Hey guys, it's Laura. I'm here with some breaking news. In season 2 of Wrongful Conviction

False Confessions, Stephen I brought you the story of a Virginia fisherman named Emerson

Stevens. Emerson spent more than 30 years behind bars for a murder he didn't commit.

Remember this is that crazy case where prosecutors tried to get an expert to say that the victims

weighed down body, floated up the river against the current for miles before landing their

Emerson stock. The expert ended up telling the prosecutors their case was eyewash. That's

Virginia slang for bullshit. But Emerson was wrongly convicted anyway. We told his story

and we asked you to tell the governor of Virginia that he should grant Emerson's request

for a pardon. So here's the breaking news. After more than three decades of waiting, Emerson

finally got justice. On August 16th, Virginia governor Ralph Northam granted Emerson a

pardon based on actual innocence. That means that Emerson is now eligible for compensation

from the state. And it means his innocence has been publicly recognized once and for

all. Thank you to all our listeners who supported Emerson. Congratulations to Emerson's

longtime lawyers at the University of Virginia Law Innocence Project. And Emerson, this

news is the best. Hope you celebrate in style. We're re-releasing your episode in honor

of you. Welcome to Wrongful Conviction False Confessions. I'm Laura Nairighter.

And I'm Steve Driessen. Today we'll tell you 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. Now you can help him finally clear

his name. Today's episode is based on interviews with Emerson Stevens and his lawyers, along

with legal filings and court opinions.

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