Monthly Archives: October 2014

Adopted Case, Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), Exonerated, False Accusation, North Carolina

Ronnie Long

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Ronnie Long was a 19-­year-young-black man when his life was condemned to a broken system overflowing with institutional racism. Justice was an oath, yet only an image hiding in the darkness for many, including Ronnie. After 39 years that image of justice is still hiding, though there is ample opportunity for it to be unleashed.

It all began in 1976 when Ronnie, accompanied by his father, stood before a judge in Cabarrus County, N.C. facing trespassing charges for being in a public park near his home. As the judge dismissed him from those charges, unbeknownst to Ronnie, behind him was a separate judge condemning him to life. That judge was a white woman, a prominent citizen of the county, who had been victimized in her home during a robbery that led to her rape two weeks prior. Chauffeured by detectives to the courtroom, with “reason to believe that maybe this day there might be a man in the courtroom that she could identify..as the man who raped her” she identified Ronnie Long, according to court records.

It took nearly ninety minutes of “constant looking around…. read more here.

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August 2020:

A North Carolina man, sentenced to 80 years in prison for rape and burglary, was released last week after spending 44 years behind bars. A federal appeals court determined that Ronnie Long, who has always maintained his innocence, had been a victim of “extreme and continuous police misconduct.”

Long, 64, was suddenly released late last week after the State of North Carolina admitted it could no longer defend the case, and asked a court to vacate his convictions.

Source: https://www.cbsnews.com/news/ronnie-long-freed-44-years-prison-wrongful-conviction/

Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), Featured Case, Framed, Paroled, Texas

Shirley Southerland

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Shirley Southerland was framed for murder. There were no eyewitnesses, no physical evidence, no murder weapon found. The only testimonies were from three known drug addicts, i.e. Angelica Cavasos, Pedro Cavasos, and Yvonne Gonzales, and informants for the Houston Police department.

Updates

On November 30, 2014, parole was granted.

On July 15, 2015, Shirley was released.

Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), Exonerated, Exonerated Survivor, Featured Case, Implicated by True Perps, Mississipi

Michelle Byrom

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Mississippi had a self-serving confession from Edward Jr., implicating his mother and blaming Gillis for the murder. And they had a confession from Michelle Byrom herself, taken while she was heavily medicated, amid questions about her mental stability. What exactly did this confession sound like? The sheriff told the addled Byrom: “Listen, we are going to be able to pull enough together … don’t leave [Edward, Jr.] hanging out here to bite the big bullet.” To which Michelle Byrom, Edward Jr.’s mother, replied: “No, he’s not going to. I wouldn’t let him … I will take all the responsibility. I’ll do it.”

Conviction overturned on 31st March, 2014

Back in the custody of Tishomingo County 28th July, 2014

Retrial set for 1 Sep 2015 17th January, 2014

Almost executed by Mississippi, Michelle Byrom free 26 June, 2015

Almost Executed by Mississippi Michelle Byrom is Now Free 6 July. 2015 @ YouCouldBeWrong.wordpress.com

Interview, August 17, 2015

If you would like to help Michelle with medication, clothing, or personal items, you can visit herYouCaring site, which gives her 100% of the proceeds.

Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), False Accusation, Featured Case, Illinois, Overturned

Mario Casciaro

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Mario Casciaro was convicted based only on the testimony of a criminal who received immunity in exchange for his testimony against Casciaro. Mario had alibi witnesses and actual evidence pointed to another criminal. The witness has now admitted he lied after being coached by the prosecutor. Fortunately, Casciaro now has Kathleen Zellner on his side. She found evidence the prosecution concealed which has now magically ‘disappeared’.

Please refer to this article from October 3rd 2014 for information.

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Conviction overturned 17 September 2015

Leaves prison 23 September 2015 ABC News

In an exclusive interview with ABC News’ “20/20” last October, Lamb recanted his testimony, saying he lied to prosecutors and lied under oath.

“All of it was false. Every single thing … The state’s attorney set it up,” Lamb told “20/20.” “Mario is in there for 26 years for something he didn’t do.”

Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), Featured Case, Present at Scene, Texas

Hank Skinner

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Hank Skinner was convicted of murdering his then girlfriend, Twila Busby, and her two adult sons in January of 1993. The police failed to investigate another potential suspect, Twila’s uncle, who had a history of violent activity and molestation. At the trial, there was little mention of exculpatory evidence due to the fact that Skinner was at the scene of the murder. Upon his conviction, the jury recommended the death penalty. Skinner has been languishing on death row in Texas for twenty years all the while maintaining his innocence.

Alabama, Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), Featured Case, High Priority, Implicated by True Perps

Bill Kuenzel

Featured Case #32

On the night of November 9, 1987 in Sylacauga, Alabama, Linda Jean Offord was working the night shift at “Joe Bob’s Crystal Palace” convenience store. Some time between 11.05 p.m. and 11.20 p.m., she was shot during the course of an attempted robbery and later died as a result of her injuries. Following several witness statements identifying him at the store, Harvey Venn was subsequently arrested.

Two days later, implicated by Venn as an accomplice, Billy Kuenzel was also arrested. Billy was 25 years old at the time and Harvey Venn was just 18. During their initial incarceration, both men were separately offered a “plea bargain”. Billy, knowing himself to be innocent and nowhere near the scene of the crime, refused. Harvey Venn, a self confessed accomplice who first denied and then admitted his involvement in the crime took them up on the offer. He changed his story and pointed the finger instead at Billy in return for an 8-10 year prison sentence.

Billy was charged and convicted for the murder of Linda Jean Offord based almost entirely on the testimony of Harvey Venn along with the testimony of 16 year old April Harris who had passed by “Joe Bob’s Crystal Palace” in a car driven by her friend Crystal Epperson on the night in question. During the trial, Harris testified that she had seen Harvey Venn’s car parked outside the store sometime between 10.15pm and 11pm. She claimed to have witnessed two people inside the store who she identified as Venn and Kuenzel but that she could not see the cashier. Harris was not questioned very much further on this matter and nobody questioned the fact that the car would have been at least 200 feet away and that it was dark and it was raining. From the angle she claimed to have approached the store, it would be impossible to have a clear view of anyone inside, even on a clear day. The defense also failed to cross examine April Harris about the fact her testimony contradicted Venn’s trial testimony that he never even entered the store that night. Moreover, whoever April Harris believed she had seen, she saw them before the incident took place.

There is further evidence which forms a very strong case for innocence, please refer to the excellent website,http://www.justiceforbillykuenzel.com/ and this video narrated by American actor Sam Waterson which clearly explains how the jury was wrongly persuaded of William’s involvement : https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7xcp_NgZFmY

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Note: Appeal hearing (Oral Arguments) April 7, 2015, after a stay was granted on 11 February 2015.

High Priority case : Please take a look without delay.

News

July 14, 2015 Death row inmate Kuenzel loses appeal because of time limit

Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), Featured Case, Implicated by True Perps, Indiana

Hubert Mayhugh

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Hubert was staying with his uncle & aunt, James’ parents. The detectives did not suspect Hubert when they came to arrest James, but then James’ mother called the police and alleged that Hubert admitted to stabbing Keith.

The media reported that Hubert was the killer, he was offered 30 years in a plea bargain to testify against James & Megan, he declined.

The state brought witnesses
(1) James’ ex (JX) that is still in love with James, who testified against Hubert.

(2) James’ mother (JM) who alleged that Hubert talked to JM on Misty’s phone (not true), and allegedly said he stabbed the victim.

There was a hat found by police in Keith’s backyard that had Hubert’s DNA, James’ DNA and also two unknown people. This hat was worn by many people, it is not clear how the hat got there.

A cigarette stub was found in Keith’s home with Hubert’s DNA on it, however Hubert had visited Keith’s home on previous occasions, so this should not have been suspicious.

Hubert could not raise the last $4,500 needed for a private attorney, and the case was passed to a public defender who was not well prepared for trial.

In summary:
Megan and Levi were scared, so they cooked up a plot, with Rachel’s help ( Rachel being Levi’s mum ).

Accident, Failure to Report Event, Featured Case, Oklahoma, Present at Scene, Survivor TBE

Debra Dewberry

Featured Case #29

Debra was convicted of the murder of her baby during childbirth in 1994, she plead not guilty, but was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without possibility of parole.

The conviction was highly questionable, and her legal representation has been poor.

The prosecution case was that Debra dangled the baby in the toilet after giving birth, which seems quite improbable.

The jury didn’t believe that and thought her baby fell into the toilet and drowned, but convicted her anyway.

There was no evidence of drowning. The suggested motive (she thought the father might be someone other than her husband) is not at all credible, and the medical testimony was not consistent.

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Coerced False Confession, Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), Featured Case, Montana

Barry Beach

For a description of the case please see http://www.centurionministries.org/cases/barry-beach/

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17 Jan 2015 : Appeal Filed

26 Jan 2015 : Time for Montana to treat Barry Beach better

20 Nov 2015 : Clemency Granted

12 Dec 2015 : Meet Jay Via: One bad cop, in one county, who did a whole lot of damage Radley Balko, Washington Post.

Appeal Hearing, Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), False Accusation, Featured Case, Overturned, Tennessee

Adam Braseel

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On November 9, 2007, in Grundy County, TN, Adam was wrongfully convicted of murder, felony murder, especially aggravated robbery, criminal attempted first degree murder, aggravated assault, and assault. He is currently serving a life sentence, in a maximum-security prison for crimes he did not commit.

There was no forensic evidence found on any of the items sent to the TBI Crime Lab, nor is there any DNA that places him at either bloody crime scene. We have substantial amount evidence that will prove intentional acts of misconduct and gross negligence from prosecutorial and police officials.

During the investigation, the Sheriff’s department refused to take affidavits from witnesses, and failed to secure video evidence that placed Adam at a different location during the time the crimes were committed. It would be physically impossible for Adam to have murdered this man, and attempted the murder of another, without having a trace of DNA evidence linking him to either crime. There is no way Adam could have done this, having been in a completely different city with friends.

Adam left from one friend’s house to meet with another friend for a planned four-wheeling trip, on his way he stopped at a convenience store, then he stopped to talk with a couple of friends he ran into. When he arrived at his friend’s house, he was in a normal manner, saw, and spoke with his friend’s mom, he had the same clothes on as he did when he left. This is the same clothes the Sheriff ‘s department took as evidence, the same clothes the eye-witness identified him as to wearing, the same clothes the officer took a snap shot of him wearing.

The conviction was based solely on the tainted and suggestive testimonies of two questionable eyewitnesses, whose credibility was never investigated.

Due to the countless amounts of discrepancies and contradictions, in this case, by prosecution, law officials, eyewitnesses, along with the negligence and ineffective assistance of legal counsel, Adam Braseel did not receive a fair trial.

Appeal hearing March 27, 2015

Update August 2, 2019

At 5:20 p.m. Friday, the Tennessee Department of Corrections confirmed that Adam Braseel, who was wrongfully convicted of murder in 2007, was officially released from prison.

https://newschannel9.com/news/local/attorneys-make-case-for-convicted-grundy-county-mans-innocence-friday

Arizona, Failure to Report Event, Featured Case, Maricopa County, Risked Death, Self-Defense, Survivor TBE

Jodi Arias

Jodi Arias defended herself from repeated attacks by her abusive ex-boyfriend Travis Alexander after she dropped his camera.

The prosecution attempted to prove premeditated murder with a ridiculous circumstantial case based around Jodi using three gas cans (false), and changing her hair color on her trip to visit Travis (also false), among other rubbish cited as evidence of premeditated murder.

In addition the State changed it’s theory over the order of the injuries, in a blatant attempt to pit the testimony of the medical examiner against Jodi’s truthful testimony of what occurred. This culminated in a ridiculous claim that his own autopsy report had a “typographical error”.

The physical evidence shows Alexander was shot first, then he stands at the sink, indicating he did not anticipate further attack, consistent with Jodi’s testimony that she shot him by accident.

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Death penalty retrial commenced  29 September, 2014.
Jury hung in sentencing retrial 5 March, 2015.
Sentenced to natural life, April 13, 2015.

False Accusation, Featured Case, Florida, Self-Defense

John Ramos

Featured Case #22

John was attacked on the doorstep of his family home in Jacksonville, Florida, with his children and wife inside, by a drug addict. His wife came outside with a gun, thinking he might be killed. The gun was not fired, but after a struggle for the gun, John got hold of it and struck a blow, causing the addict to run off. John was protecting himself and his family. He had no criminal record, and was a good family man.

He was arrested and charged with aggravated battery. After declining a three year plea bargain, he was found guilty by a jury on October 10th, 2013, and was given the statutory 10 year minimum sentence on 2nd December 2013.

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Crime-Committed-By-Other(s), Featured Case, Oregon, Present at Scene, Survivor TBE

Diane Downs

Featured Case #21 :

Diane allegedly shot her own son, herself and her other two children in 1983 for no good reason, but the real killer was an abusive local psychopath. Daughter was coerced into testifying against her mother (“they knew that she did it and I should say that she did it”). Her son said it was “a bad man” who shot his mother, but jury never heard that.

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