EP 19, Part 1: Jamie Takes the Stand

In 2001, Jamie Snow took the stand in his own defense against the charge of murder. Jamie’s legal team was extremely underprepared, and explained to him that if he did not testify, he wouldn’t win his case. He had one night’s notice that he would take the stand. But Jamie was hopeful. He figured if he told the truth, he didn’t have to prepare, he would be good. Jamie was on the stand for a very long time. He rebutted every witness presented in previous episodes of Snow Files, and in great detail, recounted his prior conviction, his participation in the lineup, his alibi, and the cast on his arm, all while maintaining eye contact with his jury. But Jamie Snow was still convicted. Part one of this nineteenth episode of Snow Files, presented by Jamie Snow himself, strives to answer one overarching question, what is it like to be on trial for your life?

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EP 17: Be Afraid. Be Mary Afraid: Mclean County Correctional Officer – Mary Burns

Just days before the trial, defense witness Mary Burns, an all too friendly corrections officer, was contacted by the state. Reports suggest that she resigned from the McLean County Jail in 2000, after having an affair with an inmate she supervised. Custodial sexual misconduct is a class 3 felony in Illinois. Mary Burns reported having many conversations with Jamie and his co-defendant while she supervised them. But Mary would only testify to two, which included thoughts about who may have done it, and a joke about being chased by police. She said other inmates were present when Jamie confessed, but then recanted on the stand, saying that it was just her and Jamie present during the conversation. All three men she originally named said the conversation never happened, two of these men tell their story for the first time here.This seventeenth episode of Snow Files exposes how the state underhandedly used a disgraced law enforcement agent to provide credibility in their case against Jamie Snow.

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EP 16: Lies My Preacher Told Me: The Reverend Bill Gaddis

In 1999, a supposed gang boss turned Reverend returned to the state of Illinois to testify against Jamie. Jamie never met Bill Gaddis in his entire life. Bill Gaddis was loosely connected to some of Jamie’s friends only through relation to his brother. Two of his brothers would go on record to say Bill Gaddis was a liar and knew nothing about this case. But he took the stand for the state anyway, and said he saw Jamie in his brother’s apartment in 1991, and a man who was since deceased, accused Jamie of the murder, and he didn’t respond, so he knows Jamie did it. Bill Gaddis named several men who witnessed this incident, all who were either dead or testified it never happened. Bill Gaddis was portrayed as credible due to his license to preach, although he would not disclose where he preached. This sixteenth episode of Snow Files exposes exactly why Reverend Bill Gaddis was willing to bare false witness against that neighbor.

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Ep 15: I Got Life with a Little Help from my Friends: Kevin Schaal and Jody Winkler:

For six months in 1995, Kevin Schaal was Jamie’s cellmate. Jamie settled in Florida the next year and began a successful career in tree cutting. When Schaal was released, he brought his entire family to Jamie’s doorstep and Jamie helped him. Jamie met Jody Winkler in 1999 while he was down on his luck and on the run. Jamie gave him work and a place to live that summer. But that summer, Schaal was already in more trouble. Schaal tried to get out of it by telling an ATF agent and the Clark Gas Station cold case detectives that Jamie implicated himself in a murder. Just months later, in September, Jamie was indicted, and that November, Winkler was finally caught for his felony charges. Winkler caught on quick and he had a peculiar false confession to report, saying Jamie indicated involvement in a murder. This fifteenth episode of Snow Files traces the timeline from friend to foe, and exposes the paper trail leading to deals cut in return for Jamie’s conviction.

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Bonus Episode: Message in a Bottle – A CALL TO ACTION TO HELP JAMIE SNOW!

A message in a bottle was traditionally sent as a distress call, by those at sea who found themselves doomed. Jamie Snow understands the sentiment all too well. Jamie has sent his own SOS pleas via message in a bottle a few times…This time, Jamie needs YOUR help. Jamie doesn’t want to send one bottle again. He wants to send MANY. From each of YOU. With your own SOS pleas, asking for TV producers to take a closer look into Jamie’s case.

Join this event to support Jamie Snow and collaborate on his newest media movement.

Join the Facebook Event Page

Please post your video or pics of your bottles on the Facebook Event page!

Watch Lesley’s instructional video

Send at least 1 bottle each to:

Michael Karzis
60 Minutes – CBS News
524 West 57th St. 
New York, NY 10019
—-
James Jacoby
Frontline
One Guest St.
Boston, MA 02135

Truth & Justice with Bob Ruff | S7E8: Message In A Bottle

Jamie Snow Clemency Update:


T’s are being crossed, and i’s are being dotted as we speak, and the petition will be submitted either late tonight, or tomorrow. J asked me the other day if he thinks we will wear people out asking them for letters. He asked, “What if we need more next year?” I said, “Then we will do them again. We support you, we’ll do what we need to do.” Because Jamie Snow supporters are the BEST! But we wanted to let you know we received an additional whopping 132 letters of support for Jamie’s clemency for the last call! You guys are AMAZING! Every. Single. Letter. Counts. We also wanted to share with you the video that is also being submitted. For those of you who are knee deep in the details, of Jamie’s case, just remember, the petition includes all of the case details – this is primarily for Jamie to make his plea in person, and he does an incredible job. So take a listen, and hopefully between the petition, letters and video we will be able to move the PRB in Jamie’s favor. Thanks again for taking the time to write a letter. We appreciate you more than you know! Free Jamie Snow!
-Tam

Episode 14: Whose Lie is it Anyway? A recap of the witnesses discussed in the case so far

Contestants Jamie, Tam, and Lesley play a trivia game moderated by Bruce, to test our memory of who said what, and how they affected Jamie’s case. We run down the crime scene witnesses, lawyers, and informants we have discussed in episodes 1 – 13. Listen in to see if you could convict someone of murder based off your own memory.

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Ep 13: Karen Calls the Cops: Karen Strong

In 1999, BPD held an in person meeting with Karen Strong. Karen reported that her ex-boyfriend, Mark “Stretch” McCowan, supposedly told her years earlier that Jamie was involved in the Clark Station murder-robbery. Two months later, Stretch told a grand jury that they never had that conversation. But Karen told them it happened. She added in that Jamie was once in a lot of trouble and tried to hide out at their place too. Nine months later, Karen and her friends got wiretapped, and when she didn’t know the cops were listening, she told a different story. A month later, she told the BPD she had a lot of time to think it over since the Grand Jury trial and she had more to tell them, that it didn’t look very good for Stretch or Jamie. She testified again just six months later. This time, she told Jamie’s jury that he actually tried to hide out at her house the night of the crime. Again, Stretch told the jury it didn’t happen. Years later, a friend came forward to report that Karen actually said she didn’t know anything about the crime. This thirteenth episode of Snow Files reveals the he-said-she-said lover’s quarrel that was presented to Jamie’s jury, and examines why Karen might have had motive to interfere with authorities.

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Episode 12: Nothing Left to Booze: Bruce Roland

In 1994, repeat DUI offender Bruce Roland wrote to the McLean State’s Attorney’s Office twice, pleading for leniency, saying he could get them an indictment in the Clark gas station murder. But when they sent detective Crowe to interview him, nothing happened, because Roland only reported rumors he heard from others. But in 1999, he was in jail for another DUI. This time he really needed the favor. So he said Jamie confessed to him. A polygraph showed Roland was lying, but he testified against Jamie anyways. Other witnesses refuted his story, and testified that it was impossible, but Jamie was still convicted. Ten months later, Bruce Roland and his wife got their own plea deals in return. This twelfth episode of Snow Files highlights the repetitive nature and tactics consistently used by snitches and prosecutors alike to get by in McLean county.

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