In the fall of 1984 and spring of '85, a serial rapist struck at least 4 times with eerily similar details. Meanwhile, a new student, Tim Cole, arrived on campus for the spring semester after the rapes had already began. On March 24th, 1985, a 20 year old student reported what appeared to be the 5th attack. Investigators collected a rape kit, and the victim helped them put together a composite sketch. From a passing glance, a plainclothes detective decided that Tim resembled the composite sketch. Using a very suggestive photo array, investigators engineered the misidentification of Tim Cole, and he was soon convicted. Despite numerous confessions from another man whose DNA ended up matching the material in the rape kit, Tim sat in prison where he passed away in 1999.
To learn more and get involved, visit:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R_QbivKABXk
https://innocenceproject.org/cases/timothy-cole/
https://lavaforgood.com/with-jason-flom/
Wrongful Conviction is a production of Lava for Good™ Podcasts in association with Signal Co. No1.
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