Why in the hell isn’t Gary Wayne Sutton home for Christmas?
Gary Wayne Sutton is an innocent man on death row in Tennessee. For over 33 years, Gary’s been left to rot. Most people think that if somebody is on death row then there must at least be some evidence. In this case, there is not. The case was never strong. Gary was just a convenient fall guy. In fact, there is absolutely nothing that ties Gary to the murder of his close friend Tommy Griffin or Tommy’s sister Connie Branam.
Gary and Tommy were best friends. There was no evidence of any conflict between the two.
Gary had no motive to kill Tommy.
Dr. Charles Harlan was one of the chief witnesses for the prosecution in Gary’s trial. The time of death that Dr. Harlan tried to establish was found scientifically impossible by multiple independent experts. Dr. Harlan lied about how rigor mortis works (or perhaps was too ignorant to describe it correctly). The prosecution failed to share that Dr. Harlan was under investigation for gross misconduct when he testified at trial. Ultimately, Dr. Harlan lost his license after he was proven to have lied in multiple cases.
It was scientifically impossible that Gary killed Tommy or Connie within the timeframe Dr. Harlan gave.
There was another more plausible suspect by the name of Lester Johnson. Both Tommy Griffin and Connie Branam were scheduled to testify against Johnson. They had knowledge of Johnson’s brutal rape and attempted murder of a woman named Tina Hartman. Johnson had the motive and the means to kill Tommy and Connie. Following a surprise acquittal (that came after Griffin and Branam were murdered and unable to testify), Tina Hartman and her family were stalked and terrorized by Johnson (including death threats and arson).
Lester Johnson was never investigated as a suspect.
There were conflicting accounts about the vehicles associated with the crime. One witness claimed to have seen a car in a black box style. One witness claimed to have seen a pickup truck. Neither vehicle was every proven to have any connection to Gary Sutton. *Lester Johnson drove a truck that closely resembled the witness’ description.
Shotgun shells were planted at the scene.
Even at trial, prosecutors openly worried about the possibility that they were going to have to “cut Gary loose” based on a lack of evidence against him.
Multiple state legislators and other politicians have come froward to ask Gov. Bill Lee for a review of the case, including Senator Page Walley (R) and former Lawrence County Mayor T.R. Williams.
NO Eyewitnesses. NO Murder Weapon. NO Motive. NO Forensic Evidence. NO Credible Expert Testimony. NO Reason for Gary to be in Prison.
So…
Why in the hell isn’t Gary Wayne Sutton home for Christmas?
Check out Nashville Investigative Reporter Dennis Ferrier’s series of stories on FOX17/News9:
Flawed witness testimony questions validity of Gary Sutton’s double-murder conviction
New investigation questions Gary Sutton’s decades-old double murder conviction
Unraveling tangled evidence: Tenn. death row inmate’s innocence questioned after 33 years
Reinvestigating the conviction of Gary Sutton: Is the wrong man on death row?
Friday 12/13 Press Conference:
Press Conference:
NOT ANOTHER CHRISTMAS WITHOUT GARY!
Friday December 13 @ 10 am
@ Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
Summary:
Gary Wayne Sutton is an innocent man who has been on Tennessee’s death row for over 30 years. On Friday, December 13th at 10 am, Sutton’s closest supporters will gather for a press conference at Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church to collectively demand, “NOT ANOTHER CHRISTMAS WITHOUT GARY!” Their collective cries will be directed at Governor Bill Lee who has the power to make such a demand a reality. In fact, with the stroke of a pen, Lee has the power to make sure that Sutton is home on Christmas morning. Private investigator Heather Cohen will challenge Gov. Lee with the overwhelming evidence of innocence. Sutton’s spiritual advisor The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood will challenge Lee with the moral and spiritual ramifications of continued inaction. Finally, Sutton’s longtime confidant Carolyn Miller will speak to the long, lonely struggle (especially at Christmas) family and friends have had to endure throughout this entire nightmare.
Details:
Friday, December 13, 2024 @ 10am
Tennessee Valley Unitarian Universalist Church
2931 Kingston Pike
Knoxville, TN 37919
Contact:
The Rev. Dr. Jeff Hood
404-210-6760
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