Circumstantial Evidence

by Pete Earley

Pete Earley's The Hot House gave America a riveting, uncompromising look at the nation's most notorious prison—the federalpenitentiary in Leavenworth, Kansas—a book that Kirkus Reviews called a "fascinating white-knuckle tour of hell, brilliantly reported." Now Earley shows us a different, even more intimate viewof justice—and injustice—American-style.

In Monroeville, Alabama, in the fall of 1986, a pretty junior college student was found murdered in the back of the dry cleaning shop where she worked. Several months later, Walter "Johnny D."McMillian, a black man with no criminal record, was tried, convicted, andsentenced to death for the crime. As McMillian sat in his cell on Alabama'sdeath row, a young black lawyer named Bryan Stevenson took up his owninvestigation into the murder of Ronda Morrison. Finding a trial tainted byprocedural mistakes, conflicting eyewitness accounts, and outright perjury, hewas determined to see McMillian go free—even if it took the mostunconventional means...

Earley's reporting has the bracing flavor of fiction, as if he were amasterly novelist displaying his imagination in a crime thriller."
—The Washington Post

"Mr. Earley tells the story skillfully, weaving together interviewmaterial, investigators' reports and courtroom testimony to show how the systemslowly, inexorably tightened a noose around Mr. McMillian's neck.Circumstantial Evidence leaves readers outraged."
—The New York Times Book Review

"A wonderful story. The new To Kill a Mockingbird."
—Gerry Spence, author of How to Argue and Win Every Time

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Law, Crime, History

416 pages, Hardcover

First published August 1, 1995

About the author

Pete Earley is a storyteller who has penned 13 books including the New York Times bestseller The Hot House and the 2007 Pulitzer Prize finalist Crazy: A Father’s Search Through America’s Mental Health Madness.
After a 14-year career in journalism, including six years at The Washington Post, Pete became a full-time author with a commitment to expose the stories that entertain and surprise.
His honest reporting and compelling writing helped him garner success as one of few authors with ”the power to introduce new ideas and give them currency,” according to Washingtonian magazine.
When Pete’s life was turned upside down by the events recounted in his book Crazy, he joined the National Alliance of Mental Illness to advocate for strong mental health reform on the public stage.

Reviews

[Fishface · Rating 5 out of 5]

This one is worth seeking out and reading, probably over and over. I doubt you'll get the whole story the first time -- there is just too much to take it. This case happened in the same small Alabama town where Harper Lee grew up and where her fictional classic TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD was based (thinly disguised). That story -- a case of a false rape accusation against a black man in the Thirties, and the attempts to keep him from being prosecuted, then killed by a lynch mob -- has absolutely nothing on this one. This is the true story of a black man, Walter "Johnny D." McMillian, accused of killing, not one, but two white teenagers he probably never met in his life. Unlike any other case I've ever heard of, this man was sent to Death Row even before his trial started, and it got much, much crazier from there, believe me. Most of the book is about the multiple re-investigation efforts that followed, the jaw-dropping errors made by the original detectives, and the tangled morass of self-serving lies offered by all kinds of people who wanted the police to think Johhny D. killed Ronda Morrison and then Vickie Lynn Pittman. The author made a point of presenting the reader with every new piece of evidence as it emerged, just the way the investigators saw it, to give us a clearer idea of how hard it is to know where the truth lies. There is a LOT of information to absorb in this book, but you will not want to miss a word of it. You might normally think of the murders themselves as being the factor that shatters people's lives, but the incompetent and possibly corrupt proceedings you'll see in this book tear all the wounds so much deeper for the Morisson and Pittman families that you can hardly take it in. I'm sorry to say that Ronda and especially Vickie Lynn were almost totally lost in the shuffle. But in the end, you'll come out very impressed by what a competent cold-case investigation can accomplish. HIGHLY recommended.

[Shannyn Martin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Well... nothing quite cures my occasional homesickness like reading about a bunch of bat-shit racist lawmen framing a black man for murder, although I guess the fact that his trial was held in my hometown did make me feel kind of nostalgic. I think what I like most about this book is that the author does a great job of humanizing people I otherwise wouldn't feel that inclined to sympathize with. Anywho, here's a link to the 60 Minutes episode if you're interested-- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shzMj...

[Jerome · Rating 5 out of 5]

Peter Barley takes you into a world, I know most of us have no idea about. By the time I finished this I felt so angry and sick to my stomach at the bold stupidity that human beings can display, that it took me a while to get over it. Once again, don't read this if you don't like hard truth. Truth about the side of people that just makes you sick. I think what bothered me the most (I should say what made me feel the most ashamed as an african-american male) is the fact that there were black people who, for a few bucks, sold their lies against a fellow african-american to that very unjust part of society that keeps them suppressedly and oppressedly in their place. How stupid is that?

All in all, the book is very well done and for the most part succeeds (almost) in making you want to get up and do something about such injustices. Problem is, I'd probably find myself behind bars for trying to help.

[Khris Sellin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I decided to read this book after seeing the Just Mercy movie. I haven't read that book yet, but it will be interesting to see how he laid everything out. Clearly the movie glossed over, embellished, and outright misrepresented some of the events surrounding this case. But in the end, it doesn't change the fact that an innocent man was convicted of murder and placed on death row, and if it were not for Bryan Stevenson, he would have died in the electric chair. His life was pretty much ruined even so. Many people in the town could never accept that he did not commit this crime, even though he had zero motive, he had an alibi, and the so-called evidence that was used to convict him was so shady and ridiculous, it's just mind boggling that anyone could believe such a story.
The other truly sad and frustrating part of the case is that they finally figured out who actually committed this crime (99% positive) but could not bring enough evidence to convict that guy and couldn't get him to crack.
So much Injustice and so much underlying inherent racism that people don't even realize they have. The irony is it all took place in Monroeville, Alabama, home of Harper Lee and inspiration for To Kill a Mockingbird, of which they're all so proud to remind everyone.

[Carolyn Wilhelm · Rating 4 out of 5]

Circumstantial Evidence: Death, Life, and Justice in a Southern Town Book was written by Pete Earley, way back in 1995 before the 2020 protests. Apparently, it was written in the "early days of eBooks" and the editing is atrocious. There are extra spaces throughout and some noticeable misspellings. However, the book was well-researched and presents a balanced view of the murder mysteries. The other book that discusses the case is by Bryan Stevenson, the actual lawyer in the case, and is titled Just Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption.

[Ann Benefiel · Rating 5 out of 5]

This true story has so many twists and turns that fiction could never top it. I read it on Kindle and had no idea it was over 500 pages when I started. I stayed up all night when I was only a few hundred pages in, thinking with each chapter that I was near the end. Every time the crime(s) seemed to be about sewn up, new characters would pop up or someone new would take over the case. I've always been interested in social justice and this is one of the best examples, along with John Grisham's non-fiction account of Oklahoma justice (The Innocent Man), of what happens when it's cancelled out by prejudice and ignorance. I've since become an avid admirer of Pete Earley. The research he did on this was incredible, and his current efforts in mental health care reform are impressive and important.

[Gonzaga Escauriaza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Me ha gustado mucho, como todo lo que hasta ahora he leído de Pete Early.

La historia es increíble. Solo puede pasar en un pueblo pequeño de un estado como Alabama.

Mantiene el interés en todo momento y está contada con mucho habilidad.

[Rasheed Abdullah · Rating 5 out of 5]

A year ago my coworker was pleading with me to read a book titled “Just Mercy.” He said it’s a book about fighting for justice for imprisoned minorities in Alabama, I absolutely had to read it so I did. Of course, I found out it’s more comprehensive than that but the book was fantastic. In that book the author references the book “Circumstantial Evidence” so I bought it.

On November 1st, 1986, a young, well-liked, white, teenaged girl named Ronda Morrison was killed. Her murder shocked the entire community of Monroeville, Alabama. Only a few months later, in a different Alabama town, a young woman named Vicky Pittman was also killed. Seemingly unconnected they ended up being tied together and led to the arrest of a black man named Walter McMillian.

“Circumstantial Evidence” starts off a tad slow then eventually gets to a point where you can’t put it down. The book essentially writes itself the story is that salacious. There are two unconnected murders, three very untruthful witnesses, an over-eager and historically racist justice system, throw in a few more unsavory characters and a slightly tainted suspect and you have the makings of a terrific story.

At times, I was reading and thinking, “This can’t be real!” Some of the characters were so far-fetched they seemed like they stepped right out of a fictional novel. And whereas the characters make you question whether they’re real or fake the blatant injustice that occurs in the book makes you question whether the law enforcement and the courts were real or fake.

Because it’s Alabama, and because the main victim was white, and because the main suspect was black race became an issue. It was unavoidable. But as Bryan Stevenson said:

“I would rather believe that the investigators and the Monroeville community just made a mistake and if Walter McMillian were white, he would be in the same situation as he is in now—if Ronda Morrison had been black, that the same thing would have happened. I would think more highly of that community if that were true, but the bottom line is that I can’t convince myself that it is true, and it doesn’t help black folks or white folks to act like it is true if it is not.”

So the book went. A fight for justice in a small town in the South where the local whites bitterly resented being portrayed as racist hicks and the blacks bitterly resented being marginalized and railroaded.

[100 Pages A Day · Rating 4 out of 5]

"I've done forgiven the people that lied on me and put me in prison. I'm not bitter at all...."

"What the hell is the truth? I'll tell you what it is. It is whatever damn well the person listening to you want to hear. If it agrees with what they've been wanting' for you to tell 'em, then, by golly, they say, "Oh, Ralph is telling us the truth." But if they don't want to hear it, then bingo, "Oh, Ralph is a-lying to us." So what is the truth? You tell me.

These two quotes from "Circumstantial Evidence" clearly highlights two issues I have with justice in America. First, black people are always asked if they forgive oppressors, accusers, murders, and those sworn to legally represent them but are found to have falsely imprisoned them. Blacks always forgive these demons no mater what has happened to them. Second, the system of rewarding a person for turning states evidence in exchange for monetary rewards, reduced sentence, or even no punishment is a way of taking the burden of finding the truth off of the prosecutor. It allows even an injustice to happen and be knowingly carried out. No punishment is ever made against those that committed perjury by falsely turning evidence when obvious racism was driving the prosecutor for a conviction.

Circumstantial Evidence uncovers a sad truth that takes place within the American justice system; there is no justice in a racist backed community, law enforcement, or the courts when a black man is accused of a crime. This book is just one example of what a black man faces when accused of a crime involving a white woman. The word of one white woman can out weight the world of ten blacks in America today and it is something that we all just give a pass to by forgiveness. For this reason, I have placed this book on the "You Call This Justice" shelf.

[Dewin Anguas Barnette · Rating 5 out of 5]

Very well written in that it is impartial and just tells the facts-ALL of the facts. A must read for those interested in true crime, overcoming systemic racism, or life in the South. Earley gives you the entire story, giving a fuller picture than Stevenson’s book. Anyone who reads Just Mercy needs to read this, as well.

[~ laura ~ · Rating 4 out of 5]

The depth of racism and corruption in the southern justice system is both infuriating and heartbreaking. Bryan Stevenson’s work stands as a powerful counter to that injustice - transforming lives through his unwavering commitment to fairness and humanity. This case, one of his first after graduating from Harvard Law, shows the extraordinary impact he’s had from the very beginning.

📚❤️

[Tracy Pierce · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great story of what transpired in the small town I live in. The truth about what things were really like and for some people it's still like that. Mess ups and a long awaited prison release. Dive in to small town Alabama for a mystery you'd never expect.

[Brook Buckelew · Rating 5 out of 5]

Must read!! After reading B. Stevenson’s Just Mercy, this is an excellent follow up. Detailed account of the events written about in Just Mercy, but through a journal’s perspective.

[Gabrielle Morales]

Referenced in “Just Mercy” by Bryan Stevenson

[Nick · Rating 1 out of 5]

Did not know this book was a real life account of nasty, horrible injustice.
Not interested.

[Charity · Rating 5 out of 5]

I ordered this book after hearing Bryan Stevenson speak in Kenosha. He's a lawyer who advocates legally for death row inmates and is featured in this book because he helps the main accused murderer fight his death row sentence because he was wrongly accused.

The story takes place in Alabama, where defendants are NOT provided legal council if they don't have a way to pay for it. I have to say, I didn't know that still went on in America. It's just so solidly classist (and by extension racist) that it shocks me. Because it's a 500+ pages book, I won't go into all the players, etc. because there are just too many. The same issue exists when it comes to plot (multiple murders, multiple counties, many lawyers, hired and fired, over a decades time). What I will say is the level of crookedness, dishonesty, unprofessionalism and BLATANT racism among the people in this town (the same town where the courthouse where the final scenes of "To Kill a Mockingbird" were filmed still stands) is again, unlike anything I knew still existed in this day and age. The worst part is that people paid to provide their community with a safe place to live and those charged with caring about justice were worse than any other group of people that are written about in this book.

At the time Stevenson enters the story, Johnny D., falsely accused of murder, has fired his lawyers and looking for someone to represent him during his appeals process. It should be noted that those who played a part in sentencing him to death, even those who were starting to doubt their decision, wanted him executed as soon as possible to stop the truth from coming out, lest they look foolish.

Of the death penalty, Stevenson says, "Before I even get to the question of whether or not the death penalty is moral, I get to the question of is it racist? If it is racist, then we shouldn't be doing it. Is is biased against those who are poor? If it is, we shouldn't be doing it. It is saying that the death penalty is administered on the basis of race or class, it is morally wrong....When I look at these things, that is when I say that we shouldn't be executing people--because this country is not morally fit to decide who should live and die."

People argued with Stevenson throughout law school and asked him about serial killers like John Wayne Gacy; shouldn't THEY be put to death? They were monsters! He replies, "I would probably still be opposed to the death penalty because I do not believe that human beings are good at judging the worth and value of other human beings."

During the appeals process, which Stevenson thought he'd easily win for Johnny D., he realized that the prosecutors were directly lying to the judge and knew the judge knew it. He further realized that it didn't matter, they had all already decided how it was going to turn out. Stevenson said, "But Johnny D. wasn't part of their world, their community, their circle of friends. He wasn't one of them. He was invisible because none of them really knew him or cared about him. He wasn't important, and because of that, they saw nothing wrong with not answering truthfully. It did not matter how they answered because Johnny D. did not matter and I [Bryan Stevenson] didn't matter. I could put on a suit and tie and sit down with Tommy and Larry Ikner and Tom Tate and the judge, and I could talk their language, talk European without any hint of black slang. I could go to Harvard University and I could become a lawyer just like them and I could put on the best European airs possible, but the truth was that I Was black and I was not like them and they knew it and they also knew that it mattered."

Johnny D. in the end, was proven innocent, with the help of Stevenson and the work he did for him while charging him nothing. When Johnny was scheduled to be set free, Stevenson spoke to the court and, among other things, said, "I often think of the story in the Bible where the people bring this woman accused of adultery before the Lord and they are about to stone her to death and the Lord looks down and starts drawing little figures in the sand and then He says, very quietly and very humbly, 'Let you who is without sin cast the first stone,' The people drop the rocks and walk away embarrassed. We are living in an era where people just don't think about what Jesus says and walk away. Instead, they just kind of thoughtlessly throw their stones."

Indeed.

[Cindy · Rating 5 out of 5]

Highly recommend. This true story of racial injustice takes place in small hometown of Harper Lee. For years I've had an article about human rights attorney Bryan Stevenson on my bulletin board at work that discusses his views on "To Kill a Mockingbird". The article came from this book. No spoilers on his opinion or what happens to his client, Walter "Johnny" D. McMillian . I started this book and couldn't put it down. Five stars. And if you haven't seen the TED talk by Bryan please watch.

[Mary Jane · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good read about a real crime that occurred in the deep south. Actually, it was about several crimes - 2 murders and one man incorrectly imprisoned for one of the murders.
At times, the book was tedious. Indeed, the author had no choice as the reporting of this whole scenario took time and patience.
It is sad that this occurred in our country in 1986. And maybe still does today. Very sad, indeed.

[Andrew · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent true crime writing...This one stands out to me as an excellent insight to the legal process in the south. After reading Super Casino, I was looking forward to this, and it really delivered..

[Monica Perez · Rating 2 out of 5]

A fine read. True crime. Interesting insight into the possible irreversible injustice of the death penalty in its application.

[Kristin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm actually from Monroeville. I went to church with the morrisons though I didn't know who they were at the time. I hope the murders are solved because these families deserve justice!

[Lelia · Rating 4 out of 5]

A sadly disturbing look at the legal hoops that must be jumped and the inequity of our justice system.

[Kari · Rating 3 out of 5]

Frustratingly eye opening.

[Judy Libby · Rating 5 out of 5]

The perfect follow-up to JUST MERCY. What a tangled web we weave. . . . So lucky not to have been born black, poor, and in Alabama!

[Julia Schultz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Super important social issue and story. Well written and encapsulating. Definitely recommend reading Just Mercy along with this book.

[Katy Reed preston · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great story about pursuing justice.