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It Is Written with John Bradshaw | John Bradshaw - Not Guilty | April 27, 2025
- ♪[dramatic theme music]♪
- 00:00:00.023 --> 00:00:13.303
- ♪[music ends]♪♪
- 00:00:16.773 --> 00:00:18.808
- >>john bradshaw: this is it is written.
- 00:00:19.709 --> 00:00:21.711
- I'm john bradshaw. thanks for joining me.
- 00:00:21.711 --> 00:00:24.614
- It's a great american tragedy, really.
- 00:00:24.614 --> 00:00:28.218
- Maybe the greater part of the tragedy
- 00:00:28.218 --> 00:00:29.986
- Is that this story is not entirely unique,
- 00:00:29.986 --> 00:00:33.022
- But this is also the story of redemption, vindication,
- 00:00:33.022 --> 00:00:37.494
- And, ultimately, victory.
- 00:00:37.494 --> 00:00:40.130
- ♪[soft music]♪
- 00:00:40.130 --> 00:00:41.164
- There are roughly 1.4 million people in prison
- 00:00:41.164 --> 00:00:44.834
- In the united states of america.
- 00:00:44.834 --> 00:00:46.503
- There are another 3/4 of a million in american jails.
- 00:00:46.503 --> 00:00:49.572
- That's well over 2 million people incarcerated.
- 00:00:49.572 --> 00:00:53.343
- One quarter of all the incarcerated people
- 00:00:53.343 --> 00:00:56.079
- In the world are in the united states.
- 00:00:56.079 --> 00:00:59.082
- Now, there's no question people want and deserve
- 00:00:59.082 --> 00:01:02.018
- Safe communities.
- 00:01:02.018 --> 00:01:03.386
- Those who fall foul of the law should pay their debt
- 00:01:03.386 --> 00:01:06.156
- To society. who would argue that?
- 00:01:06.156 --> 00:01:08.691
- But what about those who are wrongfully convicted?
- 00:01:08.691 --> 00:01:11.928
- Those who are sentenced to prison
- 00:01:11.928 --> 00:01:14.063
- When they should not have been?
- 00:01:14.063 --> 00:01:16.199
- Unfortunately, it happens.
- 00:01:16.199 --> 00:01:19.035
- In the 1960s, professional boxer rubin "hurricane" carter
- 00:01:19.035 --> 00:01:23.006
- Was convicted twice of a triple murder
- 00:01:23.006 --> 00:01:26.342
- And spent 19 years in prison.
- 00:01:26.342 --> 00:01:28.978
- But he was innocent.
- 00:01:28.978 --> 00:01:30.480
- Kevin strickland was imprisoned in 1979
- 00:01:30.480 --> 00:01:32.982
- After being found guilty of a triple murder.
- 00:01:32.982 --> 00:01:35.585
- He was exonerated and freed from prison...in 2021.
- 00:01:35.585 --> 00:01:40.557
- He spent 42 years in prison for a crime
- 00:01:40.557 --> 00:01:43.226
- The justice system says he did not commit.
- 00:01:43.226 --> 00:01:47.330
- Now, that's not to say the justice system
- 00:01:47.330 --> 00:01:49.699
- Always gets it wrong.
- 00:01:49.699 --> 00:01:50.867
- That's simply not the case. but it does happen.
- 00:01:50.867 --> 00:01:54.871
- And that it happens is a tragedy.
- 00:01:54.871 --> 00:01:57.440
- ♪[music fades]♪
- 00:01:57.440 --> 00:01:59.075
- >>rodney dunneback: in the beginning, i had no idea
- 00:01:59.075 --> 00:02:00.843
- Why gil was in prison.
- 00:02:00.843 --> 00:02:01.978
- You really don't ask people that, uh,
- 00:02:01.978 --> 00:02:04.447
- While they're in prison. sometimes they'll volunteer it.
- 00:02:04.447 --> 00:02:06.416
- Uh, i had no idea why he was there
- 00:02:06.416 --> 00:02:09.419
- Or how long he was going to be in there.
- 00:02:09.419 --> 00:02:11.287
- But as things unfolded, uh, i learned that he had,
- 00:02:11.287 --> 00:02:15.058
- At 23 years of age, had, uh, been, uh,
- 00:02:15.058 --> 00:02:19.562
- Convicted of murder and sentenced to life in prison.
- 00:02:19.562 --> 00:02:23.166
- >>john: gil is gilbert poole.
- 00:02:24.133 --> 00:02:27.804
- >>marla mitchell-cichon: mr. poole was charged with murder
- 00:02:27.804 --> 00:02:30.573
- In 1988.
- 00:02:30.573 --> 00:02:32.342
- In june of 1988, a oakland county employee was murdered,
- 00:02:32.342 --> 00:02:38.081
- Um, after he left a bar,
- 00:02:38.081 --> 00:02:40.216
- And there were a handful of individuals in the bar
- 00:02:40.216 --> 00:02:43.686
- That said he left with an unknown individual.
- 00:02:43.686 --> 00:02:47.257
- They got descriptions from witnesses.
- 00:02:47.257 --> 00:02:49.459
- They put composite drawings in the newspaper.
- 00:02:49.459 --> 00:02:52.262
- They solicited information, interviewed witnesses, um, but,
- 00:02:52.262 --> 00:02:56.733
- Um, none of that investigation led to a suspect, um,
- 00:02:56.733 --> 00:03:00.003
- And the case went cold basically in july or august.
- 00:03:00.003 --> 00:03:04.173
- Um, so within a month or two of the murder,
- 00:03:04.173 --> 00:03:06.542
- They had no further leads.
- 00:03:06.542 --> 00:03:08.244
- Mr. poole was living in pontiac, michigan,
- 00:03:08.244 --> 00:03:10.947
- In june of 1988, and he left the state shortly thereafter.
- 00:03:10.947 --> 00:03:15.051
- He moved to north carolina with his then-girlfriend,
- 00:03:15.051 --> 00:03:18.388
- Connie cook, and it was miss cook
- 00:03:18.388 --> 00:03:20.790
- Who then in november of 1988 reached out
- 00:03:20.790 --> 00:03:24.227
- To the north carolina police and told them that her boyfriend
- 00:03:24.227 --> 00:03:27.697
- Had confessed a murder to her that occurred in pontiac.
- 00:03:27.697 --> 00:03:32.235
- So that's how, um, mr. poole became a suspect.
- 00:03:32.235 --> 00:03:36.472
- Um, he was subsequently arrested,
- 00:03:36.472 --> 00:03:39.042
- Extradited to michigan.
- 00:03:39.042 --> 00:03:40.910
- The detectives in the case solicited the assistance
- 00:03:40.910 --> 00:03:44.514
- Of a forensic odontologist by the name of dr. allan warnick,
- 00:03:44.514 --> 00:03:48.951
- Who took dental impressions of mr. poole.
- 00:03:48.951 --> 00:03:51.621
- He compared those impressions
- 00:03:51.621 --> 00:03:53.790
- To what appeared to be a bruise or a bite mark.
- 00:03:53.790 --> 00:03:56.693
- Um, to this day, we don't know for sure
- 00:03:56.693 --> 00:03:57.994
- If it was even a bite mark,
- 00:03:57.994 --> 00:03:59.595
- Um, but certainly a mark on the victim's arm.
- 00:03:59.595 --> 00:04:02.031
- Dr. warnick concluded that the mark on the victim's arm
- 00:04:02.031 --> 00:04:05.335
- Was made by mr. poole's teeth.
- 00:04:05.335 --> 00:04:07.303
- So that was the second piece of evidence
- 00:04:07.303 --> 00:04:09.405
- That was used against mr. poole at trial.
- 00:04:09.405 --> 00:04:12.542
- And then finally, the girlfriend, obviously,
- 00:04:12.542 --> 00:04:14.644
- Came to trial, testified, um, about the so-called confession,
- 00:04:14.644 --> 00:04:20.283
- And witnesses in the bar-- who again had never,
- 00:04:20.283 --> 00:04:23.753
- To, to this day, we have no reason to believe
- 00:04:23.753 --> 00:04:26.222
- They've ever seen mr. poole in their lives--
- 00:04:26.222 --> 00:04:28.791
- Identified mr. poole in court as the individual
- 00:04:28.791 --> 00:04:31.527
- Who left the bar with the victim.
- 00:04:31.527 --> 00:04:33.763
- ♪[music ends]♪♪
- 00:04:33.763 --> 00:04:35.431
- >>john: gilbert, thanks so much for joining me.
- 00:04:35.431 --> 00:04:37.200
- I really appreciate it.
- 00:04:37.200 --> 00:04:38.368
- >>gilbert poole: uh, you're welcome. thank ya.
- 00:04:38.368 --> 00:04:39.869
- I'm glad to be here.
- 00:04:39.869 --> 00:04:40.870
- >>john: you were 22 years old.
- 00:04:40.870 --> 00:04:42.038
- You're minding your own business,
- 00:04:42.038 --> 00:04:43.106
- Living in north carolina. you'd been in michigan.
- 00:04:43.106 --> 00:04:45.608
- There's...a knock at the door of your life.
- 00:04:45.608 --> 00:04:49.345
- You are suspected of the murder of a man you'd never met.
- 00:04:49.345 --> 00:04:54.250
- What does that do to you?
- 00:04:54.250 --> 00:04:56.185
- >>gilbert: yeah. it, it takes you aback.
- 00:04:56.185 --> 00:04:58.521
- But, uh, at the time, i had faith in the judicial system
- 00:04:58.521 --> 00:05:02.692
- And figured it's going to be all right
- 00:05:02.692 --> 00:05:04.293
- Because the truth will come out and i'll be, uh, released.
- 00:05:04.293 --> 00:05:09.298
- >>john: yeah, i, i think it's pretty understandable
- 00:05:09.298 --> 00:05:10.800
- You might have had faith in the judicial system,
- 00:05:10.800 --> 00:05:13.436
- Uh, which, thankfully, works a lot of the time.
- 00:05:13.436 --> 00:05:15.805
- But here's one of those times it failed spectacularly.
- 00:05:15.805 --> 00:05:18.508
- You, you weren't at the bar
- 00:05:18.508 --> 00:05:19.709
- Where the unfortunate man had been.
- 00:05:19.709 --> 00:05:21.444
- You'd, you'd not met him.
- 00:05:21.444 --> 00:05:23.179
- Um, the evidence didn't point to you.
- 00:05:23.179 --> 00:05:27.083
- >>gilbert: right.
- 00:05:27.083 --> 00:05:28.217
- >>john: and what goes through your mind when you hear
- 00:05:28.217 --> 00:05:29.652
- The judge say, "guilty, and we're sentencing you
- 00:05:29.652 --> 00:05:33.256
- To life without the possibility of parole"?
- 00:05:33.256 --> 00:05:36.325
- >>gilbert: you know, uh...
- 00:05:37.293 --> 00:05:40.062
- It's like the world stopped turning at that point. um...
- 00:05:40.062 --> 00:05:45.034
- I, i didn't know what to do. um, tears welled up inside me.
- 00:05:45.034 --> 00:05:49.305
- Um, i did not have anybody in the courtroom--because there was
- 00:05:49.305 --> 00:05:52.742
- No possibility i was going to be convicted.
- 00:05:52.742 --> 00:05:55.178
- So i was standing alone, a long ways away from home.
- 00:05:55.178 --> 00:05:58.014
- And, uh, i, i just couldn't believe it.
- 00:05:58.014 --> 00:06:01.818
- >>john: "there was no possibility
- 00:06:02.785 --> 00:06:04.687
- I was going to be convicted."
- 00:06:04.687 --> 00:06:06.556
- Well, gilbert poole couldn't have been more wrong.
- 00:06:06.556 --> 00:06:11.627
- But he did have the right to appeal his conviction,
- 00:06:11.627 --> 00:06:14.197
- And he did.
- 00:06:14.197 --> 00:06:15.765
- So what happened when an innocent man appealed?
- 00:06:15.765 --> 00:06:19.001
- And where was god in all of this?
- 00:06:19.001 --> 00:06:22.138
- I'll tell you in just a moment.
- 00:06:22.138 --> 00:06:24.507
- ♪[music swells and ends]♪♪
- 00:06:24.507 --> 00:06:31.547
- >>announcer: there is nothing in this world more precious
- 00:06:33.716 --> 00:06:35.918
- Than a meaningful relationship with jesus christ.
- 00:06:35.918 --> 00:06:38.921
- Today's free offer, "steps to christ,"
- 00:06:38.921 --> 00:06:40.990
- Is one of the best books ever written
- 00:06:40.990 --> 00:06:42.859
- On how to build a successful relationship with jesus
- 00:06:42.859 --> 00:06:45.895
- That will see you through to eternity.
- 00:06:45.895 --> 00:06:47.997
- To receive your free copy,
- 00:06:47.997 --> 00:06:49.098
- Call 800-253-3000
- 00:06:49.098 --> 00:06:51.934
- Or visit us online at iiwoffer.com.
- 00:06:51.934 --> 00:06:55.371
- Get "steps to christ" today,
- 00:06:55.371 --> 00:06:57.340
- 800-253-3000
- 00:06:57.340 --> 00:07:00.142
- Or online at iiwoffer.com.
- 00:07:00.142 --> 00:07:03.846
- >>john bradshaw: thanks for joining me on it is written.
- 00:07:03.913 --> 00:07:06.182
- Charged with a crime he didn't commit,
- 00:07:06.182 --> 00:07:09.185
- Gilbert poole was sentenced to life in prison
- 00:07:09.185 --> 00:07:11.787
- Without the possibility of parole.
- 00:07:11.787 --> 00:07:14.323
- We're going to learn that while he was in prison,
- 00:07:14.323 --> 00:07:16.292
- Mr. poole had a miraculous conversion experience,
- 00:07:16.292 --> 00:07:19.095
- Which ultimately helped change the course of his life.
- 00:07:19.095 --> 00:07:23.232
- But, of course, this was not the end of the story.
- 00:07:23.232 --> 00:07:25.902
- He still had the appeals process to work through.
- 00:07:25.902 --> 00:07:29.238
- >>gilbert poole: well, the appeals process was,
- 00:07:29.238 --> 00:07:31.707
- In my mind, a joke because every step of the way,
- 00:07:31.707 --> 00:07:36.112
- Uh, it, it failed.
- 00:07:36.112 --> 00:07:38.814
- Uh, the attorney didn't file an appeal.
- 00:07:38.814 --> 00:07:41.951
- His appeal that he was forced to file afterwards
- 00:07:41.951 --> 00:07:45.454
- Was lackluster at best.
- 00:07:45.454 --> 00:07:47.924
- Um, the courts would not address my issues
- 00:07:47.924 --> 00:07:51.928
- That i was presenting,
- 00:07:51.928 --> 00:07:53.496
- Uh, specifically as i was--addressed them.
- 00:07:53.496 --> 00:07:56.332
- They should be giving leeway because it's a prisoner
- 00:07:56.332 --> 00:07:59.569
- Making his own pleadings at this point.
- 00:07:59.569 --> 00:08:02.071
- But, uh, it just seemed like it, all my points were ignored,
- 00:08:02.071 --> 00:08:06.876
- And, uh, they were using circular logic.
- 00:08:06.876 --> 00:08:10.746
- It, it was just absolutely frustrating, and i don't know
- 00:08:10.746 --> 00:08:14.050
- How anybody can navigate that without an attorney.
- 00:08:14.050 --> 00:08:18.387
- >>john: marla mitchell-cichon was the director
- 00:08:18.387 --> 00:08:20.856
- Of the western michigan university
- 00:08:20.856 --> 00:08:22.858
- Cooley law school innocence project.
- 00:08:22.858 --> 00:08:25.995
- She spent 20 years working with gilbert poole on his case.
- 00:08:25.995 --> 00:08:30.733
- >>marla mitchell-cichon: mr. poole wrote to us, um,
- 00:08:30.733 --> 00:08:32.902
- In 2002, about a year after our clinic was started here at, uh,
- 00:08:32.902 --> 00:08:37.406
- Cooley law school, and our clinic was designed
- 00:08:37.406 --> 00:08:40.343
- To do post-conviction work to assist prisoners
- 00:08:40.343 --> 00:08:42.745
- Who are claiming factual innocence.
- 00:08:42.745 --> 00:08:44.680
- Um, and the tool that we used at that time to prove innocence
- 00:08:44.680 --> 00:08:48.684
- Was post-conviction dna testing.
- 00:08:48.684 --> 00:08:50.920
- I've screened probably thousands of cases myself
- 00:08:50.920 --> 00:08:53.623
- To try to hone in on, do these individuals,
- 00:08:53.623 --> 00:08:56.559
- Um, meet our criteria?
- 00:08:56.559 --> 00:08:57.994
- Because it's really more about meeting our criteria than it is,
- 00:08:57.994 --> 00:09:01.097
- "are they factually innocent?" because we can't help everyone.
- 00:09:01.097 --> 00:09:04.066
- We need to know, is there biological evidence,
- 00:09:04.066 --> 00:09:06.602
- Um, that was collected
- 00:09:06.602 --> 00:09:07.970
- That potentially we could find and test?
- 00:09:07.970 --> 00:09:10.373
- And then, more recently, were there forensic practices
- 00:09:10.373 --> 00:09:13.309
- Used in the case that we can challenge as unreliable?
- 00:09:13.309 --> 00:09:17.980
- So, in mr. poole's case he had both.
- 00:09:17.980 --> 00:09:20.049
- He had biological evidence
- 00:09:20.049 --> 00:09:21.484
- That was collected at the time that, if tested, might identify,
- 00:09:21.484 --> 00:09:25.755
- Um, someone other than mr. poole,
- 00:09:25.755 --> 00:09:27.623
- Who had never been identified through any forensic practice,
- 00:09:27.623 --> 00:09:30.693
- Um, in terms of the biological evidence at the crime scene.
- 00:09:30.693 --> 00:09:34.230
- Um, and then later the fact that his case involved
- 00:09:34.230 --> 00:09:37.133
- A bite mark was very important.
- 00:09:37.133 --> 00:09:38.901
- He would have been meeting our criteria, given that, um,
- 00:09:38.901 --> 00:09:42.038
- In this particular case the victim was murdered
- 00:09:42.038 --> 00:09:44.807
- With a small knife, there was a chance that the perpetrator
- 00:09:44.807 --> 00:09:47.710
- Would have left his dna behind at the crime scene,
- 00:09:47.710 --> 00:09:50.646
- And so we would have been, obviously, interested
- 00:09:50.646 --> 00:09:53.416
- In finding that evidence and dna testing it.
- 00:09:53.416 --> 00:09:56.385
- There's usually not one cause for a wrongful conviction;
- 00:09:56.385 --> 00:09:59.455
- There's usually multiple causes.
- 00:09:59.455 --> 00:10:01.157
- And mr. poole's case had a number of factors showing up
- 00:10:01.157 --> 00:10:05.127
- As we gathered case materials that suggested
- 00:10:05.127 --> 00:10:07.797
- That this is a potentially innocent person.
- 00:10:07.797 --> 00:10:11.467
- >>john: even though dna evidence wasn't being used
- 00:10:11.467 --> 00:10:14.103
- In trials in 1988, forensic evidence definitely was.
- 00:10:14.103 --> 00:10:19.508
- At the crime scene, where a man lost his life,
- 00:10:19.508 --> 00:10:23.279
- Blood was discovered: blood from the victim
- 00:10:23.279 --> 00:10:26.382
- And blood from someone else.
- 00:10:26.382 --> 00:10:29.118
- In 1988 the michigan state police crime lab
- 00:10:29.118 --> 00:10:31.854
- Evaluated those blood samples and identified
- 00:10:31.854 --> 00:10:35.324
- A foreign blood sample--that is, blood that didn't belong
- 00:10:35.324 --> 00:10:39.261
- To the victim of the crime
- 00:10:39.261 --> 00:10:41.130
- And that didn't belong to gilbert poole.
- 00:10:41.130 --> 00:10:43.899
- That should settle it, right?
- 00:10:43.899 --> 00:10:46.736
- Not right.
- 00:10:46.736 --> 00:10:47.937
- That crucial evidence was not presented before the jury.
- 00:10:47.937 --> 00:10:51.640
- And as problematic as that was,
- 00:10:51.640 --> 00:10:54.810
- It got even worse for gilbert poole.
- 00:10:54.810 --> 00:10:57.847
- >>marla: so we all know from eighth grade science, right,
- 00:10:57.847 --> 00:11:00.549
- That science is you do an experiment, you get results,
- 00:11:00.549 --> 00:11:04.086
- And you can replicate those results consistently.
- 00:11:04.086 --> 00:11:06.922
- Bite mark comparison in the context that we're discussing
- 00:11:06.922 --> 00:11:10.259
- Has never been science.
- 00:11:10.259 --> 00:11:12.595
- Unfortunately, um, bite mark impression comparison
- 00:11:12.595 --> 00:11:17.299
- Has been used, um, in probably thousands of cases,
- 00:11:17.299 --> 00:11:22.071
- And it probably wasn't until the mid-2000s
- 00:11:22.071 --> 00:11:26.242
- When the national academy of sciences clarified
- 00:11:26.242 --> 00:11:29.245
- That this was not reliable science and should not be used
- 00:11:29.245 --> 00:11:32.882
- For the purpose of identifying a particular person
- 00:11:32.882 --> 00:11:35.851
- Or linking a particular person to a crime scene--
- 00:11:35.851 --> 00:11:38.954
- Which is exactly what was done in mr. poole's case.
- 00:11:38.954 --> 00:11:41.624
- He essentially told the jury, without a doubt,
- 00:11:41.624 --> 00:11:44.627
- Without a human doubt, really,
- 00:11:44.627 --> 00:11:46.796
- Those impressions were made by mr. poole.
- 00:11:46.796 --> 00:11:49.532
- That type of testimony would not be permitted, um,
- 00:11:49.532 --> 00:11:52.968
- By today's standards.
- 00:11:52.968 --> 00:11:54.770
- And it was in mr. poole's case the only evidence
- 00:11:54.770 --> 00:11:58.374
- That tied him to the crime scene.
- 00:11:58.374 --> 00:12:00.709
- This case is a lot about the backstory,
- 00:12:00.709 --> 00:12:03.179
- Meaning the key timeframe and where the storyline began
- 00:12:03.179 --> 00:12:06.715
- Was in a bar on a sunday night.
- 00:12:06.715 --> 00:12:09.785
- Um, but what happened happened a few miles away from that,
- 00:12:09.785 --> 00:12:14.623
- Um, in a somewhat of an abandoned area,
- 00:12:14.623 --> 00:12:17.359
- And no one witnessed this crime.
- 00:12:17.359 --> 00:12:19.628
- So, the only individual and the only witness that linked
- 00:12:19.628 --> 00:12:23.365
- Mr. poole definitively to the crime scene was allan warnick.
- 00:12:23.365 --> 00:12:28.070
- If you were a juror and you heard that some individuals
- 00:12:28.070 --> 00:12:32.374
- Are identifying the man sitting at the counsel table,
- 00:12:32.374 --> 00:12:35.311
- An ex-girlfriend who's saying he admitted this to her,
- 00:12:35.311 --> 00:12:38.347
- A dentist, someone who had a medical education,
- 00:12:38.347 --> 00:12:42.151
- Say that without a doubt it was mr. poole's teeth marks,
- 00:12:42.151 --> 00:12:44.920
- Most jurors would find that evidence very compelling.
- 00:12:44.920 --> 00:12:48.490
- And, um, obviously it was very damaging to mr. poole.
- 00:12:48.490 --> 00:12:52.928
- >>john: so describe what it's like inside the mind
- 00:12:52.928 --> 00:12:55.064
- Of a young man, a young man who has decided,
- 00:12:55.064 --> 00:12:59.468
- "this system has forsaken me, and i'll never get out."
- 00:12:59.468 --> 00:13:04.373
- How hopeless does a man become?
- 00:13:04.373 --> 00:13:07.042
- >>gilbert: well, it's beyond hopeless.
- 00:13:07.109 --> 00:13:10.279
- I mean, i would wake up in the mornings--
- 00:13:10.279 --> 00:13:13.616
- And before i found god, i would wake up in the mornings
- 00:13:13.616 --> 00:13:17.720
- And have to decide whether or not i want to do this or not.
- 00:13:17.720 --> 00:13:20.322
- Do i want to finish this day?
- 00:13:20.322 --> 00:13:22.324
- Do i want to go out and shake the fence
- 00:13:22.324 --> 00:13:23.759
- Till they shoo me off of it?
- 00:13:23.759 --> 00:13:25.594
- It was pretty desperate times, you know.
- 00:13:25.594 --> 00:13:28.364
- >>rodney dunneback: when you walk through the yards
- 00:13:28.364 --> 00:13:29.765
- Or, or anywhere out there,
- 00:13:29.765 --> 00:13:32.268
- There was not a lot of smiles on the faces.
- 00:13:32.268 --> 00:13:34.770
- It's kind of a, uh, prison atmosphere, shall i say?
- 00:13:34.770 --> 00:13:40.509
- I volunteer for prison ministry because i realize
- 00:13:40.509 --> 00:13:42.912
- The great need there is, uh, for prison ministry.
- 00:13:42.912 --> 00:13:46.615
- Uh, there's tens of thousands of men right here in michigan--
- 00:13:46.615 --> 00:13:51.487
- And women--who would love to have someone come in
- 00:13:51.487 --> 00:13:55.157
- And tell them about jesus.
- 00:13:55.157 --> 00:13:57.293
- >>john: so, you, you were in prison for a crime
- 00:13:57.293 --> 00:13:59.628
- You didn't commit, you knew you didn't commit,
- 00:13:59.628 --> 00:14:01.630
- But then the light started to shine in.
- 00:14:01.630 --> 00:14:04.233
- Tell me what happened
- 00:14:04.233 --> 00:14:05.367
- That started to turn things around for you.
- 00:14:05.367 --> 00:14:07.303
- >>gilbert: i had to reevaluate how i was living my life,
- 00:14:07.303 --> 00:14:11.407
- Even inside prison, because, uh,
- 00:14:11.407 --> 00:14:13.242
- That was not leading me anywhere.
- 00:14:13.242 --> 00:14:15.010
- And at the same time i was being, um,
- 00:14:15.010 --> 00:14:19.148
- Asked by other prisoners to do bible studies.
- 00:14:19.148 --> 00:14:23.152
- But these people had been asking me to do bible studies
- 00:14:23.152 --> 00:14:25.854
- For 25-30 years, and i've always pushed them away.
- 00:14:25.854 --> 00:14:31.727
- But they've always came back.
- 00:14:31.727 --> 00:14:33.929
- For 30 years they've always came back.
- 00:14:33.929 --> 00:14:36.532
- Well, when i decided to reevaluate how i was living
- 00:14:36.532 --> 00:14:40.035
- My life in the prison, i said,
- 00:14:40.035 --> 00:14:42.638
- "well, maybe this is something i need to investigate."
- 00:14:42.638 --> 00:14:47.009
- And i got to reading it and seeing the truth in it;
- 00:14:47.009 --> 00:14:50.546
- Things started changing.
- 00:14:50.546 --> 00:14:52.047
- I gave up on my case, and i turned it over to god.
- 00:14:52.047 --> 00:14:54.950
- I said, "i'm, i'm done. if you want me out, i'll be out.
- 00:14:54.950 --> 00:14:59.588
- But you can use me in here."
- 00:14:59.588 --> 00:15:01.623
- And i started doing his work, as best i could, in the prison.
- 00:15:01.623 --> 00:15:06.662
- >>john: and right about that same time,
- 00:15:06.662 --> 00:15:09.331
- There were some legal scholars who got involved with your case,
- 00:15:09.331 --> 00:15:11.767
- And the wheels really started to turn.
- 00:15:11.767 --> 00:15:14.069
- >>gilbert: things did start to turn around.
- 00:15:14.069 --> 00:15:17.139
- There was a new development, and, uh,
- 00:15:17.139 --> 00:15:20.275
- Dna testing that allowed them to take a closer look
- 00:15:20.275 --> 00:15:23.645
- At the dna evidence that they had, and we came up with
- 00:15:23.645 --> 00:15:27.716
- New evidence that, that excluded me from the crime.
- 00:15:27.716 --> 00:15:31.620
- We had this, and we were going to file back in court
- 00:15:31.620 --> 00:15:34.490
- And ask to have the case revisited, but we didn't know
- 00:15:34.490 --> 00:15:37.926
- Whether that was enough to overturn the conviction,
- 00:15:37.926 --> 00:15:41.463
- That in itself, in isolation.
- 00:15:41.463 --> 00:15:43.732
- But then something else happened.
- 00:15:43.732 --> 00:15:46.502
- The state attorney general's office started
- 00:15:46.502 --> 00:15:48.570
- A conviction integrity unit that covered my county.
- 00:15:48.570 --> 00:15:51.974
- My lawyer submitted the application to them
- 00:15:51.974 --> 00:15:54.910
- With the new evidence that we just got,
- 00:15:54.910 --> 00:15:57.112
- And my case was the first case that they actually vetted,
- 00:15:57.112 --> 00:16:01.450
- And they went through it for an entire year,
- 00:16:01.450 --> 00:16:04.219
- And at the end of that year,
- 00:16:04.219 --> 00:16:07.322
- They decided that i was wrongfully convicted.
- 00:16:07.322 --> 00:16:11.260
- ♪[soft orchestral music]♪
- 00:16:11.260 --> 00:16:15.697
- >>marla: when it came to the day to walk him out of prison,
- 00:16:15.697 --> 00:16:18.700
- Not only were we so ready [laughs] and, and happy
- 00:16:18.700 --> 00:16:22.504
- And thrilled, but it was a--oh!
- 00:16:22.504 --> 00:16:25.974
- Sorry, i'm getting choked up now, but it was,
- 00:16:25.974 --> 00:16:28.243
- It was a great, it was a great, great day.
- 00:16:28.243 --> 00:16:31.180
- Um, you know, it's like, uh, it's so much hard work.
- 00:16:31.180 --> 00:16:36.018
- There's so many letdowns.
- 00:16:36.018 --> 00:16:37.920
- Um, he's such a good person.
- 00:16:37.920 --> 00:16:41.090
- So the day that he walked out we had everything
- 00:16:41.090 --> 00:16:43.125
- In place for him, and it was a beautiful day.
- 00:16:43.125 --> 00:16:46.829
- >>rodney: as i watched gil walk across the grass, uh,
- 00:16:46.829 --> 00:16:49.698
- Towards the pavilion, it was a extremely emotional moment
- 00:16:49.698 --> 00:16:54.703
- For me, and, uh, for a lot of people.
- 00:16:54.703 --> 00:16:57.706
- There were a lot of tears flowing at that moment.
- 00:16:57.706 --> 00:17:00.809
- I kind of stood back and let everybody else
- 00:17:00.809 --> 00:17:03.278
- And the media go crazy.
- 00:17:03.278 --> 00:17:05.214
- Uh, i was standing, uh, back four or five feet,
- 00:17:05.214 --> 00:17:08.217
- And gil finally laid eyes on me.
- 00:17:08.217 --> 00:17:10.986
- And he says, "rod!" and we embraced.
- 00:17:10.986 --> 00:17:15.824
- >>gilbert: i was walking on air,
- 00:17:15.824 --> 00:17:17.693
- Uh, didn't know what to do, wide eyed, um--
- 00:17:17.693 --> 00:17:22.531
- If you can imagine, uh,
- 00:17:22.531 --> 00:17:24.500
- Going to the amusement park for the first time
- 00:17:24.500 --> 00:17:26.468
- And just seeing all the wonders around you.
- 00:17:26.468 --> 00:17:28.170
- ♪[soft music]♪
- 00:17:28.170 --> 00:17:29.505
- I didn't know what to do.
- 00:17:29.505 --> 00:17:30.639
- Didn't know how to use a cell phone,
- 00:17:30.639 --> 00:17:32.174
- I'd never seen a cell phone before.
- 00:17:32.174 --> 00:17:34.343
- I'm able to help others by staying involved in the system,
- 00:17:34.343 --> 00:17:38.013
- Staying involved with the attorneys,
- 00:17:38.013 --> 00:17:39.615
- Staying involved with the state of michigan
- 00:17:39.615 --> 00:17:41.350
- And their, uh, forensics committees,
- 00:17:41.350 --> 00:17:43.752
- Giving my testimony to them so they can help stop
- 00:17:43.752 --> 00:17:46.088
- Some of the wrongful convictions.
- 00:17:46.088 --> 00:17:47.756
- Joined a band of other exonerees
- 00:17:47.756 --> 00:17:49.858
- And the national organization of exonerees,
- 00:17:49.858 --> 00:17:51.693
- We've, uh, taken up the task of helping others
- 00:17:51.693 --> 00:17:54.563
- That are wrongfully convicted try to get out,
- 00:17:54.563 --> 00:17:56.732
- And once they're out,
- 00:17:56.732 --> 00:17:57.766
- Helping them transition into society.
- 00:17:57.766 --> 00:17:59.601
- There's endless work to be done.
- 00:17:59.601 --> 00:18:02.371
- Bad things happen to good people.
- 00:18:02.371 --> 00:18:04.473
- And it could be me; it could be you.
- 00:18:04.473 --> 00:18:07.309
- It could be anybody walking down the street
- 00:18:07.309 --> 00:18:09.178
- That fall a victim to somebody trying to solve a crime.
- 00:18:09.178 --> 00:18:13.815
- >>john: are you angry about what's happened?
- 00:18:13.815 --> 00:18:16.451
- >>gilbert: no. it's, uh...
- 00:18:16.451 --> 00:18:18.921
- I, i was mad at the courts, you know,
- 00:18:18.921 --> 00:18:20.822
- When they wouldn't hear my appeals.
- 00:18:20.822 --> 00:18:23.125
- I was mad at my attorneys when they wouldn't come see me
- 00:18:23.125 --> 00:18:26.128
- Or wouldn't present the issues that i wanted.
- 00:18:26.128 --> 00:18:29.097
- But i've had a whole different attitude--
- 00:18:29.097 --> 00:18:32.834
- That i don't want to be angry anymore.
- 00:18:32.834 --> 00:18:35.370
- That's all, that's all behind me.
- 00:18:35.370 --> 00:18:37.439
- I'm tired of being mad. nobody likes to be mad.
- 00:18:37.439 --> 00:18:40.676
- So, when i wake up in the morning,
- 00:18:40.676 --> 00:18:42.277
- I try to find the good in the day and to find the best things
- 00:18:42.277 --> 00:18:45.047
- I can do today for me and the people around me.
- 00:18:45.047 --> 00:18:48.250
- But really, it's not about me;
- 00:18:48.250 --> 00:18:49.585
- It's about the people around me and what i can leave behind.
- 00:18:49.585 --> 00:18:51.920
- ♪[music ends]♪♪
- 00:18:51.920 --> 00:18:53.188
- >>john: now, you could say that there are more people
- 00:18:53.188 --> 00:18:55.090
- Stuck in prison than we realize,
- 00:18:55.090 --> 00:18:58.060
- And this affects you and everyone you know.
- 00:18:58.060 --> 00:19:02.731
- We'll look at that in just a moment.
- 00:19:02.731 --> 00:19:04.967
- ♪[music swells and ends]♪♪
- 00:19:04.967 --> 00:19:12.007
- >>announcer: there is nothing in this world more precious
- 00:19:14.343 --> 00:19:16.511
- Than a meaningful relationship with jesus christ.
- 00:19:16.511 --> 00:19:19.514
- Today's free offer, "steps to christ,"
- 00:19:19.514 --> 00:19:21.617
- Is one of the best books ever written
- 00:19:21.617 --> 00:19:23.552
- On how to build a successful relationship with jesus
- 00:19:23.552 --> 00:19:26.455
- That will see you through to eternity.
- 00:19:26.455 --> 00:19:28.523
- To receive your free copy,
- 00:19:28.523 --> 00:19:29.725
- Call 800-253-3000
- 00:19:29.725 --> 00:19:32.494
- Or visit us online at iiwoffer.com.
- 00:19:32.494 --> 00:19:36.098
- Get "steps to christ" today,
- 00:19:36.098 --> 00:19:37.966
- 800-253-3000
- 00:19:37.966 --> 00:19:40.802
- Or online at iiwoffer.com.
- 00:19:40.802 --> 00:19:43.772
- >>john bradshaw: a man celebrates his birthday
- 00:19:45.073 --> 00:19:46.508
- At a bar half an hour northwest of detroit, michigan.
- 00:19:46.508 --> 00:19:49.911
- Forty-eight hours or so later, his lifeless body is found
- 00:19:49.911 --> 00:19:53.348
- By people out jogging.
- 00:19:53.348 --> 00:19:55.784
- Two days after christmas--
- 00:19:55.784 --> 00:19:56.952
- That's more than six months after the tragic murder--
- 00:19:56.952 --> 00:20:00.255
- Gilbert poole was arrested
- 00:20:00.255 --> 00:20:01.556
- After his then-girlfriend went to police.
- 00:20:01.556 --> 00:20:04.660
- After being extradited to michigan, tried,
- 00:20:04.660 --> 00:20:08.130
- And convicted of murder, he was sentenced to life in prison
- 00:20:08.130 --> 00:20:12.534
- Without the possibility of parole.
- 00:20:12.534 --> 00:20:15.570
- What sealed his fate was expert testimony from a dentist,
- 00:20:15.570 --> 00:20:19.074
- Who claimed it was a virtual certainty that mr. poole
- 00:20:19.074 --> 00:20:23.111
- Left a bite mark of some kind on the victim's body.
- 00:20:23.111 --> 00:20:27.716
- The science the dentist used is no longer admissible
- 00:20:27.716 --> 00:20:31.053
- In a court of law. it's what you'd call "junk science."
- 00:20:31.053 --> 00:20:36.391
- But it was enough to put gilbert poole away
- 00:20:36.391 --> 00:20:38.527
- For what turned out to be more than half his life.
- 00:20:38.527 --> 00:20:42.297
- The innocence project at the western michigan university
- 00:20:42.297 --> 00:20:45.000
- Cooley law school took up mr. poole's case,
- 00:20:45.000 --> 00:20:48.103
- And with dna testing having become available,
- 00:20:48.103 --> 00:20:50.372
- And with the state of michigan
- 00:20:50.372 --> 00:20:51.907
- Having recently established a conviction integrity unit,
- 00:20:51.907 --> 00:20:55.744
- Which investigates claims of innocence,
- 00:20:55.744 --> 00:20:58.447
- It was discovered that what mr. poole had maintained all along
- 00:20:58.447 --> 00:21:02.584
- Was true.
- 00:21:02.584 --> 00:21:04.720
- Gilbert poole had nothing whatsoever to do
- 00:21:04.720 --> 00:21:08.290
- With that terrible crime committed in 1988.
- 00:21:08.290 --> 00:21:11.960
- He spent 32 years in prison for nothing,
- 00:21:11.960 --> 00:21:16.031
- While whoever committed the crime
- 00:21:16.031 --> 00:21:18.400
- Has never been brought to justice.
- 00:21:18.400 --> 00:21:21.303
- So gilbert poole was exonerated.
- 00:21:21.303 --> 00:21:24.106
- The state of michigan admitted it had got it wrong.
- 00:21:24.106 --> 00:21:27.776
- The justice system failed, spectacularly.
- 00:21:27.776 --> 00:21:31.680
- But then it worked.
- 00:21:31.680 --> 00:21:33.415
- And we can be glad that an innocent man went free.
- 00:21:33.415 --> 00:21:36.585
- But what about guilty people going free?
- 00:21:37.552 --> 00:21:40.822
- That's where you fit right into this picture.
- 00:21:40.822 --> 00:21:44.226
- The bible tells us that
- 00:21:44.226 --> 00:21:45.394
- "all have sinned, and come short of the glory of god."
- 00:21:45.394 --> 00:21:49.097
- That's you, me, your neighbors--all have sinned.
- 00:21:49.097 --> 00:21:55.404
- The consequence of that?
- 00:21:55.404 --> 00:21:57.072
- Well, the same book says that "the wages of sin is death."
- 00:21:57.072 --> 00:22:01.076
- That's more than a life sentence;
- 00:22:01.076 --> 00:22:02.911
- That's an eternal sentence.
- 00:22:02.911 --> 00:22:05.580
- After the fall of adam and eve in the garden of eden,
- 00:22:05.580 --> 00:22:08.049
- Death came to the world as a consequence of their sin.
- 00:22:08.049 --> 00:22:11.887
- Sin separates from god, and it brought death to the world.
- 00:22:11.887 --> 00:22:17.692
- And there's no way back from that.
- 00:22:17.692 --> 00:22:19.761
- Science cannot help you. money cannot help you.
- 00:22:19.761 --> 00:22:23.665
- Ingenuity can't come to your aid.
- 00:22:23.665 --> 00:22:26.601
- Sin leads to spiritual death, eternal death,
- 00:22:26.601 --> 00:22:30.639
- And everyone has sinned.
- 00:22:30.639 --> 00:22:32.607
- We're all guilty.
- 00:22:32.607 --> 00:22:35.377
- But there's hope in one place.
- 00:22:35.377 --> 00:22:39.214
- "for god so loved the world,
- 00:22:39.214 --> 00:22:40.549
- "that he gave his only begotten son,
- 00:22:40.549 --> 00:22:43.118
- "that whosoever believeth in him should not perish,
- 00:22:43.118 --> 00:22:46.855
- But have everlasting life."
- 00:22:46.855 --> 00:22:48.323
- John 3:16.
- 00:22:48.323 --> 00:22:49.891
- The bible says that jesus "is the propitiation for our sins:
- 00:22:49.891 --> 00:22:54.362
- "and not for ours only,
- 00:22:54.362 --> 00:22:56.832
- But also for the sins of the whole world."
- 00:22:56.832 --> 00:23:00.235
- The propitiation, the atoning sacrifice--
- 00:23:00.235 --> 00:23:04.506
- God pardons the guilty. god forgives sin.
- 00:23:04.506 --> 00:23:10.846
- Sinners are nothing like the gilbert poole
- 00:23:10.846 --> 00:23:14.115
- Of this tragic tale.
- 00:23:14.115 --> 00:23:15.617
- He was an innocent man. he did not commit the crime.
- 00:23:15.617 --> 00:23:19.287
- He was released from prison.
- 00:23:19.287 --> 00:23:21.590
- Sinners did commit the crime
- 00:23:21.590 --> 00:23:24.593
- And are released from the prison house of sin.
- 00:23:24.593 --> 00:23:28.363
- The apostles were released from prison in acts 5.
- 00:23:28.363 --> 00:23:31.132
- Peter was escorted from prison by an angel in acts 12.
- 00:23:31.132 --> 00:23:34.469
- The prison cell that paul and silas were detained in
- 00:23:34.469 --> 00:23:37.072
- Miraculously opened in acts, chapter 16.
- 00:23:37.072 --> 00:23:40.542
- God's telling you something.
- 00:23:40.542 --> 00:23:42.744
- He's in the business of setting people free,
- 00:23:42.744 --> 00:23:45.247
- Liberating people from the prison of sin.
- 00:23:45.247 --> 00:23:48.450
- Your guilt isn't the question. that's beyond question.
- 00:23:48.450 --> 00:23:53.088
- But god forgives the guilty, declares them innocent,
- 00:23:53.088 --> 00:23:57.959
- And frees everyone who believes, frees them from sin.
- 00:23:57.959 --> 00:24:04.332
- That's god's will for you.
- 00:24:04.332 --> 00:24:07.168
- You'd rather be free, wouldn't you?
- 00:24:07.168 --> 00:24:09.704
- In an earthly court we try the accused, sentence the guilty,
- 00:24:09.704 --> 00:24:14.109
- And free the innocent.
- 00:24:14.109 --> 00:24:16.011
- Before god, we're all guilty.
- 00:24:16.011 --> 00:24:19.681
- And for those who place their faith and trust in jesus
- 00:24:19.681 --> 00:24:22.217
- And believe in his death, jesus is the way out.
- 00:24:22.217 --> 00:24:25.554
- He's the only way out of sin.
- 00:24:25.554 --> 00:24:28.590
- And he offers you everlasting life.
- 00:24:28.590 --> 00:24:31.660
- "if we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us
- 00:24:31.660 --> 00:24:35.297
- Our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."
- 00:24:35.297 --> 00:24:39.935
- Gilbert poole was released from prison because he was innocent.
- 00:24:39.935 --> 00:24:44.439
- You are not.
- 00:24:44.439 --> 00:24:45.941
- You're guilty, guilty of sin.
- 00:24:45.941 --> 00:24:49.778
- But god says he will forgive us freely.
- 00:24:49.778 --> 00:24:52.747
- No matter the life you've lived or are living,
- 00:24:52.747 --> 00:24:55.584
- No matter the mistakes you've made,
- 00:24:55.584 --> 00:24:57.919
- When jesus comes into your life,
- 00:24:57.919 --> 00:25:00.755
- God looks at you and says, "not guilty."
- 00:25:00.755 --> 00:25:06.828
- >>john: thank you for remembering that it is written
- 00:25:06.895 --> 00:25:08.863
- Exists because of the kindness of people just like you.
- 00:25:08.863 --> 00:25:12.300
- To support this international life-changing ministry,
- 00:25:12.300 --> 00:25:15.537
- Please call us now at 800-253-3000.
- 00:25:15.537 --> 00:25:19.808
- You can send your tax-deductible gift
- 00:25:19.808 --> 00:25:21.276
- To the address on your screen,
- 00:25:21.276 --> 00:25:22.744
- Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
- 00:25:22.744 --> 00:25:26.581
- Thank you for your prayers and for your financial support.
- 00:25:26.581 --> 00:25:29.417
- Our number again is 800-253-3000,
- 00:25:29.417 --> 00:25:33.588
- Or you can visit us online at itiswritten.com.
- 00:25:33.588 --> 00:25:36.625
- >>john: let me pray with you now.
- 00:25:37.525 --> 00:25:39.361
- Our father in heaven, the reality is we have sinned.
- 00:25:39.361 --> 00:25:42.297
- We have "come short of the glory of god."
- 00:25:42.297 --> 00:25:44.633
- We chose to go astray.
- 00:25:44.633 --> 00:25:46.201
- We chose to sin.
- 00:25:46.201 --> 00:25:48.703
- You chose to allow your son jesus to come to this world
- 00:25:48.703 --> 00:25:52.240
- To bear our sin and assure our pardon and salvation.
- 00:25:52.240 --> 00:25:56.811
- Friend, as we pray, ask yourself this question:
- 00:25:56.811 --> 00:26:00.248
- Are you free?
- 00:26:00.248 --> 00:26:01.349
- If you're free, you will say, "thank you, jesus."
- 00:26:01.349 --> 00:26:03.551
- If you're not, if you're stuck in sin,
- 00:26:03.551 --> 00:26:06.221
- If you look at yourself and say, "yes, i'm guilty,"
- 00:26:06.221 --> 00:26:08.657
- Would you look to heaven now?
- 00:26:08.657 --> 00:26:10.158
- Would you look beyond your present circumstances
- 00:26:10.158 --> 00:26:12.994
- And this world into the world to come and say,
- 00:26:12.994 --> 00:26:16.531
- "i want that, this everlasting life offered to me in jesus"?
- 00:26:16.531 --> 00:26:20.268
- Would you claim it now? would you claim it?
- 00:26:20.268 --> 00:26:22.003
- Let's pray that prayer.
- 00:26:22.003 --> 00:26:23.571
- Lord, we claim salvation through jesus.
- 00:26:23.571 --> 00:26:25.974
- We are not worthy.
- 00:26:25.974 --> 00:26:27.409
- We are not deserving.
- 00:26:27.409 --> 00:26:28.977
- But jesus grants us his righteousness,
- 00:26:28.977 --> 00:26:32.447
- And we accept it.
- 00:26:32.447 --> 00:26:33.948
- We thank you that we may be free in jesus.
- 00:26:33.948 --> 00:26:37.652
- We claim it now, we believe it now,
- 00:26:37.652 --> 00:26:40.021
- And we thank you for it right now.
- 00:26:40.021 --> 00:26:42.791
- In jesus' name we pray,
- 00:26:42.791 --> 00:26:45.360
- Amen.
- 00:26:45.360 --> 00:26:47.195
- Thank you so much for joining me.
- 00:26:47.195 --> 00:26:49.097
- Looking forward to seeing you again next time.
- 00:26:49.097 --> 00:26:51.032
- Until then, remember:
- 00:26:51.032 --> 00:26:52.867
- "it is written, 'man shall not live by bread alone,
- 00:26:52.867 --> 00:26:57.038
- But by every word that proceeds from the mouth of god.'"
- 00:26:57.038 --> 00:27:01.142
- ♪[dramatic theme music]♪
- 00:27:01.142 --> 00:27:22.530
- ♪[music ends]♪♪
- 00:27:26.000 --> 00:27:26.000
