On August 19, 2011, completely out of left field, the West Memphis Three were released from prison after being incarcerated for 18 years. Anyone in their right mind who saw the first documentary Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills had little doubt that Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jesse Misskelly were innocent. When the persistent filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky released their second documentary on the WM3 in 2000, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations, there was even less doubt that the boys were innocent and that John Mark Byers, the stepfather of one of the victims, probably had something to do with it.

If you haven’t seen the first two films (and you definitely should) Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory does a great job of recapping them in its first 30 minutes. In brief: the bodies of three eight-year-old Cub Scouts were found in the woods near in an interstate in West Memphis. The boys were naked, mutilated, one of which had his penis removed. Rumors of Satanic cults and rituals fueled the news reports. There was no physical evidence, but within a month, Echols, Baldwin, and Miskelley were charged. Baldwin and Misskelley got life, Echols was put on Death Row. Echols admits that if it wasn’t for those two documentaries, the state would have killed him. It was nothing but a dirty, contemporary witch hunt.

Now with PL3, the tale of the WM3 comes to a bittersweet conclusion and the state of Arkansas (where the boys were tried) has one embarrassing, shameful blemish on its annals. The state allowed the WM3 to go free under an “Alford plea.” Meaning that the boys could go free and state their innocence if they signed an admission of guilt – covering Arkansas’ ass against lawsuits for wrongful imprisonment. Now, what court in the world would release three men they honestly believe brutally murdered three little boys? A court that knows it fucked up royally and doesn’t want to get sued. Shame on you, Arkansas. Shame on you.

PL3 details how even shadier the case became leading up to the WM3 release. A new suspect has emerged: Terry Hobbs, yet another stepfather of one of the victims. There’s DNA evidence (not available at the time of WM3′s conviction) that links Hobbs to the crime scene. One of his neighbors at the time of the murder (who was NEVER questioned by police in 1993) has come forth with eyewitness testimony connecting him to the three murdered boys at the time of the crime. His alibi recanted. Not to mention his violent past and knack for wife-beating. Sadly and frustratingly though, DNA from one hair found at the scene isn’t enough for a trial.

It’s satisfying to watch the Byers story arch through the three films along with the WM3. In the first film he’s a chilling, vengeful stepfather damning the WM3 to Hell. Brimstone and all that. He makes a mock grave for the WM3, burns it, and dances on it; foaming at the mouth. The second film has him as the prime suspect. Especially after he gave his hunting knife to the filmmakers that could link him to the murders. Maybe homeboy was just that confident in his innocence. Byers is a petty crook though and does have some issues with violence. But by PL3, as unstable as he still may be, it’s obvious Byers didn’t do it. Even Echols apologized for accusing him. Now Byers is a champion for the WM3. In a truly moving moment near the film’s conclusion, he loudly states his opinion of the Alford plea. It’s stirring to hear the man who once danced on their mock grave now curse the state of Arkansas.

These three documentaries chronicle one of the ugliest cases in American history and are truly important films. Some of the botched policing and testimonies seem downright unbelievable. How can one justice system fuck up so much? I call it a bittersweet conclusion to the story of the WM3 because the guys had to plead guilty to be set free. But more importantly, the real killer is still out there.

- Oh Mars