investigating the murders. Paul and Kristin are careful to distinguish individual failings from the trauma many officers carried, while underscoring why these issues matter to understanding the investigation itself.A clear-eyed look at the institutional backdrop of one of the most scrutinized cases in true-crime history.
Episode 15: An Unbiased Profile
In the chaotic days after the bodies of three eight-year-old boys were discovered in West Memphis, the police—facing few solid leads—turned to the FBI’s Behavioral Science Unit in Quantico for an offender profile. They sent a case summary and victimology reports, hoping for scientific direction. What they received instead was generic interview guidance. No profile ever came. In this episode of Crooked Tree, victim advocates Paul Day and Kristin Rich examine the only truly unbiased profile ever produced in the West Memphis Three case: the public analysis offered by Memphis psychologist Dr. L.D. Hutt Jr. before any arrests were made. Drawing solely on publicly available facts, Hutt described a young white male familiar with the neighborhood who likely knew at least one of the victims—an assessment that aligns closely with national statistics on juvenile homicides.Paul and Kristin break down the incomplete and sometimes inaccurate information forwarded to the FBI, the detailed victimology reports that humanize Michael Moore, Christopher Byers, and Steve Branch, and the broader science of behavioral analysis—including organized versus disorganized offenders and the dangers of confirmation bias. They also revisit the grim 1993 peak in child murders and the consistent pattern that most young victims are killed by someone they know.This is the episode that peels back the early investigative decisions and shows how an independent expert, free of the case’s later pressures, read the evidence in real time. Essential listening for anyone seeking a clear-eyed look at the profiling that never guided the original investigation—and the one that still stands apart.
Episode 14: The Broken Knife
In this episode of Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast, hosts Kristin Rich and Paul Day pick up the trail from Dawn Moore and Kim Williams’ May 8, 1993 interviews with the West Memphis Police Department. The girls described three teenagers emerging from Devil’s Den who offered Dawn a “shot,” then later entering a house on Wilson Street—identified as the home of 13-year-old Carlos Seals at 808 Wilson.Kristin and Paul examine how police zeroed in on Seals and his friends—Billy Sanderson, Kent Lynn, Jason White, and Samantha Gardner—through door-to-door notes and the girls’ account. Interviews on May 8 and 9 by Lieutenant James Sudbury initially paint a straightforward picture: the group helped search for Christopher Byers on the afternoon of May 5 but claimed they stayed out of Robin Hood Hills that day. By the next day’s questioning, a different story emerges. The teens say they had entered the woods via Devil’s Den on Sunday, May 2. During that trip, Kent broke a knife while cutting vines and left it behind. Details accumulate—Jason and Carlos leave first, the others reach the pipeline and Turtle Hill, and Billy reports seeing (and briefly speaking with) two older white males. Police recover the broken knife roughly 75–150 yards from the crime scene. A subsequent report clears Seals and the group pending further developments, though the knife is later rushed to the lab ahead of trial.The hosts weigh the accounts against independent corroboration (including Thelma Turner’s observation of teens matching their description with a large knife near Goodwin on May 2), note the absence of any follow-up on the “shot” offer that so alarmed Dawn and Kim, and highlight gaps around Bobby Posey’s door-to-door claims. The episode then turns to other neighborhood leads: interviews with Jeff Holliday and Clint Garner about a suspicious white van that followed them weeks earlier near McAuley Circle, multiple additional white-van reports, and the list of vans the department compiled and checked.Packed with primary documents, timelines, and careful analysis of what the police pursued—and what they left unasked—this episode unpacks how a promising lead about teens near Devil’s Den quickly centered on a broken knife, why the group was cleared so swiftly, and the lingering questions that remain.
Episode 13: A Shot by the Hydrant
In the shadowed hours before three young boys vanished into Robin Hood Hills, a critical gap in the West Memphis Three timeline has long gone unfilled… until now.On this episode of Crooked Tree, West Memphis Three researchers Paul Day and Kristin Rich dive deep into the missing thirty minutes between 5:15 and 5:45 p.m. on May 5, 1993. Drawing on overlooked door-to-door notes and police interviews, they track Stevie Branch and Michael Moore as they ride their bikes near Wilson and Holiday, then head toward the woods.The most chilling detail emerges from the accounts of Kim Williams and Dawn Moore: as the two boys enter the ditch leading into Devil’s Den, three older teens—one white male and two Black males—are seen coming out. Near the fire hydrant at the edge of Devil’s Den, one of them offers Dawn a “shot.”Paul and Kristin also uncover strange gaps in the police record—including a bizarre “555” case-number anomaly on Todd Moore’s statement, the only document in the entire file that breaks from the infamous 666 designation—and reconstruct a clearer timeline of the boys’ final free hours, revealing how the official missing-persons report may have been off by half an hour.Who were those three teenagers exiting Devil’s Den… and what else is still hidden in the shadows of the investigation?A deep dive into the overlooked minutes—and the unsettling documents—that may help us understand the last afternoon of Stevie, Michael, and Christopher.
Q&A #3: DNA Testing, Overlooked Leads & Other Listener Questions
In this Q&A episode, West Memphis Three researchers and victim advocates Paul Day and Kristin Rich answer a wide range of listener questions submitted through their Facebook group. From the status of ongoing DNA testing and whether pressure exists to reopen the case, to crime-scene logistics, law-enforcement perceptions of the original investigation, case numbering oddities, overlooked persons of interest, family timelines and alibis, evidence handling, and why certain leads (including those involving Terry Hobbs) received limited early scrutiny—Paul and Kristin tackle the topics listeners are most curious about.They share insights drawn from case files, discuss how the investigation is viewed today (including its use as a training example of what not to do), clarify common misconceptions, and offer updates while emphasizing patience on pending scientific results. As always, the conversation stays grounded in the documented record and the hosts’ long-term research.Whether you’re new to the case or a longtime follower, this laid-back yet substantive episode delivers thoughtful answers, context, and a preview of deeper explorations still to come. Join the discussion in the Facebook group and keep your questions coming for future Q&As.
Episode 12: Sir Mikeal and the King
West Memphis suffered a devastating blow five years before the murders of Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch. In 1988, the burned bodies of seven-year-old Bianca Tirado and two-year-old Maximilian McCoy were discovered at a dump site. Their mother, Barbara McCoy, and companion Mary Williams were charged with capital murder amid allegations of religious extremism and beliefs that the children were possessed. The case dominated local and national headlines, left the community reeling, and kept talk of cults and the occult fresh in residents’ minds. When the three boys were found in 1993, those same fears resurfaced immediately. In this episode, Kristin and Paul examine the 1988 double homicide in detail—through contemporary newspaper accounts—and show how it shaped the atmosphere surrounding the West Memphis Three investigation. They then turn to two unusual newcomers living just steps from Devil’s Den: Sir Mikeal Williams, a Pentecostal minister, and his roommate King David Samuel Beasley. After a suspicious doorstep encounter during neighborhood canvassing, both men were brought in for questioning.The hosts walk through the police interviews, the men’s alibis (and the gaps in them), the religious symbols and behavior that raised red flags, lab evidence, and why these two figures continued to linger in investigators’ notes long after they were supposedly cleared. A look at how prior tragedy, community panic, and non-mainstream faith intersected in the early days of the case.
Episode 11: The Devil Thumbs a Ride
In this episode, Kristin Rich and Paul Day dive deep into one of the most intriguing and under-examined leads in the West Memphis Three case: the mysterious "Tattooed Man."On May 5, 1993, Ken Govar picked up a hitchhiker east of Little Rock. The man’s angry demeanor, inconsistent stories, terrifying tattoos (including a bone with dripping blood and a devil on its haunches), and specific request to be dropped off at a Flash Market just 1,600 feet from Devil's Den in West Memphis raised immediate red flags. Govar’s detailed police interview, composite sketches, and sharp observations paint a chilling picture of a man who didn’t add up.Kristin and Paul break down the timeline, the man’s physical description, his strange behavior, and how close this encounter was to the victims’ last known movements. They also explore a related tip involving a suspicious cab fare to Tennessee and examine the West Memphis Police Department’s handling (and public denials) of these leads.This episode examines a classic “legend” of the case alongside Bojangles Man—one that raises serious questions about certain transients, missed opportunities, and the sheer number of potential persons of interest around the Robin Hood Hills that afternoon.A must-listen for anyone following the WM3 case, true crime deep dives, or unsolved mysteries.Hosts: Kristin Rich & Paul Day – West Memphis 3 researchers and victim advocates.Available now wherever you listen to podcasts.Follow us on X and Facebook for the composite sketches and additional case materials.
Episode 10: Champagne, Cotten, and the Man on the Train
In this episode of Crooked Tree, Kristin and Paul dive deep into the chaotic first days of the West Memphis Police Department’s investigation following the discovery of the three murdered boys. They examine the flurry of tips pouring in and the frantic pursuit of transients, truckers, bicyclists, and odd characters near the crime scene.From the detailed logs at the Blue Beacon truck wash and the overlooked Union 76 truck stop right by the trails, to the rapid follow-ups on individuals like Carroll Coleman, Gary Chadwick, Paul Champagne, John Connolly/James Barry, Tim Cotten, and several others, this episode lays bare how the early investigation unfolded—full of promising leads, quick clearances, lingering questions, and the heavy reliance on polygraphs and thin alibis in those critical first days.Kristin and Paul analyze timelines, physical evidence possibilities, investigative gaps, and how the focus began shifting. If you’ve ever wondered what the police were actually doing before names like Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley dominated the case, this detailed walkthrough of the raw early files is essential listening.
Episode 9: Rumors and Whispers
In Episode 9 of Crooked Tree, Paul Day and Kristin Rich dive deep into the raw, unfiltered door-to-door canvassing notes compiled by West Memphis police during the critical first weekend after the discovery of the bodies of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore (May 7–9, 1993). From over 700 homes visited and more than 50 tips received, the episode explores a flood of neighborhood rumors, suspicious vehicles (brown Chevys, maroon cars, white vans, red trucks), strange individuals on bikes, reports of cults and Satan worshippers in Robin Hood, gunshots ringing out around 10–11 PM, a dog barking near the pipebridge, and eerie encounters that raised red flags for residents and investigators alike. Paul and Kristin analyze the patterns, inconsistencies, and standout leads—including a resident who stood out enough for an officer to document him in detail—while noting what (and who) is conspicuously absent from the early sightings.Recorded against the emotional backdrop of Mother’s Day weekend, this episode captures the fog of war in the earliest days of the investigation.
Q&A #2: Stevie’s Missing Hour, the Splashes & Other Listener Questions
In this Q&A episode of Crooked Tree, Paul and Kristin tackle your thoughtful (and tough) questions about the West Memphis 3 case.They start with an important clarification on the scuff and tool marks found on the east bank of the crime scene and what those marks actually reveal about how the perpetrator(s) tried to exit the area. The conversation then dives into the iconic loud splashes heard by Ryan and the searchers in Devil’s Den, Stevie Branch’s mysterious whereabouts between 4 and 5 PM, Christopher Byers’ skateboard, the shoe prints and lone fingerprint at the scene, and much more. You’ll also hear discussion on registered sex offenders in the neighborhood, the rumor that Terry Hobbs was a confidential informant, updates on Detective Bryn Ridge, theories surrounding the Bojangles man, the other Jason Baldwin, LG Hollingsworth, the strength of the case without Misskelley’s confession, DNA and fiber evidence, knives connected to the case, and a thoughtful debate on the value and limitations of criminal profiling. As always, the hosts share their current thinking, correct earlier miscommunications, and give insight into how they’re approaching the evidence. Note: The second half of the episode contains spoilers for topics not yet covered in the main numbered episodes. Skip ahead or save it for later if you’re listening sequentially and want to stay spoiler-free.Join the conversation and submit your own questions in the Crooked Tree Facebook group. Thank you for listening and for being part of this journey for justice.
Episode 8: Canvassing the Neighborhood
In this deep-dive episode, Kristin Rich and Paul Day—victim advocates for two of the families—break down the critical hours between the boys leaving school and their disappearance on May 5, 1993. Using original West Memphis Police Department door-to-door canvassing notes, neighborhood interviews, tips, newspaper articles, and compiled timelines, they reconstruct where Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch were playing that afternoon.The hosts walk listeners through a detailed, chronological timeline of verified and probable sightings, complete with a custom map (posted in their Facebook group and on X) showing key locations in the Holiday Gardens neighborhood, cut-throughs, and the path toward Robin Hood Hills. They analyze who saw the boys (and when), when the three were together versus separated, Michael’s solo playtime, Stevie’s mysterious window around 4–5 PM, and the final confirmed movements near Devil’s Den just before 6:30 PM.Paul and Kristin discuss authentic sightings from neighbors who knew the boys by name, evaluate doubtful or conflicting reports, and highlight lingering questions—like how and why the boys regrouped at 5:50 PM. They also share tips on how to follow along with the actual police notes (PDF available in their groups) and the officers’ handwritten observations.Whether you’re new to the case or a longtime researcher, this episode is essential armchair criminology—packed with primary source details that help map the final afternoon of the victims’ lives. Perfect for true crime fans who love timelines, maps, and granular neighborhood canvass analysis.
Episode 7: The Bloody Stranger at Bojangles
In Episode 7 of Crooked Tree, Paul Day and Kristin Rich dive deep into one of the most infamous and controversial incidents in the West Memphis 3 case — the Bojangles Man.On the same night the three boys disappeared, a disoriented Black man, bleeding from one arm and wearing a cast/brace on the other, entered the women’s restroom at the Bojangles restaurant on North Missouri Street. Covered in mud and blood, he left behind a chaotic scene of blood on the walls, soiled clothes, and discarded sunglasses. Manager Marty King called police, Officer Regina Meek responded while actively searching for the missing children, and the next evening Detectives Allen and Ridge followed up — yet critical evidence was never properly collected or analyzed.Paul and Kristin examine the timeline, the physical evidence (and what was lost), inconsistencies in reports, the proximity to the crime scene via the Ten Mile Bayou Diversion Channel and railroad tracks, and why this lead has haunted the case for decades. Was this man connected to the murders? Why was the response so lackluster? And what does this say about the early investigation?A must-listen for anyone following the West Memphis 3 case, the original trial evidence, or alternate suspect theories.Listen now and join the discussion in our Facebook group.What do you think happened at Bojangles that night?
Episode 6: Case No. 666
In this sixth episode of Crooked Tree, Kristin Rich and Paul Day dive even deeper into the chaotic day the bodies of Michael Moore, Christopher Byers, and Stevie Branch were discovered in the unnamed creek. What began as a missing persons case instantly transformed into a high-profile triple homicide when West Memphis PD assigned the ominous case number 93-05-0666.The hosts examine the crime scene in detail: the mysterious “slicked-off bank,” footprints, a fingerprint left by someone standing in the Unnamed Creek, unusual sticks (one with a shirt wrapped around it), the children’s clothing, and the striking absence of blood at the scene. They discuss critical evidence that was collected—and the frustrating items that weren’t, including sticks, a floating glass bottle, and more.Kristin and Paul also cover the immediate police response: rapid ACIC broadcasts with sensitive (and sometimes inaccurate) details, appeals for help on transients and hitchhikers, early rumors of devil worship in Robin Hood Hills, and the media frenzy that exploded almost instantly. From neighborhood tips and the bloody man at Bojangles to the pressure mounting on investigators, this episode captures the frenzied first hours and days as the case captured national attention.A gripping look at how a small-town investigation spiraled into one of the most infamous cases of the 1990s. New listeners and longtime followers alike will find fresh insights and thought-provoking questions. Tune in for “Case No. 666.”
Episode 5: Horror Behind the Blue Beacon
In this deeply emotional and difficult episode of Crooked Tree, hosts Paul Day (forensic geologist and victim advocate) and Kristin Rich (criminologist and victim advocate) confront the heartbreaking reality at the heart of the case—the discovery of the bodies of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore.This episode takes listeners into the wooded area near Robin Hood Hills and the unnamed creek on May 6, 1993. Paul provides a detailed, vivid breakdown of the challenging terrain—from the pipe bridge and Turtle Hill to the crooked tree, triple tree, ivy tree, and hollow tree—helping you visualize exactly where and how the search unfolded. Through crime scene audio, officer accounts, and careful narration, Paul and Kristin walk through the grim discoveries made by Detectives Mike Allen and Bryn Ridge, the coroner’s on-scene observations, the recovery of the boys’ bicycles from the bayou, and the devastating moments when the families learned the truth. This is the episode the hosts have been dreading most. They approach the subject with respect, humanity, and raw honesty, acknowledging the lasting trauma inflicted on the families, first responders, and the entire community. No detail is shared gratuitously, but nothing essential is avoided—the horror must be confronted to truly understand the case.A heavy, essential listen for anyone seeking the truth about what happened to these three boys. Listener discretion is strongly advised.Crooked Tree is dedicated to honoring the victims and seeking justice for Christopher, Stevie, and Michael. Support the families and the continued fight for answers.
Q&A #1: Regina Meek’s Night, Creek Evidence & Other Listener Questions
Welcome to the first bonus Q&A episode of Crooked Tree! Kristin Rich and Paul Day dive into your questions from the Facebook group, tackling key details from the West Memphis case. In this episode: A deep dive into Officer Regina Meek’s timeline on May 5, 1993 (including the mosquito incident, dispatch logs, and trial testimony), Christopher Byers’ “white lie” about where Stevie Branch lived, the history of Robin Hood Hills, why the floating shoes and Cub Scout cap weren’t spotted earlier, the flow of the unnamed creek, Steve Branch’s biological father during the searches, curfews and the boys’ final hours, the Bojangles suspect, and more.We also address popular theories like bite marks and the manhole cover, discuss challenges with eyewitness memory, and respond to your thoughts on the search efforts the night the boys disappeared. Listener questions drive the conversation — thank you for being part of it! New to the case? We’ve included a spoiler warning for future episodes.Join the discussion in our Facebook group and submit your questions for the next Q&A. Crooked Tree is an independent examination of the 1993 West Memphis murders. New episodes drop regularly — subscribe and never miss one.
Episode 4: A Shoe in the Unnamed Creek
On the morning of May 6, 1993, exhausted and terrified parents in West Memphis, Arkansas, resume their desperate search for three missing eight-year-old boys—Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch—who vanished the evening before. With no meaningful help from law enforcement overnight, the families, joined by friends and community members, scour the bayous, woods, and bridges near Robin Hood Hills by first light. As frustration mounts, Mark Byers pushes hard—alerting Search and Rescue, calling the media, and demanding action. Meanwhile, the West Memphis Police Department finally mobilizes, saturating Robin Hood Hills, the Blue Beacon woods, the 10-Mile Bayou, and surrounding areas. A helicopter thumps overhead, a search and rescue boat glides down the bayou, and volunteers on foot, bikes, and three-wheelers comb the terrain. Parents stand vigil at the pipe bridge, haunted by questions of how the boys could have crossed with their bikes—and whether the dark stains in the water are oil… or something far worse.Then, as the search stretches into the afternoon, juvenile officer Steve Jones makes a chilling discovery while walking a remote gully: a small white shoe floating in an unnamed creek. Nearby, more shoes and a Cub Scout cap drift in the murky water.What began as a frantic hunt for missing children takes a devastating turn. In this episode, we follow every tense step of that pivotal day—the community’s overwhelming response, the parents’ raw fear, and the moment that shifted the search from rescue to something much darker.The discovery in the creek changes everything.
Episode 3: Searching Robin Hood
In this gripping continuation of the West Memphis Three case timeline, Paul Day and Kristin Rich dive deep into the chaotic night of May 5, 1993, after Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch disappeared.From the moment the sun sets under a massive, bright waxing gibbous moon, the episode follows the desperate searches by the families and police. Paul and Kristin reconstruct key moments in detail: Pam Hobbs learning her son is missing while at work at Catfish Island, Officer John Moore taking reports, frantic foot searches in Robin Hood Hills and Devil’s Den, and the memorable “mosquito incident” at the pipe bridge.You’ll hear about Jackie Hicks Sr.—Stevie’s grandfather, an expert hunter and Army veteran—rushing from Blytheville without socks, tracking bicycle trails by moonlight, and the chilling “evil presence” felt by multiple searchers in the woods. The episode explores family panic attacks, Terry Hobbs and David Jacoby’s nighttime searches behind Blue Beacon, Mark Byers’ calls for help, and shocking police miscommunications during the critical overnight hours.With emotional firsthand accounts, precise timeline anchors, and analysis of how these overlooked evening events shaped the entire investigation, this episode sheds new light on the fear, confusion, and urgency of that fateful night.A must-listen for anyone following the case, true crime fans, or those interested in victim advocacy and investigative breakdowns.
Episode 2: Bike Tracks in Devil's Den
In this gripping continuation of our deep-dive series on the 1993 West Memphis Three case, Paul Day and Kristin Rich meticulously reconstruct the critical hours after Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch vanished on May 5, 1993.Starting with Christopher’s well-documented movements, the episode follows the frantic searches by the Byers family as daylight fades. You’ll hear how a simple lie about Stevie’s address sent the family looking in the wrong direction, the police encounters that led to official missing persons reports, and the pivotal moment when Dana Moore revealed the boys were last seen riding bikes together.As night falls, the search intensifies. Local teens and parents converge on the wooded area locals called Robin Hood Hills—entering through the ominous “Devil’s Den.” Discover the sudden end of bicycle tracks in the mud, frightening sounds in the darkness (including splashes and a gunshot), the treacherous pipe bridge crossing under moonlight, and the mosquito-plagued search by Officer Regina Meek.This episode pieces together a precise, minute-by-minute timeline using police reports, witness accounts, and firsthand details—revealing how an ordinary spring evening spiraled into one of the most infamous missing children cases in American history. New to the series? Start with our previous episode for full context. A must-listen for true crime fans, West Memphis Three researchers, and anyone interested in police procedure, witness timelines, and the early hours of a haunting disappearance. New evidence and clarified details included.Available now on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcasts
Introducing Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast
Trailer for Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast
Episode 1: Two Bikes and a Skateboard
On May 5, 1993, in West Memphis, Arkansas, three eight-year-old boys—Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore—did what kids do on a beautiful spring afternoon: they went to school, came home, and headed out to play. They never returned.What started as an ordinary Wednesday in the tight-knit Holiday Gardens neighborhood turned into one of the most haunting and divisive true crime cases in American history. The next day, the boys were found murdered in a drainage ditch, their bodies bound and left in water. Three local teenagers—Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley—were arrested, tried, and convicted. But decades later, many believe they were wrongfully convicted, and the real killer(s) have never been brought to justice.In the premiere episode of Crooked Tree, criminologist and victim advocate Kristin Rich and her research partner, geologist and victim advocate Paul Day, take listeners back to the very beginning. Told from the victims’ perspective, this episode reconstructs the final hours of Christopher, Stevie, and Michael through the eyes of their families. You’ll hear how the boys spent their last afternoon—riding bikes, watching Muppet Babies, singing and dancing, and simply being kids on a perfect spring day. Kristen and Paul, who have spent over nine years deeply immersed in the case files, evidence, and witness statements—and have been formally asked by two of the victims’ families to advocate on their behalf—bring fresh eyes and a victim-centered approach to this tragic story. They don’t shy away from the tough questions: Why didn’t Stevie come home at 4:30? Where were the boys heading at 6:30 when they were last seen riding north? And how did three well-tracked kids simply vanish from a dense neighborhood full of eyes and ears?Whether you’re new to the West Memphis Three case or have followed it for years, Crooked Tree offers new perspectives, deep dives into the evidence, and a commitment to the victims and their families that sets it apart."This is the case that keeps me up at night. The one that has broken my heart over and over again. The one I want to see resolved." — Kristin RichJoin Kristin and Paul as they search for answers, honor the memory of three innocent boys, and fight for justice that has been denied for over 30 years. New episodes drop regularly. Follow Crooked Tree on your favorite podcast platform, and join the discussion on Facebook, X, and YouTube.If you have information about the murders of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, or Michael Moore, please reach out to the podcast.