Little Rock - It has been 15 years since Damien Echols was sentenced to die for the murders of three 8-year-old boys in West Memphis.

He claims he and the other two convicted of the heinous killings have what they need to prove they are innocent. Surrounded by guards in Arkansas' only super-max prison, Damien Echols is shackled at the hands and feet.

(Damien Echols, Death Row Inmate) "Every single morning for the past 15 years I've had to wake up in a prison cell knowing I should have never been there in the first place. They took from me the entire decade of my 20's. I'm now in my 30's. They are taking my 30's. I've lost 15 Christmas', 15 Thanksgivings... my son has had to grow up without his father."

Treated as one of the most dangerous criminals in the state, Echols is one of only about 40 inmates on Arkansas' death row.

(Echols) "I can take exactly 4 steps from the back of the cell to the front of the cell. Everything is made out of concrete except for the door which is steel. ."

Now 15 years after being locked up, as he spends day in and day out in solitary confinement, Echols believes he is the closest he has ever been to getting a new trial.

(Echols) "Ever since the minute I was arrested 15 years ago, I've tried to tell them that I did not do this and they just weren't interested in listening. They said well that's what everyone says. And that's why for me the dna evidence is so important now because finally there is concrete forensic evidence that I can point to and say look I told you."

But it remains to be seen if the forensic evidence will help set him free. His case is now being appealed to the Arkansas Supreme Court which has previously upheld his conviction.

Echols was 18-years-old when he, his best friend, 16-year-old, Jason Baldwin, and an acquaintance, 17-year-old, Jessie Misskelly were arrested for the murders of three 8-year-old boys.

It was May 5th, 1993, when Chris Byers, Steve Branch and Michael Moore disappeared. They were last seen riding their bikes. The next day their lifeless bodies were found submerged in a drainage ditch in a wooded area near their homes in West Memphis, Arkansas. The second graders were naked and hog tied with their own shoelaces. All three had been murdered. An autopsy revealed Moore and Branch died of multiple injuries with drowning. The medical examiner revealed Moore and Branch died of multiple injuries with drowning. The medical examiner determined Chris Byers died before being put in the water and had been castrated with a sharp instrument.

It took one month, but on June 3rd 1993, police announced they had solved the case. Echols, Baldwin and Misskelly, now known around the world as the West Memphis three, were taken into custody.

Prosecutors would later tell jurors the murders were part of a satanic ritual. A  jury came back with a death sentence for Echols and life without parole for Baldwin. Misskelly who was tried separately and was sentenced to life plus 40 years.

(Pam Hobbs, Victim's Mother) “For years I thought they were punks. I said they did it. I couldn't wait for Damien to die. I did hate those three men. I hated them with a passion."

The death of Pam Hobb's son, Steve Branch is still fresh on her mind. As she visits her son's grave, she remembers his smiling face and his bright future that was cut short.

(Hobbs) "Stevie loved life, he loved people... he could have been the president or he could have worked in a gas station. Whatever he would have done I would have been proud of him. I was robbed that chance so I will never know."

What she wants to know is who really killed her son and his two friends?

(Hobbs) "Do I think Damien, Jason and Jessie done it? At one time, yes I really did believe in my heart. I had to believe in the justice system."

Now in light of new forensic tests and DNA evidence, she's not sure.

(Hobbs) "There wasn't a lot of evidence, to me, that would have been 100% proof, solid evidence that they did it.  I don't even know if they were involved. I'm not sure."

Dozens of articles from the crime scene were tested for DNA and late last year the results were made public.

(Echols) "They found dna at the crime scene 15 years ago, but they didn't have the ability to test it. Now they've tested it."

Echol's wife, Lorrie Davis, says the results prove the wrong men are behind bars.

(Lorri Davis, Echol's Wife) "There was absolutely no dna that matches any of the convicted that was found at the crime scene or anywhere associated with the victims."

The findings are spelled out in Echol's motion for a new trial which says: (page 45 of petition), none of the genetic material recovered at the scene was attributable to Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelly. Genetic material recovered from Steven Branch was contributed by a person other than any of the victims or defendants. A hair found in the ligature used to bind Michael More was consistent with Terry Hobbs, the stepfather of Steven Branch. And a hair recovered from a tree root or stump at the crime scene was consistent with the hair of one of Mr. Hobb's friends who had been with Hobbs on the day the crimes occurred.

We tried to talk to Terry Hobbs and his friend, but both declined to be interviewed. Hobbs would only tell us that he believes as he always has that Echols, Baldwin, and Misskelly are guilty.

But the tests results were enough to change the mind of Chris Byers' father, who early on was convinced the West Memphis three were responsible for his son's death. Now he believes they are innocent.

(Mark Byers, Victim's Father) "I want to see the West Memphis three set free as soon as possible. I believe this is going to be made right."

On Wednesday, hearings will resume for Balwin and Misskelly in Jonesboro. They claim they did not have adequate representation at their trials. The judge has issued a gag order in the case. More from Echols and forensic experts who dispute the state's theory Tuesday on nightside.

Click here to watch the KATV online documentary, 'WM3: Justice Served?'