and at the time of his conviction, no one was considered worse than damien echols. judged as the leader of a grotesque and senseless ritualistic murder spree, a jury of his peers sent him here to be executed. but that was 17 years ago. the once cocky and defiant teenager who horrified and enraged thousands of people is now pushing 40. escorted to our interview, handcuffed and shackled, the damien echols i see appears frail, lonely, and eager to tell his story. >> you know, people are going to be watching you throughout this interview, and they're going to be judging you. >> right. >> how do you think they're going to judge you? >> i don't know. >> you're either innocent and a terrible victim of a justice system gone wrong, or you're a terrible cold-blooded killer of children. >> i think you'll probably have people who think both. >> with prison officials listening to our every word i'm allowed to talk to damien for almost two hours. through a thick glass window, i listen as this obviously intelligent and articulate man describes why he believes the justice system fa

echols guilty of capital murder in the death of stevie branch. >> reporter: damien echols was sentenced to die by lethal injection. his two friends and accused coconspirators got life in prison, in part because of a confession by misskelly that defense lawyers say was not only ridded with inconsistencies but was coerced. fast forward to today. and now many in the small midwestern town, including parents of two of the three victims, have the uneasy feeling the verdicts may have been wrong. one is john mark byers, haunted by his son christopher's death. >> if i met you in may of 1993, how convinced would you have been of the guilt of the three teenagers? >> 100%. >> so now, do you believe that three men in prison are guilty? >> no, ma'am. they're 100% innocent. we needed someone to hate to survive because our child was dead. >> we meet damien echols at the super max prison, an hour's drive south of little rock. his hair is still coal black, but now his gaze is sharp. >> you were asked at the trialers did you kill christopher byers. your answer then was -- >> no. absolutely no. >> your ans

echols guilty of capital murder in the death of stevie branch. >> reporter: damien echols was sentenced to die by lethal injection. his two friends and accused coconspirators got life in prison, in part because of a confession by misskelly that defense lawyers say was not only ridded with inconsistencies but was coerced. fast forward to today. and now many in the small midwestern town, including parents of two of the three victims, have the uneasy feeling the verdicts may have been wrong. one is john mark byers, haunted by his son christopher's death. >> if i met you in may of 1993, how convinced would you have been of the guilt of the three teenagers? >> 100%. >> so now, do you believe that three men in prison are guilty? >> no, ma'am. they're 100% innocent. we needed someone to hate to survive because our child was dead. >> we meet damien echols at the super max prison, an hour's drive south of little rock. his hair is still coal black, but now his gaze is sharp. >> you were asked at the trialers did you kill christopher byers. your answer then was -- >> no. absolutely no. >> your ans

for damien echols, life or death could come down to a single hair. not his, but a strand found in the shoelaces used to tie up one of the boys. dna testing that did not exist two decades ago suggest the hair could belong to the stepfather of another victim, stevie branch. the stepfather, terry hobbs, has denied involvement. police have closed the case, and did not consider him a suspect. also new, forensic evaluations for the defense that show cuts, gashes and sexual mutilation, which prosecutors said were signs of satanic ritual were likely inflicted by animals after the boys were killed. is it just enough for you to be found innocent, or do you need for somebody to be found guilty? >> i guess i don't absolutely need it, i'll survive without them finally putting someone else on trial for this, but it would be a tremendous sense of closure for me. if they don't, then you're always going to have people looking at you, wondering. you know, who knows what. it's hard to describe. >> reporter: it's a loose end. >> yeah. it is. >> reporter: deborah feyeric

not commit. >> reporter: arkansas death row inmate damien echols got his life back today. as part of an unusual plea agreement, echoles and two other convicted men-- jason baldwin and jessie misskelley-- were released from prison. >> this has been going on for over 18 years and it's been an absolute living hell. >> reporter: 17 years ago, damien echols was sentenced to death. the other two were given life. jason baldwin. >> and we didn't tell nothing but the truth, that we were innocent, and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives for it. >> reporter: known as the west memphis three, the men were teenagers in 1994 when they were convicted of killing three eight-year-old boys in the town of west memphis, arkansas-- stevie branch, christopher byers and michael moore. investigators in this rural community believed that the teenagers killed the children as part of a satanic ritual. in recent years, though, d.n.a. evidence has been recovered at the scene-- none of it linking the accused to the crime. their freedom comes at a high price. under the unusual agreement know

damien echols, jessie misskelley and jason baldwin. teenagers then. in their mid 30s today. convicted in what many labeled a literal witch hunt. no physical evidence against them. imprisoned for nearly two decades. >> i'm just tired. you know, this has been going on for over 18 years. >> in the beginning, we told nothing but the truth, that we were innocent, and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives. >> reporter: but today, a bizarre final chapter. with a stunning reversal. four years after abc news first broke word of dna evidence that could exonerate them, the west memphis three walked free. >> the legal tangle that has become known as the west memphis three case is now finished. >> does anyone believe that if the state had even the slightest continuing conviction that they were guilty that they would let these men free today? >> reporter: it was 1993, the three second graders are found drowned in a ditch in west memphis. it was before arkansas could handle dna testing. no physical evidence to link the teens to the crime. >> they were the unusual kids in town, d

and yet they found no physical evidence linking damien echols and his two friends to the crime scene. there was no dna. no fingerprints. nothing even suggesting a satanic rictual which prosecutos say was the motive for the murders. what was your alibi? >> i didn't fit in the town where i lived. i only dressed in black. i had, you know, pretty outrageous hairstyles. at the time that the police say the murders took place, i was actually on the phone with three different people. the problem was the attorneys i had at the time, the public defenders never even called them to the witness stand. never even asked them about this kind of stuff. >> reporter: west memphis prosecutors and police stand by their case. as to the parents of the third victim, who all believe the right people are in prison. for damian echols, life or death could come down to a single hair. not his, but a strand found in the shoelaces used to tie up one of the boys. dna testing that did not exist two decades ago suggest the hair could belong to the stepfather of another victim, stevie branch. the stepfather, terry hobbs

damien echols. jessie miskelley. and jason baldwin. teenagers then, in their mid-30s today. convicted in what many labeled a literal witch hunt. no physical evidence against them. >> we were innocent and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives. >> reporter: damien echols was sentenced to death, but then, a long road to redemption. three documentaries produced by hbo and dna tests from hair found on the v vtims that did not match the jailed men. the hair belonged to someone else. and since e e trial, witnesses had changed their testimony amid claims that an initial confession was coerced. a new trial likely, an odd deal was struck. the men could tell the judge they were innocent, but prosecutors would only let them go free if they agreed to enter a guilty plea. >> i am saying guilty. >> reporter: confusing some in the victims' families who now think the real murderer is at large. >> but i'm still standing and fighting for justice, because they're innocent. they did not kill my son. >> reporter: it was a deal the youngest of the west memphis three first resisted, want

damien echols, jessie misskelley, jr. and baldwin. >>> still in shock. overwhelmed. i spent almost the past decade in solitary confinement. so i'm not used to being around anyone, much less this many people. it's kind of overwhelming. it's not perfect. it's not perfect by any means. but at least it brings closure to some areas and some aspects. you know, we can still bring up new evidence. we can still continue an investigations we've been doing. we can still try to clear our names. the only difference is we can do it from the outside instead of sitting in prison and do it. >> even when you're in prison, you have to worry about your own safety. it doesn't matter what crime it is, you got to worry about your safety regardless. >> jason, how about you? >> i didn't worry about someone else would do. i worried about people who loved me and care about me and trust. we can't live our lives in fear. this was not justice. in the beginning, we told nothing but the truth that we were innocent and they sent us to prison for the rest

these are the shots of jason baldwin and damien echols and jessie misskelley. they pleaded guilty, but maintain their innocence. our david mattingly looks at both sides of the case. >> reporter: after more than 18 years behind bars, the men known as the west memphis three find that freedom has a bitter taste. >> this was not justice. we told nothing but the truth. we were innocent. they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives. we had to come here and knowing that the state would do is a we will let you go only if you admit guilt. that is not justice no matter how you look at it. >> reporter: in a complicated deal, jessie misskelley and damien echols and jason baldwin admit their guilt. the west memphis three go free, but not free of the word murderer. >> it is not perfect. it is not perfect by any means. at least it brings closure to some areas and some aspects. we can still bring up new evidence. we can continue the investigations we have been doing. we can try to clear our names. the difference is doing it from the outside instead of sitting in prison. >>

echols who will be 38 years of age in december, he has spent more than half of his life on death row. >> they have to plead guilty for murder. what does this do as far as a life out of court, can they sue? >> no, and this is a good deal for the state because the state saves faith. there was going to be an evidentiary hearing this december. there's a good chance they would have gotten a new trial and the state doesn't have the evidence to convict them. what is sad they'll never find out who killed these boys. >> it's a cold case again. >>> a college education can cost $200,000 or more. how much of that should the kids pay for? this is "the early show" here on cbs. hey. hey mom! what are you doing? what is that? what is this? it's a special paste i invented to replace socks. we're dipping our feet in it. why? because we can't find socks that shape to our feet. we're sick of it! sick of it! that's really stupid. that's the future. try hanes socks with the smooth comfort toe seam. a better fit your whole family will love. ,,,,,,,,,, >>> in our next hour i'm going to clean up my mess, sor

damien echols, jesse misskelley and jason baldwin have spent the past 18 years behind bars for the murders of three arkansas cub scouts. the case has drawn national attention with supporters including numerous celebrities claiming the men were wrongly convicted. the men have always maintained their innocence. >>> a father and son from pennsylvania behind bars this morning accused of conducting a month-long campaign to threaten sarah palin and her family. craig and shawn christy have been indicted by an alaska grand jury. they allegedly ignored a restraining order and called palin's number 400 times leaving threats about deadly and sexual attacks on the former governor and her children. >>> if you're the president, there's probably never a good time to get away, just as president obama arrived on martha's vineyard for a ten-day family vacation the stock market took a dive. it's giving republicans a new opening to blast the president's handling of the economy and the timing of his r and r. deputy political director paul steinhauser live in washington. i can remember a lot of grubling about t

. >> in a deal, jason misskelley, jason baldwin and damien echols get out of prison, but only after admitting that the prosecution has evidence that could convict them. the west memphis three go free, but not free of the word murderer. >> it is not perfect. it is not perfect by any means. but at least it brings closure to some areas and some aspects. we can still bring up new evidence and continue the investigations we have been doing. we can still try to clear our names. the only difference is now we can do it from the outside instead of having to sit in prison and do it. >> after their entire young adult lives spent in prison, what next? they have the support of celebrities like pearl jam's eddie vedder who was inside the courtroom when they were set free. they also have the relentless hatred of some of the families of the murdered children. in this outbifrurst yells out t the youth that he's opening a pandora's box. >> i don't think it will make the pain go away to the victims' families. he don't think it will make the pain go away to the defendant families. i don't think it will take away

. >> reporter: damien echols, jesse misskelley and jason baldwin were all accused of killing the 8-year-old boys left in a ditch to die. it was the case that shocked the nation. >> they had to find somebody innocent. >> reporter: the big break for police came when misskelley confessed to the killings during questioning and implicated echols and baldwin as accomplices. but soon after he recanted and refused to testify claiming his confession was coerced by police. prosecutors proceeded with no physical evidence, no weapon and no motive. >> we're innocent. and we had to prove it the rest of our lives. >> reporter: the notorious case inspired a 1996 hbo documentary "paradise lost, the child murders at robin hood hill." and then a sequel. the tv special caught the attention of several celebrities including johnny depp, eddie vedder and natalie maines of the dixie chicks. all would lobby for their release. >> i am also here to show my support for the west memphis 3. >> reporter: in 2007, new evidence cast even more doubt on their guilt. modern dna testing revealed that none of the dna at the cri

. >>> jason baldwin and damien echols and jessie misskelley were known as the memphis three and they were teenagers when they went to prison killing three little boys nearly 20 years ago. they always insisted they were innocent, and now they are out. due to a unusual plea deal where they had to admit guilt. it was an unusual ordeal. here is cnn's david mattingly. >> reporter: after more than 18 years behind bar, the men known as the memphis three find that freedom has a bitter taste. >> this was not justice. >> at the beginning we told nothing but the truth that we were innocent, and they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives, and now we have to say that we will let you go only if you admit guilt, and that is not justice no matter how you look at it. >> reporter: in a complicated deal, the three get out of prison to proclaim their innocence, but only after admitting that the prosecution has evidence that could convict them. the west memphis three go free, but not free of the word murderer. >> it is not perfect. it is not perfect by any means, but at least it brings closure to s

damien echols was on death row before a maneuver set him and his companions free. >> they came in with ghost story, rumors. innuendo, things that had nothing to do with the case whatsoever. and they know now the whole world was watching, they would have to come with some sort of concrete physical evidence, and they didn't have any. >> david mattingly has long been covering this case. this hearing was a bit of a surprise. take us inside the courtroom when the west memphis free will be free. >> reporter: well, this was a small courtroom, absolutely packed. there was about 15 to 20 armed officers in that room to to maintain order. there were families abandmember both the west memphis three and for the young boys who were killed. when the judge started explaining all the twists and turns behind this complex legal agreement, everyone slowly was able to hear that the west memphis free was going free, but not until they entered guilty pleas to first degree murder charges and acknowledged that the state of arkansas does have thaefd they could use to convict them. in the end, the west memphis t

circuit judge david burnett made that comment sunday, three days after damien echols, and the others were set free. questions remain about who murdered the boys. but when asked during an exclusive interview with nbc's "today show," baldwin refused to speculate. >> honestly, i don't know. and i am so leery of pointing a finger at anyone, no matter how i may feel they be suspect, simply because i've had the finger pointed at me and i know what it feels like and i do not want to get it wrong. >>> in other news, casey anthony has returned to florida. her attorney, jose baez, confirmed the news in a tv interview. baez says anthony will report to a probation office in orlando to start probation if their appeal fails. a judge ordered anthony to serve a year of probation for check fraud. if the order is upheld, she has until noon on friday to report. what's up, smart? oh, just booked a summer vaycay. ooo. sounds pricey? nah, with the hotels.com summer sale, you can find awesome deals for places nearby. interesting... wow, i'm blown away. you look great. hotels.com summer sale, save up to 30%

jason baldwin, damien echols and jesse misskelley jr. say they're innocent of the murders of three second graders. they were freed after reaching a deal, they had to plead guilty but still maintain their innocence. >> in the beginning we told nothing but the truth that we were innocent. they sent us to prison for the rest of our lives. we had to come here and the only thing the state would do for us, would say we'll let you go only if you admit guilt. and that's not justice, no matter how you look at it. >> i'm just tired. this has been going on for over 18 years, and it's been an absolute living hell. >> even when you're in prison it goes on every day, you to worry about your own safety. it doesn't matter what the crime it is. you still got to worry about your safety regardless. >> 911 operators in daytona beach, florida, flooded with calls after drivers saw this. a woman riding in the back of a pick-up truck holding on to a stroller. and there's a baby inside of the stroller. key yoen na davis is the woman, says she was hanging on to t

prosecutors argued that jason baldwin, damien echols and jessie misskelley, jr. who you see here. these are old photos were driven by satanic ritual, that they hogtied these three boys with shoelaces and mutilated their bodies before tossing them in a ditch. but this case has gotten national attention. even like eddie vetter and the dixie chicks and johnny depp were rallying for their release. why? because of what investigators could not do. which is provide direct evidence that tied the three men to the boys' murders. dna evidence later failed to link the men to the crime. i want to go straight to jonesboro, arkansas, now where david mattingly is standing by outside the courthouse. david, this case has gotten so much attention, not the least of which because -- the conviction, rather, was not overturned and yet, they were set free. so explain to us exactly how this happened. >> reporter: that's right. this attention that's been focused on this case for so long is not going to go away because there's still plenty to argue about here. it was a very complicated deal that went down i