all of it adding up to an apparent slam-dunk in the case against jason baldwin and damien echols. >> ey were always standing along the walkway when they would lead us into the building, screaming, holding signs. wishing death on me. >> damien and jason's trial for the murder of three young boys in west memphis, arkansas began on february 28, 1994. >> crowds around the courthouses were irate. and they believed that these were three kids who in some kind of ritual involving satan had murdered and mutilated three 8-year-old boys. >> mara leveret wrote "the devil's knot, the true story of the west memphis three". she questions the strength of the prosecution's case. >> they had very little to go on. and to present to the jury. and so they made the decision that they were going to say that this was an occult slaying and that's why it all happened because these guys were dabbling in the occult. and they brought in an expert witness, they said, named dr. dale griffiths. and he was going to be their expert in the occult. >> dennis reardon is damien's attorney. >> this is a man who has a ph.d

as part of an unusual plea agreement, echoles and two other convicted men-- jason baldwin and jessie misskelley-- were released from prison. >> this has been going on for over 18 years and it's been an absolute living hell. >> reporter: 17 years ago, damien echols was sentenced to death. the other two were given life. jason baldwin. >> and we didn't tell nothing but the truth, that we were innocent, and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives for it. >> reporter: known as the west memphis three, the men were teenagers in 1994 when they were convicted of killing three eight-year-old boys in the town of west memphis, arkansas-- stevie branch, christopher byers and michael moore. investigators in this rural community believed that the teenagers killed the children as part of a satanic ritual. in recent years, though, d.n.a. evidence has been recovered at the scene-- none of it linking the accused to the crime. their freedom comes at a high price. under the unusual agreement known as an alford plea, the three men who still say they are innocent had to plead guilty to murder. >>

these are the shots of jason baldwin and damien echols and jessie misskelley.intain their innocence. our david mattingly looks at both sides of the case. >> reporter: after more than 18 years behind bars, the men known as the west memphis three find that freedom has a bitter taste. >> this was not justice. we told nothing but the truth. we were innocent. they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives. we had to come here and knowing that the state would do is a we will let you go only if you admit guilt. that is not justice no matter how you look at it. >> reporter: in a complicated deal, jessie misskelley and damien echols and jason baldwin admit their guilt. the west memphis three go free, but not free of the word murderer. >> it is not perfect. it is not perfect by any means. at least it brings closure to some areas and some aspects. we can still bring up new evidence. we can continue the investigations we have been doing. we can try to clear our names. the difference is doing it from the outside instead of sitting in prison. >> reporter: after their entir

here's what jason baldwin said after he was released. >> this was not justice.g but the truth that we were innocent. and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives for it. then we had to come here. the only thing that state would do for us was to say, hey, we'll let you go only if you admit guilt. and that's not justice no matter how you look at it. >> investigations to the case leading up to today's plea deal, spoke to damien echols during his incarceration. here's her report. >> west memphis, arkansas, 1994. an awkward-looking teenager with coal black hair and a far-away gaze stands trial, accused of killing three 8-year-old boys. best friends, badly beaten, hog tide and hidden in the watery bayou in the woods where they played. >> the first verdict reads as follows. >> reporter: at trial, prosecutors call is a satanic cult, a demonic ritual fuelling the town's blood luft with descriptions of sexual torture and mutilation. >> we the jury find damien echols guilty of capital murder in the death of stevie branch. >> reporter: damien echols was sentenced to

here's what jason baldwin said after he was released. >> this was not justice. you know?g we told them nothing but the truth, that we were innocent and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives here. the only thing the state would do is to say we'll let you go only if you admit guilt. and that's not justice no matter how you look at it. >> deborah feyerick investigated the case leading up to today's plea deal and even spoke to damien echols during his incarceration. here's her report. >> reporter: west memphis, arkansas, 1994. an awkward looking teenager with coal black hair and a far away gaze stands trial, accused of killing three 8-year-old boys. best friends, badly beaten, hog tied and hidden in the watery bayou in the woods where they played. >> the first verdict reads as follows. >> reporter: at trial, prosecutors call it a satanic cult, a demonic ritual, sexual torture and mutilation. >> we the jury find damien echols guilty of capital murder in the death of stevie branch. >> reporter: he was sentenced to die by lethal injection. his two friends got life in

. >> reporter: damian eckels, jason baldwin, jesse miskelly jr., were all convicted of murdering and mutilating three 8-year-old cub scouts in west memphis, arkansas, in 1993. police called the killings part of a satanic ritual led pie eckels, who was put on death row. and meekly followed by baldwin and miskelly who received life sentences. >> i'm an outcast, i'm a freak. >> reporter: documentaries over the two decades since described the three not as murderers but as misfits. celebrities like actor johnny depp took up their kauds, as well as eddie vetter of pearl jam and natalie mane of the dixie chicks, who were in the courtroom friday when the three agreed to a legal maneuver that lets them maintain their innocence while acknowledging prosecutors have enough evidence to convict them. >> they would have to come with some concrete, physical evidence, and i they didn't have any. >> reporter: a local sprr defiant and stands by the original convictions. >> i have no reason to believe that there was anyone else involved in the homicide of these three children but the throw defendants wh

damien echols, jessie misskelley and jason baldwin. teenagers then. in their mid 30s today. convicted in what many labeled a literal witch hunt. no physical evidence against them. imprisoned for nearly two decades. >> i'm just tired. you know, this has been going on for over 18 years. >> in the beginning, we told nothing but the truth, that we were innocent, and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives. >> reporter: but today, a bizarre final chapter. with a stunning reversal. four years after abc news first broke word of dna evidence that could exonerate them, the west memphis three walked free. >> the legal tangle that has become known as the west memphis three case is now finished. >> does anyone believe that if the state had even the slightest continuing conviction that they were guilty that they would let these men free today? >> reporter: it was 1993, the three second graders are found drowned in a ditch in west memphis. it was before arkansas could handle dna testing. no physical evidence to link the teens to the crime. >> they were the unusual kids in town, d

and jason baldwin. teenagers then, in their mid-30s today. convicted in what many labeled a literal witch hunt. no physical evidence against them. >> we were innocent and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives. >> reporter: damien echols was sentenced to death, but then, a long road to redemption. three documentaries produced by hbo and dna tests from hair found on the v vtims that did not match the jailed men. the hair belonged to someone else. and since e e trial, witnesses had changed their testimony amid claims that an initial confession was coerced. a new trial likely, an odd deal was struck. the men could tell the judge they were innocent, but prosecutors would only let them go free if they agreed to enter a guilty plea. >> i am saying guilty. >> reporter: confusing some in the victims' families who now think the real murderer is at large. >> but i'm still standing and fighting for justice, because they're innocent. they did not kill my son. >> reporter: it was a deal the youngest of the west memphis three first resisted, want

prosecutors argued that jason baldwin, damien echols and jessie misskelley, jr. who you see here.os were driven by satanic ritual, that they hogtied these three boys with shoelaces and mutilated their bodies before tossing them in a ditch. but this case has gotten national attention. even like eddie vetter and the dixie chicks and johnny depp were rallying for their release. why? because of what investigators could not do. which is provide direct evidence that tied the three men to the boys' murders. dna evidence later failed to link the men to the crime. i want to go straight to jonesboro, arkansas, now where david mattingly is standing by outside the courthouse. david, this case has gotten so much attention, not the least of which because -- the conviction, rather, was not overturned and yet, they were set free. so explain to us exactly how this happened. >> reporter: that's right. this attention that's been focused on this case for so long is not going to go away because there's still plenty to argue about here. it was a very complicated deal that went down in that courtroom to

and jason baldwin were convicted of brutally murdering these three young boy scouts during a satanicurt released them after legal maneuvering which the three basically agreed to plead guilty and got credit for time served. they were released. not exonerated. i want to bring in director joe berlinger and bruce sinofsky from the award winning film paradise lost on this story. joe and bruce, welcome to both of you. talk about a way to quickly change the ending of your third and final doc. first let's talk about quickly the flight, getting there to jonesboro today. you were in the courtroom. just describe those moments for me. >> well, it was incredible moment. but bittersweet, i have to say. we've been waiting for this day for 18 years. it's incredible that these guys are out of prison. but the state of arkansas didn't have the courage to admit that they had made a mistake after all these years. these guys had to plea to lesser charges. they're going to have sword of dam cleese hanging over their head of being convicted of a crime to get out of prison. we believe firmly that these guys

and jason baldwin the last years. guilty of the murder of those three young boys in west memphis. there have been so many critics of this case. a great deal of attention. steady beating of the drum of protests about their incarceration in this case. as the years have gone by, the evidence has been attacked and seems to not have been able to hold up under secrete knee and now we have new dunn testing come back in the last few months not placing them at all at the crime scene. so what has happened in the last day or so, we have learned, that someone close to this case tells us that a deal has been worked out where these three men will be able to go free if all goes as planned, and they will still be able to maintain their innocence. this is a huge and abrupt turnaround in a case that has attracted so much attention, both in this country and abroad as people wondering why after looking at lack of evidence how could they get convicted in the first place and how could they stay behind bars so long when there is so much cri

jason baldwin was on death row, coming within three days of execution. >> we can still bring up new evidenceto clear our names. only difference is that now we can do it from the outside. >> the nude bodies of the three 8-year-old victims were found in a drainage canal in the arkansas town of west memphis. >> how to keep track of where your charity dollars are going. >> and growing number of urban coyote sightings and advice >>> an increase in coyote sightings has california fish and game officials urging people to take precaution. signs have been placed along golden gate park telling people what to do if they encounter one of the animals. officials are warning against feeding them because that makes them more aggressive. >> they associate human beings with food. they also do not incur harassment from human beings. so it's a natural progression within nature that they try to take what they want. >> and by the way they are naturally afraid of humans but if you're followed by one experts say make loud noises or throw rocks to scare ate way. >>> the oakland zoo launched a campaign to save endang

. >> reporter: in an exclusive interview with "today", just released jason baldwin claimed law enforcemente case on them in part because of how they looked. >> we were penniless, poor teenagers who listened to rock or had extreme hair styles. >> reporter: but he says he agreed to plea to save codefendant damion echols who was on death row. >> when we went to trial the first time they came in with ghost stories, rumors, things that had nothing to do with the case whatsoever. they knew the whole world was watching. >> reporter: the whole world was watching what might have been a new trial because of two films. their documentaries for hbo raised questions about missing physical evidence and how the prosecutors pictured the teenagers as satan worshippers and that one was named damion only made the case that much more compelling in this deeply religious community. >> in the late '80s, early '90s there was a wave of satanic hysteria. >> reporter: the documentaries included many of their innocence. actors and singers were sure of their innocence. >> there's not enough physical evidence. >> report

. >>> jason baldwin, damon echols and jessie miskelly are free men today. they were just teenagers when they went to prison for killing two little boys just three years ago. now they are out thanks to a highly unusual plea deal in which they admit guilt. >> reporter: after more than 18 years behind bars t men known as the west memphis three find that freedom has a bitter taste. >> this was not just -- they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives, and we had to come here and all they said was that we'll let you go only if you admit guilt. >> they get out of prison to proclaim their innocence but only -- the west memphis three go free, but not free of the world murder. >> it's not perfect, it's not perfect by any means, but at least it brings close dwrure to areas and some aspects. you know, we can still bring up new evidence, we can still continue the investigations we have been doing, we can still try to clear our names, the only difference is we can do it from the outside instead of having to sit in prison and do it. >> reporter: and after they were en

. >>> jason baldwin and damien echols and jessie misskelley were known as the memphis three and they when they went to prison killing three little boys nearly 20 years ago. they always insisted they were innocent, and now they are out. due to a unusual plea deal where they had to admit guilt. it was an unusual ordeal. here is cnn's david mattingly. >> reporter: after more than 18 years behind bar, the men known as the memphis three find that freedom has a bitter taste. >> this was not justice. >> at the beginning we told nothing but the truth that we were innocent, and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives, and now we have to say that we will let you go only if you admit guilt, and that is not justice no matter how you look at it. >> reporter: in a complicated deal, the three get out of prison to proclaim their innocence, but only after admitting that the prosecution has evidence that could convict them. the west memphis three go free, but not free of the word murderer. >> it is not perfect. it is not perfect by any means, but at least it brings closure to some areas, and

. >> reporter: damien echols, jesse misskelley and jason baldwin were all accused of killing the 8-year-old boys left in a ditch to die. it was the case that shocked the nation. >> they had to find somebody innocent. >> reporter: the big break for police came when misskelley confessed to the killings during questioning and implicated echols and baldwin as accomplices. but soon after he recanted and refused to testify claiming his confession was coerced by police. prosecutors proceeded with no physical evidence, no weapon and no motive. >> we're innocent. and we had to prove it the rest of our lives. >> reporter: the notorious case inspired a 1996 hbo documentary "paradise lost, the child murders at robin hood hill." and then a sequel. the tv special caught the attention of several celebrities including johnny depp, eddie vedder and natalie maines of the dixie chicks. all would lobby for their release. >> i am also here to show my support for the west memphis 3. >> reporter: in 2007, new evidence cast even more doubt on their guilt. modern dna testing revealed that none of the dna at the cri

. >> in a deal, jason misskelley, jason baldwin and damien echols get out of prison, but only after admittingt the prosecution has evidence that could convict them. the west memphis three go free, but not free of the word murderer. >> it is not perfect. it is not perfect by any means. but at least it brings closure to some areas and some aspects. we can still bring up new evidence and continue the investigations we have been doing. we can still try to clear our names. the only difference is now we can do it from the outside instead of having to sit in prison and do it. >> after their entire young adult lives spent in prison, what next? they have the support of celebrities like pearl jam's eddie vedder who was inside the courtroom when they were set free. they also have the relentless hatred of some of the families of the murdered children. in this outbifrurst yells out t the youth that he's opening a pandora's box. >> i don't think it will make the pain go away to the victims' families. he don't think it will make the pain go away to the defendant families. i don't think it will take away a m

. >> jason baldwin didn't want to accept the deal but he says he could owe not allow ekels to face theen named as a suspect, he was matched to a hair found on shoe laces used to tie the boys up. prosecutors say there is no intention of charging him. john hendren abc news. >> coming up, on the news at 4:00 there is a new way for thiefs to steal your car. ahead, looking at how easy it can be for computer hackers to turn off auto theft devices and unlock the vehicle. >> michael finney is still taking questions on twitter and facebook and will answer them later on. we have links for you at abc 7 news.com. >> and 4:34 on friday last noon. checking traffic now. 680 looking good now if you're checking out weekend forecast, spencer has a look at highlights. >> if we promised a cool down looks like it's going to stick around. there are more clouds and a little bit on the cool side. temperatures ranging from 54 to around 70 perhaps just above. early tomorrow morning not much sunshine. the low clouds will linger and by tomorrow afternoon looking at partly cloudy skies inland lots of clouds throug

jason baldwin, damien echols and jesse misskelley jr. the murders of three second graders. they were freed after reaching a deal, they had to plead guilty but still maintain their innocence. >> in the beginning we told nothing but the truth that we were innocent. they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives. we had to come here and the only thing the state would do for us, would say we'll let you go only if you admit guilt. and that's not justice, no matter how you look at it. >> i'm just tired. this has been going on for over 18 years, and it's been an absolute living hell. >> even when you're in prison it goes on every day, you to worry about your own safety. it doesn't matter what the crime it is. you still got to worry about your safety regardless. >> 911 operators in daytona beach, florida, flooded with calls after drivers saw this. a woman riding in the back of a pick-up truck holding on to a stroller. and there's a baby inside of the stroller. key yoen na davis is the woman, says she was hanging on to that stroller, didn't rea

damian eccles, jesse and be jason baldwin dubbed the west memphis three back in 1994.victed of murdering three young cub scout in what prosecutors called a satanic ritual, the details of which are far too horrific to get into here. all three walked out of prison last week after pleading guilty to the crime. so first they pleaded not guilty, they got convicted. now 20 years later they pleaded guilty and were set free. it's all part of a complicated legal maneuver that allows them to maintain their innocence while pleading guilt. dna testing that the men's dna was not present, but does that mean that they are innocent of these crimes? the let's ask our panel. defense attorney and former prosecutor arthur aidala. this case is so disturbing, i truly can't get into the details of what was gone to these -- done to these three little boys, but these guys have been in prison for 20 years, one guy had the death penalty. and now, mark, what was so amazing that the prosecutors went in there and said, okay, we'll give you this deal where you can say you're guilty, but you're going