#1 Just Mercy by Monserath SanchezFerretiz

Walter McMillan

446943_1 — 2024-10-22 17:53:32 UTC

-He's African American

-He dropped out of school in 3rd grade to work in the fields

-He's having an affair with a white woman

-He has his own business

-He has three kids

Ralph Myers

446943_1 — 2024-10-24 17:54:02 UTC

Ralph Myers grew up in foster care and was in a tragic fire that disfigured his face. Growing up he got used to the many stares and started feeling like an outcast.

Ralph and Karen Kelly were drug dealing together and had a relationship.

He admitted that he played a role in Vickie's death but kept switching the story and made it seem unbelievable so that he would cover up the fact that he did it. He also blamed Walter for the crime of Ronda Morrison.

When Walter and Ralph encountered each other in the store, both didn't recognize each other. Walter was confused by this situation paid very little attention to the note.

Walter's Trial

446943_1 — 2024-10-28 18:03:56 UTC

The trial took place a year after the original date because Ralph Myers didn't want to testify then.
The jury only included one black person because they changed the venue to a community with a large population of white racist people and because they used their peremptory strikes.
Walter's lawyers only brought in 3 people from the fish fry.
The verdict was quick and they found him guilty.
There was a statement that Walter had already turned his truck into a low-rider but he didn't until a few months after.

Charlie

446943_1 — 2024-11-01 17:52:59 UTC

Charlie was a child. 5 ft. and less than 100 lbs when he was placed in jail as an adult.

He only killed Jorge because he was constantly abusing his mother and this time, he thought he had killed her.
Jorge, who was a former police officer, was respected in his community so the judge and prosecutor thought Charlie deserved maximum punishment.
Once Charlie was in the adult jail, he was raped several times by many other inmates.
Once he got comfortable around Bryan, Bryan told Charlie's story and other people started reaching out to help him.

Trina, Ian, Antonio

446943_1 — 2024-11-05 19:21:22 UTC

Trina:

Trina had an abusive dad who physically abused her mom and sisters. She grew up in poverty with her 12 siblings. She was convicted for second degree murder for accidentally burning down her friend's home and him dying from the smoke. She was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Ian:

Ian was a 13yr old boy who shot a woman in the mouth and was sentenced to life in prison without parole. He was also placed in solitary confinement because he was in an adult prison and was small for his age. While in prison, he self harmed and tried committing suicide various times.

Antonio:

Antonio was physically abused by his father from an early age. Growing up in south central LA, he was gang affiliated constantly and witnessed his brother get shot and killed. When he moved back to CA from LV, he was persuaded by older men to help out in a fake kidnapping that would make him money. He was arrested after shooting the van that was following them and became the youngest person in the US to be sentenced to life in prison for a crime in which no one was physically harmed.

Walter's Arrest

446943_1 — 2024-11-12 06:13:26 UTC

Walter was charged for sodomy after Ralph had stated that Walter "raped" him and because the police had no physical evidence that he played a role in the Morrison murder. According to Ralph, Walter held Myers at gunpoint forcing him into his truck and demanded that he drove because his arm was hurt. Once in the truck, McMillian also demanded to drive to the dry cleaners and to wait in the truck while he committed the murder. At the time of the murder, Walter was at the church fundraiser which was a fish fry that took place at his house. Relatives and folks from the church also joined them. When Walter was arrested by Sheriff Tate, he received several racial slurs and threats.

Marsha Colby

446943_1 — 2024-11-14 18:51:14 UTC

Marsha who was a 43 year old mother of 6, was pregnant and gave birth to her still newborn baby. Her neighbor got the police involved once she saw no bump or baby and Marsha was arrested. She was charged for capital murder and was given life imprisonment with no parole.

At the Tutwiler prison, woman were constantly sexually harassed and abused by the male prison guards. Not only were the woman sexually harassed at Tutwiler, they were also beaten. These prison guards received little to no punishment for the abuse.

Joe & Evan

446943_1 — 2024-11-18 18:51:33 UTC

Joe- At the age of 13, Joe was arrested when he and 2 older boys robbed an older woman's home. One the older boys had sexually assaulted the woman, so they also charged Joe and give him life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Evan- Evan was 14 years old when he was arrested for capital murder. He was living in rough housing with drug addictive parents and was abusing alcohol at the time. He was sentenced to life in prison without parole.

Walter's Exoneration

446943_1 — 2024-11-20 17:29:46 UTC

The murderer of Rhonda Morrison was not found
ABI agents were at the trial

Agents knew that Walter was innocent
Another appeal was filed
Walter was finally removed off of death row

Bryan Stevenson

446943_1 — 2024-11-20 17:30:49 UTC

Absent :(