It’s 1989. James Gibson is back in Chicago for Christmas when he’s picked up by police on suspicion of murder. He will end up spending nearly 30 years in prison, convicted of a crime he’d one day be cleared of. That cold December night would spark a decades-long fight for justice — one that’s entwined in a dark legacy of torture perpetrated by Chicago police commander Jon Burge and his “Midnight Crew.”  

This is part one of a three-part series. This episode contains descriptions of violence.

Host: Omar Jimenez

Producers: Graelyn Brashear, Madeleine Thompson, Emily Williams, Kyra Dahring, Sofia Sanchez, and Lauren Kim  

Editor: Lacy Roberts 

Technical director: Dan Dzula  

Executive producer of CNN Podcasts: Steve Lickteig  

Production help from: Jake Sorgen, Joe DeCeault, David Guggenheim, and Jessica Pupovac

An earlier version of this episode stated James Gibson's initial trial was in 1990. It was in 1991. This episode has been updated to reflect that change.

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