Soledad O'Brien

Was she going to have Ray testify?

Was she going to have Ray testify?

Handman even admitted so. He approached the bench and said he was caught flat-footed. He never anticipated in his wildest dreams that Dubby would rest her case. He was sure that Ray would be called to testify. But this? This was the worst-case scenario for the prosecutors.

Handman even admitted so. He approached the bench and said he was caught flat-footed. He never anticipated in his wildest dreams that Dubby would rest her case. He was sure that Ray would be called to testify. But this? This was the worst-case scenario for the prosecutors.

The courtroom was stunned, too. The decision to not put Ray on the stand sped things up dramatically.

The courtroom was stunned, too. The decision to not put Ray on the stand sped things up dramatically.

In his closing statements, Hantman made one final plea to the jury. He told them Mary was shot to death by Ray after a struggle in which she, quote, "...tried to preserve her very existence." This was a crime of, quote, malicious mischief. He closed by asking the jury to find Ray guilty of first-degree murder. He sat back down. The court went into recess.

In his closing statements, Hantman made one final plea to the jury. He told them Mary was shot to death by Ray after a struggle in which she, quote, "...tried to preserve her very existence." This was a crime of, quote, malicious mischief. He closed by asking the jury to find Ray guilty of first-degree murder. He sat back down. The court went into recess.

Ray Crump's future was now in the hands of the jury. The 12 jurors deliberated through the evening for more than seven hours. Did Ray Crump kill Mary Pinchot Meyer? A fervent pacifist? A painter coming into her own? Someone had to be held responsible for her nonsensical death? But would that person be Ray? There was a strong debate in the room.

Ray Crump's future was now in the hands of the jury. The 12 jurors deliberated through the evening for more than seven hours. Did Ray Crump kill Mary Pinchot Meyer? A fervent pacifist? A painter coming into her own? Someone had to be held responsible for her nonsensical death? But would that person be Ray? There was a strong debate in the room.

With so much of the public's eye on this case, I can't even imagine the pressure the jurors faced. After more than seven hours, the foreman told Judge Corcoran they were at a standstill.

With so much of the public's eye on this case, I can't even imagine the pressure the jurors faced. After more than seven hours, the foreman told Judge Corcoran they were at a standstill.

It was already 10.30 at night. He told the jury to go home. They'd continue their deliberations in the morning. The next day, the jury resumed. In a way, they also retraced Mary's steps. Though they couldn't go to the towpath, they used photographs and maps to pore over the evidence. trying to put the pieces together on how Mary was killed and who might have done it.

It was already 10.30 at night. He told the jury to go home. They'd continue their deliberations in the morning. The next day, the jury resumed. In a way, they also retraced Mary's steps. Though they couldn't go to the towpath, they used photographs and maps to pore over the evidence. trying to put the pieces together on how Mary was killed and who might have done it.

After 11 hours of back and forth over two days, they reached a decision. Everyone returned to the courtroom. The trial had lasted 11 days, and now there was a conclusion. Ray's mother, Martha, had been at the trial every day, but she couldn't be there for the actual announcement. It was too much for her. So she waited in the courthouse corridor.

After 11 hours of back and forth over two days, they reached a decision. Everyone returned to the courtroom. The trial had lasted 11 days, and now there was a conclusion. Ray's mother, Martha, had been at the trial every day, but she couldn't be there for the actual announcement. It was too much for her. So she waited in the courthouse corridor.

Ray sat motionless throughout the trial, but now, standing, waiting for his verdict, he was swaying. Judge Corcoran commended the prosecution and defense for presenting both sides of the case. Then the foreman offered the written verdict to the judge. Corcoran told the jury to rise.

Ray sat motionless throughout the trial, but now, standing, waiting for his verdict, he was swaying. Judge Corcoran commended the prosecution and defense for presenting both sides of the case. Then the foreman offered the written verdict to the judge. Corcoran told the jury to rise.

He said, Members of the jury, we have your verdict, which states that you find the defendant, Ray Crump Jr., not guilty. And this is your verdict, so say you each and all. The jurors nodded. Corcoran told Crump, you are a free man. Ray's eyes were closed. It almost looked like he was fainting. Then he and Dovey hugged. Here was a man who'd been in jail for nearly a year.

He said, Members of the jury, we have your verdict, which states that you find the defendant, Ray Crump Jr., not guilty. And this is your verdict, so say you each and all. The jurors nodded. Corcoran told Crump, you are a free man. Ray's eyes were closed. It almost looked like he was fainting. Then he and Dovey hugged. Here was a man who'd been in jail for nearly a year.