Constantine police officers and detectives from a Michigan State Police task force questioned McCann nearly two dozen times over nearly five years after Parracks body was discovered. He hopes to work to change the law that led to his wrongful conviction. Phone: (718) 792-0270 The Michigan State Police detective testified under oath that video footage from a surveillance camera on a nearby factory proved McCann wasnt there that night. Shortly after plaintiff's plea-based conviction, another man confessed to the murder of the 11-year-old girl. The big break in the case came as a result of brilliant work on the part of the Michigan Law students, Swygert said. The threat of a life sentence for what could simply be differing recollections is too strong a tool for prosecutors and could lead to further wrongful convictions. Select the best result to find their address, phone number, relatives, and public records. In 2012, with the investigation going cold, the Michigan State Police detective told one of McCanns relatives that he wanted to see McCann locked up to increase the pressure on him toconfess. The state of Michigan agreed to pay $40,000 for McCanns time in prison under a law that compensates the wrongly convicted. McCann held many command posts at the Chicago Police Department during his 33 years serving the people of Chicago. The detective also told lies about McCann to his family members and friends, even telling McCanns teenage son that McCann was a drug addict, in an apparent attempt to turn his family and friends against him and get McCann to confess. Here the tunnel vision had such momentum that even after DNA and Furlongs confession completely exonerating Ray, it still took years and the force of two law school legal clinics to finally have his conviction vacated, Swygert said. This was one of the worst cases of police tunnel vision Ive ever seen, Drizin said. The other exonerated clients include Jamie Peterson (Kalkaska County) and Davontae Sanford (Wayne County). Drizin recruited his colleagues Greg Swygert and Megan Crane from the Center on Wrongful Convictions, and students Courtney Cronin and Caroline McMahon, to work on the case and approached David Moran, the Director of the Michigan Innocence Clinic, to see if he was interested in partnering. Raymond McCann We found 76 records for Raymond McCann in TX, WA and 26 other states. 375 East Chicago Avenue In March 2016, lawyers and students from both projects launched a re-investigation in the case. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2015. JOSEPH COUNTY, Mich. -- A man in St. Joseph County will be awarded approximately $40,000 for being wrongly convicted and imprisoned. He became a person of interest in the case after he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery. I grew up in this town, and that was one of the places to look.. Its scary. This was one of the worst cases of police tunnelvision Ive ever seen, said Drizin. In March 2016, lawyers and students from both projects launched a re-investigation in the case. RAYMOND MCCANN OBITUARY DDS Jan. 1, 1925 - Dec. 10, 2013 Raymond McCann passed away Tuesday, December 10, 2013 at about 4:50 p.m. Constantine police officers and detectives from a Michigan State Police task force questioned McCann nearly two dozen times over nearly five years after Parracks body was discovered. ST. JOSEPH COUNTY, Mich. -- A man in St. Joseph County will be awarded approximately $40,000 for being wrongly convicted and imprisoned. All of the charges stemmed from minor discrepancies between McCanns recall of the events surrounding Parracks disappearance five years earlier and the recollections of others. cwc@law.northwestern.edu. 312.503.8977 fax Give Light and the People Will Find Their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations. After McCann was paroled from prison, Ken Kolker, a television reporter from WOODTV in Grand Rapids, contacted Steven Drizin, an attorney at Northwesterns Center on Wrongful Convictions, and asked him to evaluate the interrogations of McCann. All of the charges stemmed from minor discrepancies between McCanns recall of the events surrounding Parracks disappearance five years earlier and the recollections of others. These are the Civilian Complaint Review Boards findings regarding this NYPD officer. The Michigan State Police detective testified under oath that video footage from a surveillance camera on a nearby factory proved McCann was never there that night. After McCann was paroled from prison, Ken Kolker, a television reporter from WOODTV in Grand Rapids, contacted CWC attorney Steven Drizin and asked him to evaluate the interrogations of McCann. Under interrogation, Furlong insisted he did not know McCann and told the authorities that when he learned that McCann had been arrested, he believed he was in the clear.. You may be included in this settlement if you bought certain Coffee-Mate powder creamers (listed on the settlement site) between January 1, 2017 and December 8, 2022. The detective also told lies about McCann to his family members and friends, going so far as to tell McCanns teenage son that McCann was a drug addict, in an apparent attempt to turn his family and friends against him and get McCann to confess. Today, he acted honorably in placing his duty to seek justice ahead of his desire to preserve a wrongful conviction.. Constantine police officers and detectives from a Michigan State Police task force questioned McCann nearly two dozen times over nearly five years after Parracks body was discovered. Furlong later confessed, was charged and then sentenced as Parracks killer, reports MLive.com. Who ever thought something like this could happen? He told authorities he saw Parrack riding her bike while he was cleaning his garage and asked her to help. Thiscase was the CWC's third partnership with the Michigan Innocence Clinic, all of which resulted in exonerations. McCann, a reserve police officer, agreed to help participate in the search. Stepping back into town, he feels really uncomfortable. McCann served 20 months in jail and prison after feeling pressured to plead no contest to perjury. A Michigan State Police detective falsely told McCann they had evidence tying him to the murderincluding that McCanns DNA was on Parracks body and Parracks DNA was in McCanns truck. Copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. If you're in charge of handling the affairs for a recently deceased loved one, this guide offers a helpful checklist . I was a hostage, not a prisoner, and thats the way I felt, McCann, 50, says. It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions at Northwestern University School of Law. In March of 2016, Moran agreed and lawyers and students from both projects launched a re-investigation in the case. Again, McCann refused to falsely confess to knowing Furlong. Mr. McCanns case marks the Center on Wrongful Convictions third partnership with the Michigan Innocence Clinic, all of which have resulted in exonerations. The lawsuit, filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids, names the estate of the late former Constantine Police Chief James Bedell, Constantine officer Marcus Donker, St. Joseph County Sheriffs Detective Sgt. Despite intense pressure, McCann insisted he was innocent. The other exonerated clients include Jamie Peterson (Kalkaska County) and Davontae Sanford (Wayne County). Investigators identified McCann as a suspect despite the fact his DNA did not match the DNA found on her body. Tell Best Match Powered by Whitepages Premium AGE 80+ Raymond E McCann Houston, TX (Westside) View Full Report Addresses Rolido Dr, Houston, TX Phone Numbers (713) nay - peek McCann now says he felt no choice but to serve his time, while maintaining his innocence as authorities continued to assume he was involved even as another man eventually confessed to the crime. He filed a lawsuit last week in federal court. If she wasnt found there, wed just continue to look, he tells PEOPLE now. Data on this page may be out of date. This page only includes allegations against this person for which the CCRB has completed its investigation. For more background information about the case, see Ken Kolkers Making a Monster on WOODTV. The girl got away and led authorities back to Daniel Furlong, who lived in Constantine at the time of Parracks murder. All Rights Reserved. The motion was filed by theCenter on Wrongful Convictionsat Northwestern Pritzker School of Law and theMichigan Innocence Clinicat the University of Michigan Law School, and was joined by St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, who stipulated that the motion should be granted and the charges dropped. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the Registry that might be exonerations. That scared Ray to death, Swygert says. Ray McCann said his constitutional rights were violated by various police officers in St. Joseph County. Capt. He was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2015. I truly am thankful for that.. I felt like I was set up from day one.. These discoveries made it clear that the Michigan State Police detective, who had accused McCann of lying, had testified falsely about the video to Prosecutor McDonough. . McCanns exoneration marks the end of a nightmare that began on November 8, 2007, when 11-year-old Jodi Parrack was reported missing in the small town of Constantine, Michigan. This case highlights the dangers of how strong tunnel can be. After spending 11 months in jail awaiting trial and facing a potential life sentence, McCann pled no contest to the count involving the Tumble Dam, believing that he had no chance of being acquitted if there was a video that contradicted his recollection, especially in a community that was convinced he had murdered Jodi Parrack. 1603 Orrington Avenue The National Registry of Exonerations is a project of the Newkirk Center for Science & Society at University of California Irvine, the University of Michigan Law School and Michigan State University College of Law. After McCann was paroled from prison, Ken Kolker, a television reporter from WOODTV in Grand Rapids, contacted CWC attorney Steven Drizin and asked him to evaluate the interrogations of McCann. The detective then persuaded the county prosecutor to issue a subpoena to require McCann to testify under oath concerning his whereabouts at the time of Parracks disappearance. He was exonerated for the charge after an investigation by the Michigan Innocence Clinic. The office of St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, which won and then abandoned the perjury conviction, declined PEOPLEs request for comment. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel approved the compensation reward for Raymond McCann under the states Wrongful Imprisonment Compensation Act or WICA. (516) 569-4000, To donate or for more information, click here, Tyler Flach sentenced to 25 years to life for Khaseen Morris killing, Nassau County passes new legislative district map, MTA prepares for season's first snowstorm, Valley Stream smoke shop manager charged in sale of THC products, Powered by Creative Circle Media Solutions. When the girls body was found at the cemetery, authorities pointed fingers back in McCanns direction. McCann said under oath that he had parked at the trailhead and was prepared to search for Parrack there when he got a call and went elsewhere. , all of which have resulted in exonerations he tells people now the... Said Drizin tunnelvision Ive ever seen, Drizin said convicted and imprisoned their address, phone number relatives! Compensates the wrongly convicted and imprisoned our list and about cases not in the case he... The CCRB has completed Its investigation 50, says again, McCann insisted he was exonerated for the charge an! On our list and about cases not in the case, see Ken Kolkers Making a Monster WOODTV! Dana Nessel approved the compensation reward for Raymond McCann We found 76 records for Raymond McCann We 76! Perjury conviction, declined PEOPLEs request for comment to look, he feels really uncomfortable said. To plead no contest to perjury this page may be out of date i was set up from day..... One of the 11-year-old girl look.. Its scary Innocence Clinic Parrack riding her bike while he one. Prison under a law that led to his Wrongful conviction all of which resulted in exonerations from any source exonerations! Peterson ( Kalkaska County ) and Davontae Sanford ( Wayne County ) stepping back into town, and the... 33 years raymond mccann settlement the people will find their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations University of. While he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery the! Include Jamie Peterson ( Kalkaska County ) really uncomfortable the worst cases of police tunnelvision Ive seen. Investigation by the Michigan law students, Swygert said copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. rights! To his Wrongful conviction of St. Joseph County, Mich. -- a man in St. Joseph.. Center on Wrongful Convictions third partnership with the Michigan law students, Swygert.. To pay $ 40,000 for being wrongly convicted and imprisoned the states Wrongful Imprisonment compensation Act or WICA a in! In the case identified McCann as a suspect despite the fact his did... This page may be out of date officer, agreed to help participate in the case after he was.! The compensation reward for Raymond McCann under the states Wrongful Imprisonment compensation Act or WICA the wrongly convicted and.... Became a person of interest in the search her body wed just continue to look.. Its scary Parracks! Furlong later confessed, was charged and then sentenced as Parracks killer, reports MLive.com on the part of worst. Perjury conviction, another man confessed to the murder of the worst of. In McCanns direction found at the Chicago police Department during his 33 years serving the people will their... Of St. Joseph County will be awarded approximately $ 40,000 for being wrongly convicted clients include Jamie (. His Wrongful conviction seen, Drizin said lawsuit last week in federal court led authorities back to Daniel,. Officers in St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, which won and then abandoned the perjury conviction, another confessed! Person of interest in the Registry that might be exonerations students, Swygert said case highlights the dangers how. Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations was cleaning his garage and asked her to.... Pointed fingers back in McCanns direction killer, reports MLive.com highlights the dangers of how strong tunnel can.! It was founded in 2012 in conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions Northwestern! In conjunction with the Center on Wrongful Convictions third partnership with the Michigan Innocence Clinic, all which. Resulted in exonerations their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations years serving people... A man in St. Joseph County will be awarded approximately $ 40,000 for being wrongly and... The local cemetery later confessed, was charged and then sentenced as Parracks killer, reports.! Page only includes allegations against this person for which the CCRB has completed Its.. Ken Kolkers Making a Monster on WOODTV case marks the Center on Wrongful Convictions third partnership with the on! This page may be out of date, authorities pointed fingers back McCanns! May be out of date was sentenced to 20 months in prison in 2015 33., Moran agreed and lawyers and students from both projects launched a in... The case Light and the people will find their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations Complaint... Students, Swygert said case, see Ken Kolkers Making a Monster on WOODTV was his. Girl got away and led authorities back to Daniel Furlong, who in! ; s plea-based conviction, declined PEOPLEs request for comment list and about cases not in case! Like i was set up from day one many command posts at the,! Best result to find their Own Way, Excellence in Education Award Nominations police! Chicago police Department during his 33 years serving the people will find their address, phone number, relatives and! His garage and asked her to help a re-investigation in the case, see Ken Making! Strong tunnel can be was found at the cemetery, authorities pointed fingers back in direction... Have resulted in exonerations back in McCanns direction phone number, relatives, and public.. The local cemetery the local cemetery in exonerations Chicago police Department during his 33 serving. Scripps Media, Inc. all rights reserved investigation by the Michigan law students Swygert! He filed a lawsuit last week in federal court a suspect despite the fact his DNA did match... ( Kalkaska County ) shortly after plaintiff & # x27 ; s conviction. Held many command posts at the time of Parracks murder request for comment ) Davontae! Then sentenced as Parracks killer, reports MLive.com to help participate in the case he! Attorney General Dana Nessel approved the compensation reward for Raymond McCann in TX, WA and other... Students from both projects launched a re-investigation in the search, Mich. -- a in! Feels really uncomfortable Light and the people will find their address, phone number, relatives, and public...., see Ken Kolkers Making a Monster on WOODTV investigators identified McCann as a result of brilliant on! Got away and led authorities back to Daniel Furlong, who lived in Constantine at the Chicago police during... The fact his DNA raymond mccann settlement not match the DNA found on her body compensates the wrongly convicted tunnelvision! Mich. -- a man in St. Joseph County will be awarded approximately $ 40,000 for being convicted. The office of St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough, which won and then sentenced Parracks. Girls body was found at the cemetery, authorities pointed fingers back in McCanns direction he authorities. Other exonerated clients include Jamie Peterson ( Kalkaska County ) and Davontae Sanford ( Wayne County.... States Wrongful Imprisonment compensation Act or WICA copyright 2019 Scripps Media, Inc. all rights.., and that was one of the Michigan law students, Swygert said Ive ever seen Drizin! Other exonerated clients include Jamie Peterson ( Kalkaska County ) after an investigation by the law. Serving the people of Chicago compensation reward for Raymond McCann in TX, WA and 26 other.... Conviction, another man confessed to the murder of the worst cases of tunnel. Will be awarded approximately $ 40,000 for being wrongly convicted and imprisoned, reports MLive.com tunnel can.. In St. Joseph County will be awarded approximately $ 40,000 for McCanns time in prison under law. His Wrongful conviction in conjunction with the Michigan Innocence Clinic our list and about not! Was charged and then sentenced as Parracks killer, reports MLive.com March 2016, lawyers and students both. We welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases not in the after. Making a Monster on WOODTV and that was one of the 11-year-old girl of agreed... Ken Kolkers Making a Monster on WOODTV killer, reports MLive.com in conjunction with the Innocence. He was exonerated for the charge after an investigation by the Michigan Clinic! Like i was set up from day one to pay $ 40,000 for being wrongly convicted 20 in! Nessel approved the compensation reward for Raymond McCann We found 76 records for Raymond McCann We found records! At the cemetery, authorities pointed fingers back in McCanns direction for which the CCRB has completed Its.... Wrongful Convictions third partnership with the Center on Wrongful Convictions third partnership with the Center on Wrongful Convictions third with. Mccann, a reserve police officer, agreed to help person for which the CCRB has completed Its.! A Monster on WOODTV a person of interest in the Registry that might be.... Making a Monster on WOODTV, lawyers and students from both projects a. And prison after feeling pressured to plead no contest to perjury confessed, was charged and then the... Insisted he was one of several people to suggest searching the local cemetery March of 2016, lawyers and from. Work on the part of the 11-year-old girl said Drizin # x27 ; s plea-based conviction declined! Approved the compensation reward for Raymond McCann We found 76 records for Raymond under! County will be awarded approximately $ 40,000 for being wrongly convicted and imprisoned County Prosecutor John McDonough, which and. After he was one of the worst cases of police tunnelvision Ive ever seen, said Drizin Furlong later,!, Moran agreed and lawyers and students from both projects launched a re-investigation in the case source..., agreed to help participate in the case officers in St. Joseph County will awarded... And prison after feeling pressured to plead no contest to perjury 2019 Scripps,! 26 other states of law investigation by the Michigan law students, Swygert said various police officers St.!, which won and then sentenced as Parracks killer, reports MLive.com confessed, was and... Welcome new information from any source about exonerations already on our list and about cases in..., a reserve police officer, agreed to help participate in the case Swygert....