Barbara Bradley Hagerty

And Ben actually had an alibi, a friend who said she was with him when Jeffrey Young was attacked several miles away. But no one believed her. And this brings us to the other thing that's really common in wrongful convictions. And that's this phenomenon called tunnel vision. Here's how Daryl Parker described it. He's a former cop who became a private investigator.

And Ben actually had an alibi, a friend who said she was with him when Jeffrey Young was attacked several miles away. But no one believed her. And this brings us to the other thing that's really common in wrongful convictions. And that's this phenomenon called tunnel vision. Here's how Daryl Parker described it. He's a former cop who became a private investigator.

And Ben actually had an alibi, a friend who said she was with him when Jeffrey Young was attacked several miles away. But no one believed her. And this brings us to the other thing that's really common in wrongful convictions. And that's this phenomenon called tunnel vision. Here's how Daryl Parker described it. He's a former cop who became a private investigator.

You're absolutely right. And on October 31st of 1987— Ben Spencer was convicted of murder.

You're absolutely right. And on October 31st of 1987— Ben Spencer was convicted of murder.

You're absolutely right. And on October 31st of 1987— Ben Spencer was convicted of murder.

Yeah, yeah. But remember, this is Dallas, 1987. And back then, black men almost always faced all white juries. And the view of the police was often that, gosh, if this black suspect didn't commit this particular crime, well, he committed another. So we might as well just put him in prison, get him off the streets. And there was a sense that I heard over and over again that any black man will do.

Yeah, yeah. But remember, this is Dallas, 1987. And back then, black men almost always faced all white juries. And the view of the police was often that, gosh, if this black suspect didn't commit this particular crime, well, he committed another. So we might as well just put him in prison, get him off the streets. And there was a sense that I heard over and over again that any black man will do.

Yeah, yeah. But remember, this is Dallas, 1987. And back then, black men almost always faced all white juries. And the view of the police was often that, gosh, if this black suspect didn't commit this particular crime, well, he committed another. So we might as well just put him in prison, get him off the streets. And there was a sense that I heard over and over again that any black man will do.

Yeah, in fact, he did. He was appointed a lawyer who was actually quite reputable at the time. The problem was the lawyer only presented an alibi defense. And honestly, alibi defenses never work. They never work. And in this case...

Yeah, in fact, he did. He was appointed a lawyer who was actually quite reputable at the time. The problem was the lawyer only presented an alibi defense. And honestly, alibi defenses never work. They never work. And in this case...

Yeah, in fact, he did. He was appointed a lawyer who was actually quite reputable at the time. The problem was the lawyer only presented an alibi defense. And honestly, alibi defenses never work. They never work. And in this case...

Not right away. The conviction was vacated. Okay. So the whole thing was thrown out because of something Ben's lawyer discovered while they were waiting for the jury to decide the sentence.

Not right away. The conviction was vacated. Okay. So the whole thing was thrown out because of something Ben's lawyer discovered while they were waiting for the jury to decide the sentence.

Not right away. The conviction was vacated. Okay. So the whole thing was thrown out because of something Ben's lawyer discovered while they were waiting for the jury to decide the sentence.

Well, Aisha, this case is full of twists, okay? While the jury's considering what sentence to hand down, a lawyer on Ben's defense team looks over at the prosecutor's table and notices a document. It's a receipt from Crimestoppers. If you remember, Crime Stoppers is a community-based organization that allows people to make anonymous tips and pays for them if they pan out.

Well, Aisha, this case is full of twists, okay? While the jury's considering what sentence to hand down, a lawyer on Ben's defense team looks over at the prosecutor's table and notices a document. It's a receipt from Crimestoppers. If you remember, Crime Stoppers is a community-based organization that allows people to make anonymous tips and pays for them if they pan out.

Well, Aisha, this case is full of twists, okay? While the jury's considering what sentence to hand down, a lawyer on Ben's defense team looks over at the prosecutor's table and notices a document. It's a receipt from Crimestoppers. If you remember, Crime Stoppers is a community-based organization that allows people to make anonymous tips and pays for them if they pan out.

So the document on the prosecutor's desk showed that the star witness against Ben, Gladys Oliver, had received some money in exchange for identifying Ben. Gladys Oliver said she didn't receive any money at all from any source, but she did. She received money from Crimestoppers.

So the document on the prosecutor's desk showed that the star witness against Ben, Gladys Oliver, had received some money in exchange for identifying Ben. Gladys Oliver said she didn't receive any money at all from any source, but she did. She received money from Crimestoppers.