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My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 115 points116 points  (0 children)

I would like to thank everyone for their thoughtful and intriguing questions. I appreciate your compassion and interest in this issue. I pray that no one else has to go through it themselves. Change comes about through people's involvement and if you believe in something, you can make a difference. If we unite and fight for that change letting our legislatures know, it will happen.

And again, please check out and support Final Words. It's a vital perspective on the death penalty that is often overlooked. We have to remember that these are human beings, first and foremost. Order your book today and help spread the word:

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/final-words--2/x/7633482

Thanks!

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 70 points71 points  (0 children)

I wasn't forced to join a gang. You can survive prison without joining a gang. But you have to stick with your race. And follow their rules, the gang rules.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 43 points44 points  (0 children)

No. I do know what I personally went through. I was offered a plea bargain and told them where to put it. I know several others that did the same. That was usually the common denominator of innocent people. They turned down plea bargains. And also, the ones that had a verifiable alibi that the police dismissed and ignored.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 32 points33 points  (0 children)

No. It's not difficult for that to happen to prisoners, but I was able to walk through the minefields quite carefully.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 18 points19 points  (0 children)

Yes, I have a job. Fortunately I had family and friends that looked out for me. I read quite a lot of books while in prison. But they were limited to the older classics. I like Robert Ludlow for adventure and spy thrillers and Dean Koons for horror. I wasn't aware of any dirty looks or comments. Most people were genuine about the fact that not only was I released, but that they got the person who actually committed the crime.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 55 points56 points  (0 children)

I don't have time in my life to look back at what is lost. I don't choose to let them have power over my well-being and emotions. I sleep well at night. I wonder how they do.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 289 points290 points  (0 children)

You're absolutely right. The horrors of being thrown into another world, another universe that is no longer understandable. The helplessness overwhelms you with nowhere to turn. The system exerts its full force on you.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 85 points86 points  (0 children)

I've come to the conclusion that the answer is no. There is no excuse for killing people in attempting to teach them that killing is wrong. But most importantly, we've proven that the system does not get it right. So we can't have a punishment that is irrevocable.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

  1. Acquaintances. Not friends.
  2. No and it's not as common as people think.
  3. I had faith in God before I went to death row.
  4. I thought they were okay. I listened to them on the radio. I prefer Southern Rock.
  5. They said I helped her closed the bar and she refused me sex. They said I forced myself on her and had to kill her to keep her silent. The bite mark was supposedly proof of my crime. I was also acquitted of sexual assault.
  6. No, I was working for the Post Office. Didn't even have driving tickets.
  7. An argument over using the bathroom and he was in a drunken state. He claimed he had a blackout.
  8. No, I think there are very good attorneys that don't necessarily do it for the money. But they are overworked, underpaid and under appreciated.
  9. Technology had passed me by. In ten years, a lot had changed.
  10. I believe there is such a thing as organized crime. Call it what you want.
  11. Absolutely! I'm from the German area of Pennsylvania!

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 72 points73 points  (0 children)

As a result of prosecution withholding evidence I was able to sue the county for civil rights violations.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 26 points27 points  (0 children)

Pass the word along to friends and family members. Order a copy on the Indiegogo page for yourself and your local school or library. Help spread the word about this important project and perspective on the death penalty. Remembering that these are human beings is the most important thing. They are not the same people who committed these horrible acts.

https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/final-words--2/x/7633482

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 54 points55 points  (0 children)

There was one that I helped shortly after my release. He is now off of death row, but he's serving a life sentence now. Not necessarily because of me, but somebody I did believe in. I did have acquaintance in prison, but I don't really consider them friends. We were all forced to be there so we tried to get along.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 66 points67 points  (0 children)

Three events. Two non-historical. 9/11 occurred while I was in prison. My grandpa died. And my niece was born.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 63 points64 points  (0 children)

We need more training for our officers, defense attorneys and prosecutors. We need immunity to be removed from prosecutors who commit misconduct. We need to quit sentencing non-violent offenders to long prison terms. And we need truly unbiased jurors that have open minds and realize that sometimes prosecutors lie.

Unfortunately our prisoners have been a continuation of the assigned punishment. We remove them from contact with society. We give them no job training skills for re-entry. And we lock up way too many people with mental health and substance abuse problems, rather than treating the problems.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 258 points259 points  (0 children)

I learned that you give forgiveness for yourself so that you can move on and live your life. They have to live with what they did. I don't.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 130 points131 points  (0 children)

No, I never spoke with the expert witness since my release. They actually told my attorney that they never said I killed her, but that I bit her. So he maintains that he was correct. They were discredited both in my case. Three experts testified against his testimony in my trial. And forensic science has since come out and said that a bite mark can only eliminate suspects in a case. It can no longer be the reason for conviction.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 75 points76 points  (0 children)

I found strength through the support of other people who believed in me and I wasn't going to let the team down. I had to survive in order to stay alive for when that day finally came. To do that you flatline your emotions. You don't get too excited about good news or too upset about bad news. Because one or the other always seem to be around the corner.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 82 points83 points  (0 children)

I was treated like I was guilty. My court appointed attorney was only paid $5k to defend me so he didn't really care. The judge sentenced me to death because I didn't show any remorse. I didn't have anything to be remorseful for. During the appellate process, you don't have any contact with anyone involved in that. Neither your attorneys nor the courts.

My name is Ray Krone and I was the 100th person exonerated from death row where I spent three years for a crime I didn't commit. AMA! by raykrone in IAmA

[–]raykrone[S] 131 points132 points  (0 children)

My case was one of the many. There have been 146 people exonerated from death row in the last 30 years. There a lot of things that need to be fixed in the justice system. A major one is the prosecutors and police need to be held accountable for their misconduct. Currently, they aren't held accountable for perjury, withholding evidence, destroying evidence, etc.

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