Podcast Summary: The Prosecutors – Episode 309: The West Memphis 3 Part 10 – The Autopsies

Podcast Information:

• Title: The West Memphis 3 Part 10 – The Autopsies
• Host: Alice and Brett
• Release Date: June 3, 2025
• Description: In this episode, prosecutors Alice and Brett delve deep into the autopsy reports of the West Memphis 3 case, analyzing the gruesome injuries sustained by the victims and exploring the implications on the ongoing mystery surrounding the case.

1. Introduction to the Autopsies

[02:11] Brett:
"Today on the Prosecutors, we discuss the autopsies...We'll be reading to you largely from the autopsies."

Alice and Brett set the stage for a detailed and clinical examination of the autopsy reports of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, the three eight-year-old victims in the West Memphis 3 case.

2. The Tragic Victims

[06:30] Alice:
"These eight-year-old boys went through something truly horrendous before they died... It is all about the victims."

Alice emphasizes the importance of respecting the victims while dissecting the medical details of their deaths, ensuring the discussion remains empathetic.

3. Cause of Death Overview

Initially, police reports suggested trauma to the heads as the cause of death, possibly from a hammer or similar object. However, autopsy reports revealed a more complex picture:

[06:30] Alice:
"Stevie died of multiple injuries with drowning."

[09:42] Brett:
"If you believe the West Memphis Three are guilty...also suspicious that they knew these things."

4. Detailed Findings from Stevie Branch's Autopsy

[08:00] Brett:
"Stevie's left hand was bound to his left foot with a white shoelace...his head showed a 3 1/2 inch fracture."

Stevie suffered severe head trauma with multiple skull fractures and subarachnoid hemorrhages, indicating he was alive during the assault. Additionally, injuries to his face suggested possible stabbing, though some propose animal predation as an alternative explanation.

[14:08] Alice:
"Essentially you hit someone with that much force in the head to completely incapacitate them and to kill."

5. Detailed Findings from Michael Moore's Autopsy

[16:04] Brett:
"Michael had multifocal extensive subglial contusions and edema...consistent with being struck by an object with a broad surface area, like a log."

Michael endured similar severe head injuries as Stevie, with numerous skull fractures and signs of drowning. Defensive wounds on his hands suggest he attempted to protect himself during the attack.

6. Detailed Findings from Christopher Byers' Autopsy

[29:35] Brett:
"Christopher was bound with one black shoelace and one white shoelace...he did not drown and died from blood loss and his beatings."

Christopher suffered the most gruesome injuries, including castration and skin removal from his penis, alongside extensive skull fractures. Unlike his peers, his cause of death was primarily blood loss, not drowning.

7. Discrepancies and Theories

[51:17] Brett:
"Could one person have inflicted all of this damage on each of the boys and kept them all together? It feels like more than one person."

Alice and Brett discuss the improbability of a single individual causing such extensive and similar injuries across all three victims, considering the use of different weapons and binding materials.

8. Testimony from Medical Examiner Frank Peretti

[48:36] Brett:
"Peretti testified that Michael was struck with two different objects... a log and a broom handle."

Peretti's testimony suggests multiple weapons were used, casting doubt on the possibility of a single perpetrator. Furthermore, discrepancies in Peretti's time of death estimations raise questions about his credibility.

[53:56] Brett:
"Peretti went on to testify...the injuries had the appearance of a belt buckle."

9. Analysis of Autopsy Reports

[74:35] Alice:
"This is what happens when we have to read these horrendous autopsies."

The hosts reflect on the emotional and psychological toll of examining such brutal evidence, highlighting the challenges in maintaining objectivity.

10. Additional Theory: Stevie's Stomach Contents

[70:26] Alice:
"Stevie's stomach contained green matter...he had green beans left out for him to eat."

Alice introduces the theory that Stevie may have eaten green beans provided by his stepfather, Terry Hobbs, suggesting a possible timeline discrepancy where Stevie might have returned home after the expected time, complicating the investigation further.

11. Conclusion and Next Steps

[75:22] Alice:
"What we have...so little physical evidence in this case. All we have are the bodies and the injuries."

Alice and Brett acknowledge the limited evidence available and express their intent to further explore theories like animal predation and bring in medical experts for deeper analysis in future episodes.

[73:19] Alice:
"I'm sorry that you had to learn about these horrendous injuries at trial...keep in mind as we continue to go through all of this."

The hosts empathize with the victims' families and reinforce the importance of uncovering the truth behind the tragic murders.

Notable Quotes:

• Alice [06:30]: "No person should go through what we're about to convey... It's all about the victims."

• Brett [14:08]: "Stevie was beat horrendously in the head and he was hemorrhaging throughout his head."

• Alice [14:50]: "This was not near the end...something very different than, 'oops, I tripped you off your bike.'"

• Brett [16:51]: "The mid shaft of the penis...hard to imagine exactly what it is."

• Alice [29:35]: "There wasn't one who is way more beat up than the others...all three had fractures to the skull."

• Brett [53:56]: "Peretti testified that Michael was struck with two different objects... a log and a broom handle."

• Alice [70:26]: "Could Stevie have gone home...he was supposed to be home by 4:30 and he wasn't home until much later."

Final Thoughts:

Episode 309 of The Prosecutors offers a harrowing examination of the autopsy reports in the West Memphis 3 case. Alice and Brett meticulously dissect the medical findings, raising critical questions about the feasibility of a single perpetrator and the credibility of official testimonies. They also introduce intriguing theories, such as animal predation and timeline discrepancies, highlighting the complexities and enduring mysteries surrounding this tragic case. As they prepare to delve deeper in future episodes, listeners are left contemplating the unresolved aspects and the pursuit of truth for the sake of the innocent victims.