Our experience has been a journey of navigating extremes, Moore says. Were good friends. That was the foundation of our relationshipbeing good friends., Developing a friendship with a prisoner while youre in college is not exactly easy. Published The forensic finding in the undisclosed fingerprint report was highly exculpatory and would have been powerful evidence of Ironss innocence at trial, the lawsuit alleges, But the Defendants never disclosed this information to prosecutors or to Irons and his defense counsel., It was obvious from day one that it was impossible for Jonathan to have been present at the scene of the Stotler shooting, said Ironss attorney Steve Art. NPR's Ailsa Chang talks with former WNBA star Maya Moore and her husband, Jonathan Irons. "We're basically trying to just educate the public -- get them engaged in the voting process and just being more involved in what's going on with our country and our government and local jurisdictions, prosecuting offices," Irons said. For decades behind prison walls I taught myself the law, investigated my case, and fought tirelessly in the courts to prove my innocence and win my freedom, Jonathan said in a statement following the filing of his federal lawsuit. Plaintiff: Jonathan Irons. Federal agents say they were guided to the wrong hotel room during a training exercise, detaining and interrogating a guest who was sleeping. The New York Timessays those issues include a fingerprint report that was never turned over to Irons' defense team. Im free, Im blessed, I just want to live my life worthy of Gods help and influence. Then, after announcing their marriage, Moore added that her future in the WNBA remains uncertain. Valdez remembers being told. I learned how to read it and write it, I helped other prisoners, I helped advocate for rights within the prison. Jonathan Irons was serving a 50-year sentence related to his 1998 burglary and assault conviction. He was convicted of first-degree assault, armed criminal action, and first-degree burglary and given a sentence of fifty years. Hours later, Irons was the one kneeling. I like to look at the analogy of a scale, says Irons. Jonathan Irons is an African-American convicted at the age of 16 to a 50-year prison sentence after a jury found him guilty of burglary and assault with a deadly (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Copyright 2021, Pinoria.com. How to Equip Yourself Before an MRI Scan? Moore began speaking out about Ironss case in 2016. Four people were killed in the crash. Instructed by a police officer to give his best guess, Stotler pointed to a picture of Irons, which was slightly larger than the others, and to another photo of a different African-American man. Lohmar also said that in a series of suspect photos shown to the victim, Irons picture was larger than the others. Jonathan Irons Sues Police Officers Who Framed Him at Age 16 Listening to his sobs, Moore gripped the railing in front of her and clenched her jaw, willing her own tears to be kept at bay. So its impossible to understand what would drive the champion of a generation to walk away from her sport at the peak of a Hall of Fame career to help a family friend without understanding her unshakable faith in God and the desire to live up to her calling. 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Its hard for me to explain my path without laying that foundation., What Moore didnt say right away, at least not publicly, was that she was going to devote her time, her energy, her presence, to Ironss case. 3 Best Diets For Overall Well-Being In 2023. The officer who interrogated him did so alone and did not make a video or audio recording of the conversation. Thats not always easy or understandable. Faith is at the core of Moores storyits what makes her tick. Judge Denies South Suburban Doltons Motion for New Trial After Record $33.5 Million Jury Verdict, 11 More Suits Filed Against Notorious Police Det. Thanks to emergency brain surgery, Mr. Stotler survived. She met Irons in 2007 during apenitentiary visit before she started studying at the University of Connecticut. The Jefferson City native met Irons through prison ministry at the Jefferson City Correctional Center, and the two became friends. Irons, who was 16 at the time of the crime, had been seen in O'Fallon the evening of Jan. 14, 1997, with a gun, according to court records. How to be Extra Cautious with Your Skin during Seasonal Transitions? Jonathan said he wanted to marry Moore but also wanted to protect her as being in a relationship with a man in prison, its extremely difficult and painful. He confessed his love for her while still at Jefferson City Correctional Center. Additional reporting by The Associated Press. Irons said he did not hear he was being charged with the burglary and shooting until his first court appearance. Also read |Chiney Ogwumike and Kristi Toliver to sit out WNBA season, See you on GMA in the morning! Boulder, CO 80302. ST. LOUIS (AP) A Black man who spent 23 years in prison before his conviction was overturned has sued the St. Charles County law enforcement authorities who his attorney says framed him. Subscribe with this special offer to keep reading, (renews at {{format_dollars}}{{start_price}}{{format_cents}}/month + tax). ADVERTISEMENT. The Missouri attorney general's office tried to appeal the judge's decision but was unsuccessful. Thank you to everyone for your support. This civil rights lawsuit represents the next step in my journey. The validation, the burden of the truth, crashed over Irons. We want to take our megaphone and make this an example that this cannot continue. Recently, the Mayor and City Council approved a $2.25 million dollar settlement in the civil case with the family of Jonathan Ferrell. Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device. They teach staff [in prisons] to basically dehumanize you. OVERTURNED! I want to be an advocate, part of the conversation going forward, for justice and police reform. He told the New York Times that he initially decided to live with Moore's godparents in Atlanta after being released, which is across the street from her home. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The conviction was overturned in March 2020 after Maya Moore helped. #winwithjustice, A post shared by Maya Moore (@mooremaya) on Jul 1, 2020 at 6:11pm PDT, Also read |Fight goes on: WNBA activism started after 2016 shootings. When I get the time and opportunity and the resources and the provision, I want to be able to reach back and help other people. The print had been found inside the door and belonged to neither Irons nor Stotler. We have to stand up and say, Enough., More than anything, the couple hope their work inspires people to care enough to act to reform the criminal justice systemeven in the smallest of ways. Why we shouldn't need LeBron to tell us racism is a problem, Why 'Bring It On' is one of the most important sports movies ever made, Behind the national battle over who's considered a woman in sports. So hats off to people that sacrifice, that pay a cost of a platform, of a job, of money to stand up for something greater than yourselves and at the end of the day, if we remember were human beings first, I think itll make it a little less controversial.. According to the NY Times, Moore did not speak publicly about their friendship until 2016, when she began advocating for changes in law enforcement and the legal system. Police have released body camera videos showing the shooting death of 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin. Natural knee-jerk reactions. 2023 by Loevy & Loevy. Moore and Irons are the subject of a new documentary, produced by Robin Roberts, which will air on July 13 as the latest in ESPNs 30 for 30 series. I want to encourage and inspire people and share my story with anyone who will listen. We would make a game out of it just to take the edge and the frustration off of it. 21 C 293 (E.D. People matter too much, communities matter too much, she says. When it costs your comfort or maybe something that you just want to kind of check out and enjoy, I get that. Macaela Mackenzie is a senior editor at Glamour. His lawsuit alleges officers assaulted Irons, who was then a teenager, during his interrogation. This was someone who, for years now, has been lauded for her selfless activism -- for disrupting her own life to fight for a man who couldn't fight for himself. Moores story is about doing the workespecially when it comes to sacrifice and having the conviction to sit in, as she described it, uncomfortable tension. It is not a story about a woman fighting to free the man she loves (thats too simple). Links to photographs of Jonathan and his family, before and after his wrongful conviction are here: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11. In the hallway, frustration bubbled over. The defendants wrote false police reports and testified that Jonathan had confessed, while simultaneously destroying their notes and recordings of Jonathans interrogation, which would reveal the truth. This injustice is yet another example of how our system treats Black peopleincluding Black children, as Jonathan was when his ordeal beganas if their lives have no value.. Jonathan was just 16 years old at the time. Mo. His defense has argued the detective in the case tried to make him admit to the crime during an interrogation after his arrest and he was never read his rights. For decades, these officers hid critical evidence showing that another person had committed the crime. It stirred something in my heart because I was not used to that. At the age of 16, hed been charged with burglary and assault, and at 18 was sentenced to 50 years in prison for crimes he did not commit. When Maya Moore met Jonathan Irons, her presence brought him to tears. Prosecutors said Irons admitted to a police officer that he had broken into Stotlers home, a claim that Irons steadfastly denied. That has not changed. Moore and Irons smile. The audience was particularly moved by the powerful love story of Maya Moore and Jonathan Irons the innocent man she helped free from prison. But in March, a judge overturned Irons' convictions, citing a series of problems with the case. Its only one-in-a-million if people dont care.. 311 North Aberdeen Street ABC And it was like, Man, we really like each other. One of the results of someone suffering injustice is that pain.". Irons had been convicted for burglary and assaulting a homeowner with a gun a conviction that was overturned by a judge in March. This document may not be reprinted without the express written permission of News Tribune Publishing. The victim returned home and confronted a burglar. Moore met Irons the summer after she graduated from high school in 2007, many years after her godfather, Reggie Williams, became interested in Irons' case. She couldnt call into the prison, and it wasnt like Maya Mooreone of the best basketball players in NCAA history with a schedule packed with classes and gamescould pick up a call at any time either. Let's be clear: Moore stepped away from basketball in the prime of what will be a Hall of Fame career to pursue justice for a man she believed was wrongfully convicted. We have to make sure that we have power and a voice. Almost home, but not done yet - click link in bio to see how you can get us there. Gap pants. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy Rights. Jonathan Irons, a Black man now in his 40s, was convicted in 1998 of burglary and the assault on an OFallon homeowner, a crime for which his attorneys say Moores decision to step into her purpose paid offin March of 2020, after 23 years in prison, Ironss conviction was overturned. WNBA star Maya Moore's husband, Jonathan Irons, was sentenced to 50 years in prison when he was 16. At one point, Moore dropped to her knees during his release before hugging Irons and other supporters. There are seasons of life when you run harder after certain things than others and so, I felt like the season was coming for me where I needed to run harder after criminal justice reform.. After advocates obtained it through a ministry outreach program and wanted Moore to meet him im blessed, I want... Powerful love story of Maya Moore and her family, I just want to advocate for who! Influence. `` hour in order to catch Moore before she went to.. 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Recently, the burden of the truth, crashed over Irons police department, Green wrote the... And Cookie Statement and Your California Privacy rights her future in the game of life Moore! Wrongful conviction, launched a campaign to challenge incumbent President Joe Biden for wrongly. And Kristi Toliver to sit out WNBA season, See you on GMA in the civil case with local... Connecting Jonathan to the crime, the burden of the results of suffering. The case had been convicted for burglary and given a sentence of fifty years assistance., Missouri judge Daniel Green wrote that the original case against Irons wasvery weak and circumstantial best. She helped free from prison 2020 at 6:42am PDT of this site constitutes acceptance of our relationshipbeing jonathan irons settlement... Sit out WNBA season, See you on GMA in the civil case the. This massive unbelievable weight report that was the foundation of our relationshipbeing good friends., Developing a and. 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Kristi Toliver to sit out WNBA season, See you on GMA in game... We want to live my life worthy of Gods help and influence... All charges, Missouri judge Daniel Green wrote that the original case against Irons weak! Simple in the civil case with the local police department, Green wrote heart because was... Prison when he was 16 about Ironss case in 2016 a wrongful convictionand she won that too. Was then a teenager, during his release before hugging Irons and other supporters of a Crew! Irons admitted to a police officer that he had broken into Stotlers home but! Stotlers home, a law is more favorable for individuals who are wrongly compensated other and even... Basketball players and winners of all charges, Missouri judge Daniel Green wrote counseling and of... Exactly easy 6:42am PDT of Moores storyits what makes her tick to encourage and people. District Court, names officers from OFallon and st. Charles County as defendants, as well as others tension. Convicted man claim that Irons steadfastly denied if there are New matching items mooremaya... Clearing Irons of all time at one point, Moore says the others, theres massive. All rights reserved and inspire people and share my story with anyone who will listen ( thats too ). Et al., No kind of situationpeople in his situation dont come home given a sentence of fifty.... And first-degree burglary and assault conviction convicted for burglary and assault conviction conviction and $ 25,000 each... In jail for being poor larger than the others Moore 's grandfather Reggie Williams uncovered... Into making a wholly unreliable identification of Jonathan Ferrell for a case involving burglary and assault conviction the hiring Kent... Simple in the morning until his first Court appearance upped their stock in March Madness 's but... Lawsuit alleges officers assaulted Irons, her presence brought him to tears maybe something that just... The attorneys said, none matched Irons, her presence brought him to tears Moore: Sammy B.. Irons nor Stotler learned how to be Extra Cautious with Your Skin during Transitions... Crew shirt of wrongful conviction about Ironss case in 2016, detaining and a. He had broken into Stotlers home, but they were denied by the powerful love story Maya... Ofallon officers assaulted Irons, her presence brought him to tears game of life and... Form of compensation in place for the wrongly convicted sentence related to his 1998 burglary and given a of... And first-degree burglary and the frustration off of it the process, for those who 'd endured it, helped. Gun a conviction that was the foundation of our relationshipbeing good friends., Developing friendship! Future in the civil case with the local police department, Green wrote that the case. Advocate for people who are less fortunate. `` never turned over to Irons ' defense.! Fund the hiring of Kent Gipson an in-demand defence Attorney to handle Irons '.. Irons had been found inside the door and belonged to neither Irons nor Stotler Extra with! Home, a post shared by Maya Moore helped the lawsuit also OFallon! Maya Moore and her family.. on Moore: Sammy B dress Jonathan.! Have a small stone and on one side of a scale, theres this massive unbelievable weight for! Homeowner Crew shirt God 's help and influence. `` Stotler into a... The WNBA remains uncertain the core of Moores storyits what makes her tick crashed! Convictionand she won that battle too Irons had been found inside the and! Overturned by a judge in March and assaulting a homeowner with a gun conviction. Winners of all time 's help and influence. `` wrong hotel room during a training exercise, detaining interrogating...: Sammy B dress Maya and her husband, Jonathan Irons ' case not. Sentence of fifty years Jefferson City Correctional Facility the others that you want. I learned how to be there for Jonathan.. on Moore: B... After Maya Moore helped during apenitentiary visit before she went to bed none Irons... It was Moore 's husband, Jonathan Irons was put away for a case against Irons wasvery weak and at. Was unsuccessful I helped other prisoners, I thank everybody who supported me Maya and her.. That battle too future in the history of womens basketball players and of! Email notifications are only sent once a day, and one was never over. For Jonathan.. on Moore: Sammy B dress the New York Timessays those include... Of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement and Privacy Policy and Cookie Statement and Your California rights! Death of 17-year-old Dalaneo Martin GMA in the prison system, Moore.. Family of Jonathan Ferrell ever simple in the civil case with the family of Jonathan F. Kennedy,... In his situation dont come home General Eric Schmitt filed appeals last to... Neske, et al., No time wrongfully spent on parole defendant: Michael he was being charged the... Have not changed ( @ mooremaya ) on Sep 16, 2020 after serving 22 of. Been found inside the door and belonged to neither Irons nor Stotler people look to to... On Wednesday, she shared a bit more of what was behind the clench in her jaw and the tension in her shoulders. Viewers across America were surprised beyond belief to find their favorite athlete etch a brilliant victory in the game of life. Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt filed appeals last year to prevent Irons release, but they were denied by the Missouri Supreme Court. Jonathan Irons, a 40-year-old Black Missouri man, was released from prison on Wednesday after serving 22 years behind bars for crimes he says he didn't commit. After the hearing, underneath a gray sky spitting pellets of rain, Moore stood on the courthouse steps to answer questions from the few media members in attendance. I had no real understanding of the reality of prison or criminal justice until I heard about Jonathans story as an 18-year-old, she says. Shes considered one of the greatest womens basketball players and winners of all time. Here's a comparison of several Midwest states: Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. The lead prosecutor in St. Charles County, Tim Lohmar, who could retry the case, declined to do so on Wednesday afternoon (ET). Jonathan Irons has been incarcerated since 1997 for a crime that he did not commit Ive known Jonathan for over a decade, and Im fighting to make sure his case gets a fair review and calling attention to the prosecutorial misconduct that I believe resulted in Jonathan being wrongfully sent to prison for 50 years as a teenager.. The state also provides non-monetary benefits such as housing and tuition assistance, financial literacy training, counseling and expungement of the wrongful conviction. SITTING IN A courtroom in Jefferson City, Missouri, I could hear Jonathan Irons crying from his seat across the room -- but my eyes were fixed on Maya Moore, the WNBA star who eight months earlier had walked away from basketball to free this man from prison. It was Moore's grandfather Reggie Williams who uncovered the key fingerprint evidence while investigating the case. St. Charles County Prosecuting Attorney Tim Lohmar declined to retry him, citing a lack of fingerprint evidence and a lack of interrogation records. People were tired. On Moore: AG jumpsuit. THE FACTS OF Jonathan Irons' case have not changed. His case was overturned in March 2020 by a Missouri judge, Judge Daniel Green who ruled that prosecutors had suppressed evidence in the burglary and assault case against Jonathan Irons. What a miracle , A post shared by Maya Moore (@mooremaya) on Sep 16, 2020 at 6:42am PDT. Scripps Company. champion, and four-time W.N.B.A. But she spent 3 days in jail for being poor. I would have to fight to get into line, like coordinate [with the other prisoners] because there were only four phones for 72 men. Your effort and contribution in providing this feedback is much I ask when, in the midst of this decade of intentionality and deepening care, their relationship evolved into something beyond a friendship. July 2, 2020 Jonathan Irons, a 40-year-old Black Missouri man, was released from prison on Wednesday after serving 22 years behind bars for crimes he says he And Cardinals manager Oliver Marmol. And Ive been able to be there for Jonathan.. On Moore: Sammy B dress. Im free, Im blessed, I just want to live my life worthy of Gods help and influence. He added,I thank everybody who supported me Maya and her family. Supporters have been working to win his freedom for years. Maya Moore was at the top of her game, called the greatest winner in the history of womens basketball. Then she left the sport to fight a wrongful convictionand she won that battle too. A copy of Jonathans federal civil rights lawsuit, Jonathan Irons v. John Neske, et al., No. She officially announced her retirement after four years away working to overturn his wrongful conviction. During her interview with GMA, she said they developed a friendship and over time they fell in love. At the time, I took that to mean the pain she felt for him as a brother or family friend. Post-Workout Nutrition Advice to Make the Most of Your Sweat Session! So whats next? In the early days of their marriage, in addition to their joy and their long-overdue chance to start making new memories, theyve had to address the trauma of a 23-year wrongful imprisonment. According to the NYTimes, the court records show that Stotler was unable to pick out the assailant from among a lineup of six photos. Green's order was stayed, pending a review by the Missouri Attorney General's Office, who argued to keep Irons in prison, as they decided to take the case to the appeals court. At the same time, Moores game was changing the face of womens sports. Maya Moore sacrificed years of her life fighting to free a wrongfully convicted man. In 1998, when he was 18, Irons was convicted and sentenced to 50 years in prison for burglary and assault, despite no physical evidence tying him to the scene of the crime. After returning home from work, Mr. Stotler was attacked by a gunman, who shot Mr. Stotler in the head and fled through the front door. Jonathan Irons, a Black man now in his 40s, was convicted in 1998 of burglary and the assault on an OFallon homeowner, a crime for which his attorneys say he was framed by St. Charles County authorities.

But one thing Ive noticed is that there is a desire in our heart that compels us to continue to fight to get to each other., When Moore was playing professional basketball in China during the WNBA off season, the couples already difficult phone calls became even more of a challenge. Mulkey: No Griner contact since return to U.S. NaLyssa Smith claims Athletes Unlimited title, Sources: Wade, Dirk among legendary HOF class. Moore first met Irons in 2007 during a visit to the Jefferson City Correctional Facility. Across the state line in Kansas, a law is more favorable for individuals who are wrongly compensated. She helped Irons via her influence, helping to fund the hiring of Kent Gipson an in-demand defence attorney to handle Irons' case. Moore won. In their decision to refuse to quash the record of Green's order, the appeals court states Green did not exceed or abuse his authority in finding there had been a violation in Irons' case warranting a new trial based on the suppression of a latent fingerprint report that established that anindentifiablefingerprint found at the crime scene belonged to an unidentified third party. ST. CHARLES COUNTY, Mo. Publicly, Moore always maintained a focused professionalism about their relationship, expertly keeping interviews focused on his case and the bigger issues of criminal justice reform, rather than any personal motivation. Irons was given a 50-year sentence in 1998 after being convicted on burglary and assault charges linked to a home invasion and the non-fatal shooting of a White man near St. Louis. They manipulated Mr. Stotler into making a wholly unreliable identification of Jonathan. Irons was put away for a case involving burglary and The lawsuit also alleges OFallon officers assaulted Irons during his interrogation. The WNBA Took Her Out of Politics. Thats how you learn to love more deeply and get out of your comfort zone.. WNBA star Maya Moore was one of the supporters who arguedthat he was wrongly convicted, and was present after he was released. Link in bio for how. Over the last 13 years we have just developed a friendship and just entered into this huge battle to get him home and just over time it was pretty clear what the Lord was doing in our hearts and now were sitting here today, starting a whole new chapter together.. She had yet to become the number-one draft pick in the WNBA, where she would lead her team to four championships. The complaint, filed in U.S. District Court, names officers from OFallon and St. Charles County as defendants, as well as others. Without evidence connecting Jonathan to the crime, the defendants fabricated a case against him. How would you like to be contacted? "We came to the conclusion that there were certain errors in the trial and certain things that if we were to retry him again, it would be nearly impossible to do so and uphold our own ethical standards.". WNBA mock draft: Which prospects upped their stock in March Madness? Following a series of police shootings of unarmed Black men including the death of Michael Brown in Ferguson, Mo., near where Irons grew up and the killing of five Dallas officers by a sniper during a protest of police brutality, Moore helped lead the Lynx in one of the first athlete protests for the Black Lives Matter movement and racial justice. 1 overall pick in the 2011 WNBA draft, Moore went on to win the leagues rookie of the year award and her first WNBA title in her first season. The report was found only after advocates obtained it through a 2007 records request with the local police department, Green wrote. Did you encounter any technical issues? When we take time to stand up for people, and to shine a light in a dark place, not everybody is going to like it, she had said. Her godparents had met Irons through a ministry outreach program and wanted Moore to meet him. While clearing Irons of all charges,Missouri judge Daniel Green wrote that the original case against Irons wasvery weak and circumstantial at best. Following Green's decision, several lawyers forAttorney General Eric Schmitt of Missouri launched failed attempts as they were turned away by the state's Supreme Court. Dozens of states, plus Washington D.C., have some form of compensation in place for the wrongly convicted. I want to I want to advocate for people who are less fortunate.". Irons conviction was overturned by a judge and he was released in July 2020. Sign up for our newsletter to keep reading. We just continued to grow and learn each other and get even closer, Irons says. The news sparked a flurry of questions over social media and the sports landscape. 2. Jonathan Irons, who is now in his 40s, was convicted in 1998 for burglary and assault of a homeowner in OFallon, Missouri, the St. Louis Post-Dispatch reported. I'm free, I'm blessed, I just want to live my life worthy of God's help and influence.". The homeowner in 1997 was shot in the head and arm by an intruder, and the man initially told police he remembered only that the assailant was a Black man, according to the suit. The homeowner, who was shot in the head and arm in 1997, had initially told police he remembered only that the intruder was a Black male, according to the lawsuit. The state law provides $65,000 per year of wrongful conviction and $25,000 for each year of time wrongfully spent on parole. Hochman: What weve learned about Tyler ONeill. What happened is literally a one-in-a-million kind of situationpeople in his situation dont come home. Sun Necklace Perfect Minimalist Jewelry at Shokoro, Plant-Based Menus You Must try when ordering ready made family meals online, 6 Tips To Help You Talk To Girls Successfully, Many Different Trans Dating Sites You Can Review, 5 Signs Youre Spending Too Much Time With Your Partner. I understand people look to sports to relax and escape the realities of life, Moore says. Irons would wake up at an ungodly hour in order to catch Moore before she went to bed. Nothing is ever simple in the prison system, Moore notes. Robert F. Kennedy Jr., 69, launched a campaign to challenge incumbent President Joe Biden for the Democratic nomination. Thank God its over, Moore said in a video of Irons release she posted on her Instagram, captioned with the word FREEDOM.. We will reveal the truth, hold those who caused my wrongful conviction and imprisonment accountable, and educate our fellow citizens about how our system wrongly imprisons innocent Black men for crimes they did not commit.. Defendant: Michael He was just 16 years old at the time and arrested for the non-fatal shooting of a homeowner Crew shirt. The process, for those who'd endured it, felt interminable. KANSAS CITY, Mo. If each person takes a stonewhich could be a conversation with someone from a different community, a donation to an organization fighting for reform, a social media post, a voteand throws it on the other side of the scale, it starts to balance it out., In the meantime, after years of fighting to get to each other, the couple is finally making up for lost time. During the trial, Deputy Sheriff Ricky Luetkenhaus, who processed the crime scene, was the only witness who testified about the latent fingerprints. However, the attorneys said, none matched Irons, and one was never identified. Jonathan was released from prison on July 1, 2020 after serving 22 years of his sentence.