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My son is trapped in prison

Please Grant Ryan Ferguson a New Trial or Freedom!
By Bill Ferguson
Oswego, Illinois

Why My Son Ryan Ferguson Should Be Granted A New Trial

My son Ryan Ferguson was convicted in 2005 for the 2001 murder of Columbia Daily Tribune sports editor Kent Heitholt. Ryan was convicted solely on the testimony of two witnesses. Both of those witnesses have since given written affidavits that their testimonies during the original trial were false. That leaves zero evidence against my son. No witnesses, no physical evidence, no DNA, no motive, in fact nothing tying him to the crime. Yet my son is currently serving a 40-year sentence for a crime he had no part in.

The fact is Ryan should never have been convicted in the first place, because the main witness in his case was never credible. The jury simply believed Chuck Erickson’s story.

Ryan and Chuck were Rock Bridge High School juniors who snuck into a bar on Halloween night 2001 and left sometime around 1:15 a.m. Ryan said he drove his friend Chuck home, then came home himself. He has never wavered from his account.

Years later Chuck – who is a troubled young man – told friends that he had ‘dreams’ about the murder. He said he initially repressed his memory of the killing but began to recall details two years later after reading news reports of the crime. Details emerged in his ‘dreams’, he claimed. He called the encounter a botched robbery hatched when he and Ryan ran out of money and wanted to keep drinking.

The police brought Chuck in for questioning after hearing about his stories. In the interrogation tapes – available online – it is clear that Chuck knows very little about the case and admits he doesn’t even know if he was there. But the police feed him key information about the murder and pressure him into confessing and implicating Ryan in the murder. There was never any physical evidence against either of them. My son Ryan had never been in any trouble with the law before this point and had no connection to the victim Kent Heitholt.

The second ‘witness’, janitor Jerry Trump, originally told friends he could not identify who he saw near the body. But during a 2005 trial he positively identified Ryan and my son was sentenced to spend the majority of his adult life behind bars.

Both Erickson and Trump now claim they were coerced into modifying their statements in favor of the prosecution of my son. Chuck blames Columbia Police interrogators for not delving into inconsistencies in his story, and Trump said Prosecutor Kevin Crane told him that it would be “helpful to him” if Trump could identify Ryan as one of the men at the crime scene. The prosecution also withheld key information that could have helped prove my son’s innocence, including further witnesses who state that Ryan wasn’t at the scene.

We now know that both key witnesses gave false testimonies. In light of these significant changes in eyewitness testimony and the lack of ANY evidence implicating Ryan, it is clear that my son deserves a new trial.

Ryan’s case has been covered extensively on NBC Dateline, CBS 48 Hours Mystery, and numerous TV news reports and magazine and newspaper articles. His story has touched millions of people across America – and the world. It has become clear to many people that Ryan has been betrayed by the Missouri justice system and deserves another shot at justice.

I ask you to please sign this petition to demand that my son Ryan be granted a new trial and the chance to rebuild his life…

Thank you,

Bill Ferguson

Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 10/7 ~~ the House


matthew 25

The Senate stands adjourned until 2:00pm on Monday, October 7, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 5:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

At 5:00pm, the Senate will proceed to Executive Session to consider the following:

–          Executive Calendar #204, the nomination of Colin Stirling Bruce, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois and

–          Executive Calendar #205, the nomination of Sara Lee Ellis, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois.

There will be up to 30 minutes of debate equally divided and controlled in the usual form.  Upon the use or yielding back of time, the Senate will vote on confirmation of the nominations.

One roll call vote is expected and one voice vote is expected

If all time is used at approximately 5:30pm, the Senate will proceed to a roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #204, the nomination of Colin Stirling Bruce, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois. We expect to confirm Calendar #205, the nomination of Sara Lee Ellis, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois, by a voice vote.

5:30pm the Senate began a 15 minute roll call vote on confirmation of Executive Calendar #204, the nomination of Colin Stirling Bruce, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois;

Confirmed: 96-0

Calendar #205, the nomination of Sara Lee Ellis, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois was Confirmed by voice vote

The Senate is in a period of morning business for debate only until 7:30pm.

There will be no further roll call votes tonight.

WRAP UP

ROLL CALL VOTE

1)      Confirmation of Executive Calendar #204, the nomination of Colin Stirling Bruce, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Central District of Illinois; Confirmed: 96-0

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Completed the Rule 14 process of:

–          H.J.Res.75, making continuing appropriations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes;

–          H.J.Res.85, making continuing appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes; and

–          H.R.3223, to provide for the compensation of furloughed Federal employees.

EXECUTIVE ITEMS

Confirmed Executive Calendar #205, the nomination of Sara Lee Ellis, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois by voice vote.

By unanimous consent, the nomination of Arun Madhavan Kumar, of California, to be Assistant Secretary of Commerce and Director General of the United States and Foreign Commercial Service, received in the Senate on October 7, 2013, will be jointly referred to the Committee on Banking, Housing and Urban Affairs and Committee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation.

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Last Floor Action: 10/5
1:53:38 P.M. – The House adjourned.

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on October 7, 2013.

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Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 10/05 ~~ the House


shutdownohnolook

The Senate stands in adjournment until 12:00pm on Saturday, October 5, 2013.

Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 4:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Wrap UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Completed the Rule 14 process of:

–          H.R.3230, making continuing appropriations during a government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during such period and

–          H.J.Res.72, making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.

Began the Rule 14 process of:

–          H.J.Res.75, making continuing appropriations for the Special Supplemental Nutrition Program for Women, Infants, and Children for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.

–          H.J.Res.85, making continuing appropriations for the Federal Emergency Management Agency for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes and

–          H.R.3223, to provide for the compensation of furloughed Federal employees.

At a time to be determined by the Majority Leader with the concurrence of the Republican Leader, the Senate will consider the following nominations:

–          Executive Calendar #206, the nomination of Andrea R. Wood, of Illinois, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Illinois; and

–          Executive Calendar #207, the nomination of Madeline Hughes Haikala, of Alabama, to be United States District Judge for the Northern District of Alabama.

There will be 30 minutes for debate in the usual form prior to votes on confirmation of the nominations.

 

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Last Floor Action:
1:53:38 P.M. – The House adjourned. 10/05

The next meeting is scheduled for 12:00 p.m. on October 7, 2013.

House Floor Activities
Legislative Day of October 05, 2013

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Black History

the Senate ~~ CONGRESS 10/04 ~~ the House


shutdownohnolook

The Senate stands adjourned until 10:30am on Friday, October 4, 2013.

  Following any Leader remarks, the Senate will be in a period of morning business for debate only until 2:00pm with Senators permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

Senator Cruz came to the floor today and asked unanimous consent to take up and pass the same 4 joint resolutions and bill that Republicans asked to pass yesterday. For each request, a Democratic senator asked consent to pass a clean continuing resolution to fund the entire government. Senator Cruz objected to modify his requests and there was an objection to the original requests.

Senator Cruz asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass H.J.Res.72, making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014. Senator Murray asked that the request be modified to include a clean CR, Senator Cruz objected, and Senator Murray objected to the original request.

Senator Cruz asked unanimous consent that when the Senate receives H.R.3230, the Senate take up and pass and H.R.3230, making continuing appropriations during a Government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the reserve component of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during such period. Senator Durbin asked that the request be modified to include a clean CR, Senator Cruz objected, and Senator Durbin objected to the original request.

Senator Cruz asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass H.J.Res.70, making continuing appropriations for National Park operations, the Smithsonian Institution, the National Gallery of Art, and the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum for fiscal year 2014. Senator Schumer asked that the request be modified to include a clean CR, Senator Cruz objected, and Senator Schumer objected to the original request.

Senator Cruz asked unanimous consent the Senate take up and pass H.J.Res.73, making continuing appropriations for the National Institute of Health for fiscal year 2014. Senator Reid asked that the request be modified to include a clean CR, Senator Cruz objected, and Senator Reid objected to the original request.

Democratic Counteroffer

I ask consent that the request be modified as follows:

That an amendment, which is at the desk, be agreed to; that the joint resolution, as amended, then be read a third time and passed; and the motions to reconsider be considered made and laid upon the table with no intervening action or debate.  This amendment is the text that passed the Senate and is a clean continuing resolution for the entire government and is something that is already over in the House and reportedly has the support of a majority of the Members of the House of Representatives.

The period of morning business has been extended until 4:00pm. Senators are permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

There will be no roll call votes today. The Senate will be in session this weekend and depending on House action, roll call votes are possible. We will give senators as much advance warning for when votes will occur but senators are encouraged to remain near Washington

The period of morning business has been extended until 4:00pm. Senators are permitted to speak therein for up to 10 minutes each.

There will be no roll call votes today.

The Senate will be in session this weekend and depending on House action, roll call votes are possible.

We will give senators as much advance warning for when votes will occur but senators are encouraged to remain near Washington.

WRAP UP

No ROLL CALL VOTES

LEGISLATIVE ITEMS

Discharged the Commerce Committee and passed H.R.1848, Small Airplane Revitalization Act of 2013 with a committee-reported substitute amendment.

Passed H.R.3095, To ensure that any new or revised requirement providing for the screening, testing, or treatment of individuals operating commercial motor vehicles for sleep disorders is adopted pursuant to a rulemaking proceeding, and for other purposes.

Adopted S.Res.227, A resolution to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the heroic rescue of Danish Jews during the Second World War by the Danish people.

Adopted S.Res.213, a resolution expressing support for the free and peaceful exercise of representative democracy in Venezuela and condemning violence and intimidation against the country’s political opposition with a committee-reported substitute amendment.

Adopted S.Res.265, Expressing support for the individuals impacted by the senseless attack at the Washington Navy Yard, and commending and thanking members of the military, law enforcement officers, first responders, and civil servants for their courage and professionalism.

Adopted S.Res.266, Designating the week of October 7 through 13, 2013, as “National Chess Week” to enhance awareness and encourage students and adults to engage in a game known to enhance critical thinking and problem-solving skills.

Began the Rule 14 process of H.R.3230, making continuing appropriations during a government shutdown to provide pay and allowances to members of the reserve components of the Armed Forces who perform inactive-duty training during such period.

Began the Rule 14 process of H.J.Res.72, making continuing appropriations for veterans benefits for fiscal year 2014, and for other purposes.

No EXECUTIVE ITEMS

********************************************************************************

Last Floor Action:
3:59:47 P.M. -H.J. Res. 85
On motion to table the appeal of the ruling of the chair Roll Call 521 – Yea and Nay vote pending.

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