Suit Alleges Authorities Conspired Against Former Illinois Death Row Inmate

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http://ap.tbo.com/ap/breaking/MGBQB3C899E.html

PEORIA, Ill. (AP) - 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. snip

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.

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http://www.law.northwestern.edu/depts/clinic/wrongful/exonerations/IL_Steidl.htm

Randy Steidl (white shirt) leaves Danville Correctional Center, escorted by, from left, attorney
Michael Metnick, his wife Patty, and mother Roberta Steidl. (Photo: Loren Santow)

Steidl's exoneration pushes error rate
in Illinois capital cases to more than 6%

Gordon (Randy) Steidl was released from the Illinois Correctional Center at Danville on May 28, 2004, making him the eighteenth person to be exonerated and released after having been sentenced to death in Illinois since 1977.

His release, ordered earlier the same day by the Edgar County Circuit Court, was based on new evidence that he and co-defendant Herbert Whitlock were innocent of the murder of newlyweds Karen and Dyke Rhoads, whose bodies were discovered on July 6, 1986, in their burning home in Paris, Illinois.

Both convictions rested principally on the testimony of two alcoholics, Deborah Reinbolt and Darrell Harrington, who claimed to have been present when Steidl and Whitlock repeatedly stabbed the victims and set their home afire. Reinbolt was charged with concealing the homicidal deaths and, pursuant to a plea agreement, pleaded guilty. She was sentenced to two years in prison.

The evidence against Steidl also included the testimony of a jailhouse informant, Ferlin Wells, who claimed to have heard Steidl say that, if he had known Harrington would come forward, “he would have definitely taken care of him.”

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[Nothing Without Hope]

1. GOP "Culture of Life": Kill innocent people falsely accused of a crime

LET"S MAKE A LIST AND PUBLICIZE IT.

The GOP loudly supports the death penalty and tell the public - falsely - that they are safer because of it. Anything, even war, murder and stripping of rights, for "security,' right? Who cares if those killed and maimed are innocent, if it will make couch potates feel safer?

Here's another current thread about a man dying of cancer who HAS health insurance but the company is refusing to pay for his life-saving treatment. They are KILLING HIM for profit.
http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x3742081
Thread title: "This is Tracy Pierce. He is dying of cancer.”

Recommended and kicked.

LET"S MAKE A GOP "CULTURE OF LIFE LIST"

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2. kick