softheart
05-28-2005, 12:30 PM
May 27, 2005
Illinois
Lawsuit: Authorities conspired vs. inmate
By JAN DENNIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
PEORIA, Ill. -- A former Illinois death row inmate whose double-murder
conviction was overturned in 2004 filed a lawsuit Friday alleging
authorities conspired to frame him and another man still serving a life
sentence in the case.
Gordon Randall Steidl, 53, alleges revenge and efforts to protect a
politically connected businessman fueled the conspiracy that landed Steidl
in prison for 17 years, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in
Urbana.
The lawsuit alleges authorities manipulated and threatened key witnesses
in the case against Steidl and Herb Whitlock, who were convicted of
stabbing Dyke and Karen Rhoads to death and setting their home in Paris
ablaze in 1986.
The civil rights lawsuit - filed a year to the day after Steidl was
released from prison - is against the city of Paris, Edgar County, former
State's Attorney Michael McFatridge and nine local and state investigators
who worked on the case.
City, county and state officials declined comment Friday, saying they had
not seen the lawsuit.
Steidl alleges he was targeted because weeks before the killings, he told
FBI agents he had information that McFatridge was allegedly involved in
gambling and narcotics. McFatridge, now a lawyer for the Veterans
Administration in Danville, did not return calls seeking comment.
The lawsuit contends authorities focused on Steidl and Whitlock to steer
the investigation away from an unnamed, politically connected businessman
whom a subsequent investigation labeled as a suspect in the killings. No
charges were ever filed.
G. Flint Taylor, one of Steidl's attorneys, said he will seek about $2
million for each year Steidl spent in prison, where he was stabbed for
refusing to participate in a death-row hunger strike when serial killer
John Wayne Gacy faced execution.
"I don't think any amount of money can ever make Randy Steidl whole for
what he endured during his years on death row," said Michael Metnick,
another attorney for Steidl.
Steidl was released from prison after a judge ordered a new trial and
prosecutors said they couldn't make their case in time. The judge ruled it
was "reasonably probable" Steidl would have been acquitted had his defense
attorney done more to challenge the state's case.
Steidl has petitioned Gov. Rod Blagojevich for a pardon that would erase
the Rhoads killings from his record. Whitlock is seeking a new trial,
claiming he also was wrongfully convicted in the slayings.
---
Source : Associated Press
Illinois
Lawsuit: Authorities conspired vs. inmate
By JAN DENNIS, ASSOCIATED PRESS
PEORIA, Ill. -- A former Illinois death row inmate whose double-murder
conviction was overturned in 2004 filed a lawsuit Friday alleging
authorities conspired to frame him and another man still serving a life
sentence in the case.
Gordon Randall Steidl, 53, alleges revenge and efforts to protect a
politically connected businessman fueled the conspiracy that landed Steidl
in prison for 17 years, according to the lawsuit filed in federal court in
Urbana.
The lawsuit alleges authorities manipulated and threatened key witnesses
in the case against Steidl and Herb Whitlock, who were convicted of
stabbing Dyke and Karen Rhoads to death and setting their home in Paris
ablaze in 1986.
The civil rights lawsuit - filed a year to the day after Steidl was
released from prison - is against the city of Paris, Edgar County, former
State's Attorney Michael McFatridge and nine local and state investigators
who worked on the case.
City, county and state officials declined comment Friday, saying they had
not seen the lawsuit.
Steidl alleges he was targeted because weeks before the killings, he told
FBI agents he had information that McFatridge was allegedly involved in
gambling and narcotics. McFatridge, now a lawyer for the Veterans
Administration in Danville, did not return calls seeking comment.
The lawsuit contends authorities focused on Steidl and Whitlock to steer
the investigation away from an unnamed, politically connected businessman
whom a subsequent investigation labeled as a suspect in the killings. No
charges were ever filed.
G. Flint Taylor, one of Steidl's attorneys, said he will seek about $2
million for each year Steidl spent in prison, where he was stabbed for
refusing to participate in a death-row hunger strike when serial killer
John Wayne Gacy faced execution.
"I don't think any amount of money can ever make Randy Steidl whole for
what he endured during his years on death row," said Michael Metnick,
another attorney for Steidl.
Steidl was released from prison after a judge ordered a new trial and
prosecutors said they couldn't make their case in time. The judge ruled it
was "reasonably probable" Steidl would have been acquitted had his defense
attorney done more to challenge the state's case.
Steidl has petitioned Gov. Rod Blagojevich for a pardon that would erase
the Rhoads killings from his record. Whitlock is seeking a new trial,
claiming he also was wrongfully convicted in the slayings.
---
Source : Associated Press