Based on stories from the Innocence Network, a worldwide organization dedicated to exonerating the wrongfully convicted, this four-part series explores the investigations that unjustly led individuals to prison, the battles to revisit their cases, new investigations and the human cost: the emotional impact experienced by those convicted and their families.
1. Barry Gibbs Case: A Vietnam vet maintains his innocence after being accused of strangling a prostitute in 1986.
2. The Lewis Jim Fogle Case: Having already served 34 years for murder and sexual assault convictions, a man has a chance at freedom with DNA testing.
3. The Alan Newton Case
Sentenced to 40 years in prison, a man starts studying law to decipher his file and prove his innocence.
4. The George Toca AKA “Chicken” Case
New Orleans, 1984. A 17-year-old is sentenced to life in prison for his friend’s accidental shooting death.
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Even one minute in jail is not a presumption of innocence. A judge should have solid evidence before they can sign warrants. No immunity for judges or police. They should be in civil court for every jailed innocent person.
I recall watching a documentary on the Angola prison. A man was in prison, been there for decades accused of raping sisters.
Now the part that gets me out of ALL the crazy BS that qualifies as red flags was the aspect that one sister, vocally, over and over voiced he violently marginally raped her. This was in the arrest phase, trial and the probation hearings.
During one of the probation hearings that is shown on this documentary is where the panel of ‘experts’ that would decide if he got parole, were all shown the official medical documentation from the rape tests done after the assault. Strangely it’s noted this woman’s hymen was still intact.
What?!
I thought sure I’d misunderstood. And you can go back and watch the faces of those parole board members when they realize what was just shown to them, that there was no way on earth she could have been marginally raped-violently, and still have an intact hyphen.
What did the parole board do? Not a goddamn thing than to deny his parole request.
Understand precisely what came with that decision. Either these ladies were lying completely or they greatly embellished their story and a serial rapist is still on the streets.
But zoom out from that to see the bigger picture… it’s situations and actions like this that make it so damn difficult for victims of SA to come forward. It makes people more suspicious. There was not a single solitary positive aspect in this case. And when the ignorance is at this level, I’d happily support criminal charges be filed.
This still makes my brain stutter…. Yet we should provide blanket support and respect to our entire legal system and DOC. Seriously?!?
Louisiana is without a doubt the scummiest state government and justice system of any state. Innocence isnt a reason for overturning a conviction? How is that constitutional in any way? Thats some racist antebellum South for you. Its a dystopia and they extorted George with the threat of being subjected to a intentionally broken and prolonged 'legal' process.
Jim should make Jim’s Law in Pennsylvania so people can be for wrong doings in there life
I love how compassionate the attorneys are at the innocence project! ❤️
All of these stories are so sad, but Alan’s story had me crying so hard! It’s ridiculous that he still hasn’t gotten his money for what they did to him! 💔
The story about Alan Newton is really heartbreaking. Alan, his family and the Innocence Project are heros.
If anyone is interested on how to stop corrupt cops and DA's from sending innocent people to prison for crimes they didn't commit. It's real simple any cop or DA that knowingly convicts or frames an innocent person to prison for a crime they didn't commit they'll automatically get 10 years in prison. The problem we have in America is there are no consequences for those who run the system. It's the same for any gov employee they fck up and there's no punishment in fact they get promoted if they fck up, insane right? Well I say no more you as a gov employee fck up well than you get prison time. You'll see a corrupt system fix itself real quick when these scumbags face real consequences for their corruption. Sadly, It will never happen though to many Americans are just cowards they'll support a Hitler before they ever push back against the system sorry but thats just a fact right cowards?
So sad 😞
I am blown away by Barry's courage and determination to survive, seek justice and then fight for a comfortable life free from the demons that were imposed on him. The Innocence Project is such a worthwhile organization. Finally, those sisters are as kind as they are talented. May their lives be filled with the reaped rewards of their kindness.
In any other area that deal George toca was forced to make so Louisiana justice system could save face would be considered undue duress, it's disgusting what they did !
So wrong to twist people to get out of jail. The killer goes completely free. The laws are made for the criminal. NOT for honest people. Then being forced to sign a document to be released is WRONG.
Propaganda machine – this is all b.s.
After seeing the Michael Morton story.. the man in Texas, who went to work one morning, and being arrested for the brutal murder of his wife, when he got off.. it is impossible to not realize this can happen to anyone.
A prosecutor, a sheriff… who absolutely have no regard for the truth, the next thing he knows, he is serving a life without parole sentence….. and miraculously 25 years later, these beautiful people help him get his freedom..
I can never watch a story like Barry’s…. Without a tear in my eye… it is so wrong.. and it happens way more than people realize.
The innocence project is doing God’s work, you can’t help but to love them 💙
The Innocence Project is an extremely Important Project.
It is fantastic to know that a gentleman such as Barry was freed by these wonderful people, when they get it right. Having said that, I wish they would discern between this man and a true monster like Scott Peterson.
A crime, unsolved, NEVER goes away. It MUST be solved, there's simply no avoiding it. CASE-IN-POINT> Beth Andes' case.
who, not whp
The real victims, besides the persons, killed or robbed of their life-savings, are ALL of the CHILDREN, of the suspects, whose lives were turned upside-down. All because critical witnesses, were too cowardly, to point their fingers, at whp REALLY did the crimes. Very sad😞.
I have a friend who got arrested twice because he had the same first & last name as a guy with a lengthy rap sheet. The last time he spent a week in jail for stealing a lawnmower & a case of beer. They finally realized the mistake & let him go but his work fired him thinking he was a thief. He spent thousands in attorney fees trying to get it off his record but he ran out of money & was unable to get it expunged.
Thank YOU !!!!!! Innocence Project for your Service.
I m not rich, but is there any contribution, people like me could make to be of some assistance….
Ain't this the same org that got a con out and he was arrested again for dismembering a person?
34 years and no compensation shameful
Wait, isnt the this the same program that advocated for and worked with a criminal who was actually guilty but got off on a technicality and like 4 months later was caught red handed dismembering someone? So who investigates after you? Because it seems like people fall therough the cracka everywhere
I also know of many rapist and murders they have helped gain parole who have salvagely committed the same crimes that brought them to prison in the beginning . This is also sadly a part of their history . I find it interesting they also don’t mention the millions of dollars they receive from the government .