Wrongful Conviction

No body, no bones, no motive. Just a decades long nightmare that has not ended.For the final episode of Season 2 Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin take us back to Ada, OK, for the second half of the story of Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot. When we left off last week, Tommy and Karl were sitting on death row, after police turned Tommy’s bad dream into a murder confession. This week, we hear about some serious twists in the case, from the discovery of the victim’s body to the revelation of hidden evidence that turned this case upside down.Laura and Steve update us on everything that’s happened since the 2018 Netflix series, The Innocent Man, told Tommy and Karl’s story. There’s been some very good news for one of them….and a breaking story that brings some hope for the other.Since this episode's original release, in January 2021, a District Judge vacated Tommy's conviction, yet he remained in prison while the state appealed. The state won, reinstating the conviction, and Tommy and his team are still fighting for his freedom. To learn more and get involved, visit: http://www.centeronwrongfulconvictions.org/ https://www.facebook.com/tommywardslegalteam/ Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 3, 2004, in Port Huron, MI, Terry Ceasor was at home alone with his girlfriend Cheryl’s 1 year old son, Brenden. Terry and Brenden had been playing a game that consisted of Terry chasing Brenden behind the couch when Terry briefly stepped away from the room to use the bathroom. After he left the room, Terry heard a loud thud and found Brenden unconscious on the living room floor. The medical professionals at the hospital believed that Brenden was a victim of Shaken Baby Syndrome and Terry was subsequently convicted of child abuse and sentenced to 2 to 15 years in prison. Jason talks to Terry Ceasor and Dave Moran, Terry's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://michigan.law.umich.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics/michigan-innocence-clinic-0 https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/269-jason-flom-with-temujin-kensu/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/172-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-shaken-baby-syndrome/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On New Year’s Eve in 1993, Hank Skinner fell asleep early on his couch after being rendered comatose from a cocktail of vodka, xanax and codeine. His girlfriend, Twila Busby, left for a party, and when she returned, she and her two sons were brutally murdered. Pampa, TX law enforcement knew Hank from previous charges and he was the sole survivor of the attack, so he soon became the prime suspect. Despite evidence that Hank was incapable of committing these murders, Hank faced 27 years on Texas death row. Hank was scheduled for execution in September of 2023, but tragically passed away in February of 2023 due to complications following a surgery for an aggressive brain tumor. At the time of Hank’s death, he and his team were still fiercely fighting for his innocence. Maggie talks to Hank Skinner, Sandrine Ageorges-Skinner, Hank's wife, and Rob Owen, Hank's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit:  https://justice4hank.org/and-now/ https://justice4hank.org/in-memoriam-hank-and-his-friends/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the evening of October 30, 1994, Marcus Boyd and Greg Elking were sitting on Marcus’s front porch in St. Louis, MO when two men, wearing ski masks and armed with guns, ambushed them and shot Marcus several times leading to his death. Police gathered that 20 year old Lamar Johnson may have had a conflict with Marcus, so Lamar became a prime suspect. Based on fabricated identifications and the word of a jailhouse snitch, Lamar was convicted and sentenced to life without parole. Lauren Bright Pacheco talks to Lamar Johnson and Lindsey Runnels, Lamar's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit:  https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-lamar-johnson-after-wrongful-conviction https://themip.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/288-jason-flom-with-ken-middleton-update/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/303-jason-flom-with-billie-allen/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y48Sqab0mEo Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1987, five elderly women passed away at a nursing home in Grand Rapids, MI. Gwen Graham and Cathy Wood both worked at this nursing home, and the pair had been in a brief relationship at the time. Months later, when Gwen broke up with Cathy and started seeing someone new, Cathy became angry and told her ex-husband that the five women did not die naturally, but that she and Gwen had smothered them as part of a lover’s pact that would bind them together for life. Shocked, he reported this to authorities, and two of the five bodies were exhumed. Despite there being zero signs of smothering, a medical examiner changed the manners of death from natural causes to homicide, and a seemingly made up story landed Gwen in prison for life. Maggie talks to Gwen Graham, Corina Hilton, Gwen's sister, and Elizabeth Cole, Gwen's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit:https://michigan.law.umich.edu/academics/experiential-learning/clinics/michigan-innocence-clinic-0 Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In November of 2001, in Sacramento, CA, four month old Nadia was declared brain dead after being rushed to the hospital the day prior. Nadia’s father, Zavion Johnson, eventually told authorities that he had dropped Nadia by accident when giving her a bath on November 24th and that she was unusually sleepy and ultimately stopped breathing following the accident. But authorities believed that Nadia died from Shaken Baby Syndrome and the prosecution presented three witnesses to attest to this in court. Despite the testimony of 13 character witnesses and a medical expert in his defense, Zavion was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to 25 years to life. Jason talks to Zavion Johnson and Paige Kaneb, Zavion's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/172-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-shaken-baby-syndrome/https://www.gofundme.com/f/zavionjohnson?utm_source=mediuum&utm_medium=organic&utm_campaign=ZavionJohnson Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In May 2001, Talalelei “TJ” Edwards, his wife and son were sharing an Anchorage, AK apartment with a woman named Melissa along with Melissa’s 1 year old son, Derrick. Talalelei often watched the boys on the days when other sitters were not available. On the morning of May 8, Derrick slept for a few hours until Talalelei noticed his odd breathing. Trained in child caregiving, Talalelei responded by blowing air on the child’s face, and performing CPR. When he did not respond, Talalelei took Derrick to the hospital. He passed away later that night. Based on the now discredited science of Shaken Baby Syndrome, Talalelei was sentenced to 20 years in prison. Maggie talks to Talalelei "TJ" Edwards, Salome Inoke, Talalelei's sister, and Bill Oberly, Talalelei's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit:https://www.paypal.com/donate/?hosted_button_id=NCZR8QNN6NVLS https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/172-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-shaken-baby-syndrome/  Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From an extremely young age, Amanda Busse endured severe physical and sexual abuse, not only by her father, but also by her father’s friends, who were all feared by much of the community as they were rumoured to control the local drug trade. After her mother passed, Amanda’s father sold her to a 36 year old acquaintance of his, to be his wife. Amanda was 17 at the time. On November 15, 1997, a local woman was found brutally murdered in the Meramec River in MO. Amanda’s father, husband, and 3 others were initially arrested and charged. Her father’s charges were dropped and her husband received a life without parole sentence. It wasn’t until 5 or 6 years later that Amanda’s brother implicated her in the crime, as revenge for Amanda reporting him for molesting their young nieces. Amanda was convicted, and ultimately sentenced to 25 years in prison. Maggie talks to Amanda Busse, Mary Payne, Amanda's aunt, and Anne Geraghty-Rathert, Amanda's attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit: http://www.willowprojectstl.org/contact.html Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 29, 2009, and into the following morning, James Richardson was out at The Other Place nightclub in Greenville, NC. James and another club goer exchanged words and were escorted out of the club. Shortly thereafter, a white BMW came barreling down the street, as someone in the car opened fire, killing two individuals standing outside of the club. None of the eyewitnesses identified James as the shooter, but police, prosecutors, and the media pursued him as the sole suspect. James was convicted and sentenced to serve two life sentences in prison. Maggie talks to James Richardson, Hibah Elawad, James’s fiancee, and Heather Rattelade and Dawn Blagrove, James’s attorneys.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://linktr.ee/freejamesrichardson https://change.org/freejamesrichardson https://FreeJamesRichardson.org Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In March 2000, Tami Vance and Leigh Stubbs completed a 60-day drug rehab program. Once discharged, their friend Kim Williams joined them and they went to Kim’s boyfriend’s house. He had been in a car accident and always had an ample supply of Oxycontin to manage his pain. Kim had stolen his pain pills in the past and did so again that night. She and Tami took them while Leigh drove to a motel. Tami woke up the next morning violently ill. Kim remained asleep until Tami and Leigh found her overdosing. While Kim survived, doctors determined that she had suffered a severe sexual assault. Tami and Leigh, who identified as lesbians, were blamed. And with the help of junk bite mark science as well as a homophobic narrative, they were sentenced to 44 years in prison. Maggie talks to Tami Vance, Sandi Rabalais, Tami’s mother, and Valena Beety, Tami’s attorney.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.kensingtonbooks.com/9780806541518/manifesting-justice/ https://innocenceproject.olemiss.edu/donate/  https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/145-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-bite-mark-evidence/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1999, Brian Neirynck and Roberta Smedley separated and got into a custody battle over their three-year-old son. In June of the following year, Smedley reported to the South Bend, IN police that Neirynck molested their son. The boy failed to implicate his father, and only after many leading and suggestive therapy sessions, did he say the abuse happened. Despite no physical signs of molestation, Neirynck was arrested, tried, and convicted of sexually assaulting his own son. He was sentenced to 30 years in prison. Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On May 7, 1993, Margaret Grondin brought her four-year-old daughter to the hospital in Lorain, OH. Grondin claimed her daughter had told her that her school bus driver, Nancy Smith, a 37 year old mother of 4, had not taken her to school that day, but instead took her to the house of a man named Joseph, who tied her up, taped her eyes shut, and sexually molested her. The doctors examined her and did not see any signs of injury to her body. And despite substantial evidence that the allegations were false, Nancy served 15 years in prison. Maggie talks to Nancy Smith, Courtney Smith, Nancy’s daughter and Mark Godsey, Nancy’s attorney. To learn more and get involved, visit:https://foundation.uc.edu/PhoenixInitiative https://foundation.uc.edu/donate?id=40a16270-e34c-4ee5-971c-7bb9ed8347e8 Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 12, 2003, Mark Fisher was found shot and killed in a driveway in Brooklyn, NY after spending the night hanging out with a group of his peers, including John Giuca and Antonio Russo. Upon interrogation, a few of the people that Mark had been with late the night before led police to believe that John and Antonio were involved in Mark’s murder. Despite no physical evidence and no eyewitnesses linking him to the crime, John was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison solely based on witness testimony.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://freejohngiuca.com/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 12, 2003, Mark Fisher was found shot and killed in a driveway in Brooklyn, NY after spending the night hanging out with a group of his peers, including John Giuca and Antonio Russo. Upon interrogation, a few of the people that Mark had been with late the night before led police to believe that John and Antonio were involved in Mark’s murder. Despite no physical evidence and no eyewitnesses linking him to the crime, John was convicted of the murder and sentenced to 25 years to life in prison solely based on witness testimony.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://freejohngiuca.com/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On February 25, 1998, while Garland Leon “Butch” Martin was out on a fencing job, his home burned down. His wife, Marcia, and their two small children, Michael and Kristen, were killed in the fire. Fire investigators and forensic anthropologists quickly decided that the fire was not an accident. Rather, they said it was set intentionally, and that Butch was responsible. Butch’s trial was rife with so-called arson evidence that is now widely understood to be junk science. The result was three concurrent life sentences. Maggie speaks to Garland Leon “Butch” Martin, Butch’s sister, Heather Davis, and Butch’s attorney, Allison Clayton. 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 and get involved, visit: https://innocencetexas.org/take-action/advocate/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 On September 3, 2008, in Elkhart, IN, 60-year old Angel Torres was found unconscious and lying face down in a parking lot outside of his apartment complex with a baseball bat beneath him. When authorities arrived, Angel’s neighbor and friend, Dewayne Dunn, immediately rushed over and said that Angel had fallen down the stairs from a second-floor porch at the complex. Angel was taken to the hospital where it was discovered that he had suffered skull fractures and brain bleeding, and his blood-alcohol content was over three times the legal limit. He died two days later. Although the two eyewitnesses to the crime claim Dewayne is innocent, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 58 years in prison based on the testimony of questionable expert witnesses. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/147-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-bloodstain-pattern-evidence/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/289-jason-flom-with-andrew-royer/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/328-jason-flom-with-keith-cooper/ Or reach out to DeWayne directly: [email protected] Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a child, Amelia’s family members severely abused her. She resorted to drugs and relationships with older men as coping mechanisms. In January of 2006, when Amelia was 16, she confided in an ex, Chad, who was 19, about her suffering. Then, in an effort to win her back, Chad entered Amelia’s family home while they were all asleep, and shot her parents. Amelia’s father survived but her mother was killed. Despite a lack of hard evidence and a questionable investigation, police decided that Amelia told Chad to kill her parents. After being threatened with the death penalty, Amelia accepted a plea deal. Now serving two life sentences, clemency is Amelia’s only hope. Maggie speaks to Amelia Bird, Amelia’s mentor, Nola Ewers, and Amelia’s attorney, Anne Geraghty-Rathert.  To learn more and get involved, visit: http://www.willowprojectstl.org/contact.html https://www.facebook.com/groups/3851617068279899/ https://www.champdogs.org/get-involved Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On November 21, 1997, Gene Artis and his sister Yvonne Giles were shot and killed at their apartment in Suffolk, VA. Six-year-old Travone Artis was the only witness who saw his mother and uncle get murdered, and he unequivocally told authorities that a relative of his was the shooter. Despite this, 18 year old Lerico Kearney became a suspect when police found out he and Gene gambled together.There was no physical evidence linking Lerico to this crime, but with the help of multiple jailhouse snitches, he was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.change.org/p/governor-glen-youngkin-governor-youngkin-lerico-kearney-does-not-deserve-to-die-in-prison Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 7, 1991, Joe Travis was found dead from a single gunshot wound to the head in an apartment complex in Cleveland, OH. Witnesses indicated the murder resulted from a drug transaction that had gone awry. Two weeks later, Ronald Lacey was arrested on drug charges and told police that he witnessed the Travis murder and described what he believed to be the shooter’s car: a late 70s Monte Carlo. Cleveland Police recalled stopping a car that fit this description, as they suspected the driver was carrying drugs. The driver, 27 year old Charles Jackson, had no drugs, but was arrested anyway. Officers found the arrest record and charged Charles for the murder. Despite the witness identifying someone else, and despite Charles’s solid alibi, he was convicted and sent to prison. Maggie speaks to Charles Jackson, Charles’s nephew, Houston Foster, and Charles’s attorney, Donald Caster.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://x-freedomstudio.org/ways-you-can-donate/ Charles's Cash App: $1123sweetman  Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an updated episode that originally aired on September 21, 2021. On May 18th, 1998, Charlie Winbush told her fiancé, Julius Graves, that a man named Li Run Chen, who worked at a Chinese restaurant in the neighborhood had touched her inappropriately. Graves replied that he would scare him. Later that day, Julius Graves, his fiancée's cousin, and another younger friend had a few drinks with Graves and his friend Anthony Sims as they listened to music by Sims’ car.  That same evening, Graves asked Sims to drive him to the restaurant where Chen worked and Sims agreed, unaware of any issue with Chen. They went into the restaurant when it is believed that Graves shot and killed Chen. In shock, Sims fled alone while Graves and the two younger men returned to his apartment, wiped the gun clean, figured out where to stash it, and began to conjure up a story to deflect blame from Graves and onto Sims. Consequently, investigators set their sights on Sims who was eventually sentenced to 25 years to life for the crime.  Learn more and get involved at: https://www.freeanthonysims.com/ https://www.wrongfulconvictionpodcast.com/with-jason-flom Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashley and Albert Debelbot met in the Army, got married and had their first child together, McKenzy, on May 29, 2008. Days later, Ashley noticed a bump on her newborn’s forehead and rushed her to the emergency room. Tragically, McKenzy passed away within hours. Ashley and Albert were immediately under investigation, and the medical examiner determined that the cause of death was blunt force trauma to the baby’s skull. Ashley and her husband both received life sentences. Maggie speaks to Ashley Jordan, Ashley’s mother, Brenda Jones, and Ashley’s attorney, Jimmonique Rodgers.  To learn more and get involved, visit: http://www.schr.org/ https://www.vote.org/ https://www.womenontherisega.org/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 20, 1988, 22-year-old twin sisters C.W. and B.W. were kidnapped by a gunman as they got into their car in Dayton, OH. The gunman pointed a handgun at them and ordered them to drive to a wooded area where he sexually assaulted them. The man then blindfolded both women, robbed them, and fled. Soon after C.W. and B.W. reported their attack, another woman came forward and said she was attacked in a very similar manner earlier that month. The man had told all the victims that he was a store security guard and his name was “Roger.” Two years later, all three women selected Roger Gillispie – who was known to everyone as “Dean,” his middle name – from a photo lineup and he was arrested. Dean was convicted of the crime, but before he was sentenced, the defense found out that DNA had been tested and it excluded Gillispie. So a second trial was held and he was convicted again. This time, he was sentenced to 22-56 years in prison. To learn more about the junk science of hair microscopy evidence, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/152-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-hair-microscopy-evidence/ To learn more and get involved, visit: https://innocenceproject.org/policy/ohio/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One evening in March, 2003, a fire broke out in Deborah Nicholls' Colorado Springs, CO home, killing her three children. Her husband suffered significant burns, but escaped. After a 2-year investigation, it was determined that the fire was not accidental, and that Deborah and her husband started it for the insurance money. The trial was a battle of the experts – one presenting the junk science of arson evidence, one asserting that the science was outdated. The former triumphed, and Deborah was sent to prison for the murder of her children. Maggie speaks to Deborah Nicholls, Deborah's father, Douglas Baumgardner, and Deborah's attorneys, Anne-Marie Moyes, Director of the Korey Wise Innocence Project and Kathleen Lord, Staff Attorney at the Korey Wise Innocence Project. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/149-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-arson-evidence/ https://www.colorado.edu/outreach/korey-wise-innocence-project/ https://giving.cu.edu/fund/korey-wise-innocence-project-fund District Attorney John Newsome: https://www.denverpost.com/2009/01/15/former-springs-da-cited-for-official-misconduct-for-misusing-funds https://gazette.com/news/newsome-i-sincerely-apologize/article_4886ac0d-fb7c-5c21-b7a2-15ea6c12ef4e.html Assistant District Attorney Amy Mullaney: https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/report-da-drove-county-vehicle-after-drinking-8-beers/73-343049675 Attorney Representing Tim Nicholls: https://gazette.com/news/respected-colorado-springs-attorney-dennis-hartley-disbarred-over-misdeeds/article_c137be7a-c37e-11e9-aace-b7dbb10e4465.html  May 07, 2010 20/20 episode Burned, The Amanda Gutweiler story: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X8Bk8oBNG8  If you'd like to write to Deborah, send mail to: Deborah Nicholls #144097 PO BOX #392005 Denver, Co 80239 Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In October 1997, Skip Clark was killed in York, PA. Police officers decided that the death was gang related, and that two gangs were out for each other after having a dispute. Tysheem Crocker was dragged into the conversation. The State argued that he and others plotted to retaliate against their rival gang, and that Skip was caught in the middle. Despite four witnesses testifying that they knew who the killer was and that it was not Tysheem, and despite the fact that his whereabouts were accounted for at the time of the crime, Tysheem was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.change.org/p/innocent-man-sentenced-to-life-mother-of-victim-says-wrong-man-convicted-of-sons-murder?utm_source=share_petition&utm_medium=custom_url&recruited_by_id=85e6b1a0-b1dd-11ec-af26-eb687487e64a https://www.facebook.com/justuiceforTysheem/ https://sgpub1.com https://www.amazon.com/stores/author/B074SPJV6N/about Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 16, 2005, Dennis and Norma Woodruff were found murdered in their Royse City, TX home. Their son Brandon, a freshman in college, had been visiting that weekend and police became suspicious of him and his lifestyle. Brandon is bisexual and was struggling in school, so police developed a narrative that Brandon had to kill his parents in order to maintain the double life he wanted. These details, however, were not secrets to Brandon’s parents at all. And despite evidence that supported his innocence, Brandon was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. To learn more and get involved, visit:https://www.change.org/p/texas-court-of-criminal-appeals-take-up-brandon-woodruff-s-case https://freebrandon.org/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 29, 1996, two gunmen broke into Michael Kershner’s apartment in Elkhart, IN and robbed Kershner, his mother and four friends. After fighting back, Kershner was shot in the abdomen. Months later, Keith Cooper was arrested on a purse snatching charge. Lead Detective, Steve Rezutko, determined that Cooper might be one of the perpetrators in Kerschner’s case based on his resemblance to a computerized sketch of the gunmen. After placing Cooper’s photo in a lineup, witnesses identified him, along with one witness who claimed to recognize his voice without ever seeing him. However, the DNA from the hat left at the scene by the gunman did not match Cooper. Solely based on eyewitness testimony, Cooper was convicted of robbery resulting in serious bodily injury and sentenced to 40 years in prison. To learn more, visit: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/211-jason-flom-with-marcus-wiggins/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/289-jason-flom-with-andrew-royer/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 19, 2008, a police officer found the body of Julie Burchett in her parked car in an abandoned pallet mill in Monticello, KY. Hope and her boyfriend lived nearby and gathered with other observers at the scene. A police informant eventually concocted an elaborate story that Hope threw a party at her mother’s house where she stabbed Julie to death. Despite Hope’s alibi, another suspect, and evidence that there was no party at all, Hope was arrested, tried and convicted. Maggie speaks to Hope White, Brittany White, Hope’s sister, and Hope’s attorney, Miranda Hellman, Attorney at the Kentucky Innocence Project. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://dpa.ky.gov/home/about-dpa/who-we-are/kip/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2011, 17 year old Octavius Williams was at a Halloween party hosted by his father and his father’s girlfriend in Cleveland, OH. Toward the end of the party a fight broke out in the backyard of the apartment building and Cole was shot. Cole survived, but suffered lower-body paralysis. Several witnesses said that Octavius’ brother Ricky was the shooter. But Cole identified Octavius as the person who shot him. Despite Cole’s account being the only one naming Octavius, Octavius was convicted of attempted murder and sentenced to 15 years in prison.  To learn more and get involved, visit:  [email protected] Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 23, 2005, Planes Adolphe was found in front of his Louisville, KY apartment, robbed and murdered. Police were led to a man named Steve, but Steve told police that Adolphe’s 16 year old girlfriend, Johnetta, was involved. Police eventually arrested Johnetta’s two friends – one of which endured a lengthy interrogation which ended in her implicating Johnetta. Even though the friend quickly recanted, and despite the lack of physical evidence against her, Johnetta was arrested. Johnetta ultimately accepted an Alford plea and was sentenced to 20 years in prison at 16 years old. Maggie speaks to Johnetta Carr, Lorinda Baker, Johnetta’s mother, and Johnetta’s attorney, Suzanne Hopf, Directing Attorney at the Kentucky Innocence Project. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/eh6s2-travel-expenses www.kentuckyinnocenceproject.org Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an updated episode that originally aired on February 20, 2017. On July 7th, 1980, three masked robbers robbed the Bank of Ireland at Ballaghaderreen, Co Roscommon. They attempted to flee, but crashed into a police car. A shootout ensued and 2 policemen were killed. Two men were arrested the same day. A third, Peter Pingle was arrested 12 days later. During questioning by detectives, Mr. Pringle allegedly admitted to involvement in the crimes. He was convicted and sentenced to death mainly on the basis of this alleged confession even though it was later discovered that the confession used by the prosecution was written down in a police officer’s notebook prior to his questioning about the killings.  Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On May 30, 1997, Tasha Shelby found her boyfriend's two and half-year-old toddler having a seizure on his bedroom floor. Bryan was pronounced dead at the hospital the following day, and the manner of death was ruled a homicide. Tasha, a naturally small woman, was on bed rest at the time, after giving birth and undergoing multiple surgeries, and Bryan was more than half Tasha’s size, standing 3 feet tall and weighing 33 pounds. Tasha’s physical inability to have shaken Bryan to death did not stop the state, who prosecuted and convicted Tasha based on the junk science of Shaken Baby Syndrome. Maggie speaks to Tasha Shelby, Penny Warner, Tasha’s aunt, and Valena Beety, Tasha’s attorney.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.change.org/p/free-wrongfully-imprisoned-tasha-shelby https://freetashashelby.com/clemency/ Call Mississippi Assistant Attorney General Ashley Sulser, Director of the Criminal Appeals Division (601-359-3800 or [email protected]), and Harrison County District Attorney Crosby Parker's office (228-865-4003), and ask them to agree to dismiss the charges against Tasha Shelby. https://www.ago.state.ms.us/contact/ ; http://harrison2.co.harrison.ms.us/directory/?department=District%20Attorney Call Mississippi Governor Tate Reeves's office (601-359-3150 or [email protected]) asking him to grant Tasha’s clemency petition. https://governorreeves.ms.gov/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/172-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-shaken-baby-syndrome/ Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In June of 1979, a 17 year old girl was found brutally murdered near Fort Peck, Montana. 17 year old Barry Beach was a classmate of hers and learned of her death on the news. He was interrogated by police three times, and all three times was told he was cleared and no longer a suspect. Several years later, while living with his father in Louisiana, Barry’s step-mother had him arrested for supposedly helping her 14 year old daughter run away. Police found out Barry had been questioned for the Montana murder, and decided to question him for other Louisiana murders they needed to solve. After threatening him with the death penalty, Barry caved under pressure and confessed to the murder of his classmate back in Montana. Because he had been cleared three times before, Barry expected to go back to Montana and be cleared again. But that did not happen. The prosecution presented his confession and the jury convicted him – sentencing him to 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole.  To learn more about false confessions: https://lavaforgood.com/false-confessions/ To learn more and get involved, visit: http://montanansforjustice.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012873916456 https://centurion.org/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In June of 1979, a 17 year old girl was found brutally murdered near Fort Peck, Montana. 17 year old Barry Beach was a classmate of hers and learned of her death on the news. He was interrogated by police three times, and all three times was told he was cleared and no longer a suspect. Several years later, while living with his father in Louisiana, Barry’s step-mother had him arrested for supposedly helping her 14 year old daughter run away. Police found out Barry had been questioned for the Montana murder, and decided to question him for other Louisiana murders they needed to solve. After threatening him with the death penalty, Barry caved under pressure and confessed to the murder of his classmate back in Montana. Because he had been cleared three times before, Barry expected to go back to Montana and be cleared again. But that did not happen. The prosecution presented his confession and the jury convicted him – sentencing him to 100 years in prison without the possibility of parole.  To learn more about false confessions: https://lavaforgood.com/false-confessions/ To learn more and get involved, visit: http://montanansforjustice.com/ https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100012873916456 https://centurion.org/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an updated episode that originally aired on September 25, 2017. On the afternoon of April 15th, 1994, two men were sitting in a powder-blue Cadillac in the Quindaro neighborhood of Kansas City, KS. A man dressed in black ran up to the passenger side, raised a shotgun and fired four rounds in what looked like a drug-related hit, killing the two passengers Doniel Quinn and Donald Ewing. Lamonte McIntyre, who was 17 at the time, was arrested and charged with two counts of first-degree murder. The prosecution relied primarily on the testimonies of two eyewitnesses who identified Lamonte as the shooter. Both eyewitnesses later recanted. Even though there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime, he was found guilty by a jury and sentenced to two consecutive life terms.  Learn more and get involved at: https://www.wrongfulconvictionpodcast.com/with-jason-flom Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One month apart in 1996, two crimes occurred in Portsmouth, VA. Terrence Hobbs was arrested and convicted for both of them, but he committed neither. In the first, two individuals were shot and killed, and in the second, a bank robbery occurred that hurt no one. Terrence’s ex-girlfriend was a victim of the double murder, and prosecutors fell back on the convenient assumption that the ex-boyfriend was jealous and must have been responsible. Once a few convicted felons were offered and ultimately given mercy in the form of sentence reductions for their own crimes, prosecutors had what they needed to connect Terrence to and incriminate him for the crimes. Despite solid alibis and an entire lack of physical evidence tying Terrence to either crime, Terrence was convicted, and is currently serving multiple life sentences. Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On September 2, 1986, a Springfield, MA drug deal turned into an armed robbery, which turned into the death of an innocent bystander named Victoria Seymour. Six men, all of whom were later determined to have been involved in the robbery, identified Mark Schand as the one responsible for Seymour’s death. Despite the lack of physical evidence, and the fact that he was 30 miles away the entire evening that the crime took place, Schand was tried, convicted, and sentenced to life in prison without parole. As a three time Emmy award-winner, Lauren has worked as a writer, reporter and producer in various media spaces including radio, newspaper, television and podcasting. Her podcasts Murder in Illinois, Murder in Oregon, Happy Face, and more, investigate and report true crime cases. Mark’s case and story dovetails seamlessly with many of those which Lauren has tackled in the past. Specifically, and what disturbs Lauren most, Mark was convicted for a crime he did not commit, without any evidence, and with the help of falsified testimony and coerced witnesses. Mark’s story inspires Lauren, as despite the loss and tragedy, his story still ends with a wonderful love story. For listeners of Murder in Oregon and Murder in Illinois, if you want to hear more Wrongful Conviction, go to: https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On July 1, 1977, the Welcome Inn bar in New Orleans, LA was robbed by two armed men and a bar patron, Cecil Lloyd, was killed. Weeks after the crime, 19 year old Elvis Brooks became a suspect when he was identified in a photo array by three strangers who had been inside the bar at the time of the robbery. But during the crime, the robbers touched two beer cans inside the bar and left them on the counter after they fled. Investigators from the New Orleans Police Department (NOPD) collected fingerprints from these beer cans as evidence. The results excluded Elvis. Yet and still, he was charged, convicted and sentenced to life in prison. To learn more and get involved, go to: https://www.mightycause.com/story/Elvisbrooksfreed  https://ip-no.org/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/s1e4-orlean-s-parish-district-attorney-jason-williams-on-criminal-justice-reform/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Just past 1am on November 26, 1995, 50 year old Harry Kaufman was working the token booth at a subway station in Brooklyn, NY, when multiple men set the booth on fire, causing explosions, an eruption of flames, and ultimately, Kaufman’s death. Hefty rewards were offered for information, and police received many tips from multiple informants. Ultimately, they honed in on James Irons, Thomas Malik and Vincent Ellerbe. The three were ultimately convicted based on confessions they made to the Detective Louis Scarcella. They were all sentenced to 25 years to life. 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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On October 10, 1982, a 22-year-old woman was abducted at gunpoint outside a tavern in Louisville, KY and taken to a nearby park where she was beaten, raped and robbed. The victim described her assailant as about 5’ 11” tall, weighing more than 200 pounds and with blue eyes and curly dark brown hair. Michael VonAllmen, despite having brown eyes, was picked out of a photo lineup and charged with the crime. With no physical or forensic evidence tying him to the crime, and 3 alibi witnesses, VonAllmen was convicted and sentenced to 35 years in prison on the strength of the victim’s identification. To learn more and get involved, go to: https://kcadp.org/ www.kentuckyinnocenceproject.org https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/050-jason-flom-with-ronald-cotton/ Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the summer of 1987, Joyce Watkins received a call from her sister asking for help caring for their 4 year old great niece who lived in Georgia. Joyce agreed to come pick up the little girl and bring her to her home in Nashville, TN. Joyce noticed almost immediately that the girl was acting strangely and suffering from abnormal vaginal bleeding.  Joyce took her to the hospital and learned that the little girl suffered from a vaginal injury and bleeding on the brain. She received emergency care but died the next day. After an investigation that relied on an erroneous autopsy report and little else, Joyce was charged with the sexual abuse and death of the child. She was convicted and sentenced to life in prison. Kemba Smith spent 6.5 years of a 24.5 year sentence in federal prison for her boyfriend’s criminal activity, until President Bill Clinton granted her clemency. Now, Kemba is a public speaker, writer, and educator on a variety of criminal justice issues, including mandatory drug sentencing, women and incarceration, and re-entry. When Kemba read about Joyce’s story, she was reminded of her own, and knew they had to meet. Kemba was taken aback by what a model citizen Joyce was and the horrific injustice that befell her – an entirely innocent woman. Through this interview, Kemba has gained strength from witnessing Joyce’s resilience, and she is motivated to continue to highlight the need for justice.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.tninnocence.org/watkins-dunn-exonerated Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On June 1, 1996, Kevin Jackson and Antwaun Cubie accompanied Jeremy Bruder to buy a set of rims for his Jeep. When they arrived, Kevin and Jeremy went to make the purchase while Antwaun waited in the car while on the phone with his girlfriend. Several gunshots rang out and Jeremy was shot multiple times. He died the next day. Kevin and Antwaun were both taken in for questioning at which point Kevin, in exchange for leniency from the state, alleged that Antwaun killed Jeremy. After a series questionable legal maneuvers, Antwaun was convicted of murder and sentenced to life without the possibility of parole. To hear about the Marcus Wiggins case, go to: #211 Jason Flom with Marcus Wiggins To learn more about the junk science of gunshot residue evidence, go to: #161 Wrongful Conviction: Junk Science - Gunshot Residue Evidence To learn more and get involved, go to: https://www.change.org/p/judge-help-free-an-innocent-man Riley Safer Holmes & Cancila, LLP Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.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.  to learn more and get involved, visit: https://izzyafriyie.com/jace-washington/ https://www.change.org/p/st-tammany-parish-district-attorney-office-and-louisiana-department-of-justice-please-help-me-bring-my-son-jace-colby-washington-home https://izzyafriyie.com/petition-to-free-innocent-man-jace-washington/ https://friendsofjustice.blog/2021/07/17/jace-washington-and-the-monsters-of-saint-tammany/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vMS-0ynDS14 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zm3X1GRnxTI Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.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 Allan 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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 19, 1983, 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. ​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.