Miscarriage of Justice

[Constantine]

This past weekend, I watched the 48 Hours episode entitled Dream Killer, about two teenagers, Ryan Ferguson and Chuck Erickson, convicted of the brutal murder of sports editor Kent Heitholt in Columbia Missouri, despite the fact that no physical evidence connected them to the crime (in fact, what physical evidence there was pointed away from them).

Why were they charged in the first place? Because, two years after the crime was committed, Erickson DREAMT that he had committed the crime and became convinced that he had!!! He came to the attention of police when he told the story to friends.

In his interrogation, the police actually FED him details of the crime that he hadn't known before!!! What is worse, he implicated Ryan in the crime! Both were convicted by a cretinous jury. Ryan's family is fighting his conviction.

Here's the link to the episode. It'll make your blood boil (at least, it should).

http://www.cbsnews.com/video/watch/?id= ... ontentBody

Here is the website for defendant Ryan Ferguson:

http://www.freeryanferguson.com/index.html

[augusta]

I watch a lot of those true crime shows but somehow missed this one. It sounds very interesting, Constantine, and thanks for posting about it and giving the two links. I intend to use your links.

There's been a bit of publicity and indignation about so-called confessions, as you probably know. I used to think, well, if they confessed then they did it and that's that. I don't think that anymore.

[kssunflower]

I remember when this happened. Columbia is a college town not far from the KC area. Thanks for the episode link also - I'll be watching it later.