Wrongful Conviction

Jeffrey Deskovic’s first Wrongful Conviction episode was originally published in 2017, and his story is one we’ve returned to many times over the years — not only because of the 16 years he lost in prison for a murder he didn’t commit, but because of what he chose to do with his life after he was finally exonerated.

Jeffrey’s story also has an extraordinary connection to two cases we’ve recently revisited on this show: Andrew Krivak and Anthony DiPippo. The same polygraph operator who helped extract a false confession from Jeffrey when he was just 16 years old was later involved in the interrogation that produced Andy Krivak’s false confession. And years later, Jeffrey and the Deskovic Foundation helped fight to free Andy — Jeffrey even put up his own home as collateral for Andy’s bail.

If you’ve been listening to Bone Valley: The Devil’s Quarry, Jeffrey’s story provides important context for the cases of Anthony DiPippo and Andy Krivak — and for how wrongful convictions like these happen in the first place.

Also, be sure to check out 16 Years, a film by Jia Rizvi about Jeffrey’s wrongful conviction and the work he’s done since.

Wrongful Conviction  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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When teenager Robin Murphy goes missing, her friends and co-workers organize a search.

Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the next entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology.

To hear this episode in its entirety, search for Bone Valley Season 6 | The Devil's Quarry II wherever you listen to podcasts. 

New episodes are available every Wednesday.

Listeners can hear new episodes ad-free by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts.

The Devil’s Quarry II is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with  Signal Co. No1.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special episode was recorded in 2017 with Anthony DiPippo, 6 months after his release from prison.
Anthony’s case concerns the murder of Josette Wright, a 12-year-old girl whose body was found in November 1995 in a wooded area of Putnam County, NY with her hands and feet tied behind her back and her underwear shoved down her throat. A few weeks later, detectives from the sheriff’s office picked up an unsuspecting teenager on drug charges, and managed to coerce him into pointing the finger at a group of his friends, including Anthony DiPippo and Andrew Krivak. That same sheriff’s office used a since-discredited polygraph expert to get a false confession out of Andy, which ultimately led to both Andy and Anthony being sentenced to 25 to life for the rape and murder of Josette Wright.
Since the release of this episode, Anthony settled his civil suits against the sheriff’s department and was awarded $12 million by Putnam County.

To hear a lot more about Anthony’s story and where he is now, check out Bone Valley Season 5, "The Devil's Quarry." Host Paul Solotaroff deeply investigates Anthony’s case and the person who may have been implicated instead.

And a second installment of The Devil’s Quarry is coming soon. Paul is back in the same small New York town, reporting on a crime with eerie similarities to the one Anthony was originally convicted of. Look out for the first episode on September 30th, you won’t want to miss it.

Wrongful Conviction  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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If Season 1 of The Devil’s Quarry was a horror story, Season 2 is a ghost story.

More than 30 years after 17-year-old Robin Murphy vanished from Carmel, New York, investigative journalist Paul Solotaroff and reporter Kathleen Horan plunge into the cold case that has haunted the community for decades. Robin was last seen with a convicted violent predator who was never charged in her disappearance. Now, as the original case file is reopened, new witnesses emerge, old evidence is reconsidered, and the search for Robin enters its most critical chapter. Can the truth finally be uncovered before time runs out? Or will one of New York’s most haunting mysteries remain a ghost story forever?

Award-winning investigative journalist and longtime Rolling Stone Magazine contributor Paul Solotaroff hosts the latest entry in the acclaimed Bone Valley anthology: The Devil's Quarry II starting September 30.

Listeners can listen ad-free by subscribing to Lava for Good+ on Apple Podcasts.

Bone Valley Season 6: The Devil’s Quarry II is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This special edition of Wrongful Conviction Behind Bars was recorded inside of Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison in Buffalo, NY with Andrew Krivak, and his attorney Professor Adele Bernhard in 2017.

Andy’s case concerns the murder of Josette Wright, whose body was found in November 1995 in a wooded area of Putnam County, NY with her hands and feet hog-tied behind her back and her underwear shoved down her throat. A few weeks later, detectives from the sheriff’s office picked up an unsuspecting teenager on drug charges, and managed to coerce him into pointing the finger at a group of his friends, including Anthony DiPippo and Andy Krivak. That same sheriff’s office used a since-discredited polygraph expert to get a false confession out of Andy, which along with a coerced witness statement, ultimately led to 25 to life sentences for both Andy and Anthony.

Since the taping of this episode, Andy’s conviction was vacated, and in October 2020, he was released on bail. Jason was there to welcome him back to the free world. The Deskovic Foundation helped bring on additional legal counsel, the legendary Oscar Michelen and Karen Neuwirth, to represent Andy at his 2023 retrial. The jury returned a verdict of Not Guilty. Andy was finally exonerated, after 24 years in prison. In 2024, Putnam County paid him a $20 million settlement.

To hear more about Andy’s incredible case, tune into Season 5 of Bone Valley, titled “The Devil’s Quarry.” Paul Solotaroff tells the story of Andy’s co-defendant Anthony DiPippo and the crime that landed both Andy and Anthony wrongfully in prison.

A second installment of the Devil’s Quarry is coming soon — it investigates another case in the same town with eerie links to Andy Krivak’s story. Look out for the first episode on September 30th, you won’t want to miss it.

Wrongful Conviction  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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1990, Jens Söering was convicted of murdering his then-girlfriend Elizabeth Haysom’s parents, Derek and Nancy Haysom, in their Bedford County, Virginia home. Jens, who says he falsely confessed to protect Elizabeth, served more than 33 years in prison before being paroled and deported to Germany in 2019.
Now, 41 years after the crime, Jens has filed a petition for a writ of actual innocence based on new analysis of crime-scene DNA and familial DNA provided by the victims’ granddaughter, Sheena Haysom.
This updated release includes new commentary from Jens, along with excerpts from the original episode featuring John Grisham, former Albemarle County Sheriff J.E. “Chip” Harding, and Dr. Phil.

Wrongful Conviction  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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On April 5th, 1990, Bernhardt and Cora Hartig, both 81, were shot to death in their Atwater, OH home with a .25 caliber gun. Miles away, 18-year-old Tyrone Noling was involved in two non-violent robberies – in one, he stole a .25 caliber gun and in the second, it accidentally discharged, hurting no one. This gun, however, was not the Hartig murder weapon, and despite other, more viable suspects, Portage County investigators targeted Tyrone and convinced his friends to testify against him. All witnesses have since recanted, but after more than 3 decades, Tyrone is still on death row. Jason talks to Tyrone Noling and Brian Howe, Tyrone's attorney, with an update from attorney Dan Nadratowski on Tyrone's pending clemency petition before Ohio Governor Mike DeWine.

To learn more and get involved, visit:
http://www.tyronenoling.com/

Read the Ohio Parole Board’s clemency recommendation:
https://drc.ohio.gov/about/resource/reports/clemency-reports/clemency-report-for-tyrone-noling

Wrongful Conviction  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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This episode is re-released in loving memory of Jason Strong.

Rest in Peace and Power
Jason Lee Strong
August 3, 1975 – August 8, 2026

In December 1999, the body of an unidentified young woman was found beaten to death in a forest preserve near North Chicago in Lake County, IL. Ten days after the body was discovered, Jeremy Tweedy, Jason Johnson and Jason Strong were brought in for questioning after Tweedy mentioned the woman's death to an undercover police officer posing as a prostitute. Police charged 24-year-old Jason Strong with first-degree murder and concealing a homicide and charged Tweedy and Johnson with concealing a homicide. Officers furnished a narrative about the circumstances of the victim's death to the two purported "witnesses," Tweedy and Johnson, both of whom agreed to testify against Jason Strong in exchange for lesser prison sentences. On October 18, 2000,  Jason Strong was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to 46 years in prison. 

https://www.wrongfulconvictionpodcast.com/with-jason-flom

Wrongful Conviction  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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ronald Miller and Lori Johnson of Rockford, IL had a daughter, G.M., in 2010. In 2015, several days after an argument between Johnson and Miller in which Miller threatened to sue Johnson for full custody, Johnson reported Miller to DCFS. Shortly after, she obtained an order of protection which ended all contact between Miller and his daughter. Johnson claimed G.M. had told her that Miller touched her inappropriately and proceeded to bring her daughter to Carrie Lynn Children's Center to record a video accusing her father of sexual abuse. Before the trial, G.M. took back her accusation, telling her mother, her therapist, and the trial prosecutors that the abuse never happened. The trial proceeded anyway, and this information was not shared with the jury.  The prosecutors presented the testimony of a pediatric nurse admitted as an “expert in the field of child abuse.” Trial counsel called no experts for the defense, and Miller testified in his own defense. He was convicted by the jury on all three counts and sentenced to twenty years. 

To learn more and get involved, visit:
https://www.lengoodmanlawoffice.com/

Wrongful Conviction  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.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.