Dax Devlin Ross

That's right. Years later, the Louis Scarcella story changed.

That's right. Years later, the Louis Scarcella story changed.

And I'm Dax Devlin Ross, journalist, author, lawyer. I've written about criminal justice for years. I know what it's like to be wrongfully arrested personally. And I'm interested in the people who went to jail. And maybe shouldn't have.

And I'm Dax Devlin Ross, journalist, author, lawyer. I've written about criminal justice for years. I know what it's like to be wrongfully arrested personally. And I'm interested in the people who went to jail. And maybe shouldn't have.

I'll tell you what, though. We need to know the truth, both about Luis Garcella and the band of convicted murderers who took him on. And about the city we live in.

I'll tell you what, though. We need to know the truth, both about Luis Garcella and the band of convicted murderers who took him on. And about the city we live in.

From Orbit Media, this is The Burden.

From Orbit Media, this is The Burden.

Fast forward to 2013, and Frenchie is at the New York Times. She's itching for a good story, a big story, something that will make a splash. One day, she's on a routine assignment when she meets someone interesting.

Fast forward to 2013, and Frenchie is at the New York Times. She's itching for a good story, a big story, something that will make a splash. One day, she's on a routine assignment when she meets someone interesting.

This is Derek remembering meeting Frenchy for the first time. He's a bigger guy, broad chest, about six foot two. He's got a single gold tooth in the front and a shaved head. Big presence.

This is Derek remembering meeting Frenchy for the first time. He's a bigger guy, broad chest, about six foot two. He's got a single gold tooth in the front and a shaved head. Big presence.

That's after the break. Welcome back. Derrick Hamilton was out of prison but still connected to people on the inside. He's a self-taught lawyer, learned the law behind bars, And he was still in the prison grapevine.

That's after the break. Welcome back. Derrick Hamilton was out of prison but still connected to people on the inside. He's a self-taught lawyer, learned the law behind bars, And he was still in the prison grapevine.

This is Shabaka Shakur. Scarcella helped convict Shabaka of a double murder, which he says he didn't do. His 440 was impressive. 60 pages of legal argument, written while he was part of a prison law firm. That's right, a law firm formed in prison and run by convicted murderers, all of whom claimed innocence. More on that later.

This is Shabaka Shakur. Scarcella helped convict Shabaka of a double murder, which he says he didn't do. His 440 was impressive. 60 pages of legal argument, written while he was part of a prison law firm. That's right, a law firm formed in prison and run by convicted murderers, all of whom claimed innocence. More on that later.

In that dense document, two pages focused on Luis Garcella.

In that dense document, two pages focused on Luis Garcella.

Okay, so a cigar smoker's form. Not exactly where I'd expect to find a lead about a crooked cop.

Okay, so a cigar smoker's form. Not exactly where I'd expect to find a lead about a crooked cop.