Episode 24: The Lawmas Book Club: Framed by Prejudice: Two Lives Derailed by Justice Gone Wrong

In this episode of The Lawmas Podcast, Lauren and Lacey continue their Book Club discussion of "Framed" by John Grisham. The cases discussed this week are Joe Bryan and Carrie Cook. 

Lacey opens the episode sharing her week of medical appointments with her 7-year old son, Luke, who has Down syndrome. Lauren talks about the universal struggles of motherhood. 

Case 1: Joe Bryan

• Elementary school sweethearts Joe and Mickey Blue were both teachers in a small Texas town
• Mickey was brutally murdered while Joe was at a conference 120 miles away
• Police started unfounded rumors about Joe being gay to create a motive
• Blood spatter "expert" with minimal training provided questionable testimony
• Despite physical evidence proving Joe couldn't have committed the crime (time constraints), he was convicted
• Joe was eventually released due to COVID prison reductions but never exonerated

Case 2: Carrie Cook

• Linda Jo Edwards was brutally murdered in her apartment
• Her roommate identified Jim Mayfield (Linda's former lover) at the scene
• Despite DNA evidence implicating Mayfield, police focused on Cook based on a fingerprint and unreliable jailhouse informant testimony
• Cook was tried three times, receiving death penalty twice
• Eventually took a plea deal for time served and was later exonerated
• Lauren and Lacey discuss how homophobia was weaponized in both cases to secure convictions

Here's our question for the listeners:

• Would you have accepted a plea deal guaranteeing freedom (like Cook did) or risked a fourth trial?

 

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