Tag Archive for: Chuck Erickson

Ryan Ferguson Fund

I can’t imagine what it is like to be wrongly convicted and locked up for 10 years of your life.  It would feel horribly violating and then to come out into a world where you have been robbed of a college experience and/or degree, work experience and you have to start life at nearly 30 years of age–a decade behind everyone else your age–it would be overwhelming.

I feel for Ryan and so do others so they started a fund to help Ryan.  If you want to help Ryan out, you can do so here.

We wish you the best Ryan.  You have a stellar family and a bright future. It may seem hard to adjust at first, but I have full confidence you will lead an amazing life.  You have everything it takes to come out shining!!  Be patient and take things one day at a time.

So happy to hear you are writing a book!

Best,
Eyes

Ryan Ferguson’s Conviction Overturned–Waiting for Release

I have always believed Ryan Ferguson was wrongly convicted and that his friend, Chuck Erickson lied –which lead to both of them being convicted.

His family has spoken out for years and tried to raise awareness of Ryan’s injustice and finally last week, the courts overturned their conviction!

I originally spoke out in support of Ryan back in February 2006 when I first heard about his story.

To think that Ryan will be a free man is the best news ever!!!!!

FREE RYAN FERGUSON PETITION

I am a firm believer in Ryan Ferguson’s innocence. Please support him by signing a petition requesting a new trial.

Change.org Petition Link below…

https://www.change.org/petitions/please-grant-ryan-ferguson-a-new-trial-or-freedom?utm_source=action_alert&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=35831&alert_id=morUlVIPVk_NocYTRyzMB

Free Ryan!

I have stood in support of Ryan Ferguson since 2006. Read more here.

Charles Erickson on Ryan Ferguson and The Crime

48 Hours ran the latest updates to the Ryan Ferguson story last weekend. The show was titled “The Accuser”.  I have been following this story since 2006.

For those of you who haven’t followed the story, you can read about the story here, and you can read my original thoughts on this case from February 2006 here. I titled the post “Confess to a murder you didn’t commit?”

I never believed Charles Erickson (who then went by the name “Chuck” back then)–not one time nor did I believe that Ryan killed Kent Heitholt.  Now for the first time, Charles speaks out about the case to 48 Hours.   He says he lied and wants to correct a wrong.

I have absolutely and 100% have stood by the fact that I believe Ryan Ferguson is innocent and honest, and had no part in the killing of Kent Heitholt. I have also said from day one that Charles Erickson was lying.

When I watch Charles Erickson speak to Erin Moriarty on 48 Hours, I do believe he is FINALLY BEING HONEST.  He is telling the truth!  He didn’t remember anything, and under pressure, he lied to save his own hide –obviously realizing he was in way too deep.

Charles said, “The reason I felt I needed to lie and make things up is because I couldn’t remember anything.”  This is the truth and it is sad to see the judge doesn’t believe it.

If there is one case in our justice system that I find horrifying, it is this case.  Ryan Ferguson should not be locked up and needs to be freed IMMEDIATELY.

Please support the Ryan Ferguson family any way you can. http://freeryanferguson.com/

I believe Ryan has the best and most capable attorney, Kathleen Zellner, helping his cause, but all her amazing work has yet to free Ryan — mind you however, I believe she will work tireless until he is freed, and he will be freed.  He has to be, if we want to have a fair system!!

Please show your support for Ryan on your Facebook page, website and with your friends.  Justice needs to be served and served now!!

Ryan Ferguson Loses Appeal

I have been following the Ryan Ferguson case since 2006 when I first saw it air on 48 Hours.  I immediately believed Ryan Ferguson was innocent from the very first interview I saw of him, and I was sad that he was serving time for a crime that he didn’t commit.
I held out great hope that Ryan would be freed as people came out and started backtracking on their stories–the stories that were used to convicted Ryan.  And I held out the greatest hope that his latest appeal by Kathleen Zellner, who I highly respect, would be granted, but sadly last week while I was out of town training professionals, I got the word his appeal was denied.
To say that I am very upset is an understatement.  This is a huge injustice being done to an innocent man.  The judge in the case, Green stated in his ruling that Ryan did not prove his “actual innocence” in the killing of Kent Heitholt, a sports editor at the Columbia Daily Tribune.
Eriely, Green’s ruling came exactly 11 years to the day that Heitholt was killed.
As someone who is an expert in deception, I have always struggled with proving, and showing innocence.  How do you do it?  I think for someone to have to prove this standard, we need to define exactly how this is done because the only way I know to prove innocence is to show any lack of involvement, which Ryan has proven without a doubt.

I’d personally like to ask the judge, how does one meet this standard of actual innocence?  How does one prove it? What are the guidelines for this?

It’s easy to prove guilt.  It is much, much more difficult to prove innocence.