West Memphis Three

The West Memphis Three refers to the controversial case of three teenagers who were convicted of murdering three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis, Arkansas, in May 1993. The murders were so heinous that the teens were thought to have killed the children in a Satanic ritual. All three teens were sentenced to life in prison or death.TruTV.com: The West Memphis Three

On June 21, 2009, at a show in Memphis, Tennessee, Pearl Jam frontman Eddie Vedder discussed the West Memphis 3 case, encouraging those in the audience, even those that believed in their guilt, to at least get informed on the case. He mentioned he would be visiting convicted death row inmate Damian Echols and that he hoped it would be the last time he visited him behind bars.http://www.memphisflyer.com/SingAllKinds/archives/2009/06/21/concert-review-eddie-vedder-at-the-orpheum

In November 2008, Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks was sued by a Terry Hobbs, stepfather of one of victims, because she perpetuated one of the allegations made by the criminal defense team. Hobbs sued all three members of the Dixie Chicks but according to his lawsuit, Maines' comments, posted on various media outlets, including her website, were "so extreme in degree as to be beyond the pale of decency and to be regarded as atrocious and utterly intolerable in civilized society." He is suing for defamation, libel and infliction of emotional distress by outrageous conduct.E! Online: Natalie Maines, Fellow Dixie Chicks Courted for Libel (December 4, 2008)

Numerous supporters of the teens believe that they were convicted because they were into heavy metal music and the occult and were not given a fair trial. The case has attracted the attention of several celebrities who believe the teens are innocent, including Eddie Vedder, Henry Rollins, Trey Parker, Matt Stone, Metallica, Jack Black, Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder and the Dixie Chicks.FOXNews.com: Dixie Chick Urges Donations to Defense Fund for Murderers (December 3, 2007)

Former FBI profiler John Douglas also became involved in the case, introducing evidence and new information to an Arkansas court in 2008 in an attempt to get the convicted young men a new trial.