The Prosecutors – Episode 323 "The West Memphis 3 Part 22: Terry Hobbs Speaks" (August 19, 2025)

Episode Overview

In this highly anticipated episode, Brett and Alice are joined by Julia (from The Consult) and, most notably, special guest Terry Hobbs—the stepfather of Stevie Branch, one of the three eight-year-old boys murdered in West Memphis, Arkansas in 1993. For over three decades, Terry Hobbs has lived under both public scrutiny and suspicion, partly due to the intense media focus and subsequent documentaries questioning the investigation and conviction of the so-called West Memphis Three. For perhaps the first time in such a thorough and open format, Hobbs shares his personal experiences, reflections, and responses to years of speculation about his involvement. The episode explores Terry's life before and after the tragedy, his memories of Stevie, his perspective during the days of the investigation, and his enduring belief in the original convictions.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

Terry's Life Post-Tragedy

• Relocation and Retirement: Terry moved from Memphis to the Ozark Mountains, describing it as "God's country," and retired after decades of work ([03:26]-[05:56]).

  “When I left Memphis, I left a big part of this story in Memphis.” —Terry Hobbs (03:26)

• Seeking Normalcy: He finds solace in service work with a transportation company and tries to keep his past private, though it often emerges due to his notoriety ([03:26]-[05:56]).
• Burden of Notoriety: He expresses weariness with media attention and public speculation.

  "People look at you like that. Once they look into you and find out what they want to find out, well, all this other pops up. So couldn't hide it. I tried, but couldn't hide it." —Terry (05:56)

Coping with Tragedy and Public Attention

• Living with Tragedy: Hobbs describes the anniversary of the murders as still deeply painful and tries to maintain a low profile ([06:26]).

  "That part of it would never leave... I try to keep it to myself and stay out of people’s way and out of the limelight." —Terry (06:26)

• Media & Misinformation: Hobbs is skeptical of media, stating he doesn’t trust them, as they often perpetuate rumors and narratives that don't match his experience ([06:26]-[07:57]).

Memories of Stevie and Everyday Life

• Relationship with Stevie: Endearing anecdotes about Stevie show a loving, hands-on parent-child relationship ([09:26]-[11:11]). Terry recalls Stevie calling him "Daddy Terry," loving Ninja Turtles, and excelling at school.
• Daily Routines: He was a working parent who cherished after-work rituals such as helping with homework and spending family time by their backyard pool ([11:11]-[14:15]).
• Rules and Safety: He describes being protective, allowing Stevie to play outside only within his line of sight and never near the wooded area known as Robin Hood Hills ([13:34]-[14:57], [17:36]-[17:52]).

  “When I was at home... I wouldn't let him ride all over town, not one time.” —Terry (13:34)

May 5, 1993: The Day of the Disappearance

• Uncharacteristic Freedom: On May 5th, Pam (Stevie's mother) gave Stevie permission to ride his bike further than usual—an exception that deeply affected both parents afterward ([12:51]-[15:53], [24:41]).
• Retrospective Guilt: Terry discusses Pam’s enduring guilt over letting Stevie go play that day, recounting how “she blamed herself for years” but he tries to reassure her ([24:41]).
• Loss Timeline: The search escalated from concern at dusk to full panic as night fell and the boys were still missing ([29:45]-[36:47]).

  "Any parent would start to get a little concerned... that's a concern to any parents, especially 8-year-olds after dark." —Terry (33:09)

The Search and Discovery

• Coordinated Search: He worked with friend David and other parents to search neighborhoods, repeatedly checking the Moores’ home (Michael Moore’s parents) as a "rendezvous place" ([35:46]-[36:30]).
• Interaction with Police: Describes the sequence of reporting the boys missing and subsequent police involvement ([32:29]-[34:02]).
• Learning of the Bodies: On May 6th, Terry learned of the boys’ discovery through rumors at the boys' school, then firsthand at the crime scene via detective Gary Gitchell ([48:41]-[50:44]).

  “He said, 'Looks like we've had a homicide.'... That's how we found out.” —Terry (50:44)

Aftermath and Media Frenzy

• Immediate Aftermath: Describes shock, numbness, and the relentless intrusion of media ([51:48]-[54:02]).

  "You're numb, you're in shock... you just [are] thrown out there in La la land." —Terry (51:58)

• Public Narrative: He mentions hearing wild rumors on TV about "devil worship" and mutilations immediately after the crime—sometimes before the police disclosed details ([53:35]-[54:14]).
• No Time to Mourn: He was unable to mourn properly due to constant investigation, suspicion, and family pressures ([57:53]-[58:11]).

  “I lived with her after this happened, and that was the worst 12 years of my life... investigating still 12 years later.” —Terry (58:11)

Justice and the Trials

• Reactions to Arrests: Hobbs describes learning of the West Memphis Three's arrest by media and through police, feeling anger rather than relief ([58:48]-[59:48]).

  "You're dealing with anger, you're dealing with different steps of the grief process. And no, you're not relieved." —Terry (59:30)

• Conviction and Aftermath: The guilty verdicts brought no satisfaction, just a transition from “shock” to “grief” ([66:08]-[68:20]).

  "It doesn't give you any satisfaction. None at all." —Terry (66:16)

• Unyielding Belief in Guilt: Despite shifting public (and Pam's family) opinions, Terry never doubted the guilt of Damien, Jason, and Jessie ([70:18]-[71:44]).

  "I never have doubted that, especially since the trial." —Terry (70:38)

Facing Accusations and Public Scrutiny

• Answering Directly: Terry unequivocally states he had no involvement in the boys' deaths ([71:53]).

  "No, sir, I did not." —Terry (71:53)

• Effect of Public Suspicion: Describes the pain and exhaustion of being scrutinized for decades—“stabbed in the back so many times”—and appeals for laws to protect victims' families from public vilification without evidence ([72:10]-[74:49]).

  "I'm just trying to keep my head up and the water's deep and people’s trying to pull you right under that water." —Terry (72:10)

Attempts at Healing

• Faith and Forgiveness: Shares that after years of anger, he found peace by turning to faith and community support, crediting church and music as sources of healing ([68:20]-[70:06]).

Notable Quotes & Moments (with Timestamps)

• On moving and starting over:

  "When I left Memphis, I left a big part of this story in Memphis." (03:26)

• On the lasting effects of tragedy:

  "That part of it would never leave... I try to keep it to myself and stay out of people's way." (06:26)

• On rules for Stevie and safety:

  “When I was at home... I wouldn't let him ride all over town, not one time.” (13:34)

• On the moment of panic:

  "Any parent would start to get a little concerned... that's a concern to any parents, especially 8-year-olds after dark." (33:09)

• On seeing Stevie after the murder:

  "It was unbelievable what we walked in and seen. This is part you never heard on the media..." (67:01)

• On the pain of media suspicion:

  "My back's hurt. I've been stabbed in the back so many times, you know, and I'm just trying to keep my head up..." (72:10)

• On refusing to lose faith in the investigation:

  "I've never doubted the work of the police department." (74:49)

Key Timestamps for Major Segments

• [03:26]–[05:56]: Terry describes his life after leaving Memphis, retirement, and coping with his public identity.
• [09:26]–[14:57]: Discussion of everyday life with Stevie; parenting routines, safety, and family rules.
• [15:53]–[25:11]: Detailed recollection of the day Stevie disappeared—the rare exception allowing Stevie to ride further than usual.
• [29:45]–[36:47]: Community search, first glimmers of panic, and parent coordination.
• [48:41]–[50:44]: Hearing of the boys’ bodies being found and the reaction at the crime scene.
• [51:48]–[58:11]: Media storm, loss of privacy, toil on family life, and inability to grieve properly.
• [58:48]–[66:41]: Reaction to the arrest and conviction of the West Memphis Three, lingering anger and grief.
• [68:20]–[70:06]: Struggles with anger and path toward healing via faith and community.
• [71:53]: Hobbs unequivocally denies involvement in the murders.
• [72:10]–[74:49]: Reflections on public suspicion and hopes for protections for victim families.

Closing Remarks

The hosts and Julia thank Terry for his candor, courage, and patience, with Alice noting the difficulty in recalling such distant, painful memories. The episode stands out as a rare, in-depth firsthand account from one of the most scrutinized figures in this infamous case, granting listeners insight into the fallibility and humanity of someone often turned into a symbol by others’ narratives.

"Thank you for being a voice to that... I appreciate you keeping your head up and speaking to us... 32 years later and a lot of who can remember the time that I ate dinner yesterday, much less 32 years ago." —Alice ([75:00])

This episode is essential listening (or reading) for anyone interested in the human realities behind true crime headlines, shining a light on the lasting impact of violent crime—not just on the victims, but on their families.