Photo: Veteran Eddie Lowery
Veteran’s Day is a time for us to honor the people who have put their lives on the line to protect and serve the people of this country, including several exonerees who served before their wrongful convictions.
Our clients have served in different branches of the military all over the country. And today, we want to highlight Innocence Project client Eddie Lowery, who was stationed at Fort Riley when he was wrongly arrested for the rape of a 74-year-old woman in Ogden, Kansas.
In July of 1981, Eddie was involved in a car accident that took place near the victim’s home. Following the accident, he was immediately brought in for questioning and kept in police custody all day without food and water. When he requested to have a lawyer present, he was told he didn’t need one.
The police continued to question him through the day and eventually guided Eddie into an involuntary confession. Although he recanted the statement and his attorney filed a motion to suppress, the court ruled that the confession was made voluntarily and allowed it into the trial. It became the main evidence used against Eddie.
Eddie was wrongly convicted and sentenced to 11 years to life in prison, and dishonorably discharged from the military.
Eddie was devastated. But in 1991, he was released on parole, and in 2003, he was finally exonerated after DNA evidence proved his innocence. He then spent several years working to further clear his name by getting his dishonorable discharge changed to an honorable one.
Stories like Eddie’s and countless others are the reason we continue to fight for every innocent life, including those who are veterans.
Please, take some time to watch Eddie’s video today and then share it online: https://www.tiktok.com/@innocence/video/7029080180421348609?is_from_webapp=v1&item_id=7029080180421348609
To all veterans, thank you for your service.
With gratitude,
— The Innocence Project Team
