Barbara Bradley Hagerty

Yeah, you're absolutely right. I mean, people keep finding holes and Cynthia Garza discovered yet another hole. So as a prosecutor, she had access to all the police and prosecutor's files over the years, which, you know, journalists and defense attorneys don't have.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. I mean, people keep finding holes and Cynthia Garza discovered yet another hole. So as a prosecutor, she had access to all the police and prosecutor's files over the years, which, you know, journalists and defense attorneys don't have.

Yeah, you're absolutely right. I mean, people keep finding holes and Cynthia Garza discovered yet another hole. So as a prosecutor, she had access to all the police and prosecutor's files over the years, which, you know, journalists and defense attorneys don't have.

So when she went through the files, she found that not only had Gladys Oliver taken money from Crimestoppers — that's the reason the original conviction was vacated, if you'll recall — But she also received $5,000 to $10,000 from Ross Perot and lied about that too. This is how John Curzo put it.

So when she went through the files, she found that not only had Gladys Oliver taken money from Crimestoppers — that's the reason the original conviction was vacated, if you'll recall — But she also received $5,000 to $10,000 from Ross Perot and lied about that too. This is how John Curzo put it.

So when she went through the files, she found that not only had Gladys Oliver taken money from Crimestoppers — that's the reason the original conviction was vacated, if you'll recall — But she also received $5,000 to $10,000 from Ross Perot and lied about that too. This is how John Curzo put it.

And so finally, finally, finally, after all of these years, the district attorney said this man should be released. So on March 12, 2021... Ben Spencer walked out of his cell. He met up with Deborah, and the two of them walked into the main lobby of the jail. For some reason, the guards had allowed more than 200 people into the lobby of the jail. That never happens.

And so finally, finally, finally, after all of these years, the district attorney said this man should be released. So on March 12, 2021... Ben Spencer walked out of his cell. He met up with Deborah, and the two of them walked into the main lobby of the jail. For some reason, the guards had allowed more than 200 people into the lobby of the jail. That never happens.

And so finally, finally, finally, after all of these years, the district attorney said this man should be released. So on March 12, 2021... Ben Spencer walked out of his cell. He met up with Deborah, and the two of them walked into the main lobby of the jail. For some reason, the guards had allowed more than 200 people into the lobby of the jail. That never happens.

And they were cheering and high-fiving, and they went crazy when they saw Ben, right? It was this incredible scene. It was like a Disney movie, right? And then Ben and Deborah, they stopped, and then they looked at this crowd, and then they began to slowly thread their way through the crowd as if the seas parted.

And they were cheering and high-fiving, and they went crazy when they saw Ben, right? It was this incredible scene. It was like a Disney movie, right? And then Ben and Deborah, they stopped, and then they looked at this crowd, and then they began to slowly thread their way through the crowd as if the seas parted.

And they were cheering and high-fiving, and they went crazy when they saw Ben, right? It was this incredible scene. It was like a Disney movie, right? And then Ben and Deborah, they stopped, and then they looked at this crowd, and then they began to slowly thread their way through the crowd as if the seas parted.

Oh, my goodness. To be clear, like, this was a conditional release because at any moment, Ben could be sent back to prison for life. It all hinged on the same high court that had denied him in the past, the Court of Criminal Appeals. And this court... These appellate judges, they're all Republicans. Most of them are former prosecutors, and they waited another three years to make their decision.

Oh, my goodness. To be clear, like, this was a conditional release because at any moment, Ben could be sent back to prison for life. It all hinged on the same high court that had denied him in the past, the Court of Criminal Appeals. And this court... These appellate judges, they're all Republicans. Most of them are former prosecutors, and they waited another three years to make their decision.

Oh, my goodness. To be clear, like, this was a conditional release because at any moment, Ben could be sent back to prison for life. It all hinged on the same high court that had denied him in the past, the Court of Criminal Appeals. And this court... These appellate judges, they're all Republicans. Most of them are former prosecutors, and they waited another three years to make their decision.

But even with this Damocles sword hanging over Ben, he did his best to kind of move on with his life. He got a job from a man who believed he was innocent. He made up for lost time with his son who was, get this, 34 years old at that point. But the happiest thing he did was to remarry Deborah in January of 2022. Wow.

But even with this Damocles sword hanging over Ben, he did his best to kind of move on with his life. He got a job from a man who believed he was innocent. He made up for lost time with his son who was, get this, 34 years old at that point. But the happiest thing he did was to remarry Deborah in January of 2022. Wow.

But even with this Damocles sword hanging over Ben, he did his best to kind of move on with his life. He got a job from a man who believed he was innocent. He made up for lost time with his son who was, get this, 34 years old at that point. But the happiest thing he did was to remarry Deborah in January of 2022. Wow.

I know. I know. She had been his most loyal friend, supporter all this time. So I went to the wedding, Aisha. It was in the middle of COVID. But about 500 people came to the ceremony. Everyone masked, right? And it was held in Deborah's church, her Baptist church. And one scene is really etched in my mind. So I was standing at the back of the sanctuary and I was looking at the altar.

I know. I know. She had been his most loyal friend, supporter all this time. So I went to the wedding, Aisha. It was in the middle of COVID. But about 500 people came to the ceremony. Everyone masked, right? And it was held in Deborah's church, her Baptist church. And one scene is really etched in my mind. So I was standing at the back of the sanctuary and I was looking at the altar.