Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills
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Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills

1996, Crime  -   155 Comments
8.17
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Ratings: 8.17/10 from 30 users.

Paradise LostParadise Lost is a 1996 documentary film directed by Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky about the trials of three teenage boys in West Memphis, Arkansas for the murder and sexual mutilation of three prepubescent boys.

The boys on trial for the crime are: Jessie Misskelley, Damien Echols and Jason Baldwin, also known as the West Memphis 3.

Despite a lack of any significant evidence indicating that they are connected to the case at all, the three boys are charged and tried for the murders.

A common theme throughout the film is the treatment of the boys based on their appearances and tastes in music, possibly as a Satanic ritual abuse.

During the course of the filming, John Mark Byers, the stepfather of one of the victims, gives the filmmakers a knife which has blood in the hinge.

The filmmakers turn the knife over to police, who examine it; the DNA is similar to that of himself and the boy but the evidence is nonetheless inconclusive since the DNA evidence produced was fragmented and can not provide concrete links. Other evidence is lost. All three teenagers are convicted.

The film was followed by a sequels, Paradise Lost 2: Revelations (2000), which suggests that further evidence was missed or suppressed and attempts to prove Echols' innocence, and Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory, which tells the complete story of one of the most notorious child murder cases in U.S. history.

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Adman
Adman
8 years ago

@Christina Noel "I wouldn't hold my breath...(snip)"

Wow that is disgusting news, he came across as a goblin during the trial but now you say he has just given up on justice for the 3 dead boys!? That is monstrous!

What happened to those poor kids? Sure the Stepfather has come across since as seeming guilty, but why? What was his motive for mutilating those boys? Did he do it alone (or at all?)? The first thought I had was that he would make the next perfect patsy for the police whether guilty or not but to hear they closed the case is just sickening.

christine w
christine w
11 years ago

Also wondering has anyone seen the newer doc called West of Memphis ? I think it came out in Jan. I was looking on here but no luck

christine w
christine w
11 years ago

This is a great doc, I recently read the book Devil's Knot and it gives alot more information that you don't see in the doc. I believe these boys did not commit the crime. There seems to be a lot of slopply police work done, for an example when they guy was bleeding in the resturant washroom. They took a swab of the blood but the sample is missing they couldn't find it to test it for DNA. Just seems the police were in a real rush to arrest anyone to give the community a safe feeling.
Also in the book Byers story doesnt add up, hes all over the place I saw he has a book out he had someone write it for him, I havent read it yet but the reviews state he just uses it to blame others and lash out at people.
I like to know what is going on with his wife Melissa case in the Devil's Knot it was quiet interesting when they give some details into it.

ruth pascal
ruth pascal
12 years ago

where can i watch iiiiiiiiittttt'? Donde puedo verlaa,quiero saber que paso con damien !what happened with damien?did they get out of jail?

gkstebelton
gkstebelton
12 years ago

The justice system is just terrible. Those boys did not do those murders and it's just stupid that they go after them just because they dress in black and this the heavy metal. I'm 34 and I listen to heavy metal but sure as hell I don't have urges to go and kill. That's is the stupid excuse from the police and their lawyers where just lazy bas*$rds. I get tired of hearing that when kids murder it's because of the music they listen to or how they dress. Just Bullsh*t

Rolands Jaunzems
Rolands Jaunzems
12 years ago

Ohhhh, sorry, i saw that they are released , so i was right just by what i see (body language) what they say and my 6th sens(If scientist can say so) and those parent side advocates for the three boys.

Rolands Jaunzems
Rolands Jaunzems
12 years ago

To me, those 3 boys did not do that. So pathetic to see people lie to prosecute just because they want a check-box checked.

Kermitthecat
Kermitthecat
12 years ago

Did anyone else hear him say "I got a dwi after my wife was "murdered"? I thought he said he had no idea what happened to his wife, that he thought it was her addiction.

Guest
Guest
12 years ago

Really struggled with this doc, had to keep looking away but unfortunately caught glimpses of things I'd rather not have seen. Freaked me out a lot! Am I supposed to form an opinion on whether or not the boys are guilty ?, well I just cant do it - too much emotional manipulation and scant facts. I'm in two minds, the lads are odd to say the least but then why wouldn't they be? I couldn't look at the photos of those little boys and ever be the same again, why would they cope any better? They are so much younger than I. Got to agree, the step dad is strange. Checked out the latest and they were released from prison on a deal, innocent? maybe, but they had to admit that there was just cause to find them guilty. And the new DNA evidence from two of the step dads found at the scene only confuses me more. Going to have a hard time sleeping tonight, almost wish I hadn't seen it .

knowledgeizpower
knowledgeizpower
12 years ago

someone out there knows who killed those three little boys...that stepfather was very odd in how he was carrying on he had the demeanor of a person that is wanting to do harm or murder someone...its wicked what they did whoever did this...those teenagers should not be targeted because of the music they listened to or wearing certain colors thats ridiculous but obviously they are innocent since they were freed...how many others that are innocent that did not get a second chance.. but who does not get a second chance are those little boys....Peace

molly
molly
12 years ago

the prejudice that convicted these three young men is horrible. but the real absolute victims are these three children. i think it was the step-dad. chris byers' mother believed it was him. but she is responsible too. she knew how badly her husband was treating her son. and yet she let it continue. she allowed him to believe that he had the power to punish or hurt her son with impunity because she wasn't going to do anything about it. poor soul, i am certain whether she is in heaven or hell she regrets that now. think about the fact that her husband did not even call her at work to let her know her child was missing "i didn't want you to miss work" or the fact that his best friend can state he was missing in the search for the boys that night for at least 45 minutes. or that the entire neighborhood was aware of chris' fear of that man. and the knife. his grandfather's knife. found in a drawer with the step-dad stating he had taken it from the child as punishment. yet chris never told his mom? maybe because he knew the mom would do nothing as she had always done. or maybe because it wasn't taken away until the night that sweet child -- those three sweet innocent children -- were killed. stop talking about religion except to pray, or hope or concentrate that the real killer will be caught. and that he hasn't hurt any other children since.

Chelis Davila
Chelis Davila
12 years ago

i have not dout in my mind the the stepdad have somting to do with the morder he acts to suspitius and he is the more active out of all the parents and none was acsualy his kid and is extrange the he was the one how figth with the victim and hur the victims by spanking him with a belt befoure he die and teh police never cuestion that to beginh with thats iligal and agains the law to hit your kids or enyone elses and the hes wife kid was the olny one mutilathed plus how to the kids new demian,jesse and jason did eneybudy have make that question?,becase to be able to capture 3 kids with out nobudy notinceng it have to be somone the kids new and trust,is obios the ware kild somewere els and the esthepdad acts wire wen cuestion abut the murthers and hes posible involment in it and al around him the way he acts and stuff like way is he so proconvivting this kids so bad he makes more noise and more scandle the the patherns of eney of the kids hi is to determin to no let the supost murders free we sems to worrie the if they are free the may catch the real killer i wander why?, and the police they concil and misplace evidence and ignore it to on porpost it sems just cuse they escru up on tings and now they dont want to look bad so thats why they actin that way wich is suck and is rong convicting 3 inocen people just for there personal interest plus if the evidence was mis place,lost and theper with dont that make all the veidence in the case obsolite thats wat the law sade and dirent the cops how temper ,lost o misplace the evidence suposto be facin chargeres for that?,this case have way to much of negligence and iregularitis and rong doins is good the this 3 inocent people are now free and able to probe there inocence and hopefuly the cops how did rong wet punish and they cut the killer and also if the stephdad have somtnig to do whit it the he get the punish ment he deserve

Jason Compton
Jason Compton
12 years ago

a question that has never been raised: if mark byers was the murdered boy's step father, how could the dna on the knife he gave the filmmakers come up as either being the boys OR his?

Fiona_M
Fiona_M
12 years ago

I've followed this story for a long time and even tho they had to plead guilty i'm so pleased they have been released, the state isn't going to admit fault so rather than say "we f--ked up" they made the deal so they couldn't be sued. If Judge Laser had any doubt that these men were guilty it wouldn't have gone this far and he definitely would not have let them go free. Damien has always said he was a smart ass when they were on trial and was naive, he believed that if you are innocent then they couldn't convict you but that was not the case. If they are guilty then they have fooled so many people but deep down i believe they are innocent and i'm so glad after 18 years they will b able to clear their name outside prison with the people that care about them.

Scott Sanders
Scott Sanders
12 years ago

Maybe Damien said that because he had given up. When all was lost and he realized there was nothing left to live for, he sought some refuge in an a day dream. Nothing deeper than liking Gangster rap, Horror movies or comic books. You can't convict somebody for thinking it's cool to be the boogyman. How many Freddy Kruegers do you see on Halloween...he was just a child too.

PropagandaOfTheDeed
PropagandaOfTheDeed
12 years ago

This is just the tip of the iceberg. Innocent people have their lives stolen from them by our unjust "justice" system every single day. Consider this:

We have 5% of the world's population within our borders yet we have 25% of the world's prisoners. We have more people in prison that any other country in both per capita and total numbers.

Land of the free indeed...

resolver
resolver
12 years ago

All three of them accepted a plea deal today that unfortunately required them to plead guilty in exchange for release on time served! It's in no way justice for the victims but it's a start - these three should never have been convicted. It's up to Arkansas now to do the right thing, and find who really did this.

Capo_Malvagio
Capo_Malvagio
12 years ago

After watching part 2...There is something going on with that Byer's guy. He is a freakin' lunatic! He has so much rage and hate in him even so many years later. When the question of the bite mark comes into play with Byers, he lies and says he had them BEFORE the kids were murdered. We know by watching the movie that they were still relatively new when this was shot. BACK TO THE BOOK THE DEVIL'S KNOT.... it states that Jesse talked more on the way to prison. They claim he told them more details and here are just a few statements taken from the book: Jesse claims they were drinking that day and smoking marijuana. The 3 teenagers were in the water when the boys drove by on bikes. Damien grabbed Michael and Michael's friends started hitting Damien. That's when Jason and Jesse grabbed the other 2 boys. I won't go into the gross details but he said that's when Jason castrated one of the boys. Blood flew everywhere! Jason threw the dismembered part of the boys body up in the weeds. Afterwards, Jesse left. He threw a bottle of whiskey under an overpass. He told them the brand and who bought it for him that day. They called the woman who admitted she gave it to him, same brand. So the prosecutor goes to look for this bottle which he finds...... OK so why did they not find any of that blood that "flew everywhere"? Why did they not find the body part in the weeds? This all happened in the dark, in the woods, and we're supposed to believe that they cleaned the crime seen up 100%? YEAH RIGHT!!! They need a new judge!! According to the book the defense attorneys were not allowed to admit HALF of their evidence into court. They were shot down every time! And look at BYERS who is caught in so many lies and now his wife is dead! Give me a freakin' break! Get a new judge, a FAIR JUDGE! And get a jury who aren't brain washed by the bible!

Capo_Malvagio
Capo_Malvagio
12 years ago

I read the book Devil's Knot and was convinced these 3 were innocent. After watching this first documentary I now wonder about Damien Echols. I remained convinced of his innocence all the way up until the end where he said and I quote: "I knew from when I was real small that people were gonna know who I was, I always had that feelin'. But I just never knew how they were gonna learn. I kinda enjoy it because now even after I die people are gonna remember me forever. They're gonna talk about me for years. People in West Memphis will tell their kids stories. It'll be like, sorta like I'm the West Memphis boogieman. Little kids'll be lookin under their bed before they go to bed Damien might be under there." SERIOUSLY? I have to wonder about that one. And I'm sorry but even though I thought they were innocent, they all had a deep stare when the camera was on them. They stared out into nothing, yet they seemed to be a thousand miles away lost in thought, as though they were in deep remembrance of something strong enough to tear themselves away from their own trial. While I'll admit that the evidence against them shouldn't have convicted any of them, and that the police seemed to have been on a witch hunt, Damien's statement at the end was very disturbing to say the least! Three young, innocent boys died and he thinks it's kinda nice because he gains notoriety from it? How sick is that? And I do understand that saying that and actually committing those murders are two different things, but no one in the right mind could possibly agree with his statement. Let alone admit it out loud. Sure, we all want to be famous, known, or however you want to put it, but who would EVER in their right mind want to be remembered for something so horrible? One answer: serial killers.
And for those of you who are not familiar with the book I mentioned in the beginning, one juror admits as to why Jessie Misskelley Jr was found guilty. The juror said that the confession may have been coerced, they can't say one way or the other. BUT Jessie admitted out of nowhere one little detail: he chased one of those boys down and brought him back. THAT is what convicted Jessie. There was no need for that statement, yet he admitted it of his own free will. The police gained absolutely nothing from that statement alone.

Capo_Malvagio
Capo_Malvagio
12 years ago

I read the book Devil's Knot and was convinced these 3 were innocent. After watching this first documentary I now wonder about Damien Echols. I remained convinced of his innocence all the way up until the end where he said and I quote: "I knew from when I was real small that people were gonna know who I was, I always had that feelin'. But I just never knew how they were gonna learn. I kinda enjoy it because now even after I die people are gonna remember me forever. They're gonna talk about me for years. People in West Memphis will tell their kids stories. It'll be like, sorta like I'm the West Memphis boogieman. Little kids'll be lookin under their bed before they go to bed Damien might be under there." SERIOUSLY? I have to wonder about that one. And I'm sorry but even though I thought they were innocent, they all had a deep stare when the camera was on them. They stared out into nothing, yet they seemed to be a thousand miles away lost in thought, as though they were in deep remembrance of something strong enough to tear themselves away from their own trial. While I'll admit that the evidence against them shouldn't have convicted any of them, and that the police seemed to have been on a witch hunt, Damien's statement at the end was very disturbing to say the least! Three young, innocent boys died and he thinks it's kinda nice because he gains notoriety from it? How sick is that? And I do understand that saying that and actually committing those murders are two different things, but no one in the right mind could possibly agree with his statement. Let alone admit it out loud. Sure, we all want to be famous, known, or however you want to put it, but who would EVER in their right mind want to be remembered for something so horrible? One answer: serial killers.
And for those of you who are not familiar with the book I mentioned in the beginning, one juror admits as to why Jessie Misskelley Jr was found guilty. The juror said that the confession may have been coerced, they can't say one way or the other. BUT Jessie admitted out of nowhere one little detail: he chased one of those boys down and brought him back. THAT is what convicted Jessie. There was no need for that statement, yet he admitted it of his own free will. The police gained absolutely nothing from that statement alone.

goldie68
goldie68
12 years ago

everyone is so messed up in this movie!! why is it ok for three 8 year olds to have no supervision!! I have two children and they were never out without me !!we went to parks and we went on walks,not one parent says hey there are bad people in this world ,and I want to make sure my kids are not hurt??

mollyl
mollyl
12 years ago

The system is a disgrace. I can't imagine the amount of innocent people that have been convicted or put to death over authority figures not wanting to lose face. It seems victory rather than Justice is the real aim

Casey Hagans Kennedy
Casey Hagans Kennedy
12 years ago

Byers so did it. The medication he was taking is the only reason the polygraph said he was telling the truth. The mark is an obvious bite mark they do not want to go by that because it is going to make them investigators do the job right and Gitchell like he said go out with a win. Well go out with a false win because no of them want to look at the real evidence.

??? ?????
??? ?????
12 years ago

Would I ever consider applying for Green Card? Erm..., NO!

jason huckabee
jason huckabee
12 years ago

byers killed his son.

Layla Phelps
Layla Phelps
12 years ago

Omfg really? Blame the 'strange kids' Byers along with some of those cops need to go to hell. Its obvious why Byers' stepson was more mutilated than the others. Poor kid was beaten before he died for trying to break into his own house. He wasn't allowed to have a key. Oh and the biggest point was his teeth! Kinda suspicious that he had them removed after the trial huh?

Aaron Sell
Aaron Sell
12 years ago

They really need to not refer to bite mark evidence as "100%" or "scientific" it's very contentious, and it's not nearly as good as DNA evidence. I don't know what Turvey is talking about.

Alva Walsh
Alva Walsh
12 years ago

I cannot believe what i just watched in these two documentries! how a person like byers is aloud to walk the streets guility of that specific crime or not is a tragedy in its self. Its the oddest case i think ive ever seen. Nothing seems to sit right....so many things brushed away and not talked about. you would think any good investigation team or court system would be looking further into a lunatic like byers???? none of it makes sense!!

Morsie
Morsie
12 years ago

I've never seen such a mish-mash of a documentary in all my life. Is that really how the N American justice system carry on at court? I couldn't make head nor tail of the whole thing. There seemed to be so much missing, and so many things overlooked. I wouldn't like to give a judgement on this case.

Norm
Norm
12 years ago

The only good thing about chronic liars is that eventually they get their lies mixed up. At 11:13 in the sixth clip Beyers said he believed his wife died as a result of her addiction to Dilaudid, implying an overdose of a narcotic. Right around 11:26 in the same clip, Beyers said "I got a DWI right after my wife was murdered." When talking to his two friends prior to this he stated that he went through a period when he was aggressive and violent and looked for fights, such as the one where he lost his teeth... During the polygraph, he stated differently when asked about harming other people. Beyers was, at the very least, complicit in all four deaths and the act he was putting on for the cameras was not only unconvincing, it should have sent a clear message to the investigators. Quite a travesty of justice here, with the murderers still loose.

j_l_s
j_l_s
12 years ago

if the prosecution are so confident that they got the right people, why have they fought to NOT have a review of the evidence and new dna testing on previously not tested items. wouldnt they want to stop the rumours and finally put it to rest. unless there is something to hide of course.

Cabaret
Cabaret
13 years ago

One of the craziest pair of documentaries I think I've seen... at points it becomes almost surreal and I had to keep telling myself that these are real people and not actors in a mockumentary. Byers, what a nutjob, and how is he not a zombie on all those meds?

Cory
Cory
13 years ago

Going by watching the documentary. From what I seen and heard, There was insufficient evidence to charge any of them. I feel very sorry for them, And dont know why they never appear angry they are holding it all inside.

Andreassen
Andreassen
13 years ago

"I got a DWI after my wife was killed"

Marissa
Marissa
13 years ago

the mother in the red dress....what is she doing cracking jokes about this whole thing?

sarah
sarah
13 years ago

I alway knew they are innocent

West Memmphis 3 case info
West Memmphis 3 case info
13 years ago

Click the link above to get information on the case. This has evidence showing the 3 were guilty.

ryan
ryan
13 years ago

i agree with typolotyahs, but on the other hand John Byers says his wife was "murdered" on the lie detector test!! and the investigation on the bite marks is pure suspect!!

TYPCLCTYAHS
TYPCLCTYAHS
13 years ago

Another Documentary where they go to a place in the country and search for the most messed up people they can choose in order to make sure those are the only people they show on film. It is done to put forth a certain stereotypical view that people in the city like to maintain about people in the country.
So they can keep you thinking that we are all ignorant, bible thumping racists.
Fact is, the clothing the music and other things have nothing to do with why the boys may have murdered. Also no one here knows for sure that they are innocent and no one knows who did it simply based on the content of the documentary.There is not enough evidence in the film to prove or disprove innocents. I wonder how much content you didn't get to hear with this film? Based on the fact the filmmaker failed to show anyone who doesn't fit the city stereotype of what he wants a hillbilly to be, I would say he also left out other vital content, but that is obvious so I digress.
If you form an opinion based on this film it makes you as ignorant as the people they put in the film.
We people down south know that the media and filmmakers tend to seek out the ignorant when they come here. Those are the only people they choose to put in their films they never show you those of us who do not fit the stereotype which they would like everyone to believe. Those of us who do not fit that stereotype would be the majority. You will find the same number of ignorant racists and bible thumping people in any large city you go to.Probably even more in the most populated areas.
Higher populations equate to higher numbers of ignorant racists and mentally challenged human beings. Commonsense would tell you that. So you keep making your statements about rednecks and trying to feign intelligence by chanting discriminative stereotypes while at the same time acting exactly like those you call ignorant rednecks.
I mean the words "ignorant rednecks" are words used when you meet a person who is country and who bases his or her opinions of people no on the way they look and talk right.Or maybe even on the music they listen to.
So when you use those words and base your opinion of the entire population of a place on the very few you have been exposed to who were hand picked by a film maker and you dub them all to be stupid hateful and religious extremists you too are exactly like the people who actually are ignorant rednecks.

me
me
13 years ago

John Mark Byers did it...case closed!

daniel
daniel
13 years ago

mark breyer should write lyrics for slayer. he's awesome

daniel
daniel
13 years ago

what's worse than being a christian?

being american and christian..

daniel
daniel
13 years ago

where is the defense?
they offer no objection. they could be a lot more vocal.

daniel
daniel
13 years ago

I cant believe the prosecution is asking him if he wears black.

its a complete witch hunt..

thegriffin88
thegriffin88
13 years ago

Nice town. I have a feeling that IQ's there are room temperature. No small wonder they can't solve the case. I think the real murderer is half-way to China by now.

chris
chris
13 years ago

i just thought the parts that were SUPPOSED to be funny WERE funny thats all. like where the father of one of the accused kids pulled his rotten tooth out with his wifes eye lash curler. And no i dont think that women in short skirts should be raped but those kids were out in ass rape alley. everyone in these parts knows that if you go skipping through ass rape alley...BOOM someone with rape you

Kellie
Kellie
13 years ago

I would like to have the rest of the episodes that the sound was deleted on.

IanT
IanT
13 years ago

@chris
Wtf is hilarious about 3 young kids getting raped and murdered? And as for saying because they were out in the woods they were asking for it, i suppose to you with your warped thinking pattern that women that go out in short skirts are also asking to be raped.

chris
chris
13 years ago

It was hilarious! kids shouldnt have been out in the woods your just asking to get raped and have your garbage hacked up

Mathew Ross
Mathew Ross
13 years ago

Eminem - Desperados