Rodricus Crawford spent 3 years on death row for the murder of his son, before his innocence was revealed and he became Louisiana’s 11th death row exoneree.
“When it first happened, I didn’t really want to live anymore,” he said. “Who can deal with that: waking up, your son passed, you go to jail, and they’re saying you did it?”
Read Rodricus Crawford’s story here: “From death row to freedom: Rodricus Crawford looks to future” by The Shreveport Times
Louisiana Voters Don’t Prefer the Death Penalty
By a 2 to 1 margin, Louisianans polled in 2016 said they Fifty-seven percent of respondents chose either life without parole (42%) or 35 years to Life (15%) as their preferred punishment for first degree murder, while just 24% selected the death penalty. Life sentences crossed partisan lines with 70% of Democrats, and a strong plurality of Independents (47%) and Republicans (44%) indicating this preference. Life sentences are especially preferred among voters under 40 (71%).
Marty Stroud was the lead prosecutor who sent Glen Ford, an innocent man, to death row in Louisiana. Ford served 30 years on death row before the state admitted new evidence proving he wasn’t the killer.
“I was confident that the right man was being prosecuted and I was not going to commit resources to investigate what I considered to be bogus claims that we had the wrong man. My mindset was wrong and blinded me to my purpose of seeking justice, rather than obtaining a conviction of a person who I believed to be guilty.”
Read Marty Stroud’s story here: “Lead prosecutor apologizes for role in sending man to death row” by The Shreveport Times
Louisiana Leads the Nation in Innocent Men Sent to Death Row
- Johnny Ross a black 16-year old, was convicted and sentenced to death for the rape of a white woman. Ross confessed after being beaten by the police, and his trial lasted only a few hours. Investigations by the Southern Poverty Law Center sought a new trial for Ross and presented evidence that the Ross’ blood type was not the same as the type in the semen found in the victim.
- Curtis Kyles was wrongfully sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. His wrongful conviction occurred due to exculpatory evidence being withheld by the prosecution. He had 13.2 years of his life taken away from him.
- Shareef Cousin was wrongfully sentenced to death when he was only 16 years old. He was wrongfully convicted of a murder that occurred elsewhere by another person while he was innocently playing in a recreational basketball game. He had 3 years of his life taken away from him.
- Michael Graham was wrongfully sentenced to death for a robbery and murder he did not commit. He had 13.6 years of his life taken away from him.
- Albert Burrell was wrongfully sentenced to death for a robbery and murder he did not commit. He had 13.4 years of his life taken away from him.
- John Thompson was wrongfully sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit based on a prior conviction for a robbery he did not commit. His wrongful convictions occurred due to exculpatory evidence being withheld by the prosecution. While on death row, Thompson suffered through seven scheduled execution dates. He had 18 years of his life taken away from him.
- Dan Bright was wrongfully sentenced to death for a robbery and murder he did not commit. His conviction resulted from the prosecution’s failure to disclose material evidence. He had 8 years of his life taken away from him.
- Ryan Matthews was wrongfully sentenced to death when he was only 17 years old. He was exonerated by DNA evidence. He had 5.1 years of his life taken away from him.
- Damon Thibodeaux was wrongfully sentenced to death for a rape and murder that he did not commit. His conviction resulted from a coerced confession. DNA evidence helped to prove his innocence. He had 15 years of his life taken away from him.
- Glenn Ford was wrongfully sentenced to death for a murder he did not commit. He was released after the prosecutor’s office uncovered evidence of his innocence. He had 29.3 years of his life taken away from him; sadly, he died from cancer one year after he obtained his freedom.
- Rodricus Crawford was wrongfully sentenced to death for a murder that did not occur; the death for which he was charged resulted from natural causes. He had 3.4 years of his life taken away from him.