12. In Court
Echols was tried in a conservative court in the bible belt. Many believe his interests surrounding Metallica and Stephen King were unfairly used against him, as the prosecution used them to suggest only devil worshipers are captivated by such things. The conservative jury, captivated by all of the media and hysteria surrounding the case, apparently found such claims of devil worship and satanism convincing. Consequently, the three teens were found guilty of murder. Baldwin was sentenced to life, Misskelley was sentenced to life plus 40 years, and Echols received the death sentence.
As he sat on death row, the community would begin to debate the conviction.