ga('ads.send', { Over the years, however, the West Memphis Three continued to maintain their innocence, claiming they had nothing to do with the slayings of Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers, who were each found nude, hogtied, and mutilated in a bayou. Eventually, three local teenagers, Damien Echols, Jessie Misskelley, and Jason Baldwin, were zeroed in on as the prime suspects. The belief in a Satanic aspect to the crime was aided by Vicki Hutcheson and her son, when after discovering the bodies, Aaron claimed he'd witnessed the killings. ga('ads.send', { But in the process, the West Memphis Three get blamed for the crime they didn't commit. Talking with police and his lawyer present in the room, he would ignore advice from his counsel to remain silent and detailed how the West Memphis Three had abused and murdered the victims. Echols interest in the occult as an outlet led him to Wicca, and he was a reader of Church of Satan founder Anton LaVey and English occultist Aleister Crowley. and "Do you know who killed those three boys?". WebThe West Memphis Three were the first people in West Memphis, Arkansas who were accused of murdering the three young boys. After being told that she was questioning his involvement, Hobbs is alleged to have replied, "I could skin a man alive, I could cut him up.". "Even if he files within the right court, there is no body that's required under habeas corpus because he's released," said Attorney General Griffin. Based on the new information, the three men asked for an Alford plea, in which the defendant maintains their innocence, but acknowledge that prosecutors have evidence to convict them. It took them 18 years to clear their names. The 'West Memphis Three' were exonerated following the advent of improved DNA technology (West Memphis Police Department) John Mark Byers, who was suspected in the deaths of three West Memphis children in 1993, died in a car crash earlier this week, officials in Tennessee revealed on Friday, June 19. pg.acq.push(function() { } "We are pleased that the evidence is intact," Benca said, according to WREG. Both men were increasingly concerned about the potential for human sacrifices when it was a full moon. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. 'Feels Like Home:' electrical failure from a light fixture caused December fire that killed 1, Shelby County reporting an increase in drug-related overdoses, largely due to fentanyl, Severe weather threat is over | Prepare for a sunny weekend, Daylight saving time starts soon. It took them 18 years to clear their names. Friends and family tried in vain to find the missing boys. He was 62. } Grandmother with dementia died from face wound neglected by staff for days. It wouldn't be the only evidence that linked Hobbs to the murders, with his wife Pamela finding a knife that her son had carried with him in her husband's nightstand. Equally, it was widely known he threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend's father, yet those who had taken against him left out that this was through a fear that the father was going to assault his daughter. While the three, better known as the West Memphis Three, entered an Alford plea and are therefore not innocent in the eyes of the law, DNA evidence suggests someone else is responsible for the 1993 murders of James Michael Moore, Stephen Branch, and Christopher Byers. If you found this interesting, you might also want to read about the study that finds black Americans are wrongfully convicted at a far greater rate. All three spent most of their days as any other mid-1990s teenagers - listening to rock music, watching pro wrestling on television, and either poking around under the hood of a car or simply hanging out and causing trouble. eventAction: 'click_ads' He was muddy, bleeding, and brushed against the walls, leaving behind blood stains and feces on the walls, stall, and floor. Public opinion against him would only grow more robust when the testimony of Aaron Hutcheson was leaked to the press. pg.acq.push(function() { Meanwhile, Byers himself had a long history of drug use and violent criminal behavior, including domestic violence and threats to kill. VEGA, Texas (KFDA) - Two people were killed and two others were injured after a three-vehicle crash on Interstate 40 west of Vega. Starting in the weeks that followed the killings, documentary filmmakers Joe Berlinger and Bruce Sinofsky began to investigate the circumstances surrounding the case for their film "Paradise Lost: The Child Murders at Robin Hood Hills," airing in June 1996 on HBO. Hutcheson was accused of settling from her employer and forced to bring her young son, Aaron Hutcheson, to the interview. They still had the convictions, but the men would be free. Meanwhile, at the Marion Police Department, Detective Don Bray was attempting to administer a polygraph test to Vicki Hutcheson, who had recently moved to the city. eventAction: 'load' Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. His behavior as it became apparent Echols, Misskelley, and Baldwin would be cleared of the murders, was questioned as well. The police were called, but he had left by the time they arrived, and nobody from law enforcement entered the bathroom until the next day after the discovery of the bodies. Explaining why the test may have indicated this, Martin suggested he believed "the father of Steve Branch killed the boys" and that he suspected shoelaces would have been used to tie up the victims, as "logic tells him that the killer would use something already there." pg.acq.push(function() { What came after the arrest is quite well-documented. "I can't understand why exactly people are glossing over the obvious when it comes to Byers and the death of Melissa Byers and all the things that Byers has said and done since this trial," he said. The friends rode over to Bobby Posey's house, where they learned Christopher had been whipped by his adoptive father, John Mark Byers, and planned to run away. Prosecutors in the case argued that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley had killed three boys the prior year as part of Satanic rituals. To understand the story of the West Memphis Three, it's important to remember the cultural atmosphere that was prevalent throughout America in the mid-1990s. All three pleaded innocent at the trial and maintained that innocence ever since. They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Motivations For Investigating The West Memphis Case, Timeline Of The West Memphis Three Victims. And while both Michael and Steve had bruises across their body, Christopher had suffered the most gruesome injuries and had lacerations to various parts of his body, and mutilation to his scrotum and penis. Notifications can be turned off anytime from browser settings. Writing in his future memoir, "Life After Death," Echols would say, "Down here in the deep, dark South we know and live with the real world. Despite the defense stating that Echols' statements on Byers genitals and the boys being drowned could have been public knowledge locally, particularly considering known leaks had been made, both Echols and Baldwin were found guilty on three counts of murder. How much of Echols reputation came down to his mental illness and how much teenage desire to shock is open to debate. They'd first come into contact almost precisely a year before Echols was arrested alongside his then-girlfriend Deanna Holcomb. He also initially claimed Echols had choked one victim until he was told that none of the boys had been strangled. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? Whether justice has been done in the case of the West Memphis Three depends on entirely who you ask. They allowed police and other workers to walk through the creek, trampling possible evidence such as footprints, and equally failed to drain the water quickly to preserve other evidence. eventCategory: event.slot.getSlotElementId(), If the offender came across the boys as they were doing something wrong or misbehaving, it would have been even easier to control and reprimand them, said Clemente. ET. Despite claiming to know Echols well, she denied knowing his close friend Baldwin. He was 62. It was likely the teenager was deliberately provoking Driver and exaggerating his lifestyle, leading the officer to become convinced that Echols was involved in a Satanic cult straight from a horror film. Clemente pointed out that the killer took his time to conceal the boys' bodies, clothing, and bikes. Soon after, witness, Narlene Hollingsworth, reported she saw three boys riding bikes, almost hitting one when he rode out in front of her car. Check out never-before-seen content, free digital evidence kits, and much more! "We are trying to find the real killers. Kara Goldfarb is a writer living in New York City. It went too far, and because of that, he had to kill all three of them," he said. 'West Memphis Three' case: John Byers, suspect and stepfather of one of the slain boys, dies in car crash. Echols unwisely began to tell the fanatical Driver tall tales about local cults and animal sacrifices when Driver became his parole officer, telling him that he followed Wicca. MEMPHIS, Tenn. (AP) A former Memphis Fire Department emergency medical technician told a Tennessee board Friday that officers impeded patient care by refusing to remove Tyre Nichols ' handcuffs, which would have allowed EMTs to check his vital signs after he was brutally beaten by police. Every piece is still there https://t.co/8tzxOWjZLH, - Damien Echols (@damienechols) December 21, 2021. WebWest Memphis Three, three American men who in 1994, while teenagers, were found guilty of murdering three young boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, allegedly as part of devil worship. Who killed Stevie Both knew Misskelley from school but were hardly considered friends, Misskelley having a reputation for violence. document.querySelector("#adunit").addEventListener('click',function(){ Who killed Stevie } It is easy for many to look at the South as hillbilly central, full of prejudice and backward attitudes, with somewhat elitist attitudes often prevalent when discussing the case. In contrast, others contend he remained severely mentally ill and an immature teenager. Hobbs, who had previously been under the police scanner for the murders because of inconsistencies in his story, had later been cleared of any wrongdoing but found himself being verbally abused by Byers in front of cameras outside a courtroom. They were released on Aug. 19, 2011. His prior history of domestic violence didn't reflect well either. Candy-Land idealism is quietly suffocated in the relentless humidity. John Mark Byers was the stepdad of one of the victims and said before the hearing, Theyre innocent. All three were charged and accused of committing a Satanic murder. After 3 years of fighting to get new evidence tested for DNA, the state says the WM3 petition should be tossed out and now, the attorneys are responding in court. However, Aaron's story constantly changed, saying on one occasion he saw a victim bundled into a car by a Black man and on another stated that he witnessed the killings but didn't know who the killers were. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('slotRenderEnded', function(event) { Advances in DNA testing allowed forensics to be utilized on hairs found at the scene, with none again matching for the three imprisoned men. Before the case could again reach the courts, Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were allowed to enter Alford plea deals. An attorney involved in the West Memphis Three case, in which three teenagers were convicted of killing three boys in 1993, is claiming that evidence related to the case that was believed to be lost or destroyed has been located at the West Memphis Police Department, local CBS affiliate WREG reported. WebSeason 1 Episode 1 Preview: Host and investigator Bob Ruff explores the flaws from the original ""West Memphis Three"" case to lay the groundwork for his evidence-driven investigation. Terry Hobbs and Pamela Hicks. The West Memphis Three had trials in 1994, with Echols and Baldwin tried together and Misskelley tried separately. As the rumors increased throughout the community, a Salem-like air descended as names continued to be associated with the alleged cult. But it seemed the story for the West Memphis Three was over. Equally, Wiccans reject their beliefs are a form of Satanism, with the movement being closer to Neo-Paganism and nature religions and almost exclusively pacifistic in nature. Then read about the woman who was convicted for locking her deaf sister in a room for seven years. How the three died wasn't the same, with Moore and Branch being killed by multiple injuries and then drowning, with Byers dying of blood loss and not being drowned. Example video title will go here for this video. Since his release, Echols has forged a career in the arts, moving to the infamous Salem, Massachusetts and publishing a memoir, "Almost Home: My Life Story Vol. Watch: Man connected to 'West Memphis Three' learns evidence connected to the case is missing By Dominique Dillon, FOX13memphis.com July 08, 2021 at 5:53 pm CDT WEST MEMPHIS, Ark. Benca said he hopes the evidence can be tested for DNA to help clear the name of his client, who along with Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley Jr. was convicted of murder as a teenager in 1994. West Memphis police brought Terry Hobbs in for questioning in June 2007, and coverage soon led to a widespread examination of the original verdict, with Hobbs even telling police that some of his relatives suspected him in the killings. Branch and Moores bikes were discovered on either side of a pipe bridge not far from the crime scene. if(document.querySelector("#ads")){ Who killed Stevie The truth is, the ongoing debate over whether Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley were guilty has often clouded the undoubted fact that justice remains elusive for the other West Memphis Three, Steve Branch, Christopher Byers and Michael Moore. 31 2021, Published 3:16 p.m. MEAWW brings you the best content from its global team of hitType: 'event', An attorney involved in the West Memphis Three case, in which three teenagers were convicted of killing three boys in 1993, is claiming that evidence related to the case that was believed to be lost or destroyed has been located at the West Memphis Police Department, local CBS affiliate WREG reported.Attorney Patrick Benca, who represents Echols' legal team has filed a response to the Attorney General's request, where they are asking the court to deny it. Back with the search, the main focus was Robin Hood Hills near where witnesses last saw the trio, and that morning Branch andMoore's bikes were found next to a pipe bridge that crossed the bayou. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. Workers at the Bojangles restaurant just a mile from the crime scene reported that at 8:42 p.m., a Black male had entered the premises and went into the women's bathroom. }); They were 17, 16, and 18 years old respectively. Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelley were accused of killing three eight-year-old boys: Chris Byers, Stevie Branch, and Michael Moore. Police on the case felt that there were cult-like and satanic overtones to the murders. Christopher Byers' father, Rick Murray, was one of the early voices to speak out against the West Memphis Three's convictions, with Pamela Hobbs perhaps becoming the most vocal. There was a sense of disconnect from society amongst many young people, with the counter-culture that produced grunge giving way to the metal Their trial, which included Undertaking a polygraph, Martin seemingly showed deception when asked, "Do you know what was used to tie up those three boys?" WebThe West Memphis Three are three men convicted as teenagers in 1994 of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, United States. It took 18 years, a deep probe into the criminal justice system, and the rallying of a Steve had taken this knife everywhere and was never without it, with Pamela believing the killer had stolen it when it wasn't found at the scene. Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. Investigators found the bottle exactly where he said it would be. "The chief of police was not truthful," Echols tweeted on Wednesday. There's absolutely no indication of that in this case. Goths, punks and skaters were in the ascendency, and Middle America was horrified. The deal is a plea whereby a defendant maintains their innocence but recognizes that the evidence presented would be enough to convict them. ga('create', 'UA-67136960-15', 'auto', 'ads'); Three teenage boys convicted of the 1993 murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, Thailand's 'most beautiful transgender woman' and husband wear $580K in attire at extravagant wedding, Desperate mountain residents trapped by snow beg for help; 'We are coming,' sheriff says, U.S. court won't require FAA to make airplane seat size, spacing rules, Convicted killer Alex Murdaugh's new mugshot revealed after double life sentence, Rebel Wilson says she was banned from Disneyland for 30 days for taking a bathroom selfie, SoCal in for cool start to weekend, but light rain makes brief return, CHONK: State champion quartet prepping for show this weekend, Opinion: Fix loophole that increases copay costs for prescription drugs, Ambulancia para pacientes "posedos" lleva psiclogos y exorcistas en Bolivia. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore and Christopher Byers were only 8 years old when they viciously murdered in 1993. Ultimately, the judge will make a final ruling on whether to proceed. Sometimes justice is neither pretty, nor is it perfect, but it was important to take this opportunity to be free.". They had a daughter together, Amanda Hobbs, who was 4 years old at the time of her brothers death. Moore. To this day, it is still unclear who is responsible for the brutal murders, and in hopes of uncovering new potential leads, investigative podcaster Bob Ruff reexamined the case in . "I want to live and to continue to fight for our innocence. He was interrogated for 12 hours with only two segments running to 46 minutes being recorded, and although he was read his Miranda rights, he later said that he hadn't understood them. Misskelley was found guilty of one count of first-degree murder and two counts of second-degree murder. Create a free profile to get unlimited access to exclusive videos, breaking news, sweepstakes, and more! All three would be happy to talk, with Bly saying that Misskelley was the leader of a Satanic cult that also involved Baldwin, Echols, his girlfriend Domini Teer, and others 20 in all. Youtube Mugshots of the West Memphis Three. hitType: 'event', Byers had been a step-father to Christopher Byers, who along with his two eight-year-old friends Michael Moore and Steve Branch, had been killed in West Memphis on May 5, 1993, and whose murders remain unsolved to this day, almost three decades later. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. Morgan and Holland left town on May 10 and headed to Oceanside in California, their departure shocking many who knew them. ga('ads.send', { }) While Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley may have begun to rebuild their lives, there is still no solace or closure for the families of Steve Branch, Christopher Byers, and Michael Moore. Aaron was restless, and Bray was unable to properly administer the polygraph. Echols lawyer stated that new DNA evidence did not place him at the scene of the crime. However, police thought they had their culprits and were willing to ignore Ricky Climer and Avis Bly's severe mental illnesses. He had an extensive collection of animal skulls, including dogs and cats and local rumors said that he had killed a dog, while no evidence was ever provided. A few years later, he was facing charges relating to the use of terroristic threats, grand theft, and drug use. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. However, it wouldn't only be many of the victims' families who were dissatisfied, with former FBI criminal profiler John E. Douglas saying the killings were likely the work of one individual whose intent was to degrade the victims. Authorities figured Echols as a suspect because had shown an interest in occultism. They seem to me to be more practical ligatures, Clemente said. The Brotherhood group he identified himself as being associated with had committed multiple homicides. The story will be familiar to many working-class American youths, with Echols' poverty and mental health struggles disconnecting him from society, writing that "As I grew older I learned to be ashamed of being poor, too. In statements under oath, the three witnesses say that Michael Hobbs told them, "My uncle killed three boys in West Memphis." The condition of the bodies led to the initial belief the three had been raped and then killed. }); Jones, the assistant juvenile probation officer, was one of the chief voices pushing the line alongside his supervisor Jerry Blackwood Driver. He tried to fight back and showed defensive injuries. There were even witnesses who placed Misskelley at his trailer until 6:30 p.m., the time the boys went missing, with one revealing he picked him up to go wrestling around 7:30 p.m. An investigation of the murders looked into several suspects, including the stepfather of Steve Branch as well as two teenage boys who had abruptly fled to California shortly after the bodies were discovered. eventAction: 'view' The assailant is also prone to violent outbursts, likely has a history of domestic violence, and places a high importance on punishment. With the evidence mounting that all three accused had been innocent, the deal ensured that Echols, Baldwin and Misskelley would never be allowed to pursue civil action against the state of Arkansas for wrongful imprisonment. Initially a suspect himself amongst some people, John Mark Byers added his voice to those doubts before being killed in a car crash last year. The boys were naked and tied up by their shoelaces. The men garnered national attention due to a series of documentaries and books that questioned their convictions as well as the vocal support of numerous celebrities. With continuing advances in DNA testing, that day may finally be around the corner. Stevie Branch, Michael Moore, and Christopher Byers were best friends. That changed on May 5, 1993, when three second-grade boys were reported missing. Interested, police arrested both of them on May 17, placing them under a polygraph which indicated they were deceptive when denying involvement in the killings. Who Is The Real Killer Behind The 'West Memphis Three' Murders? He also theorized that the killer knew the victims because he was able to control three victims without any help.. While they showed the bravado and sense of adventure associated with many scouts, they were still innocent, with Byers said by his mother to still "[believe] in the Easter Bunny and Santa Claus.". Echols, 36, had been on death row, while Baldwin, 34, and Misskelley, 36, were serving life sentences. The men garnered national attention due to a series of documentaries and books that questioned their convictions as well as the vocal support of numerous celebrities. How seriously anyone took the Mulder and Scully of West Memphis is uncertain, but they certainly took Echols seriously. They drew pentagrams, skulls, and snakes on art materials and surprised those at a football game by arriving dressed in black with black tears painted on their faces. }); Nine days later, Misskelley would confess again. No matter who committed those terrible crimes at Robin Hood Hills, they still walk free 28 years later, and until the culprits are found, the case is far from over. }); John Mark Byers, who was suspected in the deaths of three West Memphis children in 1993, died in a car crash earlier this week, officials in Tennessee revealed on Friday, June 19. Due to marital problems stemming from Stevies death, the couple divorced in 2004, reported CNN. He was also charged in 1990 for stealing $65,000 in jewelry from a store where he previously worked, and in 1992 for "conspiring to sell cocaine and with carrying a dangerous weapon.". When West Memphis teens Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin, and Jessie Misskelley Jr. were tried and convicted of the murders of three 8-year-old boys in 1994, many in the community felt confident that investigators had put the right men behind bars. He quickly retracted the statement, and police aren't believed to have considered them suspects any longer than the period of their arrest. There is a strong Christian identity, and crime is an issue, but the behavior of Echols, in particular, would have drawn comment everywhere. hitType: 'event', The Story Of The West Memphis Teens Wrongfully Imprisoned 18 Years For Satanic Murder. John Mark Byers, stepfather of Chris Byers and initially the subject of considerable suspicion himself, is shown calling Terry Hobbs a "baby killer" outside an Arkansas courtroom. He failed to recognize where the crime scene actually was, mixed up the timeline and confused the victims. "We are planning to move ahead and test this evidence using the latest DNA technology available to hopefully identify the real killer(s) of the three children in 1993, and exonerate Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jesse Misskelley.". Echols was from a poor background and struggled both with poverty and his mental health, having been institutionalized for several months after considering suicide. }); To understand the story of the West Memphis Three, it's important to remember the cultural atmosphere that was prevalent throughout America in the mid-1990s. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle6_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle7_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle8_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle9_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280}} He kept a calendar of the lunar cycle so he and Jones could patrol the county and check for covens. When three boys turn up murdered, a small town is desperate to find the killer. In 2010, the West Memphis Three were granted to appear before the Arkansas Supreme Court based on the new DNA evidence and potential misconduct by the jury. On May 5, 1993, Branch was at home with his mother, Pamela Hobbs, and shortly after the end of school, Moore rode over on his bike and asked if his friend could take a ride with him. In many respects, the reaction to these new youth movements was nothing new, with the metal bands of the 1970s and 80s having faced similar condemnation as "the Devil's music." Classmates at Weaver Elementary School, the three were active in their Cub Scout troop and responsible enough to be trusted to roam their neighborhood without Nevertheless, this is a complete delaying tactic," Soury explained. Tape recorded, Misskelley would claim that "When the boys came up, Damien grabbed one of them, I don't know which one and the other two tried to get Damien to stop, and then me and Jason come out and started grabbing them, started hitting them." Product was successfully added to your shopping cart. Who Killed The Forgotten West Memphis Three? Autopsies revealed that Byers died of multiple injuries, while the other two boys died of multiple injuries with drowning. hitType: 'event',