Wrongful Conviction

Stephanie Spurgeon was a married mother of two who had been running a daycare facility from her home for 15 years. On August 21, 2008, Stephanie took care of 1 year old Maria Harris for the first time. Maria’s grandmother picked her up that day, but soon noticed Maria was unresponsive. After 8 days in the hospital, Maria passed away. Because Stephanie was the last supervisor of the child, she was accused of murder and convicted of manslaughter based on the prosecution’s argument of Abusive Head Trauma. After 9 years in the Florida prison system, numerous Innocence Projects helped Stephanie assert her innocence, and in 2021, she accepted an Alford Plea and was finally freed. 

In this updated episode, Jason Flom catches up with Stephanie to discuss the great advocacy work she is doing today to pay it forward to others who are wrongfully convicted. 

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://gofund.me/06c1b747

Tre Clay: https://www.instagram.com/justice_for_tre_clay/?hl=en

Stephanie's podcast, Freedom Fighters: https://open.spotify.com/show/6BR03ECj2NitXptajTtkmH

https://millerforstateattorney.com/

https://www.facebook.com/MillerForStateAttorney

https://www.instagram.com/millerforstateattorney/?hl=en

https://twitter.com/afmiller2021

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hmwdSfek2aM

https://lavaforgood.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.

On March 28th, 1998, Nelson Cruz was celebrating his birthday over Chinese food with friends when they heard shots fired down the block. Police were immediately on scene to make an arrest, yet somehow, Nelson became the target of a notorious pair of NYPD detectives. Jason Flom talks to Nelson Cruz and Justin Bonus, Nelson’s attorney.

To learn more and get involved, visit: 

https://www.change.org/p/brooklyn-district-attorney-eric-gonzalez-nelson-cruz-is-innocent

https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/181-jason-flom-with-danny-rincon/

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.

To win exoneration, it wasn’t enough for the DA to declare innocence. The judge had to agree, or Walter wasn’t going anywhere.

Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin bring us to Philadelphia for the story of Walter Ogrod. Walter was sent to death row by an old-school Philly justice system that was better known for injustice. He spent decades in prison for a murder he didn't commit -- until a new wave of reform-minded prosecutors found the truth behind Walter's false confession.

This updated episode talks about Philadelphia's efforts to right the wrongs of the past. Things like voting for progressive District Attorneys are necessary to reform our criminal justice system. 

Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions  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 11, 1993, a riot broke out at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, OH, primarily due to tensions between the prisoners and the guards. The riot went on for 11 days resulting in 10 deaths and millions of dollars in damages. 23-year-old prisoner Keith LaMar was a witness to the riot, and although there was no physical evidence linking him to any involvement in the riot, the prosecution focused on him presumably because he refused to aid them in their investigation. Many incentivized and coerced prison informants testified that Keith was the leader behind the riot while the prosecution failed to present the exculpatory evidence in their possession that others were responsible. Thus, Keith became one of the five prisoners convicted of the murders and blamed for the riot. Keith was sentenced to death. Jason talks to Keith LaMar and Keegan Stephan, Keith's attorney. 

To learn more and get involved, visit: 

https://www.keithlamar.org/
https://www.instagram.com/justiceforkeithlamar
https://www.facebook.com/justiceforkeithlamar
https://twitter.com/freekeithlamar

PayPal: [email protected]
Venmo: @justiceforkeithlamar
Cash App: $justiceforkeithlamar

Petitions:
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/justice-for-keith-lamar-ldf-1/
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/free-keith-lamar

Native Sons Literacy Program:
https://www.nativesonsliteracy.org/donate-to-native-sons
https://www.nativesonsliteracy.org/scholarship

Memoir and Music:
https://www.keithlamar.org/merchandise
https://www.albertmarques.com/video

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.

How can one man save the life of a perfect stranger?

The case of Daniel Villegas shows how ordinary people can make an extraordinary difference in the fight against wrongful convictions. Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin tell the story of an unexpected hero who fought for years to turn tragedy into triumph, ending in one of the most dramatic courtroom exonerations ever seen.

This updated episode shares the great work that Daniel is doing today to pay it forward.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

http://proclaimjustice.org/donate/

https://www.centeronwrongfulconvictions.org/

Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions  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 11, 1993, a riot broke out at the Southern Ohio Correctional Facility in Lucasville, OH, primarily due to tensions between the prisoners and the guards. The riot went on for 11 days resulting in 10 deaths and millions of dollars in damages. 23-year-old prisoner Keith LaMar was a witness to the riot, and although there was no physical evidence linking him to any involvement in the riot, the prosecution focused on him presumably because he refused to aid them in their investigation. Many incentivized and coerced prison informants testified that Keith was the leader behind the riot while the prosecution failed to present the exculpatory evidence in their possession that others were responsible. Thus, Keith became one of the five prisoners convicted of the murders and blamed for the riot. Keith was sentenced to death. Jason talks to Keith LaMar and Keegan Stephan, Keith's attorney. 

To learn more and get involved, visit: 

https://www.keithlamar.org/
https://www.instagram.com/justiceforkeithlamar
https://www.facebook.com/justiceforkeithlamar
https://twitter.com/freekeithlamar

PayPal: [email protected]
Venmo: @justiceforkeithlamar
Cash App: $justiceforkeithlamar

Petitions:
https://actionnetwork.org/fundraising/justice-for-keith-lamar-ldf-1/
https://actionnetwork.org/petitions/free-keith-lamar

Native Sons Literacy Program:
https://www.nativesonsliteracy.org/donate-to-native-sons
https://www.nativesonsliteracy.org/scholarship

Memoir and Music:
https://www.keithlamar.org/merchandise
https://www.albertmarques.com/video

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.

How could anyone believe a confession about 1,000 pole-vaulting terrorists all dressed like Ninja Turtles?

This week, Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin tell us a story with some of the most outlandish false confessions ever heard. And yet, California native, Hamid Hayat, was wrongfully convicted of terrorism in the years following the horrific 9/11 attacks. Investigators thought Hamid was part of a terrorist sleeper cell, though eventually they learned no such terrorist cell ever existed.

This updated episode shares how Hamid is rebuilding his life, and how his support system continues to grow.

To learn more and get involved, visit: 

https://www.centeronwrongfulconvictions.org/

Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions  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 3 decades, Tyrone is still on death row. Jason talks to Tyrone Noling and Brian Howe, Tyrone's attorney. 

To learn more and get involved, visit:

http://www.tyronenoling.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.

Four honorable men volunteered to fight for their country, but ended up fighting for their own freedom.

Hosts Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin, co-directors at Northwestern University’s Center on Wrongful Convictions and central figures in the smash hit Netflix docuseries Making a Murderer, tell us about not one, but four U.S. Navy sailors who falsely confessed to murdering another sailor’s wife.

This updated episode shares the promising news that in 2021, Virginia became the first southern state to abolish the death penalty, and the 24th in the country. Cases like the Norfolk Four undeniably led to this progressive decision.

To learn more and get involved, visit: https://www.centeronwrongfulconvictions.org/

Wrongful Conviction: False Confessions  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 August 10, 2017, police executed a search warrant at a home in San Antonio, TX and found nearly three pounds of methamphetamine hidden in a bathroom. Upon this discovery, police arrested 45-year-old Louie Garcia and two other individuals. It turns out that the search warrant stemmed from the word of a confidential informant, and nothing else. Further, upon their arrest, Louie and his co-defendants urged that they had been framed. Shortly before the police arrived, a man had stopped at the house with a young girl. They asked to use the bathroom, and then left. When the police did arrive, the officers immediately went up to the bathroom, where they found the drugs. Their claims fell on deaf ears, and Louie was sentenced to 8 years in prison. Greg Glod and Clayton English talk to Louie Garcia and Dayna Jones, Louie's attorney.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://lavaforgood.com/podcast/s1e6-the-war-at-your-door-no-knock-warrants/

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.