Suave

The Sentence (Episode #1)

“The very last word she said was ‘You can become a voice for the voiceless.’ And I was just like, ‘Damn, why am I letting this lady mess up my high?’”

We meet Suave, a man who has been serving a life sentence at a Pennsylvania maximum-security prison since he was a teenager. And we learn about his decades-long relationship as a source with journalist Maria Hinojosa. Suave has come to terms with the fact that he will never leave the confines of Graterford prison. That is until a Supreme Court ruling suddenly grants him a second chance to fight for his freedom.

For all episodes, click here.

CREDITS

From Futuro Studios, a division of Futuro Media

Distributed by PRX

Executive Producer: Maria Hinojosa

Host and Producer Maggie Freleng

Producer: Julieta Martinelli

Editors Marlon Bishop, Audrey Quinn

Engineer: Stephanie Lebow 

Audience Development: Luis Luna, Grace Varela

On September 26th, 1989, Kevin Jones and Arthur Sanders went to an apartment with $40,000 to buy cocaine, while the owner of the apartment, Troy Coleman, was 60 miles away in Atlantic City. Sanders waited down the block, while Jones drove up to the apartment alone and went missing. Troy heard that the Jones family was looking for him and fled to California. Over 2 months after Jones' disappearance, he was found beaten, bound, and shot, in the trunk of his car. Despite knowing of Troy's whereabouts between the abduction and when the body was found, the state coerced testimony that they knew to be false in order to charge him anyway. Coleman was convicted and sentenced to life in prison where he has been for over 32 years.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/

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

In 2002, 15 year old Alisha Burns ran away from her foster home with Steven Kaczmarek, a sex trafficker who then groomed her to act as a prostitute for wealthy-looking men. On September 25, Burns was offered cash in exchange for sex iin Las Vegas, Nevada by Pedro Villareal. When they arrived at Villareal’s residence, Kaczmarek and his friend “Tommy” attacked Villareal in an attempt to rob him. Villareal was later found dead in the same room. Burns and Kaczmarek were arrested, and in highly unusual fashion Burns was allowed contact with Kaczmarek while in the custody of the police. During their conversations, he coerced her into accepting a guilty plea. She plead guilty to second-degree murder and was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 10 years. Maggie speaks to Alisha Burns, Kelly Diane Galloway- an Advocate from Project Mona's House, and Burns’ attorney, Tony Abbatangelo.  

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/SupportAlishaBurns

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

On October 13, 1991, Amy Moore, a nine year old with intellectual limitations, complained to her babysitter that her father, Howard Dudley, was "nasty," kicking off a series of sexually charged leading questions resulting in sexual abuse allegations. Dudley denied the claims, and after nine interviews, Amy's story grew increasingly inconsistent and implausible. However, in order to do a fuller investigation, the Lenoir County Department of Social Services had to substantiate Amy's claims, triggering the police to seek an indictment.  Based on a testimony that Amy later recanted, Dudley was convicted of first-degree sexual offense and taking indecent liberties with a minor.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://law.duke.edu/wrongfulconvictions/

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/216-jason-flom-with-james-king/id1151670380?i=1000530938343

https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/

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

On February 2, 2002, Maria Medina notified her former partner, Karla Baday, that three of her children had accused Baday of sexually molesting them. Maria said the children claimed that Baday had assaulted them while Medina was at the grocery store near their home in Armona, CA. Baday denied all of the allegations. The children were taken in for a medical examination a month later where Nurse Georgeanne Greene concluded that their “injuries” were consistent with the allegations. It was later found that her testimony and examination were patently false. Based on the testimony of Nurse Greene and ineffective counsel, Karla was convicted of child molestation and sentenced to 45 years to life in prison. Maggie speaks to Karla Baday, Catherine Boyle, Karla’s attorney, and Dulce Baday, Karla’s sister.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://ncip.org/get-involved/

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

Today we want to tell you about a new show from our friends at Voyage Media called Borderline. Hosted by Paget Brewster (Criminal Minds), it’s a true crime show with an incredible story that we think you will like. Here’s a trailer. If you like what you hear, you can find Borderline at borderlineseries.com or by searching Borderline anywhere you get podcasts. Enjoy.

On November 5, 1986, Scott Macklem was shot and killed in a parking lot at St. Clair County Community College in Port Huron, Michigan. No one saw the shooter, but one witness caught a fleeting glimpse into a car leaving the lot. The victim’s alleged fiance, Crystal Merrill, identified Temujin Kensu as a suspect due to their previous relationship. However, Kensu was over 400 miles away at the time of the murder and had multiple independent alibi witnesses to confirm his location. Additionally, no physical evidence tied him to the crime, not even the fingerprints that were taken from the scene. The police staged a very suggestive photo lineup for the witness who chose Temujin. The prosecution crafted a narrative surrounding the fact that Kensu was an avid practitioner of martial arts and must have chartered a private plane to and from Port Huron to commit the crime. Kensu was convicted of first-degree murder and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://www.instagram.com/p/Ce2hsByszTD/?utm_source=ig_web_copy_link

https://www.change.org/p/gretchen-whitmer-free-temujin-kensu-fka-fredrick-freeman

If you have information about this case, contact Herb Welser: [email protected] or 810-326-1393

https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/

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

On New Year’s Eve 1993 in Pampa, TX., Hank Skinner fell asleep early on his couch after being rendered comatose from a cocktail of vodka, xanax and codeine. His girlfriend at the time, Twila Busby, left for a party, and when she returned, she and her two sons were bludgeoned and stabbed to death. Law enforcement knew Hank from his work in civil rights and he soon became a suspect. Despite clear evidence that Hank was incapacitated at the time of the killings and therefore incapable of committing these murders, Hank was convicted and sentenced to death in 1995. Maggie speaks to Hank Skinner, Rob Owen Esq. Hank's attorney, and Sandrine Skinner his wife.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://justice4hank.org/help/

https://justice4hank.org/help/get-involved/

https://justice4hank.org/help/donate/ 

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

On June 22, 1994, Crystal Hudson was found murdered in her bedroom closet in Cleveland, Ohio. She died of strangulation after being sexually assaulted. Evin King became the lead suspect by police due to the fact that he was in the apartment when Hudson’s body was found along with the specter of a “premonition” that Hudson’s mother had in regards to the murder. No physical evidence tied King to the crime, and DNA evidence excluded him. In an attempt to explain why King’s DNA did not match, the prosecution built their case upon the idea that the sexual act and murder occurred at different times. The jury convicted King of first-degree murder, and he was sentenced to 15 years to life in prison.

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://law.uc.edu/real-world-learning/centers/ohio-innocence-project-at-cincinnati-law.html

https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/

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

February 9, 1992 started as a normal day for 16 year old Faye Jacobs – she attended church and hung out with friends in Little Rock, AR. When she and her mom drove home later, they passed bustling police activity. Intrigued, they stopped the car and got out. Suddenly, Faye was grabbed, pushed against the car and arrested for the shooting murder of Kevin Gaddy, a classmate of hers. Despite exculpatory alibi and eye witnesses, Faye was sentenced to life without parole. Maggie speaks to Faye Jacobs, Tricia Bushnell Esq. Faye’s attorney, and Tiffany Woods her girlfriend.  

To learn more and get involved, visit:

https://www.change.org/p/asa-hutchinson-support-the-pardon-of-laquanda-faye-jacobs

https://lavaforgood.com/with-maggie-freleng/

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