Crittendon County Coroner
601 Purdue - West Memphis,
AR 72301
On May 6, 1993 at apx. 3:20 P.M. I received a call from the West Memphis Police Dept. that they had found the three boys, and that they needed me to come to the Blue Beacon Truck Wash. With me was Ed Poe and employee of Roller-Citizens Funeral Home. Upon arrival we taken through the woods to a drainage ditch where the bodies of the three youth were found. All bodies had been removed from the water and were on the ditch banks covered in black plastic. Bodies were listed as they were found.
Body #1
Body is on the east ditch bank
Right hand is tied to the right ankle by shoe lace, left hand is tied to the left ankle by
shoe lace.
Lacerations to head
Body lying on side lividity in buttocks and back will blanch with pressure
Rigor is set but can not tell to what degree due to limbs being tied body placed in sheet and transported
Body #2
Body is on the west ditch bank lying on left side
Right hand is tied to the right ankle by shoe lace, left hand is tied to the left ankle
Lacerations to face and neck
Lividity in left buttocks and back will blanch with pressure
Rigor is set but can not tell to what degree due to limbs being tied Body placed in sheet and transported
Body #3
Body is on the west ditch bank lying on right side
Right hand is tied to the right ankle left hand is tied to the left ankle
Body has been Emasculated
Lividity in buttocks and back will blanch with pressure
Rigor is set but can not tell to what degree due to limbs being tied
Body placed in sheet and transported
All three bodies show signs of post mortem staining in face and chest.
Kent Hale Crittenden County Coroner (signed Kent Hale)
[page two]
[This document is a form - entries that are left black are marked with: [blank] ]
BODY #1 FIRST ID AS CHRISTOPHER BYERS
DATE MAY 6, 1993
TIME: [blank]
CASE #: [blank]
City/County: WEST MEMPHIS
Reporting Party: [blank]
Address: [blank]
Telephone #: [blank]
Name of Deceased: JAMES MICHAEL MOORE
Age: 8
Race: WHITE
Sex: MALE
Date of Birth: JULY 27, 1984
Social Security Number: 432-**-****
Occupation: STUDENT
Marital Status: (SINGLE is checked)
Last Known Alive: MAY 5, 1993 6:00 P.M.
Date/Time of Incident: UNKNOWN
Date/Time Found: MAY 6, 1993 1:30 P.M.
By Whom: MIKE ALLEN WEST MEMPHIS, P.D.
Address: [blank]
Telephone #: 735-1210
Place of Death: DITCH IN WOODS OFF I-40-I55 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, KNOWN AS ROBIN HOOD HILLS
Place of Incident: POSSIBILITY THE SAME UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME
Date/Time Pronounced: MAY 6, 1993 4:02 P.M.
(signed Kent Hale)
Investigating Agency: City: WEST MEMPHIS
County: [blank]
State: [blank]
Officer: MIKE ALLEN
Telephone #: 735-1210
Medical History: [blank]
Alcoholism: [blank]
Diabetes: [blank]
IV Drug Abuse: [blank]
Smoking: [blank]
Ischemic Heart Disease: [blank]
Hypertension: [blank]
Seizure Disorder: [blank]
Cancer: [blank]
Suicide Attempts: [blank]
Epilepsy: [blank]
Drug Use: [blank]
Pregnant: [blank]
High Blood Pressure: [blank]
Depression: [blank]
Contagious Disease: [blank]
Other: Specify: [blank]
Current Medication: [blank]
Attending Physician: [blank]
Address: [blank]
Telephone #: [blank]
Causes of Death: [blank]
Date D.C. Signed: [blank]
Disposition of Body: [blank]
Signed (relationship): [blank]
Investigator's Summary: CORONER CALLED TO BLUE BEACON TRUCK WASH. THAT THE THREE MISSING YOUTH HAD BEEN FOUND, UPON ARRIVAL ALL THREE HAD BEEN RECOVERED FROM WATER AND PLACED ON DITCH BANK CHECKED BODY OF WHITE YOUTH WHO IS NUDE AND TIED WRIST TO ANKLES, BODY HAS CUTS ON HEAD, AND LOOKS LIKE BRUISING ON FACE, AND MAY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED BODY FOUND IN APX 2.5 FEET OF WATER WHICH IS APX 60 (degrees) IN TEMP.
Body Description Height: [blank]
Weight: [blank]
Tattoo's: [blank]
Surgical Scars: [blank]
Rigor Present: [YES is circled] [handwritten: Unable to check due to the way body is tied up]
Lividity Present: [YES is circled] [handwritten: Blanches with pressure]
Decomposed: [NO is circled]
Embalmed: [NO is circled]
Suspected Homosexual: [NO is circled]
Suspected Prostitute: [NO is circled]
Hospital Death Including ER Medical Files Released with Body: [blank]
All Medical Records: [blank]
X-rays: [blank]
1st Drawn Blood [YES or NO - neither is circled]
Admitting Diagnosis: [blank]
Surgery Performed: [YES or NO - neither is circled]
Any Organs Removed: Describe: [blank]
Will family donate any of deceased organs or tissue or bone: [YES or NO - neither is circled]
Signed: [blank]
Address: [blank]
Telephone: [blank]
[page three]
CRITTENDEN COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT BODY #1
NAME: JAMES MICHAEL MOORE
CASE NO.: [blank]
AGE: 8
RACE: MALE (sic)
SEX: WHITE (sic)
FIRST IDENTIFIED AS CHRISTOPHER BYERS FOUND AT 1:30 P.M. MAY 6, 1993 BY SGT. MIKE ALLEN OF THE WEST MEMPHIS POLICE DEPT. IN A DITCH IN ROBIN HOOD HILLS WHICH IS LOCATED SOUTHEAST OF THE BLUE BEACON TRUCK WASH IN WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS ON THE SOUTH SERVICE ROAD OF I40-I55. LAST SEEN AT 6:00 P.M. MAY 5, 1993 PRONOUNCED AT 4:10 P.M. MAY 6, 1993 BY KENT HALE CORONER BODY FOUND IN APX. 2.5 FEET OF WATER, APX. 60 (degrees) IN TEMP. BODY IS REMOVED FROM WATER BY POLICE AND PLACED ON EAST BANK OF DITCH. 1. BODY IS NUDE 2. RT. HAND IS TIED TO RT. ANKLE. LEFT HAND IS TIED TO LEFT ANKLE. BY SHOE LACES 3. LIVIDITY WILL BLANCHE WITH PRESSURE, 4 UNABLE TO CHECK RIGOR DUE TO THE WAY THE BODY IS TIED 5. THERE IS FLY LARVA IN THE EYES AND NOSTRILS 6. BODY PLACED IN WHITE SHEET AND TRANSPORTED TO FUNERAL HOME. 7. BODY TAGGED AS BODY #1 8. BAG OF ICE PLACED ON ABDOMEN M.E. OFFICE IN LITTLE ROCK CALLED BODY HAS CUTS ON HEAD AND LOOKS LIKE BRUISES ON FACE. BODY SENT TO M.E. IN LITTLE ROCK KENT HALE CORONER
(signed Kent Hale)
[page four]
This document is a form - entries that are left black are marked with: [blank]
BODY #2
DATE: [blank]
TIME: [blank]
CASE #: [blank]
City/County:: [blank]
Reporting Party: [blank]
Address: [blank] Telephone #: [blank]
Name of Deceased: STEVE EDWARD BRANCH
Age: 8
Race: WHITE
Sex: MALE
Date of Birth: NOV 26, 1984
Social Security Number: 429-**-****
Occupation: STUDENT
Marital Status: (SINGLE is checked)
Last Known Alive: MAY 5, 1993 6:00 P.M.
Date/Time of Incident: UNKNOWN
Date/Time Found: MAY 6, 1993
By Whom: MIKE ALLEN WEST MEMPHIS, P.D.
Address: [blank]
Telephone #: 735-1210
Place of Death: DITCH IN WOODS OFF I-40-I55 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, KNOWN AS ROBIN HOOD HILLS Place of Incident: POSSIBILITY THE SAME UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME
Date/Time Pronounced: MAY 6, 1993 3:58 P.M.
(signed Kent Hale)
Investigating Agency:
City: WEST MEMPHIS
County: [blank]
State: [blank]
Officer: MIKE ALLEN
Telephone #: 735-1210
Medical History: [blank]
Alcoholism: [blank]
Diabetes: [blank]
IV Drug Abuse: [blank]
Smoking: [blank]
Ischemic Heart Disease: [blank]
Hypertension: [blank]
Seizure Disorder: [blank]
Cancer: [blank]
Suicide Attempts: [blank]
Epilepsy: [blank]
Drug Use: [blank]
Pregnant: [blank]
High Blood Pressure: [blank]
Depression: [blank]
Contagious Disease: [blank]
Other: Specify: [blank]
Current Medication: [blank]
Attending Physician: [blank]
Address: [blank]
Telephone #: [blank]
Causes of Death: [blank]
Date D.C. Signed: [blank]
Disposition of Body: [blank]
Signed (relationship): [blank]
Investigator's Summary: CORONER CALLED TO BLUE BEACON TRUCK WASH. THAT THE THREE MISSING YOUTH HAD BEEN FOUND, UPON ARRIVAL ALL THREE HAD BEEN RECOVERED FROM WATER AND PLACED ON DITCH BANK CHECKED BODY OF SMALL WHITE YOUTH WHO IS NUDE WITH HANDS TIED TO ANKLES BY SHOE LACES, LEFT SIDE OF FACE HAS LACERATIONS FROM CHIN TO CHEEK, AND LOOKS LIKE BRUISING TO FACE AND TRUNK OF BODY.
Body Description Height: [blank]
Weight: [blank]
Tattoo's: [blank]
Surgical Scars: [blank]
Rigor Present: [YES is circled] [handwritten: but hard to tell because of the way body is tied]
Lividity Present: [YES is circled] [handwritten: Will blanch with pressure]
Decomposed: [NO is circled]
Embalmed: [NO is circled]
Suspected Homosexual: [NO is circled]
Suspected Prostitute: [NO is circled]
Hospital Death Including ER Medical Files Released with Body: [blank]
All Medical Records: [blank] X-rays: [blank]
1st Drawn Blood [YES or NO - neither is circled]
Admitting Diagnosis: [blank]
Surgery Performed: [YES or NO - neither is circled]
Any Organs Removed: Describe: [blank]
Will family donate any of deceased organs or tissue or bone: [YES or NO - neither is circled]
CRITTENDEN COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT BODY #2
NAME: STEVE EDWARD BRANCH CASE
NO.: [blank]
AGE: 8
RACE: WHITE SEX:
MALE BODY FOUND BY SGT. MIKE ALLEN AT [blank] AND APX. [blank] FROM BODY NUMBER 1, BODY IS REMOVED FROM WATER BY POLICE AND PLACED ON WEST BANK OF CREEK. 1. BODY IS NUDE 2. RT. HAND IS TIED TO RT. ANKLE. LEFT HAND IS TIED TO LEFT ANKLE BY SHOE LACES 3. LIVIDITY WILL BLANCH WITH PRESSURE, 4. RIGOR UNABLE TO TELL DUE TO THE WAY THE BODY IS TIED 5. FLY LARVA IN EYES 6. BODY PLACED IN WHITE SHEET AND TRANSPORTED TO FUNERAL HOME. 7. BODY TAGGED AS BODY #2 8. BAG OF ICE PLACED ON ABDOMEN LAST SEEN AT 6:00 P.M. MAY 5, 1993 PRONOUNCED AT 3:58 P.M. MAY 6, 1993 BY KENT HALE CORONER BODY FOUND IN APX. 2.5 FEET OF WATER, APX. 60 (degrees) IN TEMP. BODY IS REMOVED FROM WATER BY POLICE AND PLACED ON WEST BANK OF DITCH. BODY HAS CUTS ON LEFT SIDE OF FACE FROM CHIN TO CHEEK, M.E. OFFICE CALLED IN LITTLE ROCK, AR. BODY SENT TO M.E. OFFICE IN LITTLE ROCK, AR. KENT HALE CORONER
(not signed)
[page six]
This document is a form - entries that are left black are marked with: [blank]
BODY #3
DATE: MAY 6, 1993
TIME: [blank]
CASE #: [blank]
City/County:: WEST MEMPHIS POLICE DEPARTMENT
Reporting Party: [blank]
Address: WEST MEMPHIS, ARKANSAS
Telephone #: 735-1210
Name of Deceased: CHRISTOPHER MARK BYERS
Age: 8
Race: WHITE
Sex: MALE
Date of Birth: JUNE 23, 1984
Social Security Number: 410-**-****
Occupation: STUDENT
Marital Status: (SINGLE is checked)
Last Known Alive: 6:00 P.M. MAY 5, 1993
Date/Time of Incident: UNKNOWN
Date/Time Found: MAY 6, 1993
By Whom: SGT. MIKE ALLEN WEST MEMPHIS, P.D.
Address: [blank]
Telephone #: 735-1210
Place of Death: DITCH IN WOODS OFF I-40-I55 SOUTH SERVICE ROAD, KNOWN AS ROBIN HOOD HILLS Place of Incident: POSSIBILITY THE SAME UNKNOWN AT THIS TIME
Date/Time Pronounced: MAY 6, 1993 4:02 P.M. BY KENT HALE CORONER
(signed Kent Hale)
Investigating Agency:
City: WEST MEMPHIS P.D.
County: [blank]
State: [blank]
Officer: SGT. MIKE ALLEN
Telephone #: 735-1210
Medical History: [blank]
Alcoholism: [blank]
Diabetes: [blank] IV
Drug Abuse: [blank]
Smoking: [blank]
Ischemic Heart Disease: [blank]
Hypertension: [blank]
Seizure Disorder: [blank]
Cancer: [blank]
Suicide Attempts: [blank]
Epilepsy: [blank]
Drug Use: [blank]
Pregnant: [blank]
High Blood Pressure: [blank]
Depression: [blank]
Contagious Disease: [blank]
Other: Specify: [blank]
Current Medication: [blank]
Attending Physician: [blank]
Address: [blank]
Telephone #: [blank]
Causes of Death: [blank]
Date D.C. Signed: [blank]
Disposition of Body: [blank] Signed (relationship): [blank]
Investigator's Summary: CORONER CALLED TO BLUE BEACON TRUCK WASH. THAT THE THREE MISSING YOUTH HAD BEEN FOUND, UPON ARRIVAL ALL THREE HAD BEEN RECOVERED FROM WATER AND PLACED ON BANK OF DITCH. CHECKED BODY OF WHITE YOUTH WHO IS NUDE AND TIED WRIST TO ANKLE RT AND LF, BODY HAS BEEN EMASCULATED, AND MAY HAVE BEEN SEXUALLY ASSAULTED CUT ON HEAD, LOOKS LIKE BRUISING ON FACE AND LEGS
Body Description Height: [blank]
Weight: [blank]
Tattoo's: [blank]
Surgical Scars: [blank]
Rigor Present: [YES is circled] HARD TO TELL DUE TO TIES
Lividity Present: [YES is circled] BLANCHES WITH PRESSURE
Decomposed: [NO is circled]
Embalmed: [NO is circled]
õuspected Homosexual: [NO is circled]
Suspected Prostitute: [NO is circled]
Hospital Death Including ER Medical Files Released with Body: [blank]
All Medical Records: [blank] X-rays: [blank]
1st Drawn Blood [YES or NO - neither is circled]
Admitting Diagnosis: [blank]
Surgery Performed: [YES or NO - neither is circled]
Any Organs Removed: Describe: [blank]
Will family donate any of deceased organs or tissue or bone: [YES or NO - neither is circled]
Signed: [blank]
Address: [blank]
Telephone: [blank]
[page seven]
CRITTENDEN COUNTY CORONER'S OFFICE SUPPLEMENTAL REPORT BODY #3
NAME: CHRISTOPHER MARK BYERS CASE
NO.: [blank]
AGE: 8
RACE: WHITE
SEX: MALE FIRST IDENTIFIED AS JAMES MICHAEL MOORE BODY FOUND BY SGT. MIKE ALLEN AT [blank] AND APX. [blank] FROM BODY NUMBER 2, BODY IS REMOVED FROM WATER BY POLICE AND PLACED ON WEST BANK OF DITCH. 1. BODY IS NUDE 2. RIGHT HAND IS TIED TO RIGHT ANKLE, LEFT HAND IS TIED TO LEFT ANKLE BY SHOE LACES 3. LIVIDITY WILL BLANCH WITH PRESSURE 4. UNABLE TO TELL DUE TO BODY BEING TIED 5. FLY LARVA IN EYES AND NOSE 6. BODY PLACED IN WHITE SHEET AND TRANSPORTED TO FUNERAL HOME. 7. BODY TAGGED AS BODY #3 8. BAG OF ICE PLACED ON ABDOMEN M.E. OFFICE CALLED IN LITTLE ROCK, AR. LAST SEEN AT 6:00 P.M. MAY 5, 1993 PRONOUNCED AT 4:02 P.M. MAY 6, 1993 BY KENT HALE CORONER BODY HAS BEEN EMASCULATED, STAB WOUND ON HEAD. LOOKS LIKE BRUISING ON FACE AND LEGS ALL BODIES HAVE BEEN PULLED FROM WATER BEFORE MY ARRIVAL AT THE SCENE BY WEST MEMPHIS POLICE DEPT. THEY ARE COVERED WITH BLACK PLASTIC.
