The Innocence Project
To exonerate wrongfully convicted people through DNA testing. Learn More
Fundraising: Innocence Project, Inc.
Donations go to:
Innocence Project, Inc. (a 501(c)(3) nonprofit)
The pioneering use of DNA has done more than free these exonerees. The Innocence Project has provided irrefutable proof that wrongful convictions are not isolated or rare events but arise from systemic defects that can be precisely identified and addressed. The IP?s policy department addresses the underlying causes of wrongful convictions through substantive reforms to protect Americans. Our primary policy objectives are to guarantee access to post-conviction DNA testing; establish professional standards and independent oversight of crime labs; and prevent mistaken eyewitness identifications.
The Innocence Project forges common ground among all those affected: the wrongfully convicted and their families, crime victims and their families, and criminal justice professionals. A national network of over 30 organizations dedicated to innocence related issues has emerged, bringing together prosecutors, the police, civil rights activists and victim?s rights groups. The Innocence Project is committed to the integrity and truth-revealing function of our criminal justice system. Perhaps most significantly, the exonerations are an important and timely reminder that our criminal justice system must be anchored in the presumption of innocence.
Recent Cause Activity
WWW.FREE FRANK GABLE.COM
Who is Frank Gable?
Frank Gable was a small-time petty criminal who was convicted of the murder of Michael Francke on June 27, 1991. Francke was the Director of the Oregon Corrections Department at the time. He was found at 12:35 a.m on Jan. 18, 1989, lying on the north porch of the Oregon Department of Corrections office building in Salem, dead from a stab wound to the heart. I think, as do many others, that Francke was killed because he was on the verge of uncovering corruption within the Department of Corrections.
This case ranks as one of Oregon's most extensive and expensive murder trials ever. Michael Francke was killed on January 17, 1989, and after many months of investigations with no suspects, authorities began building a case around Frank Gable. Frank was indicted on 4/5/90.
No physical evidence or DNA evidence exists linking Gable to this crime, and he has maintained his innocence from the beginning.
The prosecutions theory was Gable had broke into Francke's car parked in front of a state building when Francke confronted him and Gable stabbed him in the heart. Nevermind there was no evidence of forced entry to the fully alarmed vehicle or anything to indicate anyone had been in the car. Nothing was damaged and nothing was missing. Not to mention Francke still had his watch and billfold on him.
Witnesses consisted of meth heads and jailbirds who testified Gable told them he did it. The only alleged eyewitness was a drug dealer and criminal named Cappie "Shorty" Harden, who testified he happened to be in the area and saw Gable stab Francke. I personally located this witness in May of 2005, and shortly thereafter he publicly recanted his testimony in an interview with the Portland Tribune saying he lied under pressure from the state police, and that he never really was at the scene of the crime. (See-"Eyewitness Recants"-Portland Tribune in the links section of this group)
Another witness, Jodie Swearingen, who testified at the Grand Jury, recanted shortly after the Grand Jury hearing, saying she was pressured into lying as well to corroborate Shorty's story. And yet another witness, John Kevin Walker recanted after the trial saying he lied.
There was a guy named Johnny Crouse who confessed to the murder within the first few months of the investigations. Crouse knew details about the murder that only police or the killer would know, yet he was not deemed a suspect.
Michael Francke's family has never been satisfied with the investigations conducted by police. So much so, that shortly after the murder, Kevin, Michael's younger brother moved from Florida to Oregon to investigate things himself. Just before Michael was killed he told his brother Kevin that he had found some things wrong within corrections and was going to have to "clean house." He was preparing to speak before a Senate Judiciary Committee, possibly about the wrongdoings he had discovered within his department, when he was killed two days prior to that hearing.
The Francke's believe Michael was killed by corrupt corrections officials to silence him, and they strongly believe in Gable's innocence.
Many have pointed the finger at another drug dealer, Tim Natividad, as the person who was contracted to do the hit. There is substantial evidence to support those allegations, although Gable's trial judge, Greg West, refused to allow mention of Natividad or Crouse at trial.
Natividad was shot and killed two weeks after the Francke murder in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend. She was acquitted. The defense tried twice to obtain documents relating to Natividad and Crouse from the DA's office that they felt could assist them in Gable's defense but were denied both times by the trial judge. Crouse has been transferred from the Nebraska State Pen to their work release program in Omaha. He's serving time on unrelated charges.
In October of 2007 another witness stepped up. Greg Johnson/Kellcy, serving 20 years in Oregon on robbery charges, told Nigel Jaquiss, the Pulitzer prize winning journalist of the Portland weekly "Willamette Week" that he unknowingly drove the getaway car for Natividad the night of the 17th, and that a couple of days later he witnessed Natividad receiving a $20,000 payoff from Hoyt Cupp, a former warden of the Oregon State Pen. Jaquiss won the Pulitzer by exposing former Oregon Governor Neil Goldschmidt's pedophile secret. The two year long sexual abuse and rape of Goldschmidt's 14 year old babysitter when he was mayor of Portland, Oregon at the age of 32.
Goldschmidt was Governor at the time of the Francke murder, and was directly responsible for bringing Francke to Oregon from New Mexico.
my fiance was found guilty and charged with life 999 years 99 days for armed robbery and sexual battery with deadly force. the port saint lucie pd in florida swab hi for his DNA while he was held in county jail for 4 months with no bond for fishing w/o a liscene...he was released on 2 years federal probation and then picked back up 11/2007 being accused of these horrible charges...that for one the the crime occured on easter sunday and we were celebratin my b-day as well. he was charged with life for armed robbery (10-20-life) yet they never recoverd a weapon (10 years to comit a crime with a firearm 20 yrs if the firearm is used 30 yrs if someone was hit and life if someone was killed) the condom they supposivly found had 2 persons DNA (eww) DNA i said NOT seiman....they wanted me to pay 12000 to have his dna examined to determine if it was seiman or saliva in the condom, im a single mom on welfare i cant afford that!!! we are now appealing his case and hopefully the innocent project can help.....
Updated: The cause has reached 10,000 members.
You mention "The Innocence Project now has over 250 active cases and the average case costs $8,500 for DNA testing alone."
But a simple search fro DNA testing results in several companies doing it for under $100.
I have a friend who has been wrongly convicted and has sent the paperwork into NEIP, but hasn't heard anything back. He is being released in April. Because of the economy I am not able to give a donation. I wish I could. I am behind him 100% as is his family and friends. In some way we are all involved in this, because one day we might be accused as well.