Jack Lawrence

A man who was incarcerated as a child.

How long have you currently been incarcerated for?

And that would make you how old, sir?

The story of Evaristo Salas has been covered in multiple TV shows, but not your normal shows about evil killers and murderers.

Shows where victims and detectives are interviewed about the vicious crimes committed by the individual.

No.

Junior's case has been covered by a number of crime shows dedicated to investigating wrongful convictions.

In fact, during these shows, information was uncovered that not only was evidence withheld at trial but also

The supposed key witness was paid to lie.

Yet with all of this information, Junior still sits in prison over 26 years later.

We'll of course get to all of that very soon.

But before we do, it's important as always to start from the very beginning.

The story of Evaristo Salas is set in the small town of Sunnyside in Yakima County, Washington.

It's around 180 miles west of Seattle.

With a population of just over 16,000, it's a very agricultural farming community.

Historically, it was white farmers and agriculture until they began to bring in Hispanic workers due to the cheap labor.

With a large wave of these workers coming in just after World War II,

The population of Sunnyside is now 80% Hispanic.

Junior would grow up like most people I speak with who are incarcerated, in a very dysfunctional family situation.

Here he is talking about his early years in Sunnyside, living with his mother.