In 1985, Charles McCrory found his wife, Julie Bonds, brutally murdered in their Andalusia, Alabama, home. Just two small marks on her arm—misrepresented in court as a definitive “bite mark”—became the sole forensic evidence used to convict him for her murder.

A forensic odontologist, famed for testifying at Ted Bundy’s trial, claimed the impressions matched McCrory’s like a fingerprint. Yet decades later, that same expert fully recanted the testimony, acknowledging the scientific consensus now recognises bite mark evidence as unreliable “junk science”.

With no blood, no DNA, and hair in the victim’s hand that didn’t match McCrory’s, his conviction rested entirely on this flawed forensic interpretation. Over 40 years later, even as two independent forensic dentists testified that the so called bite mark was never human, Alabama courts repeatedly denied him a new trial, judging that his lengthy imprisonment still stood, and that procedural hurdles outweighed modern science

In July 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review his case. Justice Sotomayor warned that wrongful convictions like his, based on “faulty science,” are startlingly common and urged state and federal lawmakers to enact stronger safeguards to prevent miscarriages of justice.

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In 1985, Charles McCrory found his wife, Julie Bonds, brutally murdered in their Andalusia, Alabama, home. Just two small marks on her arm—misrepresented in court as a definitive “bite mark”—became the sole forensic evidence used to convict him for her murder.

A forensic odontologist, famed for testifying at Ted Bundy’s trial, claimed the impressions matched McCrory’s like a fingerprint. Yet decades later, that same expert fully recanted the testimony, acknowledging the scientific consensus now recognises bite mark evidence as unreliable “junk science”.

With no blood, no DNA, and hair in the victim’s hand that didn’t match McCrory’s, his conviction rested entirely on this flawed forensic interpretation. Over 40 years later, even as two independent forensic dentists testified that the so called bite mark was never human, Alabama courts repeatedly denied him a new trial, judging that his lengthy imprisonment still stood, and that procedural hurdles outweighed modern science

In July 2024, the U.S. Supreme Court refused to review his case. Justice Sotomayor warned that wrongful convictions like his, based on “faulty science,” are startlingly common and urged state and federal lawmakers to enact stronger safeguards to prevent miscarriages of justice.

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On December 11, 2000, Hani Zebib was fatally shot while working in his Detroit convenience store — a dream he had built after fleeing war-torn Lebanon in search of a better life. Among the young men involved in the robbery that day was Demel Dukes. Though Demel never pulled the trigger, he was sentenced to life without parole under the felony murder rule — a controversial legal doctrine that allows for harsh sentences even when a person didn’t carry out the killing themselves.

But what makes this story different isn’t just the law — it’s what happened after.

More than two decades later, the family of Hani Zebib have done something remarkable: they’ve forgiven Demel. In fact, they now advocate for his release.

In this powerful new series, Jack Laurence explores the layers of Demel’s life — from growing up surrounded by love but drawn into the streets, to the heartbreaking events that led to that fatal day.

It’s a story about loss, the justice system, and perhaps most importantly, the transformative power of forgiveness.

If you've ever questioned whether true redemption is possible, this is the story you need to hear.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

Check out Tariq's Change.org petition below:

https://www.change.org/p/urge-nj-gov-phil-murphy-to-grant-tariq-maqbool-s-clemency

read his articles here: https://captivevoices.com

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Today I catch up with Susan Brown. We recently heard Susan’s story—a woman serving life without parole for the murder of her former husband, a man she says attacked her. In what she describes as an act of self-defence, she stabbed him, inflicting injuries that would later prove fatal.

Since airing her episode, I’ve received a flood of messages, and there’s been plenty of discussion in the Facebook group about Susan’s case. Many listeners have connected with her—drawn to her perspective, resilience, and honesty about her situation. Susan has been remarkably open, not only about the events that led to her incarceration, but also about daily life inside the Michigan Department of Corrections.

So I arranged another conversation with her to explore just that—what life is really like for a woman in prison. As fate would have it, when she called, her facility was making national headlines across the U.S.—for all the wrong reasons.

In this episode, Susan and I discuss, as openly as we can with our conversation being monitored, the current lawsuit involving her facility, and what her day-to-day reality looks like behind prison walls.

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On April 27, 2005, Tariq Maqbool was convicted of the murders of Joong Ahn, 45 and his nephew, Mun Ahn, 28 on the night of Nov. 1, 2002.

Prosecutors say Tariq strangled Joong Ahn with a power cord.

They say Mun Ahn and his uncles body were taken to a desolate area near the Hackensack River and put into a car. Mun Ahn was shot in the head, and the SUV doused with gasoline and torched.

Prosecutors would say Tariq orchestrated the entire deal and committed the killings.

Tariq says it's all BS and lies he had nothing to do with it.

Check out Tariq's Change.org petition below:

https://www.change.org/p/urge-nj-gov-phil-murphy-to-grant-tariq-maqbool-s-clemency

read his articles here: https://captivevoices.com

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The probable cause conference is generally mandatory under Michigan law unless the defense and prosecution both agree to waive the conference.

To waive the probable cause conference, the parties must present a written document to the court indicating that the conference and/or preliminary examination have been waived. In some situations, this waiver may occur in court on the record, in which case a written document signed by both parties is unnecessary.

Some time ago one prisoner in the Michigan DOC discovered that his probable cause hearing had just been completely missed. An entire step in the procedural process.

However not just his, thousands of inmates across Michigan also never got a probable cause hearing.

So what does this mean?

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Today and over the next couple of episodes we are going to take a step out of prison and onto the other side of the bars and in fact the law as I sit down with a former Scotland Yard Detective... I was first introduced to Steve through my brother who for those who are not aware is himself a former police officer and host of his own podcast Protect and Serve. He had Steve on his show to discuss his career and some of the incredible cases that he has been apart of and I truly was fascinated by his story and so when the opportunity came up for me to chat with Steve for OMR I jumped at it.

Steve Keough spent 30 years working for the British Metropolitan police force starting his career in the early 90's and would very quickly decided that becoming a Detective was where his passion was.

In 2002 he would join Scotland Yards Anti Terrorist branch which would see him at ground zero investigating the horrific events of the 7/7 bombings his work on that tragic event would see him receiving a commendation from the commissioner of police in 2005.

In 2009 Steve joined Scotland yards Murder investigation team where he honed his skills in catching murders and putting them behind bars.

This conversation is fascinating as Steve takes us into the interview room and the mind of a killer, something he says we all have the capability of becoming.

A word of warning this chat with Steve is in parts highly confronting listener discretion is advised

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Hello and welcome back to one minute remaining my names Jack Laurence the host and creator of this show, today and over the next couple of episodes we are going to take a step out of prison and onto the other side of the bars and in fact the law as I sit down with a former Scotland Yard Detective... I was first introduced to Steve through my brother who for those who are not aware is himself a former police officer and host of his own podcast Protect and Serve. He had Steve on his show to discuss his career and some of the incredible cases that he has been apart of and I truly was fascinated by his story and so when the opportunity came up for me to chat with Steve for OMR I jumped at it.

Steve Keough spent 30 years working for the British Metropolitan police force starting his career in the early 90's and would very quickly decided that becoming a Detective was where his passion was.

In 2002 he would join Scotland Yards Anti Terrorist branch which would see him at ground zero investigating the horrific events of the 7/7 bombings his work on that tragic event would see him receiving a commendation from the commissioner of police in 2005.

In 2009 Steve joined Scotland yards Murder investigation team where he honed his skills in catching murders and putting them behind bars.

This conversation is fascinating as Steve takes us into the interview room and the mind of a killer, something he says we all have the capability of becoming.

A word of warning this chat with Steve is in parts highly confronting listener discretion is advised.

Check out Steve's podcast here -

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Today I catch up with the man they call 'The voice of reason'.

Today we not only discuss the case of Corey Elder but we look at the dismissal of the case against Alec Baldwin and an update in the case of Marcellus Williams.

Michael Leonard from Leonard trial lawyers in Chicago Illinois is a man with over 30 years experience as a defense attorney an a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the legal system in the USA.

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Hello and welcome back to one minute remaining my name is Jack Laurence the host and creator of this show.

Today we travel, for the first time, to the state of New Jersey to speak with a man housed in the infamous New Jersey state prison once called Trenton prison.

Trenton is home to arguably some of the worst criminals America ha seen. Including a number of serial killers such as Charles Cullen, Frank Masini and the late Richard Kaklinski.

However the man I'm speaking with today is no serial killer although he was convicted of murder a crime he says was self defense.

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Hello and welcome back to one minute remaining my name is Jack Laurence the host and creator of this show.

Today we travel, for the first time, to the state of New Jersey to speak with a man housed in the infamous New Jersey state prison once called Trenton prison.

Trenton is home to arguably some of the worst criminals America ha seen. Including a number of serial killers such as Charles Cullen, Frank Masini and the late Richard Kaklinski.

However the man I'm speaking with today is no serial killer although he was convicted of murder a crime he says was self defense.

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Hello and welcome back to one minute remaining my name is Jack Laurence the host and creator of this show.

Today we meet a man named Rio, Rio is not his real name and it's the only one we'll be getting because if authorities got wind of who he really was then he would end up spending a long time in the hole, why? well you're about to find out..

Over the course of the last 18 months I have spoken to countless men and women who are currently incarcerated across the united states.

One of the biggest questions I get is How? how do I find them and how can you talk to these people, record these stories and put them out??

well sometimes, they find me.

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Hello and Welcome back to One Minute Remaining, today I'm sitting down with American social psychologist and a professor at the University of California, Santa Cruz DR Craig Haney.

 I am currently in the process of working on a new project with a gentlemen who is incarcerated in San Quentin prison, now I'm going to be annoying and say I wont be telling you at this stage what that is but as part of this project I was looking for certain experts to weigh in and take part, I do love an expert, one of those experts I found was a man by the name of Dr Craig Haney.

I reached out to him and asked if he would chat with me to which he agreed.

What I didn't know at the time was not only is he a highly regarded professor and psychologist who has spent his life studying capital punishment and the psychological impact of and the American Prison system but he was also one of the researchers who conducted the 1970s experiment known as the Stanford prison experiment.

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In this episode, I’m joined once again by Michael Leonard of Leonard Trial Lawyers in Chicago — known to many of you as The Voice of Reason. Together, we unpack the troubling case of Joshua Sedgmen, a young man wrongfully convicted of armed robbery despite a complete lack of evidence tying him to the crime. Michael shares his expert legal opinion on the failings of the prosecution, the misuse and mishandling of DNA evidence, and the disturbing reality that it can cost someone thousands just to prove their own innocence. We also dive into the glaring issue of prosecutorial accountability — or the lack thereof — and ask why no one is held responsible when lives are shattered by misconduct and negligence.

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The story of Corey Elder is by no means anything unusual when it comes to incarcerated people across the US.

He found himself at a young age having a run in with the law that sent him down the wrong path. However after his first long stint behind bars he had made the decision that he was done and wanted to make a change.

He got a job and was about to become a father when all of a sudden his life would change forever and he would be handed a sentence that would see him incarcerated until his then unborn daughter would be 46 years old.

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The story of Corey Elder is by no means anything unusual when it comes to incarcerated people across the US.

He found himself at a young age having a run in with the law that sent him down the wrong path. However after his first long stint behind bars he had made the decision that he was done and wanted to make a change.

He got a job and was about to become a father when all of a sudden his life would change forever and he would be handed a sentence that would see him incarcerated until his then unborn daughter would be 46 years old.

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As always it's time to get the thoughts of OMR's voice of reason, a man with decades of experience as a defense attorney from Leonard Trial Lawyers in Chicago Illinois, Mr. Michael Leonard, as we discuss the case against Marcellus William's.

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Marcellus Williams was handed a death sentence in 2001 for the murder of Felicia Gale, its a crime he not only says he didn't commit but one that a number of independent experts say DNA evidence has proved he's innocent of...

The threat of death is nothing new for the man who has spent over two decades in prison trying to fight his conviction, just a few weeks ago the Missouri Supreme court scheduled Marcellus to be executed on September 24th at 6pm.

it's in fact the third time he's been given a date and only narrowly escaped death by a couple of hours the last time.

I first came across his story when I saw a post that had been made by the innocence project who, a long with a number of other attorneys, has been fighting Marcellus's case for sometime.

After seeing his story I wanted to reach out to see if he and I could speak.

I wasn't keen on my chances as I have attempted to speak with others on death row before but with no joy. There sentence is usually carried out different to general population, they are confined to their cells in a form of solitary confinement with strict access to communication.

None the less I tracked down Marcellus and sent him a message, he replied telling me that he in fact had 24/7 access to a phone within his cell.

Seemingly a privileged offered to those who have been given their date.

Sign the petition to save Marcellus Williams from being killed by the state...

https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-marcellus-williams-an-innocent-man/

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On many occasions during the course of this shows life I have said on many occasions that I strongly believe we are all just one stupid decision away from potentially ruining our lives, that is especially true when we are young.

I made many poor decisions as a youngster, decisions that I look back on today and just thank my luck stars that they didn't go south.

Of course, some of us make poorer decisions than others, my decisions were made based on stupid judgments, usually fueled by alcohol, Chris Willars decision was based on a warped sense of family loyalty, wanting to belong and an underpinning anger.

Today Christopher Willars or 'life', as he's known to his friends, is a free man a changed man and a principal at a school.

So how did he go from looking down the barrel of 144 years in prison to where he is today?

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On many occasions during the course of this shows life I have said on many occasions that I strongly believe we are all just one stupid decision away from potentially ruining our lives, that is especially true when we are young.

I made many poor decisions as a youngster, decisions that I look back on today and just thank my luck stars that they didn't go south.

Of course, some of us make poorer decisions than others, my decisions were made based on stupid judgments, usually fueled by alcohol, Chris Willars decision was based on a warped sense of family loyalty, wanting to belong and an underpinning anger.

Today Christopher Willars or 'life', as he's known to his friends, is a free man a changed man and a principal at a school.

So how did he go from looking down the barrel of 144 years in prison to where he is today?

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Today I speak with a man who the state of Missouri has decided, has 3 months to live.

Marcellus Williams was handed a death sentence in 2001 for the murder of Felicia Gale, its a crime he not only says he didn't commit but one that a number of independent experts say DNA evidence has proved he's innocent of...

The threat of death is nothing new for the man who has spent over two decades in prison trying to fight his conviction, just a few weeks ago the Missouri Supreme court scheduled Marcellus to be executed on September 24th at 6pm.

it's in fact the third time he's been given a date and only narrowly escaped death by a couple of hours the last time.

I first came across his story when I saw a post that had been made by the innocence project who, a long with a number of other attorneys, has been fighting Marcellus's case for sometime.

After seeing his story I wanted to reach out to see if he and I could speak.

I wasn't keen on my chances as I have attempted to speak with others on death row before but with no joy. There sentence is usually carried out different to general population, they are confined to their cells in a form of solitary confinement with strict access to communication.

None the less I tracked down Marcellus and sent him a message, he replied telling me that he in fact had 24/7 access to a phone within his cell.

Seemingly a privileged offered to those who have been given their date.

Sign the petition to save Marcellus Williams from being killed by the state... https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-marcellus-williams-an-innocent-man/

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As always after each of the cases we look at it's time to catch up with the man they call 'The Voice of Reason' a man with decades of trial experience as a defense attorney in Chicago Illinois, Australia's favourite attorney at law, Michael Leonard, as we discuss the case of Christopher Dunn.

In 1991, Dunn was convicted of murder in St. Louis, Missouri, based largely on the testimonies of two teenagers who later recanted their statements. There was no physical evidence linking Dunn to the crime, and he consistently maintained his innocence. Despite these facts, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Over the years, multiple witnesses and even the original teenage accusers admitted that their testimonies were fabricated under police pressure.

Despite compelling evidence of his innocence and a judge even stating in 2020 that no jury would find him guilty today, legal hurdles have prevented his release, highlighting the systemic challenges faced by those wrongfully convicted.

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Today I speak with a man who the state of Missouri has decided, has 3 months to live.

Marcellus Williams was handed a death sentence in 2001 for the murder of Felicia Gale, its a crime he not only says he didn't commit but one that a number of independent experts say DNA evidence has proved he's innocent of...

The threat of death is nothing new for the man who has spent over two decades in prison trying to fight his conviction, just a few weeks ago the Missouri Supreme court scheduled Marcellus to be executed on September 24th at 6pm.

it's in fact the third time he's been given a date and only narrowly escaped death by a couple of hours the last time.

I first came across his story when I saw a post that had been made by the innocence project who, a long with a number of other attorneys, has been fighting Marcellus's case for sometime.

After seeing his story I wanted to reach out to see if he and I could speak.

I wasn't keen on my chances as I have attempted to speak with others on death row before but with no joy. There sentence is usually carried out different to general population, they are confined to their cells in a form of solitary confinement with strict access to communication.

None the less I tracked down Marcellus and sent him a message, he replied telling me that he in fact had 24/7 access to a phone within his cell.

Seemingly a privileged offered to those who have been given their date.

Sign the petition to save Marcellus Williams from being killed by the state... https://innocenceproject.org/petitions/stop-the-execution-of-marcellus-williams-an-innocent-man/

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Almost one year ago I was scrolling through Instagram when I stumbled across a page dedicated to one of the many innocence style organisations that is dotted across the united states, setup in response to thee overwhelming number of people who are incarcerated for crimes they didn't commit.

On the page there was a photograph of a young African American boy pictured with a big smile wearing a baseball outfit the name of that boy was Damian Skinner.... the story spoke of how Damian had been arrested tried and convicted for a murder in 1996, Damian had been convicted with next to no evidence, apart from a so called eye witness, who didn't even see the crime take place. He would tell police that he saw Damian in a car head in the direction of the crime and then moments later heard gun shots.

Damian's older brother was a known gang member and he said that police believed he'd in fact committed the crime but with no evidence to arrest him they brought Damian in and told him he would need to testify against his brother or face prison himself. He refused and sealed his fate..

Damian would spend the next almost 28 years fighting to clear his name without success. Eventually coming up for parole but was denied multiple times, the biggest hurdle was the fact that he was never willing to admit to the crime and thus in the eyes of the board he was not taking ownership or showing any remorse.

however on his most recent appearance he would have legal representation and a strong argument was put forward and finally he was granted his parole...

Almost 6 months later it's time to check in with Damian to see how he's doing as a free man.

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In 1991, Dunn was convicted of murder in St. Louis, Missouri, based largely on the testimonies of two teenagers who later recanted their statements. There was no physical evidence linking Dunn to the crime, and he consistently maintained his innocence. Despite these facts, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Over the years, multiple witnesses and even the original teenage accusers admitted that their testimonies were fabricated under police pressure.

Despite compelling evidence of his innocence and a judge even stating in 2020 that no jury would find him guilty today, legal hurdles have prevented his release, highlighting the systemic challenges faced by those wrongfully convicted.

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Former Lieutenant John Kennedy was a decorated officer with the Detroit Police Department—a man driven by a deep desire to help others, protect the innocent, and bring criminals to justice. Over the course of his career, he was shot at multiple times, struck by a car, arrested countless suspects, and even served on close protection detail, prepared to take a bullet for someone else.

But today, this officer with a spotless record finds himself on the other side of the justice system. Kennedy faced federal charges and ultimately served time in connection with a Detroit towing company corruption scheme—an investigation that saw numerous police officers and city officials charged with bribery.

In this episode, I sit down with John, now back home on parole after completing his prison sentence. We talk about his time behind bars, what life is really like for a former law enforcement officer in prison, and whether the experience has changed his perspective on incarceration—and the people who end up there.

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Today it's time to talk the case of Brad Hays with Australia's favourite attorney of law, Michael Leonard.

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When you hear that someone has been handed a sentence of life plus 104 years you'd be forgiven for thinking that today I am sitting down with some sort of serial killer, or someone who has committed some incredibly heinous crimes but you'd be wrong.

Brad Hays is currently serving his incredible sentence in the state of Missouri. Brad is no career criminal, in fact up until this sentence he had never been to prison. Brad Hays did not kill anyone, he wasn't even present when someone was killed, in fact no one died at all in Brad's case.

So how and why has Brad been essentially handed a death sentence?

This is the story of Bradley Hays as told by him from his prison cell.

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In 1991, Dunn was convicted of murder in St. Louis, Missouri, based largely on the testimonies of two teenagers who later recanted their statements. There was no physical evidence linking Dunn to the crime, and he consistently maintained his innocence. Despite these facts, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Over the years, multiple witnesses and even the original teenage accusers admitted that their testimonies were fabricated under police pressure.

Despite compelling evidence of his innocence and a judge even stating in 2020 that no jury would find him guilty today, legal hurdles have prevented his release, highlighting the systemic challenges faced by those wrongfully convicted.

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Well it's that time again! Today I sit down with the man they call the voice of reason Mr. Michael Leonard from Leonard trial lawyers in Chicago Illinois to discuss the latest case, which today is the case of Raymundo Chagolla.

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On January 10, 2000, Raymundo Chagolla, who was 18 years old at the time, was at home recovering from the flu and watching The Simpsons. Around 8:40 p.m. at the Stardust Motel in Riverside, California, a tragic incident occurred. Billy Medlin, a resident of the hotel, was helping someone at the motel’s soda machine when a man approached them. The man yelled at Medlin, referred to him as “white boy homie,” and shot and killed him. The shooter then fled towards the back alley, firing his gun at the building before disappearing from view.

Despite the prosecution being unable to establish a clear motive for the shooting, Raymundo was charged and convicted based on contaminated eyewitness identifications and unrecorded hearsay statements. Raymundo consistently maintained that he was at home during the shooting and cooperated with the police throughout the investigation.

During the trial, it was not disclosed to the defense that there were others who had a clear motive to want Medlin dead.

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In 1991, Dunn was convicted of murder in St. Louis, Missouri, based largely on the testimonies of two teenagers who later recanted their statements.

There was no physical evidence linking Dunn to the crime, and he consistently maintained his innocence.

Despite these facts, he was sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. Over the years, multiple witnesses and even the original teenage accusers admitted that their testimonies were fabricated under police pressure.

Despite compelling evidence of his innocence and a judge even stating in 2020 that no jury would find him guilty today, legal hurdles have prevented his release, highlighting the systemic challenges faced by those wrongfully convicted.

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I don't think a week goes by when someone doesn't mention to me the name Evaristo Salas Jnr.

Evaristo's story has touched so many people, it's had us in tears of sadness and of joy and today is most certainly the latter as I sit down with Jnr after almost 8 months of freedom to hear how he's going and what's next for the man who lost 27 years of his life because of a lie.

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I don't think a week goes by when someone doesn't mention to me the name Evaristo Salas Jnr.

Evaristo's story has touched so many people, it's had us in tears of sadness and of joy and today is most certainly the latter as I sit down with Jnr after almost 8 months of freedom to hear how he's going and what's next for the man who lost 27 years of his life because of a lie.

Become a member of the OMR family and start enjoying the benefits NOW.

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When you hear that someone has been handed a sentence of life plus 104 years you'd be forgiven for thinking that today I am sitting down with some sort of serial killer, or someone who has committed some incredibly heinous crimes but you'd be wrong.

Brad Hays is currently serving his incredible sentence in the state of Missouri. Brad is no career criminal, in fact up until this sentence he had never been to prison. Brad Hays did not kill anyone, he wasn't even present when someone was killed, in fact no one died at all in Brad's case.

So how and why has Brad been essentially handed a death sentence?

This is the story of Bradley Hays as told by him from his prison cell.

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Maggie Freleng is a Pulitzer Prize winning journalist and producer based in New York City reporting on wrongful convictions, the criminal legal system and social issues. She is the host and producer of the Signal and Anthem award winning podcast "Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng", as well as "Murder in Alliance" and "Unjust & Unsolved." She is also the host and producer of the Pulitzer Prize winning podcast "Suave" on PRX. "Suave" also won the 2022 International Documentary Award and Maggie was nominated for the 2022 Livingston Award for National Reporting on "Suave". 

Maggie is a powerhouse of journalism and podcasting and I couldn't be more excited to welcome her to OMR.

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When you hear that someone has been handed a sentence of life plus 104 years you'd be forgiven for thinking that today I am sitting down with some sort of serial killer, or someone who has committed some incredibly heinous crimes but you'd be wrong.

Brad Hays is currently serving his incredible sentence in the state of Missouri. Brad is no career criminal, in fact up until this sentence he had never been to prison. Brad Hays did not kill anyone, he wasn't even present when someone was killed, in fact no one died at all in Brad's case.

So how and why has Brad been essentially handed a death sentence?

This is the story of Bradley Hays as told by him from his prison cell.

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Today I catch up with David Bomber as he looks to ask the Governor for clemency in his case....

On June 5th, 2010, the David Bomber would meat Larry Michael Worrell II for the very first time at the pool at the apartment complex where they both Lived. A short time later, Worrell and David left the pool area and began drinking. Later, Worrell and David would pick up David's girlfriend at the time, who also met Worrell for the first time that day.

David says that Michael, a former Marine would talk of his PTSD and becoming increasingly distraught, eventually snapping in a rage and placing David in a "military-style" chokehold to the point that he nearly lost consciousness, which occurred inside his own apartment.

It was at this point that his girlfriend intervened, enabling David to escape from Worrell's grasp where he then fled to his kitchen. After being pursued by Worrell, David armed himself with a STEAK KNIFE and stabbed him in the chest ONE TIME.

David says he would attempt first aid but it wasn't working. He would make the decision to flea the scene and was later arrested.

Sadly, on January 15th, 2011, Michael Worrell passed away from complications from the wound and David's charges would be upgraded to include second degree murder.

David lost his case of self defense and was sentenced to 41 years 60 Days.

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This week, I sit down with the founder of Firefly Advocates, a grassroots organisation in the United States dedicated to supporting incarcerated individuals and fighting for justice reform. We discuss what inspired the creation of Firefly, the challenges of advocacy work behind prison walls, and the power of human connection in some of the darkest corners of the justice system. From wrongful convictions to life sentences without parole, this conversation shines a light on the overlooked — and the advocates working tirelessly to bring them back into focus.

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On January 10, 2000, Raymundo Chagolla, who was 18 years old at the time, was at home recovering from the flu and watching The Simpsons. Around 8:40 p.m. at the Stardust Motel in Riverside, California, a tragic incident occurred. Billy Medlin, a resident of the hotel, was helping someone at the motel’s soda machine when a man approached them. The man yelled at Medlin, referred to him as “white boy homie,” and shot and killed him. The shooter then fled towards the back alley, firing his gun at the building before disappearing from view.

Despite the prosecution being unable to establish a clear motive for the shooting, Raymundo was charged and convicted based on contaminated eyewitness identifications and unrecorded hearsay statements. Raymundo consistently maintained that he was at home during the shooting and cooperated with the police throughout the investigation.

During the trial, it was not disclosed to the defense that there were others who had a clear motive to want Medlin dead.

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Well it's that time again! Today we catch up with the man they call 'The voice of reason' Michael Leonard is a wealth of knowledge when it comes to the US justice system. He has over 30 years of experience as a defense attorney and always brings incredible incites and thoughts to the cases we discuss.

Today we talk about the case of Gerald L Johnson. Charged with felony murder after being involved in a police chase which would end in disaster as an innocent women is killed when Gerald collided with her vehicle.

Gerald was accused of carrying a firearm at the time of the crash and this fact alone would see him charged with Felony Murder. Gerald says he didn't have a gun that day and that the prosecutor fabricated one in order to charge him with a more serious crime.

So what does Mr. Leonard think?

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On January 10, 2000, Raymundo Chagolla, who was 18 years old at the time, was at home recovering from the flu and watching The Simpsons. Around 8:40 p.m. at the Stardust Motel in Riverside, California, a tragic incident occurred. Billy Medlin, a resident of the hotel, was helping someone at the motel’s soda machine when a man approached them. The man yelled at Medlin, referred to him as “white boy homie,” and shot and killed him. The shooter then fled towards the back alley, firing his gun at the building before disappearing from view.

Despite the prosecution being unable to establish a clear motive for the shooting, Raymundo was charged and convicted based on contaminated eyewitness identifications and unrecorded hearsay statements. Raymundo consistently maintained that he was at home during the shooting and cooperated with the police throughout the investigation.

During the trial, it was not disclosed to the defense that there were others who had a clear motive to want Medlin dead.

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On January 10, 2000, Raymundo Chagolla, who was 18 years old at the time, was at home recovering from the flu and watching The Simpsons. Around 8:40 p.m. at the Stardust Motel in Riverside, California, a tragic incident occurred. Billy Medlin, a resident of the hotel, was helping someone at the motel’s soda machine when a man approached them. The man yelled at Medlin, referred to him as “white boy homie,” and shot and killed him. The shooter then fled towards the back alley, firing his gun at the building before disappearing from view.

Despite the prosecution being unable to establish a clear motive for the shooting, Raymundo was charged and convicted based on contaminated eyewitness identifications and unrecorded hearsay statements. Raymundo consistently maintained that he was at home during the shooting and cooperated with the police throughout the investigation.

During the trial, it was not disclosed to the defense that there were others who had a clear motive to want Medlin dead.

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Today I catch up with the man they call, the voice of reason. Michael Leonard is a defense attorney with decades of trial experience and a wealth of knowledge in the US legal system and as always he gives us his professional opinion on our latest case, which today is the story of Dandre Lane.

On the 2nd December of 2011 Dandre Lane says that while driving to his former partners home with their two year old daughter he was carjacked.

A man with a gun not only took his car but also his daughter. After police are alerted to the crime they start the hunt for baby Bianca. Dandre's car would be found shortly after the alarm had been raised, still running with doors open but no Bianca.

Dandre and his former partner both say that police from the very beginning never believed Dandre's story and because of his criminal history they instantly turned their attention to him and believed he had killed his daughter.

Dandre would eventually ne charged with the murder of his daughter but with baby Bianca still missing what would the state bring as evidence? A cadaver dog all the way from the UK.

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