The Case of False Confessions - Emerson Stevens

📻 Episode #169
🎙️ Hosted by Jason Flom
📅 Nov 09, 2020

◆ EPISODE PROFILE

About This Episode

Sometimes when detectives can't get a confession they'll settle for a something else

The Case

Sometimes when detectives can't get a confession they'll settle for a something else

Laura Nirider and Steve Drizin explore the story of Emerson Stevens, a fisherman from Virginia’s Chesapeake Bay. When a young mother was found murdered, it seemed all the evidence pointed to Emerson, until the case fell apart. Emerson survived 31 years in prison with the help of an ally from across the bay.

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.

To support Emerson Stevens’ request for an Absolute Pardon contact the Governor of Virginia's office and the Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s office investigates the requests while the Governor grants or denies the requests.

Governor Ralph E. Northam

Use the email form at: https://www.governor.virginia.gov/constituent-services/communicating-with-the-governors-office/

In Their Own Words — transcript excerpts

Short excerpts from the episode's official published transcript, with timestamps — listen from these moments, or read the full transcript via the podcast's own platforms.

00:03:35
“Speaker 1: chicken dinner from the night before was still sitting on Speaker 1: the table. Don't worry, the four year old assured his Speaker 1: great grandma. In his mother's absence, he was taking care Speaker 1: of the baby. Virginia knew there was no way Mary Speaker 1: would abandon her children. There's only one explanation for her disappearance.”

00:14:46
“Speaker 1: officer who'd built the case against Emerson Stevens. When Detective Speaker 1: Riley interrogated Beverly, she refused to admit to something she Speaker 1: didn't do, but Riley administered a polygraph and told Beverly Speaker 1: she failed it, and then he suggested that she must Speaker 1: have been present when Roger shot himself. Detective Riley seems”

00:24:48
“Speaker 1: Stephen's life ebbed for thirty one years as he sat Speaker 1: behind bars. Now his life is flowing again. Speaker 6: You know, he's done such a great job of getting Speaker 6: out and just sort of sliding back in to his life, Speaker 6: moving back in, seeing family, going back to work immediately”

Listen to the Episode

🎧 Listen on Omny / the podcast's platforms

Resources & links from the episode:

🔊 How You Can Help

Share this case, follow the organisations working on it, and support the podcast's fight for the innocent at lavaforgood.com.

← #168 False Confessions - The Birmingham Six #170 Junk Science - Eyewitness Testimony →

Also on the podcast: #115 False Confessions - Origin Story · #116 False Confessions - Robert Davis · #117 False Confessions - Dixmoor 5