{"podcast":{"title":"Crooked Tree: A West Memphis 3 Podcast","slug":"crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947","podcast_index_feed_id":7844947,"rss_url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting/IrKJTEIs.rss","website_url":"https://x.com/CrookedTreePod?s=20","image_url":"https://hosting-media.riverside.com/media/podcasts/36cd24e0-6713-4048-af5f-e27cdd9cc588/logos/34a09a4c-2739-4603-9cf5-336ff84d4f8d.jpeg","author":"Paul Day and Kristin Rich","episode_count":20,"summary":"Welcome to this long-form podcast series on one of the most controversial and heavily debated true crime cases in American history: the West Memphis Three. In this series, Paul Day — victim advocate, evidence researcher, and longtime friend of the Byers family — teams up with Kristin Rich, a criminologist and victim advocate who has immersed herself in the case for years. Together, they embark on an in-depth journey that tells the story from the victims’ perspective. Focusing on the three eight-year-old boys — Christopher Byers, Michael Moore, and Stevie Branch — whose lives were tragically cut short on May 5, 1993, in West Memphis, Arkansas, Paul and Kristin draw on their extensive research, personal connections to the families, and deep knowledge of the victims’ personalities, family dynamics, and the West Memphis community. This series delivers fresh perspectives, previously undiscussed details, and thoughtful analysis that challenges surface-level narratives. Expect detailed timelines, evidence discussions, family insights, and open conversation as the hosts carefully unpack what happened that spring afternoon in 1993 — and why things were not as they first appeared. Whether y…","last_synced_at":"2026-09-09T02:17:33.235330+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947"},"episode":{"title":"Episode 11: The Devil Thumbs a Ride","slug":"episode-11-the-devil-thumbs-a-ride","published_at":"2026-07-28T09:00:00+00:00","page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947/episode-11-the-devil-thumbs-a-ride","show_page_url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947","url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/b1ce13edb82f942577a93365d5149156ba8fec059ff7fd13daf70f4cac57a3b1/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiIzZTIwMzBiYi0wZDY3LTQ2OGEtYTA1NC1iYjYyMDAxMDc5MjAiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIzNmNkMjRlMC02NzEzLTQwNDgtYWY1Zi1lMjdjZGQ5Y2M1ODgiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTJjZjcyNGNkZmZkMjBmNjI3OGUyYzQiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmE2NzIwMjE0ZmRlZTdmNWU4MmE5OWM5L3BhdWxzLXN0dWRpby1XcXFWcS1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTctMjdfXzExLTgtNDkubXAzIn0=.mp3","audio_url":"https://api.riverside.com/hosting-analytics/media/b1ce13edb82f942577a93365d5149156ba8fec059ff7fd13daf70f4cac57a3b1/eyJlcGlzb2RlSWQiOiIzZTIwMzBiYi0wZDY3LTQ2OGEtYTA1NC1iYjYyMDAxMDc5MjAiLCJwb2RjYXN0SWQiOiIzNmNkMjRlMC02NzEzLTQwNDgtYWY1Zi1lMjdjZGQ5Y2M1ODgiLCJhY2NvdW50SWQiOiI2OTJjZjcyNGNkZmZkMjBmNjI3OGUyYzQiLCJwYXRoIjoibWVkaWEvY2xpcHMvNmE2NzIwMjE0ZmRlZTdmNWU4MmE5OWM5L3BhdWxzLXN0dWRpby1XcXFWcS1jb21wb3Nlci0yMDI2LTctMjdfXzExLTgtNDkubXAzIn0=.mp3","summary":"In this episode, Kristin Rich and Paul Day dive deep into one of the most intriguing and under-examined leads in the West Memphis Three case: the mysterious \"Tattooed Man.\" On May 5, 1993, Ken Govar picked up a hitchhiker east of Little Rock. The man’s angry demeanor, inconsistent stories, terrifying tattoos (including a bone with dripping blood and a devil on its haunches), and specific request to be dropped off at a Flash Market just 1,600 feet from Devil's Den in West Memphis raised immediate red flags. Govar’s detailed police interview, composite sketches, and sharp observations paint a chilling picture of a man who didn’t add up. Kristin and Paul break down the timeline, the man’s physical description, his strange behavior, and how close this encounter was to the victims’ last known movements. They also explore a related tip involving a suspicious cab fare to Tennessee and examine the West Memphis Police Department’s handling (and public denials) of these leads. This episode examines a classic “legend” of the case alongside Bojangles Man—one that raises serious questions about certain transients, missed opportunities, and the sheer number of potential persons of interest around the Robin Hood Hills that afternoon. A must-listen for anyone following the WM3 case, true crime deep dives, or unsolved mysteries. Hosts: Kristin Rich & Paul Day – West Memphis 3 researchers and victim advocates. Available now wherever you listen to podcasts. Follow us on X and Facebook for the composite sketches and additional case materials.","meta_description":"In this episode, Kristin Rich and Paul Day dive deep into one of the most intriguing and under-examined leads in the West Memphis Three case: the mysterio…","key_points":[],"chapters":[],"topics":[],"duration_seconds":2636,"processing_state":"not_requested","actions":[{"name":"request_transcript","method":"POST","url":"https://stenobird.com/v1/public/podcasts/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947/episodes/episode-11-the-devil-thumbs-a-ride/transcription-requests","description":"Idempotently request low-priority transcript generation for this episode."},{"name":"read_markdown","method":"GET","url":"https://stenobird.com/podcast/crooked-tree-a-west-memphis-3-podcast-7844947/episode-11-the-devil-thumbs-a-ride.md","description":"Read the agent-friendly Markdown representation of this episode resource."}]}}