One evening in March, 2003, a fire broke out in Deborah Nicholls' Colorado Springs, CO home, killing her three children. Her husband suffered significant burns, but escaped. After a 2-year investigation, it was determined that the fire was not accidental, and that Deborah and her husband started it for the insurance money. The trial was a battle of the experts – one presenting the junk science of arson evidence, one asserting that the science was outdated. The former triumphed, and Deborah was sent to prison for the murder of her children. Maggie speaks to Deborah Nicholls, Deborah's father, Douglas Baumgardner, and Deborah's attorneys, Anne-Marie Moyes, Director of the Korey Wise Innocence Project and Kathleen Lord, Staff Attorney at the Korey Wise Innocence Project.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/149-wrongful-conviction-junk-science-arson-evidence/

https://www.colorado.edu/outreach/korey-wise-innocence-project/

https://giving.cu.edu/fund/korey-wise-innocence-project-fund

District Attorney John Newsome:

https://www.denverpost.com/2009/01/15/former-springs-da-cited-for-official-misconduct-for-misusing-funds

https://gazette.com/news/newsome-i-sincerely-apologize/article_4886ac0d-fb7c-5c21-b7a2-15ea6c12ef4e.html

Assistant District Attorney Amy Mullaney:

https://www.9news.com/article/news/local/report-da-drove-county-vehicle-after-drinking-8-beers/73-343049675

Attorney Representing Tim Nicholls:

https://gazette.com/news/respected-colorado-springs-attorney-dennis-hartley-disbarred-over-misdeeds/article_c137be7a-c37e-11e9-aace-b7dbb10e4465.html 

May 07, 2010 20/20 episode Burned, The Amanda Gutweiler story:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0X8Bk8oBNG8 

If you'd like to write to Deborah, send mail to:

Deborah Nicholls #144097 PO BOX #392005 Denver, Co 80239

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

​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.

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