Arkansas Dept. of Corrections
After nearly two decades behind bars, the men known as the West Memphis 3 have walked out of a court room as free men.
"I'm still very much in shock, still overwhelmed. You kind of have to take into consideration that I spent almost the past decade in absolute solitary confinement, so I'm not used to being around anyone." said Damien Echols.
In 1993, a jury found Echols, Jessie Misskelley, Jr. and Jason Baldwin guilty of the brutal murders of three Jonesboro, AR boys in what investigators believed was part of a satanic ritual.
Echols was sentenced to death, while the other two were given life in prison.
Recent DNA evidence failed to link the men to the crimes. Instead of holding a new trial, prosecutors released the three after a plea deal today.
"I believe it would be practically impossible after 18 years to put on a proper case against these ddefendants in this case after such an extended litigation," said Attorney Scott Ellington.
In a legal maneuver, all three entered what is called an Alford Guilty Plea - which means they maintain their innocence, but acknowledge that the state had evidence against them.
"The only thing the state would do for us was to say we'll let you go only if you admit guilt, and that's not justice. That's not justice no matter how you look at it. They aren't out there trying to find whoever killed those boys," said Baldwin.
With the new deal, the three men may leave the state of Arkansas, but must stay out of legal trouble for the next ten years.
Pearl Jam's Eddie Vedder has advocated for the men tirelessly in recent years, even holding a benefit concert with actor Johnny Depp and regularly visiting Echols on death row.
"Probably one of the reasons I'm not as good a friend with the friends I now have is because I spend so much time on this case and being Damien's friend," Vedder told Larry King last year. "After I've gone to visit Damien, there are days and stretches. And, you know, that experience resonates and stays within you. And I think it's one of the reason's I've really tried to do everything I could for the case...It's stuck with me. I think about it a lot."
Vedder was in court Friday when an Arkansas judge accepted the modified pleas.