Tell GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. A man who was exonerated after spending nearly two years in prison for a murder he didnt commit is suing the officers who made the case against him. I wasnt going to take the chance of going to trial and being charged with life. Offered a deal that would lock him up for 20 months with credit for time already served, he accepted and pleaded no contest in March 2015. Loving grandfather of Shana and Carrie . The murder of Jodi Parrack has been a subject of ongoing investigation and debate in Michigan since the 11-year-old was murdered in November of 2007. JOSEPH COUNTY, Mich. -- A man in St. Joseph County will be awarded approximately $40,000 for being wrongly convicted and imprisoned. The lawsuit alleges the defendants created a false probable cause document filled with information they knew was wrong in order to coerce a confession out of McCann. Estate Settlement Guide. While McCann was in prison, a man named Daniel Furlong attempted to abduct another young girl in nearby White Pigeon, Michigan. McCann said under oath that he had parked at the trailhead and was prepared to search for Parrack there when he got a call and went elsewhere. The office of St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, which won and then abandoned the perjury conviction, declined PEOPLEs request for comment. The Michigan State Police detective testified under oath that video footage from a surveillance camera on a nearby factory proved McCann was never there that night. He told authorities he saw Parrack riding her bike while he was cleaning his garage and asked her to help. A complaint received from a civilian can include multiple allegations. 1603 Orrington Avenue Again, McCann refused to falsely confess to knowing Furlong. The detectives were so desperate to solve this case and so blinded by their belief that McCann must have been involved, they ignored powerful evidence pointing to his innocence.. Constantine A man who was repeatedly hounded by police during an investigation of a girls killing in southwestern Michigan has filed a lawsuit, two years after his wrongful conviction for perjury was thrown out. When the girls body was found at the cemetery, authorities pointed fingers back in McCanns direction. The big break in the case came as a result of brilliant work on the part of the Michigan Law students, Swygert said. Contract Concerns: Did St. Joseph County overpay for County-City Building security? McCann now says he felt no choice but to serve his time, while maintaining his innocence as authorities continued to assume he was involved even as another man eventually confessed to the crime. He said he then grabbed her and put her in the back of a boat in his garage, where he sexually assaulted her after he zip-tied her hands behind her back. 3535 East Tremont Avenue. On November 21, 2015, Fender and her children were evicted. He. cwc@law.northwestern.edu. Under interrogation, Furlong insisted he did not know McCann and told the authorities that when he learned that McCann had been arrested, he believed that he was in the clear.. All of the charges stemmed from minor discrepancies between McCanns recall of the events surrounding Parracks disappearance five years earlier and the recollections of others. Capt. The motion was filed by the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern Universitys Pritzker School of Law and the Michigan Innocence Clinic at the University of Michigan Law School and was joined by St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough who stipulated that the motion should be granted and the charges dropped. He is seeking an unspecified amount in damages. Again, McCann refused to falsely confess to knowing Furlong. McCann, a reserve police officer, agreed to help participate in the search. In 2012, with the investigation going cold, the Michigan State Police detective told one of McCanns relatives that he wanted to see McCann locked up to increase the pressure on him toconfess. Couple Cleared of Wrongful Murder and Rape Convictions That Put Them Behind Bars for 27 Years, Kevin Strickland Exonerated After 43 Years in Prison Following Wrongful Conviction, Tx. While McCann was in prison, a man named Daniel Furlong attempted to abduct another young girl in nearby White Pigeon, Michigan. It was a long process. Under interrogation, Furlong insisted he did not know McCann and told the authorities that when he learned that McCann had been arrested, he believed that he was in the clear.. Drizin worked with colleagues Swygert and Megan Crane from the Center on Wrongful Convictions and Northwestern Law students Courtney Cronin and Caroline McMahon and partnered with David Moran, the director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic. He became a person of interest in the case after he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery. Beloved husband to Doris Fay. Drizin recruited his CWC colleagues Greg Swygert and Megan Crane, students Courtney Cronin and Caroline McMahon, David Moran, Director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, to work on the case. McCann denied any role in the 2007 death of Parrack, but he was interviewed 20 times by state and local police in St. Joseph County. The lawsuit alleges that McCann was the victim of a corrupt scheme by police. On Friday, Raymond McCann II filed a federal lawsuit against the estate of the late former Constantine Police Chief James Bedell, Constantine Officer Marcus Donker, Michigan State Police. The whole town suspected him of doing it, and its hard to reconcile that.. These discoveries made it clear that the Michigan State Police detective, who had accused McCann of lying, had testified falsely about the video to Prosecutor McDonough. While McCann was in prison, a man named Daniel Furlong attempted to abduct another young girl in nearby White Pigeon, Michigan. Second, further investigation and a closer look at the video revealed that video camera could not have captured McCanns car because the cameras were not facing the direction of the path to the Tumble Dam. Devoted father of Stephen McCann of Newton, Sharon Biddy and her husband Robert, Ronald McCann, Donna J. Taylor and her husband Greg all of Waltham. Beloved husband to Doris Fay. Ill never get an apology, I dont think, he says. Furlong, who lived in Constantine at the time of Parracks murder, eventually admitted to killing Parrack eight years earlier, and a subsequent DNA test on Furlong matched that found on Parrack. Case marks third with Michigan Innocence Clinic, all result in exonerations, From left to right: Amanda Kenner, James Mestichelli, David Moran, Raymond McCann, Greg Swygert, Rebecca Wyss. Constantine police officers and detectives from a Michigan State Police task force questioned McCann nearly two dozen times over nearly five years after Parracks body was discovered. Again, McCann refused to falsely confess to knowing Furlong. One of the perjury counts stemmed from McCanns testimony that he had searched for Parrack at the Tumble Dam ruin. Ray has only stepped foot in this small town two or three times since being released, says his attorney. Thats why Im so thankful.. Loving grandfather of Shana and Carrie Subelsky. Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 80+ Raymond E McCann Houston, TX (Westside) View Full Report Addresses Rolido Dr, Houston, TX Phone Numbers (713) nay - peek Despite intense pressure, McCann insisted that he was innocent. The Michigan State Police detective testified under oath that video footage from a surveillance camera on a nearby factory proved McCann was never there that night. Nov 30, 2015 40 Dislike Share WOOD TV8 170K subscribers A former Michigan State Police detective who came out of retirement to solve the Jodi Parrack murder said he has no regrets about how. The detectives were so desperate to solve this case and so blinded by their belief that McCann must have been involved, that they ignored powerful evidence pointing to his innocence. In fact, even after Furlong was identified by DNA evidence as the killer, the authorities went to McCanns prison and tried to pressure him into admitting that he and Furlong were accomplices. The National Registry of Exonerations is a project of the Newkirk Center for Science & Society at University of California Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and Michigan State University College of Law. Even my sister turned against me at the time, he says. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2015. The other exonerated clients include Jamie Peterson (Kalkaska County) and Davontae Sanford (Wayne County). If she wasnt found there, wed just continue to look, he tells PEOPLE now. After New York state repealed a law that kept NYPD disciplinary records secret, ProPublica obtained data from the civilian board that investigates complaints about police behavior. Says McCann: The system already failed me. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. Following McCanns arrest, Furlong said, I thought I was in the clear, according to a videotape of his confession obtained by WOODTV. The perjury statute that coerced Ray to plead guilty needs to be changed, Swygert said. I have a lot of nightmares. The Michigan State Police detective testified under oath that video footage from a surveillance camera on a nearby factory proved McCann was never there that night. McCann said under oath that he had parked at the trailhead and was prepared to search for Parrack there when he got a call and went elsewhere. In 2014, the prosecutor then charged McCann with perjury during a murder investigation, which carries a life sentence. Bronx, NY 10465. The girl got away and led authorities back to Daniel Furlong, who lived in Constantine at the time of Parracks murder. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2015. Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. 2023 www.detroitnews.com. This was one of the worst cases of police tunnelvision Ive ever seen, said Drizin. He lost his job, was estranged from his son and his wife divorced him.. information about the Registry, Perjury or False Accusation, Official Misconduct, Inadequate Legal Defense. These discoveries made it clear that the Michigan State Police detective, who had accused McCann of lying, had testified falsely about the video to Prosecutor McDonough. Christmas came two weeks early for Raymond McCann II when St. Joseph County, Michigan Circuit Court Judge Paul E. Stutesman signed an order today granting McCanns motion to vacate his 2012 perjury conviction. Now, the former volunteer youth athletics coach hopes his reputation rebounds enough that he can again work with kids. McCann understands that some people may still hold the allegation against him. Under terms of the settlement announced today, McCann admits no wrongdoing or liability. Raymond McCann We found 76 records for Raymond McCann in TX, WA and 26 other states. us about an exoneration that we may have missed, Correct an error or add information about an exoneration Report an error or add more information about this case. Thiscase was the CWC's third partnership with the Michigan Innocence Clinic, all of which resulted in exonerations. McCann was charged with perjury for a lie he never told. While elated that his legal nightmare is finally over, McCann is still trying to put the pieces of his life back together. In March of 2016, Moran agreed and lawyers and students from both projects launched a re-investigation in the case. Police continued to pursue McCann aggressively for years even though DNA evidence found on the victim did not match McCann. He became a person of interest after he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery. I was a hostage, not a prisoner, and thats the way I felt, McCann, 50, says. In 2014, the prosecutor charged McCann with perjury during a murder investigation, which carries a life sentence. On the day Parrack went missing, McCann who knew the victim and her family well told at least four people that they should search the local cemetery, a suggestion also made by others. Parracks body was found there a short time later. Despite intense pressure, McCann insisted he was innocent. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. McCann was a reserve police officer that was charged with five counts of perjury, arising out of a 2007 murder case. The detective also told lies about McCann to his family members and friends, even telling McCanns teenage son that McCann was a drug addict, in an apparent attempt to turn his family and friends against him and get McCann to confess. I was in law enforcement, and if it can happen to me, it can happen to anybody, he says. RAYMOND MCCANN OBITUARY. In re the Marriage of RAYMOND C. and KATHLEEN D. McCANN. McCANN-Raymond B. on March 9, 2012. All content Copyright 2023 WBND. the city's database of civilian complaints against the NYPD, the department is not forthcoming despite, Read more about what weve included in the database and why, see our answers to questions we have received about this data, downloadable from ProPublicas Data Store, Abuse of Authority: Threat To Damage/Seize Property. First, the students established that darkness made it impossible to tell whether McCanns car or any other specific cars were in the area near the Tumble Dam path. I put a bag over her head and killed her, Furlong said in court in November 2015, when he pleaded guilty to second-degree murder. It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. A Michigan State Police detective falsely told McCann they had evidence tying him to the murderincluding that McCanns DNA was on Parracks body and Parracks DNA was in McCanns truck. Under interrogation, Furlong insisted he did not know McCann and told the authorities that when he learned that McCann had been arrested, he believed he was in the clear.. The detective also told lies about McCann to his family members and friends, going so far as to tell McCanns teenage son that McCann was a drug addict, in an apparent attempt to turn his family and friends against him and get McCann to confess. Around 300 people were arrested, many of them brutally, on . The Michigan students made two important discoveries which proved that there was no video evidence to prove that McCann had lied under oath about driving to the Tumble Dam. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2015. McCann, a reserve police officer, agreed to help participate in the search. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel approved the compensation reward for Raymond McCann under the states Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act or WICA. The judgment incorporated a marital settlement agreement (MSA) which, in part, awarded the family residence to wife, and required husband to pay $2,300 per month in support, one half was designated as child support and . He expects them to say, Were sorry, we messed up, Swygert says. After spending 11 months in jail awaiting trial and facing a potential life sentence, McCann pled no contest to the count involving the Tumble Dam, believing that he had no chance of being acquitted if there was a video that contradicted his recollection, especially in a community that was convinced he had murdered Jodi Parrack. This was one of the worst cases of police tunnel vision Ive ever seen. Raymond McCann served 20 months for perjury after taking a plea deal in what a federal lawsuit claims was a scheme to manufacture charges to pressure him into confessing to the 2007 murder of. For the most accurate data, please search on the Detailed View page. Get the latest stories from Northwestern Now sent directly to your inbox. This was one of the worst cases of police tunnelvision Ive ever seen, said Drizin. Raymond McCann served 20 months for perjury after taking a plea deal in what a federal lawsuit claims was a scheme to manufacture charges to pressure him into confessing to the 2007 murder of 11-year-old Jodi Parrack. He became a person of interest after he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery. McCann held many command posts at the Chicago Police Department during his 33 years serving the people of Chicago. For more background information about the case, see Ken Kolkers Making a Monster on WOODTV. An exonerated Michigan man who spent 45 years in prison for a murder he didn't commit has been awarded $1.5 million in compensation. I lost my family, I lost my son Ive only seen him three times since I got out. He missed a grandchilds birth, and his sons high school graduation. Drizin recruited his colleagues Greg Swygert and Megan Crane from the Center on Wrongful Convictions, and students Courtney Cronin and Caroline McMahon, to work on the case and approached David Moran, the Director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, to see if he was interested in partnering. He was exonerated for the charge after an investigation by the Michigan Innocence Clinic. the city's database of civilian complaints against the NYPD. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. You can see it in their eyes. He currently is serving a sentence of 30 to 60 years in prison. Ray McCann said his constitutional rights were violated by various police officers in St. Joseph County. While McCann was in prison, a man named Daniel Furlong attempted to abduct another young girl in nearby White Pigeon, Michigan. He suggested they search the cemetery, and that's. Loving father of Mary, Eileen, Kathleen (Ed), Delores (Jim), Raymond (Teresa) & Gerard (Maria). McCannbecame "person of interest" in case after helping to find victims body. These discoveries made it clear that the Michigan State Police detective, who had accused McCann of lying, had testified falsely about the video to Prosecutor McDonough. These discoveries made it clear that the Michigan State Police detective, who had accused McCann of lying, had testified falsely about the video to Prosecutor McDonough. The threat of a life sentence for what could simply be differing recollections is too strong a tool for prosecutors and could lead to further wrongful convictions. The Michigan students established that darkness made it impossible to tell whether McCanns car or any other specific cars were in the area near the Tumble Dam path. Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations. Constantine police officers and detectives from a Michigan State Police task force questioned McCann nearly two dozen times over nearly five years after Parracks body was discovered. McCann served 20 months in jail and prison after feeling pressured to plead no contest to perjury. Today he acted honorably in placing his duty to seek justice ahead of his desire to preserve a wrongful conviction.. Its going to take a while to recover. He and his new girlfriend just want to get this behind me and live our lives. Even Judge Stutesman, who accepted the plea and sentenced Ray has said the law as terrible, said Swygert. I felt like I was set up from day one.. Parracks body was found there a short time later. Theyve got their own opinions; theyre going to think what they think, he says. Despite intense pressure, McCann insisted he was innocent. He lost his job, was estranged from his son, and his wife divorced him.. The threat of a life sentence for what could simply be differing recollections is too strong a tool for prosecutors and could lead to further wrongful convictions. A Call for Answers: Police still looking for witnesses in shooting of Brandon and Shae, Trafficking Tragedy: How pandemic travel restrictions may have exacerbated fentanyl crisis. After spending 11 months in jail awaiting trial and facing a potential life sentence, McCann pleaded no contest to the count involving the Tumble Dam, believing he had no chance of acquittal if there was a video that contradicted his recollection, especially in a community convinced he had murdered Jodi Parrack. The perjury statute that coerced Ray to plead guilty needs to be changed. ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Mich. -- A man in St. Joseph County will be awarded approximately $40,000 for being wrongly convicted and imprisoned. 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