Editing West Memphis Three (section)

==Documentaries, publications, and studies==
Three films, ''[[Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills]]'', ''[[Paradise Lost 2: Revelations]]'', and ''[[Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory]]'', directed by [[Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky]], have documented this case and are strongly critical of the verdict. The films marked the first time [[Metallica]] allowed their music to be used in a movie, which drew attention to the case.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432105/19980528/metallica.jhtml | archive-url=https://archive.today/20120529130152/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1432105/19980528/metallica.jhtml | url-status=dead | archive-date=May 29, 2012 | title=Metallica May Give Music To "Paradise Lost" Sequel |publisher=MTV | date=May 28, 1998 | access-date =November 24, 2010}}</ref>

There have been a number of books about the case, also arguing that the suspects were wrongly convicted: ''[[Devil's Knot: The True Story of the West Memphis Three]]'' by Mara Leveritt, ''Blood of Innocents'' by Guy Reel, and ''The Last Pentacle of the Sun: Writings in Support of the West Memphis Three'', edited by Brett Alexander Savory & M. W. Anderson, and featuring dark fiction and non-fiction by well-known writers of speculative fiction. In 2005, Damien Echols completed his memoir, ''Almost Home, Vol 1'', offering his perspective of the case.<ref>{{cite book|title=Almost Home: My Life Story Vol 1|first=Damien|last=Echols|publisher=iUniverse, Inc.|date=June 3, 2005}}</ref> A biography of John Mark Byers by Greg Day named ''Untying the Knot: John Mark Byers and the West Memphis Three'' was published in May 2012.<ref>Greg Day, "[http://www.johnmarkbyers.com/Introduction.html Untying The Knot: John Mark Byers and the West Memphis child murders]". Retrieved August 21, 2011 {{webarchive |url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120608082830/http://www.johnmarkbyers.com/Introduction.html |date=June 8, 2012 }}</ref>

Many songs were written about the case, and two albums were released in support of the defendants. In 2000, The album ''[[Free the West Memphis 3]]'' was released by [[KOCH Records]]. Organized by [[Eddie Spaghetti]] of the band [[Supersuckers]], the album featured a number of original songs about the case and other recordings by artists such as [[Steve Earle]], [[Tom Waits]], [[L7 (band)|L7]], and [[Joe Strummer]]. In 2002, [[Henry Rollins]] worked with other vocalists from various rock, hip hop, punk, and metal groups and members of [[Black Flag (band)|Black Flag]] and the [[Rollins Band]] on the compilation album ''[[Rise Above: 24 Black Flag Songs to Benefit the West Memphis Three]]''. All money raised from sales of the album was donated to the legal funds of the West Memphis Three. Metalcore band [[Zao (US band)|Zao]]'s 2002 album ''Parade of Chaos'' included a track inspired by the case named "Free The Three". On April 28, 2011, the band [[Disturbed (band)|Disturbed]] released a song entitled "3" as a download on their website. The song is about the West Memphis Three, with 100% of the proceeds going to their benefit foundation for their release.<ref>{{cite web |title=Disturbed Release Benefit Single for West Memphis Three |date=April 30, 2011 |publisher=Starpulse.com |url=http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2011/04/30/disturbed_release_benefit_single_for_w |access-date=January 24, 2011 |archive-date=May 4, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110504145911/http://www.starpulse.com/news/index.php/2011/04/30/disturbed_release_benefit_single_for_w |url-status=dead }}</ref>

A website by Martin David Hill, containing approximately 160,000 words and intending to be a "thorough investigation", collates and discusses many details surrounding the murders and investigation, including some anecdotal information.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.jivepuppi.com/index.html|title=Murders in West Memphis|author=Martin David Hill|access-date=August 20, 2011}}</ref>

Investigative journalist [[Aphrodite Jones]] undertook an exploration of the case on her [[Discovery Network]] show ''[[True Crime with Aphrodite Jones]]'' following the DNA discoveries. The episode premiered May 5, 2011, with extensive background information included on the show's page at the Investigation Discovery site. In August 2011, White Light Productions announced that the West Memphis Three would be featured on their new program ''Wrongfully Convicted''.<ref>{{cite news | url=http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-655378 | publisher=CNN | title=West Memphis Three 'Wrongully Convicted Episode Trailer White Light Productions'&nbsp;– CNN iReport | access-date=August 22, 2011 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151210235709/http://ireport.cnn.com/docs/DOC-655378 | archive-date=December 10, 2015 | url-status=dead }}</ref>

In January 2010, the CBS television news journal ''[[48 Hours (TV series)|48 Hours]]'' aired "The Memphis 3", an in-depth coverage of the history of the case, including interviews with Echols and supporters. On September 17, 2011, ''48 Hours'' re-aired the episode with the update of their release and interviews from Echols and his wife, and Baldwin. ''[[Piers Morgan Tonight]]'' aired an episode on September 29, 2011, about the three's plans for the future and continued investigations on the case.<ref name="cnn2011"/>

''[[West of Memphis]]'', directed and written by [[Amy J. Berg]], and produced by [[Peter Jackson]], as well as by Echols himself, premiered at the [[2012 Sundance Film Festival]]. Actor [[Johnny Depp]], a longtime supporter of the West Memphis Three and personal friend of Damien Echols, was on hand to support the film in its premiere at the [[Toronto International Film Festival]] in 2012.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1693481/johnny-depp-west-of-memphis-2012-tiff.jhtml |archive-url=https://archive.today/20140221204210/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1693481/johnny-depp-west-of-memphis-2012-tiff.jhtml |url-status=dead |archive-date=February 21, 2014 |last=Rosenfield |first=Kat |publisher=MTV |title=Johnny Depp Reveals Anguish Over West Memphis Three Injustice |date=September 9, 2012 |access-date=February 21, 2014}}</ref>

[[Atom Egoyan]] directed a feature film of the case based on Mara Leveritt's book, titled ''[[Devil's Knot (film)|Devil's Knot]]'', starring [[Colin Firth]] and [[Reese Witherspoon]], which was produced by [[Worldview Entertainment]].<ref>{{Cite web |last=McClintock |first=Pamela |date=2012-05-16 |title=Cannes 2012: Colin Firth, Reese Witherspoon's West Memphis Three Pic Gets Financing (Exclusive) |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/colin-firth-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-325588 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref> The film premiered at the [[2013 Toronto International Film Festival]] and was released in U.S. theaters on May 9, 2014.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Ford |first=Rebecca |date=2013-10-07 |title=Image Picks Up West Memphis Three Pic 'Devil's Knot' |url=https://hollywoodreporter.com/movies/movie-news/reese-witherspoons-west-memphis-three-644334 |access-date=2024-10-21 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine |url=http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/02/10/devils-knot-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-release-date/ |last=Labrecque |first=Jeff |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |title=West Memphis Three drama 'Devil's Knot' with Reese Witherspoon sets release |date=February 10, 2014 |access-date=February 21, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140502015909/http://insidemovies.ew.com/2014/02/10/devils-knot-reese-witherspoon-west-memphis-three-release-date/ |archive-date=May 2, 2014 |url-status=dead }}</ref>