Life after death

Damien Echols, one of The West Memphis Three

In 1993, when Chris Byers, Michael Moore and Steve Branch were killed, hogtied and left to rot in a ditch, I was 8 years old. And so perhaps because of that fact or because I'm from Canada and the events took place in rural America, I don't remember ever hearing the story of the West Memphis Three until many years later. In fact, I heard about Damien Echols, Jason Baldwin and Jessie Misskelley when I first saw Paradise Lost, the first effort in what would be a documentary trilogy. Every so often, you hear stories about people who went through so much adversity, such abject circumstances that you can only wonder, how do they do it? How do they survive and keep on living? This is how I feel about Damien Echols. And following him on Twitter, is even more mesmerizing. Every moonlight, every stranger, every gust of wind is like his first. Which isn't surprising for a man who spent 18 years on death row for a murder he didn't commit. 18 years in solitary confinement. 18 years with almost no light. 18 years in a tiny, dingy cell. I can't even begin to comprehend the despair one must feel being wrongly accused. I can't even begin to image the acute sting of injustice. But Damien Echols never gave up. This story is truly mesmerizing. It is brutal and sadistic at times. It's not an easy watch. And it certainly isn't an easy read. But it's worth it. I promise. If you have the chance to read this article from BRISBANE TIMES and this one from The New York Times about the surrealist and magical love story between Echols and his wife Lorrie, please do. Echols also has a new book out called Life after Death. I can't wait to read it. xox