2012 June 27th News Article – Illinois Innocence Project takes 1998 Murder Case

THE CHARLES SMITH BLOG

WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012

Barton McNeil: Illinois Innocence Project takes 1998 murder case. New DNA testing could offer hope of exoneration. WJBC;

STORY: “Illinois Innocence Project takes 1998 murder case,” by reporter Ryan Denham, published by WJBC on May 4, 2012. (This case only recently came to my attention. HL);

GIST: “The Illinois Innocence Project is taking on a 1998 Bloomington homicide, hoping to exonerate convicted murderer Barton McNeil and expecting to get some help from new DNA evidence testing. TheIllinois Innocence Project is “in with both feet, in terms of giving this a thorough, thorough review,” said IIP Legal Director John Hanlon, who recently visited McNeil in prison. A “professional” referred the case to the IIP, but Hanlon declined to say who or describe their occupation……..McNeil was convicted of smothering his 3-year-old daughter, Christina. He’s now serving a life sentence in prison but has long maintained that his then-estranged girlfriend, Misook Nowlin, broke into his Bloomington apartment and killed Christina while he slept. But Nowlin, now known as Misook Wang, was arrested last fall and charged with staging an elaborate plot to lure her 70-year-old mother-in-law, Wenlan “Linda” Tyda, into traveling to the Twin Cities, where she was strangled. Tyda’s body was later dumped in a forest preserve near her home in the Joliet area. That connection was enough to prompt a second look at the 1998 case by police and the McLean County state’s attorney’s office. Detectives traveled to interview McNeil at Menard Correctional Center but later announced there were no new leads to pursue………Hanlon’s specialty is DNA cases. Ultimately, the goal in such cases is to file a new motion for DNA testing on certain evidence, Hanlon said. Generally speaking, DNA evidence exists in only about 10 percent of serious criminal felony cases, he said. “But we think it exists here,” he said. (If DNA testing is not possible, another IIP lawyer specializing in investigations would then likely get the case, Hanlon said.).”

The entire story can be found at:

http://wjbc.com/illinois-innocence-project-takes-1998-b-n-murder/

PUBLISHER’S NOTE:

I am monitoring this case. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments.

The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors – and into pushing for reform of Ontario’s forensic pediatric pathology system. The Star has a “topic” section which focuses on recent stories related to Dr. Charles Smith. It can be found at:

http://www.thestar.com/topic/charlessmith

Information on “The Charles Smith Blog Award”- and its nomination process – can be found at:

http://smithforensic.blogspot.com/2011/05/charles-smith-blog-award-nominations.html

Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: [email protected]

Harold Levy: Publisher; The Charles Smith Blog.

POSTED BY HAROLD LEVY AT WEDNESDAY, JUNE 27, 2012

EMAIL THISBLOGTHIS!SHARE TO TWITTERSHARE TO FACEBOOK

Newer PostOlder PostHome

BLOG NATION BADGE

HTTP://WWW.INNOCENCECOMMISSION-NC.GOV/

OpEdNews

The Full Feed from HuffingtonPost.com

SCOTUSblog

Wrongful Convictions Blog

The Defense Rests

Reason Magazine

Morton’s Musings

• Simple Justice
• The Truth About Forensic Science
• The Crime Report
• Off the Kuff

TalkLeft

Wobbly Warrior’s Blog

Jonathan Turley

Thestar.com – Home Page

The StandDown Texas Project

• Home – The Texas Observer
• Human Rights Now – Amnesty International USA Blog

Solitary Watch

Minnesota DWI Defense Blog

• Texas Monthly

Bench Notes: Forensic Science News

New York Criminal Defense

Grits for Breakfast

werewolf

Criminal Justice Degree Schools

FRONTLINE – Reports | PBS

Texas Death Penalty Blog

Yawning Bread on WordPress

• Capital Punishment Book

Terry Lenamon on the Death Penalty

Gamso – For the Defense

On SBS

Justice For Brad Cooper

• Texas Abolition Blog

Justice & Reform

perugia shock

BrokenSilence91 – When Justice Fails Blog

Forensic Scientist

Medical Misdiagnosis Research

• Be still, and know that I am God: I will be exalted among the heathen, I will be exalted in the earth.

Injustice in Perugia: the Wrongful Conviction of Amanda Knox & Raffaele Sollecito

Cameron Todd Willingham – Innocent and Executed

Change.org’s Criminal Justice Blog

• Monfils Conspiracy
• Convicting the Innocent
• Crime Scene Investigator (CSI) and forensics information

CBC | The National News

True/Slant Network Activity

Politics Daily

• Prison Blog – Genpop.org
• Texas Defender Service – Promoting a fair and just criminal justice system in Texas

The National Newspaper

• The Justice Project

Susan Chandler’s Blog

• Comments on: Top 50 Criminology Blogs
• The Stephanie Foundation – Our Mission
• Justice for David Camm
• Dallas DNA : Investigation Discovery
• Free Ernie Lopez

home | www.witnesstoinnocence.org | from death row to freedom | witness to innocence | philadelphia PA

The Innocence Project – Home

• The Exoneration Initiative
• florida innocence commission;
• Jeffrey_Havard
• Networked Knowledge – Homepage

THE CASE OF HANK SKINNER

Online Forensic Nursing Schools

False Justice Eight Myths that Convict the Innocent

• Truth in Justice

Actual Innocence Awareness Database

• Henry Keogh: Homepage
• North Carolina Innocence Inquiry Commission
• Wisconsin Exoneree Network – Home
• The Fingerprint Inquiry Scotland
• www.injusticeinperugia.org/#anchor_184
• Medill Innocence Project
• TexasAppleseed.net – Home
• goudgeinquiry.ca

Your Forensic Science Technician Jobs Site @ GetForensicScienceTechnicianJobs.com

Home

• Forensic Science Technician : Online Schools Guide
• Norfolk Four
• Lindy Chamberlain-Creighton | Home
• Cold a Long Time: An Alpine Mystery
• The Case of Henry Keogh
• ShirleyMcKie.com

FOLLOWERS

THE CHARLES SMITH BLOG

BLOG ARCHIVE

• ▼  2012 (316)
• ▼  June (64)
• § Brenda Waudby: (6): Two lines in the prosecutor’s…
• § Brenda Waudby: (5); Aftermath of the hearing: For…
• § Brenda Waudby (4): Justice Fuerst unexpectedly o…
• § Brenda Waudby: (3); Her extraordinary address to t…
• § Brenda Waudby:(2): Prosecutor Alison Wheeler’s …
• § Brenda Waudby: (1): The Peterborough Examiner on h…
• § Barton McNeil: Illinois Innocence Project takes 19…
• § Simon Harwood trial. (5): Court told that patholog…
• § Pamela Jacobazzi; Shaken baby syndrome case tak…
• § Brenda Waudby: “Truth, Lies and Confessions.” The …
• § David Gavitt: Arson; University of Michigan Law Sc…
• § Brenda Waudby: “Truth, lies and Confessions.” Set-…
• § Bennett Barbour: Virginia; His lawyers ask why st…
• § Coroner’s autopsies: Ontario apologizes for keepi…
• § Brenda Waudby: Must watch! “CBC National” doc …
• § DNA testing (Virginia); Decades old biological sam…
• § Sandy Willliams: The confrontation clause and DNA…
• § Simon Harwood trial: (4). Case involves discredite…
• § Hank Skinner. (4); Missing Jacket. Missing Justice…
• § Simon Harwood trial. (3); (Case involves discredit…
• § Hank Skinner: (3); Missing key evidence (blood an…
• § Lindy Chamberlain: Aftermath of Inquest: The human…
• § Simon Harwood: Trial. (2); (Tainted pathologist P…
• § Bulletin: Sandy Williams. (Illinois); High court s…
• § Bulletin: Simon Harwood; (1); Manslaughter trial …
• § Hank Skinner: (2); Key Evidence Vanishes in Conde…
• § Hank Skinner (1); : Alarming discovery: Key eviden…
• § Lindy Chamberlain: Inquest aftermath; “She’s Inno…
• § Bulletin: Kerry Max Cook; Preserved frozen DNA E…
• § Lindy Chamberlain: Inquest aftermath; Blood expert…
• § Fingerprint evidence in the courtroom: Not fact bu…
• § Manuel Velez: Saved from death row because of mi…
• § Bulletin: Leighton Hay: Ontario: Hair holds key i…
• § Bulletin: Rey Moore: Ohio; High Court denies his…
• § Lindy Chamberlain: Inquest aftermath: Marlborough-…
• § Bulletin: Kristine Bunch: Indiana; Arson case; Att…
• § Bulletin: Colin Matchim; Newfoundland. “Shaken bab…
• § David Gavitt: Commentator says it’s high time for …
• § Lindy Chamberlain: Inquest aftermath; “The Age” e…
• § Lindy Chamberlain: Inquest aftermath: Complete tex…
• § Former DA John Bradley: Texas; How justice can c…
• § Lindy Chamberlain: The (official) truth at last; …
• § William Amor: Junk arson science case? Innocence …
• § James Kluppelberg: A perfect storm: Junk (arson) …
• § Lindy Chamberlain: Countdown. (2); Officer at cam…
• § Hank Skinner: David Protess asks what took Texas s…
• § Hank Skinner: DNA tests; Dallas Morning News say…
• § Lindy Chamberlain: Countdown to Tuesday’s inquest …
• § Hank Skinner: Amarillo Globe-News says DNA tests …
• § Bulletin: Drayton Witt: Arizona Justice Project Ac…
• § Bulletin: Michael Arena: Court orders him freed be…
• § Bulletin: George Allen: St. Louis: Decision pendin…
• § Bulletin: David Gavitt: Mich. Yet another exonerat…
• § Bulletin: Govinda Prasad Mainali: Japan: DNA test …
• § Bennett Barbour: “Wrongful Convictions Blog” messa…
• § Brenda Waudby: Extraordinary revelations crucial t…
• § Bennett Barbour: Dahlia Lithwick’s exposee of Virg…
• § Bennett Barbour: He has been granted a writ of act…
• § “Blawg Review.” “Wrongful Convictions Blog” provid…
• § Michael Morton: DA Bradley’s defeat seen as 1st …
• § Bulletin: Michael Arena; To be freed as a result…
• § Bulletin: lindy Chamberlain: Inquest verdict set f…
• § Bulletin: Hank Skinner; Major development; Texas …
• § Back in action: Michael Morton; Cameron Todd Willi…
• ►  May (34)
• ►  April (69)
• ►  March (51)
• ►  February (48)
• ►  January (50)
• ►  2011 (830)
• ►  2010 (766)
• ►  2009 (465)
• ►  2008 (371)
• ►  2007 (103)

ABOUT ME

HAROLD LEVY

My interest in forensic pathology began with my Toronto Star investigative reporting into once famed since disgraced former doctor Charles Smith. I began this Blog after retiring from the Star in 2006 in order to follow the aftermath into the independent Goudge inquiry into many of Smith’s cases. I have now begun to focus on cases involving flawed pathology and flawed pathologists no matter where they occur (the recent Amanda Knox prosecution in Italy, for example) and am fascinated by the interest in the Blog from people in countries throughout the world. In another development, my interest in “junk science” “pseudo-experts” and the miscarriages of justice they all too often cause has drawn me deeply into the on-going U.S. death penalty debate where so many troubling cases involve issues relating to DNA and other developments in the world of forensic science. For all of this I rely on my experience as a reporter at the Toronto Star, my work as a lawyer in Ontario’s criminal courts, and my abhorrence of injustice. Please send cases and developments which may be of interest to this Blog to [email protected]. Read on! Harold Levy.

VIEW MY COMPLETE PROFILE

HTTP://WWW.INNOCENCECOMMISSION-NC.GOV/

THE FULL FEED FROM HUFFINGTONPOST.COM

‘TRIASSIC PARQ’ REVIEW: OFF-BROADWAY PLAY IS DEEPLY FUNNY

30 MINUTES AGO

SCOTUSBLOG

THURSDAY ROUND-UP

36 MINUTES AGO

WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS BLOG

THURSDAY’S QUICK CLICKS…

58 MINUTES AGO

THE DEFENSE RESTS

BOOK REVIEW – ECONOMICS UNMASKED

58 MINUTES AGO

MORTON’S MUSINGS

REGISTER CELLPHONES, NOT GUNS …

2 HOURS AGO

• THE TRUTH ABOUT FORENSIC SCIENCE

ISSUES IN EXPLOSIVES RESIDUE ANALYSIS: CONCLUSION

2 HOURS AGO

• OFF THE KUFF

YVONNE GUTIERREZ: REPUBLICAN SUPPORT FOR WOMEN’S HEALTH?

2 HOURS AGO

TALKLEFT

NZ COURT RULES KIM DOTCOM SEARCH WARRANTS ILLEGAL

3 HOURS AGO

WOBBLY WARRIOR’S BLOG

WHY CAN’T EX-FELONS VOTE? WASHINGTONPOST.COM

8 HOURS AGO

• HUMAN RIGHTS NOW – AMNESTY INTERNATIONAL USA BLOG

ARIZONA’S IMMIGRATION LAW: 3 SECTIONS DOWN, 1 TO GO

16 HOURS AGO

SOLITARY WATCH

THE “TORTURE OF ISOLATION” GAINS MEDIA ATTENTION

17 HOURS AGO

WEREWOLF

HAS THE PEAK OIL IDEA… PEAKED?

1 DAY AGO

CRIMINAL JUSTICE DEGREE SCHOOLS

DON’T GET ‘FLAMED’

2 DAYS AGO

FRONTLINE – REPORTS | PBS

DOLLARS AND DENTISTS

2 DAYS AGO

YAWNING BREAD ON WORDPRESS

SPH FALLS OUT OF OPEN TRAIN DOOR

3 DAYS AGO

• CAPITAL PUNISHMENT BOOK

ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT OVERTURN DEATH PENALTY LAW–ALMOST

4 DAYS AGO

TERRY LENAMON ON THE DEATH PENALTY

ARKANSAS SUPREME COURT FINDS ARKANSAS DEATH PENALTY STATUTE UNCONSTITUTIONAL

4 DAYS AGO

ON SBS

EXONERATIONS: BRIAN BANKS DIDN’T DO IT; THE DINGO DID

6 DAYS AGO

JUSTICE FOR BRAD COOPER

MORE EVIDENCE THAT BRAD COOPER WAS FRAMED: PROSECUTION EXPERTS’ TESTIMONY ABOUT THE GOOGLE SEARCH AND TAMPERING

1 WEEK AGO

JUSTICE & REFORM

STEPHANIE STROLLE, COUNSEL FOR TEXAS DISCIPLINARY COMMISSION ORDERED TO REPLEAD AND AMEND HER PETITIONS V. THERESA CABALLERO AND STUART LEEDS; EL PASO TIMES REPORTER MARTY SCHLADEN LEAVES HEARING EARLY AND MISSES LEGAL POINT, YELLS ACROSS COURT ROOM

2 WEEKS AGO

PERUGIA SHOCK

PAYPAL EMAIL LINK USD

2 WEEKS AGO

BROKENSILENCE91 – WHEN JUSTICE FAILS BLOG

JACQUES RIVERA, MAN WHO SPENT 21 YEARS IN PRISON ON WRONGFUL CONVICTION, SUES CHICAGO POLICE

2 WEEKS AGO

MEDICAL MISDIAGNOSIS RESEARCH

ILLINOISE INNOCENCE PROJECT WORKS TO FREE PAM JACOBAZZI IN ALLEDGED SHAKEN BABY CASE

3 WEEKS AGO

• BE STILL, AND KNOW THAT I AM GOD: I WILL BE EXALTED AMONG THE HEATHEN, I WILL BE EXALTED IN THE EARTH.

NEW TRAIL HEARING

3 WEEKS AGO

INJUSTICE IN PERUGIA: THE WRONGFUL CONVICTION OF AMANDA KNOX & RAFFAELE SOLLECITO

IS RUDY GUEDE’S 16-YEAR SENTENCE JUSTICE FOR MEREDITH KERCHER?

3 WEEKS AGO

CHANGE.ORG’S CRIMINAL JUSTICE BLOG

MAKE THE CALL! STOP THE TORTURE OF SPECIAL NEEDS CHILDREN IN MASSACHUSETTS

5 WEEKS AGO

• MONFILS CONSPIRACY

REQUEST FOR A SHORT SYNOPSIS

2 MONTHS AGO

• CONVICTING THE INNOCENT

APPEAL OUTCOME

3 MONTHS AGO

• CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATOR (CSI) AND FORENSICS INFORMATION

BY: JACOB44449999

4 MONTHS AGO

CBC | THE NATIONAL NEWS

CHASING CURES

5 MONTHS AGO

POLITICS DAILY

OBAMA: ALLIES WILL SOON TAKE CONTROL OF LIBYAN CAMPAIGN

1 YEAR AGO

• TEXAS DEFENDER SERVICE – PROMOTING A FAIR AND JUST CRIMINAL JUSTICE SYSTEM IN TEXAS

TOP NEWS

1 YEAR AGO

THE NATIONAL NEWSPAPER

MUSHARRAF UNVEILS PARTY IN NEW BID FOR POWER

1 YEAR AGO

• THE JUSTICE PROJECT

TEXAS PANEL RECOMMENDS CRITICAL REFORMS TO PREVENT WRONGFUL CONVICTIONS

1 YEAR AGO

• HENRY KEOGH: HOMEPAGE
• THE STEPHANIE FOUNDATION – OUR MISSION
• THE FINGERPRINT INQUIRY SCOTLAND
• JUSTICE FOR DAVID CAMM
• FREE ERNIE LOPEZ

HOME | WWW.WITNESSTOINNOCENCE.ORG | FROM DEATH ROW TO FREEDOM | WITNESS TO INNOCENCE | PHILADELPHIA PA

• JEFFREY_HAVARD

ONLINE FORENSIC NURSING SCHOOLS

YOUR FORENSIC SCIENCE TECHNICIAN JOBS SITE @ GETFORENSICSCIENCETECHNICIANJOBS.COM

HOME

• NORFOLK FOUR

ACTUAL INNOCENCE AWARENESS DATABASE

• LINDY CHAMBERLAIN-CREIGHTON | HOME
• THE CASE OF HENRY KEOGH

HTTP://TRUESLANT.COM/

OPEDNEWS

NO JULY 4TH CELEBRATION FOR ME SHOULD OBAMACARE BE STRUCK DOWN

14 MINUTES AGO

REASON MAGAZINE

IN PRAISE OF DISCRIMINATION IN THE HEALTH INSURANCE MARKET

1 HOUR AGO

• SIMPLE JUSTICE

THE SIX MONTH SMILE

2 HOURS AGO

• THE CRIME REPORT

AZ COURT: ANALYZING TEEN DEFENDANT DNA IS IMPROPER WARRANTLESS SEARCH

2 HOURS AGO

JONATHAN TURLEY

SUPREME COURT TO RULE ON HEALTH CARE AND FREE SPEECH

8 HOURS AGO

THE STANDDOWN TEXAS PROJECT

ARIZONA EXECUTES

15 HOURS AGO

• HOME – THE TEXAS OBSERVER

THE WRITING ON THE WALL

15 HOURS AGO

MINNESOTA DWI DEFENSE BLOG

MINNESOTA SUPREME COURT SOURCE CODE DECISION: FIRST IMPRESSIONS

17 HOURS AGO

• TEXAS MONTHLY

COURT OF LAST RESORT

17 HOURS AGO

BENCH NOTES: FORENSIC SCIENCE NEWS

SO YOU WANT TO HIRE AN EXPERT WITNESS

20 HOURS AGO

NEW YORK CRIMINAL DEFENSE

WAIVER OF APPEAL OF CONVICTION IS NOT NECESSARILY A WAIVER OF APPEAL OF SENTENCE

21 HOURS AGO

GRITS FOR BREAKFAST

MORE LITIGATION OVER SUMMER HEAT IN TEXAS PRISONS: WRONGFUL DEATH SUIT FILED

1 DAY AGO

TEXAS DEATH PENALTY BLOG

A GRAPHIC ON POLICY BRUALITY AND YOUR RIGHTS

2 DAYS AGO

GAMSO – FOR THE DEFENSE

NO, YOU’RE OUT OF ORDER

5 DAYS AGO

DEFENDING PEOPLE

WHAT’S AN ONLYA?

2 WEEKS AGO

• TEXAS ABOLITION BLOG

BOTH SIDES IN SKINNER CASE ASK HIGH COURT FOR DNA TESTING

2 WEEKS AGO

FORENSIC SCIENTIST

HOW MUCH WAS OUTSTANDING IN LEGAL AID??

2 WEEKS AGO

POLITICS DAILY

OBAMA: ALLIES WILL SOON TAKE CONTROL OF LIBYAN CAMPAIGN

1 YEAR AGO

• PRISON BLOG – GENPOP.ORG

PLANTATION INDUSTRIES/MODERN DAY SLAVERY, INC.

1 YEAR AGO

SUSAN CHANDLER’S BLOG

WELL-KNOWN P.I. ASKS GOVERNOR TO INTERVENE IN DEATH ROW CASE

1 YEAR AGO

• COMMENTS ON: TOP 50 CRIMINOLOGY BLOGS

BY: FORENSIC 4CAST NAMED ONE OF 50 TOP CRIMINOLOGY BLOGS : FORENSIC 4CAST

2 YEARS AGO

• WISCONSIN EXONEREE NETWORK – HOME
• INNOCENCE PROJECT: WEST AUSTRALIA;

THE INNOCENCE PROJECT – HOME

• THE EXONERATION INITIATIVE
• MEDILL INNOCENCE PROJECT
• TEXASAPPLESEED.NET – HOME

THE CASE OF HANK SKINNER

• EVENTS

HOME

• FORENSIC SCIENCE TECHNICIAN : ONLINE SCHOOLS GUIDE
• TRUTH IN JUSTICE
• NETWORKED KNOWLEDGE – HOMEPAGE

About Author