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
The Case of George Stinney Jr.: When Age and Race Skew Justice
In this episode, we delve into the tragic case of George Stinney Jr., the youngest person in the 20th century to be sentenced to death and executed in the United States. We explore how racial bias, age discrimination, and a rushed investiga…
The Case of Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter: When Prejudice and Corruption Storm Justice
In this episode, we delve into the tumultuous case of Rubin 'Hurricane' Carter, a professional boxer wrongfully convicted of triple murder in the 1960s. We'll explore how racial prejudice, police corruption, and unreliable witnesses combine…
The Case of Dewey Bozella: When Ambition Overcomes Wrongful Conviction
In this episode, we delve into the extraordinary story of Dewey Bozella, a man who spent 26 years in prison for a murder he did not commit. Despite the odds, Bozella never lost his determination and ambition, using his time behind bars to e…
The Case of Brian Banks: When False Accusations and Plea Bargains Derail Dreams
In this episode, we delve into the case of Brian Banks, a promising high school football player whose life was upended by a false accusation of sexual assault. We explore how the pressure to accept a plea bargain, despite his innocence, led…
The Case of Kevin Strickland: When Eyewitness Misidentification and No Physical Evidence Rob Innocence
In this episode, we delve into the case of Kevin Strickland, a man who spent over 40 years in prison for a triple murder he did not commit. We explore the role of eyewitness misidentification, the absence of physical evidence, and the relen…
The Norfolk Four: When Coerced Confessions Distort Justice
In this episode, we delve into the notorious case of the Norfolk Four, where four innocent Navy men were wrongfully convicted for a crime they didn't commit. We explore the role of coerced confessions, police misconduct, and the long battle…
The West Memphis Three: When Satanic Panic Obscures Justice
In this gripping 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, in 1993. We explore how societal fears and misconc…
The San Antonio Four: When Homophobia and Misinformation Derail Justice
In this episode, we delve into the case of the San Antonio Four - four Latina women wrongfully convicted of gang-raping two girls in the late 90s. We explore how homophobia, societal prejudices, and misinformation led to their conviction, a…
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…