Court Cases Where Dreams Was Used As Evidence.
By Edtrader Oct. 11th, 2021
When one thinks of evidence in court, they think of evidence that can be studied and examined by the defense and prosecution. Items such as DNA, fingerprints, video, audio, pictures, etc come to mind. But there have been cases that a dream was presented forth.
When one thinks of evidence in court, they think of evidence that can be studied and examined by the defense and prosecution. Items such as DNA, fingerprints, video, audio, pictures, etc come to mind. But there have been cases that a dream was presented forth.
#6. Clarence Moses-EL.
Clarence had served 28 years for the rape of a Colorado woman. After a night of heavy drinking, she was indeed raped. There was more than enought physical evidence to show she was. Once talking to the police, Clarence's face was what she said she saw in a dream. He was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 48 years. DNA testing had not been done over the years. And the hard evidence has been lost or destroyed. So her dream is all the state has as evidence against Clarence specifically.
In 2013, convicted rapist L.C. Jackson sent Clarence a letter confessing to the crime. Jackson went on to rape another woman and her daughter in 1992. Just a little over a mile from the first lady's home. The letter was enough for a new trial. But it took two years before Denver District Judge Kandace Gerdes decided to order the new trial.
In the meantime, Clarence's own mother passed away. As did some of his siblings. The D.A. is saying the confession letter was a lie. That the Innocence Project convinced Jackson that the statute of limitations is out now. But on the flipside, any DNA evidence connecting Clarence is not available. Clarence said it was because the police don't want to show that they made a mistake. In December of 2015, Clarence was set free to await a new trial!
The woman still maintained that Clarence raped her during the new trial in 2016. However, with the help of newly gained evidence, Clarence was found not guilty, and set free for good. With a take home prize of $2 million bucks!!!
Clarence had served 28 years for the rape of a Colorado woman. After a night of heavy drinking, she was indeed raped. There was more than enought physical evidence to show she was. Once talking to the police, Clarence's face was what she said she saw in a dream. He was arrested, convicted, and sentenced to 48 years. DNA testing had not been done over the years. And the hard evidence has been lost or destroyed. So her dream is all the state has as evidence against Clarence specifically.
In 2013, convicted rapist L.C. Jackson sent Clarence a letter confessing to the crime. Jackson went on to rape another woman and her daughter in 1992. Just a little over a mile from the first lady's home. The letter was enough for a new trial. But it took two years before Denver District Judge Kandace Gerdes decided to order the new trial.
In the meantime, Clarence's own mother passed away. As did some of his siblings. The D.A. is saying the confession letter was a lie. That the Innocence Project convinced Jackson that the statute of limitations is out now. But on the flipside, any DNA evidence connecting Clarence is not available. Clarence said it was because the police don't want to show that they made a mistake. In December of 2015, Clarence was set free to await a new trial!
The woman still maintained that Clarence raped her during the new trial in 2016. However, with the help of newly gained evidence, Clarence was found not guilty, and set free for good. With a take home prize of $2 million bucks!!!
#5. Mike Edgar Dossell - Steven Linscott.
September of 1990 Mike Edgar Dossett was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a murder that took place in June of 1983. Rachel Kosub was found murdered and half-naked in her office in San Antonio, Texas. There were no defensive wounds on her body. And there weren't any signs of a robbery. As nothing was missing and she had her jewelry on.
Dr. Susanna Dana did a proper job of examining the body and collecting hair and nail clippings. Along with swabs of her body. Which there was sperm, but it's the year 1983. And DNA wasn't exactly advanced at that time.
In May 1984, Mike Dossett had a long list of violent crimes against him. So, he wasn't exactly a model citizen. But he matched the sketch drawing of another crime in Live Oak. Dossett was brought in for questioning and waived his Miranda rights. In the course of the interview, he told the officers about a dream he had been having. His dream had him looking at a woman in an office with her naked butt up in the air. Which just so happened to match Rachel's scene. One of the officers had the thought that this needed the attention of the San Antonio police.
The SAPD followed up on this and found no evidence to connect Mike to her murder. Other than the dream, they had nothing, and the case went cold. 1995 Detective Tim Britt decides to try his hand at the case. Again, Mike was interviewed, but he didn't remember the dream as well now. But admitted that he told it to the previous officers.
Britt asked that Mike give samples again, which he did freely. Upon asking about DNA analysis with Rachal's kit, Britt was hit with the news that the kit was lost. Once again, Mike was asked about the dream and signed a statement about it. The case goes cold yet again.
Fast forward to 2002, and Detective George Saidler reopens the case. Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Vincent DiMaio, now happens to find Rachael's kit. The samples are degraded with mold, fungus, and bacteria. But it's still tested, and it matches Mike Dossett. The original officers and Detective Britt appeared in court to testify to the dream that Mike told. Dr. Robert Benjamin argued that the samples were contaminated and misused. But the jury sees things differently. Mike is now convicted of her murder.
Appeals in 2006 further argued that the samples were too damaged to be accurate. And that a dream cannot be used realistically in court. Steven Linscott was convicted in 1980 for his neighbor's murder. He, like Mike Dossett, told the police he had a dream about the murder. And was convicted of the crime. To later be freed after DNA testing proved he wasn't the guilty person.
4. Ryan Ferguson
Ryan spent over 10 years in prison because his friend had a dream that they murdered writer Kent Heitholt. Ken was found beaten and strangled in November of 2001. Charles Erickson read an article in the newspaper that included a sketch of the possible suspect. Erickson thought the drawing looked like him. And told his friends Nick Gilpin and Art Figueroa that he doesn't remember that night. But he has flashes of a dream that he and Ryan committed the murder.
The friends tipped off the police, and the two were brought in for questioning. Which they were arrested and charged. A janitor at the murder scene was the first witness on behave of the state attorney. But the defense pointed out that none of the physical evidence matched the two boys. However, Erickson was offered a plea deal, so he testified against Ryan. That was enough to send Ryan to prison.
Where, after years of trying innocence groups to help get the conviction overturned. As the janitor admitted he had lied on the stand. And Charles claims that he was forced to admit guilt and testify because of the police's pressure on him.
in 2013, his conviction was overturned, and he took home over $3 million in greenbacks.
#3. Ron Williamson.
Debra Sue of Oklahoma was found raped and murdered at her home in 1982. She was last seen leaving her job and heading home. Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz were then convicted in 1988 of the murder.
Fritz and Williamson were known to eat where she worked. And her friend said the two made her nervous. Per witness Glenn Gore, Ron was at the restaurant that night without Dennis. Dennis was subsequently arrested for the crime in 1987. Overall, it was a poorly conducted investigation. Her body had to even be exhumed over a fingerprinting blunder.
In 1988, another witness comes forward, stating that Williamson threatened to hurt the witness's mother just like he had Debra. So Ron is brought in for questioning. Where he tells of a dream he had about Debra.
With enough 'evidence' Ron was arrested for the murder. Both he and Dennis had jail snitches who say they confessed to the crimes. The court was also a joke, as Ron had a blind lawyer. One that didn't adequately defend him. Hairs and other items were then matched to Ron, and that landed a guilty finding.
Ron's first appeal fails for him. In 1995, a federal judge granted him a new trial. This time around, a videotape of another suspect admitting to having committed the crime is brought forth. The court also recognizes that the trial attorney for Ron was lacking. And that he should have asked for a competency hearing. The dream is thrown out, and the DNA evidence now shows it wasn't a match, not even for Dennis. In fact, the witness, Glenn Gore, was a match. So, Ron is set free over the evidence being thrown out and the false testimony.
September of 1990 Mike Edgar Dossett was sentenced to 40 years in prison for a murder that took place in June of 1983. Rachel Kosub was found murdered and half-naked in her office in San Antonio, Texas. There were no defensive wounds on her body. And there weren't any signs of a robbery. As nothing was missing and she had her jewelry on.
Dr. Susanna Dana did a proper job of examining the body and collecting hair and nail clippings. Along with swabs of her body. Which there was sperm, but it's the year 1983. And DNA wasn't exactly advanced at that time.
In May 1984, Mike Dossett had a long list of violent crimes against him. So, he wasn't exactly a model citizen. But he matched the sketch drawing of another crime in Live Oak. Dossett was brought in for questioning and waived his Miranda rights. In the course of the interview, he told the officers about a dream he had been having. His dream had him looking at a woman in an office with her naked butt up in the air. Which just so happened to match Rachel's scene. One of the officers had the thought that this needed the attention of the San Antonio police.
The SAPD followed up on this and found no evidence to connect Mike to her murder. Other than the dream, they had nothing, and the case went cold. 1995 Detective Tim Britt decides to try his hand at the case. Again, Mike was interviewed, but he didn't remember the dream as well now. But admitted that he told it to the previous officers.
Britt asked that Mike give samples again, which he did freely. Upon asking about DNA analysis with Rachal's kit, Britt was hit with the news that the kit was lost. Once again, Mike was asked about the dream and signed a statement about it. The case goes cold yet again.
Fast forward to 2002, and Detective George Saidler reopens the case. Chief Medical Examiner, Dr. Vincent DiMaio, now happens to find Rachael's kit. The samples are degraded with mold, fungus, and bacteria. But it's still tested, and it matches Mike Dossett. The original officers and Detective Britt appeared in court to testify to the dream that Mike told. Dr. Robert Benjamin argued that the samples were contaminated and misused. But the jury sees things differently. Mike is now convicted of her murder.
Appeals in 2006 further argued that the samples were too damaged to be accurate. And that a dream cannot be used realistically in court. Steven Linscott was convicted in 1980 for his neighbor's murder. He, like Mike Dossett, told the police he had a dream about the murder. And was convicted of the crime. To later be freed after DNA testing proved he wasn't the guilty person.
4. Ryan Ferguson
Ryan spent over 10 years in prison because his friend had a dream that they murdered writer Kent Heitholt. Ken was found beaten and strangled in November of 2001. Charles Erickson read an article in the newspaper that included a sketch of the possible suspect. Erickson thought the drawing looked like him. And told his friends Nick Gilpin and Art Figueroa that he doesn't remember that night. But he has flashes of a dream that he and Ryan committed the murder.
The friends tipped off the police, and the two were brought in for questioning. Which they were arrested and charged. A janitor at the murder scene was the first witness on behave of the state attorney. But the defense pointed out that none of the physical evidence matched the two boys. However, Erickson was offered a plea deal, so he testified against Ryan. That was enough to send Ryan to prison.
Where, after years of trying innocence groups to help get the conviction overturned. As the janitor admitted he had lied on the stand. And Charles claims that he was forced to admit guilt and testify because of the police's pressure on him.
in 2013, his conviction was overturned, and he took home over $3 million in greenbacks.
#3. Ron Williamson.
Debra Sue of Oklahoma was found raped and murdered at her home in 1982. She was last seen leaving her job and heading home. Ron Williamson and Dennis Fritz were then convicted in 1988 of the murder.
Fritz and Williamson were known to eat where she worked. And her friend said the two made her nervous. Per witness Glenn Gore, Ron was at the restaurant that night without Dennis. Dennis was subsequently arrested for the crime in 1987. Overall, it was a poorly conducted investigation. Her body had to even be exhumed over a fingerprinting blunder.
In 1988, another witness comes forward, stating that Williamson threatened to hurt the witness's mother just like he had Debra. So Ron is brought in for questioning. Where he tells of a dream he had about Debra.
With enough 'evidence' Ron was arrested for the murder. Both he and Dennis had jail snitches who say they confessed to the crimes. The court was also a joke, as Ron had a blind lawyer. One that didn't adequately defend him. Hairs and other items were then matched to Ron, and that landed a guilty finding.
Ron's first appeal fails for him. In 1995, a federal judge granted him a new trial. This time around, a videotape of another suspect admitting to having committed the crime is brought forth. The court also recognizes that the trial attorney for Ron was lacking. And that he should have asked for a competency hearing. The dream is thrown out, and the DNA evidence now shows it wasn't a match, not even for Dennis. In fact, the witness, Glenn Gore, was a match. So, Ron is set free over the evidence being thrown out and the false testimony.
#2. Robert Scott Terry.
Robert was sought over the February 1996 stabbing death of a fellow Canadian. Robert fled to the U.S., where he was captured and brought back to stand trial. Once convicted, his appeal was fought on two issues. One was if he was legally informed of his rights upon arrest. And two, if the evidence collected could be used in court, Including a poem and a dream about the murder. Both were kept in as they were evidence of his inner guilt over the crime, argued the state.
#1. Alfred Leroy Presley – Terry Allen Beden.
Alfred was charged in Oregon with the sexual abuse of his 7-year-old girl. After a tip of abuse, the child was taken into the custody of the Children's Services Division. In an interview with a case worker, the little girl said her dad had put his fingers in her pee-pee area. Later, at her foster mother's house, the kid was heard crying through a dream. "Daddy, get off me. Daddy, stop, leave me alone."
Oregon's laws had a state of mind exception to hearsay rules. Even though the defense claimed the girl was making false claims, the dream utterances were admitted. However, in appeals, the dream evidence was overturned. As there was no concrete proof, there was a direct connection.
Another case in Oregon was similar. Terry Allen Beden was on trial for the sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl. Terry said that the girl had before cried out her real dad's name, Bob, while dreaming. So, she was confusing the two. During the pretrial hearing, the defense argued that the dream be thrown out. But the court decided that it could be used.
Robert was sought over the February 1996 stabbing death of a fellow Canadian. Robert fled to the U.S., where he was captured and brought back to stand trial. Once convicted, his appeal was fought on two issues. One was if he was legally informed of his rights upon arrest. And two, if the evidence collected could be used in court, Including a poem and a dream about the murder. Both were kept in as they were evidence of his inner guilt over the crime, argued the state.
#1. Alfred Leroy Presley – Terry Allen Beden.
Alfred was charged in Oregon with the sexual abuse of his 7-year-old girl. After a tip of abuse, the child was taken into the custody of the Children's Services Division. In an interview with a case worker, the little girl said her dad had put his fingers in her pee-pee area. Later, at her foster mother's house, the kid was heard crying through a dream. "Daddy, get off me. Daddy, stop, leave me alone."
Oregon's laws had a state of mind exception to hearsay rules. Even though the defense claimed the girl was making false claims, the dream utterances were admitted. However, in appeals, the dream evidence was overturned. As there was no concrete proof, there was a direct connection.
Another case in Oregon was similar. Terry Allen Beden was on trial for the sexual assault of a 9-year-old girl. Terry said that the girl had before cried out her real dad's name, Bob, while dreaming. So, she was confusing the two. During the pretrial hearing, the defense argued that the dream be thrown out. But the court decided that it could be used.