Press Release

SAM REESE SHEPPARD CROSSES INTO OHIO
CALLS FOR INVESTIGATIONS OF POSSIBLE WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

EAST LIVERPOOL, OH -- Sam Reese Sheppard, who began his "Walk For Justice" at the U.S. Supreme Court in Washington, DC September 18, crossed the Ohio River at East Liverpool on Saturday, October 9. To date he has walked almost 300 miles toward the Cuyahoga County Courthouse in downtown Cleveland.

AT A PRESS CONFERENCE held on the Ohio side of the river, Sheppard discussed the events of the past week, including the exhumation of his mother and his unborn brother. He further called for state officials charged with investigating criminal matters to be held to higher standards of accountability and responsibility.

"When we learn that we have put the wrong person in prison, and fail to correct our mistakes, the guilty go free and are allowed to continue committing crimes," said Sheppard.

"That's what happened in the Sheppard case. My father was wrongly convicted in an unfair trial, and we believe that the man who actually killed my mother went on to kill again. Our system makes mistakes. There are innocent people behind bars. When evidence comes to light that raises the possibility that an individual is being wrongfully incarcerated, that evidence should rightfully be examined with diligence and objectivity. If an error has been made, the state should admit it and correct the mistake. The Sheppard case should have been closed in 1966, but even after my father was acquitted by a jury, the state still has not properly investigated or solved my mother's murder."

SHEPPARD ENCOURAGED members of the media and the public to look at possible cases of wrongful convictions listed on the website of Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty, the group coordinating logistics for his walk.

"No family should have to go through what we have gone through. We ask people to look at the cases listed under the 'Walk For Justice' section at 'CUADP.ORG' There you will find details submitted by supporters of people like Jimmy Dennis, who I visited last week on Pennsylvania's death row. Here in Ohio we are urging people to look at the cases of Anthony Apanovitch and Kenny Richey, two men on Ohio's death row who have strong claims of innocence but who to date have been unable to get a court to examine evidence which came to light after their convictions. Each of these cases deserve careful scrutiny, in the interest of fairness and justice," said Sheppard.

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 10 is a break day. Sam will continue his walk on Monday and is expected to arrive in Cleveland on October 17. He will speak at the Newman Center at Youngstown State University on Monday, Oct. 11 at 7:30 pm. The public is invited.

Citizens United for Alternatives to the Death Penalty
PMB 297
177 U.S. Hwy #1,
Tequesta, FL 33469
(800) 973-6548
cuadp@cuadp.org