Randy received the death penalty, while herb received a life sentence. He told police that he had been drinking with two locals randy steidl and herb whitlock the night of the incident and had passed out in the. Two days later, all of a sudden randy steidl and herb whitlock. Herb whitlock, were innocent of the crimes for which they were convicted. In 2009 he published a book about the case, too politically sensitive. Randy steidl and herb whitlock were drug sellers and sold the rhoads some drugs and they never got paid police believe this was the motive for the crime.
As told by randy steidl essay example bestwritingservice. See how a persistent cop fought the system to for an innocent mans. The following year, gordon randy steidl and herbert r. Former isp commanders book explores rhoads case news jg. Protess was able to add a major contribution to randys case, nevertheless.
Former death row inmate presents tale of missteps by. During the trial, two alcoholics, one of whom was also addicted to drugs, pointed their fingers at steidl, a 35yearold construction worker with several assault convictions, and herb whitlock. When questioned about the 1986 murders of newlyweds dyke and karen rhoads, randy assumed the police were questioning many people in the area. Death row inmates tell their stories in new book duration. Within a year, two men were arrested and convicted of the crime.
A recipient of the 2011 defenders of the innocents award bestowed by the downstate illinois innocence project, callahan finally saw the day when randy steidl and herb whitlock were free men, released from prison after serving approximately 20 years of their lives for a crime they didnt commit. In 1986, karen and dyke rhoads were stabbed to death in the master bedroom of their downstate paris home, and the house was then set afire. His story can be read in his newly released book, too politically sensitive. Former state trooper encourages activism in illinois. After 26andahalf years, im pleased that this is concluded, steidl said. Michale wrote one of the most important books i have ever read, too politically sensitive. According to the chicago tribune here, the ruling will permit whitlock and steidl to sue for what steidl alleged was a 17year conspiracy continue reading.
May 30, 2012 a recipient of the 2011 defenders of the innocents award bestowed by the downstate illinois innocence project, callahan finally saw the day when randy steidl and herb whitlock were free men, released from prison after serving approximately 20 years of their lives for a crime they didnt commit. July 6, 1986 dyke and karen rhoads are murdered in their paris, illinois, house sometime after midnight and before dawn. Former deathrow inmate steidl says hes still trying to. Two local men with police records, randy steidl and herb whitlock. Karen rhoads, murder, arson, randy steidl, herb whitlock, wrongful convictions, edgar county, pardons. May 04, 2005 whitlock awaits a ruling on whether he will be granted a new trial. The police eventually focus on local men randy steidl and herbert whitlock. Spinning the wrong way what really happened in paris. It revolves around the murders of dyke and karen rhoads, the conviction of herb whitlock and randy steidl during trials at the vermilion county courthouse, and their release years later.
Jun 20, 2011 state trooper uncovers police misconduct that leads to exoneration for convicted men. Clutter was investigating serial killer tommy lynn sells for the 1986 murders of dyke and karen rhoads in paris, illinois, that led to two innocent men being framed for that murder, randy steidl and herb whitlock. Randy steidl and herb whitlock spent more than a decade behind bars for the deaths of newlyweds dyke and karen rhoads. Michale callahan with randy steidl and herb whitlock at book signing. On july 6, 1986, newlyweds dyke and karen rhoades were repeatedly stabbed and murdered and their home set on fire in paris, illinois. I believe that the book you are referring to is called too politically sensitive by michale callahan. Join investigating innocence and 170 supporters today.
Investigating innocence needs your help with illinois attorney general and governor quinn. Too politically sensitive author michale callahan launches. It also touched on other corupt aspects of edgar county and illinois as a whole. Its gonna be an adjustment for him, steidl said tuesday in a telephone. Whitlock were convicted of the crime at separate jury trials in edgar county. Death row stories, i hope they dont pull any punches like you or the appellate prosecutors office have. Dyke and karen rhoads, randy steidl and herb whitlock never got a search for the truth, only coverup and deceit from a state more concerned about image, money and politics. Callahan is author of the 2009 true crime book, since when is murder too politically sensitive. In 1987, herbert whitlock and randy steidl were arrested and convicted, based on the testimony of deborah reinbolt and darrell herrington. Randy s story thanks to witness to innocence randy steidl was an average, hardworking guy from a small farming community in southern illinois. They never documented that interview with darrell herrington. Whitlock is free man after two decades in prison for paris, ill. He became a believer that steidl, and his codefendant, herb whitlock, were innocent. Prosecutors convicted two local barflies, herb whitlock and his friend gordon randy steidl, solely on the word of two other local barflies whose astonishing accounts of separately having witnessed the butchery have changed many times over the years.
Had protess taken the more appealing case of steidl instead, the history of the death penalty might have been different. Steidl spent 17 years in prison, including 12 on death row, and whitlock was sentenced to life in prison. The following year, in may 2004, a federal judge ordered randy s release. Investigator seeks pardon in 1986 paris murders news. Randys story thanks to witness to innocence randy steidl was an average, hardworking guy from a small farming community in southern illinois. Finally, randy steidl was released in 2004, followed by herb whitlock in 2008. Randy steidl was released in 2004 and herb whitlock was released in 2008. Jan 09, 2008 herb whitlock, left, walks out of the edgar county jail tuesday, jan.
The next year, two men, randy steidl and herb whitlock, were arrested. While randy steidl was convicted on both murder counts, herb was convicted of only killing karen. Nov 05, 20 two local men with police records, randy steidl and herb whitlock, were arrested, tried, and convicted of murderthe prosecutions theory being that they turned to violence when a drug deal with dyke rhoads went south. His book exposes the wrongdoing perpetrated by law enforcement and prosecution in the convictions of herb whitlock and randy steidl. 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. Mystery witness saw herb whitlock covered with blood short.
Whats different about this book is that is it written by a retired lieutenant in the illinois state police who participated in the criminal investigation, not by a defense attorney or by an exonerated. In 20, randy steidl steidl won a second the first in 2011 against the illinois state police multimilliondollar judgment in his case against the people who framed him and put him in prison. Two local men, randy steidl and herb whitlock, were convicted of. It was mainly about the murders in july 6, 1986, of newlyweds dyke and karen rhoads and the wrongful convictions of the two men, randy steidl and herb whitlock. Randy steidl and herb whitlock were acquaintances who would run into each other at the bars around paris, ill. Mar 12, 2020 on september 21, 1986, a local alcoholic and petty criminal, darrell herrington, told police that he was with gordon randy steidl and herbert r. Jan 20, 2011 a few months later, the moratorium halted executions in illinois. Former death row inmate presents tale of missteps by police.
Randy steidl and herb whitlock, were arrested, tried, and convicted of murderthe prosecutions theory being that they turned to violence when a drug. As raindrops hit and rolled down his face, herbert r. In 1987, herbert whitlock and randy steidl were arrested and convicted, based on the testimony of two alcoholics, deborah reinbolt and darrell herrington. Mar 16, 2009 in partnership with the new mexico coalition to repeal the death penalty, exonoree randy steidl speaks to students at albuquerques del norte high school about his 17 years on death row, wed. Wrongly convicted man wins settlement 26 years later illinois times. The defendant, gordon randy steidl steidl, and codefendant herbert whitlock whitlock were indicted for the murders of dyke and karen rhoads, by an edgar 842 county grand jury.
Too politically sensitive 2009 edition open library. Both are convicted in 1987 primarily on the testimony of an individual known as the. They are stabbed dozens of times and their house is set afire. Former state trooper encourages activism in illinois darien. The evidence against these to committing this crime is the knife found from the scene and the witness that saw randy at the scene. The settlement ends the last of the lawsuits filed by steidl and codefendant herb whitlock. Herb whitlock, the other man wrongly convicted of the murders, was exonerated and freed in 2008 after nearly 21 years behind bars. February 1987 herb whitlock and randy steidl arrested and charged with murders of dyke and karen rhoads may 22, 1987 jury finds herb whitlock guilty in karen rhoads death and sentences him to. Randy steidl and herb whitlock were wrongfully arrested for murder of dyke and karen rhodes, in a small town of paris, illinois.
Gordon randy steidl, center on wrongful convictions. This book describes how two white men from southern illinois, randy steidl and herb whitlock, were wrongly convicted of a double murder. Paris residents randy steidl and herb whitlock were convicted of the murders the following year, but their guilt was ultimately called into question in 2000 by. The defendant, gordon randy steidl steidl, and codefendant herbert whitlock whitlock were indicted for the murders of dyke and karen rhoads, by an. Herb whitlock university of illinois springfield uis. Whitlock, then 41, was a parttime construction worker and smalltime drug dealer. Steidl was sentenced to death, whitlock to life in prison. Exdeath row inmate crusades against fatal flaws in system. Dyke and karen rhoads, randy steidl and herb whitlock never got a search for the truth, only coverup and deceit from a state more concerned about image. Herb whitlock, left, walks out of the edgar county jail tuesday, jan. While herb whitlock and randy steidl today have the freedom they have sought for so long, dyke and karen still do not have the justice they deserve, her family said in a statement. Jul 18, 2015 cop saves innocent man from death sentence. Join facebook to connect with randy steidl and others you may know.
Defendants motion for a change of venue was allowed and thereafter the court granted defendants motion to sever his case from that of whitlock. While herb whitlock and randy steidl today have the freedom they have sought for so long, dyke and karen still do not have the justice they deserve, her. Mystery witness saw herb whitlock covered with blood short time after murders post on. Last lawsuit in wrongful paris convictions settled news. Whitlock when they went to the rhoadss house that july morning. After more than 26 years of fighting, randy steidl is ready to put the past. How randy steidl became the face of capital punishment repeal. Exonerated death row survivor randy steidl speaks out. Mar 10, 2012 too politically sensitive by michale callahan. Wrongly convicted man wins settlement 26 years later. On september 21, 1986, a local alcoholic and petty criminal, darrell herrington, told police that he was with gordon randy steidl and herbert r. Cnn focuses on 1986 paris murders local news commercial. New theory on paris murders emerges from netherworld. Wrongly convicted man wins multimilliondollar judgment.
State trooper uncovers police misconduct that leads to. Investigator seeks pardon in 1986 paris murders illinois. In 1987, herbert whitlock and randy steidl were arrested and convicted, based. An illinois jury believed what prosecutors and witnesses told them about the july 1986 killing of dyke and karen rhoads. Jan 09, 2008 while herb whitlock and randy steidl today have the freedom they have sought for so long, dyke and karen still do not have the justice they deserve, her family said in a statement. Paris residents randy steidl and herb whitlock were convicted of the murders the following year, but their guilt was ultimately called into question in 2000 by legal researchers and the cbs 48.
Over the years, attorney general lisa madigan has also. Whitlock is free man after two decades in prison for paris. Dyke and karen rhoads, randy steidl and herb whitlock never got a search for the. Since when is murder too politically sensitive book online at best prices in india on. See how a persistent cop fought the system to for an innocent mans freedom on cnns death row stories. He invited cbss 48 hours to feature randys case on national television. Herb whitlock and gordon randy steidl spent 21 and 17 years respectively in prison before key witnesses recanted, important evidence was deemed unreliable, and they were released.
His book, too politically sensitive, provides a detailed account of what happened behind the scenes at isp. Apr 14, 2011 steidl was accused and convicted of the brutal killings along with herb whitlock. His book about the investigation of the rhoads case is too. Whitlock previously settled a similar lawsuit for an undisclosed amount. Former isp commanders book explores rhoads case news. Our chicagobased civil rights lawyers have a proven track record of results, and have obtained. Nearly nine years after being freed from prison, where he served 17 years for a double murder in the downstate city of paris before being freed for lack of evidence, gordon randy steidl. Since when is any crime too politically sensitive to search for the truth. Whitlock was not there to tell his side of the story that i wish to have heard. Herb whitlock, the other man wrongly convicted of the murders, was. He said he heard arguments, and saw the knife, bodies, and the blood. Prisoner free after 2 decades in prison for paris murder. It is time for dyke and karen to get the justice they rightly deserve. The morning of july 6, 1986, dyke and karen rhoads were found murdered in their bedroom.
342 1196 184 1016 712 1190 456 597 902 790 654 328 1497 952 1238 949 1143 1566 171 1480 568 1314 1336 1363 1425 45 578 320 285 240 716 512 558 892 1397 882 357 811 601