Exclusive: Johnny Depp Says Release "West Memphis Three" from Triple Murder Conviction

By: Kevin Hayes
Topics: Daily Blotter

(AP Photo/Evan Agostini)

NEW YORK (CBS News) Movie star Johnny Depp is fighting for the release of the "West Memphis Three," who he believes are wrongly jailed for the brutal murder of three young boys in Arkansas.

"There's nothing from the crime scene that links Damien or Jason or Jessie to these crimes. There's not a shred of evidence, nothing there, there's no physical evidence," Depp told CBS News in an exclusive interview for 48 Hours | Mystery which is highlighting the case Saturday, Feb. 27.

Since their conviction as teenagers for the 1993 murders, the "West Memphis Three" have garnered no small amount of media attention.

Two documentaries have been made about the case, benefit albums have been recorded, and numerous celebrities have supported efforts to get them released from prison.

Now Johnny Depp says he is fighting for justice.

"The most courageous action that the state could now take is to admit that they made mistakes and correct these errors. Release these innocent young men," he told the broadcast.

Supporters of the "West Memphis Three" say that the then-teenagers were wrongly convicted. One website devoted to their release describes them as having been convicted "with no physical evidence, murder weapon, motive, or connection to the victims," and that the prosecution presented "black hair and clothing, heavy metal t-shirts, and Stephen King novels as proof that the [victims] were sacrificed in a satanic cult ritual."

The "West Memphis Three" are Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr., and Jason Baldwin. Echols is on death row; the others are serving life sentences.

WATCH 48 HOURS | MYSTERY
"A Cry for Innocence": Johnny Depp and the full story of the "West Memphis Three"

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by heavon01 June 22, 2010 10:52 AM EDT: the people there should be outrage, about this case, unreal, there were people that lie on the stand,then years later they said they lie ,wow unreal, for god sake how many more years do they have to be lock up, for something they didn,t do,while the real killer walks among you, what a break down in the justice system unreal, the DNA clears them, so why are they still lock up, because they hate to admitted they were wrong, to all that had something to do with this case, makes me sick, how do they sleep at night, you took there childhood away from them now its time to give them there life back whats left to it , you already have your killer and you know it, thats the worst, set them boys free and get the right sob , wow a justice system for all what a .... up,; Reply to this comment


by heavon01 June 5, 2010 10:22 AM EDT: i hate to say this but, why do we have DNA, to clear the innocence is this right, yes it is , so do your dam job and set them free, how can they sleep at night; Reply to this comment


by heavon01 June 5, 2010 9:35 AM EDT: this case blows my mind, i live in canada i have been follow this case for 16 years now, unreal, can,t believe they won,t set them free,or at least give them a new trail, all the evidence and forensic clear them so why are they still lock up ,because the justice system prosecutor and DA,S OFFICE WON,T admitted they made a horrible mistake, its time to set them free and get the real killer, just check the DNA you have your killer,this is what i call a complete break down in the justice system; Reply to this comment


by udy1kenobi March 3, 2010 12:11 PM EST: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SzwevXQOZJc; Reply to this comment


by Disco_Superfly March 3, 2010 10:22 AM EST: I can honestly say, after watching Paradise Lost I became very suspicious of David Mark Buyers.. His rants were incoherent a great deal of the time and he was known to BEAT his step-son frequently, in fact had just used a belt on him the day before the murders.. That he had 'spanked him' through his clothing on his bottom, but the M.E. testified there was a 'bruise' consistent with the size and shape of the belt buckle, which would be very unlikely through jeans.. He had most likely whipped him with the belt on his naked butt. This man is SICK!; Reply to this comment


by Disco_Superfly March 3, 2010 9:37 AM EST: Just goes to show how backwards-assed police work and shoddy investigative techniques can DESTROY the lives of the children.. It's too late to bring the dead ones back, but for God's sake, don't further punish the innocent and PLEASE get the real killers off the streets!; Reply to this comment


by beegeesfan1 February 27, 2010 1:39 AM EST: Please don't pass judgement until you watch the movies and read the book "Devil's Knot". I cannot believe that they were ever convicted and it scared the heck out of me that such misjustice could even happen to me. That is why I support them and have had my free the west memphis three bumper sticker on my car for a year now.; Reply to this comment


by BCSAGG1 February 25, 2010 1:25 PM EST: Another member of the screen ***** guild that thinks he is a forensic pathologist like the late paul newman and Ed asner, or is he just another socially conscious actor like sean Penn who tells everyone how to live and then assaults photographers, go back to your boat captain Jack Sparrow, who speaks for the murdered and mutilated 8 year olds? Shut your mouth and ante up some cash, get these boys the best defense team they can get and get them out then invite them to your house for the weekend.; Reply to this comment


by imseriously February 24, 2010 8:07 PM EST: I've recommend watching the documentary... It was really scary that these three boys were ever convicted in the first place. period. I'm surprised Depp has taken it on, and I doubt anything he says will change things. Word to the wise: don't go goth in AR, you may just be convicted of murder.; Reply to this comment

by spillover February 24, 2010 4:27 PM EST

"The most courageous action that the state could now take is to admit that they made mistakes and correct these errors. Release these innocent young men," he told the broadcast.

I have no idea if they're guilty or not but Johnny presumes to know better than the jurors that unanimously convicted them. Fighting for justice is one thing but for him to say "free these innocent young men" is going to far. Stick to making movies Johnny.

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by imseriously February 24, 2010 8:08 PM EST: Honestly, I'm not sure how anyone could review the facts of the case and think they were guilty. Or at least that there was enough evidence to convict any of them. It's terrifying.


by jow722 February 24, 2010 10:16 PM EST: If you knew the details of this you would most likely say the same thing.
Watch the documentary "Paradise Lost" (it documents the trial it'self) and/or read up on it, I reccomend reading "Devil's Knot" (it is a detail account of what went on during the time these boys were convicted in '93. It'll blow your mind. It's pretty much a modern day witch hunt.
Johnny Depp is not the only celebrity speaking publically about this.
I'm on Johnny Depp's side. Free the WM3!