Episode 5. Matthew Garcia (sentenced to LIFE w/out taking a LIFE)

Matthew Garcia has never killed anyone, but has been in prison for 27 years, since he had turned 18 and as it stands now, he is scheduled to NEVER come home. You may think that I'm leaving something out of the story, but that's it. In Pennsylvania there are approximately 700 people in prison serving a life without parole for 2nd degree murder, or "felony murder," and had never hurt anyone. That is, they had the intent to commit a crime when someone was killed at the scene, e.g., times are rough for you, and you go out with a friend to steal some food or money, and someone tries to stop ya and shoots and kills your friend. That is felony murder and you're getting the mandatory sentence of life without parole. Another example, and true story, your a teenage girl and you're looking out for your brother and his friend who are going to go into a convenient store and steal some snacks and the friend unintentionally kills the clerk, with or without a weapon. It would also be the same if the clerk killed the friend. Life in prison without parole for you and your brother. That's out Pennsylvania judicial system writing the rules back when the goal was to incarcerate as many people as possible for profit. I'd like to believe that the courts are going to change that soon. There are several cases in the Pa Supreme court right now that could set the change for people like Matt, and that teenage girl.