Wrongfully Convicted: Justice Derailed
A deep-dive investigative podcast examining landmark cases of wrongful imprisonment through the lens of systemic failures and human resilience. Two hosts - a legal investigator and justice advocate - dissect how innocent people lost decades behind bars, exploring the flawed investigations, legal missteps, and the heroic fights for exoneration that exposed deep cracks in our justice system.
Episodes
Kirk Bloodsworth: When DNA Evidence Reveals the Truth
In this episode, we delve into the case of Kirk Bloodsworth, the first American on death row to be exonerated through DNA evidence. We explore the initial investigation, the flawed trial, and the groundbreaking use of DNA testing that ultim…
Richard Phillips: When Art and Freedom Collide
In this episode, we delve into the case of Richard Phillips, a man who spent 45 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit. We'll explore the flawed evidence that led to his conviction, the relentless pursuit of justice that eventually l…
Ryan Ferguson: When False Testimony Shatters Innocence
In this episode, we delve into the case of Ryan Ferguson, a man wrongfully convicted based on false testimony and coerced confessions. We'll explore how unreliable witness accounts and police manipulation can lead to a miscarriage of justic…
Anthony Ray Hinton: When Racial Bias and Inadequate Defense Steal Freedom
In this episode, we delve into the harrowing story of Anthony Ray Hinton, a man who spent 30 years on death row for crimes he didn't commit. We'll explore how racial bias and inadequate defense played a pivotal role in his wrongful convicti…
The West Memphis Three: When Prejudice and Panic Cloud Justice
In this episode, we delve into the infamous case of the West Memphis Three, where three teenagers were wrongfully convicted for the murders of three boys in West Memphis, Arkansas. We'll explore how societal prejudice, media hysteria, and f…
Michael Morton: When Prosecutors Hide the Truth
This gripping finale examines how prosecutorial misconduct and deliberately suppressed evidence led to Michael Morton spending 25 years in prison for his wife's murder. We investigate how prosecutor Ken Anderson withheld crucial evidence po…
Jennifer Thompson and Ronald Cotton: When Memory Betrays Justice
This powerful episode explores how eyewitness misidentification led to Ronald Cotton's wrongful conviction for rape, while examining the fascinating science of memory and identification. We trace how Jennifer Thompson's confident but mistak…
Cameron Todd Willingham: When Junk Science Leads to Execution
This haunting episode investigates how flawed arson science led to the execution of an innocent man in Texas. We meticulously break down how outdated fire investigation methods and prosecutorial misconduct resulted in Willingham's convictio…
The Central Park Five: When Media Frenzy and Police Pressure Crushed Justice
In 1989, five teenage boys were coerced into false confessions for a brutal assault in Central Park, leading to years of wrongful imprisonment. We examine how police interrogation tactics, media sensationalism, and racial bias created a per…