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Common Sense Works for Lee Child: Writing Believable Make-Believe

Today, as your keystrokes guide your police officer/detective/protagonist through the perils that go hand-in-hand with saving the day, pause for just a moment to consider the lives of real-life officers. Do your characters measure up to a human officer’s abilities? Have you over-written the character? Are they mindless, superheroes? Have you given them human emotions? Is the danger level realistic? Are they believable?

Think about what you’ve seen on this site for the past few years—cordite (NO!), uniforms, handcuffs, Miranda, Glocks, Sig Sauers, edged weapons, defensive tactics, etc. Where do I get the ideas for blog topics? Well, I read a lot. A whole lot. Book after book after book. I read tons of books including books penned by readers of this blog. Therefore, and unfortunately so, I have a near endless supply of fodder for articles—the mistakes writers make in their books (smelling cordite, thumbing off safeties when there aren’t any, etc.).

For example, while pouring over the pages of a wonderfully written book, a paragraph stopped me dead in my tracks.

Wonderfully Written Book

So I backed up to re-read the last few lines to make certain that what I’d read was actually on the page and not my mind playing tricks on my tired eyes. Nope, there it was as plain as day, one of the most impossible, unbelievable means to kill ever written (I won’t go into detail because the book is very new). Then, to make matters even worse, the scene was followed by a few more paragraphs containing incorrect information about the weapons and materials involved in the goofy slaying. Not even close to realism.

Now I have a problem. I really liked this author’s voice. It was fresh, new, and exciting. However, I doubt that I’ll have the courage to pick up another book written by this particular author. Why? Because he/she didn’t bother to check facts. The writer didn’t attempt even the slightest effort to use common sense. Actually, I wondered if they’d ever seen a real-life cop.

Common Sense Works for Lee Child: Writing Believable Make-Believe

One of the best thriller writers of our time, Lee Child, writes a ton of over the top action, but he does so in a way that makes you believe it, even though some of it probably couldn’t happen in real life.

Lee Child – Writers’ Police Academy

I once asked Lee how much research he conducts before writing his books. His answer was (click here to read the entire interview), “Better to ask if I do any research before I write the last word! I don’t do any general research. I depend on things I have already read or seen or internalized, maybe years before.

I ask people about specific details … like I asked you what a rural police chief might have in his trunk.  But in terms of large themes I think it’s difficult to research too close to the time of writing … research is like an iceberg—90% of it needs to be discarded, and it’s hard to do that without perspective.”

So how does Lee make all that wacky action work? He uses common sense. Well, that and more talent in his little finger than I have in my dreams.

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Arson on a Dark and Non-Stormy But Bitterly Cold Night

The investigation of criminal cases is often a time-consuming process that involves numerous hours of leg work, interviewing potential witnesses and/or suspects, evidence collection and, well, you know the drill. It’s intensive. However, there are also the cases that practically solve themselves with little or no investigative skills needed.

For example …

It was a dark and non-stormy, but bitterly cold night.

I was on call and, as my luck goes, my pager sounded off, beeping and buzzing on the nightstand next to my head. Hoping it was an informant I could ignore until morning, I reached for the device and saw the number for dispatch on the tiny screen.

My next wish was for it to be something I could handle by phone. After dialing the number, a perky female voice answered and told me that I was needed at a structure fire, one that a patrol sergeant had reason to believe was arson. Great. Just great, I thought. Not only was it 3 a.m. and as cold outside as a well digger’s hind parts, but the freakin’ case was an arson, and I absolutely despised working arson cases. They’re dirty and stinky and I despised getting dirty and stinky, especially at 3 a.m. when the outside temperature is hovering at one notch below “Brrr and Shiver.” Give me a good old murder to solve, any day. At least there was a good chance the body would’ve been indoors.

I rolled out of bed, apprehensively, and slipped on some clothes I wouldn’t mind tossing in the garbage a few hours later, and headed outside where the frigid air slapped my cheeks and launched an instant assault on my eyes nose, ears, and lungs. Even my unmarked Crown Vic seemed pissed off and protested by withholding heat for at least ten very long minutes.

I arrived at the scene, an agricultural-based business, where fire crews were still hard at it, spraying water at yellowish-orange flames that reached heights well above nearby trees and telephone poles. As horrific as all fires are, the heat from this one was not at all offensive. My toes were cold, cold, cold.

The patrol sergeant who’d requested my assistance waved me over to where he was engaged in an arm and hand-waving, finger-pointing conversation with the fire chief and a couple of shivering bystanders.

The Evidence

On my way, I saw something on the ground that reflected the brilliant colors of the dancing flames. You’d never guess, in a million years, what it was, so I’ll tell you (yes, crooks are often as dumb as a rock).

The reflective object was a driver’s license. So I picked it up, told the sergeant and fire chief that I was pretty sure I knew who’d started the fire and that I’d give them a call in a little while. I turned around and walked back to my car. I’d been at the fire scene all of two minutes.

It wasn’t that I was some sort of super-detective, or anything close. Not at all. You see, the drivers license I’d found belonged to a man who’d served time in prison for setting a couple of previous fires. I drove to the man’s house where I promptly told him I had solid evidence that placed him at the scene. Then I bluntly asked if he’d set the fire.

He first patted his pants pockets as if feeling for something that “should’ve” been there (a driver’s license), and then slowly looked down at his muddy shoes and nodded his head (a classic sign that a confession is about to spill from the lips).

I told him he’d need to do better than that. He looked up until his gaze met mine, and said, “Yeah, it was me. I set it.”

On the way to book the arsonist I called the patrol sergeant to tell him that I had the firebug in custody. It was not quite two hours after I’d received the page from the dispatcher. All without getting dirty, or stinky.

By the way, my car still refused to put forth any heat on the ride home. My toes were still cold.

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Dump Pouches vs. Speed Loaders

In the days before semi-automatics took center stage in the world of law enforcement, police officers carried revolvers as their weapons of choice. Cowboys called them six-shooters and gun buffs refer to them as wheel guns. Shooting enthusiasts love them. Why, then, did police officers make the switch? The answer is simple. Law enforcement officers were being outgunned by semi-automatic-toting bad guys.

Most revolvers are capable of firing only six rounds of ammunition. Semi-automatics can pop off fifteen or sixteen rounds as fast as a shooter can pull the trigger. During a gun battle, revolver-toting officers had to reload two or three times before the crook emptied his first magazine.

Reloading a revolver has always been a problem, especially when the officer was under fire. Cops carried their spare rounds of ammunition in rectangular, leather pouches called dump pouches. Dump pouches hold six bullets and are attached upside down to the officer’s utility belt.

To access the extra bullets, officers simply unsnapped the pouch cover to “dump” the ammunition into their non-gun hand. The officer then had to feed the individual rounds into the open slots in the revolver’s rotating cylinder, one at a time. Needless to say, this is much easier said than done when someone is shooting in your direction.

Barney’s dump pouches (two pouches) are on his utility belt, to the right of his tie (his left). The two release snaps are clearly visible near the bottom of the pouches.

The answer to faster re-loading—speed loaders. Speed loaders hold six rounds of ammunition. The rounds are automatically positioned to line up with the bullet slots in a revolver’s cylinder. A twist of a knurled knob on the end of the speed loader releases all six rounds at once. Shooters could then easily and quickly re-load their revolvers in tense situations, even in the dark.

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Revolver, speed loaders, and speed loader pouches. The pouches attach to a police officer’s utility belt.

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A revolver’s cylinder is designed to swing out for reloading. The knurled button between the hammer and the wooden grip is the cylinder’s release button.

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Speed loaders position rounds so they line up perfectly with the bullet slots in the cylinder.

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A twist of the knob in the officer’s right hand releases all six rounds at once.

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Friday’s Heroes: Remembering the Fallen

Deputy Sheriff Heath Gumm, 32

Adams County Colorado Sheriff’s Office

January 24, 2018 – Deputy Sheriff Heath Gumm was shot and killed during a foot pursuit of a man wanted for assault. He survived by his wife and family.

 

 

 

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Anthony Weiner’s New Home: FMC Devens

FMC DEVENS: An administrative security federal medical center with an adjacent minimum security satellite camp. In spite of being classified as a medical facility, FMC Devens is still a federal prison, nonetheless. However, unlike one of its predecessors—Alcatraz, pictured above—Devens is a bit more modern with a few more comforts than the bare bones conditions found at “The Rock.”

Anthony Weiner, the former politician turned convicted felon is now an inmate at the Federal Medical Center Devens in Ayer, Massachusetts. He was allowed to self-surrender, meaning family and/or friends drove him to the prison and then said their goodbyes before Weiner was likely led to an area to begin intake/processing.

Weiner’s proposed release date is May 15, 2019. With good behavior (no write-ups or other disciplinary troubles) he’ll serve only 85% of his sentence. That’s the rule in the fed system. Be a good boy and you’ll be out sooner than the sentence handed down by the court. Act out and you’ll serve every day of it.

FMC Devens

FMC Devens is situated adjacent to Mirror Lake, just a short drive down the road from Red Tail Golf Club. A hike through the woods to the rear of the place and you’ll cross Sheridan Road and then the George W. Stanton Highway. On the opposite side of the Stanton is the Oxbow National Wildlife Refuge. A right on the Stanton takes you to a state prison, past the Great Wolf Lodge, and Stoneville and then Farley. A left and you’d soon be in Cambridge, near Harvard.

The total inmate population at FMC Devens is 1134. Of those prisoners, 129 are serving their time at the adjacent/satellite camp. Inmates at the camp are those with short sentences and have proven their trustworthiness (they’re not apt to cause trouble or to escape). “Campers” are responsible for a lot of the maintenance work around the prison(s). They mow lawns, repair plumbing, electrical, etc. Paint, repair vehicles, and more.

The main prison, the FMC is a medical center with professionals and equipment needed for the treatment of injury, disease, and illness (physical and mental). Upon arrival and settling in, each inmate must attend orientation to learn the rules and regulations. They undergo full physical exams and evaluations.

Inmates must be counted at various times throughout the day and night (Can’t have one go missing) – Official counts are conducted at 12:05 AM, 3:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM. (4:00 PM and 10:00 PM will be a standing count, meaning each prisoner must stand beside their bunks. Absolutely NO talking or movement.) On holidays and weekends,  an additional “stand up” count takes place at 10:00 AM. An emergency count (suspected escape, etc.) may take place at any time deemed necessary. All emergency counts are standing counts.

Other rules include (From the BOP—FMC Devens—website):

  • Official counts will be conducted at 12:05 AM, 3:00 AM, 5:00 AM, 4:00 PM and 10:00 PM. (4:00 PM and 10:00 PM will be a standing Count.) On holidays and weekends, there is an additional “stand up” count held at 10:00 AM.
  • Pass System: At this institution, a fifteen minute period has been determined to be an adequate amount of time to move to any area in this facility. Inmates traveling from one destination to another during any time other than open movement (work call, meals and recall) require a pass. There are four types of passes here:

1. Institution Pass – issued when an inmate goes from one point to another.
2. Recreation / Library Pass – issued when an inmate must go to the recreation yard, inmate activity center, legal and leisure libraries.
3. Facilities Pass – issued to inmates working in the Facilities Department who are on required job sites throughout the institution.
4. Medical Pass – issued to inmates during a sick-call appointment allowing the inmate to report back to Medical Staff at a designated time.

Passes will be issued by the sending staff member and will be retained by the inmate until the movement is completed. Inmates should have the pass visible when traveling from one area to another. All inmates are required to be in possession of a pass when not traveling during open movement and must present the pass to any staff member when instructed to do so. Once the inmate’s scheduled travel is completed, the pass must be returned to the issuing staff member.

  • Out-of-Boundary-Areas: Certain areas are “Out of Bounds” unless inmates are assigned to work there or have been called by staff. If an inmate is called to one of these areas, he is to report immediately to the staff on duty. Inmates should not linger following completion of their business. These areas include but are not limited to:

1. Administration Building (except to go to Correctional Systems and to R&D). 2. Any housing unit, other than the one in which the inmate is assigned.
3. Grass areas (except where authorized on the Recreation Yard).
4. Rear gate area.

  • Urine/Alcohol Surveillance: Inmates may be asked to give a urine or Breathalyzer sample at any time. When an inmate is called to give a urine sample, he has two (2) hours to provide the sample or an Incident Report will be written. Inmates must remain under direct staff observation during those two (2) hours. Failure to submit to a urine sample or Breathalyzer will be treated as a refusal and will result in disciplinary action. Water or other fluid may be taken only upon permission of the Operations Lieutenant or the Captain. A Breathalyzer test must be completed when called for testing. There is no allowed delay.
  • Barber Shop – Haircuts and hair care services are authorized in the barber shop only. Hours of operation will be posted in each of the housing units and the barber shop.

 

INMATE DRESS REGULATIONS

Authorized Uniform

A. The authorized uniform consists of khaki trousers and shirt at the FMC and green trousers and shirt at the FPC. The uniform will be worn on all work assignments, except Food Service workers who wear the white trousers and shirt.

B. The authorized uniform will be worn during all visits and during normal working hours defined as 6:15 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday, excluding Federal holidays. The shirt will be tucked neatly into the trousers and buttoned, except the top button may be unbuttoned. The sleeves may be rolled neatly to the elbow, or worn all the way down and buttoned. Trousers will not be rolled up, sagging, or bloused inside the inmate’s socks or shoes.

C. Shower shoes are not to be worn outside the housing units.

D. Sweatshirts may be worn, but will be worn under the authorized shirt.

E. Underwear, including thermal underwear, will not be worn as outer garments except in the individual’s room. Thermal underwear will not be worn with shorts, T-shirts, or tank tops.

F. All sleeves, trouser, and shorts will be hemmed; cutoffs and other altered clothing are not permitted.

G. The regular authorized dress uniform is required for educational classes and during normal working hours at religious services. Food Service workers are permitted to wear the white shirt and pants to Education classes. After hours and on weekends, leisure wear is permitted in religious services.

H. Inmates must wear clothing at all times, except when bathing, including leisure activities and in the living areas.

Work Details

A. Institution issued white T-shirts with the ID tag attached may be worn on outside details in lieu of the khaki or green shirt during the summer (e.g., June – August). The T-shirt must be clean, neatly tucked in, and in good condition.

B. Safety (steel-toed) shoes are to be worn on all work details. 3. After Hours:

A. For evenings, weekends, and holidays, inmates must be properly dressed to include shirt (with sleeves), pants or shorts, and socks. If wearing the khaki uniform, shirts must be tucked in.

Recreation

A. Approved athletic shorts, pants, and sweatshirts may be worn while participating in indoor and outdoor recreational activities. Shirts are to be worn at all times by inmates participating in recreational activities and must be tucked in while on the compound. Tank tops may be worn during recreational activities in the outdoor or inside recreation areas. Tank tops may not be worn on the compound or in the Food Service area. Sunglasses will not be worn inside buildings unless prescribed by medical staff.

B. When participating in inside athletics, all participants will be required to wear athletic shoes. On the track, any authorized shoe with the exception of shower shoes is permissible.

Food Service

A. Inmates are required to wear their authorized uniforms for the breakfast and lunch meals on weekdays.
B. Inmates may wear athletic wear as described above, after hours, during weekends, and on Federal holidays in Food Service. C. Inmates will not be allowed in the dining room with torn, soiled, odorous, or wet apparel.

Head Wear

A. No caps will be worn inside any building except for Food Service workers, who are working in Food Service.
B. Religious head wear is allowed in the dining room and must be approved by the Chaplain.
C. Doo rags will not be worn outside the living areas.

Visiting Room

A. Inmates are required to wear the authorized uniform in the visiting room.

B. Foot wear is limited to the black boot and boots purchased from Commissary unless the inmate has a medical slip indicating they are required to wear one of the medical shoes issued by the Medical Department.

Alcatraz Island – by boat, as seen by inmates upon arrival.

 

 

 

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A Cop’s BFFs: Separation Anxiety

A gun is a cop’s silent best friend. It’s always there for them when they need it, without fail. And it’s extremely low-maintenance—feed it a diet of fresh bullets along with a little Hoppes gun oil to wash them down, a bath for the little fella a bath every Saturday night, and don’t let them play in the rain and the dirt. That’s about it. But a pistol can be a touch on the sensitive side, so you must to cradle it gently, never letting it fall. And please remember to gently place a hand on their little butts whenever you find yourselves in a dangerous situation. It’s comforting.

That’s all your sidearm will ever ask of you. Nothing more, nothing less. And they’ll remain at your side forever.

I liked the feeling of a pistol on my side. Its weight provided a slight feeling of serenity even though the constant downward-tugging at my belt and waistline could be a bit annoying at times. And there’s that thing about the hammer insisting that it tear a hole in the lining of every jacket I owned. It’s … well, it was pretty darn aggravating, but you get used to it and move on.

Actual jacket with patch.

After all, a little patch, needle and thread, and you’re back in business. It’s the least you could do for your little one. Besides, your department gives you a clothing allowance, right?

A take-home car is another BFF. You drive them for so long that the foam seat cushion conforms to the shape of your rear-end. Unlike your relationship with the gun, though, you can get away with talking to your ride without anyone thinking you’ve finally stepped over into cop la-la-land.

And, we mustn’t forget the graveyard shift sing-a-longs that help keep you awake once the magic “fall-asleep-it’s-four-o’clock” hour rolls around. Belting out Delilah’s middle of the night tear-jerkers while cruising the backroads is almost as good at keeping you awake as a giant mug of jailhouse coffee.

On a more serious note, the bullet hole in the front fender is a constant reminder that the car “took” the one that was meant for you.

Yep, the three of you make a great team—the brains, the brawn, and the … well, there’s no “B” for the car, but it’s definitely an integral part of the trio. You go everywhere together. You’re inseparable. Day-in and day-out you do everything together.

Your two BFF partners are there for you when you’re up and they’re there when you’re down. They’re around during the tough times, through fights, saving lives, and through weddings and divorces. Through good days and sickness. The day you held the kid whose mother had just died in a car crash. And when you comforted the parents whose son took the overdose. When you sat behind the wheel and wept because you couldn’t reach far enough inside the burning car to pull the crying infant from the flames.

For twenty-five years, the three of you sacrificed everything to work in the rain, snow, and unbearable heat. You put in grueling, long hours. You worked with injured body parts and during times when family members were sick and dying. And you did it all for low pay and little recognition for your hard work.

And then the day finally comes … the day when the three of you are no more. You drive to work and park, not in your old space, the one you’ve parked in for years, but alongside a row of fleet cars … strangers. You walk inside for the last time and hand in the keys. Then it’s time to slip off the holster. The instant weight-loss feels horrible. Sliding the badge across the desk is worse. But you know the three of you have too many miles behind you to keep going. It’s time to say goodbye.

After all, there’s always a burger to flip. A mall to guard and shoplifters to nab. Flowers to plant and birdhouses to build.

I think I’ll grab a rod and reel and see if anything’s biting. Wanna join me?

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Was This Incorrect Cop-Stuff Found in Your Books?

Here’s a brief list of “not-so-accurate” cop-stuff seen in books. Were those books … um … yours?

  1. Yes, bloodstains can help tell investigators what happened at specific moments in time (suspect stood “there” when he delivered the fatal blow, etc). However, it is not unusual to find that bloodstains are too few or the volume of blood is far too great for investigators to come to any reasonable conclusions. In other words, it’s not at all uncommon to locate bloodstains that are unusable as evidence.
  2. Most laboratory scientists working in crime labs specialize in one area. Therefore, a narcotics expert wouldn’t be the scientist who examines tool-mark evidence. Nor would a DNA expert be found attempting to match fingerprints.
  3. Low-quality digital images cannot be enhanced to a point that’s better than the original image. Low resolution images are produced by capturing fewer pixels. Experts are good but they cannot magnify and clarify pixels that aren’t there.
  4. DNA science/testing is not an exact science. Accidents happen (contamination, etc.).  DNA evidence is merely the icing on an investigator’s cake. He/she should concentrate on gathering other evidence since those things are often more valuable/useful for solving a case and as proof of an offender’s involvement in the crime. Think of building a sturdy brick wall. It takes several well-made bricks to construct a strong wall. The same is true with a criminal case. It takes several pieces of good, solid evidence to build a strong case, one that’s suitable to present to a judge and jury. DNA is not a slam dunk.
  5. It’s not always possible to lift prints even in places where the suspect definitely touched the item in question. Why Not? Fingerprints are 98% water, therefore prints might not survive in extremely hot and dry climates. Or, technicians could destroy prints by improperly handling or packaging developed prints or items to be printed/processed.
  6. When someone is shot he does not fly backward. Instead, the victim merely falls to the ground.
  7. Revolvers do not automatically eject spent casings.
  8. Not all deputy sheriffs are sworn/certified police officers. Some work in jails as corrections officers. Others work as courtroom security officers and some are employed as process servers, serving jury summons, etc.
  9. There is only one sheriff in each sheriff’s office … the boss. The rest are deputy sheriffs who are appointed by the sheriff to assist in carrying out the duties of the office.
  10. Detectives typically do not maintain their rank when transferring from one agency to another. Should a detective leave one department to begin employment with another he’d need to start over as a patrol officer and work his way back up the ladder. Of course there’re exceptions to the rule, but the occurrence is rare, if at all.

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How Little Offenses Grow Up to be Big and Strong Crimes

I often receive messages from writers asking if I could/would provide ideas as to how police investigators stumble onto crimes (other than the typical dead body in the living room sort of scenario).

Sometimes the largest cases begin as simple everyday calls. For example, police in a California city recently responded to a call regarding four men fighting in the front yard of a residence. No big deal. Cops answer those types of calls every day, and they arrive, break up the scuffle, and perhaps arrest someone for taking a swing at one of the officers. Then they move on to the next he-said-she-said.

However, there are times when the fight call or the “he won’t stop walking on my grass” complaint turns into a complex criminal investigation, and such was indeed the case with the aforementioned incident in California.

Police there arrived and found the four adult men engaged in a physical altercation, better known as “a fight.” One thing led to another and two of the men were arrested. During the search of the two newly-arrested troublemakers police discovered a concealed handgun. This investigation then took a new turn, one that led police to discover a major THC extraction lab, also known as a honey oil/hash oil lab, inside the residence.

THC Concentrate

This form of marijuana can be up to four times stronger in THC content than high grade or top shelf marijuana ~DEA

Upon the discovery of the lab, it was time to call in investigators/special ops team to do a bit of poking around. Well, lo and behold, the team then discovered another firearm, suspected cash proceeds from drugs sales, THC concentrate, and several pounds of marijuana.

Thanks to the sharp eye and inquisitive nature of the first responders—the patrol officers who answered the fight call—an illegal drug lab and operation was shut down and its operators arrested and charged.

Simple stuff, and it happens all the time.

And this, my good friends, is how little offenses grow up to be big and strong crimes. Well, that, a little luck, and the stupidity of criminals. Fighting in the front yard of the place where you’re running a major drug operation, with an illegal gun in your pocket … yeah, he’s a bright one. And typical.

 

 

 

“Marijuana concentrates are often referred to as 710 (the word “OIL” flipped and spelled back- wards), wax, ear wax, honey oil, budder, butane hash oil, butane honey oil (BHO), shatter, dabs (dabbing), black glass, and errl.” ~ DEA

Marijuana concentrate – sometimes known as “budder.”

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Friday’s Heroes: Remembering the Fallen

Detective Michael Doty, 37

York County South Carolina Sheriff’s Office

January 17, 2018 – Detective Michael Doty was shot and killed by ambush as he responded to a domestic violence call. The shooter wounded several other officers during the incident. He also fired at and struck a police helicopter.

 

 

Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher Hill, 45

United States Marshals Service

January 18, 2018 – Deputy U.S. Marshal Christopher Hill was shot and killed while serving a warrant on a subject for making terroristic threats. As he and other members of a fugitive task force were making the arrest, a male suspect inside the home opened fire and struck Deputy Marshal Hill and two other officers.

Deputy Marshal Hill is survived by his wife and two children.

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A “Bite” Out of Crime: Junk Science

We’ve all seen the reports of innocent men and women who’ve been released from prison—exonerated—due to faulty evidence, cleared by DNA evidence, etc. But what was it about the evidence that robbed people of years of their lives by forcing them sit in a prison cell while completely innocent of the crimes they were accused of committing?

Let’s take a quick peek at the human hair. For many years, law enforcement collected hairs found at crime scenes and then delivered those hairs to their laboratories for examination and comparison (does the hair found match that of a suspect?).

If the examiner took a look under a microscope and then decided the hairs were indeed a solid match then his/her word was good enough for the courts. The suspect must be guilty because the scientist said that positively and without a single doubt the hair placed the defendant at the scene of the crime. Therefore, a jury or judge had all they needed to convict and send a bewildered person to prison.

Well, in 2015 the Justice Department revealed that FBI agents weren’t so sure that hair analysis was the most exact science in the world. In fact, they basically admitted that hair analysis, at best, is inconclusive. They no longer use it as a sole means to build a case against someone.

Santae Tribble was convicted of murder based on the analysis of a hair found at the crime scene. He spent more than 27 years in prison before DNA analysis of the hair proved his innocence. He was awarded  $13.2 million in his wrongful conviction lawsuit. A little something for his “minor” inconvenience.

Next comes bite-mark evidence. Not so long ago, within the past couple of years, the Presidents  Council of Advisors on Science and Technology (PCAST) announced that forensic bite-mark evidence is not scientifically valid, nor is it likely to ever be validated. In other words, more junk science (skin may move after death during decomposition, skin and flesh are not stable material—may not hold a precise pattern, etc.).

Then there are tool marks, tire impressions, footwear impressions, and fingerprints. Yes, there are flaws within the testing of those items as well. Even the golden goose of all evidence—DNA—is not a perfect science.

According to the National Registry of Exonerations, 2155 people have been exonerated of crimes they didn’t commit. To put that in perspective … innocent people spent 18,750 years in prison due to someone’s error—flawed evidence examination, prosecutor or law enforcement mistake, evidence contamination, flawed procedures, flaws in the law, etc. 18,750 years, gone. Lives wasted.

A great example of how a flawed bite-mark examination sent an innocent man to death row is the story of our friend Ray Krone. Ray was … well, I think I’ll sit back and post Ray’s tale as he told it to me a while back.

Ray Krone Spent 10 Years on Death Row for a Crime He Didn’t Commit

A few weeks ago, my girlfriend Cheryl read a novel by Polly Iyer about a man who had been wrongfully convicted of murder, released, and then framed for a series of murders. As with all good fiction, there were elements of fact in this story. Polly’s description of the impact of wrongful convictions struck a chord with Cheryl, and she sent Polly an email saying so. That email started an exchange that led to me posting on this blog today.

My story isn’t much of a mystery, but it has twists and turns that wouldn’t make it past a fiction editor’s red pencil. Lee thought that it might be of interest to you, so here goes. I’m not a professional writer but I hope that I’ll be able to provide some useful insights into the ripples that result from sloppy police work, ineffective defense counsel, and overzealous prosecutors.

I won’t go into details about my life prior to my arrest and wrongful conviction. It was unremarkable as most lives are, except to the people who live them. I sang in the church choir, was a Boy Scout, and played team sports throughout my school years. I was never in any trouble, never even had detention in school. I grew up in a small town, joined the Air Force, and following my Honorable Discharge remained in Phoenix, AZ, my last duty station. I got a job with the United States Postal Service as a letter carrier.

Ray before his arrest for a crime he didn’t commit

At 35, I was single and living the good life. My salary allowed me to buy my own home and have lots of big boy toys—sand rail, Corvette, swimming pool. I had a loving family back in PA, and loyal friends all over the country. Little did I know that I was about to find out just how important those people were.

I’d always enjoyed team sports, and still do. A bar in my neighborhood sponsored volleyball and dart teams, and I played on both. On December 29, 1991, the owner found his night manager, Kim Ancona, on the men’s room floor. She’d been sexually assaulted and stabbed to death. A co-worker told police detectives Kim had said someone named Ray was going to help her close up that night. I had a casual acquaintance with this woman, and knew her only as a bartender and occasional dart player. She was living with a man and as far as I was concerned, that was as good as married and made her off-limits.

Detectives found my name and phone number in her address book and came to see me. It’s important to note at this point that my name and phone number were not in my handwriting or in Kim’s. How they got there remains a mystery to this day. I was questioned by the Phoenix Police, and cooperated—until I realized they were trying to pin this murder on me.  The legal wrangling is public record—you can Google my name and read countless stories about my case.

Being the one hundredth person to be wrongfully convicted and sentenced to die, only to be found factually innocent after spending years on Death Row and in prison, put me on the radar of a society that was beginning to question the value of capital punishment. My conviction was based solely on bite mark evidence. Because I refused to show remorse for a crime I didn’t commit, I was sentenced to death. After almost three years on Death Row, I was granted a new trial. I was again convicted, and sentenced to 23 years for the kidnapping, and 25 years to life for the murder. Only a random series of events would free me.  Court-ordered DNA would finally free me and identify the real killer. I spent a total of ten years, three months and eight days in prison for something I didn’t do. I was 35 when arrested and 45 when I was exonerated.

Ray as an inmate at Arizona State Prison in Yuma

The life events that other people take for granted were stolen from me, and no amount of money, sympathy or accolades will ever give me a chance to experience them. They are gone forever. Am I bitter? I try not to be—the family and friends who stood by me have helped me adjust and appreciate what I do have. I try not to focus on what I’ve been denied in this life, but what I’ve been given. I’ve learned the hardest way possible the true meaning of “you find out who your friends are.” Despite the love and support of friends and family, I still have moments when I feel rage at what happened to me, even after more than ten years of freedom.

Billboard on I-83 in Harrisburg, Pa.

There have been millions of words written and hundreds of television shows about the impact on men and women who were sentenced to die for a crime they didn’t commit. There are well-documented studies about innocent men and women who were executed in the name of justice. There are other victims of a legal system that penalizes the poor and rewards prosecutors for conviction rates without examining the accuracy of those convictions.  Not just the families of the wrongfully convicted, who often lose what little they have in the defense of their loved ones, but the families of the original victim, the new victims created by the guilty party who remains free, their families, the jurors who are denied access to all of the evidence in a case. The list goes on and on—I misspoke when I called it a ripple—it’s a tsunami, wreaking havoc and destruction, and in many cases, is preventable.

I’m part of a nationally-known group called Witness to Innocence. We have only one membership requirement, but it’s a tough one. You must have been wrongfully convicted and sentenced to die for a crime which you did not commit. Although many of us are unable to speak publicly about what happened to us, many others find it therapeutic to do so. We have spoken in front of groups ranging from high school students to Congress to the United Nations. We share our experiences at law schools, forensics conventions and gatherings of legal professionals—anywhere that telling our stories will help provide insight, and hopefully inspiration.

The Witness to Innocence photo above is of only some of the members. Left to right: Ray Krone, Albert Burrell, Kirk Bloodsworth, Gary Drinkard, Randy Steidl, Ron Keine, Delbert Tibbs and Derek Jamison. Each of these men (and our one female member, Sabrina Porter) have stories that defy belief, as do all of the members.

I’m honored to have been invited to address the readers of this blog. For more information about Witness to Innocence, stories of exoneration or speaker’s schedules, please visit www.witnesstoinnocence.org

According to the Innocence Project, since 1989, 353 people have been exonerated of their crimes based on DNA. Twenty of those people served time on death row.

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