Although the tactics failed to coerce Ray into making a false confession, they did succeed at ruining Rays reputation and destroying his relationships with family and friends, Swygert said. But a detective claimed that surveillance video recorded from a nearby factory showed McCann was never there though the video evidence was later discredited. Capt. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. These discoveries made it clear that the Michigan State Police detective, who had accused McCann of lying, had testified falsely about the video to Prosecutor McDonough. Brother of the late A cwc@law.northwestern.edu. The girl got away and led authorities back to Daniel Furlong. A reporter who followed the case, Ken Kolker of WOOD TV in Grand Rapids, helped bring McCanns experience to the attention of the wrongful conviction programs at Northwestern and Michigan. Raymond McCann II is one of three men getting a total of $2.32 million through Michigan's Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act. The girl got away and led authorities back to Daniel Furlong. He became a person of interest after he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery. He said he then grabbed her and put her in the back of a boat in his garage, where he sexually assaulted her after he zip-tied her hands behind her back. Raymond Day, age 78, a resident of Baton Rouge, passed away on February 27, 2023. Maybe if he sits in jail for a while, he will cooperate.. The lawsuit alleges the defendants created a false probable cause document filled with information they knew was wrong in order to coerce a confession out of McCann. Raymond G. McCann, a former New York City firefighter and president of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Nassau County Board, died on Dec. 11 following complications from a surgical procedure. In fact, even after Furlong was identified by DNA evidence as the killer, the authorities went to McCanns prison and tried to pressure him into admitting that he and Furlong were accomplices. Get the latest news delivered to your inbox. The threat of a life sentence for what could simply be differing recollections is too strong a tool for prosecutors and could lead to further wrongful convictions. Ray McCann said his constitutional rights were violated by various police officers in St. Joseph County. Ray McCann was sentenced to 20 months to 20 years . He eventually admitted to killing Parrack eight years earlier, and a subsequent DNA test on Furlong matched DNA found on Parrack. Second, further investigation and a closer look at the video revealed that video camera could not have captured McCanns car because the cameras were not facing the direction of the path to the Tumble Dam. Yet even after Furlongs confession, authorities still bore down on McCann in jail. The Michigan State Police detective testified under oath that video footage from a surveillance camera on a nearby factory proved McCann was never there that night. Bluhm Legal Clinic Northwestern Pritzker School of Law 375 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-3069 Phone: 312.503.8576. He became a person of interest in the case after he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery. Theyre truly sorry. While elated that his legal nightmare is finally over, McCann is still trying to put the pieces of his life back together. Stepping back into town, he feels really uncomfortable. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. I put a bag over her head and killed her, Furlong said in court in November 2015, when he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. He hopes to work to change the law that led to his wrongful conviction. Although DNA evidence found on the victim did not match his, McCann eventually was arrested in April 2014. Data on this page may be out of date. All Rights Reserved. Bronx, NY 10465. He ended his career as Watch Commander of Chicago's 3rd District. The system failed, and I saw it. Weve pretty much mended back. (Credit: Center on Wrongful Convictions, Northwestern University Pritzker School of Law). While elated that his legal nightmare is finally over, McCann is still trying to put the pieces of his life back together. The perjury statute that coerced Ray to plead guilty needs to be changed. McCann said under oath that he had parked at the trailhead and was prepared to search for Parrack there when he got a call and went elsewhere. McCann now says he felt no choice but to serve his time, while maintaining his innocence as authorities continued to assume he was involved even as another man eventually confessed to the crime. Second, further investigation and a closer look at the video revealed that video camera could not have captured McCanns car because the cameras were not facing the direction of the path to the Tumble Dam. 312.503.8977 fax He filed a lawsuit last week in federal court. Raymond McCann II with attorney Gregory Swygert Christmas came two weeks early for Raymond McCann II when St. Joseph County, Michigan Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Stutesman signed an order today granting McCann's motion to vacate his 2012 perjury conviction. 375 East Chicago Avenue After spending 11 months in jail awaiting trial and facing a potential life sentence, McCann pled no contest to the count involving the Tumble Dam. Report an error or add more information about this case. The detectives were so desperate to solve this case and so blinded by their belief that McCann must have been involved, they ignored powerful evidence pointing to his innocence.. He became a person of interest in the case after he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery. When the girls body was found at the cemetery, authorities pointed fingers back in McCanns direction. October 8, 2008, age 64. Despite intense pressure, McCann insisted he was innocent. Again, McCann refused to falsely confess to knowing Furlong. In 2014, the prosecutor then charged McCann with perjury during a murder investigation, which carries a life sentence. Search Thousands of Civilian Complaints Against New York City Police Officers, Search for Officer by Name or Badge Number. After spending 11 months in jail awaiting trial and facing a potential life sentence, McCann pled no contest to the count involving the Tumble Dam, believing that he had no chance of being acquitted if there was a video that contradicted his recollection, especially in a community that was convinced he had murdered Jodi Parrack. Drizin recruited his CWC colleagues Greg Swygert and Megan Crane, students Courtney Cronin and Caroline McMahon, David Moran, Director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, to work on the case. The Michigan students made two important discoveries that established there was no video evidence proving McCann had lied under oath about driving to the Tumble Dam. Thiscase was the CWC's third partnership with the Michigan Innocence Clinic, all of which resulted in exonerations. On the day Parrack went missing, McCann who knew the victim and her family well told at least four people that they should search the local cemetery, a suggestion also made by others. It shows that even somebody whos trusted to protect and serve can be a suspect and it can lead to a wrongful conviction, says one of his attorneys, Greg Swygert, a Northwestern law professor who works with the Center on Wrongful Convictions. This was one of the worst cases of police tunnelvision Ive ever seen, said Drizin. Case marks third with Michigan Innocence Clinic, all result in exonerations, From left to right: Amanda Kenner, James Mestichelli, David Moran, Raymond McCann, Greg Swygert, Rebecca Wyss. The detective then persuaded the county prosecutor to issue a subpoena to require McCann to testify under oath concerning his whereabouts at the time of Parracks disappearance. McCann was charged with perjury for a lie he never told. Id definitely like to get back into coaching, he says. I grew up in this town, and that was one of the places to look.. McCann, a reserve police officer, agreed to help participate in the search. Drizin worked with colleagues Swygert and Megan Crane from the Center on Wrongful Convictions and Northwestern Law students Courtney Cronin and Caroline McMahon and partnered with David Moran, the director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic. Under interrogation, Furlong insisted he did not know McCann and told the authorities that when he learned that McCann had been arrested, he believed that he was in the clear.. Nov 30, 2015 40 Dislike Share WOOD TV8 170K subscribers A former Michigan State Police detective who came out of retirement to solve the Jodi Parrack murder said he has no regrets about how. Police continued to pursue McCann aggressively for years even though DNA evidence found on the victim did not match McCann. In re the Marriage of RAYMOND C. and KATHLEEN D. McCANN. All of the charges stemmed from minor discrepancies between McCanns recall of the events surrounding Parracks disappearance five years earlier and the recollections of others. Despite intense pressure, McCann insisted he was innocent. Under interrogation, Furlong insisted he did not know McCann and told the authorities that when he learned that McCann had been arrested, he believed he was in the clear.. Its been rough, he says. He currently is serving a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison. Ilana Braverman, co-founder and COO of Greener Northwestern University and Northwestern Pritzker School of Law hosted its annual DREAM Week, commemorating the life and legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Held on both the Evanston and Chicago 2023 Northwestern Pritzker School of Law News, Community Justice and Civil Rights Clinic Hosts Mayoral Town Hall with GoodKids MadCity, Ilana Braverman, Co-Founder and COO of Greener by Default, Speaks at the Future of Innovation, Sustainability and the Law Speaker Series, Civil Rights Lawyer Sherrilyn Ifill Speaks on the Power of Making Your Voice Heard During DREAM Week Keynote. Under terms of the settlement announced today, McCann admits no wrongdoing or liability. On December 7, 2017, St. Joseph County, Michigan Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Stutesman signed an order today granting Raymond McCann IIs motion to vacate his 2015 perjury conviction. Says McCann: The system already failed me. If she wasnt found there, wed just continue to look, he tells PEOPLE now. Furlong, who lived in Constantine at the time of Parracks murder, eventually admitted killing Parrack eight years earlier, and a subsequent DNA test on Furlong matched DNA found on Parrack. Beloved husband to Doris Fay. All the investigators employers are also defendants in the case. McCann served 20 months in jail and prison after feeling pressured to plead no contest to perjury. In 2014, the prosecutor charged McCann with perjury during a murder investigation, which carries a life sentence. Michigan Man Exonerated in 2007 Murder After 20 Months in Jail: 'I'll Never Get an Apology' Ray McCann's 2014 arrest was a cold-case shocker as he was charged with perjury in the then-unsolved. The big break in the case came as a result of brilliant work on the part of the Michigan Law students, said Swygert. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? After spending 11 months in jail awaiting trial and facing a potential life sentence, McCann pleaded no contest to the count involving the Tumble Dam, believing he had no chance of acquittal if there was a video that contradicted his recollection, especially in a community convinced he had murdered Jodi Parrack. After McCann was paroled from prison, Ken Kolker, a television reporter from WOODTV in Grand Rapids, contacted Steven Drizin, an attorney at Northwesterns Center on Wrongful Convictions, and asked him to evaluate the interrogations of McCann. us about an exoneration that we may have missed, Correct an error or add information about an exoneration
All of the charges stemmed from minor discrepancies between McCanns recall of the events surrounding Parracks disappearance five years earlier and the recollections of others. Ray has only stepped foot in this small town two or three times since being released, says his attorney. Under interrogation, Furlong insisted he did not know McCann and told the authorities that when he learned that McCann had been arrested, he believed he was in the clear.. Loving grandfather of Shana and Carrie Subelsky. While McCann was in prison, a man named Daniel Furlong attempted to abduct another young girl in nearby White Pigeon, Michigan. For more recent information, visit First, the students established that darkness made it impossible to tell whether McCanns car or any other specific cars were in the area near the Tumble Dam path. The motion was filed by theCenter on Wrongful Convictionsat Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and theMichigan Innocence Clinicat the University of Michigan Law School, and was joined by St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, who stipulated that the motion should be granted and the charges dropped. The Registry also maintains a more limited database of known exonerations prior to 1989. Investigators identified McCann as a suspect despite the fact his DNA did not match the DNA found on her body. Today, he acted honorably in placing his duty to seek justice ahead of his desire to preserve a wrongful conviction.. This was one of the worst cases of police tunnel vision Ive ever seen, Drizin said. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2015. In 2014, the prosecutor then charged McCann with perjury during a murder investigation, which carries a life sentence. McCann said under oath that he had parked at the trailhead and was prepared to search for Parrack there when he got a call and went elsewhere. After spending 11 months in jail awaiting trial and facing a potential life sentence, McCann pled no contest to the count involving the Tumble Dam. McCann denied any role in the 2007 death of Parrack, but he was interviewed 20 times by state and local police in St. Joseph County. Of Newton, December 16, 2007. The office of St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, which won and then abandoned the perjury conviction, declined PEOPLEs request for comment. Even my sister turned against me at the time, he says. He suggested they search the cemetery, and that's. The whole town suspected him of doing it, and its hard to reconcile that.. This was one of the worst cases of police tunnel vision Ive ever seen. The Michigan State Police detective testified under oath that video footage from a surveillance camera on a nearby factory proved McCann was never there that night. The other exonerated clients include Jamie Peterson (Kalkaska County) and Davontae Sanford (Wayne County). But the only criminal charge that resulted was for perjury. (516) 569-4000, To donate or for more information, click here, Tyler Flach sentenced to 25 years to life for Khaseen Morris killing, Nassau County passes new legislative district map, MTA prepares for season's first snowstorm, Valley Stream smoke shop manager charged in sale of THC products, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. The perjury statute that coerced Ray to plead guilty needs to be changed, Swygert said. Loving step-father of Mark (Lori) Subelsky and Steven (Shelley) Subelsky. Michigan Innocence Clinic Director David Moran (left) and Raymond McCann II, Support The National Registry of Exonerations , The Contribution of Forensic and Expert Evidence to DNA Exoneration Cases, Race and Wrongful Convictions in the United States, 2022, Government Misconduct and Convicting the Innocent, Witness Recantations: Preliminary Findings, May 2013, Exonerations in the United States: 1989 - 2012, Tell us about an Exoneration that we missed, Other Michigan Exonerations with Innocence Organization Involvement. The victim did not match McCann may be trying to access this site from a factory... Two or three times since being released, says his attorney on this page may be to... Be out of date charged McCann with perjury during a murder investigation, which carries life... Law 375 East Chicago Avenue, Chicago, IL 60611-3069 phone: 312.503.8576 authorities still bore down McCann... 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