The Murder of Angela Mischelle Lawless: An Honest Sheriff and the Exoneration of an Innocent Man
by Stephen R. Snodgrass, Joshua C. Kezer
On This Page
Description
In a small Missouri town in 1992, the body of 19-year-old Mischelle Lawless was found in her car, stalled on the side of a road. 18-year-old Josh Kezer was arrested and charged for her murder—even though he was in a different state at the time, as proven by witnesses—and spent the next 16 years of his life in prison.How was Josh imprisoned for a crime he didn't commit? Author Stephen R. Snodgrass expertly unveils the web of manipulation and corruption that led to Josh's conviction, show more everything that could go wrong in the American criminal justice system did, from snitch witnesses who were coached by law enforcement to lie, to withheld exculpatory evidence, and an unscrupulous prosecutor knowingly using false testimony that had been recanted.
Kezer was convicted and served 16 years in violent Missouri prisons until a part-time deputy who was at the murder scene was elected Sheriff of Scott County and quietly reopened the investigation and has continued his quest to find the real killer.
Snodgrass draws on interviews with Josh himself, the research of Sheriff Rick Walter, the first responder to the scene who later went on to exonerate Josh in a re-trial, and his own legal analysis, to reveal the truth behind the case, the conviction, and the exoneration.
This book is a timely, compassionate work of true crime that calls for better and more equitable justice for all.
. show less
Tags
Member Reviews
This book is a chronological account of the murder of Mischelle Lawless and the subsequent investigations, trial, appeal and aftermath. Written by the appeal lawyer Stephen Snodgrass with the assistance of the wrongfully jailed Josh Kezer, it provides a fascinating insight into the American justice system. As you read, you come to understand how a jury could find the wrong man guilty. You also see how for the ambitious, some people are expendable. Anyone who was captivated by the Netflix series “Making a Murderer” will appreciate this book.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers.Unimaginable that so many years were taken away from a young man because of corrupt law enforcement and elected officials. The "need" to convict was more important than the leg work to find the true killer. Angela was not the only victim in this case.
An excellent read.
An excellent read.
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers."The Murder of Angela Mischelle Lawless" décrit en détails toutes les procédures, mais aussi les aberrations d'une enquête pour homicide en Amérique dans le Missouri.
Il s'agit d'une histoire véridique dont les faits remontent à nov 1992, exploré minutieusement par Stephen R. Snodgrass, l'auteur.
La Justice est ici parodiée, dans l'instruction d'un procès où les preuves matérielles manquent, au profit exclusif de témoins douteux et aux allégeances verbales invérifiables. Un procès qui s'affiche comme le simulacre d'un réquisitoire où tout est déjà joué d'avance et qui condamne un homme de peau noire, nous ramenant à la ségrégation raciale du XIX° siècle!
Un bon récit, qui pêche cependant par des lourdeurs, et show more des descriptions interminables, qui tient plus du compte rendu d'audience que de la biographie. Cependant, il a le mérite de dénoncer, encore de nos jours, l'injustice flagrante dirigé contre les noirs, nous prouvant que l'évolution des mentalités est aussi monolithique que la justice elle-même.
A lire, pour s'imprégner d'une réalité aussi dérangeante qu'inhumaine ! show less
Il s'agit d'une histoire véridique dont les faits remontent à nov 1992, exploré minutieusement par Stephen R. Snodgrass, l'auteur.
La Justice est ici parodiée, dans l'instruction d'un procès où les preuves matérielles manquent, au profit exclusif de témoins douteux et aux allégeances verbales invérifiables. Un procès qui s'affiche comme le simulacre d'un réquisitoire où tout est déjà joué d'avance et qui condamne un homme de peau noire, nous ramenant à la ségrégation raciale du XIX° siècle!
Un bon récit, qui pêche cependant par des lourdeurs, et show more des descriptions interminables, qui tient plus du compte rendu d'audience que de la biographie. Cependant, il a le mérite de dénoncer, encore de nos jours, l'injustice flagrante dirigé contre les noirs, nous prouvant que l'évolution des mentalités est aussi monolithique que la justice elle-même.
A lire, pour s'imprégner d'une réalité aussi dérangeante qu'inhumaine ! show less
This review was written for LibraryThing Early Reviewers. Aug 27, 2023French
Members
- Recently Added By
Author Information
1 Work 5 Members
1 Work 5 Members
Classifications
- Genres
- Politics and Government, Nonfiction
- DDC/MDS
- 364.152 — Society, government, & culture Social problems and social services Crime Criminal offenses Offenses against the person Homicide
- LCC
- HV6533 .M8 — Social sciences Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology Crimes and offenses
- BISAC
Statistics
- Members
- 5
- Popularity
- 3,425,137
- Reviews
- 3
- Rating
- (4.17)
- Languages
- English
- Media
- Paper, Ebook
- ISBNs
- 2
- ASINs
- 1
