Damien Echols is an American man who gained national attention after being wrongfully convicted of murder in 1994. He was one of the West Memphis Three, a group accused of killing three young boys in Arkansas. Echols was sentenced to death, but his case drew significant public interest and support over the years. In 2011, after nearly 18 years in prison, Echols was released as part of an Alford plea, which allowed him to maintain his innocence while acknowledging that prosecutors had enough evidence to convict him. Since his release, he has become an advocate for criminal justice reform and has shared his experiences through writing and public speaking.