Abstract:
Through an eight-year research and communication with a prisoner in an Upper Peninsula prison in Michigan beginning in 2002, this tale evolved and grew in the telling as we lived it, I as a writer, Ron as an eventually commuted felon. The system of investigation and conviction was very flawed, as is the recurrent theme now, the commutation process via “Lifer Parole” as oxymoronically termed was accomplished in 2009 with the deep help of Doug Tjapkes of Humanity for Prisoners formerly Innocent 1 of Grand Haven, MI.
The aftermath of commutation- 15 months- till the surprise tragic ending in 2010 is detailed with much psychological information as well as the legal terminology dealt with through out the evolution. The tale begins with an email conversation with Ron’s wife of less than one year.