Today, in an astounding turn of events, prosecutors in Smith County dropped capital murder charges against Kerry Max Cook, in light of new evidence that severely undermined their case against him. Cook spent 20 years on death row in Texas.
innocence
Max Soffar dies on Texas death row after 35 years in prison; strong claim of innocence
Max Soffar, who spent 35 years on Texas’ death row – died of complications from liver cancer on Sunday, April 24, 2016. He was diagnosed in the fall of 2014, when doctors told him he had only months to live. The U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit was scheduled to hear oral arguments […]
Attorneys for Rodney Reed file new appeal
Yesterday, attorneys for Rodney Reed filed a new appeal in Bastrop County based on new witness testimony and forensic evidence that supports their client’s innocence. Reed is scheduled to be put to death by the State of Texas on March 5 for the 1996 murder of Stacy Stites. Reed claims that he and Stites were romantically involved. His […]
Manuel Velez, who once faced execution, is now a free man
Today, October 8, 2014, Manuel Velez – who once faced execution by the State of Texas – was released from prison in Huntsville. He will be reunited with his family in Brownsville, including his two sons, who are now 11 and 15 years old. His freedom is a momentous outcome in a case that has […]
Death row exonoree Anthony Graves and murder victim survivor Jan Brown to visit College Station
Two individuals with firsthand experience with the Texas death penalty system will visit College Station this week as part of a special event hosted by St. Mary’s Catholic Center. “Personal encounters with the Texas death penalty: The true stories of death row exonoree Anthony Graves and murder victim survivor Jan Brown” will take place on Thursday, September […]
Death row exonoree Juan Melendez in Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex this week
“Journey to Justice: A Speakers’ Tour Featuring Death Row Survivor Juan Roberto Melendez-Colon” will take place in the Metroplex from September 28 – October 2, 2014. Juan Melendez spent 17 years, 8 months, and 1 day on Florida’s death row for a crime he did not commit. He was exonerated and released on January 3, 2002.
Support clemency for Texas death row inmate Max Soffar
Imagine spending 34 years in prison – most of them on death row in Texas – for a crime you didn’t commit. Now imagine being told by doctors that in a matter of months, you will die of liver cancer. That’s the situation facing Max Soffar, who will die behind bars before any court can […]
New Study Suggests Over 4% of People Sentenced to Death are Likely Innocent
According to new peer-reviewed research published in one of the most authoritative scientific journals in the world – Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences – over four percent of all those sentenced to death in the United States from 1973 through 2004 were innocent. The percentage of innocent people sentenced to death (4.1%) is […]
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