I had two thoughts after viewing MSNBC’s The Disturbing Case of Eddie Lowery. I’m willing to bet if you saw the program you considered them as well:
If you watched the program, you know the answer to both those questions: coercion. The detectives who asked Lowery relentlessly about his supposed involvement in the crime — the rape of a 74-year-old woman — wore him into the ground. On his second day of questioning, he was led to admit information that would not only be his undoing but would eventually send him to prison for ten years and ruin his life for many more.
This program was a showcase of travesty in the life of Eddie Lowery and of the justice system which can sometimes be used to twist facts and truth in order for results to emerge which are wanted instead of needed.
Lowery should never have confessed to the rape of the Riley, Kansas woman the night of July 26th, 1981, nor should he ever have been subjected to the grilling he received. In so doing, he mistakenly and naively believed the truth would come out and that he would be exonerated of the charges. It didn’t happen that way. The price for his naiveté was 30 years of his life being taken away; 30 years of reflection; the unimaginable shame of having to register as a sex offender and a life of loss because a wrong choice was made.
In the face of overwhelming odds, Lowery was eventually absolved. But it wasn’t without a lot of faith, a lot of tears and at an inconceivable expense.
The problem I had with the show was information about the lead prosecutor and the detectives who were on Lowery’s case. Questioned himself about Lowery’s innocence and eventual dropped charges, the prosecutor still maintained Lowery may have had something to do with the crime, even in light of overwhelmingly exculpatory evidence. Information on the detectives who grilled Lowery seemed to be lacking in the program with only a short segment about one of them being asked about the case. (Both have since retired from the police department and were not interviewed.)
The rapist, Daniel Brewer, was eventually caught and convicted. On April 3rd, 2003, a judge signed an order Lowery was innocent of the crime based on evidence tediously brought to light. Eddie Lowery was exonerated of the crime. He received 7.5 million dollars by the Riley Police Department in Kansas, but they never admitted wrong doing.
The fact remains: This was a cautionary tale of something that never should have happened.
Clacked by Michael Noble 
on Dec 17, 2011 @ 20:57 EST5EDT
Perfect summation. Thank you!
You have a great way of summing up the essence of a storyline. You nailed it! Thanks for posting this!
Eddie just got back from the sentencing of the real perpetrator, Daniel Brewer. They just sentenced him to 12 to 20 years. Eddie said finally justice after 30 years to close out this chapter of his life. He says thanks to everyone for their great comments and support.