"If a fire occurs and someone dies,
the survivors will likely be charged with arson."
Gerald Hurst. Ph.D
Fire Investigator.
1) Arson Denied: fires which were accidental, and the conviction was based on junk science, investigative malfeasance, and incompetent lawyering.
2) Wrongfully Convicted: arson occurred but police charged the wrong party 1) to clear the case quickly, 2) to protect the real perpetrator, 3) or to convict someone they do not like.
Exonerated!
June 6, 2012
David Lee Gavitt is finally free after 26 years in a Michigan prison for the death of his wife and two daughters
Exonerated!
May 31, 2012
James Kluppelberg walks out of Illinois jail for the first time in 28 years after prosecutors dismiss charges in 1984 fire that killed 6
Great News ! !
Retrials Granted ! !
Han Tak Lee
Pennsylvania
Convicted 1990
Death of daughter.
Sentence: LWOP
Arson Denied
Retrial Granted
Jan 2012
George A. Souliotes
California
Convicted 2000
Death of live-in partner and her two children.
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
Retrial Granted
Apr 2012
Great News ! !
Retrials Granted ! !
Tatsuhiro Boku
(Codefendant with
Keiko Aoki)
Osaka, Japan
Convicted 1996
Death of daughter.
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
Retrial Granted
March 2012
Keiko Aoki
(Codefendant with Tatsuhiro Boku)
Osaka, Japan
Convicted 1996
Death of daughter.
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
Retrial Granted
March 2012
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Executed / Sentenced To Death
Cameron Todd Willingham
Texas
Convicted: 1991
Death of 2 sons
EXECUTED: 2004
Arson Denied
Daniel Dougherty
Pennsylvania
Convicted 2000
(14 years after the fire)
Death of 2 Sons.
Sentence: Death
Arson Denied
Michael Webb
Ohio
Convicted: 1991
Sentence: Death
Wrongfully Convicted
Raphael Holiday
Texas
Convicted: 2002
Death of 3 daughters
Sentence: Death
More Info Coming
Kazuhiro Ogawa
Osaka
Convicted: 2009
Death of 16 peoplee
Sentence: Death
Arson Denied
James P. Harrison
Indiana
Convicted: 1991
Death of 3 people.
Sentence: Death
Resentence: Life 2004
Wrongfully convicted in stabbing/arson death.
Wrongfully Convicted: Sentenced to Life Behind Bars
Rose "Katie" Roseborough
Ohio
Convicted: 2004
Sentence: LWOP
Arson Denied
Steven Darby McDonald
Washington
Convicted 1997
Sentence: LWOP
No deaths. Only minor damage in a small fire.
Wrongfully Convicted
Mark Kirk
Delaware
Convicted: 1997
Death of 3 people
Sentence: 44 years
Arson Denied
Louis C. Taylor
Arizona
Convicted: 1972
Death of 29 people
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
John Maloney
Wisconsin
Convicted: 1999
Death of Wife.
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
Victor Rosario
Masachussetts
Convicted 1983
Death of 8 people.
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
Ed Graf
Texas
Convicted: 1988
Death of 2 Sons.
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
Greg Brown Jr.
(age 17)
Pennsylvania
Convicted 1997
Death of 3 Firefighters.
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
Karen Boes
Michigan
Convicted: 2003
Death of daughter.
Sentence: Life Without Parole
Arson Denied
Kristine Bunch
Indiana
Convicted: 1996
Death of Child
Sentence: 60 years
Arson Denied
~~~~~~~~~~~
(Picture Wanted)
Butch Martin
Texas
Convicted: ????
Death of Wife.
Sentence: Life
Arson Denied
~~~~~~~~~~~
(Picture Wanted)
Mike Ledford
Virginia
Convicted:
Death of Child.
Sentence: 50 years
Arson Denied
~~~~~~~~~~~
(Picture Wanted)
Tracey Shaw
Pennsylvania
Convicted: 1996
6 Deaths
Sentence: Life
Wrongfully Convicted in Arson Case
Wrongfully Convicted: Lesser Sentences
Curtis Severns
Texas
Convicted 2006
Structure Fire/No deaths
Sentence: 30 years (reduced to 15)
Arson Denied
Joey Awe
Wisconsin
Convicted 2007
Structure Fire
Sentence: 12 Years with 3 Years Imprisonment
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Released & Exonerated
Link: List of defendants who have been either exonerated, released from prison pending retrial,
paroled, and released on plea bargains.