Woods, D. D., & O'Hara, C. E. (2013). O'Hara's fundamentals of criminal investigation. Springfield, Ill: Charles C. Thomas.
Satan worshipers, cultist, murderers. Three words that describe three teenage boys that were wrongfully convicted of the murder of three eight years old boys. The West Memphis Three are three men who were tried and convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys, Steve Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, in West Memphis, Arkansas. Damien Echols was sentenced to death, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. was sentenced to life imprisonment plus two 20-year sentences, and Jason Baldwin was sentenced to life imprisonment.
During the trial, the prosecution asserted that the children were killed as part of a satanic ritual. Believing that the boys were Satan worshipers since they wore dark clothing, seemed to be Gothic, and had long hair. This was very judgmental of the police to base this as evidence because you can't judge a book by its cover.
Thousands of people had developed their own opinion of the west Memphis three.
ROBBERY SCENE SHOULD BE ALERT FOR ESCAPING SUSPECTS AND SHOULD LOOK FOR A SUITABLE PLACE TO TAKE COVER. ONCE THEY ARE INSIDE THE BUILDING, TOP PRIORITY SHOULD BE GIVEN TO HELPING THE INJURED, PROTECTING PHYSICAL EVIDENCE, OBTAINING SYSTEMATIC SUSPECT OR CAR DESCRIPTIONS FROM VICTIMS AND WITNESSES, AND MOVING EVERYONE OUT OF THE IMMEDIATE CRIME SCENE. OFFICERS CAN THEN BEGIN THE PRELIMINARY STEPS OF THE INVESTIGATION ITSELF. THESE STEPS INCLUDE SEARCHING THE IMMEDIATE VICINITY OF THE CRIME SCENE FOR EVIDENCE, AND THEN SEARCHING A LARGER AREA FOR SUSPECTS. A THOROUGH SEARCH SHOULD BE MADE OF THE CRIME SCENE ITSELF WITH THE AID OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES, IF POSSIBLE. THE INVESTIGATOR SHOULD MAKE PHOTOGRAPHS AND SKETCHES BEFORE ANYTHING IS MOVED AND SHOULD RECOVER, MARK, IDENTIFY, AND GET A SIGNED RECEIPT FOR EACH ITEM OF EVIDENCE. THOROUGH INTERVIEWS OF VICTIMS AND WITNESSES SHOULD BE CONDUCTED. USE OF...