In the early morning hours of January 11, 1975, 14-year-old Sherese Watson was murdered by strangulation after leaving a house party in Bellport, New York, and her body was found that evening in a field near the party. There were groupings of small stab wounds in her back, and a hair pick was found near her body. Over 20 alibi witnesses placed 17-year-old Keith Bush in the house party at the time of Sherese's death, but one alleged partygoer, Maxine Bell, gave a statement that she would one day recant: that she saw Sherese and Keith leaving together after 1 AM. Ignoring a more compelling lead, Keith was tortured by detectives into signing a confession that he had not read which contained details that did not match reality. Keith recanted, but with the signed statement, Bell’s testimony, as well as detectives and a medical examiner who gave either false or erroneous testimony, Keith was convicted and sentenced to 20 years to life.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://www.trafford.com/en/bookstore/bookdetails/358402-POETIC-RAYS-VISIONARY-AND-MAGNETIC

https://www.tiktok.com/@ktbush5?lang=en

https://www.nyls.edu/post-conviction-innocence-clinic/

https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/

Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.