Convicted By Junk Science-Man Released After Decades On Death Row! | Crime Alert 8PM 11.28.25

Jimmie Duncan spends nearly three decades on death row in Louisiana, convicted with debunked bite mark evidence, released on bail after Judge tossed his conviction!

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Crime Lord hourly update, Breaking crime news Now, I'm Dave Mac.
Jimmy Duncan was convicted of first degree murder in nineteen
ninety eight after being charged with raping and drowning twenty
three month old Haley Olivau, the daughter of his then
girlfriend Alison Layton Stapham. By Mark. Evidence since debunked as
junk science, was used to get that conviction. The innocents

(00:23):
probably agreed to take on the case, and after nearly
three decades on death row, Jimmy Duncan is out of
prison on bail. Prosecutors were seeking to keep Duncan in
prison while his case is reviewed by the Louisiana Supreme Court.
Fourth Judicial District Court. Judge Alvin Sharp throughout that conviction
in April, after hearing expert testimony that the forensic evidence

(00:45):
that helped put Duncan on death row was not scientifically
defensible and that Hailey's death appeared to be the result
of an accidental drowning. Family members of the victim had
this to say about Duncan being released on bail.

Speaker 2 (00:59):
Evident's presented in court in September of twenty twenty four
that led to Jimmy Christian Duncan's conviction being vacated in
April of twenty twenty five, we have changed our minds
about his guilt. We agree with the judge's ruling that
there isn't any evidence for sexual assault, murder, or bite marks.

(01:20):
We don't believe there is any evidence for any crime
at all. We also know evidence that would have exonerated
Jimmy was ignored, lost, or sealed from the jury and
testifying experts at trial. It's our opinion today, after reviewing
the evidence and testimony, that the jury simply wasn't given
the truth.

Speaker 1 (01:40):
In the recent past, similar faulty forensic bitemark evidence has
led to vacated convictions and dropped charges. In his order
at granting Duncan bail, citing the new evidence presented at
an evidentiary hearing last year, coupled with Duncan's lack of
prior criminal history, Judge Sharp wrote, the presumption is not
great that he is guilty. Attorney said in a statement

(02:01):
that Sharp's ruling earlier this year provided quote clear and
convincing evidence showing that mister Duncan is factually innocent. They
added the Duncan's release on bail marks a significant step
forward for mister Duncan's complete exoneration. Duncan's vacated conviction is
still being reviewed by the Louisiana Supreme Court, but he

(02:21):
was released after posting a one hundred and fifty thousand
dollars bond. He plans to live with a relative in
central Louisiana. During Duncan's bail hearing, the mother of the
girl who was accused of killing told the judge that
she had become convinced of Duncan's innocence. Instead, Stathan believes
her daughter, who she said had a history of seizures,
had accidentally drowned in a bathtub. The Innocent's Project investigation

(02:46):
revealed that in the weeks prior to her death, Hailey
suffered from a series of seizures and injuries, including one
that happened from a fall and led to a week
long hospitals day. They also found that warm baths could
increased the risk of subsequent seizures. Statham says her daughter
wasn't killed, Hailey died because she was sick. Statham told

(03:08):
the court she believes that her family and Duncan have
been destroyed by the lie. She believes prosecutors and forensic
experts had concocted. Prosecutors had relied on bite mark analysis
and an autopsy conducted by two experts who were later
linked to at least ten wrongful convictions. Duncan's legal team
described the pair as discredited. Charlatan's Mississippi based forensic dentist

(03:33):
Michael West and pathologist Stephen Hayn examined Haley's body. The
bitemark analysis that helped convict Duncan was discredited, and a
video recording of the examination shows dentist West forcibly pushing
a mold of mister Duncan's teeth into the child's body,
creating the bite marks later used to convict him. A

(03:56):
state appointed expert unaware of this method testify during trial
that the bite marks on the body match Duncan's. Haley's
mother says the horror story that they put out and
desecrated my baby's memory makes me infuriated. During the bail hearing,
an Innocence Project lawyer representing Duncan, m Chris Fabricant, said

(04:17):
bite mark evidence is junk science, and there is no
more prejudicial type of junk science that exists than bitemark
evidence pathologist Stephen Hayin is deceased, and dentist West says
DNA testing has made bitemark analyis is obsolete. However, Wes
still defended his work in other cases that led to
overturned convictions. The parish testimony led to two Mississippi men,

(04:39):
Levon Brooks and Kennedy Brewer, to serve a combined three
decades in prison in two separate cases for the rape
and murder of young girls until DNA evidence cleared them
of the crimes. Since nineteen seventy three, more than two
hundred people on death row have been exonerated, including twelve
people in Louisiana. More crime and justice news coming out.

(05:05):
In the midst of an undefeated season and in the playoffs,
chasing a state championship, Union high school football coach Travis
Turner goes missing. State police special agents from a Bureau
of Criminal Investigation office were sent to his home not
to arrest him, but to talk to him as part
of an investigation. On the way to the coach's home,

(05:27):
officers are notified the coach is gone. A search of
the area nearby was conducted with drones, dogs, and rescue teams.
As the search continues for the runaway coach. Charges are filed,
including possessing child pornography and using a computer to solicit
a minor. Virginia State Police say Turner is now wanted

(05:49):
on warrants of five counts of each charge, adding that
additional charges are pending as an investigation continues. They did
not share details about what prompted the charges. Turner's wife, Leslie,
denies the charges, saying, quote, none of that is true.
He's a good dad and a good husband unquote. Turner

(06:09):
is the football coach at Union High School in southwest
Virginia's Wise County. Union has put together an impressive undefeated
season through the first round of the state playoffs. Union
High School assistant coach Jay Edwards has since stepped in
two handle all coaching responsibilities. As the search continues. For
the latest crime in justice news, follow the Crime Alert

(06:32):
hourly update on your favorite podcast. Out with this crime Alert,
I'm Dave mcgin