Wrongful Conviction

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. ​​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 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. ​​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 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. ​​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 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.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 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.goudy https://www.instagram.com/myfinao1/ https://www.liveme.com/us/v/16495389031874715923/index.html?f=liveOMG https://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. ​​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 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. ​​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 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. ​​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 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. ​​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.

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://lavaforgood.com/podcast/172-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-shaken-baby-syndrome/ 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 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. ​​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 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. ​​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 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. ​​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 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, Baday was convicted of child molestation and sentenced to 45 years to life in prison. Maggie speaks to Karla Baday, Catherine Boyle, Baday's attorney, and Dulce Baday, Baday'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. ​​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 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. ​​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 1993 in Pampa, TX., Hank Skinner fell asleep early on his couch after being rendered comatose from a cocktail of vodka, xanax and codeine. His girlfriend at the time, Twila Busby, left for a party, and when she returned, she and her two sons were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. Law enforcement knew Hank from his work in civil rights and he soon became a suspect. Despite clear evidence that Hank was incapacitated at the time of the killings and therefore incapable of committing these murders, Hank was convicted and sentenced to death in 1995. Maggie speaks to Hank Skinner, Rob Owen Esq. Hank's attorney, and Sandrine Skinner his wife. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://justice4hank.org/help/ https://justice4hank.org/help/get-involved/ https://justice4hank.org/help/donate/  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 22, 1994, Crystal Hudson was found murdered in her bedroom closet in Cleveland, Ohio. She died of strangulation after being sexually assaulted. Evin King became the lead suspect by police due to the fact that he was in the apartment when Hudson’s body was found along with the specter of a “premonition” that Hudson’s mother had in regards to the murder. No physical evidence tied King to the crime, and DNA evidence excluded him. In an attempt to explain why King’s DNA did not match, the prosecution built their case upon the idea that the sexual act and murder occurred at different times. The jury convicted King of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://law.uc.edu/real-world-learning/centers/ohio-innocence-project-at-cincinnati-law.html 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.

February 9, 1992 started as a normal day for 16 year old Faye Jacobs – she attended church and hung out with friends in Little Rock, AR. When she and her mom drove home later, they passed bustling police activity. Intrigued, they stopped the car and got out. Suddenly, Faye was grabbed, pushed against the car and arrested for the shooting murder of Kevin Gaddy, a classmate of hers. Despite an exculpatory alibi and eye witnesses, Faye was sentenced to life without parole. Maggie speaks to Faye Jacobs, Tricia Bushnell Esq. Faye’s attorney, and Tiffany Woods her girlfriend.   To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.change.org/p/asa-hutchinson-support-the-pardon-of-laquanda-faye-jacobs https://lavaforgood.com/with-maggie-freleng/ 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 the early morning hours of January 11, 1975, 14-year-old Sherese Watson was murdered by strangulation after leaving a house party in Bellport, New York, and her body was found that evening in a field near the party. There were groupings of small stab wounds in her back, and a hair pick was found near her body. Over 20 alibi witnesses placed 17-year-old Keith Bush in the house party at the time of Sherese's death, but one alleged partygoer, Maxine Bell, gave a statement that she would one day recant: that she saw Sherese and Keith leaving together after 1 AM.  Ignoring a more compelling lead, Keith was tortured by detectives into signing a confession that he had not read which contained details that did not match reality. Keith recanted, but with  the signed statement, Bell’s testimony, as well as detectives and a medical examiner who gave either false or erroneous testimony, Keith was convicted and sentenced to 20 years to life. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.trafford.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/358402-POETIC-RAYS-VISIONARY-AND-MAGNETIC https://www.tiktok.com/@ktbush5?lang=en https://www.nyls.edu/post-conviction-innocence-clinic/ 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 September 19, 1998, Donna Brown was closing a Taco Bell in Adel, GA after her second day on the job. As she left, she was robbed and fatally shot. Two witnesses, one a jailhouse snitch and one a respondent to a $5000 reward, implicated Devonia Inman. Despite their subsequent recantations, several alibi witnesses and an obvious other suspect, Devonia was convicted of capital murder and sentenced to life without parole. The real perpetrator went on to kill two others. Maggie speaks to Devonia Inman, Jessica Cino J.D., Devonia’s advocate, Dinah Ray, his mother and David Ray, his stepfather. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.mightycause.com/story/Supportdevoniainman https://lavaforgood.com/with-maggie-freleng/ 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 May 23, 1991, several men robbed Kenneth McLean in his apartment in Boston, MA. When McLean tried to run, one of the men chased and fatally shot McLean in the street. 15 year old Derek Hobson  informed police that he had witnessed the murder. Later, Detective Thomas Gomperts received an anonymous tip naming four men who were allegedly involved in the shooting. One of those men was 23-year-old, Robert Foxworth, who had many alibi witnesses to his whereabouts during the time of the shooting. Detective Gompert created a photo array with the suspects’ pictures to show Derek Hobson. Although he claimed never to have seen the shooter’s face, Hobson chose Robert based on his hairstyle. Robert Foxworth was identified and subsequently arrested. Based on mistaken eyewitness identification, Robert Foxworth was convicted of second-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://rocainc.org/ 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 August 28, 1997, Brian was staying overnight at his girlfriend’s house with his cousin, girlfriend, and girlfriend’s sister in West Philadelphia, PA. 45 minutes away, restaurant owner Gus Boulias was killed in his home. A detective, relying on the questionable analysis of a partial fingerprint, decided that Brian was the killer. Even though the state presented no murder weapon, no witnesses, no motive, and no connection to the victim, Brian was convicted of second-degree murder and burglary and sentenced to life in prison. Maggie speaks to Brian Parnell at SCI Coal Township in PA., Marc Howard J.D., Brian's advocate and Tamara Parnell, Brian's sister. This episode features a portion of #156 Wrongful Conviction: Junk Science - Fingerprint Evidence with host Josh Dubin released on September 9th, 2020. For more on the junk science of Fingerprint Analysis, click the link below: https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/156-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-fingerprint-evidence/ To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.justiceforbrianparnell.com/https://twitter.com/justice4parnellhttps://www.instagram.com/justiceforbrianparnell/https://www.facebook.com/justiceforbrianparnell 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 April 19, 1986, the body of a 28 year old woman was found in her bedroom in Garland, Texas. She had been tied, gagged, raped and shot three times. Clay Chabot, a friend of the victim's husband, became the main suspect after voluntarily providing information to the police about his brother-in-law, Gerald Pabst, who had visited the victim's home on the morning of the murder. Initially telling police that he had no involvement in the crime, Pabst later changed his story by claiming that Clay had forced him to tie up the victim before she was shot. Despite no physical evidence linking Clay to the crime, he was convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison solely on the testimony of Gerald Pabst. To learn more and get involved, visit:  https://guiltypleaproblem.org/?id=clay_chabot  https://innocenceproject.org/clay-chabot-veterans-day-2018/  https://innocenceproject.org/ 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 December 5, 1998, a 14 year old Mike Politte woke up to find his Mineral Point, MO home filled with smoke. When he checked on his mom, he found her on the floor – on fire. After days of interrogations, investigators decided that Mike had been grieving incorrectly and that he must have been the perpetrator. Despite evidence pointing to other relatives and evidence against Mike eventually being disproved, Mike was convicted of second degree murder in the killing of his own mother and condemned to spend the next 2 decades in prison. Maggie speaks to Mike Politte at Jefferson City Correctional Center in MO., Megan Crane J.D., Mike's advocate, and Melonie Politte, Mike's sister. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/help-michael-politte-after-wrongful-conviction https://twitter.com/michaelpolitte?lang=en https://lavaforgood.com/with-maggie-freleng/ 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 the early morning hours of June 23rd, 1984, 2 customers, a man and a woman, left a Bronx bodega. The store clerk said that the woman went with the man willingly. According to the woman, she was abducted, dragged into a park, raped, and robbed. Then, while waiting for a cab home, the same man dragged her into an abandoned building, where she was again raped and robbed. This time, he cut her face, damaging her eyesight. A rape kit was performed at the hospital, and she was shown a mugshot book, from which she identified Alan Newton - a man who had spent the night at his fiancee's family's home in Queens. Unfortunately, Alan had to wait for over 22 years for both the DNA testing and the authorities to begrudgingly locate the biological evidence to finally corroborate that alibi.  To learn more and get involve, visit: https://innocenceproject.org/ 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 December 23, 1997, a botched robbery at a popular pizza restaurant in Reading, PA resulted in the death of its beloved owner, George Clauser. A reward in the paper led police to 19 year old Melvin Ortiz, when two individuals with obvious agendas implicated him. Despite 19 alibi witnesses placing Melvin at a birthday party at the time of the crime, Melvin was sentenced to spend life in prison without parole. Maggie speaks to Melvin Ortiz at SCI - Dallas, PA., Marc Howard J.D., Melvin's advocate, and Victoria Blanco, Melvin's fiancee. To learn more and get involved, visit: If anyone has any information on this case, please email [email protected] https://www.freemelvinortiz.org/  @freemelvinortiz on instagram, twitter, facebook, tiktok https://www.change.org/MelvinOrtiz https://www.instagram.com/freemelvinortiz/ https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCNCpeXu5tURsdkRezBY2EVQ https://fundly.com/support-ortiz-family https://lavaforgood.com/with-maggie-freleng/ 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 May 19th, 1975, in front of a store in Cleveland, OH, two assailants robbed a man, splashed acid in his face, shot and killed him, and then fired into the store injuring the co-owner. 12 year-old Eddie Vernon was riding a bus near the scene and later bragged that he had seen Ricky Jackson, as well as Ronnie and Wiley Bridgeman commit the crime. However, according to all the other occupants of the bus, they were too far away to even see the crime. But police ignored other more compelling leads and focused on Eddie’s story. When he tried to back away from the fib, they threatened to take his parents to prison if he didn’t stick to the story. Eddie’s false testimony at trial helped send all three young men to death row. To learn more and get involved, visit:  https://law.uc.edu/real-world-learning/centers/ohio-innocence-project-at-cincinnati-law.html 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.

After an evening out with friends in Holden, MO, high school sweethearts Bill and Patty Prewitt kissed their children goodnight and went to bed. Patty was soon awakened by a man trying to rape her. She ran to a neighbor’s house and called the police. When the police arrived,  Bill was found dead in his bedroom from 2 gunshots to the head.  The police quickly set their sights on Patty and neglected to lift a single fingerprint from the entire house. Nevertheless, after a trial riddled with sexism and questionable forensics, Patty was sentenced to life in prison where she has been for 36 years.  Maggie speaks to Patty Prewitt at the Women’s Correctional Center in Missouri, Brian Reichart Esq., Patty’s attorney, and Jane Prewitt Watkins, Patty’s daughter. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.change.org/p/missouri-governor-mike-parson-free-patty-prewitt https://pattyprewitt.com/ https://www.facebook.com/pattyprewitt/ https://twitter.com/justiceforpatty 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 March 8th, 2008, the leader of a bat wielding group of high schoolers from a wealthy Connecticut town instigated a fight with Dieter Tejada. After Dieter wrestled the bat away, defended himself with it, and fled, the aggressor continued to instigate violence with some of Dieter’s friends. The following day, allegations of serious injuries led to assault charges. Despite acting in self defense, Dieter and the others avoided lengthy sentences by pleading guilty. In the United States, 95% of felony charges are resolved by plea bargain. This is one of those stories.  To learn more and get involved, visit: https://gofund.me/d306d52e https://justiceimpactnetwork.org/ https://justiceimpactalliance.org/ https://guiltypleaproblem.org/ 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 1988, Chris Ochoa and his roommate Richard Danziger both worked at different Pizza Huts locations in Austin, Texas, when a robbery, rape, and murder occurred at another location on October 24th. With no sign of forced entry, police focused on other Pizza Hut employees. An aggressive interrogation complete with lies about evidence and polygraph results, as well as threats of prison rape and the death penalty made Chris Ochoa's acquiescence a foregone conclusion. He made false statements uncorroborated by the physical evidence, implicating Richard and himself. Eventually, modern DNA testing supported the confession of the actual killer, but not before both men spent 12 years in prison. To learn more and get involved: https://law.wisc.edu/fjr/clinicals/ip/support.html Sign the petition at: https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/stop-execution-of-innocent-melissa-lucio-texas/ If you live in Texas, call Cameron County DA Saenz to ask that Melissa's execution date be withdrawn: 956-300-3881 OR Call Governor Abbott to tell him that you support clemency for Melissa Lucio: 956-446-2866 Social Media Toolkit: https://innocenceproject.org/social-media-toolkit-stop-execution-melissa-lucio-texas/ 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.

Time is running out for Melissa Lucio. We must act now! Melissa Lucio had 12 children with twins on the way, when the family was moving to a new apartment at the behest of Child Protective Services. A set of rickety exit stairs was high on the list of reasons, and a history of inter-sibling violence was well documented. Melissa's youngest, 2 year old Mariah, fell down those rickety stairs during the move. There were no outward injuries; however, over the next 2 days, the fall caused a sequence of medical issues to unfold, including cerebral edema, brain bleed, a deficiency of blood clotting factors, and eventually the appearance of wide spread inexplicable bruising. On February 17th, 2007, paramedics were dispatched to an unresponsive Mariah who subsequently died. Injuries and bruises from her siblings, the tumble down the stairs,  and her depleted ability to stave off internal bleeding led first responders, physicians, and the police to believe that Mariah had experienced horrific child abuse at the hands of her primary caregiver. Melissa Lucio was convicted of child abuse, as well as capital murder, and sentenced to death. The DA on her case is himself serving 13 years  for accepting bribes in exchange for favorable outcomes in other trials. Shortly after Melissa's conviction, her defense attorney was hired by that DA at a higher than usual rate, as was his wife.  Meanwhile, Melissa's execution date is set for April 27th, 2022.  To learn more and get involved, visit: Sign the petition at: https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/stop-execution-of-innocent-melissa-lucio-texas/ If you live in Texas, call Cameron County DA Saenz to ask that Melissa's execution date be withdrawn: 956-300-3881  OR Call Governor Abbott to tell him that you support clemency for Melissa Lucio: 956-446-2866 Social Media Toolkit: https://innocenceproject.org/social-media-toolkit-stop-execution-melissa-lucio-texas/ 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 17, 1973, 40 year old father of two and local chef Ting Fong Chan was beaten and stabbed to death on his way home from his night shift in Manitoba, Winnipeg, CA. A witness saw silhouettes of 4 or 5 men with long hair. Under the assumption that the men were Native American, police began to canvas the local indigenous population. A man named Adam Woodhouse told investigators about a recent gathering at his home with a few other indigenous men. Even though this gathering did not take place on the night of the crime and nothing suspicious was described, police rounded up Clarence, Russell, and Allan Woodhouse, as well as  Brian Anderson.  Four false statements were extracted and written in a language that neither of the accused fully understood. Not surprisingly, none of the physical evidence matched the four young men. Despite this, their alibi witnesses, and accusations of police brutality, the jury chose to believe the false confessions. For more information or to get involved, visit: https://www.innocencecanada.com/ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCS7uL2jLzU 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 the fall of 1984 and spring of '85, a serial rapist struck at least 4 times with eerily similar details. Meanwhile, a new student, Tim Cole, arrived on campus for the spring semester after the rapes had already began. On March 24th, 1985, a 20 year old student reported what appeared to be the 5th attack. Investigators collected a rape kit, and the victim helped them put together a composite sketch. From a passing glance, a plainclothes detective decided that Tim resembled the composite sketch. Using a very suggestive photo array, investigators engineered the misidentification of Tim Cole, and he was soon convicted. Despite numerous confessions from another man whose DNA ended up matching the material in the rape kit, Tim sat in prison where he passed away in 1999. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_QbivKABXk https://innocencetexas.org/ https://innocenceproject.org/cases/timothy-cole/ 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 the early morning hours of April 27, 1982, 35 year old JoAnn Tate was stabbed in the chest and sexually assaulted while in her apartment in St. Louis, MO. Her 7 year old daughter, Melissa, was stabbed several times, and her 4 year old daughter, Renee, had her throat cut. The girls survived the attack, but their mother did not. For a while, Melissa had said that a man named Bill was the attacker, and she gave details of his car and house. Eventually, police showed Melissa a picture of Rodney Lincoln who had a previous murder conviction from a  decade's old bar fight and who also had dated her mother. Soon after, she was shown a highly suggestive four-person live lineup, resulting in Lincoln's arrest, charges, and conviction. She had maintained that identification through trial and nearly 4 decades until she saw photos of an admitted serial killer whose MO matched  the attack on her family. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/9d49b-rodney-lincoln-free-after-36-years https://www.gofundme.com/f/2nu2f-help-melissa-find-housing https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/the-real-killer/id1596167670 https://investigatinginnocence.org/bill-clutter 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 December of 1988, 18 year old Londoner Raphael Rowe was living with 5 other men in social housing, when four violent robberies shocked Southeast England, leaving eight victims in their wake. One was killed and another was severely injured. The assailants' MO was to steal the victims' cars, ditch them at the next crime scene, and repeat the process. Twelve people in the area of the first abandoned cars were arrested, including Raphael and his friend Michael Davis. Contrary to the victims' descriptions of two white men with fair hair and blue eyes and one black man, several of those arrested helped police to shape a false narrative that instead pinned the crimes on three black men, Raphael, Michael, and a 3rd man, named Randolph Egbert Johnson. Police also planted evidence and coerced Raphael's main alibi witness to win the conviction. From inside his cell, Raphael enlisted the help of journalists and attorneys to investigate his claims of innocence, finally winning his freedom. Now, Raphael is a successful actor and journalist, but is still fighting to fully clear his name. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://raphaelrowefoundation.org/ https://raphael-rowe.com/ https://raphael-rowe.com/book https://raphael-rowe.com/second-chance https://www.instagram.com/areporter/ 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 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. ​​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.

When 43 year old bowling alley manager Ken Wyniemko ejected an off duty cop from his establishment for drunk and disorderly conduct, he didn't think it would lead to a wrongful conviction. On April 30th, 1994, a woman was blindfolded and raped by a masked man in her home in Clinton Township, Michigan. The composite sketch was deemed only 60% accurate, but nonetheless, was made available to the media. When Ken's disgruntled ex girlfriend reported that the sketch resembled him, investigators used this opportunity to exact revenge for the bowling alley manager's slight against their brother in blue. They manipulated the line up to produce an identification from the victim who had never clearly seen her attacker's face. With the help of incentivized jailhouse snitch testimony, the jury ignored the biological evidence that excluded Ken, sending him to serve 40-60 years. DNA evidence eventually led to his exoneration in 2003, and now, Ken devotes his time to lobbying for criminal justice reform legislation - some of which led to finding the actual rapist in his case. To learn more and get involved, visit: http://www.deliberateinjusticethebook.com/ 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.

At 18, Clinton Young was the youngest and newest member of a group of four acquaintances after he was released from juvenile prison in 2001. One of the four men killed two people and went to the police to control the narrative. The other two joined the murderer's story, throwing Clinton under the bus. Despite evidence pointing away from Clinton, the 3 men's false testimony was enough to get Clinton convicted and sentenced to death. In 2017, he was granted a stay just a week ahead of his execution date based on newly discovered exculpatory evidence that implied false testimony was presented at trial. However, it wasn’t until 2019 that an investigation revealed one of the prosecutors on Clinton’s case, Weldon Ralph Petty, was also being paid to act as a judicial clerk, writing recommendations and signing orders on the same cases that he was prosecuting, leading officials to doubt the hundreds of cases Petty had worked on, including Clinton's. In September 2021, Clinton was finally granted a new trial and taken off of death row. He awaits a decision that determines if he will have a new trial or if the charges against him will be dismissed. To learn more and get involve, visit: https://clintonyoungfoundation.com/ https://www.facebook.com/clintonyoungfoundation https://twitter.com/ClintonLeeYoung https://www.instagram.com/clintonyoungfoundation/ 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.

Successful businessman and Ecuadorian-American immigrant Nelson Serrano was in Atlanta on December 3rd, 1997, when 4 people were murdered execution stye at his Bartow, Florida factory. It is believed that the intended target was his business partner, Phil Dosso’s son Frank who worked for the business while also involved in drug trafficking. After 3 years of cooperating with an investigation that turned up no evidence linking him to the crime, Nelson retired to Ecuador. Investigators ignored statements implicating a NY druglord, and instead circumvented Ecuadorian sovereignty, kidnapping Nelson to stand trial in Florida. Focusing on a strained business partnership as Nelson’s alleged motive, the prosecution presented an absurd theory in which Nelson made an impossible round trip journey from Atlanta to Bartow supported only by false evidence to fool the jury into sending Nelson to death row where he remains to this day. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.nelsonserrano.org/ https://twitter.com/free_serrano https://www.instagram.com/freenelsonserrano https://www.eventbrite.com/e/balanced-justice-project-innocence-and-death-row-the-crimes-of-bartow-tickets-260432489587 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 1988, 16 year old Felix Valentin was shot in his car in an alley on the West Side of Chicago. Before slipping into a coma and eventually death, he was able to identify his shooter and the getaway driver, 2 members of the Imperial Gangsters. An 11 year old eyewitness named Orlando Lopez initially identified Jacques Rivera, a member of the Latin Kings. Shortly after, Lopez realized his mistake, but Detective Reynaldo Guevara would not listen. Guevara claimed that the victim had identified Jacques as well, and the juvenile witness went along with it. Jacques went to a bench trial in front of Judge Michael Close who had recently been a focus of Operation Greylord, one of the biggest judicial corruption investigations in US history. Judge Close would not admit the victim's initial ID's as evidence, and Jacques was sentenced to 80 years. 23 years later, the Center on Wrongful Convictions eventually unearthed the reluctant witness, who greeted them with relief, saying that he’d been waiting to tell the truth. Detective Guevara's corruption has cost the citizens of Chicago over 50 million dollars so far, in addition to the freedom of over 20 innocent men and women. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.innocentdemandjustice.com/ https://www.law.northwestern.edu/legalclinic/wrongfulconvictions/ https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/155-jason-flom-with-marilyn-mulero/ 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 November 27, 2005, Catherine Woods was found viciously stabbed to death in her Upper Eastside apartment. At the time, her ex boyfriend David Haughn stayed on her couch while she was romantically involved with Paul Cortez. When David discovered this other man, he was jealous and upset, yet Haughn did not become the prime suspect despite damning evidence against him. A confluence of racism, a false media narrative, prosecutorial misconduct, and ineffective counsel sent Paul Cortez away for 25 to life. To learn more and get involved, visit: http://freepaulcortez.com/ https://www.change.org/p/andrew-m-cuomo-help-paul-cortez-fight-for-justice-f8ba4a77-b0c8-4636-8f8a-aea03d5a374a https://www.facebook.com/Help-Free-Paul-Cortez-38461123952/ https://twitter.com/pcdf?lang=en 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.

43 year old Jerome Loach was performing in a play at a church in South Philadelphia, PA on the evening of January 10, 2009. At the same time, police responded to a home invasion, in which three women were confronted at gunpoint by men posing as pizza deliverers. Two men were arrested, but a third man was implicated – Jerome. While the incriminating statement was recanted before trial, it was presented to the jury anyway. This, along with the police’s fabrication of phone records to secure Jerome’s involvement, led to Jerome’s conviction. Jerome served over 10 years of a 25-50 year sentence before the charges were dropped and he was released. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.gofundme.com/f/jeromes-exoneration-rebuilding-fund 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.

Stephanie Spurgeon was a married mother of two who had been running a daycare facility from her home for 15 years. On August 21, 2008, Stephanie took care of 1 year old Maria Harris for the first time. Maria’s grandmother picked her up that day, but soon noticed Maria was unresponsive. After 8 days in the hospital, Maria passed away. Since Stephanie was the last supervisor of the child, she was accused of murder and convicted of manslaughter based on the prosecution’s dubious argument of soft impact Abusive Head Trauma. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://gofund.me/06c1b747 https://millerforstateattorney.com/ https://www.facebook.com/MillerForStateAttorney https://www.instagram.com/millerforstateattorney/?hl=en https://twitter.com/afmiller2021 https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmwdSfek2aM 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 August 10th, 1994, a man and a woman were in a van in West Philadelphia, when two males approached. One blocked the passenger door, while the other shot the man before he could get out of the van. The witness identified 16 year old Johnny Berry from a photo, but rescinded the ID at a preliminary hearing. Inexplicably, Johnny was re-arrested and sent back to juvenile detention, where he met Tauheed Lloyd who had admitted to being one of the assailants. When Lloyd refused to clear Johnny's name, they fought. Months later, Lloyd was arrested in an unrelated incident, and his gun matched the murder weapon. Unaware of this evidence, Lloyd thought Johnny had snitched. In turn, he gave false testimony for leniency and out of spite, sending Johnny away for life without parole. Years later, Lloyd's attempted recantation was silenced by threats of perjury and another murder prosecution. It took a slew of Supreme Court rulings on juvenile life sentences and the Philadelphia CIU to right this wrong. To learn more and get involved, visit: [email protected] 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 28th, 1999, Julius Jones was playing monopoly with his family and soon to be a sophomore on an academic scholarship at the University of Oklahoma. That night, a man named Paul Howell was shot for his GMC Suburban in the nearby suburb of Edmund, Oklahoma. A few days later, Julius was taken into police custody even though the eyewitness description should have excluded him as a suspect. 3 witnesses (and counting) have come forward with sworn affidavits claiming that Julius’ former friend and co-defendant Chris Jordan has often taken sole responsibility for Paul Howell’s murder. Julius’ attorney Dale Baich, his mother and sister, Madeline and Antoinette Jones, as well as special guest Kim Kardashian join Jason Flom to discuss Julius’ case and the race to right this wrong. Since our initial release, Julius death sentence was commuted to life without parole along with some dire stipulations. To learn more and get involved at, visit: https://www.justiceforjuliusjones.com/https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/s12e64-wrongful-conviction-with-jason-flom-richard-glossiphttps://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 October 11th, 1990, former New Haven, CT alderman Ricardo Turner and his lover were shot dead in their bed. Detective Vincent Raucci knew just who to pin it on, a small-time dealer named Scott Lewis. To make the case, Raucci attempted to extract false testimony from Scott’s friend Stefon Morant. When Stefon refused to go along with the scheme, Raucci pinned the murder on Stefon as well, even though he was hundreds of miles away at the time of the crime. Raucci simply extracted false testimony from another other small-time hood in exchange for leniency on his own legal troubles. Stefon Morant was charged with murder and sentenced to 70 years in prison simply for refusing to provide false testimony against a friend. To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.120yearsfilm.com/ 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 just the first month of 1984, five women from the ages of 18 to 20 were sexually assaulted in East Richmond, Virginia. One victim saw an 18 year old named Thomas Haynesworth while he was walking to his local grocery store and called the police naming him as her attacker. Thomas was eventually convicted for three of the sexual assault incidents and sentenced to a total of 74 years in prison. Even though the assumed perpetrator was in custody, the rapes continued throughout East Richmond. Leon Davis, Thomas’s neighbor, was eventually arrested and convicted for a dozen incidents over the remainder of 1984. DNA testing ultimately confirmed that Leon was responsible for the crimes for which Thomas was convicted, and Thomas was finally exonerated in 2011 after spending 27 years in prison. 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. ​​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.

Amanda Brumfield, the estranged daughter of actor Billy Bob Thornton, was blamed for the death of her best friend’s daughter. On October 3, 2008, 1 year old Olivia Garcia had been sleeping in her playpen at Amanda’s house, when she woke up at around midnight and attempted to crawl out of her crib. Olivia fell from the rails and landed head first on the floor. She died a few hours later at the hospital. Oftentimes, when a young child dies, authorities assume neglect or abuse was involved, and they accuse the last person taking care of the child. In this case, it was Amanda, and she was arrested, tried, and convicted of aggravated manslaughter. Nine years later, with the help of the Innocence Project of Florida and the Center for Integrity in Forensic Sciences, Amanda is finally free. 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. ​​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 5th, 1990, Bernhardt and Cora Hartig, both 81, were shot to death in their Atwater, OH home with a .25 caliber gun. Miles away, 18-year-old Tyrone Noling was involved in two non-violent robberies – in one, he stole a .25 caliber gun and in the second, it accidentally discharged, hurting no one. This gun, however, was not the Hartig murder weapon, and despite other, more viable suspects, Portage County investigators targeted Tyrone and convinced his friends to testify against him. All witnesses have since recanted, but after 28 years, Tyrone is still on death row. To learn more and get involved, visit: http://www.tyronenoling.com/ 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 December 20, 1987, at about 2 am, two masked men forced their way into a Burger King in Brooklyn, New York, as employees were closing. A third man entered the restaurant at some point, and they blindfolded and raped an 18-year-old female employee and forced a male employee to participate. The three assailants fled with $3,000 in cash. Both employees reported the crime as involving three assailants. But, two weeks later, when the police pulled over Mark Denny with two of the assailants, and the third assailant was identified, detectives convinced the female employee that there were actually four assailants. Despite a lack of physical evidence and the male employee's insistence that there were only 3 attackers, Mark was convicted and sentenced to up to 57 years. The 3 assailants eventually excluded Mark from the crime in sworn statements. But, it took an investigation by Brooklyn's CRU, to expose the corrupt identification process, setting Mark free after almost 30 years. 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.

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.