In December 1974, a liquor store robbery in Edmond, Oklahoma left one woman dead and another seriously wounded. Within weeks, two young Black men — Glynn Ray Simmons and Donnie Miller — were arrested, tried, and sentenced to death, based largely on a single eyewitness identification. But there was a problem: the investigation was riddled with flaws, crucial evidence was withheld, and the men had alibis that were never properly examined.
This is the extraordinary true story of Glynn Ray Simmons, who would go on to spend 48 years behind bars — the longest known wrongful conviction in American history. In this multi-part Crime at Bedtime episode, we uncover the botched police work, suppressed documents, and systemic failures that stole nearly five decades from an innocent man. From his time on death row to the slow unraveling of the truth, this case is a harrowing journey through the justice system — and a stark reminder of how easily it can get things terribly wrong.
If you think wrongful convictions are rare… think again.
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