1 00:00:02,080 --> 00:00:04,800 Speaker 1: Welcome back to Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flumm. You know 2 00:00:05,400 --> 00:00:07,880 Speaker 1: many of our listeners. Most of our listeners have seen 3 00:00:07,920 --> 00:00:11,360 Speaker 1: the Netflix original series Making a Murderer. It's the story 4 00:00:11,400 --> 00:00:13,840 Speaker 1: of Stephen Avery, a guy from the wrong side of 5 00:00:13,840 --> 00:00:17,880 Speaker 1: the tracks whose family owned an auto salvage yard in Manitoac, Wisconsin. 6 00:00:18,239 --> 00:00:20,880 Speaker 1: It starts off in nineteen eighty five, where Stephen Avery 7 00:00:20,960 --> 00:00:24,079 Speaker 1: was wrongfully convicted of a sexual assault, for which he 8 00:00:24,200 --> 00:00:27,440 Speaker 1: was exonerated eighteen years later when the DNA in the 9 00:00:27,520 --> 00:00:30,920 Speaker 1: case was found to match another man and his alibis 10 00:00:31,200 --> 00:00:34,720 Speaker 1: were proven to have been true all along. After his release, 11 00:00:34,760 --> 00:00:37,600 Speaker 1: in two thousand and three, Avery filed a thirty six 12 00:00:37,720 --> 00:00:41,640 Speaker 1: million dollars civil suit against Manitoa County, Wisconsin and several 13 00:00:41,680 --> 00:00:44,760 Speaker 1: of its officials. Fast forward to two thousand and five, 14 00:00:45,120 --> 00:00:48,680 Speaker 1: Teresa Halback, a photographer known to have been photographing cars 15 00:00:48,720 --> 00:00:51,519 Speaker 1: on the Avery property, went missing. The handling of the 16 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:55,080 Speaker 1: investigation was quite controversial, to say the least, with issues 17 00:00:55,120 --> 00:00:58,520 Speaker 1: of evidence tampering, not to mention the obvious conflict of 18 00:00:58,520 --> 00:01:02,200 Speaker 1: interest in allowing Manitoa County to investigate the very same 19 00:01:02,280 --> 00:01:06,560 Speaker 1: man who was suing them for thirty six million dollars. However, 20 00:01:07,080 --> 00:01:10,200 Speaker 1: all of that aside, the most damning piece of evidence 21 00:01:10,440 --> 00:01:13,560 Speaker 1: came in the form of a false confession from Avery's nephew, 22 00:01:13,640 --> 00:01:17,399 Speaker 1: Brendan Dacy, a sixteen year old boy with no criminal 23 00:01:17,440 --> 00:01:23,319 Speaker 1: record and serious mental challenges. Now, I'm honored to present 24 00:01:23,640 --> 00:01:26,960 Speaker 1: the exclusive, the one and only interview that Brendan has 25 00:01:27,040 --> 00:01:32,680 Speaker 1: ever given to anyone joining us has Esteemed Appella, attorney 26 00:01:32,680 --> 00:01:35,920 Speaker 1: from the Center on Romful Convictions at Northwestern University, my 27 00:01:36,080 --> 00:01:45,120 Speaker 1: friend Laura and nightrider. Laura was kind enough to pick 28 00:01:45,120 --> 00:01:48,080 Speaker 1: me up from the airport in Chicago and we drove 29 00:01:48,120 --> 00:01:51,560 Speaker 1: out to Oshkosh Correctional Facility for a pre interview behind 30 00:01:51,600 --> 00:01:55,440 Speaker 1: bars with Brendan. This left us with both time to 31 00:01:55,520 --> 00:02:01,160 Speaker 1: talk and plenty to talk about. We have had a 32 00:02:01,280 --> 00:02:04,080 Speaker 1: very eventful last twenty four hours. 33 00:02:04,360 --> 00:02:06,160 Speaker 2: Yeah, you know, it's been a trip I've done so 34 00:02:06,200 --> 00:02:10,840 Speaker 2: many times for going on twelve years now, and you know, 35 00:02:10,960 --> 00:02:12,960 Speaker 2: it was a trip I hoped to never have to 36 00:02:13,000 --> 00:02:15,400 Speaker 2: make again. That it's a trip that you know what 37 00:02:15,440 --> 00:02:17,720 Speaker 2: we're going to keep on doing for as long as 38 00:02:17,720 --> 00:02:20,200 Speaker 2: we have to do. Right, go out there, support him, 39 00:02:20,240 --> 00:02:21,840 Speaker 2: and I'm just glad you had a chance to see 40 00:02:21,960 --> 00:02:24,040 Speaker 2: who Brendan is, you know, to really spend some time 41 00:02:24,040 --> 00:02:25,639 Speaker 2: with him and get to know him, because he's a 42 00:02:26,000 --> 00:02:26,919 Speaker 2: pretty incredible guy. 43 00:02:27,200 --> 00:02:32,200 Speaker 1: Brendan is a very powerful example of a phenomenon that 44 00:02:32,520 --> 00:02:35,519 Speaker 1: amazes me and keeps me going and drives me onward 45 00:02:35,560 --> 00:02:40,120 Speaker 1: in this fight, which is that there is an absolute 46 00:02:40,240 --> 00:02:47,920 Speaker 1: and total absence of malice, anger, bitterness, self pity. Like 47 00:02:48,160 --> 00:02:50,239 Speaker 1: I don't even think he knows what those emotions are. 48 00:02:51,160 --> 00:02:53,440 Speaker 2: He's an incredible guy. I mean, you know, he was 49 00:02:53,480 --> 00:02:56,520 Speaker 2: sixteen when he went in. He's twenty nine years old now, 50 00:02:57,200 --> 00:02:59,160 Speaker 2: and during that whole period of time of knowing him, 51 00:02:59,200 --> 00:03:03,320 Speaker 2: You're right, I mean, Brendan is a sweet soul. You know, 52 00:03:03,360 --> 00:03:06,000 Speaker 2: he's a he's a simple guy. He's a funny guy. 53 00:03:06,080 --> 00:03:11,080 Speaker 2: He's gentle. He's so gentle and kind. No, no, he's not. 54 00:03:11,160 --> 00:03:14,880 Speaker 1: That's right, And in his story is one of extreme juxtaposition, right, 55 00:03:15,040 --> 00:03:19,480 Speaker 1: because he went from being a very childlike young person 56 00:03:19,639 --> 00:03:24,600 Speaker 1: adolescent into a very extreme grown up situation. You got 57 00:03:24,600 --> 00:03:27,160 Speaker 1: involved with Brendan's case at what stage? 58 00:03:27,440 --> 00:03:31,560 Speaker 2: Well, let's start with Steve Drisen, my colleague on the case. 59 00:03:32,200 --> 00:03:35,280 Speaker 2: In two thousand and seven, about three months after Brendan 60 00:03:35,320 --> 00:03:38,720 Speaker 2: was convicted at his trial, Steve was asked to handle 61 00:03:38,720 --> 00:03:43,800 Speaker 2: Brendan's appeals going forward because of his expertise around interrogations 62 00:03:43,800 --> 00:03:45,600 Speaker 2: and confessions. 63 00:03:45,680 --> 00:03:51,040 Speaker 1: This is long. He was just another of the two 64 00:03:51,120 --> 00:03:53,760 Speaker 1: point two million people in prison and right. 65 00:03:53,960 --> 00:03:57,080 Speaker 2: That's right the system and Steve took the case. Now 66 00:03:57,080 --> 00:03:59,040 Speaker 2: this is two thousand and seven. Okay. So at the time, 67 00:03:59,200 --> 00:04:02,880 Speaker 2: Steve was teaching here at Northwestern Law School, and I 68 00:04:02,960 --> 00:04:06,200 Speaker 2: was a third year law student in Steve's class on 69 00:04:06,240 --> 00:04:11,240 Speaker 2: wrongful convictions. Now, I didn't intend to practice criminal law. 70 00:04:11,360 --> 00:04:13,160 Speaker 2: I actually had a career all mapped out for myself 71 00:04:13,160 --> 00:04:14,920 Speaker 2: as a business lawyer. I was going to go do that. 72 00:04:15,600 --> 00:04:17,920 Speaker 2: I had a job lined up after graduation. I knew 73 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,960 Speaker 2: nothing at a law from here in town, here in Chicago, 74 00:04:21,640 --> 00:04:23,920 Speaker 2: And you know, I knew nothing about the criminal justice system. 75 00:04:23,920 --> 00:04:27,240 Speaker 2: I knew nothing about wrongful convictions. I definitely knew nothing 76 00:04:27,240 --> 00:04:30,640 Speaker 2: about false confessions. But I'd signed up for Steve's class, 77 00:04:30,920 --> 00:04:33,160 Speaker 2: you know, on a whim, try to do something off 78 00:04:33,160 --> 00:04:37,719 Speaker 2: the beaten path. And a few months into that fall 79 00:04:37,800 --> 00:04:41,160 Speaker 2: semester of my last year of law school, that's you know, 80 00:04:41,200 --> 00:04:45,000 Speaker 2: Steve called me into his office and he said, I've 81 00:04:45,040 --> 00:04:49,080 Speaker 2: just gotten involved in a case from Wisconsin involving a 82 00:04:49,120 --> 00:04:54,800 Speaker 2: sixteen year old boy with intellectual limitations who confessed to 83 00:04:54,839 --> 00:04:58,880 Speaker 2: a crime that I don't think he committed. And he 84 00:04:59,480 --> 00:05:04,360 Speaker 2: handed me the interrogation videos from Brendan Dasy's case, right 85 00:05:04,400 --> 00:05:06,800 Speaker 2: the same videos that years and years later ended up 86 00:05:06,839 --> 00:05:09,599 Speaker 2: in making a murder, And he told me to go 87 00:05:09,640 --> 00:05:11,400 Speaker 2: watch them. So I went home, I sat down on 88 00:05:11,440 --> 00:05:13,159 Speaker 2: my couch, I got out my laptop, because this is 89 00:05:13,160 --> 00:05:15,880 Speaker 2: two thousand and seven, I pop in these DVDs and 90 00:05:16,120 --> 00:05:18,800 Speaker 2: I watched them all right from start to. 91 00:05:18,720 --> 00:05:20,719 Speaker 1: Finish, their confession tapes. 92 00:05:20,839 --> 00:05:25,520 Speaker 2: Yeah, and my heart broke and I knew that this 93 00:05:25,640 --> 00:05:26,760 Speaker 2: is it. This is what I had to do with, 94 00:05:27,080 --> 00:05:31,480 Speaker 2: you know, fight for people like Brendan. So, you know, 95 00:05:31,520 --> 00:05:34,800 Speaker 2: no more business law for me. I came back to 96 00:05:34,960 --> 00:05:38,280 Speaker 2: Northwestern after graduating, and for the last twelve years I've 97 00:05:38,320 --> 00:05:40,880 Speaker 2: been building with Steve the Center on Wrongful Convictions, where 98 00:05:40,920 --> 00:05:44,000 Speaker 2: we represent Brendan and other kids just like him. 99 00:05:44,200 --> 00:05:46,760 Speaker 1: So for the people who may not have seen making 100 00:05:46,760 --> 00:05:48,599 Speaker 1: a Murder, and there are those who listen to our 101 00:05:48,640 --> 00:05:50,560 Speaker 1: show who haven't seen it yet, what was it, what 102 00:05:50,600 --> 00:05:53,400 Speaker 1: was the moment? What was it about those tapes? 103 00:05:53,560 --> 00:05:55,559 Speaker 2: Yeah? It's a great question. You know, I actually remember 104 00:05:55,600 --> 00:05:55,920 Speaker 2: the moment. 105 00:05:56,000 --> 00:05:56,160 Speaker 3: Right. 106 00:05:56,200 --> 00:05:59,480 Speaker 2: It's so this is a videotape of the entire interrogation. 107 00:05:59,600 --> 00:06:02,800 Speaker 2: Right actually questioned four times over forty eight hours, and 108 00:06:02,839 --> 00:06:06,080 Speaker 2: it was only the last interrogation that produced the confession. 109 00:06:06,160 --> 00:06:07,920 Speaker 2: You know, which I which I say in quotation marks. 110 00:06:09,279 --> 00:06:12,440 Speaker 2: But this is an interrogation where they're asking Brendan about murder. Right, 111 00:06:12,480 --> 00:06:14,000 Speaker 2: this is a murder case. So they want to ask 112 00:06:14,080 --> 00:06:17,320 Speaker 2: him about, you know, how was the victim in this case? 113 00:06:17,320 --> 00:06:18,760 Speaker 2: How was Teresa Hallbach killed? 114 00:06:19,360 --> 00:06:19,520 Speaker 1: Right? 115 00:06:19,560 --> 00:06:22,159 Speaker 2: And And these police going into the interrogation, they know, 116 00:06:22,560 --> 00:06:24,960 Speaker 2: or they think they know, based on their own investigation, 117 00:06:25,360 --> 00:06:27,920 Speaker 2: that she had been shot in the head. So they're 118 00:06:27,960 --> 00:06:31,640 Speaker 2: waiting for Brendan to describe shooting somebody in the head, right, 119 00:06:32,520 --> 00:06:35,039 Speaker 2: So they ask him, you know, Brendan, how did you guys? 120 00:06:35,160 --> 00:06:40,760 Speaker 2: You know, how did you kill Teresa Hallbach? And he says, we. 121 00:06:40,800 --> 00:06:42,080 Speaker 3: Choked her her. 122 00:06:43,120 --> 00:06:46,040 Speaker 2: Well, that's that's not right. So they said him, Okay, 123 00:06:47,160 --> 00:06:48,640 Speaker 2: you know what else, Brendan, what else did you do 124 00:06:48,640 --> 00:06:48,920 Speaker 2: to her? 125 00:06:50,040 --> 00:06:53,560 Speaker 3: We know something else was done. We stabbed her. 126 00:06:53,960 --> 00:06:57,359 Speaker 2: Still not right, So they actually started not even close, 127 00:06:57,400 --> 00:06:59,800 Speaker 2: so they start dropping him hints right, they say, come on, 128 00:06:59,839 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 2: bre and then something with the head, something with the head. 129 00:07:02,320 --> 00:07:04,320 Speaker 2: What else did you guys do to her? And Brendan says, 130 00:07:05,240 --> 00:07:06,039 Speaker 2: we punched. 131 00:07:05,760 --> 00:07:08,640 Speaker 4: Her and that's still not right. 132 00:07:08,640 --> 00:07:12,160 Speaker 2: So it's like Brendan's completely at sea and he says, 133 00:07:12,280 --> 00:07:16,800 Speaker 2: you know, we caught off her hair and his voice 134 00:07:16,840 --> 00:07:21,040 Speaker 2: goes up like that like he's asking a question and no, no, no, Brendan, 135 00:07:21,120 --> 00:07:22,640 Speaker 2: come on, what else? What else? Something with the head? 136 00:07:22,640 --> 00:07:23,000 Speaker 2: What else? 137 00:07:23,240 --> 00:07:23,680 Speaker 3: What else? 138 00:07:23,920 --> 00:07:25,880 Speaker 2: What else was done to her head? And this goes 139 00:07:25,920 --> 00:07:27,320 Speaker 2: on and on and on, and finally Brendan, you know, 140 00:07:27,360 --> 00:07:29,040 Speaker 2: he must get exhausted, and he just says. 141 00:07:28,960 --> 00:07:30,040 Speaker 3: That's what I can remember. 142 00:07:31,480 --> 00:07:32,040 Speaker 1: And uh. 143 00:07:32,280 --> 00:07:37,120 Speaker 2: The officers at that point say to him, Brendan, I'm 144 00:07:37,240 --> 00:07:38,760 Speaker 2: just going to come out and ask you. 145 00:07:39,040 --> 00:07:40,560 Speaker 1: All right, I'm just going to come out and ask 146 00:07:40,640 --> 00:07:41,520 Speaker 1: him who. 147 00:07:41,320 --> 00:07:42,080 Speaker 3: Shot her in the hat? 148 00:07:43,200 --> 00:07:45,840 Speaker 2: And you know, Brendan says, well, that was that was 149 00:07:45,880 --> 00:07:49,680 Speaker 2: my uncle Stephen. And then, you know, comes one of 150 00:07:49,680 --> 00:07:52,200 Speaker 2: the most heartbreaking moments of the entire interrogation because they 151 00:07:52,200 --> 00:07:54,360 Speaker 2: say to him, Brendan, why didn't you just tell us that? 152 00:07:54,800 --> 00:07:55,920 Speaker 3: Why didn't you tell us that? 153 00:07:56,600 --> 00:08:04,400 Speaker 2: And he says, because I couldn't think of it. Right, 154 00:08:05,080 --> 00:08:17,080 Speaker 2: he was guessing. Yeah, So let's say you're not convinced 155 00:08:17,240 --> 00:08:20,400 Speaker 2: the way I am that Brendan was guessing. Let's say 156 00:08:20,440 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 2: for a moment that the story was true, that this 157 00:08:22,760 --> 00:08:25,720 Speaker 2: bloody attack occurred in Stephen Avery's bedroom the way that 158 00:08:25,760 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 2: Brendan's confession claimed that it did. You'd expect that bedroom 159 00:08:30,360 --> 00:08:34,760 Speaker 2: and that bed to be covered with forensic evidence blood 160 00:08:34,760 --> 00:08:38,800 Speaker 2: from a stabbing and throat cutting, hair from when her 161 00:08:38,840 --> 00:08:41,520 Speaker 2: hair was supposedly cut. I mean, think about how hard 162 00:08:41,520 --> 00:08:46,160 Speaker 2: it is to clean up hair. And of course, after 163 00:08:46,200 --> 00:08:49,280 Speaker 2: Brendan gave his confession, the police went back to Stephen 164 00:08:49,280 --> 00:08:52,439 Speaker 2: Avery's bedroom and they searched it for evidence to corroborate 165 00:08:52,440 --> 00:08:56,520 Speaker 2: the confession. They searched the bed, They searched the bedding, 166 00:08:57,280 --> 00:09:01,400 Speaker 2: the mattress, the headboard, the bed frame. They looked at 167 00:09:01,400 --> 00:09:05,160 Speaker 2: the carpet underneath the bed. They pulled that carpet back 168 00:09:05,200 --> 00:09:09,120 Speaker 2: and looked underneath the carpet. They even took the paneling 169 00:09:09,320 --> 00:09:12,319 Speaker 2: off the walls in the bedroom, searching for a single 170 00:09:12,720 --> 00:09:19,160 Speaker 2: molecule of Teresa Halbach's DNA or Brendan Dacy's DNA, and 171 00:09:19,200 --> 00:09:25,880 Speaker 2: they found nothing. This story didn't happen. It's made up. 172 00:09:31,760 --> 00:09:34,800 Speaker 1: The day after our face to face meeting at Oshkosh Correctional, 173 00:09:34,880 --> 00:09:37,600 Speaker 1: we did our formal interview with Brendan over the phone 174 00:09:37,760 --> 00:09:40,720 Speaker 1: from Laura's office at Northwestern University. 175 00:09:41,840 --> 00:09:42,760 Speaker 3: Tod Goud Correctional. 176 00:09:42,960 --> 00:09:50,959 Speaker 1: Lava, Hello, Hi, Brendan. 177 00:09:51,400 --> 00:09:51,559 Speaker 3: Hi. 178 00:09:52,240 --> 00:09:54,440 Speaker 1: It seems like only yesterday that I saw you, because 179 00:09:54,480 --> 00:09:57,480 Speaker 1: it was only yesterday. Yeah, and it was great to 180 00:09:57,480 --> 00:09:59,280 Speaker 1: meet you. You know, Laura and I had a long 181 00:09:59,400 --> 00:10:02,240 Speaker 1: ride back to sh Chicago, and obviously we talked about 182 00:10:02,360 --> 00:10:05,440 Speaker 1: you a lot and things that we are hoping to 183 00:10:05,520 --> 00:10:08,400 Speaker 1: do to make a difference for you and with you, 184 00:10:09,720 --> 00:10:18,119 Speaker 1: I mean, well, wait for the announcement to go by. 185 00:10:18,240 --> 00:10:21,520 Speaker 1: You went through an ordeal that even those of us 186 00:10:21,559 --> 00:10:24,280 Speaker 1: that have seen the show and have seen on video 187 00:10:24,720 --> 00:10:27,120 Speaker 1: parts of what happened, obviously we couldn't see the whole thing, 188 00:10:27,800 --> 00:10:30,120 Speaker 1: but none of us can understand what it would be 189 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:32,960 Speaker 1: like to be in your shoes, you know, to be 190 00:10:33,360 --> 00:10:37,959 Speaker 1: in this impossible situation of being a really a child 191 00:10:38,000 --> 00:10:42,320 Speaker 1: at sixteen. You're still a child, You're not a grown man, yeah, 192 00:10:42,360 --> 00:10:46,800 Speaker 1: and to be going to this interrogation where you have 193 00:10:47,120 --> 00:10:52,360 Speaker 1: grown men who are interrogating you for days, without a parent, 194 00:10:52,440 --> 00:10:55,080 Speaker 1: without a lawyer, without anyone to help you. I mean, 195 00:10:55,120 --> 00:10:57,960 Speaker 1: were you scared or were you just thought maybe if 196 00:10:57,960 --> 00:10:59,880 Speaker 1: you've just told the truth, everything would be fine. What 197 00:11:00,160 --> 00:11:01,439 Speaker 1: was your thought process at that. 198 00:11:01,440 --> 00:11:04,720 Speaker 3: Point, Well, I just wanted it all over with, so 199 00:11:04,800 --> 00:11:07,080 Speaker 3: I said whatever they wanted to hear. 200 00:11:07,160 --> 00:11:11,520 Speaker 1: You know, most people grow up as I did, with 201 00:11:11,800 --> 00:11:15,839 Speaker 1: believing that the law enforcement are out to help us, right, 202 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:17,720 Speaker 1: there are people you call when you need help. Did 203 00:11:17,800 --> 00:11:19,960 Speaker 1: you have that same idea when you went in there? 204 00:11:21,000 --> 00:11:23,959 Speaker 3: Yeah, I thought maybe anything I can do to help them, 205 00:11:24,000 --> 00:11:24,680 Speaker 3: you know I would. 206 00:11:26,120 --> 00:11:29,240 Speaker 1: So was there a point when you were in that 207 00:11:29,440 --> 00:11:34,880 Speaker 1: horrible room where you started to worry about the outcome, 208 00:11:35,000 --> 00:11:37,840 Speaker 1: or that you thought that these men may have been 209 00:11:38,120 --> 00:11:41,040 Speaker 1: not as well intentioned as you originally thought. 210 00:11:42,679 --> 00:11:47,120 Speaker 3: Yeah. When they started saying that that I wasn't telling 211 00:11:47,160 --> 00:11:52,400 Speaker 3: the truth and that my story didn't fit the fact 212 00:11:52,480 --> 00:11:55,320 Speaker 3: that they had, that's when I started getting worried. 213 00:11:56,960 --> 00:11:58,839 Speaker 1: There's a very good reason your story didn't fit the fact, 214 00:11:58,880 --> 00:12:02,280 Speaker 1: because you didn't know the fact. Yeah, so, Brandon, you 215 00:12:02,360 --> 00:12:05,520 Speaker 1: remember there was a time when the interrogators left the 216 00:12:05,640 --> 00:12:08,840 Speaker 1: room for a few minutes and your mom came back 217 00:12:08,960 --> 00:12:12,559 Speaker 1: into the room. Yeah, beautiful life to say you. 218 00:12:16,360 --> 00:12:16,720 Speaker 3: Did you. 219 00:12:20,160 --> 00:12:21,880 Speaker 1: Huh, not really? 220 00:12:23,040 --> 00:12:23,440 Speaker 3: What do you mean? 221 00:12:23,520 --> 00:12:24,040 Speaker 1: Not really? 222 00:12:26,800 --> 00:12:33,800 Speaker 3: Huh? 223 00:12:35,440 --> 00:12:39,480 Speaker 1: What do you mean by that? So? Was that the 224 00:12:39,520 --> 00:12:41,880 Speaker 1: first time you had seen your mom since they had 225 00:12:41,880 --> 00:12:46,679 Speaker 1: started interrogating you? Yeah, that is okay? So what was 226 00:12:46,720 --> 00:12:48,760 Speaker 1: it like to see her after being alone with those 227 00:12:48,800 --> 00:12:50,520 Speaker 1: interrogators for such a long time? 228 00:12:51,640 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 3: I felt that I could be safe and I could 229 00:12:54,240 --> 00:12:56,200 Speaker 3: tell her the truth. You know that they got into 230 00:12:56,200 --> 00:13:00,319 Speaker 3: my head. They got me to say whatever they want it. 231 00:13:09,760 --> 00:13:15,480 Speaker 1: Do you think either before, during, or after that, the 232 00:13:15,520 --> 00:13:20,440 Speaker 1: detectives conducting that interrogation knew or realized that he was 233 00:13:21,040 --> 00:13:21,800 Speaker 1: actually innocent. 234 00:13:23,200 --> 00:13:25,680 Speaker 2: You know, it's a very good question, and it's something 235 00:13:25,679 --> 00:13:29,600 Speaker 2: I've asked myself right over and over again. This is 236 00:13:29,640 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 2: just my opinion, but I think that they were worried 237 00:13:33,720 --> 00:13:37,000 Speaker 2: that something had gone wrong. Brendan's already been in the 238 00:13:37,040 --> 00:13:39,800 Speaker 2: box for about three and a half hours. He's adopted 239 00:13:39,800 --> 00:13:43,080 Speaker 2: their theories that he committed rape and murder and the 240 00:13:43,080 --> 00:13:45,520 Speaker 2: whole thing, and the story is over, it's done, it's locked, 241 00:13:45,760 --> 00:13:47,440 Speaker 2: and they let her into the room, and the cameras 242 00:13:47,440 --> 00:13:49,240 Speaker 2: are still rolling in the room, right and they leave 243 00:13:49,280 --> 00:13:51,640 Speaker 2: the two of them alone. You know, it's my theory 244 00:13:51,640 --> 00:13:55,960 Speaker 2: that they were outside watching this all enclosed circuit camera, 245 00:13:56,080 --> 00:13:58,280 Speaker 2: hoping that Brendan was going to make more admissions to 246 00:13:58,320 --> 00:14:02,239 Speaker 2: his mother. Instead, he recame one of the clearest recantations 247 00:14:02,280 --> 00:14:05,560 Speaker 2: I've ever heard, Right, Brendan using his own words, his 248 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:09,320 Speaker 2: own ability to express himself, to tell his mom what 249 00:14:09,440 --> 00:14:12,400 Speaker 2: he had just been through. They got to my head. 250 00:14:13,600 --> 00:14:19,800 Speaker 2: And at that moment the officers come barging back through 251 00:14:20,120 --> 00:14:24,080 Speaker 2: that door into the interrogation room, and Brendan doesn't say 252 00:14:24,120 --> 00:14:25,360 Speaker 2: another word. 253 00:14:26,640 --> 00:14:29,200 Speaker 1: I'm getting the chills. I mean, as a parent, it's 254 00:14:29,280 --> 00:14:32,160 Speaker 1: just so heartbreaking. And look, I always say, there are 255 00:14:32,160 --> 00:14:34,520 Speaker 1: a lot of very good people in our criminal justice system, 256 00:14:34,800 --> 00:14:37,520 Speaker 1: but the ones who do the types of things that 257 00:14:37,520 --> 00:14:39,560 Speaker 1: were done to Brendan. I mean, there's a lot of 258 00:14:39,640 --> 00:14:41,000 Speaker 1: villains in this story. 259 00:14:40,800 --> 00:14:42,680 Speaker 2: Right, some unbelievable characters in the story. 260 00:14:43,000 --> 00:14:47,920 Speaker 1: Yeah, And so the system that was designed in theory 261 00:14:48,000 --> 00:14:50,080 Speaker 1: to protect the innocent and in this case, to protect 262 00:14:50,080 --> 00:14:52,680 Speaker 1: Brendon failed at every level. 263 00:14:52,960 --> 00:14:53,200 Speaker 3: Right. 264 00:14:53,320 --> 00:14:55,720 Speaker 2: I mean you're starting in the interrogation room, that's right. 265 00:14:55,640 --> 00:14:57,280 Speaker 1: Starting with the fact that they targeted him in the 266 00:14:57,280 --> 00:14:59,640 Speaker 1: first place. I don't really understand. I mean, I have 267 00:14:59,680 --> 00:15:01,600 Speaker 1: a theory in my own head about why they may 268 00:15:01,640 --> 00:15:04,080 Speaker 1: have done that. And maybe we'll never know, but it 269 00:15:04,160 --> 00:15:06,240 Speaker 1: seems like to me they wanted to build a stronger 270 00:15:06,280 --> 00:15:08,760 Speaker 1: case against Stephen, no doubt about it, and so they 271 00:15:08,800 --> 00:15:10,680 Speaker 1: went for the weakest lengthage, no doubt about it. Right, 272 00:15:10,720 --> 00:15:13,640 Speaker 1: They knew that small community, they knew that Brendan was 273 00:15:14,240 --> 00:15:15,080 Speaker 1: a simple person. 274 00:15:15,240 --> 00:15:16,640 Speaker 2: Well, that's right. And you know, one of the things 275 00:15:16,640 --> 00:15:19,480 Speaker 2: about Brendan, of course, he's got disabilities. Everybody knows that. 276 00:15:19,600 --> 00:15:24,200 Speaker 2: But his disabilities in particular are clustered around speech. The 277 00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:26,320 Speaker 2: way he speaks, the way he hears language, the way 278 00:15:26,320 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 2: he processes words, and the way he uses his own words. Right, 279 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,560 Speaker 2: So you know, this is not a person who can 280 00:15:32,600 --> 00:15:36,520 Speaker 2: sort of weave sophisticated stories or lies or things like that. 281 00:15:36,840 --> 00:15:39,600 Speaker 2: And of course these are disabilities that are at the 282 00:15:39,640 --> 00:15:42,280 Speaker 2: center of an interrogation, right, the sort of sophisticated level 283 00:15:42,280 --> 00:15:44,920 Speaker 2: of conversation talking about you know, what could happen to 284 00:15:45,000 --> 00:15:47,720 Speaker 2: him if he didn't confess because there was a threat 285 00:15:48,240 --> 00:15:50,080 Speaker 2: in this case, what would happen to him if he 286 00:15:50,080 --> 00:15:52,360 Speaker 2: didn't start adopting the story that was being fed to him. 287 00:15:52,600 --> 00:15:54,120 Speaker 2: What was going to happen. On the other hand, if 288 00:15:54,520 --> 00:15:57,480 Speaker 2: he did agree to go along with the story, you know, 289 00:15:57,520 --> 00:16:00,440 Speaker 2: this is a really hard situation for someone like brendan 290 00:16:00,600 --> 00:16:04,480 Speaker 2: sixteen special education student in Wisconsin public schools, the hard 291 00:16:04,520 --> 00:16:07,480 Speaker 2: situation for him to navigate. He did the best he could. 292 00:16:07,800 --> 00:16:09,200 Speaker 1: For as long as he could, for as long as 293 00:16:09,200 --> 00:16:09,520 Speaker 1: he could. 294 00:16:09,520 --> 00:16:13,560 Speaker 2: Four times, over forty eight hours, these officers questioned him. 295 00:16:13,520 --> 00:16:15,560 Speaker 1: And they should have been a first round knockout. 296 00:16:15,600 --> 00:16:18,160 Speaker 2: Oh my god, he held up as long as he could. 297 00:16:21,320 --> 00:16:22,680 Speaker 1: You've been investigating a lot. 298 00:16:24,880 --> 00:16:26,760 Speaker 2: We already know what happened. To be a lot easier 299 00:16:26,800 --> 00:16:29,160 Speaker 2: on you it that's going to be wrong. 300 00:16:29,320 --> 00:16:34,240 Speaker 3: I'm your friend, but the honest person you get a 301 00:16:34,280 --> 00:16:34,680 Speaker 3: better deal. 302 00:16:35,120 --> 00:16:36,320 Speaker 2: We're going to believe on that work. 303 00:16:36,680 --> 00:16:37,400 Speaker 3: I don't believe in. 304 00:16:37,440 --> 00:16:40,240 Speaker 1: You're archaical. You can't make any propis, but we'll stand 305 00:16:40,240 --> 00:16:40,800 Speaker 1: behind you. 306 00:16:40,800 --> 00:16:42,920 Speaker 3: Your mom said you'd be honest with She's behind you. 307 00:16:43,680 --> 00:16:44,360 Speaker 4: Know what happened. 308 00:16:44,640 --> 00:16:46,800 Speaker 2: She thinks you don't want to do and you're more foreigner. 309 00:16:46,920 --> 00:16:48,520 Speaker 3: We already know what happened on to us. 310 00:16:48,560 --> 00:16:58,320 Speaker 1: Exactly what would you tell people when they're sitting in 311 00:16:58,320 --> 00:17:04,840 Speaker 1: that jury box and they're to incredible testimony videotapes. Yes, 312 00:17:04,920 --> 00:17:07,720 Speaker 1: I'm someone going yeah, I did it. Yeah, So what 313 00:17:07,720 --> 00:17:09,680 Speaker 1: should people watch? Because some confessions are true. 314 00:17:09,760 --> 00:17:11,480 Speaker 2: Of course, some confessions are true. Those are the ones 315 00:17:11,520 --> 00:17:13,200 Speaker 2: we want, right, it's you know, we got to screen 316 00:17:13,200 --> 00:17:14,080 Speaker 2: out the false confessions. 317 00:17:14,280 --> 00:17:14,919 Speaker 1: What do they look for? 318 00:17:15,400 --> 00:17:18,520 Speaker 2: Okay? So the big message, right, A confession is just 319 00:17:18,840 --> 00:17:22,920 Speaker 2: a piece of evidence, like any other piece of evidence. Right, 320 00:17:22,960 --> 00:17:26,159 Speaker 2: Sometimes it can be misleading, and you question it and 321 00:17:26,200 --> 00:17:28,000 Speaker 2: you examine it in the same way that you'd ask 322 00:17:28,440 --> 00:17:32,040 Speaker 2: you know, critical questions, intelligent questions about any other piece 323 00:17:32,040 --> 00:17:34,119 Speaker 2: of evidence. Right, can I trust what this person is saying? 324 00:17:34,680 --> 00:17:38,080 Speaker 2: So when you see a confession like Brendan Darcy's, where 325 00:17:38,560 --> 00:17:42,240 Speaker 2: somebody is getting the facts of the crime wrong unless 326 00:17:42,240 --> 00:17:46,280 Speaker 2: they're being told the right answer, that's a red flag. Right. 327 00:17:46,320 --> 00:17:50,000 Speaker 2: It happens throughout Brendan's interrogation, details large and small. He 328 00:17:50,080 --> 00:17:54,040 Speaker 2: can't come up with. He's guessing, and he guesses wrong, actually, 329 00:17:54,160 --> 00:17:56,359 Speaker 2: until he gets strained out by the officers. Not just 330 00:17:56,400 --> 00:17:59,240 Speaker 2: about how Teresa Holbach was killed, but he he can't 331 00:17:59,240 --> 00:18:02,280 Speaker 2: decide if if for shirt was black or white? Right, 332 00:18:02,600 --> 00:18:04,520 Speaker 2: he doesn't know what the right answer is. Has he 333 00:18:04,600 --> 00:18:06,440 Speaker 2: never met her because he never saw her, that's right. 334 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:08,880 Speaker 2: He can't decide if the fire was started at three 335 00:18:08,960 --> 00:18:11,480 Speaker 2: pm or later on in the evening after dark, right, 336 00:18:11,560 --> 00:18:14,920 Speaker 2: I mean he doesn't know these things. He's just guessing 337 00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:17,639 Speaker 2: all over the place. And you see this repeatedly throughout 338 00:18:17,800 --> 00:18:20,280 Speaker 2: false confession cases, because what you have in those cases 339 00:18:20,280 --> 00:18:22,280 Speaker 2: are people who had nothing to do with the crime 340 00:18:22,600 --> 00:18:26,400 Speaker 2: trying to say something that sounds believable to satisfy their interrogators. 341 00:18:26,680 --> 00:18:29,320 Speaker 1: Almost everybody I've ever met says the same thing. I 342 00:18:29,359 --> 00:18:33,360 Speaker 1: am not that guy. I'm smart, I'm capable, I'm strong. 343 00:18:33,640 --> 00:18:35,320 Speaker 1: I'm not confessing to crime and then commitment. 344 00:18:35,520 --> 00:18:37,719 Speaker 2: Everybody thinks this, right, Well, that's for other people, right, 345 00:18:37,760 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 2: That's for you know, maybe mentally impaired people, that's for 346 00:18:40,800 --> 00:18:43,440 Speaker 2: children maybe. So what you have to understand is that 347 00:18:43,560 --> 00:18:47,679 Speaker 2: interrogation is a carefully orchestrated set of psychological tactics that 348 00:18:47,760 --> 00:18:51,000 Speaker 2: are designed to get people off their belief in their 349 00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,600 Speaker 2: own innocence and designed to actually make them believe that 350 00:18:54,640 --> 00:18:57,919 Speaker 2: it will help them, that it will improve their situation, 351 00:18:58,320 --> 00:19:01,240 Speaker 2: that it will benefit them to say they did these 352 00:19:01,280 --> 00:19:06,280 Speaker 2: things that the officers think. Right, these are incredibly powerful techniques, 353 00:19:06,320 --> 00:19:09,119 Speaker 2: and every single one of us has a breaking point, 354 00:19:09,920 --> 00:19:14,040 Speaker 2: and these techniques are designed to find it. So how 355 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:14,520 Speaker 2: does this work? 356 00:19:14,600 --> 00:19:14,719 Speaker 1: Right? 357 00:19:14,760 --> 00:19:18,600 Speaker 2: So the way this basically works. Interrogation is generally a 358 00:19:18,640 --> 00:19:22,159 Speaker 2: two stage process. The first half is all about confrontation 359 00:19:22,800 --> 00:19:25,520 Speaker 2: and reducing you down to hopelessness. Right, we know you 360 00:19:25,600 --> 00:19:28,800 Speaker 2: did this. I've got so much evidence against you. No 361 00:19:28,800 --> 00:19:31,320 Speaker 2: one is gonna believe you when you say you're innocent. Right, 362 00:19:31,359 --> 00:19:33,280 Speaker 2: I've got three people in the room next door who 363 00:19:33,320 --> 00:19:35,639 Speaker 2: picked you out of a lineup. I've got your DNA 364 00:19:35,680 --> 00:19:37,640 Speaker 2: on the scene, I've got your fingerprints on the gun. 365 00:19:37,920 --> 00:19:39,720 Speaker 2: Even if none of that is true. By the way, 366 00:19:40,760 --> 00:19:42,520 Speaker 2: it's perfectly legal for police to lie. 367 00:19:42,720 --> 00:19:43,240 Speaker 1: That's right. 368 00:19:43,400 --> 00:19:46,080 Speaker 2: Not the UK, that's right, but here it's perfectly legal 369 00:19:46,400 --> 00:19:49,200 Speaker 2: for the police to lie during interrogations. So they bring 370 00:19:49,200 --> 00:19:51,040 Speaker 2: you down to hopelessness. Right, I'm not going to listen 371 00:19:51,080 --> 00:19:53,119 Speaker 2: to you say you're innocent. You're just making it worse 372 00:19:53,119 --> 00:19:56,440 Speaker 2: off for yourself. No one's gonna believe you. You're caught, you're trapped, 373 00:19:56,600 --> 00:20:00,639 Speaker 2: you're screwed, You've got nothing. And when you reach that 374 00:20:00,680 --> 00:20:05,680 Speaker 2: point of hopelessness, that's when they offer you an out 375 00:20:06,680 --> 00:20:11,560 Speaker 2: right a life raft confession. It's going to help you. 376 00:20:12,480 --> 00:20:15,399 Speaker 2: If you confess, you will go easy on you. You know, 377 00:20:15,600 --> 00:20:17,440 Speaker 2: I'll go talk to the judge. Right, I'll see what 378 00:20:17,480 --> 00:20:19,119 Speaker 2: I can do for you. Things are going to be 379 00:20:19,200 --> 00:20:21,119 Speaker 2: so much better for you. You've got a whole life 380 00:20:21,440 --> 00:20:23,600 Speaker 2: to live in front of you. You're just a kid. 381 00:20:23,640 --> 00:20:26,520 Speaker 2: People are going to understand that over and over. But 382 00:20:26,600 --> 00:20:29,000 Speaker 2: I need to hear the story from you, right, People 383 00:20:29,040 --> 00:20:31,959 Speaker 2: are going to understand that you deserve help if you cooperate. 384 00:20:32,480 --> 00:20:35,920 Speaker 2: That's how it works, right. These techniques are incredibly good 385 00:20:36,840 --> 00:20:41,879 Speaker 2: at getting true confessions, but they are so potent that 386 00:20:41,880 --> 00:20:43,320 Speaker 2: they also get false confessions. 387 00:20:43,359 --> 00:20:46,439 Speaker 1: And this actually we're sitting here in Chicago, which is 388 00:20:46,440 --> 00:20:49,000 Speaker 1: where this was originated, right, the read technique. 389 00:20:49,040 --> 00:20:51,600 Speaker 2: The read technique actually even better than that. It's originated 390 00:20:51,600 --> 00:20:53,560 Speaker 2: here out of the work of a professor at Northwestern 391 00:20:53,640 --> 00:20:55,960 Speaker 2: Law School. Oh my god, back in the nineteen forties. Right, 392 00:20:56,000 --> 00:21:00,400 Speaker 2: So before these are that's right, before these psychological techniques 393 00:21:00,400 --> 00:21:03,800 Speaker 2: were developed, interrogations were physical, right the third degree. People 394 00:21:03,840 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 2: were beaten or hung out of windows. Right, this is 395 00:21:06,520 --> 00:21:10,040 Speaker 2: how it was done. And in the forties, these people 396 00:21:10,040 --> 00:21:12,879 Speaker 2: who at the time were thought of as progressive reformers 397 00:21:12,920 --> 00:21:14,960 Speaker 2: come along and say, you know what, let's stop physically 398 00:21:14,960 --> 00:21:19,080 Speaker 2: abusing people. Let's do the psychological techniques instead. Those techniques 399 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,520 Speaker 2: that were developed here at Northwestern here in Chicago back 400 00:21:22,560 --> 00:21:26,360 Speaker 2: in the nineteen forties, are still being used today. Talk 401 00:21:26,400 --> 00:21:31,160 Speaker 2: about outdated, even though the DNA revolution, which has been 402 00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:35,000 Speaker 2: in full swing now for twenty five years, has proven 403 00:21:35,320 --> 00:21:39,240 Speaker 2: time and again that these outdated techniques are far too 404 00:21:39,320 --> 00:21:42,160 Speaker 2: capable of coercing false confessions. 405 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:45,240 Speaker 1: The crazy thing is correct me if I'm wrong, you're 406 00:21:45,280 --> 00:21:49,199 Speaker 1: the lawyer in this equation. But had Brendan said what 407 00:21:49,320 --> 00:21:52,040 Speaker 1: I advise people listening to the show or anybody who 408 00:21:52,080 --> 00:21:56,159 Speaker 1: asked me anywhere. If you're picked up for a crime 409 00:21:56,400 --> 00:22:00,160 Speaker 1: that you didn't commit, and you're brought to the station, 410 00:22:00,720 --> 00:22:04,000 Speaker 1: and you're placed in this situation, right, and you say yourself, 411 00:22:04,080 --> 00:22:06,399 Speaker 1: I don't want to end up like Brendon, What do 412 00:22:06,400 --> 00:22:06,680 Speaker 1: you do? 413 00:22:08,080 --> 00:22:12,560 Speaker 2: I want h lawyer, that's what you say, right, I 414 00:22:12,600 --> 00:22:15,359 Speaker 2: want a lawyer that stops the interrogation, or it should 415 00:22:15,359 --> 00:22:17,880 Speaker 2: stop the interrogation. That's your constitutional right to say that. 416 00:22:18,040 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 2: What's interesting, of course, you know the Miranda rights are 417 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,000 Speaker 2: read usually at the beginning of interrogations. Eighty five percent 418 00:22:24,000 --> 00:22:26,760 Speaker 2: of people wave their Miranda rights, So I mean a 419 00:22:26,800 --> 00:22:28,600 Speaker 2: huge number of people do right. We think of these 420 00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:31,520 Speaker 2: as these important safeguards and everybody's out there asserting their 421 00:22:31,600 --> 00:22:33,760 Speaker 2: rights to lawyers and their right to be silent and 422 00:22:33,760 --> 00:22:36,040 Speaker 2: all these No, everybody waves these rights. And you know, 423 00:22:36,040 --> 00:22:37,719 Speaker 2: we've all been in that situation right where you get 424 00:22:37,720 --> 00:22:39,160 Speaker 2: pulled over and you think you can talk your way 425 00:22:39,160 --> 00:22:42,160 Speaker 2: out of it. People wave these rights. They don't understand 426 00:22:42,200 --> 00:22:45,000 Speaker 2: how these rights can help them, especially kids. Right, what 427 00:22:45,000 --> 00:22:46,280 Speaker 2: does it mean to a kid? What does it mean 428 00:22:46,280 --> 00:22:48,760 Speaker 2: to Brendan Dassy that he can have a lawyer in 429 00:22:48,800 --> 00:22:51,040 Speaker 2: the room, that his admissions will be used against him 430 00:22:51,040 --> 00:22:52,919 Speaker 2: in court. He doesn't know what a lawyer does. He 431 00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:55,400 Speaker 2: doesn't understand the ways in which a lawyer could help 432 00:22:55,440 --> 00:22:58,240 Speaker 2: him or improve his situation or stop this from happening 433 00:22:58,320 --> 00:23:00,880 Speaker 2: to him. But yeah, huge numbers of people wave those rights. 434 00:23:00,880 --> 00:23:04,040 Speaker 2: And it's actually the numbers are even greater when we're 435 00:23:04,040 --> 00:23:05,240 Speaker 2: talking about innocent people. 436 00:23:05,359 --> 00:23:08,639 Speaker 1: Sure, right, because you figure I go home. 437 00:23:08,600 --> 00:23:10,640 Speaker 2: Right, nothing to hid, of course, I'll talk to you, right. 438 00:23:10,720 --> 00:23:13,080 Speaker 1: And you may also be sitting there thinking, well, if 439 00:23:13,119 --> 00:23:14,679 Speaker 1: it's going to take a long time for lawyer to 440 00:23:14,680 --> 00:23:16,800 Speaker 1: get here, wait, I have things to do. 441 00:23:16,960 --> 00:23:19,160 Speaker 2: Let me just clear this up. No problem, No, I'll 442 00:23:19,200 --> 00:23:19,720 Speaker 2: be out of here. 443 00:23:19,800 --> 00:23:22,800 Speaker 1: No, No, we're begging you. This is Jason and Laura 444 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:27,640 Speaker 1: personally begging you you're in that situation. There's only four 445 00:23:27,640 --> 00:23:29,800 Speaker 1: words you need, I want a lawyer. 446 00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:30,240 Speaker 2: Right. 447 00:23:32,520 --> 00:23:35,000 Speaker 1: Part of the process that landed Brendan in this situation, 448 00:23:35,119 --> 00:23:39,320 Speaker 1: which was his own team Leninski, Can you tell us 449 00:23:39,320 --> 00:23:42,720 Speaker 1: what that was like? I mean, being represented by this guide. 450 00:23:45,640 --> 00:23:49,240 Speaker 3: When I first met him, I knew that he didn't 451 00:23:49,280 --> 00:23:52,600 Speaker 3: have my best interest in in mind because he was 452 00:23:52,600 --> 00:23:54,320 Speaker 3: always trying to get me to take a plea deal 453 00:23:54,440 --> 00:23:54,879 Speaker 3: or something. 454 00:23:55,600 --> 00:23:59,600 Speaker 1: So you knew right away. Yeah, Brendan, that a lot 455 00:23:59,600 --> 00:24:02,760 Speaker 1: of credit you because you know, many people might not 456 00:24:02,800 --> 00:24:05,560 Speaker 1: have picked up on that so quickly, because people go 457 00:24:05,640 --> 00:24:07,399 Speaker 1: into that situation they think, well, this is my lawyer. 458 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:11,160 Speaker 1: He's going to be protecting me and defending me. Yeah, 459 00:24:11,200 --> 00:24:13,679 Speaker 1: so you knew right away. But then as things progressed, 460 00:24:13,760 --> 00:24:16,960 Speaker 1: I mean, did you feel betrayed or did you feel 461 00:24:17,440 --> 00:24:19,800 Speaker 1: hopeful that maybe he was going to turn it around 462 00:24:19,840 --> 00:24:21,480 Speaker 1: and actually do his job. 463 00:24:23,000 --> 00:24:26,160 Speaker 3: No, especially since that when I saw him on TV 464 00:24:27,280 --> 00:24:31,160 Speaker 3: with Nancy Grace, you know, and he more or less 465 00:24:31,200 --> 00:24:33,000 Speaker 3: told her that he believes that I'm guilty. 466 00:24:34,400 --> 00:24:37,919 Speaker 1: Wow. Yeah, there's a lot of things wrong with that 467 00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:40,280 Speaker 1: whole scenario. I mean, did you mentioned that named Nancy 468 00:24:40,320 --> 00:24:44,960 Speaker 1: Grace and you know my skin crawls and that. Yeah, 469 00:24:45,040 --> 00:24:47,360 Speaker 1: the fact that he went on there with her is horrible. 470 00:24:47,720 --> 00:24:51,560 Speaker 1: And then you had this investigator who was supposed to 471 00:24:51,600 --> 00:24:55,639 Speaker 1: be helping you. Yeah, and can you talk about that 472 00:24:55,760 --> 00:24:56,280 Speaker 1: a little bit. 473 00:24:57,000 --> 00:24:57,760 Speaker 3: What do you want to know? 474 00:24:58,119 --> 00:25:00,480 Speaker 1: Well, when he was asking you to draw pictures and 475 00:25:00,560 --> 00:25:03,960 Speaker 1: all these other things, and he was sort of badgering you, 476 00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:07,840 Speaker 1: like Brendan, you did this? Yeah, what about this investigator? 477 00:25:08,280 --> 00:25:11,320 Speaker 3: At first I thought maybe he would try to help me, 478 00:25:11,400 --> 00:25:14,000 Speaker 3: you know, but then when he was trying to get 479 00:25:14,000 --> 00:25:16,720 Speaker 3: me to more or let's give another confession, you know, 480 00:25:16,880 --> 00:25:19,359 Speaker 3: I knew right then and there that he wasn't at 481 00:25:19,400 --> 00:25:20,120 Speaker 3: my side either. 482 00:25:21,480 --> 00:25:25,600 Speaker 1: So basically, you had your family and that was pretty 483 00:25:25,640 --> 00:25:28,359 Speaker 1: much it. But they're not lawyers and they're not investigators. 484 00:25:28,960 --> 00:25:33,480 Speaker 1: They're just just regular people. Right. Yeah, how did being 485 00:25:33,520 --> 00:25:37,640 Speaker 1: represented or misrepresented by len and the things that he did, 486 00:25:37,800 --> 00:25:38,959 Speaker 1: how did that make you feel? 487 00:25:39,440 --> 00:25:42,840 Speaker 3: It made me feel betrayed and that I couldn't really 488 00:25:42,840 --> 00:25:46,160 Speaker 3: trust lawyers either, But now I can. 489 00:25:50,359 --> 00:25:53,640 Speaker 1: What an insane set of twists and turns. 490 00:25:53,880 --> 00:25:57,320 Speaker 2: Yeah, we've represented Brendon Dassi through the state court appeal 491 00:25:57,359 --> 00:25:59,480 Speaker 2: system where that the state courts in Wisconsin were not 492 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:03,040 Speaker 2: particularly bothered by what they saw on that interrogation video, 493 00:26:03,080 --> 00:26:05,560 Speaker 2: but we sort of expected that, and then we took 494 00:26:05,560 --> 00:26:08,760 Speaker 2: his case. As people who watched Making a Murderer will remember, 495 00:26:08,840 --> 00:26:11,200 Speaker 2: we took his case to the federal court system. Right. 496 00:26:11,520 --> 00:26:13,119 Speaker 2: The way this basically works is you can go to 497 00:26:13,160 --> 00:26:15,520 Speaker 2: federal court and you can say, hey, federal court, will 498 00:26:15,560 --> 00:26:18,640 Speaker 2: you review the way in which the Wisconsin state courts 499 00:26:19,440 --> 00:26:22,040 Speaker 2: protected Brendan's rights. So that's what we did. We went 500 00:26:22,040 --> 00:26:24,120 Speaker 2: to the federal courts. We filed what's called a petition 501 00:26:24,160 --> 00:26:27,120 Speaker 2: for a writ of habeas corpus, asking the federal court 502 00:26:27,160 --> 00:26:29,120 Speaker 2: to take a look at how the state courts handled 503 00:26:29,119 --> 00:26:33,679 Speaker 2: Brendan's case. But there is a trick here. Okay, So 504 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:37,040 Speaker 2: let's say you go into federal court and you proved 505 00:26:37,040 --> 00:26:40,120 Speaker 2: to them beyond the shadow of a doubt right that 506 00:26:40,920 --> 00:26:44,200 Speaker 2: the state court was wrong in how it handled Brendan's case, 507 00:26:45,880 --> 00:26:50,720 Speaker 2: you lose. In order to win in federal court, you 508 00:26:50,880 --> 00:26:53,800 Speaker 2: have to prove not only that the state court was 509 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:57,439 Speaker 2: wrong in how it handled Brendan's case, but that it 510 00:26:57,520 --> 00:27:02,679 Speaker 2: was so unreasonably wrong that no other judge in America 511 00:27:02,720 --> 00:27:06,720 Speaker 2: could possibly have ruled the same way. Right, that's literally 512 00:27:07,040 --> 00:27:11,320 Speaker 2: the legal standard thanks to the Anti Terrorism and Effective 513 00:27:11,359 --> 00:27:13,880 Speaker 2: Death Penalty Act signed into law in nineteen ninety six, 514 00:27:14,280 --> 00:27:17,040 Speaker 2: which keeps you know, a lot of innocent prisoners like 515 00:27:17,040 --> 00:27:19,520 Speaker 2: Brendan Dacy from accessing this kind of relief in the 516 00:27:19,560 --> 00:27:22,320 Speaker 2: federal courts. So that's the needle that you have to 517 00:27:22,320 --> 00:27:25,320 Speaker 2: thread in federal court. So we filed our petition, you know, 518 00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 2: we made these arguments, yes, this is that's not just wrong, 519 00:27:28,400 --> 00:27:31,200 Speaker 2: it's unreasonably wrong. No one else would rule this way, 520 00:27:32,440 --> 00:27:34,600 Speaker 2: and we sat and waited months and months and months 521 00:27:34,640 --> 00:27:38,000 Speaker 2: for a decision, and we got our decision. You know, 522 00:27:38,000 --> 00:27:41,159 Speaker 2: we'd won after years of representing Brendan, we'd won in 523 00:27:41,160 --> 00:27:43,760 Speaker 2: the federal district court, you know, which was a moment 524 00:27:43,800 --> 00:27:47,680 Speaker 2: of enormous joy, as you can imagine. But we knew, 525 00:27:47,720 --> 00:27:49,520 Speaker 2: because we've pushed the boulder up the hill a lot 526 00:27:49,520 --> 00:27:53,240 Speaker 2: of times before, we knew that that was just round one, 527 00:27:53,480 --> 00:27:56,000 Speaker 2: that the state had every right to appeal, that it 528 00:27:56,040 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 2: was going to appeal this case. And it did. 529 00:28:00,000 --> 00:28:01,840 Speaker 1: Even that's right, that's right. 530 00:28:01,680 --> 00:28:03,760 Speaker 2: That's right. And so when we found out that they 531 00:28:03,760 --> 00:28:05,040 Speaker 2: were going to appeal, we said, you know what, that is. 532 00:28:05,080 --> 00:28:06,840 Speaker 2: You're right, we can't stop you from doing that. But 533 00:28:06,880 --> 00:28:08,879 Speaker 2: we want Brendan out, right, we want him home. This 534 00:28:08,960 --> 00:28:11,480 Speaker 2: is right around Thanksgiving. We want him home for the 535 00:28:11,480 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 2: holidays while you guys do your thing. So we asked 536 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:18,480 Speaker 2: the court to release Brendan during the appeals and we 537 00:28:18,520 --> 00:28:20,440 Speaker 2: made all of our arguments. Here's where he's going to 538 00:28:20,480 --> 00:28:22,680 Speaker 2: go live. He's going to be in a protected environment. 539 00:28:22,800 --> 00:28:24,520 Speaker 2: We have a social worker on the space, you know, 540 00:28:24,600 --> 00:28:28,280 Speaker 2: working on the case, identifying resources supports for him outside. 541 00:28:29,000 --> 00:28:32,560 Speaker 2: And the court said, okay, yeah, let's let Brendan go home. Right, 542 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:35,760 Speaker 2: He's not a danger to this community. I believe in him. 543 00:28:35,760 --> 00:28:38,440 Speaker 2: I can see it's going to be fine, So let's 544 00:28:38,480 --> 00:28:41,960 Speaker 2: release him. And we had an order directing the State 545 00:28:41,960 --> 00:28:45,600 Speaker 2: of Wisconsin to release Brendan Dassy and came within about 546 00:28:46,120 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 2: twelve hours of getting Brendan out before the State of 547 00:28:51,040 --> 00:28:55,800 Speaker 2: Wisconsin asked the appeals court to block that order and 548 00:28:55,880 --> 00:29:01,840 Speaker 2: they did. So, you know, okay, we go forward with 549 00:29:01,840 --> 00:29:04,400 Speaker 2: the appeal. The state files its briefs, we file our briefs, 550 00:29:04,440 --> 00:29:06,920 Speaker 2: we argue it out in court before the appeals court, 551 00:29:06,920 --> 00:29:09,480 Speaker 2: the federal appeals courts, and again, right we're trying to 552 00:29:09,480 --> 00:29:11,640 Speaker 2: thread the eye of the needle. Here we wait and 553 00:29:11,680 --> 00:29:15,840 Speaker 2: wait and wait for our verdict, for our decision, and 554 00:29:16,000 --> 00:29:19,120 Speaker 2: we'd won again right two to one. If this is 555 00:29:19,120 --> 00:29:21,600 Speaker 2: in front of three judges, we'd won two to one, 556 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:26,120 Speaker 2: which is another moment of great joy in celebration. Two 557 00:29:26,160 --> 00:29:30,360 Speaker 2: to one. I'll take it. Except please notice that as 558 00:29:30,400 --> 00:29:33,760 Speaker 2: we studied this decision was two to one decision, there 559 00:29:33,920 --> 00:29:37,840 Speaker 2: was suddenly another judge in America who would have ruled 560 00:29:37,960 --> 00:29:43,440 Speaker 2: to keep Brendon Dacy still in prison. Right. And the 561 00:29:43,440 --> 00:29:48,640 Speaker 2: more we read that dissenting judge's opinion, we realized that 562 00:29:48,680 --> 00:29:50,920 Speaker 2: it read like an open invitation for the state of 563 00:29:50,920 --> 00:29:56,080 Speaker 2: Wisconsin to try this very rare legal maneuver, a rehearing 564 00:29:56,200 --> 00:29:58,080 Speaker 2: en bank where you throw out the appeal and redo 565 00:29:58,120 --> 00:30:01,080 Speaker 2: it in front of the full court. And that's exactly 566 00:30:01,160 --> 00:30:06,360 Speaker 2: what they did. We argued that case and lost by 567 00:30:06,360 --> 00:30:12,239 Speaker 2: a single vote, four to three. Steve and I are 568 00:30:12,280 --> 00:30:16,040 Speaker 2: not done fighting for Brendan, and the world isn't either, 569 00:30:16,320 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 2: and wisconsinights aren't either. Right, So today we have filed 570 00:30:20,960 --> 00:30:25,400 Speaker 2: a petition with the Governor of Wisconsin asking that he 571 00:30:26,080 --> 00:30:31,959 Speaker 2: grant Brendan clemency, that he release Brendan Dacy from prison. 572 00:30:32,880 --> 00:30:35,760 Speaker 2: He's the only person in the world with the power 573 00:30:35,920 --> 00:30:40,120 Speaker 2: to do that. Governor Tony Evers. We hear so much 574 00:30:40,120 --> 00:30:42,440 Speaker 2: from people in state, out of state, right, people from 575 00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:45,960 Speaker 2: all over all four corners of Wisconsin, Madison, Milwaukee, but 576 00:30:46,040 --> 00:30:49,520 Speaker 2: up in Superior, up in Green Bay, out in Eau Claire, right, Lacrosse. 577 00:30:49,560 --> 00:30:53,720 Speaker 2: I get these messages constantly from people who who just 578 00:30:53,880 --> 00:30:56,280 Speaker 2: think it's time for Brennan to come home. You know, 579 00:30:56,400 --> 00:31:00,240 Speaker 2: it's pastime, and we know we're honored to be in 580 00:31:00,240 --> 00:31:03,400 Speaker 2: a position where we can hopefully show the governor it's 581 00:31:03,440 --> 00:31:04,440 Speaker 2: the right time to do this. 582 00:31:04,680 --> 00:31:07,000 Speaker 1: Yes, And the goodness is that, by all accounts, this 583 00:31:07,080 --> 00:31:11,400 Speaker 1: governor is a reasonable man. He's had experience. He's visited 584 00:31:11,440 --> 00:31:13,680 Speaker 1: a juvenile detention facilities one of the first things he did. 585 00:31:13,720 --> 00:31:16,000 Speaker 2: That, that's right, he did. And he comes from the 586 00:31:16,120 --> 00:31:18,320 Speaker 2: education system. You know, he was the head of the 587 00:31:18,360 --> 00:31:21,280 Speaker 2: Wisconsin Board of Education before he assumed the governor's office. 588 00:31:21,720 --> 00:31:24,800 Speaker 2: So this is somebody who understands. You know, Brendan was 589 00:31:24,840 --> 00:31:29,760 Speaker 2: a tenth grader in the public school special education system. Right, 590 00:31:30,320 --> 00:31:32,880 Speaker 2: That's who he was. In many ways, it's still who 591 00:31:32,920 --> 00:31:33,360 Speaker 2: he is. 592 00:31:36,880 --> 00:31:40,480 Speaker 1: Brendan. You know, one of the things I was personally 593 00:31:40,560 --> 00:31:46,240 Speaker 1: so struck by was when we spoke yesterday about your 594 00:31:46,360 --> 00:31:50,440 Speaker 1: dreams for after you get out and what you want 595 00:31:50,480 --> 00:31:52,200 Speaker 1: to do in the world. Do you mind sort of 596 00:31:52,320 --> 00:31:53,640 Speaker 1: talking about that a little bit. 597 00:31:54,920 --> 00:31:59,280 Speaker 3: I mean, like getting into making and playing video games. 598 00:31:59,600 --> 00:32:03,400 Speaker 1: Well, yeah, yeah, and hopefully getting paid for it. Yeah. 599 00:32:03,480 --> 00:32:05,560 Speaker 1: We always I think it was Laura that asked you 600 00:32:05,600 --> 00:32:07,680 Speaker 1: if you had a superpower, what would That's right. 601 00:32:07,600 --> 00:32:09,520 Speaker 2: That's always one of my favorite questions to ask Brendon. 602 00:32:10,040 --> 00:32:13,160 Speaker 3: I would want to have the power to heal illnesses 603 00:32:13,160 --> 00:32:14,840 Speaker 3: and diseases all over the world. 604 00:32:15,560 --> 00:32:17,840 Speaker 1: And where do you think that comes from? Like, I mean, 605 00:32:17,840 --> 00:32:19,480 Speaker 1: it's a great superpower. I'd like to have it too. 606 00:32:20,000 --> 00:32:22,160 Speaker 1: But of all the things, why do you think that 607 00:32:22,200 --> 00:32:24,080 Speaker 1: one is the one that came to your mind? 608 00:32:24,480 --> 00:32:26,760 Speaker 3: Well, I just like helping people, so I wanted to 609 00:32:26,800 --> 00:32:28,479 Speaker 3: help other people in the world. 610 00:32:29,200 --> 00:32:30,680 Speaker 1: I mean, look, there's a lot of people that want 611 00:32:30,720 --> 00:32:32,880 Speaker 1: to help you too, and it's amazing. We talked about 612 00:32:32,960 --> 00:32:35,320 Speaker 1: yesterday how many letters you get. Do you figure you've 613 00:32:35,320 --> 00:32:37,719 Speaker 1: gotten letters from every state in the country by now, 614 00:32:37,760 --> 00:32:38,680 Speaker 1: all fifty states? 615 00:32:39,040 --> 00:32:40,000 Speaker 3: It's got to be close. 616 00:32:40,600 --> 00:32:41,440 Speaker 1: Uh huh. 617 00:32:41,520 --> 00:32:43,120 Speaker 2: You know, Brendan, why don't you tell them Some of 618 00:32:43,120 --> 00:32:45,360 Speaker 2: the countries that people have sent you letters from. Do 619 00:32:45,360 --> 00:32:46,120 Speaker 2: you remember some of the. 620 00:32:46,040 --> 00:32:58,240 Speaker 4: Countries Singapore, England, Ireland, Iceland, South America, Canada, Hawaii, New 621 00:32:58,320 --> 00:33:02,280 Speaker 4: Zealand too, Yeah, in Australia, right, Australia, it's. 622 00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,160 Speaker 2: Amazing, and also some from Wisconsin. Right. 623 00:33:04,600 --> 00:33:08,440 Speaker 1: Yeah, that's great. So there's tens of millions of people 624 00:33:08,480 --> 00:33:10,080 Speaker 1: now all over the world, as you know, who have 625 00:33:10,200 --> 00:33:14,120 Speaker 1: watched Making a Murderer have learned about your story. Do 626 00:33:14,200 --> 00:33:15,760 Speaker 1: you want to see the show when you get out? 627 00:33:15,760 --> 00:33:16,520 Speaker 1: Are you interested? 628 00:33:17,440 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 3: I might eat? I don't know if I can. 629 00:33:19,360 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: No, Yeah, you made it might be hard to watch, Yeah. 630 00:33:24,840 --> 00:33:26,520 Speaker 3: You know, more or less because I lived it, So 631 00:33:26,560 --> 00:33:27,880 Speaker 3: why would I want to watch it again? 632 00:33:29,560 --> 00:33:32,960 Speaker 1: Really understandable after everything you've been through and all the 633 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:36,720 Speaker 1: twists and turns and the freedom being sort of, you know, 634 00:33:36,840 --> 00:33:40,920 Speaker 1: yanked away from you twice? Really? Yeah, what was that? 635 00:33:41,200 --> 00:33:41,240 Speaker 2: Like? 636 00:33:41,880 --> 00:33:43,800 Speaker 1: Your bags were packed, right, You're ready to go home, 637 00:33:43,840 --> 00:33:46,320 Speaker 1: and then they pulled the rug out from under you. 638 00:33:46,320 --> 00:33:49,040 Speaker 1: I mean I would think that would make somebody crazy. Yeah. 639 00:33:49,080 --> 00:33:52,240 Speaker 3: I was a little depressed, you know, and called my 640 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:56,880 Speaker 3: mom that night, and you know, I was I was upset. 641 00:33:56,920 --> 00:33:58,840 Speaker 3: You know, and so she was she you know, she 642 00:33:58,920 --> 00:34:00,600 Speaker 3: thought I was going to be coming home, you know, 643 00:34:00,640 --> 00:34:04,040 Speaker 3: and I was willing to give up all my stuff, 644 00:34:04,080 --> 00:34:08,840 Speaker 3: you know, just walk out the doors with nothing, right. 645 00:34:08,760 --> 00:34:09,880 Speaker 1: So you were going to give it to some of 646 00:34:09,880 --> 00:34:10,960 Speaker 1: the other guys in there. 647 00:34:10,960 --> 00:34:15,360 Speaker 3: Or either that or or just tell all the prison 648 00:34:15,400 --> 00:34:16,359 Speaker 3: that they can keep it. 649 00:34:17,040 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 1: Right, Well, you weren't going to need it anymore. 650 00:34:19,040 --> 00:34:22,000 Speaker 2: Yeah, what helps you sort of get through this, Brendon? 651 00:34:22,239 --> 00:34:24,360 Speaker 2: As this was all happening to you, Where did you 652 00:34:24,360 --> 00:34:25,120 Speaker 2: find your strength? 653 00:34:26,760 --> 00:34:30,600 Speaker 3: Mostly having my family support me and have my back. 654 00:34:31,520 --> 00:34:35,520 Speaker 1: Yeah, especially your mom, right, Yeah, today's visiting. 655 00:34:35,239 --> 00:34:37,759 Speaker 3: Day, right, Yeah, I'll be getting a visit from my 656 00:34:37,800 --> 00:34:41,239 Speaker 3: mom tonight. It means everything, you know. They have a 657 00:34:41,280 --> 00:34:44,840 Speaker 3: family that loves and supports me no matter what, and 658 00:34:46,200 --> 00:34:47,640 Speaker 3: they always have my back. 659 00:34:47,400 --> 00:34:50,440 Speaker 1: You know. Yeah, And it's really is heartening to know 660 00:34:50,480 --> 00:34:54,080 Speaker 1: that so many people care and still care. And what 661 00:34:54,080 --> 00:34:56,600 Speaker 1: would you tell people that want to get involved that 662 00:34:56,960 --> 00:35:00,600 Speaker 1: have seen your story didn't really have it any idea 663 00:35:00,800 --> 00:35:03,359 Speaker 1: of what goes on in our justice system, but now 664 00:35:03,400 --> 00:35:06,880 Speaker 1: they do. Is there anything particular that you could advise someone? 665 00:35:11,040 --> 00:35:15,279 Speaker 3: Just keep fighting for me and keep showing your love 666 00:35:15,320 --> 00:35:16,280 Speaker 3: and support. 667 00:35:17,120 --> 00:35:18,719 Speaker 1: And then There's a lot of ways to do that, 668 00:35:18,840 --> 00:35:21,759 Speaker 1: and going to Innocence Project dot org is a good 669 00:35:21,760 --> 00:35:25,160 Speaker 1: place to start, Laura, Are there other places people can 670 00:35:25,200 --> 00:35:28,239 Speaker 1: go to learn more about this case and follow your 671 00:35:28,280 --> 00:35:30,319 Speaker 1: progress and the progress and getting Brendan home. 672 00:35:30,680 --> 00:35:35,440 Speaker 2: Absolutely, Folks can go to CWCY dot org. That's the 673 00:35:35,480 --> 00:35:38,560 Speaker 2: Center on Wrongful Convictions of Youth. You can learn a 674 00:35:38,600 --> 00:35:41,680 Speaker 2: lot more about Brendan's case, read as legal papers, and 675 00:35:41,719 --> 00:35:43,120 Speaker 2: follow developments as they happen. 676 00:35:43,880 --> 00:35:46,520 Speaker 1: And do you have social media yourself that we can 677 00:35:47,120 --> 00:35:49,160 Speaker 1: tag you in here because we want to have people 678 00:35:49,200 --> 00:35:51,480 Speaker 1: follow you and your progress, not only on Brendan's case, 679 00:35:51,480 --> 00:35:53,799 Speaker 1: but also on all the other amazing work that you're doing. 680 00:35:53,920 --> 00:35:54,839 Speaker 1: I do, I do. 681 00:35:54,960 --> 00:35:58,640 Speaker 2: I'm on Instagram and Twitter, both at Laura and I writer. 682 00:35:59,360 --> 00:36:01,120 Speaker 1: That's easy that it's at Laura and I wrider. 683 00:36:01,280 --> 00:36:01,719 Speaker 3: That's right. 684 00:36:02,200 --> 00:36:06,120 Speaker 1: And now, as regular listeners of the show know, it's 685 00:36:06,160 --> 00:36:09,480 Speaker 1: time for the best part of the show, closing arguments, 686 00:36:09,880 --> 00:36:12,680 Speaker 1: where I get to just kick back in my chair 687 00:36:12,800 --> 00:36:16,600 Speaker 1: turn my microphone off. First of all, thank you again 688 00:36:16,719 --> 00:36:21,640 Speaker 1: for taking the time to share your thoughts and your 689 00:36:21,680 --> 00:36:25,120 Speaker 1: perspective and your spirit with me and with our audience, 690 00:36:25,160 --> 00:36:28,719 Speaker 1: And of course thank you, Laura for arranging this and 691 00:36:28,760 --> 00:36:34,520 Speaker 1: for being such a passionate, dedicated, obsessive justice fighter, and 692 00:36:34,560 --> 00:36:36,440 Speaker 1: for being on the show. So Laura, first, thank you 693 00:36:36,719 --> 00:36:37,560 Speaker 1: for being here. 694 00:36:37,520 --> 00:36:40,399 Speaker 2: Thanks for giving this opportunity to let the world hear 695 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:43,120 Speaker 2: who Brendan Nasy is. You know, there have been so 696 00:36:43,160 --> 00:36:46,839 Speaker 2: many people out there who watched Making a Murderer and 697 00:36:46,960 --> 00:36:51,279 Speaker 2: were moved disturbed by Brendan's story, and who've reached out 698 00:36:51,320 --> 00:36:55,240 Speaker 2: to us to ask what they can do to help Brendan. 699 00:36:55,560 --> 00:36:58,640 Speaker 2: There's something really easy you can do. Maybe this upcoming weekend, 700 00:36:58,680 --> 00:37:00,720 Speaker 2: you find yourself the extra ten mons minutes a time, 701 00:37:02,080 --> 00:37:03,400 Speaker 2: think about sending him a letter. 702 00:37:04,800 --> 00:37:04,960 Speaker 3: Right. 703 00:37:05,040 --> 00:37:07,600 Speaker 2: These letters don't have to be long, they don't have 704 00:37:07,719 --> 00:37:11,200 Speaker 2: to be powerful, but just tell him, you know, keep 705 00:37:11,239 --> 00:37:15,840 Speaker 2: your head high. I believe in you. Right, we're fighting 706 00:37:15,840 --> 00:37:21,640 Speaker 2: for you. It'll happen for you. These letters are such 707 00:37:21,680 --> 00:37:24,600 Speaker 2: a small gesture on the part of every one of us, 708 00:37:24,640 --> 00:37:30,600 Speaker 2: but they sustain him, right. They give him hope every day, 709 00:37:32,080 --> 00:37:35,640 Speaker 2: and that gives us the hope we need to keep 710 00:37:35,640 --> 00:37:39,920 Speaker 2: on fighting. So find his address on the Wisconsin Department 711 00:37:39,960 --> 00:37:45,120 Speaker 2: of Corrections website. He's in the Oshkosh Correctional Institution. Reach 712 00:37:45,160 --> 00:37:48,200 Speaker 2: out to him, let him know he's got friends all 713 00:37:48,239 --> 00:37:51,040 Speaker 2: over the world who believe in him. If you want 714 00:37:51,040 --> 00:37:52,799 Speaker 2: to get involved in other ways, you can do that. 715 00:37:53,000 --> 00:37:57,239 Speaker 2: You can educate yourself. There are a lot of other books, films, 716 00:37:57,760 --> 00:38:01,879 Speaker 2: TV shows about wrongful conviction. Brendan is not the only one. 717 00:38:01,920 --> 00:38:04,439 Speaker 2: Get out there. Watch when they see us, Right, watch 718 00:38:04,520 --> 00:38:07,279 Speaker 2: the Paradise Last series about the West Memphis three or 719 00:38:07,320 --> 00:38:11,560 Speaker 2: West of Memphis. Watch Murder on a Sunday morning, right, 720 00:38:11,760 --> 00:38:15,560 Speaker 2: watch the confession tapes. You can see incredible shows, read 721 00:38:15,600 --> 00:38:18,080 Speaker 2: incredible books about this happening over and over, some of 722 00:38:18,120 --> 00:38:21,040 Speaker 2: which we've mentioned today, and you can get out there. 723 00:38:21,080 --> 00:38:23,279 Speaker 2: Of course, you can support organizations like the Center on 724 00:38:23,360 --> 00:38:26,440 Speaker 2: Wrongful Convictions or the Innocence Project or a lot of 725 00:38:26,480 --> 00:38:31,120 Speaker 2: other incredible organizations that do this work. But most importantly, right, 726 00:38:31,920 --> 00:38:35,279 Speaker 2: don't stop saying Brendan Dacy's name. Get out there on 727 00:38:35,320 --> 00:38:39,560 Speaker 2: social media, remember him, Keep insisting that the people with 728 00:38:39,680 --> 00:38:43,720 Speaker 2: power in this system do justice for Brendan. Write letters 729 00:38:44,040 --> 00:38:47,840 Speaker 2: to the governor of Wisconsin. Tell him what you see 730 00:38:48,239 --> 00:38:50,279 Speaker 2: when you see Brendan on TV. Tell him what you 731 00:38:50,360 --> 00:38:52,680 Speaker 2: hear when you hear Brendan on a podcast like this, 732 00:38:54,040 --> 00:38:57,120 Speaker 2: Especially if you live in Wisconsin, tell him you want 733 00:38:57,160 --> 00:39:01,480 Speaker 2: Brendan home. That's the difference that you can make. It's 734 00:39:01,480 --> 00:39:06,279 Speaker 2: a huge difference. We rely on people like you to 735 00:39:06,400 --> 00:39:08,680 Speaker 2: light the way, to show the path for doing the 736 00:39:08,719 --> 00:39:11,720 Speaker 2: right thing here. So thank you to everybody who's written 737 00:39:11,719 --> 00:39:15,040 Speaker 2: to Brendan. Keep doing it, keep showing your support. Let's 738 00:39:15,040 --> 00:39:16,600 Speaker 2: get him home together. 739 00:39:17,000 --> 00:39:21,000 Speaker 1: And Brendan, thank you again for you know, letting me 740 00:39:21,040 --> 00:39:24,359 Speaker 1: come see you and for spending time on the air 741 00:39:24,400 --> 00:39:29,320 Speaker 1: with us today. And now I get to leave it 742 00:39:29,360 --> 00:39:32,360 Speaker 1: open for you to say whatever you want as we 743 00:39:32,920 --> 00:39:33,680 Speaker 1: close the show. 744 00:39:38,239 --> 00:39:42,640 Speaker 3: I don't know what to say. I love Pokemon and 745 00:39:43,480 --> 00:39:47,719 Speaker 3: my favorite Pokemon is Mew. But there's a new one 746 00:39:47,760 --> 00:39:53,320 Speaker 3: coming out called El Creamy that I really like, and 747 00:39:53,400 --> 00:39:55,719 Speaker 3: hopefully I get to see some of the more new 748 00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:57,879 Speaker 3: ones coming out pretty soon. 749 00:40:21,560 --> 00:40:24,160 Speaker 1: Don't forget to give us a fantastic review. Wherever you 750 00:40:24,239 --> 00:40:27,920 Speaker 1: get your podcasts, it really helps. And I'm a proud 751 00:40:27,960 --> 00:40:30,520 Speaker 1: donor to the Innocence Project, and I really hope you'll 752 00:40:30,600 --> 00:40:34,000 Speaker 1: join me in supporting this very important cause and helping 753 00:40:34,120 --> 00:40:38,040 Speaker 1: to prevent future wrongful convictions. Go to Innocenceproject dot org 754 00:40:38,160 --> 00:40:40,920 Speaker 1: to learn how to donate and get involved. I'd like 755 00:40:40,960 --> 00:40:43,960 Speaker 1: to thank our production team, Connor Hall and Kevin Wartis. 756 00:40:44,280 --> 00:40:46,560 Speaker 1: The music in the show is by three time OSCAR 757 00:40:46,600 --> 00:40:49,640 Speaker 1: nominated composer Jay Ralph. Be sure to follow us on 758 00:40:49,680 --> 00:40:54,480 Speaker 1: Instagram at Bronful Conviction and on Facebook at Wrongful Conviction podcast. 759 00:40:54,840 --> 00:40:57,880 Speaker 1: Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flahm is a production of Lava 760 00:40:57,920 --> 00:41:05,600 Speaker 1: for Good Podcasts and association with Signal Company Number one