This episode is the second in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. This series will allow listeners to see a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals.

Today's episode features Timothy Catlett.

Growing up in and out of the foster care system, Mr. Catlett has gone against the odds his whole life. But he doesn't let the challenges he's faced affect his ability to lead a full life. Timothy volunteers at the Free Minds Book Club and regularly attends church. He plans to marry his fiancée, Monique, next summer. Timothy is a hard worker, clocking in fourteen-hour days to earn an income for his new family and to reach his goals.

This episode is the first in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Today's episode features Charles Turner.

Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. They are so much more than the terrible things that happened to them. They're husbands, fathers, friends, supervisors, and mentors, among many other things. This series will allow listeners to see a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals.

Charles Turner spends countless hours volunteering for Free Minds Book Club, where he mentors young people reentering the community from prison. He leads a custodial team at one of the largest libraries in DC. In his spare time, Charles volunteers at homeless shelters.

In the summer of 2024, the men from the 8th and H Case submitted applications for a Presidential pardon. Lawyers Shawn Armbrust (Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project) and Eden Schiffmann (Williams & Connolly) share what went into this arduous process. Chris Turner discusses the immense impact a Presidential pardon would have on his life.

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There are two critical actions you can take to support the pardon effort.

1. First, you can go to 8thandHjustice.com  to add your name to the list of supporters. It takes no more than two minutes. There are two separate links: one for former or current DC residents and one for non-DC residents. You can find this on the "get involved" page.

2. Second, share your thoughts about the case on any social media platform using the hashtag #8thandHJustice. In recent years, we've seen the power of social media in influencing Presidential pardon decisions. Your posts can increase public pressure, making it more likely that the 8th and H case will catch the president's attention.

Six of the surviving accused men adjust to life outside of prison walls. In a final act, they consider a last-ditch effort to clear their names and bring justice to light: a presidential pardon. 

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If you want to support a presidential pardon for the men from the 8th and H case, there are 3 things you can do.

First, start conversations about the 8th and H case. Discuss it with your friends and family. Write to your member of Congress to make sure they know about it. Post about it on social media and tag the White House. Use the hashtag #TheAlleyPod to join in the conversation with others.

Second, if you’d like to write a letter of support to be included in the pardon application, you can email it to the Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project at [email protected].

And third, share this podcast with as many people as you can.  If you have questions about any of this, you can email me directly at [email protected].

Two decades later, the Catherine Fuller murder case is cracked open again—with the support of a dogged reporter, the Innocence Project, and a team of expert lawyers. And in a moment of hope, it goes all the way to the Supreme Court, where only 2 percent of cases are accepted. 

An unchecked theory leads to the incarceration of eight young Black men. What is it like to live in prison for decades for a crime you didn’t commit? The accused share their firsthand experience, and criminal justice reform experts Reuben Jonathan Miller, Josie Duffy Rice, Christine Montross, and Melissa Segura “zoom out” to discuss the long-term impacts of incarceration.

As the accused prepare for trial, the theory of a “vicious gang killing” is presented as fact by the media. Listeners discover that key evidence was hidden from the defense attorneys by the prosecutors. This represents a constitutional violation of the Brady rule, which requires the disclosure of any material evidence. 

A series of chain reactions resulted in police arresting 17 young Black people for the murder of Catherine Fuller. Four charges were dropped, and two suspects pleaded guilty to lesser crimes. Meanwhile, 11 of the arrestees—all of whom maintained their innocence—prepared to face the biggest murder trial in Washington, DC’s history.

Intense interrogation tactics and a threat of life in prison leads to a coerced confession, setting off a chain reaction that would ultimately lead to 17 arrests. False confession experts Jim Trainum and Marissa Bluestine weigh in on why innocent people confess to crimes they didn’t commit.

Follow New America on all platforms and use #TheAlleyPod to share your thoughts.