correction to the above for clarification.
Even Steve Branch’s mother believes Hobbs is probably guilty. And after years of declaring Echols and the others guilty, Mark Byers (step dad to Christopher Byers) has said he also know believes they are innocent.
I believe one of the kids’ stepfathers may be involved but I don’t think the other three that are incarcerated are completely innocent. I think they were involved but I don’t know that they had the ability to carry it out without someone leading them. Especially Misskelly and the other younger one. Echols seemed pretty cocky about the charges until he started getting raped in prison.