Maggie Freleng first brought us the story of Gwen Graham of 2023. Gwen has now spent more than 37 years in a Michigan prison for murders they’ve has always maintained never even happened. At the time this episode was produced, Gwen identified as a woman, they now identify as a trans man.

Gwen was convicted in 1989 of killing five elderly patients at the nursing home where they worked. The case rested largely on the testimony of their former girlfriend, Cathy Wood, who claimed she and Gwen had smothered patients as part of a so-called lovers’ pact. Despite the lack of physical evidence of smothering, Gwen was sentenced to life without parole. Meanwhile, Cathy took a plea deal, testified against Gwen, and was released on parole in 2020. Gwen remains incarcerated.

And the prison where Gwen is being held — Women’s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Michigan’s only prison for women — is now facing serious scrutiny of its own. Toxic mold has been making prisoners sick, and several women have died from receiving substandard medical care. The problem has grown dire; incarcerated women and their families have joined forces with elected officials, advocates and even former guards to bring the horrific conditions to the public’s attention. The issue has now reached federal court. 

So as Gwen continues to fight for their freedom, their story is also a window into what it means to grow old inside the prison system. Especially in a prison like Huron Valley.

Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Frelengis 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.

 

Maggie Freleng first brought us the story of Gwen Graham of 2023. Gwen has now spent more than 37 years in a Michigan prison for murders they&rsquo;ve has always maintained never even happened. At the time this episode was produced, Gwen identified as a woman, they now identify as a trans man. Gwen was convicted in 1989 of killing five elderly patients at the nursing home where they worked. The case rested largely on the testimony of their former girlfriend, Cathy Wood, who claimed she and Gwen had smothered patients as part of a so-called lovers&rsquo; pact. Despite the lack of physical evidence of smothering, Gwen was sentenced to life without parole. Meanwhile, Cathy took a plea deal, testified against Gwen, and was released on parole in 2020. Gwen remains incarcerated. And the prison where Gwen is being held &mdash; Women&rsquo;s Huron Valley Correctional Facility, Michigan&rsquo;s only prison for women &mdash; is now facing serious scrutiny of its own. <a href="https://19thnews.org/2026/06/michigan-womens-prison-huron-valley-krystal-clark/">Toxic mold</a> has been making prisoners sick, and <a href="https://www.michiganpublic.org/criminal-justice-legal-system/2026-06-07/third-woman-dies-at-michigan-prison-in-less-than-a-month">several women have died</a> from receiving substandard medical care. The problem has grown dire; incarcerated women and their families have joined forces with elected officials, advocates and <a href="https://www.wxyz.com/news/ex-employees-others-testify-about-mold-drug-trafficking-and-more-at-michigans-only-womens-prison">even former guards </a>to bring the horrific conditions to the public&rsquo;s attention. <a href="https://michiganadvance.com/2026/10/19/federal-appeals-court-allows-mold-lawsuit-against-womens-huron-valley-prison-to-proceed/">The issue has now reached federal court. </a> So as Gwen continues to fight for their freedom, their story is also a window into what it means to grow old inside the prison system. Especially in a prison like Huron Valley.
<a href="https://lavaforgood.com/with-maggie-freleng/">Wrongful Conviction with Maggie Freleng </a>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.
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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.

#597 Maggie Freleng with Gwen Graham

https://api.omny.fm/orgs/e73c998e-6e60-432f-8610-ae210140c5b1/clips/832314f1-ea28-4b03-87ff-b4f1016fa6de/transcript