This book covers the case of the West Memphis Three: Jesse Misskelley, Jason Baldwin, and Damien Echols. Three children were reported missing in 1993 in West Memphis, Arkansas. Their bodies were subsequently discovered in a drainage ditch. The police had several other suspects to this crime but stupidly narrowed in on these three boys due to their alternative interests. As a fellow member of the alternative scene, that also resides in the Bible Belt, I can promise you that this stupid ideology of paganism, witchcraft, and satan worshipping is still prevalent in the Christian community and older generation. At any rate, the police investigation was poorly done, no matter who the suspects were. The fact that they latched onto these boys, who behaved stupidly, reminds me of a dog with a bone. The overwhelming lack of evidence should have been enough to dismiss this case, at least pending better investigation, but it did not. This entire case was an atrocity for many reasons, and I can see why people get so up in arms about it.

This book provided a lot of details about the investigation, as it were. It is featured on The Last Podcast on the Left reading list for those of you who are interested in that still. This case has been featured on numerous tv shows and documentaries, and I think it was an important read simply from the miscarriage of justice standpoint.