From PBS Frontline comes fantastic news! David Lee Gavitt is free after modern forensic arson detection determined there was no arson but an accidental fire. Gavitt is amongst several who have had their cases re-examined and thankfully, have been freed from prison and some from death row. Alas, all this comes too late for Willingham. […]
Miscarriage of Justice
Zeigler, Part XXI: Legal Consequences
Zeigler, Part XXI: Legal Consequences of the false arrest report and the lies told by Detective Frye under oath? We have to go back to the initial trial when Mr. Zeigler was defended by Mr. Ralph V. Hadley, III. Mr. Hadley started the Zeigler trial from the assumption that the documents he had received were […]
Update Zeigler: DNA request denied
If you click on the link here you can see that the request for DNA for Zeigler has been denied. It states: “Denying Successive Petition for DNA Testing Pursuant to FLA.STAT. 925.11(1)(a).” NOTE: for some reason the page keeps changing. If you see the general search page, go to “all cases records search” and fill […]
#CCLiveChat recap Feb 10, 2012
In this CCLiveChat, Andrew Wade who introduced us to fire investigations. Andrew is a world renowned forensic scientist with over 30 years experience as a practitioner. He joined the Metropolitan Police Forensic Science Laboratory in the chemistry section where he reported on numerous cases as a court going officer. In 1989 he transferred internally to the […]
Reversal Juan Rivera Conviction
From the New York Times: “In an opinion that harshly criticizes the tactics of the police and prosecutors, an Illinois appellate court on Friday night reversed the conviction of Juan Rivera, who has spent 19 years in jail for the 1992 rape and murder of an 11-year-old baby sitter in a suburb of Chicago. There […]
Original Zeigler Crime Scene Diagram
This is the original crime scene diagram made by private detective George Anan who was hired by the defense in 1976 and who searched the Zeigler furniture store together with attorney Vernon Davids. In a two-week examination of the store, Davids and Annan found a .38 caliber slug and a .38 caliber exit hole in […]
Zeigler’s DNA hearing ends without a decision
Zeigler’s DNA hearing ends without a decision. Today Mr. Zeigler‘s DNA hearing took place in Orange County, Florida, before Judge R. Whitehead. Mr. Zeigler himself was not present. However, he was available by phone if he was needed by the State, otherwise, his presence was waived in person and by phone. Passionate opening statements were […]
Top cop asks public’s help in Crewe Murders
The New Zealand Herald brings fantastic news. Senior Detective Superintendent Andy Lovelock, who is reviewing the Crewe murders, wants the public’s help. He asks anyone with information to contact him. He wants to help find answers for their only child, Rochelle Crewe. I quote: “I am extremely keen to hear from anyone who may have information […]
Penn State CSI Students on the Zeigler Case
Penn State CSI Students on the Zeigler Case: a review of Zeigler Project. During their final spring semester twenty five (25) undergraduate and five (5) graduate students from Penn State University (PSU) reviewed documents pertaining to the trial and conviction of William Thomas Zeigler. Mr. Zeigler was convicted in 1976 of murdering his wife Eunice Zeigler, […]
Chris Birt on the Crewe Murders
In the magazine “North & South,” Chris Birt makes a strong case for an in-depth review of Len and Norma Thomas Demler’s involvement in the case. Note that Norma is not related to Arthur Allan Thomas. Strong ties have existed between the Demler and Thomas family for some time. The siblings in the family married each […]