Wrongful Conviction Podcasts

On September 17, 2007, two men broke into a home in Detroit, MI and fatally shot four people. 14 year old Davontae Sanford, who lived nearby, went outside in his pajamas to see the commotion. Police approached Davontae and brought him back to the station where he was interrogated for two days without a parent or guardian present. The questioning ended when Davontae falsely confessed. Despite someone else taking responsibility for the crimes, Davontae was sentenced to 37 to 90 years in prison. As Co-Director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and co-host and writer of the award-winning Lava For Good podcast, Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions, Laura represents individuals who were wrongfully convicted when they were children or teenagers. To learn more about false confessions, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/false-confessions/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brothers, Dennis and Lee Horton, were having a pleasant Memorial Day in 1993 until they decided to visit their father in North Philadelphia and ran into a childhood friend, Robert Leaf. Unbeknownst to the Hortons, Robert Leaf had committed an armed robbery turned homicide earlier that day. Shortly after Robert joined the brothers in their car, police pulled them over. All three were arrested and tried for second degree murder. Robert Leaf's attorney used confusion among the witnesses about the identity of the shooter to win Leaf a lesser sentence, while the Hortons received life without the possibility of parole. After all appeals were denied on procedural grounds, they applied for commutation with the support of an up and coming politician named John Fetterman who was recently elected to the United States Senate for the state of Pennsylvania. To learn more and get involved, go to: https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1993, Herman Williams, a decorated member of the US Navy, was stationed in Waukegan, IL where he lived with his ex-wife, Penny, and their two children. On September 26, Penny’s deceased body was found in a shallow pond and Herman immediately became the sole suspect. Based on faulty forensic science as well as prosecutorial and questionable police conduct, Herman was sentenced to life in prison without parole. As Co-Director of the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern Pritzker School of Law, and co-host and writer of the award-winning Lava For Good podcast, Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions, Laura represents individuals who were wrongfully convicted when they were children or teenagers. To learn more and get involved, visit: www.mightycause.com/story/Hermanwilliams Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 29, 2007, six undocumented immigrants from El Salvador were living in a trailer in Slidell, LA when they were robbed at gunpoint. The robbery went awry and Jose Carlos Matinez-Carpio was shot and killed. Two men were arrested for the killing and one of the men, Edric Cooper, implicated Jace Washington in an effort to earn leniency from the state. Jace had no prior criminal record, and no physical or forensic evidence pointed to him. Nevertheless, Jace Washington was convicted and sentenced to 25 years in prison. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On January 7, 2002, Heidi Fero was taking care of 15 month old Brynn and her 4.5 year old brother, Kaed, along with her own two similarly aged children. That evening, Heidi called the children’s father, reporting that Kaed physically hurt Brynn by pushing her head against the wall. Within hours, Brynn was unresponsive and Heidi called 911. Brynn survived, but she will forever require a caregiver from the injuries she endured. Heidi was ultimately prosecuted and convicted for first degree assault of a child, and sentenced to 15 years in prison. In 2007, as an American college student abroad in Italy, Amanda was accused of murdering her roommate. After an 8-year trial and 4 years in an Italian prison, Italy’s highest court ultimately exonerated Amanda. She has since become an advocate for criminal justice reform and media ethics. Amanda is also a journalist, public speaker, author, and co-host, with her partner Christopher Robinson, of the podcast Labyrinths. Amanda’s personal experience has led her to become a fierce advocate for wrongfully convicted women – and the same goes for Heidi. Heidi and Amanda met at an Innocence Network Conference years ago, and they have remained friends since. Separately and together, their advocacy work is largely driven by the importance of highlighting female wrongful convictions, and, as in Heidi’s case, the fact that the majority of wrongfully convicted women were – and are – incarcerated for crimes that never even happened. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://wainnocenceproject.org/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Early on the morning of August 11, 1979, an intruder broke into a Manchester, GA home to find a 74-year-old woman asleep on her couch. The man beat and sexually assaulted the woman and then demanded all her money. She gave the attacker cash from her purse and then he left through the back door. The victim was taken to a local hospital for treatment, but no rape kit was collected due to the extent of her injuries. At the victim’s house, Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) crime scene investigators collected pubic hairs from a bed sheet that had been on the couch at the time of the rape. Police then created a composite sketch of the attacker from the victim’s description, and a GBI agent who was investigating John Jerome White on another charge thought he resembled the sketch. White was convicted on May 30, 1980 of rape, assault, burglary, and robbery. To learn more about the junk science of hair microscopy evidence: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/152-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-hair-microscopy-evidence/ To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.ajc.com/news/local/from-2007-snapshot-eyewitness-mistake/TxDolwbHy82ba4w1eefq8H/ https://www.georgiainnocenceproject.org/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In March of 1987, a female University of Alabama student was returning to her apartment in Tuscaloosa, AL, when she was attacked by a masked man who raped her and stole her car keys and bank card. The woman’s abandoned car was later located, and a witness reported seeing a man emerge from it some time earlier. This witness’s singular identification of 23 year old Jeffrey Holemon, who had been in jail on an unrelated, nonviolent charge, led to Jeffrey’s conviction and life sentence. Beth is an award-winning journalist and writer based in Birmingham, AL. Her work has been published by The Los Angeles Times, The Bitter Southerner, The Daily Beast and Facing South. Beth was a 2019 Writing for Justice Fellow with Pen America and has done extensive reporting on Alabama prisons. Before her focus on criminal justice issues, she spent 20 years working as a TV news anchor and reporter. Beth and Jeffrey had never met before, but with Beth’s connection to Alabama, Beth found Jeffrey’s case and was immediately taken. Beth found it remarkable that the DNA evidence from Jeffrey’s appeals was a result of his own pro se litigation efforts. Litigation filed pro se, or ‘on one’s own behalf,’ is often discounted by courts, and it is an incredible accomplishment for an individual to gain any traction as a result of pro se motions. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.kairosprisonministry.org/kairos-inside-prison-ministry.php This episode is part of a special series in our Wrongful Conviction podcast feed of 15 episodes focused on individual cases of wrongful incarceration, guest hosted by formerly incarcerated returning citizens and leading criminal justice advocates, award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 10, 1994, Wendell Scott Simpson was found dead in his car on Kilmer Street in Dayton, OH. Shortly after police arrived, they encountered 16 year old Raymond Allen Warren who also lived on Kilmer street. Warren told the police that he and his friends Antonio Johnson and Chante Hunt saw Simpson looking to buy drugs earlier that day. Police later questioned Johnson and Hunt who were both pressured into testifying that Warren was the shooter. By relying on the testimony of 2 minors and a questionable gunshot residue test, the state convicted Warren of one count of murder and sentenced him to life in prison. To learn more about the junk science of gunshot residue evidence: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/161-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-gunshot-residue-evidence/ To learn more and get involved, visit: https://linktr.ee/FreeRaymondAllanWarren Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 18, 1974, a 19 year old woman was found raped and beaten to death in Tampa, FL. Police focused on 18 year old Robert DuBoise who allegedly “caused problems” in the area. Dr. Richard Souviron, a forensic odontologist, matched Robert’s teeth to a supposed bite mark on the victim’s cheek using bite mark analysis techniques that have since been discredited. Based on the supposed dental match, Robert was ultimately sentenced to death. Gilbert King is the writer and host of the Lava For Good podcast, Bone Valley. He is also a New York Times bestseller and Pulitzer Prize winning author of the book Devil in the Grove. Gilbert has written about race, civil rights, and the death penalty for The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Atlantic, and The Marshall Project. While in Florida working on the Lava for Good podcast Bone Valley, Gilbert learned of Robert’s exoneration, which moved and inspired Gilbert to continue the fight for other innocent individuals. Robert and Leo Schofield, the subject of Bone Valley, were incarcerated together in the same Florida facility. In this episode, Gilbert and Robert connect over their ties to the Tampa area and the Florida criminal justice system. To learn more about the junk science of bite mark evidence, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/145-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-bite-mark-evidence/ To learn more and get involved, visit: https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/help-fix-floridas-compensation-law/ This episode is part of a special series in our Wrongful Conviction podcast feed of 15 episodes focused on individual cases of wrongful incarceration, guest hosted by formerly incarcerated returning citizens and leading criminal justice advocates, award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On March 18, 1997, two men exited a minivan and walked into the lobby of a bank in St. Louis, MO wearing ski masks and armed with semi-automatic rifles. Shots were fired and a security guard, Richard Heflin, was shot and fatally wounded. Billie Allen, aged 19, was arrested at about 2am the next morning and taken to police headquarters where he remained in an interrogation room, handcuffed to a table, for the next several hours. Later that morning, he was positively identified in a line-up by two forestry workers who had come across an individual in the woods. According to the police, after being told of these identifications, Billie Allen said he wanted to discuss the robbery, recanted his request for a lawyer and made statements incriminating himself in the murder. Billie Allen was charged with committing an armed bank robbery and using a firearm to commit a crime of violence. He was convicted on both counts and sentenced to death. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://linktr.ee/freebillieallen Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 20, 1991, 24-year-old Tae Jung Ho was robbed and shot to death while walking with a friend in Philadelphia, PA. A coincidence involving a rental car and license plate number led to Chester Hollman III being stopped by police and arrested. Chester was convicted of second-degree murder and robbery and sentenced to life without parole. In 1991, Jimmy was only 21 years old when he was wrongfully convicted of a gruesome murder committed in broad daylight in North Philadelphia, PA. Jimmy was sent to death row. With no physical evidence, DNA, or a weapon, the musician spent 25 years in prison and was finally exonerated in 2017. Despite overlaps in their cases, Jimmy and Chester met after they were exonerated. Jimmy set up a conference to campaign for DA Larry Krasner, and he invited all Philadelphia exonerees. There, he met Chester, who immediately told Jimmy he knew him and listened to all of his music. Chester and Jimmy became friends, and bonded over the fact that the same prosecutor, Roger King, was central in sending them both to prison for crimes they did not commit. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://krasnerforda.com https://painnocence.orgInnocence Files Episode: https://www.netflix.com/watch/80214635 This episode is part of a special series in our Wrongful Conviction podcast feed of 15 episodes focused on individual cases of wrongful incarceration, guest hosted by formerly incarcerated returning citizens and leading criminal justice advocates, award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 27, 1992, Bernard Jiminez, along with his wife, Kimberly Belinsky, and three children were robbed at gunpoint in a neighborhood in Gary, Indiana. Bernard and the gunman struggled and Bernard was fatally shot. Belinsky selected 23-year-old Willie “Timmy” Donald out of a photo lineup believing he was the gunman. Another woman who was robbed in her home that same day selected Donald as well. Both women described their robbers similarly, they mentioned that the man had a severely scarred complexion, while Donald had no acne or other scars on his face. At the time of the robberies, Donald was car shopping with his sister and her partner. They both testified as to Donald’s whereabouts that day as did the car salesmen. With no physical or forensic evidence tying Donald to the crime, he was still charged and convicted of first-degree murder and two counts of armed robbery, and sentenced to 60 years in prison. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.pnw.edu/college-of-humanities-education-social-sciences/exoneration-coalition/https://www.gofundme.com/f/righting-the-wrong-of-a-wrongful-convictionhttps://www.pnw.edu/giving/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In April 1989, a drive-by shooting in San Francisco, CA, left at least 11 people injured, and 2 people dead. Despite the lack of physical or forensic evidence, Caramad Conley was convicted of conspiracy to commit first degree murder, two counts of first degree murder, and eleven counts of attempted murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole on the strength of one man’s testimony, William Polk. Earlonne is a podcaster and author, best known for co-hosting and co-founding the podcast Ear Hustle. Woods helped create Ear Hustle while incarcerated at San Quentin State Prison. In November 2018, Earlonne’s sentence was commuted by California Governor Jerry Brown. In 2020, he and his Ear Hustle co-hosts were finalists for a Pulitzer Prize for Audio Reporting. After Caramad's exoneration, and while Earlonne was still serving his sentence at San Quentin, Caramad visited the prison and he and Earlonne met in the media center. They began talking, became friends, and remained close since Earlonne's release. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.caramadc.com/ This episode is part of a special series in our Wrongful Conviction podcast feed of 15 episodes focused on individual cases of wrongful incarceration, guest hosted by formerly incarcerated returning citizens and leading criminal justice advocates, award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 9th, 1990 at 12:10am, police responded to shots being fired at a housing project in Brooklyn, New York. They ended up arresting 23 year old Terence Rice, a man who lived next door to the scene and who was making a call at a payphone in the midst of the chaos. They claimed that Terence was shooting at them, as well as at other things and people, from an apartment window two stories up. Contrary to the policemen’s testimonies, there is no evidence that this shootout actually took place – Terence did not have a weapon on him, officers could not agree on which weapon the alleged shooter was using, and there were no bullet marks or shell casings anywhere near the window from which the shots were supposedly fired. Despite several witnesses willing to corroborate his alibi, Terence was convicted for attempted murder and sentenced to 75 years in prison. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.change.org/p/demand-the-reversal-of-the-unjust-conviction-of-terence-rice-and-order-a-fair-trial-immediately Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On December 9, 2001, Michael Peterson, an acclaimed novelist and one-time mayoral candidate, found his wife Kathleen dead at the bottom of their staircase in Raleigh-Durham, NC. Primarily due to the junk science of blood splatter analysis, Peterson was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. David and Sonya are a criminal defense duo who fight for victims of injustice, misconduct and faults of the system. Their podcast, Abuse of Power, dissects how law enforcement and the justice system have failed those they are meant to protect. David was Michael's first lawyer on the case involving the death of his wife, and he still is to this day. David notably appeared in the documentary, The Staircase, as Michael's lawyer. Sonya covered the case as a television reporter in Raleigh-Durham, and has been following the story since the beginning. David and Sonya have supported and advocated for Michael throughout his entire wrongful conviction experience. This episode is one of Michael’s very few recent press appearances, and Wrongful Conviction is the first ever podcast to have Michael Peterson as a guest. To learn more about the junk science of bite mark evidence: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/145-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-bite-mark-evidence/ To listen to the Abuse of Power podcast, visit: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/abuse-of-power-with-david-rudolf-and-sonya-pfeiffer/id1521477945 This episode is part of a special series in our Wrongful Conviction podcast feed of 15 episodes focused on individual cases of wrongful incarceration, guest hosted by formerly incarcerated returning citizens and leading criminal justice advocates, award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 10, 2002, Victor Vulcain was shot and killed in broad daylight in front of 201 Linden Blvd. Brooklyn, NY. There were several witnesses, each of whom provided a version of events to police that stood in conflict with the other witnesses; not even their descriptions of the shooter matched. No murder weapon was ever recovered, and no DNA evidence connected Gary to the murder. Yet and still, Gary was convicted of second degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.change.org/p/justice-for-gary-benloss https://www.freegarybenloss.com/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 7, 1988, joggers discovered the body of 35 year old Robert Mejia on a running trail in the woods behind his apartment complex in Pontiac, MI. Mejia had been stabbed to death. Primarily due to the junk science of bite mark evidence, Gilbert Poole was convicted of first-degree murder, and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. With 20 years of expertise in criminal justice, Chris Fabricant leads the Innocence Project’s Strategic Litigation Department as the Joseph Flom Special Counsel and Director of Strategic Litigation. His knowledge of forensic sciences drives his work’s focus on the intersection of science, law reform and social justice. Chris learned about Gilbert's case when he and Marla Mitchell-Cichon, Gilbert's attorney, discussed the bite mark junk science that sent him to prison. Then, at the 2022 Innocence Network Conference in Phoenix, Arizona, Chris listened to Gilbert speak about his case and experience. To learn more about the junk science of bite mark evidence: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/145-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-bite-mark-evidence/ http://www.akashicbooks.com/catalog/junk-science/ To get involved, visit: https://www.cooley.edu/alumni/help-our-students?hsCtaTracking=4ff403ba-26dd-4fdf-80fe-1990814d3858%7C959d4c89-aa90-400a-a2a7-6c2bc608119f This episode is part of a special series in our Wrongful Conviction podcast feed of 15 episodes focused on individual cases of wrongful incarceration, guest hosted by formerly incarcerated returning citizens and leading criminal justice advocates, award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 6, 1996, three men dressed in black fled in a white car after robbing and murdering George Bryant and Oscar Bridges at Bryant’s home in Kansas City, MO. Bryant’s 4 year old daughter was present and survived unharmed. Bryant’s daughter told police she was watching TV when men came to the house in a white car. Her father let them in and while they were in the kitchen, she heard a gunshot. She said her dad fell and tried to run but was shot again. Police received numerous anonymous calls that named 10 men as suspects, including Ricky Kidd. Detectives conducted a questionable interview of the 4 year old girl where she identified Kidd as one of the killers after some strong suggestions were made to the impressionable little girl. Ricky was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without parole. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://linktr.ee/IAR Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On January 10, 1998, a 60-year-old woman was robbed and sexually assaulted in her home in Violet, LA. Upon his arrest, Ulysses Pierre implicated his cousin, Jarvis Ballard, in the crime. After severe abuse from detectives, Ballard produced a confession and was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole for aggravated rape. Patrick was wrongfully convicted for a 1993 murder in Rockford, IL, for which he spent nearly 24 years in prison. Remarkably, he ended up writing the law that set him free. Patrick and Jarvis met for the first time in person at the 2022 Innocence Network Conference in Phoenix, Arizona. Their shared experience of mistreatment by the criminal justice system gave them a lot to talk about. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://ip-no.org/what-we-do/free-innocent-prisoners/client-profiles/jarvis-ballard/ https://www.gofundme.com/f/jarvis-ballard-freedom-fund This episode is part of a special series in our Wrongful Conviction podcast feed of 15 episodes focused on individual cases of wrongful incarceration, guest hosted by formerly incarcerated returning citizens and leading criminal justice advocates, award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 25, 1990, a 10 year old girl was allegedly abducted from her backyard in Columbus, OH. She said that a man grabbed her, pulled her over a fence, tied a sock around her eyes and put her in his car. He then drove to a nearby abandoned house, took her inside and sexually assaulted her on a couch. Afterward, the man took the girl in his car to a convenience store and went inside. While he was inside, the girl jumped from the car and ran home. She told her mother about the attack the next day when her mother noticed that she was acting strangely. According to the mother, the girl said at this time that her biological father, 34 year old Robert McClendon, had abducted and assaulted her the previous day. Based largely on the testimony of the 10 year old girl, McClendon was convicted of kidnapping and rape and sentenced to 15 years in prison. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Author Gilbert King receives a message from a Florida judge who claims that there is an innocent man in prison, wrongly convicted of murdering his wife back in 1987. King and researcher Kelsey Decker meet Leo Schofield in prison and learn about the disappearance of 18 year-old Michelle Schofield. Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 4, 2002, two men shot and killed 36-year-old Tony Cox outside a restaurant in Chicago, IL. Suspecting the murder was gang-related, police arrested Eric Blackmon. After claiming Blackmon was selected from a lineup by eyewitnesses, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to 60 years in prison. Guest Host Patrick Pursley was wrongfully convicted for a 1993 murder in Rockford, IL, for which he spent nearly 24 years in prison. Remarkably, he ended up writing the law that set him free. Patrick and Eric spent over a decade together in Stateville Correctional Center in Cook County, Illinois. They both learned the law and represented themselves before being granted their freedom. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/exonerations/eric-blackmon.html https://www.macarthurjustice.org/team_member/eric-blackmon/ https://www.thejri.org/bod https://www.chicagotorturejustice.org/board-of-directors This episode is part of a special series in our Wrongful Conviction podcast feed of 15 episodes focused on individual cases of wrongful incarceration, guest hosted by formerly incarcerated returning citizens and leading criminal justice advocates, award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 25 1986, a 25 year old woman was attacked as she walked to a bus stop in Decatur, GA. The assailant approached her, hit her in the face, and sexually assaulted her. He stole her wristwatch, money, and broke two of her front teeth. Police were led to Clarence Harrison because he lived near the site of the assault and neighbors told police that they heard someone at his house had a watch they were trying to sell. But Clarence had an alibi. He was at a neighbor’s house playing poker all night. And when police searched Clarence’s home, they didn’t find the victim’s watch. But once the victim identified Clarence as her attacker, he was charged and ultimately convicted of rape and robbery, and sentenced to life in prison plus 40 years. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/support-for-clarence-harrison?qid=f27b687752463c4887b50165f7b66c35 Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1987, 21-year-old guitarist Leo Schofield was pursuing his rockstar dreams when his teenage wife Michelle was found dead in a phosphate mining pit in Lakeland, Florida. Two years later, Leo was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the murder he has always denied. Fifteen years after Leo’s conviction, previously unidentified fingerprints from Michelle’s car matched Jeremy Scott—a troubled teen with an extensive history of violence who lived near the young couple at the time. Jeremy has now confessed to Michelle’s murder. Yet Leo Schofield remains behind bars. Bone Valley is a chilling story of murder and the miscarriage of justice. In his three-year investigation, host Gilbert King peels open the layers of this case and uncovers startling new evidence that Jeremy is responsible for yet another murder – his fourth – and one that has remained unsolved...until now. With heartrending clarity and suspense, Bone Valley exposes the catastrophic flaws in the American criminal justice system, documenting the story of these two men in their desperate search for truth and redemption. This groundbreaking true crime podcast series returns King to central Florida, where his Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove led to the exonerations of the Groveland Four. https://lavaforgood.com/bone-valley/ Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On January 13, 1994, two men hijacked the car of three travelers at a gas station in Chicago, IL, killing Reginald Wilson and Felicia Lewis. Carl Williams was implicated in the crime by the two hijackers and eventually produced a confession after hours of abuse and coercion from detectives. Williams was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. Patrick speaks with Carl Williams, and Attorney Karl Leonard, from the Exoneration Project at the University of Chicago Law School. To learn about and support Carl Williams, visit: https://www.royalmensolutions.com/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1987, 18-year-old Michelle Schofield was found dead in a phosphate pit in Florida. Two years later, her husband Leo was convicted and sentenced to life in prison.Fifteen years later, previously unidentified fingerprints matched Jeremy Scott--a violent teenager who lived nearby. Jeremy has since confessed to Michelle’s murder. Yet Leo Schofield remains behind bars.In Bone Valley, a groundbreaking 9-episode podcast, host Gilbert King uncovers startling new evidence that Jeremy is responsible for a string of murders.King is the author of the Pulitzer Prize-winning book, Devil in the Grove, which led to the exonerations of four innocent men.Bone Valley will be available every Wednesday beginning September 21 wherever you get your podcasts.Bone Valley is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

On November 28, 2002, 94-year-old Helen Sailor spent Thanksgiving with her family before returning to her apartment at a high rise building for the elderly and disabled in Elkhart, Indiana. The next day, a health care provider found her strangled to death in her apartment. One of the detectives assigned to the case had a theory about another high rise resident, Lana Canen, and a string of previous burglaries at the building. Investigators coerced a friend of Lana Canen's to give a false statement, implicating Lana and another high rise resident, Andy Royer. After subjecting Royer to a lengthy and intense interrogation, investigators cobbled together a confession. Then, an untrained deputy fabricated a fingerprint match to corroborate both false statements. Lana and Andy were both sentenced to 55 years in prison. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/156-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-fingerprint-evidence/ http://www.elkhartcountyprosecutor.com/about-us/prosecuting-attorney https://www.southbendtribune.com/story/news/courts/2018/07/03/elkhart-county-prosecutor-asks-judge-to-silence-attorney/46341713/ https://twitter.com/elkhartpros?s=20&t=L4eZhRAZxf3eGOSG-036pg https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.

Lava For Good is proud to launch a new guest-hosted series in our Wrongful Conviction Podcast feed. Every week starting September 12, we will debut a special episode featuring a unique guest. These hosts range from the formerly incarcerated and leading criminal justice advocates to award-winning journalists and progressive influencers. Guest Hosts include:Amanda KnoxBeth ShelburneDavid Rudolf & Sonya PfeifferEarlonne WoodsGilbert KingJimmy DennisKemba SmithLaura NiriderLauren Bright PachecoPatrick PursleyThe guest hosted episodes of Wrongful Conviction will be available every Monday beginning September 12 right here in the Wrongful Conviction Podcasts feed. Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom will continue to publish on Thursdays. Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

On February 12th, 1990, a tragic accident occurred in which it is believed that Kathy Middleton mishandled a gun in her left hand, accidentally shooting herself one time in the head. The state turned this tragedy into a homicide investigation, sending her husband Ken Middleton to prison for life plus 200 years. In 2004, Ken had an opportunity to present to his motion trial court evidence of ineffective assistance of his counsel, as well as ballistics evidence that proved that the state's theory was impossible. Before the judge ruled, the state offered Ken freedom through an Alford plea, and he refused. Eventually, the judge granted him a new trial, but the state simply challenged that ruling on jurisdictional grounds, leaving Ken in prison ever since. A 2021 law now specifically grants that motion trial court the necessary jurisdiction, yet Ken and his family still await justice from prosecutor Jean Peters Baker. The altered GSR test document is linked here: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ca4rRsDLWaC/ To learn more and get involved, visit: http://www.free-kenmiddleton.com/ https://www.change.org/p/missouri-missouri-or-misery https://silvercreekentertainment.net/ https://twitter.com/TheNewsBreaker https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good Podcasts in association with Signal Co No1.

In early May of 1977, Keith Laborde and his 14 year old twin cousins, Karen and Sharon Sanders, allegedly picked up a hitchhiking black man at a gas station in Avoyelles Parish, Louisiana. About 2 weeks later, when asked about a scratch on his neck, Keith Laborde and the twins told a story about this armed hitchhiker who allegedly forced Laborde into the trunk and raped both girls. Despite not matching the description, a man with a few petty priors, Vincent Simmons, was arrested, put into a suggestive line up, and ultimately selected. When he refused to confess, police officer Robert Laborde shot him in the chest. Vincent survived, but only to have ALL discovery withheld by the state including the medical examination that proved that Sharon Sander's could not have been raped. Simmons was convicted of two counts of attempted aggravated rape of the twin teenage sisters and given a 100-year prison sentence. To learn more and get involved: https://www.change.org/p/vincent-simmons-is-innocent-and-has-been-imprisoned-in-louisiana-since-1977 https://wrongfullyconvicted.info/vincent-simmons/ The Farm: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=odx9NEHc17M Shadows of Doubt: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=98lCNnEnxno https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

James King has been sitting in prison for almost 25 years for a rape that he adamantly maintains he did not commit. His conviction strongly relied on the inconsistent and contradictory word of a then 13-year old girl who was allegedly hiding her inappropriate relationship with a neighbor twice her age. Despite the lack of material evidence, changed testimonies for the prosecution, and the credible rebuttal of the state’s expert’s absurd findings, King remains incarcerated, desperately working to establish his innocence. Jason speaks with James King and his attorney, Ian Graham. Learn more and get involved at: https://www.change.org/p/gavin-newsom-free-james-eddie-king https://www.wrongfulconvictionpodcast.com/with-jason-flom Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

When Tammy Poole and her husband Michael Poole argued, Tammy says that Michael would threaten to commit suicide. Then on April 22, 2007, in their hometown of Chatsworth, GA, a rifle took Michael’s life. While Tammy adamantly claims that her husband tragically shot himself in front of her, a single declaration from a pathologist led investigators to theorize that Tammy actually pulled the trigger. Despite numerous experts proving this pathologist wrong, and countless examples of an unfair trial with ineffective assistance, Tammy has been serving a life sentence in prison since 2008. Maggie speaks with Tammy Poole, Shanacy Densmore, Tammy’s daughter and Brandon Bullard, Tammy’s attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.change.org/p/the-state-of-georgia-release-tammy-from-years-of-wrongful-imprisonment Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

At about 9:40 AM on March 19th, 2010, John Jones awoke to find his daughter Jada unresponsive and called 9-1-1. She was rushed to the hospital where she remained until July 16th, 2010 when she was removed from life support and passed away. Based on the junk science of shaken baby syndrome, John was convicted of murdering his daughter and sentenced to 15 years to life. Greg Glod, Criminal Justice Fellow at Americans for Prosperity, returns to our podcast to co-host with Jason Flom and share this tragic example of our legal system gone awry. For more on the junk science of Shaken Baby Syndrome, check out Wrongful Conviction: Junk Science - Shaken Baby Syndrome with host Josh Dubin, released on November 18th, 2020. https://www.wrongfulconvictionpodcast.com/podcast/s12e14-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-shaken-baby-syndrome Learn more and get involved at: https://www.ohioinnocenceproject.org https://cifsjustice.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

In October 2007, 42 year old Rhoni Reuter was shot and killed in her Chicago, IL apartment. She was 7 months pregnant by her boyfriend, Shaun Gayle. Gayle, a Chicago Bears 1985 Super Bowl winner, allegedly had 17 other girlfriends at the time. Marni Yang was one of them, and police began looking into her and her son as suspects. In an attempt to protect her son, Marni confessed to the crime. While she adamantly declares the confession was false, this, along with other circumstantial and potentially outright false evidence, led to Marni’s conviction and life without parole sentence. Maggie speaks to Marni Yang, her daughter Emily Yang and her attorney, Jed Stone. To learn more and get involved, visit:https://www.amazon.com/My-Mom-Marni-Andrew-Yang/dp/1949809129To learn more about false confessions, listen to Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions:https://lavaforgood.com/false-confessions/Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

In 1977, Arthur Samson was shot in the stomach and stabbed approximately 100 times inside his New Orleans, LA antique store. The store was ransacked, and the safe was missing about $2,000. A month later police stopped 2 men and Bobbie Jean Johnson for a traffic violation in a stolen car. At the time Johnson was not a suspect, but police were on the lookout for a .32 caliber revolver. They found one in Bobbie Jean’s purse. She endured a violent interrogation that resulted in a tape recorded confession riddled with inconsistencies. One of the men that had been in the car with Bobbie Jean told police that he had slipped the gun into her purse while they were being pulled over, but his statement was both ignored by the prosecution and hidden from the defense. Nevertheless, Bobbie Jean Johnson was convicted of 1st degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. Jason was joined by Bobbie Jean Johnson and Cat Forrester of the Innocence Project New Orleans at the 2019 Innocence Network Conference in Atlanta, GA.To learn more and get involved, visit:https://ip-no.org/support/donate/ https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

In the evening of April 21, 1990, two masked gunmen shot and killed 27 year old Michael Wilson while he was walking with a friend on a Washington D.C. street. The Wilson murder went unsolved for years until police offered deals to jailhouse informants which included reduced jail time, cash payments and free housing in exchange for their testimony in over 3 dozen cases that included the Michael Wilson case. The informants implicated Troy Burner and three other men at the Wilson shooting. Despite the informants’ inconsistent and double hearsay testimony, Burner and the other three men were tried and convicted of first degree murder with Burner receiving 30 years to life. Maggie speaks to Troy Burner, his wife, Cherie, and his attorney, Frances Walters.Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

On June 28, 1997, 25-year-old member of the Lil Watts gang, Antonio Alarcon, was killed in a drive-by shooting in Hawthorne, California, by a rival gang, Lawndale 13. In exchange for release on unrelated charges, Santo “Payaso” Alvarez deflected attention for the Alarcon shooting toward fellow Lawndale 13 members Eduardo Dumbrique and John Klene, when he knew who the actual shooter was. Witness Daniel Curiel testified that after he was not able to make an identification in a photo lineup, Sergeant Doral Riggs pointed to the photos of Eduardo and John, convincing him to make the ID. However, Eduardo and John's alibis were corroborated by many friends and neighbors. Additionally, the actual shooter reached out to Eduardo’s family to confess to the murder. Regardless of the alibis, the confession, and the lack of physical or forensic evidence, Eduardo and John were convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.To learn more and get involved, visit:http://www.innocencematters.org/ https://www.instagram.com/johnklene_free/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/022-jason-flom-with-kristine-bunch-and-obie-anthony-live-from-the-innocence-network-conference-2017/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/181-jason-flom-with-danny-rincon/ https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

In May of 1992, Sylvia Boykin and Bernetta Pope were struggling with substance addiction. Pope owed Boykin money who, in turn, owed money to two younger men. So Boykin and the men went to the house where Pope stayed in Philadelphia, PA to collect the drug debt. Boykin went inside alone but when she returned empty handed, the men went in with guns. An argument ensued, shots were fired, and Pope was killed. Since Boykin was unarmed, she should have been considered a witness. Nevertheless, she was arrested, convicted of first degree murder and sent to prison for life. Maggie speaks to Sylvia Boykin, Jill McCorkel, Boykin's advocate, and Boykin's daughter Pennie Oliver.To learn more and get involved, visit:https://freesylviaboykin.com/Contact.htmlWrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

On October 3, 1993, 21-year-old Marvin McCloud was leaving an after-hours club in Anderson, Indiana, when he was shot and killed in his car by two gunmen, Romeo Lee and Khaidi Harvell, who drove off in Romeo's half brother Walter Goudy's car. Months later, Walter Goudy went to that after-hours club in the same car, and the police brought him in for a one-person show up in which a passenger in the car, Jill Barclay, identified Walter, mistaking him for Romeo. Initially, Walter was charged with murder and attempted murder, but the charges were dropped after 16 alibi witnesses placed Walter over 40 miles away at the time of the incident. Later that year, the lead detective Rodney Cummings was elected county prosecutor and re-indicted Walter. Regardless of the fact that Romeo Lee confessed, naming himself and Khaidi Harvell, who was also identified separately, Walter was still prosecuted, convicted, and sentenced to 110 years in prison.To learn more and get involved, visit:https://www.facebook.com/finao.goudyhttps://www.instagram.com/myfinao1/https://www.liveme.com/us/v/16495389031874715923/index.html?f=liveOMGhttps://www.civilrightsdefenders.com/https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

On the morning of July 30, 2002, Karen Boes left her Zeeland, Michigan home to meet a friend and go shopping while her 14 year old daughter Robin was home in her bedroom. Less than an hour after leaving home, she received a call that her house was on fire. Robin was killed in the fire, and the fire was declared an arson homicide largely based on the junk science of ‘fire damage patterns’ as determined by an arson Investigator. Michigan State Police charged Boes with Robin’s death after almost 10 hours of non-stop interrogation which ultimately ended with Boes apparently confessing despite stating her innocence throughout the interrogation. Boes was convicted and sentenced to life in prison where she has maintained her innocence. Maggie speaks to Karen Boes, Boes’ attorney David Moran, and Boes’ friend Judy. To learn more and get involved, visit:https://freekarenboes.com/ To learn more about the junk science of arson evidence, listen to:https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/149-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-arson-evidence/ To learn more about the junk science of coerced confession evidence, listen to:https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/165-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-coerced-confession-evidence/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

On May 31, 1985, Julie Bonds McCrory was found beaten to death in her home in Andalusia, Alabama. Julie’s husband, Charles McCrory, quickly became the main suspect. Forensic Dentist, Dr. Richard Souviron, testified that an alleged bite mark on Julie’s body was made by Charles. Regardless of Charles’ alibi and another similar crime committed by a more compelling suspect, the prosecution built their case around Charles and sentenced him to life in prison. Years later, Dr Souviron recanted his testimony. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://innocenceproject.org/charles-mccrory-innocent-incarcerated-35-years-in-alabama/#:~:text=In%201985%2C%20Innocence%20Project%20and,Julie%20Bonds%20in%20Andalusia%2C%20Alabama. https://www.schr.org/ https://www.amazon.com/Science-American-Criminal-Justice-System/dp/1636140300 https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/145-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-bite-mark-evidence/ https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

In the late night of May 19, 2005, a Molotov cocktail was thrown into a Detroit, MI home, killing two children – a 20 month old girl and a 10 year old boy. One of the victims’ siblings led police to 19 year old Kenneth Nixon. Despite very inconsistent eyewitness testimony from the child, Nixon was convicted with the help of a prosecutor’s deal with a jailhouse informant and some unscrupulous prosecutorial methods. Maggie speaks to Kenneth Nixon, Nixon’s mother Tracy Nixon, and his attorney David Williams. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://fundly.com/organization-of-exonerees Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

2 year old Nicki Bowman had a history of respiratory issues that were raging in late January 2002 for which she was prescribed a drug that is now known to cause fatal respiratory depression in children. On January 31, 2002, her father, Robert Roberson, awoke to her cry and found Nicki on the floor at their home in Palestine, Texas, and after a while, they again both fell asleep. Robert later awoke to find Nicki unresponsive and turning blue, and immediately, took her to the hospital. Nicki was found to have a minor bump on the back of her head that could not account for severe internal issues - the triad of findings typically associated with Shaken Baby Syndrome. After voluntarily speaking with medical personnel and the police, Roberson was assumed to have murdered Nicki when he claimed that he “shook” her upon finding her unresponsive. The state cast unfounded aspersion of sexual assault, and Robert was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to death by lethal injection. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://justiceforroberson.com/ To write Robert: Robert Roberson TDCJ 999442 Polunsky Unit 3872 FM 350 South Livingston, TX 77351 Wrongful Conviction: Junk Science: Shaken Baby Syndrome: https://podcasts.apple.com/fm/podcast/172-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-shaken-baby-syndrome/id1151670380?i=1000499117776 https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

SuaveThe Sentence (Episode #1)“The very last word she said was ‘You can become a voice for the voiceless.’ And I was just like, ‘Damn, why am I letting this lady mess up my high?’”We meet Suave, a man who has been serving a life sentence at a Pennsylvania maximum-security prison since he was a teenager. And we learn about his decades-long relationship as a source with journalist Maria Hinojosa. Suave has come to terms with the fact that he will never leave the confines of Graterford prison. That is until a Supreme Court ruling suddenly grants him a second chance to fight for his freedom.For all episodes, click here.CREDITSFrom Futuro Studios, a division of Futuro MediaDistributed by PRXExecutive Producer: Maria HinojosaHost and Producer Maggie FrelengProducer: Julieta MartinelliEditors Marlon Bishop, Audrey QuinnEngineer: Stephanie Lebow Audience Development: Luis Luna, Grace Varela

On September 26th, 1989, Kevin Jones and Arthur Sanders went to an apartment with $40,000 to buy cocaine, while the owner of the apartment, Troy Coleman, was 60 miles away in Atlantic City. Sanders waited down the block, while Jones drove up to the apartment alone and went missing. Troy heard that the Jones family was looking for him and fled to California. Over 2 months after Jones' disappearance, he was found beaten, bound, and shot, in the trunk of his car. Despite knowing of Troy's whereabouts between the abduction and when the body was found, the state coerced testimony that they knew to be false in order to charge him anyway. Coleman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison where he has been for over 32 years. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

In 2002, 15 year old Alisha Burns ran away from her foster home with Steven Kaczmarek, a sex trafficker who then groomed her to act as a prostitute for wealthy-looking men. On September 25, Burns was offered cash in exchange for sex iin Las Vegas, Nevada by Pedro Villareal. When they arrived at Villareal’s residence, Kaczmarek and his friend “Tommy” attacked Villareal in an attempt to rob him. Villareal was later found dead in the same room. Burns and Kaczmarek were arrested, and in highly unusual fashion Burns was allowed contact with Kaczmarek while in the custody of the police. During their conversations, he coerced her into accepting a guilty plea. She plead guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years. Maggie speaks to Alisha Burns, Kelly Diane Galloway- an Advocate from Project Mona's House, and Burns’ attorney, Tony Abbatangelo. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/SupportAlishaBurns Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

On October 13, 1991, Amy Moore, a nine year old with intellectual limitations, complained to her babysitter that her father, Howard Dudley, was "nasty," kicking off a series of sexually charged leading questions resulting in sexual abuse allegations. Dudley denied the claims, and after nine interviews, Amy's story grew increasingly inconsistent and implausible. However, in order to do a fuller investigation, the Lenoir County Department of Social Services had to substantiate Amy's claims, triggering the police to seek an indictment. Based on a testimony that Amy later recanted, Dudley was convicted of first-degree sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with a minor. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://law.duke.edu/wrongfulconvictions/ https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/216-jason-flom-with-james-king/id1151670380?i=1000530938343 https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

On February 2, 2002, Maria Medina notified her former partner, Karla Baday, that three of her children had accused Baday of sexually molesting them. Maria said the children claimed that Baday had assaulted them while Medina was at the grocery store near their home in Armona, CA. Baday denied all of the allegations. The children were taken in for a medical examination a month later where Nurse Georgeanne Greene concluded that their “injuries” were consistent with the allegations. It was later found that her testimony and examination were patently false. Based on the testimony of Nurse Greene and ineffective counsel, Karla was convicted of child molestation and sentenced to 45 years to life in prison. Maggie speaks to Karla Baday, Catherine Boyle, Karla’s attorney, and Dulce Baday, Karla’s sister. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://ncip.org/get-involved/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

Today we want to tell you about a new show from our friends at Voyage Media called Borderline. Hosted by Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds), it’s a true crime show with an incredible story that we think you will like. Here’s a trailer. If you like what you hear, you can find Borderline at borderlineseries.com or by searching Borderline anywhere you get podcasts. Enjoy.

On November 5, 1986, Scott Macklem was shot and killed in a parking lot at St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan. No one saw the shooter, but one witness caught a fleeting glimpse into a car leaving the lot. The victim’s alleged fiance, Crystal Merrill, identified Temujin Kensu as a suspect due to their previous relationship. However, Kensu was over 400 miles away at the time of the murder and had multiple independent alibi witnesses to confirm his location. Additionally, no physical evidence tied him to the crime, not even the fingerprints that were taken from the scene. The police staged a very suggestive photo lineup for the witness who chose Temujin. The prosecution crafted a narrative surrounding the fact that Kensu was an avid practitioner of martial arts and must have chartered a private plane to and from Port Huron to commit the crime. Kensu was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce2hsByszTD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link https://www.change.org/p/gretchen-whitmer-free-temujin-kensu-fka-fredrick-freeman If you have information about this case, contact Herb Welser: [email protected] or 810-326-1393 https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.