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This is an amazing story.
In 1986, there was a Chicago arson building fire in which two people died. Two others escaped the fire. It was believed to be a gang revenge attack. An 18 year old, John Galvan, was pointed to as a suspect and arrested. And handcuffed and viciously beaten by detectives until he confessed. No physical evidence or witnesses linked him to the crime scene, family said he was home an hour before the fire and slept until late morning. He was convicted and sent to life in prison.
The arson fire was found to be a classic: gasoline splashed against the side of a building and a light cigarette. Except there were inconsistencies with the findings.
In 2007 on prison TV John saw the MythBusters 2005 episode where they bust a bunch of Hollywood movie and TV tropes. The particular one of interest was the gasoline splashed against a wall and lit with a cigarette. And the guys could not do it. The reason is that they couldn't get the right stoichiometric ratio, that is, enough concentration of explosive gas plus a lit flame. As it happened, John's attorney from The Innocence Project watched the same episode at the same time and was equally gobsmacked.
In 2007, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms conducted an exhaustive series of tests replicating the MythBusters experiments to try to reach a scientific conclusion. And they got the same results: you can't do it.
John and his attorney began a new series of filings and eventually gained new hearings. And with more work, they were granted new trials with the confession suppressed - two others were convicted along with John. Eventually the prosecutors decided not to refile the charges and they were dismissed and they were released from prison. After 35 years served.
The detective who beat John, Victor Switski, retired in 2001 and is living in Florida. The other two could hear John being beat and yelled at by Switski from the next room.
https://innocenceproject.org/discovery-channel-mythbuster-john-galvan-wrongful-conviction-innocence/
https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=6359
In 1986, there was a Chicago arson building fire in which two people died. Two others escaped the fire. It was believed to be a gang revenge attack. An 18 year old, John Galvan, was pointed to as a suspect and arrested. And handcuffed and viciously beaten by detectives until he confessed. No physical evidence or witnesses linked him to the crime scene, family said he was home an hour before the fire and slept until late morning. He was convicted and sent to life in prison.
The arson fire was found to be a classic: gasoline splashed against the side of a building and a light cigarette. Except there were inconsistencies with the findings.
In 2007 on prison TV John saw the MythBusters 2005 episode where they bust a bunch of Hollywood movie and TV tropes. The particular one of interest was the gasoline splashed against a wall and lit with a cigarette. And the guys could not do it. The reason is that they couldn't get the right stoichiometric ratio, that is, enough concentration of explosive gas plus a lit flame. As it happened, John's attorney from The Innocence Project watched the same episode at the same time and was equally gobsmacked.
In 2007, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Firearms conducted an exhaustive series of tests replicating the MythBusters experiments to try to reach a scientific conclusion. And they got the same results: you can't do it.
John and his attorney began a new series of filings and eventually gained new hearings. And with more work, they were granted new trials with the confession suppressed - two others were convicted along with John. Eventually the prosecutors decided not to refile the charges and they were dismissed and they were released from prison. After 35 years served.
The detective who beat John, Victor Switski, retired in 2001 and is living in Florida. The other two could hear John being beat and yelled at by Switski from the next room.
https://innocenceproject.org/discovery-channel-mythbuster-john-galvan-wrongful-conviction-innocence/
https://www.law.umich.edu/special/exoneration/Pages/casedetail.aspx?caseid=6359
