Anatomy of a Wrongful Conviction: The Case of Charles Don Flores

Charles Don Flores has spent more than 25 years on death row for a crime he steadfastly maintains he did not commit. His conviction was tainted by hypnotically influenced eyewitness testimony — testimony that is now prohibited by state law. 

On Thursday, October 1, 2026, the Social Work Program at St. Edward’s University and the Texas Coalition to Abolish the Death Penalty (TCADP) will host Anatomy of a Wrongful Conviction: The Case of Charles Don Flores. This event is taking place in conjunction with International Wrongful Conviction Day, which is recognized on October 2.

During this forum, attendees will hear from the following speakers about Charles’s case and some of the common elements of wrongful convictions: 

– Gretchen Sween, a capital appellate attorney who represents Charles Flores

–  Ali Nichols, an alumna of St. Ed’s and friend of Charles 

– Michelle Pitcher, a journalist with the Texas Observer, who dug into Charles’s case for season five of The Unforgotten podcast, “Riding Shotgun”

Join us from 6:00 to 8:00 PM in the Carter Auditorium in JBWS on the St. Edward’s campus. Come for dinner at 6:00; the panel will take place from 6:30 to 8:00 PM. 

Parking instructions will be emailed to registrants. This event is free and open to the St. Edward’s community and the public. For more information, contact Natalie Beck Aguilera at nbeck2@stedwards.edu.

You can RSVP for the event here: https://forms.gle/YFcVwbBAnE5WMs3z9