Johnny Frank Garrett, Center on Wrongful Convictions. Free After 25 Years: A Tale Of Murder And Injustice. Hide captionMichael Morton is taken back to jail in February 1987 by Sgt. Don Wood (left) and Sheriff Jim Boutwell (right) after he was convicted of his wife's murder. Courtesy of The Williamson County Sun Michael Morton is taken back to jail in February 1987 by Sgt. Don Wood (left) and Sheriff Jim Boutwell (right) after he was convicted of his wife's murder.
The past few years in Texas have seen a parade of DNA exonerations: more than 40 men so far. The first exonerations were big news, but the type has grown smaller as Texans have watched a dismaying march of exonerees, their wasted years haunting the public conscience. Yet a case in Williamson County, just north of Austin, is raising the ante.
Instead of merely seeking financial compensation, Morton is working to fix the system. The Day Of The Murder On the morning of Aug. 13, 1986, Morton was getting ready for work as head of the pharmacy department at a nearby Safeway in Austin. Morton was immediately worried and called home. Michael Morton, The Innocent Man, Part One: Editors' note: This is part one of a two-part story. The second half can be found here. On April 12, 1987, Michael Morton sat down to write a letter. “Your Honor,” he began, “I’m sure you remember me. I was convicted of murder, in your court, in February of this year.” He wrote each word carefully, sitting cross-legged on the top bunk in his cell at the Wynne prison unit, in Huntsville.
His windowless concrete cell, which he shared with another inmate, measured five by nine feet. The last time he had seen her was on the morning of August 13, 1986, the day after his thirty-second birthday. The conviction had triggered a bitter custody battle between Christine’s family—who, like many people in Michael’s life, came to believe that he was guilty—and Michael’s parents. Two weeks after sending his first entreaty to Lott, Michael penned another letter. At first, Eric was oblivious to his surroundings.