Soledad O'Brien

That's Terry Coopers. He studies prison conditions, including solitary confinement. He's a psychiatrist at the Wright Institute.

That's Terry Coopers. He studies prison conditions, including solitary confinement. He's a psychiatrist at the Wright Institute.

This could be what happened to Ray. The trauma of jail time hardened him. After the trial, he was a free man, but no longer the man he had been. Shortly after returning home, Ray and his wife, Helena, split up for good. She hadn't visited him in jail. At first, Ray returned to his routine. He went back to his construction jobs. He worked to lay the foundations for D.C.

This could be what happened to Ray. The trauma of jail time hardened him. After the trial, he was a free man, but no longer the man he had been. Shortly after returning home, Ray and his wife, Helena, split up for good. She hadn't visited him in jail. At first, Ray returned to his routine. He went back to his construction jobs. He worked to lay the foundations for D.C.

buildings that lawyers and journalists work in to this day. But four years after his acquittal, his life would never be the same. Ray was never a criminal before being locked up. But after, something changed. After he was acquitted for Mary Myers' death, he was arrested 22 times. Some were petty crimes, but others were very serious. In 1971, he remarried.

buildings that lawyers and journalists work in to this day. But four years after his acquittal, his life would never be the same. Ray was never a criminal before being locked up. But after, something changed. After he was acquitted for Mary Myers' death, he was arrested 22 times. Some were petty crimes, but others were very serious. In 1971, he remarried.

He and his new wife moved in together with her four children in Maryland. We don't know much about their family life, but things got bad enough that at one point, Ray turned on his wife.

He and his new wife moved in together with her four children in Maryland. We don't know much about their family life, but things got bad enough that at one point, Ray turned on his wife.

He was arrested again. He pled guilty to malicious burning and went to jail for two months, followed by rehab for alcohol. He threatened other women in his life and was arrested multiple times for vandalism and arson, setting fire to homes and cars. For many people, these crimes were a sign that Ray had killed Mary, but just gotten away with it. Here's Ron Rosenbaum.

He was arrested again. He pled guilty to malicious burning and went to jail for two months, followed by rehab for alcohol. He threatened other women in his life and was arrested multiple times for vandalism and arson, setting fire to homes and cars. For many people, these crimes were a sign that Ray had killed Mary, but just gotten away with it. Here's Ron Rosenbaum.

Ray pled guilty to a bunch of crimes. It was serious. But it's hard not to think about Ray's mental state after the spectacle of Mary's trial. Here's Terry Coopers again.

Ray pled guilty to a bunch of crimes. It was serious. But it's hard not to think about Ray's mental state after the spectacle of Mary's trial. Here's Terry Coopers again.

Some would say Ray made the perfect fall guy, but it cost him dearly.

Some would say Ray made the perfect fall guy, but it cost him dearly.

There are some historical figures whose lives and stories are immortalized. Dubby wrote a memoir about her life. Mary didn't get to tell her story on her terms, but she's been written about extensively. But Ray, he was at the center of this whole trial, and yet his story is mostly untold.

There are some historical figures whose lives and stories are immortalized. Dubby wrote a memoir about her life. Mary didn't get to tell her story on her terms, but she's been written about extensively. But Ray, he was at the center of this whole trial, and yet his story is mostly untold.

We don't know if his relatives consider him a man who was wrongfully accused of Mary's murder or if they have their own doubts. His relatives never returned our invitations to speak for this podcast. Aside from his criminal record, we really don't know what happened to him or his family.

We don't know if his relatives consider him a man who was wrongfully accused of Mary's murder or if they have their own doubts. His relatives never returned our invitations to speak for this podcast. Aside from his criminal record, we really don't know what happened to him or his family.

The one thing we do have is a letter. It's addressed to Dovey on August 10th, 1965, 10 days after Ray was acquitted.

The one thing we do have is a letter. It's addressed to Dovey on August 10th, 1965, 10 days after Ray was acquitted.