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[[File:Damien | [[File:Damien Echols.jpg|350px|thumb|Damien Echols and his wife, [[Lorri Davis]] holding their oracle deck, the [[Echols Sigil Oracle]]]] | ||
'''Damien Wayne Echols''' (born Michael Wayne Hutchison; December 11, 1974) is an American writer, ceremonial [[magician]], and former visual artist, best known as a member of the West Memphis Three, a group of teenagers controversially accused and convicted of a triple murder. Upon his release from Death Row in 2011 under an Alford plea, Echols authored several autobiographies and spiritual books. He has been featured in multiple books, documentaries, and podcasts about his spiritual works and the West Memphis Three case. | '''Damien Wayne Echols''' (born Michael Wayne Hutchison; December 11, 1974) is an American writer, ceremonial [[magician]], and former visual artist, best known as a member of the West Memphis Three, a group of teenagers controversially accused and convicted of a triple murder. Upon his release from Death Row in 2011 under an Alford plea, Echols authored several autobiographies and spiritual books. He has been featured in multiple books, documentaries, and podcasts about his spiritual works and the West Memphis Three case. | ||
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On March 19, 1994, Judge David Burnett sentenced Echols to death by lethal injection. On December 23, 1996, the Arkansas Supreme Court denied appeals from Echols and Baldwin. In May 1998, Echols won a hearing on charges that his defense counsel has been incompetent, but Judge Burnett ruled against him in June 1999. | On March 19, 1994, Judge David Burnett sentenced Echols to death by lethal injection. On December 23, 1996, the Arkansas Supreme Court denied appeals from Echols and Baldwin. In May 1998, Echols won a hearing on charges that his defense counsel has been incompetent, but Judge Burnett ruled against him in June 1999. | ||
In 2007, the new DNA testing became available that was not technologically possible at the time of the crime, and produced evidence that hairs found at the crime scene did not match Misskelley, Baldwin or Echols and possibly matched the stepfather of one of the victims. Based on this, the defendants asked Burnett for a new trial. In September 2008, Burnett denied retrials for all three saying the new evidence was "inconclusive" | In 2007, the new DNA testing became available that was not technologically possible at the time of the crime, and produced evidence that hairs found at the crime scene did not match Misskelley, Baldwin or Echols and possibly matched the stepfather of one of the victims. Based on this, the defendants asked Burnett for a new trial. In September 2008, Burnett denied retrials for all three saying the new evidence was "inconclusive." | ||
===Release from prison=== | ===Release from prison=== | ||
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==Life after release== | ==Life after release== | ||
[[File:DamienEchols TravisMcHenry.jpg|400px|thumb|Damien Echols and Travis McHenry]] | |||
After being released from prison, Echols and his wife moved to New York City and lived in Peter Jackson's apartment. They next moved to Salem, Massachusetts and finally settled in Harlem. | After being released from prison, Echols and his wife moved to New York City and lived in Peter Jackson's apartment. They next moved to Salem, Massachusetts and finally settled in Harlem. | ||
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==Author== | ==Author== | ||
In 2012, he published a book ''Life after Death'', which became The New York Times Best Seller. In 2014, Echols and Lorri | In 2012, he published a book ''Life after Death'', which became ''The New York Times'' Best Seller. In 2014, Echols and [[Lorri Davis]] co-authored a book ''Yours for Eternity'', which consists of their letters while Echols was in prison. | ||
In 2018, he published ''High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row'', a book that described his spiritual experience in prison. It was followed by ''Angels and Archangels: A Magician's Guide'', published in 2020. | In 2018, he published ''High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row'', a book that described his spiritual experience in prison. It was followed by ''Angels and Archangels: A Magician's Guide'', published in 2020. | ||
In October 2023, Echols announced to his Patreon followers that he was collaborating with [[Travis McHenry]] on an [[oracle cards|oracle deck]] using [[sigil]]s combined with [[ritual magic]]. The resulting deck, the [[Echols Sigil Oracle]] was launched on Kickstarter on July 1, 2024. | |||
==Books== | ==Books== | ||
* '' | * ''Almost Home'' (2005) | ||
* ''High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row'' | * ''Life After Death'' (2012) | ||
* '' | * ''Yours for Eternity: A Love Story on Death Row'' (2014) ''with [[Lorri Davis]]'' | ||
* '' | * ''High Magick: A Guide to the Spiritual Practices That Saved My Life on Death Row'' (2018) | ||
* '' | * ''Angels and Archangels: A Magician's Guide'' (2020) | ||
* ''Ritual'' (2022) ''with [[Lorri Davis]]'' | |||
* ''[[Grimoire of Sigil Magic]]'' (2024) ''with [[Travis McHenry]] and [[Lorri Davis]]'' | |||
==External links== | ==External links== | ||