Episode 1: Two Bikes and a Skateboard

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 Rich

Join 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.

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If you have information about the murders of Christopher Byers, Stevie Branch, or Michael Moore, please reach out to the podcast.