Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast

In this gripping continuation of our deep-dive series on the 1993 West Memphis Three case, Paul Day and Kristin Rich meticulously reconstruct the critical hours after Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch vanished on May 5, 1993.Starting with Christopher’s well-documented movements, the episode follows the frantic searches by the Byers family as daylight fades. You’ll hear how a simple lie about Stevie’s address sent the family looking in the wrong direction, the police encounters that led to official missing persons reports, and the pivotal moment when Dana Moore revealed the boys were last seen riding bikes together.As night falls, the search intensifies. Local teens and parents converge on the wooded area locals called Robin Hood Hills—entering through the ominous “Devil’s Den.” Discover the sudden end of bicycle tracks in the mud, frightening sounds in the darkness (including splashes and a gunshot), the treacherous pipe bridge crossing under moonlight, and the mosquito-plagued search by Officer Regina Meek.This episode pieces together a precise, minute-by-minute timeline using police reports, witness accounts, and firsthand details—revealing how an ordinary spring evening spiraled into one of the most infamous missing children cases in American history. New to the series? Start with our previous episode for full context. A must-listen for true crime fans, West Memphis Three researchers, and anyone interested in police procedure, witness timelines, and the early hours of a haunting disappearance. New evidence and clarified details included.Available now on Spotify, YouTube & Apple Podcasts

On May 5, 1993, in West Memphis, Arkansas, three eight-year-old boys—Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore—did what kids do on a beautiful spring afternoon: they went to school, came home, and headed out to play. They never returned.What started as an ordinary Wednesday in the tight-knit Holiday Gardens neighborhood turned into one of the most haunting and divisive true crime cases in American history. The next day, the boys were found murdered in a drainage ditch, their bodies bound and left in water. Three local teenagers—Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley—were arrested, tried, and convicted. But decades later, many believe they were wrongfully convicted, and the real killer(s) have never been brought to justice.In the premiere episode of Crooked Tree, criminologist and victim advocate Kristin Rich and her research partner, geologist and victim advocate Paul Day, take listeners back to the very beginning. Told from the victims’ perspective, this episode reconstructs the final hours of Christopher, Stevie, and Michael through the eyes of their families. You’ll hear how the boys spent their last afternoon—riding bikes, watching Muppet Babies, singing and dancing, and simply being kids on a perfect spring day. Kristen and Paul, who have spent over nine years deeply immersed in the case files, evidence, and witness statements—and have been formally asked by two of the victims’ families to advocate on their behalf—bring fresh eyes and a victim-centered approach to this tragic story. They don’t shy away from the tough questions: Why didn’t Stevie come home at 4:30? Where were the boys heading at 6:30 when they were last seen riding north? And how did three well-tracked kids simply vanish from a dense neighborhood full of eyes and ears?Whether you’re new to the West Memphis Three case or have followed it for years, Crooked Tree offers new perspectives, deep dives into the evidence, and a commitment to the victims and their families that sets it apart."This is the case that keeps me up at night. The one that has broken my heart over and over again. The one I want to see resolved." — Kristin RichJoin Kristin and Paul as they search for answers, honor the memory of three innocent boys, and fight for justice that has been denied for over 30 years. New episodes drop regularly. Follow Crooked Tree on your favorite podcast platform, and join the discussion on Facebook, X, and YouTube.If you have information about the murders of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, or Michael Moore, please reach out to the podcast.

Trailer for Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast

Introducing Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast