On August 8th, 1998, 25-year-old Kasey Schoen was shot and killed while sitting in his car in Indianapolis, IN. A few days later, a man approached officers and told them that he saw 22-year-old Leon Benson shoot the victim. A single eyewitness identified Leon as the shooter out of a photo lineup, despite the fact that he did not match the eyewitness's initial description of the shooter. Leon was ultimately sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder, even though there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime and the main witness against him tried to recant their testimony. 

Guest host, Kemba Smith, talks to Leon Benson and Lara Bazelon, Leon's attorney.

To learn more and get involved, please visit: 

Organization of Exonerees 

The Streets Don't Love You Back 

Go to Die Jim Crow Records to support prison impacted musicians, including Leon Benson's (El Bently 448) album "Innocent Born Guilty". 

Petition for Demetrius Burks

www.kembamovie.com

https://www.kembasmith.com

https://kembasmithfoundation.org/

Wrongful Conviction  is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.

​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.

On August 8th, 1998, 25-year-old Kasey Schoen was shot and killed while sitting in his car in Indianapolis, IN. A few days later, a man approached officers and told them that he saw 22-year-old Leon Benson shoot the victim. A single eyewitness identified Leon as the shooter out of a photo lineup, despite the fact that he did not match the eyewitness's initial description of the shooter. Leon was ultimately sentenced to 60 years in prison for the murder, even though there was no physical evidence linking him to the crime and the main witness against him tried to recant their testimony.&nbsp;
Guest host, Kemba Smith, talks to Leon Benson and Lara Bazelon, Leon's attorney.
To learn more and get involved, please visit:&nbsp;
<a href="https://organizationofexonerees.com/">Organization of Exonerees</a>&nbsp;
<a href="https://thestreetsdontloveyouback.ning.com/">The Streets Don't Love You Back</a>&nbsp;
Go to <a href="https://www.diejimcrow.com/story">Die Jim Crow Records</a> to support prison impacted musicians, including Leon Benson's <a href="https://www.diejimcrow.com/el-bently-448-official-store">(El Bently 448) album "Innocent Born Guilty"</a>.&nbsp;
<a href="https://www.change.org/p/prolonged-juvenile-injustice-sign-this-petition-to-help-free-demetrius-burks?recruiter=1312215495&amp;recruited_by_id=aa207460-2109-11ee-999d-71c7fcf60b3c&amp;utm_source=share_petition&amp;utm_campaign=share_petition&amp;utm_term=share_for_starters_page&amp;utm_medium=copylink&amp;utm_content=cl_sharecopy_36821233_en-US%3Acv_37013">Petition for Demetrius Burks</a>
<a href="http://www.kembamovie.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=http://www.kembamovie.com&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1696544140237000&amp;usg=AOvVaw3LLR78XKiKQsoxDQ5Kf1g3">www.kembamovie.com</a>
<a href="https://www.kembasmith.com/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.kembasmith.com/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1696542666146000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0RCFW_2Qk0gmzTPcM1ECY2">https://www.kembasmith.com</a>
<a href="https://kembasmithfoundation.org/" data-saferedirecturl="https://www.google.com/url?q=https://kembasmithfoundation.org/&amp;source=gmail&amp;ust=1696542666146000&amp;usg=AOvVaw0l8Or3GlgiUiiERNxOmnt0">https://kembasmithfoundation.org/</a>
<a href="https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/">Wrongful Conviction </a>&nbsp;is a production of<a href="https://lavaforgood.com/"> Lava for Good&trade; Podcasts</a> in association with<a href="https://www.signalco1.com/"> Signal Co. No1.</a>
​​We have worked hard to ensure that all facts reported in this show are accurate. The views and opinions expressed by the individuals featured in this show are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of Lava for Good.

Hosted by celebrated criminal justice reform advocate and founding board member of the Innocence Project Jason Flom, Pulitzer prize-winning podcast host and producer Maggie Freleng, and Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and podcast host Lauren Bright Pacheco, Wrongful Conviction features intimate conversations with men and women who have spent years in prison for crimes they maintain they did not commit. Some have been fully exonerated and reunited with family and friends while others continue to languish, with some even facing execution on death row. Each episode peels back the layers behind the stories of those who have found themselves caught in a legal system gone wrong, with illuminating insights from lawyers and leading experts sharing their in-depth knowledge about each case, from prison visits and courtroom battles to reexamined crime scenes and witness interviews. This gripping series reveals the tragedy of injustice…as well as the triumph that is possible when people step up and demand change.

Hosted by celebrated criminal justice reform advocate and founding board member of the Innocence Project Jason Flom, Pulitzer prize-winning podcast host and producer Maggie Freleng, and Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and podcast host Lauren Bright Pacheco, Wrongful Conviction features intimate conversations with men and women who have spent years in prison for crimes they maintain they did not commit. Some have been fully exonerated and reunited with family and friends while others continue to languish, with some even facing execution on death row. Each episode peels back the layers behind the stories of those who have found themselves caught in a legal system gone wrong, with illuminating insights from lawyers and leading experts sharing their in-depth knowledge about each case, from prison visits and courtroom battles to reexamined crime scenes and witness interviews. This gripping series reveals the tragedy of injustice&hellip;as well as the triumph that is possible when people step up and demand change.

Wrongful Conviction

Hosted by celebrated criminal justice reform advocate and founding board member of the Innocence Project Jason Flom,  Pulitzer prize-winning podcast host and producer Maggie Freleng, and Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and podcast host Lauren Bright Pacheco, Wrongful Conviction features intimate conversations with men and women who have spent years in prison for crimes they maintain they did not commit. Some have been fully exonerated and reunited with family and friends while others continue to languish, with some even facing execution on death row. Each episode peels back the layers behind the stories of those who have found themselves caught in a legal system gone wrong, with illuminating insights from lawyers and leading experts sharing their in-depth knowledge about each case, from prison visits and courtroom battles to reexamined crime scenes and witness interviews. This gripping series reveals the tragedy of injustice…as well as the triumph that is possible when people step up and demand change.

Hosted by celebrated criminal justice reform advocate and founding board member of the Innocence Project Jason Flom,&nbsp; Pulitzer prize-winning podcast host and producer Maggie Freleng, and Emmy Award-winning writer, producer and podcast host Lauren Bright Pacheco, Wrongful Conviction features intimate conversations with men and women who have spent years in prison for crimes they maintain they did not commit. Some have been fully exonerated and reunited with family and friends while others continue to languish, with some even facing execution on death row. Each episode peels back the layers behind the stories of those who have found themselves caught in a legal system gone wrong, with illuminating insights from lawyers and leading experts sharing their in-depth knowledge about each case, from prison visits and courtroom battles to reexamined crime scenes and witness interviews. This gripping series reveals the tragedy of injustice&hellip;as well as the triumph that is possible when people step up and demand change.

#572 Guest Host Kemba Smith with Leon Benson

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/137fe7e7-29aa-4d4b-83e3-b43c001a86f6/transcript