I have read about half of "The Innocent Man", the book about Ada and the unsolved murders that took place here back in the early '80's.
This book is disturbing to me on so many levels. Reading it makes me feel strange, but I can't put it down.
I knew that most of the Ada police were not only stupid but corrupt. At that time it didn't take much to become a cop around here, they are not like Highway Patrolmen who have to have a degree. A lot of them were just down right cowards and being a cop with a gun made them feel tough. I don't know what requirements they have to meet now.
I suppose the thing that really bothers me is that the kind of lives the people in the book lived is the life I lived at that time(and I hate anything that reminds me of that life). The drugs, the alcohol, the wild night life, the always being one step away from jail (thank God I never actually wound up in jail but it was most definitely the grace of God that kept me out - 'cause I wasn't that smart). I knew or knew of a lot of the people he talks about. I didn't know the men accused of the murders but I did know a lot of the people who helped convict them.
I have to wonder if the judges and lawyers and cops involved in this case had actually convinced themselves that they had the killers or if they intentionally convicted the wrong men just to cover their butts??
The boys, Mark and I watched "The Protector" tonight. It is the first martial arts movie I have seen with Tony Jaa... he is freakin' awesome. If you like martial arts movies, watch this one. They use no stunt doubles, no wires, and no CGI. Some of his moves are just insane! It is violent...lots of bone breaking.
Seth is outside in 20 degree weather practicing katas .. funny boy.
7 comments:
Ada sounds a lot like my hometown! I think Seeker posted on this book too, a while back. Maybe I will check it out.
Jen, yes, it is the same book. I'm just now getting around to reading it... I suppose most small rural towns are pretty much like that... it's just weird reading about it in print.
A, you should get Kelly to tell you her story on the APD sometime...it will make you want to scream!
I wondered the same thing, A. Did they convince themselves that they were right like preachers we know, or did they just pin it on them and figure oh well, they weren't such great guys anyway?
Becky, After finishing the book I really think B. Peterson believed it.
I'm not so sure about the cops that were involved. It is just unbelievable what they get away with. I mean everyone in town knew that our last sheriff was a drug dealer.
When I lived in that scene I watched them several times turn their heads when murders took place because they just didn't care - so what, another druggie dead - who cares..I'm sure that's how they felt about Ron Williamson.
Thanks for the tip on The Protector, A. I love martial arts movies. This week when I was sick, J picked some out for me to watch. :)
May I suggest reading this Heartfelt Story. I read your blog and thought you may be interested in it. Here is something I read about it:Who And Where Is Dennis Fritz, You say after reading John Grisham's Wonderful Book "The Innocent man", Grisham's First non-fiction book. The Other Innocent Man hardly mentioned in "The Innocent Man" has his own compelling and fascinating story to tell in "Journey Toward Justice". John Grisham endorsed Dennis Fritz's Book on the Front Cover. Dennis Fritz wrote his Book Published by Seven Locks Press, to bring awareness about False Convictions, and The Death Penalty. "Journey Toward Justice" is a testimony to the Triumph of the Human Spirit and is a Stunning and Shocking Memoir. Dennis Fritz was wrongfully convicted of murder after a swift trail. The only thing that saved him from the Death Penalty was a lone vote from a juror. "The Innocent Man" by John Grisham is all about Ronnie Williamson, Dennis Fritz's was his co-defendant. Ronnie Williamson was sentenced to the Death Penalty. Both were exonerated after spending 12 years in prison. Both Freed by a simple DNA test, The real killer was one of the Prosecution's Key Witness. John Grisham's "The Innocent Man" tells half the story. Dennis Fritz's Story needs to be heard. Read about how he wrote hundreds of letters and appellate briefs in his own defense and immersed himself in an intense study of law. He was a school teacher and a ordinary man from Ada Oklahoma, whose wife was brutally murdered in 1975. On May 8, 1987 while raising his young daughter alone, he was put under arrest and on his way to jail on charges of rape and murder. Since then, it has been a long hard road filled with twist and turns. Dennis Fritz is now on his "Journey Toward Justice". He never blamed the Lord and soley relied on his faith in God to make it through. He waited for God's time and never gave up.
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