Which Would You Choose … The Truth or Your Freedom?
For James Lee Woodard, the title of this blog is not a theoretical question.
He sat behind bars for more than 27 years for a murder he didn’t commit. At one point, he was offered parole if he would just admit his guilt. But he didn’t. Woodard chose to remain behind bars because he knew he didn’t commit the crime of which he was accused and convicted.
Beverly Ann Jones was found raped and murdered in a Dallas river bottom on Dec 31st, 1980. James Lee Woodard was her boyfriend. Police arrested him a few days after the murder. He was tried and convicted and sentenced to life in prison. From the beginning, he proclaimed his innocence and offered witnesses who could back up his story that he wasn’t with the victim the night of the crime. Year after year, he had appeals and filed court papers in hopes of getting someone, anyone, to listen. Each attempt failed. But Woodard said, “I knew in my heart that one day something would happen.”
That day came today. Twenty-seven years and four months after walking into prison, Woodard is finally a free man. A hearing today in a Dallas District Court allowed Woodard to be released. It came through an extraordinary set of circumstances. A group called the Innocence Project of Texas worked with the Dallas County District Attorney’s office to review his case. It’s part of a controversial pilot program District Attorney Craig Watkins got approved last year. The program started a“Conviction Integrity Unit” within the D.A.’s office to investigate claims of innocence. The Innocence Project says if it weren’t for this new unit, James Lee Woodard would still be sitting in a prison cell.
Instead, a semen sample found on the victim was located in storage and put through new DNA testing late last year. A forensic pathologist concluded the person who committed the rape was also most likely the person to have committed the murder. James Lee Woodard’s DNA didn’t match the sample. Both Woodard’s attorneys and the D.A. agreed Woodard should be freed. In court, Watkins offered Woodard an apology. Even District Judge Mark Stoltz seemed moved by the case, telling Woodard today he wasn’t receiving justice, rather, “You’re just getting the end of injustice.”
In court when asked about the first thing he wanted to do when he was released, Woodard said, “Breathe the fresh free air.” He faces an uncertain future. His mother died while he was still behind bars. A niece was there to meet him after he was freed. For now, Woodard says he’ll take a couple days, “…just to look at things, let it sink in.” Then he’ll start trying to help men like him who are still behind bars.
How pervasive these cases are is open to debate. But what’s certain is that whoever really did kill Beverly Ann Jones — never had to pay for it.
Photo courtesy of AP
Maggie Lineback is a field producer in FNC’s Southwest Bureau. Based in
Dallas, she has been on a variety of stories, covering everything from
shuttle launches, to illegal immigration, to destructive hurricanes. 
I think that I would elect prison over freedom if I were not guilty of the crime.
I certainly admire Mr. Woodard’s ability to stay in prison and not lie to be released. I am very sorry he had to serve the long, hard years. I hope he is well-compensated by Texas for all that was lost to him. I wish him the best.
I’m not sure I’d have the courage to hold steadfast to the truth. It is refreshing to see a man determined to hold onto the truth in this time of truth being dependant upon circumstances.
The free people of Texas owe this man a free life. I pray he gets it.
District Attorney Craig Watkins’ pioneering Conviction Integrity Unit is a model long overdue in the US Judicial system.
I am shocked and amazed at cases like this. How this man endured I will never know. As a free man, I’d be asking myself a million and one questions now. The biggest one is, “what do I do now?” If I were him, I would take it upon myself to join in with these special investigators that investigate innocent claims. What better person to have working with those people than someone who has lived it. Here’s to hoping that his transition into the free world is a slow and easy one and that he may be blessed with a great life from here on out.
Dave
The only reason I disagree with the death penalty is because of cases like this one. We can’t give him back the huge chunk of life we’ve torn from him, but at least he’s not dead, and we can try to compensate him for our terrible mistake. I hope it’s a lot.
How can you repay 27 years???????????????
So many things have passed him by, what should the compensation be?
He will never have kids, he has lost so much never to be regained
Birthdays, anniversaries, parties, children, love, careers, life in general.
He sat in a cage, an innocent man, removed from everything he ever had and loved.
I am curious as to why he was offered parole in exchange for a confession, maybe somebody knew something, and they were trying to cover their tracks.
This is beyond anything I can imagine, and I do not know what, if anything, can make it right.
May god bless him the rest of his years, may we find the real killer, and may we keep this from ever happening again.
This is common with Texas justice. The number of guilty cases directly correspond with the promotion cycles of detectives and police/DA persons. This state needs to be exposed for the gestapo tactics it employs in order to get a conviction, no matter what. Look at Houston’s fraudulent crime lab and the number of people it put in prison based upon false evidence last year. It was quashed in the media because too many politicians and the much ballayhooed police department were involved simultaneously. Those convicted falsely are still sitting in prison waiting for their cases to be overturned. Getting publicity for being “tough on crime” is the goal.
Texas justice system is corrupt to the core. What did they offer this man besides an apology? The jury and the DA should be locked up for 27 years to achieve justice, plus giving this man enough money that the state would have to borrow to pay the salaries of the justices, lawyers, police and others who convicted him on the shoddy evidence.