Episode 180: The West Memphis Three (An Interview with Dan Stidham)

Episode 180: The West Memphis Three (An Interview with Dan Stidham)

Author: Suffer the Little Children August 25, 2024 Duration: 1:43:44
On the evening of May 5, 1993, three eight-year-old boys—Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers—went missing in West Memphis, Arkansas. The next day, in a nearby wooded area, the boys were found brutally murdered, bound, and submerged in a drainage ditch. The horrific nature of the crime shocked the community, and police quickly arrested three local teenagers—Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley—based on a coerced false confession, no solid evidence, and Satanic panic.

This is the story of three innocent children whose lives were stolen in an unspeakable act of violence. It’s also the story of three wrongfully convicted teenagers who spent 18 years in prison, one of them on death row, for a crime they didn’t commit—the victims of a flawed justice system and a community in the grip of fear.

In today’s episode, I’m honored to discuss a case that has gripped me for many years with the one man who has been involved since the beginning: Jessie Misskelley’s original defense attorney, case advocate, and author of the recent book, A Harvest of Innocence: Judge Dan Stidham.

This is our discussion about his book and the tragic case of the West Memphis Three.
Photos related to today's episode can be viewed on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod 

You can also follow the podcast on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sufferthelittlechildrenpod
Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/STLCpod
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@STLCpod

My Linktree is available here: https://linktr.ee/stlcpod 

Visit the podcast's web page at https://www.sufferthelittlechildrenpod.com. 

By supporting me on Patreon, you'll also access rewards, including a shout-out by name on the podcast and exclusive rewards. Visit www.patreon.com/STLCpod. 

You can also support the podcast on www.Ko-Fi.com/STLCpod. 

Join my Supporters' Club: https://www.spreaker.com/podcast/suffer-the-little-children--4232884/support 

This podcast is researched, written, hosted, edited, and produced by Laine.

Music for this episode is licensed from https://audiojungle.net. 

Subscribe to Suffer the Little Children:
Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/suffer-the-little-children/id1499010711
Google Podcasts:...

Suffer the Little Children centers on the stories of children lost to abuse and murder, aiming to restore their narratives and dignity beyond the headlines. This podcast meticulously details individual cases, often weaving in the perspectives of surviving family members and advocates to create a fuller, more human picture of each tragedy. The host approaches these difficult subjects with a commitment to factual clarity and a deep sense of respect, ensuring the victims are remembered as people, not just statistics. Listeners will hear detailed examinations of systemic failures, legal proceedings, and the long-term impact on communities, framed within broader discussions about child welfare and protection. It is a challenging but necessary listen, designed to foster awareness and understanding rather than sensationalism. By dedicating each episode to a specific child's story, the Suffer the Little Children podcast creates a space for remembrance and reflection that is both sobering and vital. The content naturally intersects with societal, cultural, and scientific aspects of how such crimes are perceived and addressed.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Suffer the Little Children
Podcast Episodes
Bonus Minisode #13: Tazmir Ransom [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:25
*This formerly Patreon-exclusive bonus minisode was originally released on April 23, 2022.On April 15, 2020, less than a week after his seventh birthday, Tazmir Ransom died at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children in P…
(Re-Release) Episode 148: Alexavier Pedrin (Part 3) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:11:28
Note: This episode was originally released on June 7, 2023.Over the last two episodes, I told you the story of Alexavier Pedrin, whose six years were marred by family turmoil, alleged abuse and neglect, and CPS involveme…
(Re-Release) Episode 147: Alexavier Pedrin (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 52:16
Note: This episode was originally released on June 2, 2023.In the last episode, I began telling you the story of six-year-old Alexavier Pedrin, whose short life was filled with constant family turmoil and frequent involv…
(Re-Release) Episode 146: Alexavier Pedrin (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:33
*Note: This episode was originally released on May 30, 2023.In 2011, 19-year-old Josie Dikeman was accused of child neglect after her boyfriend’s one-year-old daughter suffered a skull fracture and a brain injury in her…
Episode 206: Marion Jester-Montoya, Retold (Part 2) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:04
In the last episode, I told you the story of Marion Jester-Montoya, a joyful little girl with sparkling brown eyes and a ready smile, who tragically died at the age of 10 months after her mother’s boyfriend zipped her in…
Episode 205: Marion Jester-Montoya, Retold (Part 1) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 53:27
In my thirteenth episode, I shared the story of 10-month-old Marion Jester-Montoya, an adorable and joyful little girl with a head full of dark hair and an ever-present smile. Marion died on January 7, 2020, after her mo…
Bonus Minisode #12: Ryan Buttery [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 16:25
(FYI: I'm still here, and new episodes are coming! See today's Facebook post.)Stacey Schuchart was nine months pregnant with her seventh child. None of her previous six children were legally in her custody, although at l…
Bonus Minisode #11: Jordan Roberts [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 14:45
Around 6:00 PM on Friday, May 1, 2020, a woman named Maranda Alford burst into a police station in Little Rock, Arkansas, to notify authorities that her 11-year-old son, Jordan Roberts, had been taken hostage in their ho…
Bonus Minisode #10: Kendall Doss [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 22:50
In this bonus minisode, which was originally released for Patrons only in February 2022, you’ll hear the story of 18-month-old Kendall Lynn Doss, a precious little girl with blonde hair, her daddy’s brown eyes, and the c…
Episode 204: Long-Term Effects of Child Abuse (with Kate Russell) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 40:35
Research has long shown that child abuse and neglect can and often do lead to a wide range of negative effects on a person’s life, including mental, physical, and behavioral problems. This kind of treatment during childh…