In 1968, a budding New York City entrepreneur who provided immigrants with jobs took a Florida vacation with his family. Meanwhile, his relative, an employee, is murdered on Long Island. Upon returning to New York, Sam Sommer learns the fate of his wife's uncle, Irving Silver, when he doesn't show up to carpool to work. Three days pass with no clues about his death. Then a recent contractor at Sam's deli sets up a meeting to share news on the … [Read more...]
Christopher Jossart
An award-winning writer and editor recognized by the education and non-profit sectors, Chris’ work has appeared in national and international publications, while overseeing thousands of news releases to print. He’s authored three nonfiction books that have been used by a top law enforcement training program and generated media attention in North America. Chris is an Honorary Member of the Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society Hall of Fame and a … [Read more...]
“The Cannibal Cop” Gil Valle’s Interview With The Gothamist
Gil Valle, more commonly known as "The Cannibal Cop", was recently interviewed by Rebecca Fishbein of the Gothamist. In this interview, Valle gives readers an inside look at his trial, the fetishes that landed him there, prison, and his plans for the future now that he has been exonerated. Valle also discusses his upcoming memoir that he wrote with author Brian Whitney, RAW DEAL: The Untold Story of NYPD's "Cannibal Cop", which becomes available … [Read more...]
Jury Verdict Is In; $28.1 Million Goes to the Wrongfully Convicted Beatrice 6
A federal civil rights jury in Nebraska has dinged Gage County, Sheriff's Corporal Burt Searcey, deputy/psychologist Wayne Price and the estate of late sheriff Jerry DeWitt to the tune of more than $28 million - for reckless misconduct involving the nation's largest-ever wrongful conviction case - 6 wrongful convictions in a lone murder. The terrible plight of the Beatrice 6 was the subject of my recent book for WildBlue Press titled, "FAILURE … [Read more...]
Nebraska AG Jon Bruning: Some Didn’t Want To Believe The Beatrice 6 Are Innocent
A staunch conservative and prominent Republican, Nebraska Attorney General Jon Bruning never anticipated he would find the media spotlight for exposing the nation's largest wrongful conviction case right in his backyard. In November 2008, Bruning made a shocking announcement to all Nebraskans- his state agency had uncovered irrefutable proof that a terrible injustice had been committed nearly 20 years earlier in Beatrice, a small community … [Read more...]
Author John Ferak’s Work on the “Making A Murderer” Steven Avery Case
Wrongful Convictions At The Crux Of 'Making A Murderer' And FAILURE OF JUSTICE Who would have predicted that a Christmastime 10-part documentary on a true-crime right here in Wisconsin would spark international interest in America's criminal justice system and the plight of wrongful convictions like we've never seen before? My new true crime book, FAILURE OF JUSTICE, describes such a case, as did the Netflix series, 'Making a Murderer,' which … [Read more...]
Prosecutor Proved The Beatrice 6 Innocent And That Their Confessions Were False
John Ferak’s new book "FAILURE OF JUSTICE" about Beatrice, Nebraska brings to mind those strange days when we came face to face with the reality that five people had falsely confessed to participating in a murder. That case confirmed a belief that I have held throughout my career as a prosecutor and as defense counsel. Interrogation is not investigation. The successful solicitation of a confession is no substitute for thorough … [Read more...]
Investigator Tina Vath Unraveled Beatrice’s FAILURE OF JUSTICE Homicide Case
Nebraska Police Investigator Talks About Her Role In The Beatrice 6 Investigation In 2003, I became the Beatrice Police Department’s Criminal Investigator. At the time the department had only one investigator position. I knew the story of the Helen Wilson murder and subsequent investigation that led to the arrest and conviction of six people. I had not reviewed any of the case file and never questioned their guilt or innocence. I just believed … [Read more...]
Did A Psychic Help Solve The Helen Wilson Rape-Murder in Beatrice, Nebraska?
As of February 1988, the Helen Wilson murder investigation was in need of a fresh set of eyes - like a psychic, perhaps? By 1988, more than a hundred potential suspects had been interviewed, examined and excluded. Mostly these were southeastern Nebraska residents, but some were out of state serial rapists from the likes of Kansas and Colorado as well. It didn't matter. Wherever the Beatrice Police Department seemed to go looking, … [Read more...]
“Making A Murderer,” FAILURE OF JUSTICE Shine Light on Wrongful Convictions
Millions across the globe have watched 'Making a Murderer' on Netflix. It's the story of Wisconsin's Steven Avery. He goes to prison in the 1980s. He's a victim of a wrongful conviction for a brutal rape. Years later, he goes back to prison for murder and people are now debating whether he was victimized by a broken criminal justice in Wisconsin - again. My new book chronicles the terrible saga of Nebraska's Beatrice 6. FAILURE OF JUSTICE is … [Read more...]
