Innocence and DNA Evidence Project - Martin Juarez

 Angel Gonzalez was exonerated from prison after serving 20 years on March 10, 2015. On July 10, 1994,  a woman was abducted by two men in Waukegan Illinois, Gonzalez was misidentified by a rape victim as her assailant. He was misled by the police in to signing an false confession after being arrested. Until 2013 he had the chance to prove he was innocent with DNA testing. I do not agree by the way the case was handled because after DNA tested came out that it was his match they still kept him in prison because they said there had been two perpetrators but if his DNA did not match then they should have let him go. He should file a law suit and try to catch up with his life and family in what he missed out on.


Alstory Simon was accused in 1999 for a double murder in Chicago for a crime that he did not commit in David Protess and Northwestern did everything they could to prove Simon was the murderer in order to release Anthony Porter another man being accused of the murder. Simon filed a lawsuit against Northwestern and David Protess.

ALSTORY SIMON                     ANTHONY PORTER

 

Innocence Project - Ahtayon Taylor

Kennedy Brewer , was accused of the murder of his girlfriend daughter who was 3 years old in Mississippi in 1992 . The reason why they thought he did it because he watched the kids. He awaited trial for 3 years until he was brought to trail , after trial he was charged with the death sentence. In 2001 they defined that the DNA proved that he did not commit the crime of the girl. Also there was bite marks on the little girl , and the bite mark where really from the ex boyfriend of the girlfriend , who did this to the girl. Also semen was collected from the girl and matched with the ex boyfriend.

I don't agree with the case because they sentenced him to death for killing a little girl because he watched the little girl , but it took him 9 years to get out of a case that he didn't do and he got charged with the death sentence. To move on with his life , he has already lost 13 years of his life in jail trying to beat a death case , the best thing to do is try to get some type of coping skills to help him get the relationship back with his family , and other things to do to help him with the years that he has lost in jail.

Innocence Project- Itzel Martinez

The name of the accused: Nicholas Yarris 
When the crime took place: December 15th, 1981
How many years the accused served because of the charges brought against him/her: Was on death row- but served 21 years (prior crimes as well). Charged with murder, abduction and rape
What DNA evidence came to the forefront to exonerate the accused: After years of being locked up, Dr. Edward Blake conducted one last DNA test that freed Yarris, although he was still being charged with assaulting an officer, he soon was released on January 2004 for a crime he did not commit. 
Do you agree with how the case was handled? Why or why not?: I don't agree with how the case was handled because there was a rape kit tried but the results could not exclude Yarris. He did give a false alibi to the tri-state crime and when it was ruled out he became the prime suspect. But apart from there, there was no DNA tests to be done, before
What do you think the accused should do next to move on with his/her life: This man lost 21 years of his life for a crime he did not commit, so he should find a job and a place to stay, but since he's been locked up for over 21 years, he may have lost contact with friends so the government should pat until he can support himself.





Alstory Simon and Anthony Porter

Give details about the case: Anthony Porter was on death row for supposedly murdering 2 teenagers; he was on death row and 50 hours before his death it was overturned as it remained controversial. When Porter heard he was a suspect he went to the police to clear his name but upon arrival he was arrested immediately Later Alstory Simon was identified as the true culprit, he later confessed and pleaded guilty and was convicted in 1999, he later revealed that his confession was coerced with false pretenses and made under duress. Simon was exonerated in 2014 and one professor of Northwestern was suspended in 2011 as a result of controversy. 
What was Simon's relationship to Porter: They were connected by gangs and a drug related problem
Were both men exonerated: Yes, Porter 50 hours before facing the death row and Simon in 2014. 
What was the lesson learned from these two men's stories?: That the system is flawed and there are police officers out there who will trick people into a confession or to plead guilty when they are not guilty of the crime. 

Innocence Project Eliazar Cabrera

The name of the accused is Floyd Bledsoe he is 39 and he was in jail for supposedly raping and killing 14 year old Camille that was his sister in law . So he got convicted on Tuesday in Oskaloosa in Jefferson county so he was convicted in 2000 of first  degree murder, aggravated kidnapping and aggravated indecent in the shooting and death of Camille Arfmann.  She was found with four gunshot wounds in her body under a pile of trash on NOV. 8 , 1999. The DNA evidence that was found said that they "had sex on their fathers bed and that's how it got on her sock" Tom also confessed in the notes that he left was that he panicked when he realized that Camoille was only 14 years old. Tom confessed to the murder even before Camille's body was found. Tom Bledsoe, 41 he committed suicide in early November and in one of three notes he left behind in one of those he confessed that "I had sex with her, and killed her" and on another one said "Floyd is innocent" and the third gave details of the killing that investigators said only the killer could have known. So this mean that Camille's death is officially unsolved and that Bledsoe technically could be retried but the lawyers say that was highly unlikely because his brother's confessions.

I disagree on how this case was handled because  why did they only got Floyd and not Tom were was Tom when they took  Floyd to jail , and also why doesn't is say how or why or were they captured Floyd that day. Also I don't agree with the fact that this case supposedly they say that it was unsolved how is not solved Floyd didn't do they thing they said he did and they also have proof that say that he is a innocent man. I think that the accused should do nothing because he hew from the beginning that he did't do the things they say he did and that he should be worried no more because he is out of jail. But if he is having issue he shouldn't go talk to someone one about it if not then he should  just live his normal life.

Anthony Porter born 1955 is a Chicago resident and was a prisoner on death row convicted of the 1982 murder of two teenagers, Marilyn Green and her fiance Jerry Hillard. Were shot and killed near a swimming pool in Washington park on the south side of Chicago. Porter a 27 year old gang member was identified by William Taylor. Said that he had not seen the crime itself but eventually he admitted to have seen Porter actually firing the shots. After a short trial according to court transcript Porter's lawyer fell asleep and they never met with Porter himself until the case. Simon's relationship to Porter was nothing related with Porter but he confessed to the crime on videotape and he pleaded guilty and so he was convicted in 1999. But later Simon revealed that his confession was corced and so it was false evidence. Both men were put on "exonerated" but only Simon was the only one exonerated in 2014. The lesson learned from these two men's stories was that you have to tell the truth always because if you say something bad then it just all have the snow ball effect and go down hill from there.

Innocence (public safety)-Selena Magdaleno

Angel Gonzalez was serving 20 years in prison for a crime he did not commit. In 1994 Gonzalez was misidentified by a rape victim as her assailant. After Gonzalez was arrested he was misled by police into singing a false confession. Gonzales maintained his innocence from the beginning , until 2013 he was finally able to prove his innocence through a DNA test. 

On the Night July 10 ,1994 a woman was abducted,raped by two men by her apartment building in Waukegan IL. The woman then later went to the police and described them it was two hispanic's , 5'7, driving a dark colored car. Later the police dropped off the victim to her apartment the police was talking to the victims boyfriend about the dark colored car then the boyfriend saw Angel Gonzalez 50 feet away pulling out from a parking area. Gonzalez car was described the exact same car the victim saw. The police pulled him over the road and arrested him because his car matched the description. The case was not handled right they should have done DNA testing from the beginning not wait in 2013 if they have never done that DNA test in 2013 he could have served his 40 years. Gonzalez should sue them. 

Alstory Simon was convicted in 1999 for a double murder in Chicago he was released in October 30th he filled a lawsuit of 40 million against Northwestern and the former professor David Protess          

Angel Gonzalez                                   Alstory Simon 

How The Innocence Project And DNA Evidence Works By Zoe Kurtzer

INNOCENCE PROJECT

        Christopher Ochoa
        Pleaded Guilty in 1988
        13 Years Served
        DNA Evidence From The Rape Scene
        I don't agree with how the case was handled. This man was given no explanation of the crime he was being accused of, yet was told he would be given the death penalty. How this case was handled, violated many of his constitutional rights including the 5th, 6th and 8th amendments. Christopher Ochoa was not allowed to fire his crappy lawyer.
        I can't possibly imagine being in Christopher Ochoa's case, or how I would react if I was forced in this situation and 13 years were taken away from me. The accused has made the most out of this situation. Christopher Ochoa is a working lawyer in order to protect innocent people forced into similar situations he was forced into, protecting the accused. It is also good that he is telling his story and giving a bigger voice to DNA evidence and how important DNA evidence is for a case like this. If he chooses, filing a lawsuit would also be very acceptable.

ALSTORY SIMON / ANTHONY PORTER

        Alstory Simon was convicted in 1999, for a double murder that happened in Chicago, 1982 because of a pressured confession. Simon was on death row for the convicted murders in 1982. 

        In an eagerness to free another person on death row, the Northwestern Branch of the Innocence Project along with the founder David Protess were actively framing Simon in order to protect the actual murderer, Anthony Porter. The Cook County prosecutors followed along and went with it.

   

       In an effort to tell the real story of Alstory Simon, Bill Crawford released information showing that the treatment against Simon violated many of his constitutional rights.

       Both Alstory Simon and Anthony Porter were exonerated.

       There should be many lessons learned from both sides of the case. In this case, evidence was not the deciding factor but a part of the case. Both Simon and Crawford wouldn't settle, and they knew who committed the crimes despite having to prove to the court, prosecutors and even the public.

Alstory Simon

Anthony Porter

Innocence Project And DNA Evidence...By Deshawn Jones

Anthony Wright who endured two trials and 25 years in prison before a Jury found him not guilty of the 1991 Rape and Murder of an elderly woman in Philadelphia.

On August 23,2016 he became the 344th DNA exonerate in the nation.

Ronnie Byrd was the real assailant who died in south Carolina in early 2013, His semen was found inside of the victims vagina after an autopsy was performed. Clothing was also found with Ronnie's DNA on it as well.

I do not agree with the way that the case was handled because Anthony Wright was threatened bodily harm, I believe this scared him a lot because he testified to something he did not do.

I believe he should  file a lawsuit and try to continue on with his life to make up for the time spent in jail.




ALSTORY SIMON - ANTHONY PORTER

Simon was convicted in 1999 for a double murder in Chicago in 1982
Released on October 30,2014 filed a lawsuit up to 40 Million against Northwestern and Former Professor David Protess

 David Protess & Northwestern made efforts to frame Alstory Simon so that Anthony Porter could be released from prison.

Officials found out later on that the tactics used against Simon were in violation of his protected constitutional rights.

Both men were  in fact exonerated and the lesson learned from this case is that without good evidence and information that will add up and make sense you will not get very far.

Beyond a reasonable doubt !