Review : The Innocent Man (2018)
Netflix may still be finding its footing in terms of it’s originals when it comes to traditional Hollywood-style films, but their documentary game has always been on point. Their eye for topics is refined and sharp, and the stories that unfold are almost always gripping and compelling. Their latest series, The Innocent Man, focuses on two sets of cases that took place in Ada, Oklahoma in the early 1980s, the resulting convictions, and the fallout in the face of changing times, all based upon the original book written by John Grisham (his only non-fiction offering, if I’m not mistaken) on the subject.
Episode 1 : Debbie and Denice
The audience is introduced to the majority of the base information : the town of Ada, Oklahoma; the cases of Debbie Carter and Denice Haraway; individuals Tommy Ward, Karl Fontenot and Odell Titsworth as suspects in Denice Haraway’s case; and, finally, the introduction of the theory that the crime may have actually only been committed by two people, with the third being a fabrication of Tommy Ward’s mind as a way to justify his actions.
Episode 2 : In Dreams
Tommy Ward gets the chance to tell his side of the story. The information about Ward’s initial interrogations and his ‘dream’ admittance is introduced. New suspect Ron Wiliamson is also introduced due to his history of violence against women in multiple Oklahoma cities, as well as running buddy Dennis Fritz. The new suspects raise questions about Debbie Carter’s case, resulting in further investigation, including an extremely tactless exhumation at the expense of Peggy Carter’s trust (which resulted in her ensuing drinking problem). The investigation results in a pair of convictions, only for eventual new evidence secured years later to throw all results into question once again.
Episode 3 : Rotten to the Core
With Dennis Fritz serving life and Ron Williamson on death row, it seems that all matters involving the Debbie Carter case are closed. As the years pass, however, a team gathers in defense of Ron Williamson, comprised of investigator Kim Marks with appeal attorneys Mark Barrett and Janet Davis. As their investigation proceeds, two things become apparent : Brady Violations uncovered begin to yield new revelations, and a review of the case reveals the one-sided nature of proceedings that heavily favored the original prosecution. Meanwhile, Dennis Fritz became aware of The Innocence Project and their DNA research that was beginning to overturn wrong convictions. Through his diligence and research, Dennis Fritz was able to get The Innocence Project to take up his case, which eventually merged with the efforts to overturn and dismiss Ron Williamson’s case.
Episode 4 : Corpus Delecti
The body of Denice Haraway is discovered, but it is nowhere near where suspect Tommy Ward told the police it would be. On top of this contradiction, an autopsy of the remains reveals that cause of death was a gunshot to the back of the head, and not a stabbing as previously confessed, with other contradictions continuing to pop up as well. A second trial is ordered, but rather than the focus being on the innocence of Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot, the trial remains focused on conviction with an alternate cause of death. Deeper, independent investigations of the confessions and evidence, however, begins to bring inconsistencies to the forefront that are hard to ignore by anyone with an impartial mindstate. Freelance journalist A.C. Shilton, one of many who thinks that the entire proceedings that landed Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot in jail were shady, takes it upon herself to dive headlong into the situation in hopes of uncovering ultimate truth. As the civil case for Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz comes to a close in late 2002, an entirely new suspect comes to light.
Episode 5 : Smoking Guns
A new suspect, Glen Gore, is introduced in the Debbie Carter case. His trial found him guilty with little issue, but a hung jury for his sentencing resulted in the judge issuing Glen Gore life in prison without the chance for parole as opposed to the death penalty. The families of the victims, as well as those wrongfully accused, attempt to move forward with their lives despite their harrowing pasts and deep connections. The discovery presented for the Ron Williamson case further drives home the negligence and deception connected to the Debbie Carter murder investigation. The Innocence Project faces an obstacle in their efforts with the Karl Fontenot case when his post-conviction relief was denied, causing an appeal to the Federal Court level. Deeper investigation in the Tommy Ward case slowly and surely reveals the possibility of alternative suspects.
Episode 6 : Snow Storm
The Carter family continues attempts to come to grips with the loss of Debbie nearly 40 years later. John Grisham reflects on how he discovered the story and wrote the book, much to the dismay of Ada District Attorney Bill Peterson. The flow of information in the Debbie Carter case is brought into question when the 850 Police and OSBI file becomes 150 pages by the time it reaches the Defense Attorney after passing through the hands of the District Attorney. The idea that Tommy Ward and Karl Fontenot were coached in their confessions continues to be mulled over. The integrity of prison informant Terri Holland becomes a point of focus.
The Innocent Man is a scathing look at the justice system, specifically that of small towns with a large economic gap, and the shortcomings of these systems. As someone who has spent a significant amount of time all around the state of Oklahoma, a lot of the information and talk from the citizens of Ada, especially the disenfranchised, rings extremely true. Due to the lower crime rates and pressure from those who hold economic power in towns like these, when a heinous crime is committed, extra pressure is put on the powers that be to make sure that ‘justice’ is served. In these situations, there is plenty of opportunity for the innocent to become trapped in the system, especially once the snowball of the justice system starts rolling downhill.
An aspect that this particular documentary focuses on that is sometimes forgotten about is the fact that crimes of this nature have long lasting impacts on a large selection of people. Towns like Ada are impacted because the normal, slow nature of these locations is turned on its head, causing discomfort and sowing seeds of dissension throughout. The accused are impacted because they are snatched out of their lives, sometimes errantly, and put on literal trial where the onus of results lies on a system with nearly endless resources, and in the case of The Innocent Man, it is shown how these people have no ability to properly defend themselves. The families of the victims usually become stuck at the point in time that their loved ones were lost, and when they eventually do move on, it is either many years later, or their original path has been radically altered due to the shock of such a sad loss.
Stylistically, the re-creation scenes are high cinematic quality. The editing and sound design are sharp, especially in sequences such as the Ron Williamson focus on his athletic past in comparison to his impending trial. The range of people interviewed for the film is vast and fair to both sides, with those not represented having made that choice rather than being excluded. The narrative structure of events is laid out quite well, with a mostly chronological spine allowing for reflections and comparisons of different case aspects over the nearly 40 year span of time the documentary covers.
Binging on Netflix is an almost automatic at this point, especially with documentary series like The Innocent Man being plentiful and readily available. Stories like these are a stark reminder that, as efficient as our justice system can be, it can also be a monster of our own design that the disenfranchised are not equipped to combat when it comes for them.
