Investigating Innocence

Investigating Innocence founder Bill Clutter (center) with exoneree Ryan Ferguson and David Camm (right)

Investigating Innocence is a national nonprofit wrongful conviction advocacy organization that provides criminal defense investigations for inmates.[1] Investigating Innocence was founded in 2013 by private investigator Bill Clutter to assist nationwide Innocence Project groups in investigating innocence claims. "Once we have a case that meets our criteria, we'll put private investigators to work on it. A lot of these cases need investigators," said Kelly Thompson, executive director of Investigating Innocence.[2] Prior to his work on Investigating Innocence, Clutter was one of the founders of the Illinois Innocence Project.[3] Investigating Innocence also has a board composed of exonerees that reviews incoming cases. [2]

One of the organization's most prominent cases was the exoneration of David Camm, a former Indiana state trooper who was wrongfully convicted of the murders of his wife and two children. Approximately five years after he was arrested, DNA evidence identified a convicted felon named Charles Boney as having been at the crime scene. Boney is currently serving 225 years for the murders.[4][1]

In 2017, Investigating Innocence was also instrumental in the defense of Curtis Lovelace, a former prosecutor who was charged with murder in Quincy, Illinois, in the death of his first wife Cory Lovelace. The organization referred the case to the Exoneration Project, based at the University of Chicago, which agreed to represent Lovelace pro bono. [5] Lovelace was indicted eight years after his wife died of liver failure, a condition known as fatty liver. Investigating Innocence helped develop key evidence that contributed to his exoneration.[6] In 1990, Lovelace was team captain of the Fighting Illini football team that won the Citrus Bowl.[7] On a change of venue, a Springfield, Illinois jury took less than two hours to acquit Lovelace on March 10, 2017.[8]

Investigating Innocence conducted the investigation that linked serial killer Tommy Lynn Sells to the April 27,1982 murder of JoAnne Tate in St. Louis for which Rodney Lincoln was wrongfully convicted.[9] The investigation of Bill Clutter was featured on Crime Watch Daily, which triggered the recantation of Melissa DeBoer who was seven-years-old and left for dead when she witnessed the murder of her mother.[10] Melissa’s mistaken identification of Rodney Lincoln led to his conviction in 1983.[11] This new evidence persuaded Missouri Governor Eric Greitens to commute Rodney Lincoln’s sentence. On June 3, 2018, Lincoln was freed from prison.[12]

Bill Clutter, who founded Investigating Innocence, conducted the post-conviction investigation that helped free Randy Steidl from death row.[13] Clutter’s pre-trial investigation also helped free Rolando Cruz and Alejandro Hernandez from death row in Illinois.[14] Clutter was among a handful of private investigators and lawyers who were credited by Chicago Tribune columnist Eric Zorn for helping to abolish the death penalty in Illinois.[15]

Prominent Investigating Innocence members are exoneree Randy Steidl, exoneree Ray Krone, private investigator Paul J. Ciolino, Cyndy Short, a Kansas City attorney who recently freed Reggie Griffin, and attorney Jose Baez.[16]

See also

References

  1. 1 2 "Camm working with nonprofit advocating for inmates". RTV6. December 1, 2013. Archived from the original on July 15, 2014.
  2. 1 2 Dettro, Chris (July 27, 2013). "Fundraiser set for Investigating Innocence group". The State Journal Register.
  3. ↑ Krajelis, Bethany (April 25, 2009). "The project's focus in innocence". Chicago Daily Law Bulletin.
  4. ↑ Weiss, Jaimie (2013-01-23). "Latest evidence in third David Camm murder trial focused on Charles Boney". wave3.com.
  5. ↑ O'Brien, Don (February 25, 2016). "Investigating Innocence group taking on Lovelace's case". Herald-Whig.
  6. ↑ Otwell, Rachel (March 24, 2017). ""Investigating Innocence" P.I. Talks Lovelace Case". NPR Illinois.
  7. ↑ "Quincy Blue Devil's Sports Hall of Fame". Retrieved 25 May 2017.
  8. ↑ Hopf, Matt (March 10, 2017). "Defense believes Lovelace taking stand had greatest benefit". Herald-Whig.
  9. ↑ Mann, Jennifer (December 1, 2015). "Victim recants ID that put man in prison for mother's murder in St. Louis in 1982". St. Louis Post Dispatch.
  10. ↑ Hayes, Chris (December 2, 2015). "Only eyewitness in 1982 St. Louis murder says she`s recanting". Fox 2 Now St. Louis.
  11. ↑ Zimmerman, Ron (November 24, 2015). "GUILTY or INNOCENT? The Conviction of Rodney Lincoln". Crime Watch Daily.
  12. ↑ Diantonio, Nicole (June 3, 2018). "Man in prison for St. Louis murder freed after 36 years of maintaining his innocence". WDAF TV Kansas City.
  13. ↑ Clutter, Bill (January 20, 2011). "From death row to hero". Illinois Times.
  14. ↑ Golden, Larry (May 20, 2010). "Profiles in Courage against wrongful conviction". Illinois Times.
  15. ↑ Zorn, Eric (March 9, 2011). "A toast to all who wrote the death-penalty abolition story". Chicago Tribune.
  16. ↑ "Members". Investigating Innocence. Retrieved 18 July 2014.

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