Justice For James Harry Reyos |
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HomeCase Overview Statement From James
Harry Reyos |
Letters to the Governors
of Texas
On 2 October 2000 James Harry Reyos wrote to George
W. Bush, the then-Governor of Texas, saying: ‘Dear
Governor Bush: Martin
Luther King once said, “Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice
everywhere.” There exist a great injustice here in Texas – still after
eighteen long years! Governor Bush, I bring to your attention my unjust
plight. For eighteen long years I have been incarcerated in the Texas
Department of Criminal Justice for a crime I NEVER committed. I can
with all sincerity – knowing that I am telling you the honest truth! – assert
that I DID NOT KILL FATHER PATRICK RYAN! I AM TOTALLY INNOCENT! There
exist substantial and credible evidence to prove my innocence. The evidence
was presented during my trial, however, I was still wrongfully convicted.
What formed the basis of my defense was an alibi showing that I was in the
State of New Mexico when the brutal murder of Father Ryan occurred in Odessa,
Texas, on Monday night December 21, 1981. my alibi is air-tight. There is NO
doubt that I WAS in New Mexico when the crime occurred. Many
people who have knowledge of my case and who have re-examined it have all
come to the same conclusion: that James Harry Reyos did not kill Father
Patrick Ryan. The most remarkable person to assert his true feeling – and
belief in my innocence! – is former Ector County prosecuting attorney Dennis
Cadra who helped convict me in 1984. After reading, researching, and
re-examining the trial transcript and evidence, Mr Cadra came to the “firm
conclusion” that I was truly innocent of the murder of Father Patrick Ryan.
Mr. Cadra came forward and publicly acknowledged his sincere belief in my
innocence and asked that this injustice (my wrongful conviction) be
rectified. He requested that I be pardoned and released from prison. According
to the Texas Code of Criminal Procedure, it is the duty of all prosecuting
attorneys to not convict but to see that justice is served. Mr. Cadra,
recognizing that I was wrongfully convicted, sought to see that
JUSTICE be served by requesting the Texas Board of Pardons and Paroles and
former Governor Ann Richards intervene and render clemency action. Governor
Richards wanted “JUSTICE” to be rendered (based upon the overwhelming and
substantial evidence proving my innocence) by asking the Board of Pardons and
Paroles to review my case. After reviewing my case, however, the Board of
Pardons and Paroles denied a full pardon based upon my innocence (Board
Minutes dated “7-3-92 Full Pardon Based Upon Innocence Denied”). Governor
Bush, I now appeal to you at this time as the leader of Texas to ask that you intervene on my behalf – on
behalf of a truly innocent man! – to help bring this 18 year injustice to an
end. Please, Governor, don’t give me “the deaf ear.” You
have intervened on behalf of several other cases involving innocent pleas.
Upon a complete review of one case (the Henry Lee Lucas case), the Board of
Pardons and Paroles recommended (“based upon innocence”) that his death
sentence be commuted to life imprisonment. Upon receipt of the Board’s
recommendation, you Governor Bush “signed” the recommendation for clemency. Obviously
Governor, you believe in Mr. Lucas’ innocence, or else you wouldn’t have
signed the recommendation for clemency. If Mr. Lucas can be afforded
clemency, and JUSTICE (“based upon innocence”), why can’t I be afforded the
same too? Governor
Bush, please don’t allow my 18 year injustice to be a further threat to
justice here in Texas. I AM TRULY INNOCENT! Justice demands nothing
less than a full pardon. I
was innocent yesterday! – I am innocent today! – I will be innocent in
perpetuity!!! Very
truly yours, James
Harry Reyos -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- On June 9, 2003 James wrote to Governor Rick Perry: Dear
Governor Perry, Twenty
years ago tomorrow – on June 10, 1983 – I was wrongly convicted of a murder I
DID NOT COMMIT. Why does a truly innocent man continue to languish in a Texas
prison, despite substantial and credible evidence proving innocence? My
Pardon Petition, which was filed on November 2, 2000 to the then Governor
George W. Bush, should be on your desk in the process of being reviewed, with
a formal decision made soon by your office. I
know in my heart, Governor Perry, that I AM TRULY INNOCENT of the murder of
Father Patrick Ryan, a Catholic priest, from Denver city, Texas. The
evidence presented at trial overwhelmingly, substantially – and credibly! – PROVED
my innocence. Even PRIOR to trial, the evidence PROVED my
innocence. The following is taken verbatim from “Shadows Of A Doubt” by
Howard Swindle, Investigative Reporter, DALLAS MORNING NEWS (Sunday, July 4,
1993): ***** “Lack
of Evidence In the 6-inch prosecution file on the homicide of Patrick Joseph Ryan, there are autopsy reports, lab results, interview statements and leads that had taken detectives to Denver City [TX], Plains [TX], and Albuquerque and Hobbs, NM.
Not in the file is any physical evidence to indicate that Mr. Reyos
had ever been in Room 126 of the Sand and Sage Motel. Quite the contrary. An FBI lab report dated April 27, 1983,
noted ‘The five latent fingerprints and the two latent impressions are not
the fingerprints or palm prints of Reyos.’, the FBI examiner wrote. Wrote the Texas Department of Public
Safety Crime Lab in Midland on May 30, 1983, ‘None of the numerous hair from
the scene previously examined resembled head or pubic hair from the suspect
(Reyos).’ Also in the file is a report written by
Detective Jerry Smith, the primary Odessa Police Department investigator, six
days after the death of Father Ryan: ‘At about 5:30 p.m., Det. Casey
completed Reyos polygraph. Det. Casey advised that he felt like Reyos was
truthful and was not involved in the homicide.’ “ ***** So,
PRIOR to trial, I WAS INNOCENT. Twenty years later, I AM STILL
INNOCENT! Even Dennis Cadra, the former prosecuting attorney, believes I
am truly innocent. He publicly declared that belief in 1991, in an 8-page
letter to the then-Governor Ann Richards, saying: “Despite my 16 years as a
prosecutor, I came to the firm conclusion that it was physically impossible
for Mr Reyos to have committed the crime and for which he has been in the
Texas penitentiary for almost eight years.” More
recently, he declared, on TVs “American Justice” on Wednesday, April 23,
2003: “Mr Reyos couldn’t have, couldn’t have committed the murder.” Governor
Perry, I am truly innocent. Please don’t let me languish in Telford Unit
prison any longer. I AM TRULY INNOCENT! “JUSTICE demands nothing
less than a Full Pardon Based Upon Innocence. Very
truly yours, James
Harry Reyos. |