. >> announcer: from the global resources of abc news, with terry moran, cynthia mcfadden d bill weir in new york city, this is "nightline," august 19th, 2011. > good friday evening, all. i'm bill weir. dna evidence and johnny depp. the three convicts you're about to meet had both on their side. and that proved to be enough to set them free from prison today. but 18 years ago, when they were rebel teens in their town, accused of a gruesome, satanic murder of three young boys, dna tests weren't available and there were no celebrities around to take up their cause. here's our jim avila for our series "crime and punishment." >> reporter: it's a case so stunning, so controversial, it became a major cause celebre, with actors and musicians like johnny depp, the dixie chicks' natalee maines, and pearl jam's eddie vedder. >> i'm here to show my support for the west memphis three. >> reporter: speaking out for the defendants. three little cub scouts hogtied and left in an arkansas didih, and three teenagers enamored with satanic rituals arrested. it made headlines all over the country, even b