The Alley: DC's 8th and H Case
Following Catherine Fuller's murder in DC in 1984, eight young Black men were sentenced to life in prison. Now, 40 years after they were convicted, the accused men—for the first time, in their own words—recount their decades-long saga with the American criminal justice system that failed them. Listeners will also hear from attorneys, law enforcement, journalists, and criminal reform advocates to help shine a light on the flaws and biases of our legal system still present today. Presented by New America, this is The Alley: DC's 8th and H Case. email: lynchs@newamerica.org
Episodes
On October 1st, 1984, Catherine Fuller was brutally killed in the H Street Corridor in northeast Washington, DC. Her murder not only scarred the nation’s capital for decades, but it also resulted in the arrests of 17 young Black Washingtonians—the most arrests in D.C. history for a single murder. Of those charged, eight young men were sentenced to life in prison.
They always maintained their innocence.
Years later, evidence previ...
New America’s Shannon Lynch revisits the 1984 murder of Catherine Fuller that rocked Washington, DC. The story starts at the scene of the crime—an alley near the busy intersection of 8th and H Streets Northeast—and unveils the fateful tip that caused investigators to settle quickly on a theory of the murder.
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An anonymous tip led to a theory of a “violent gang attack” that captured detectives’ imaginations—without any physical evidence. How could the DC justice system mishandle this case so egregiously from the start? In a city built by slave labor and steeped in racial politics, you don’t have to look too hard to find answers.
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Intense interrogation tactics and a threat of life in prison leads to a coerced confession, setting off a chain reaction that would ultimately lead to 17 arrests. False confession experts Jim Trainum and Marissa Bluestine weigh in on why innocent people confess to crimes they didn’t commit.
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A series of chain reactions resulted in police arresting 17 young Black people for the murder of Catherine Fuller. Four charges were dropped, and two suspects pleaded guilty to lesser crimes. Meanwhile, 11 of the arrestees—all of whom maintained their innocence—prepared to face the biggest murder trial in Washington, DC’s history.
As the accused prepare for trial, the theory of a “vicious gang killing” is presented as fact by the media. Listeners discover that key evidence was hidden from the defense attorneys by the prosecutors. This represents a constitutional violation of the Brady rule, which requires the disclosure of any material evidence.
An unchecked theory leads to the incarceration of eight young Black men. What is it like to live in prison for decades for a crime you didn’t commit? The accused share their firsthand experience, and criminal justice reform experts Reuben Jonathan Miller, Josie Duffy Rice, Christine Montross, and Melissa Segura “zoom out” to discuss the long-term impacts of incarceration.
Two decades later, the Catherine Fuller murder case is cracked open again—with the support of a dogged reporter, the Innocence Project, and a team of expert lawyers. And in a moment of hope, it goes all the way to the Supreme Court, where only 2 percent of cases are accepted.
Six of the surviving accused men adjust to life outside of prison walls. In a final act, they consider a last-ditch effort to clear their names and bring justice to light: a presidential pardon.
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If you want to support a presidential pardon for the men from the 8th and H case, there are 3 things you can do.
First, start conversations about the 8th and H case. Discuss it with your friends and family. Write to your member of Co...
In the summer of 2024, the men from the 8th and H Case submitted applications for a Presidential pardon. Lawyers Shawn Armbrust (Mid-Atlantic Innocence Project) and Eden Schiffmann (Williams & Connolly) share what went into this arduous process. Chris Turner discusses the immense impact a Presidential pardon would have on his life.
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There are two critical actions ...
This episode is the first in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Today's episode features Charles Turner.
Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. They are so much more than the terrible things that happened to them. They're husbands, fathers, friends, supervisors, and mentors, among many other things. ...
This episode is the second in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. This series will allow listeners to see a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals.
Today's episode features Timothy Catlett.
Growing up in and out of the foster care system, ...
This is the third in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. This series will allow listeners to get a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals.
Today's episode features Cliff Yarborough.
Cliff devotes his working days to providing physical and spiritual saf...
This is the fourth in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. This series will allow listeners to get a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals.
Today's episode features Levy Rouse.
Levy earned a computer science degree and recently married a p...
This is the fifth in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. This series will allow listeners to get a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals.
Today's episode features Chris Turner.
Mr. Turner is a dedicated Duke Ellington School for the Arts ...
This is the final installment in a series of six episodes, each highlighting one of the falsely accused men from the 8th and H Case. Despite the challenges they've faced, these men have shown remarkable resilience. This series will allow listeners to get a small glimpse of who these men are as individuals.
Today's episode features Russell Overton.
Mr. Overton works at Costco, where he has been...
President Biden did not issue pardons for the men from the 8th and H case. While understandably frustrated, they remain determined to continue their fight for justice. Their legal team has indicated they will continue pursuing a pardon by working with the new presidential administration and the Justice Department. We will release a more detailed episode soon, where you will hear from the wrongly accused men and their lawyers. Stay ...
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