Transcripts For MSNBC Dateline 20241008 : comparemela.com

Craig Melvin Voiceover the murder happened in seconds. One was coming straight for me and jim with a gun leveled at us. Ive never ran so fast in my life. Craig Melvin Voiceover the truth took decades. I said, you know what . Give me a lie detector test. I never believed it for one minute, never. Craig Melvin Voiceover did someone have it all wrong . Were innocent men in prison for a murder they did not commit . A 22year mystery until facebook helped Old Friends find Each Other and justice. Could you ever imagine you would actually cause such a thing . Not in A Million years. Craig Melvin Voiceover together, they uncovered an almost unbelievable truth. It all made sense. None of us knew what happened that night. This all made sense. Somebody seen it. Somebody knew. All rise. Craig Melvin Voiceover now, they just had to get someone to believe them. Oh, my god. Were losing. Oh, my god. Were winning. Oh, my god. Were losing. Well face whatever has to come. This was it. This was it, for sure. Hello and welcome to dateline. It started with a party, high School Seniors celebrating The End of the School Year and new beginnings. But before the night was through, One Man would be dead and two others could not know it then but they would be facing a decadeslong battle to prove their innocence. Heres Keith Morrison with graduation night. Keith Morrison Voiceover in the suburbs outside detroit, michigan, in the summer of 2009, a divorced mother of three named Mary Evans was poking around in one of her favorite places, facebook. You can look up what everyones Up To. Where are they at today . Are they successful . Are they did they take the wrong path . Keith Morrison Voiceover dear mary, no idea that a little innocent poking into her own past would dredge up a shocking truth long buried. Oh, i was stunned. It was it was unbelievable. Keith Morrison Voiceover and a Nightmares Worth of terrors. I could have been killed that day. Keith Morrison Voiceover and would bring together an unlikely band of friends, old and new, in a fight to right a terrible wrong. And then a miracle happened. Keith Morrison Voiceover but no, in 2009, it was just an ordinary Summer Day. No sign of providence anywhere, just mary reminiscing about the old days and friends long since gone away. And well, you know how it is, a person wonders. Not such an uncommon thing among people who grew up, as mary did, in Northeast Detroit. When i moved in, it was actually a nice neighborhood. And then it changed. Oh, it definitely changed. Keith morrison yeah. Mary evans it started going really downhill. Keith Morrison Voiceover but that particular Summer Day, mary was in a mood to remember the good times, good friends. And on facebook, there was something called the Northeast Detroit alumni group. So what did you do in this group on facebook . Well, that was all about is being in touch with longlost friends, people from the neighborhood. Keith Morrison Voiceover including a couple of brothers, Old Friends from the neighborhood who, she remembered with a twinge, did not turn out so well. Tommy and ray highers went to prison, in fact, for murder. Mary followed the Case Way back then, in 1987, remembers just how she felt when they were found guilty. I was shocked. You know, i was shocked to hear that. I thought, no way. Didnt sound like them to you . No. Keith Morrison Voiceover anyway, there she was, thinking about them again, fondly. So she wrote a line about missing them whenever she hears a certain song on the radio. And then she sighed and pushed the send button. And look out. People might have trouble believing that such a simple thing as a posting on facebook could make whole worlds change. A lot of people ask, well, what was it . What did you do . What happened . I says, all i did was put one sentence. Keith morrison yeah. Just one sentence. Keith Morrison Voiceover so she did. And 500 miles away in the suburbs of washington, dc Keith Morrison what are you doing on facebook . Just wasting time, like a lot of people do. [laughs] Keith Morrison Voiceover Kevin Zieleniewski grew up in detroit, too, but was now an international Trade Attorney in dc. He and mary didnt know Each Other, werent even facebook friends, for that matter. But both belonged to that Northeast Detroit group, which is why that very same Summer Day in 2009, he just happened to see Marys Post about those boys in prison for murder. That said something to the effect that Tommy And Raymond highers are in prison for life. Every time i hear miss you by the stones, i think of those guys. Did you know those two guys . No, i didnt know them. Keith Morrison Voiceover which, by all rights, should have been The End of it. But something in that post tripped a wire deep in the crater of kevins memory. That name, highers, hed heard it before. He was sure of it, in connection with a murder Case Way back in the late 80s. And that memory lit up another one clear as day, the indelible memory of a bizarre story a College Roommate told him one night in 93 or so. He could hardly believe it then. But now, when he saw Marys Post . No, couldnt be. Were those old stories somehow connected . Maybe mary could tell him. I sent back to her, they wouldnt happen to be in prison for killing old Man Bob . And she got back and said, yes, they are in prison for killing old Man Bob. Keith Morrison Voiceover old Man Bob was robert karey, well known fence, loan shark, Drug Dealer, murdered at the Back Door of his east Detroit Home in the summer of 1987. Kevin was already on the computer that day in 2009, so he pulled up the Michigan Department of corrections website, saw pictures of Tommy And Ray highers, confirmed they were in Prison Doing Life Without Parole for the murder of old Man Bob. It was then it hit him, like a brick in the face. Something about those pictures was very, very wrong. Only one thing to do kevin picked up the phone and called that old College Roommate, a man he hadnt seen for at least a decade, this man, John Hielscher. He said it was about old Man Bob. And i just started freaking out like, im not doing it. Im not doing any of this. How come . Scared. I felt scared. Keith Morrison Voiceover but if he was scared now, oh, just wait. Marys little post and the connections it pulled up in Kevins Brain had just made John Hielscher part of a team he wasnt sure he wanted to belong to. And the next move was his. As a band of Friends Sets out on a journey to find justice, they first need to find out what really happened the night old Man Bob was murdered. Coming up. I got halfway through this and just went my god. When dateline continues. My late fatherinlaw lit up a room, but his vision dimmed with age. He had amd. I didnt know it then, but it can progress to ga, an advanced form of the disease. His struggle with Vision Loss from amd made me want to help you see Warning Signs of ga, like hazy or blurred vision, so its hard to see fine details, colors that appear dull or washed out, or trouble with low light that makes driving at night a real challenge. If you think you have ga, dont wait. Treatments are available. Ask a Retina Specialist about fdaapproved treatments for ga and go to gawontwait. Com Herbal Essences is a force of nature. Made with supercharged botanical blends, our sulfatefree formulas deeply penetrate to boost hair health. Without the salon naturals price tag. Herbal essences. Autumn is here. That means if you dont have leaffilter, youre stuck dealing with leaves, debris, all kinds of headaches. Excuse me, excuse me. Im sorry to interrupt. Im ray sparks from 318 down the street. You did our gutters last year. The sparks family. Their gutters were cleaned by you, realigned and sealed by you. And you installed leaffilter. Americas Number One gutter protection system. Yes, sir. Of course. Is everything okay . Okay. Oh ha ha ha ha ha. Oh, i just love you, man. You make me feel so free. Leaffilters technology has been protecting homes and homeowners for more than 20 years. And that goes a long way with folks. May i oh. Oh. Glad youre happy with your service. To schedule your free inspection. Call 833 leaffilter today. Or visit leaffilter. Com. Why choose a mobile network to schedule your free inspection. Built for places youll probably never be. Instead of for where you are most of the time . Xfinity mobile was designed for where you need it most. Xfinity internet customers, ask how to get a free 5g Phone and a second unlimited line free for a year. Keith Morrison Voiceover something serendipitous was in the wind in detroit as summer turned to fall in 2009. A womans simple Facebook Post about Old Friends now in prison for life was read by a detroit native turned Dc Lawyer who got curious, looked up their pictures and Couldnt Sleep really at the beginning, just thinking about it. And wondering what you should do. Yeah, wondering what to do about it. Keith Morrison Voiceover what he did was call his old College Roommate, John Hielscher, The Man Who, way back in 1993, told him a story about the murder of old Man Bob. Keith morrison Tell Me Why you called John Hielscher. To see if he remembered telling me the story he told me back all those years about the night that old Man Bob was killed. And he did remember. And he did. He remembered it exactly on the phone as he did when he first told me the story. Keith Morrison Voiceover the story . That John Hielscher had been there when old Man Bob was killed, had seen things and never talked to police. And now . Once kevin looked at the pictures of the highers brothers, he understood clear as day that Johns Story could expose a terrible injustice if it was ever revealed, that is. So kevin stewed about it for a bit, talked to his wife and took her advice. We had no hesitation that, you know, we should do something with this. You know, youre a lawyer. You know what to do with it, and just go ahead and do it. You know, its the right thing to do. Keith Morrison Voiceover so he boarded a plane for detroit on his own dime. And john faced down his fears and both met with the lawyer who represented those imprisoned brothers. We met at a restaurant in Grosse Pointe, and we talked to the lawyer. And he didnt seem like he believed me too much. And i said, you know what . Give me a lie detector test. Ill take the test, and then well go from there. If you dont believe me, lets do this right now. Ok. So a couple of weeks later, we ended up taking a lie detector test. Keith Morrison Voiceover and . The polygrapher detected John Hielscher was being truthful. He passed with flying colors. And then nothing. Neither kevin nor john heard anything more from that lawyer. I just thought it got dropped, you know . Kind of, you know, wishing now, oh, good. Its not going to come back. Thats it. Keith Morrison Voiceover and that would have been The End of it, most likely, had it not been for her. Over on the other side of detroit, Though John and Kevin Couldnt possibly have known it, was a private investigator who, truth be told, had just about given up on the case of the highers brothers. We werent getting anywhere. Keith Morrison Voiceover Private Eye Julianne Cuneo had agreed to work the case for a fraction of her usual fee when the Highers Family begged her to find evidence of the boys innocence. She tended to agree with them. But in her long search, she had been unable to find anyone or any facts that could challenge the story about old Man Bobs murder that was told at the trial, which was this bob was home, and it was a friday night. Hes getting a lot of phone calls. Theres a Guy Sitting in the kitchen weighing out bags of weed. People are calling and saying, hey, im going to be over. Heres what im going to want. Mostly people come to the Back Door. Keith Morrison Voiceover an eyewitness to it all was sitting in his car out on the street. We built this animation to illustrate what he later told the police. Julianne cuneo about 9 30 an Omni Or Horizon light in color pulled up out front of his house, and two guys got out and walked up the driveway to the Back Door. And he hears shots fired. And shortly thereafter, he sees some guys hoofing down the driveway. They get back in the Omni Horizon and drive off. Keith morrison so this guy, the witness says, must have been them. Julianne cuneo right. Everybody assumes that the people running down the driveway shot him, yes. Keith Morrison Voiceover the dealer, known as old Man Bob, was dead of a single Gunshot Wound to the chest. Detectives looked high and low for that getaway car. No luck. So the cops canvassed the usual suspects, and bingo. A Jailhouse Informant named a possible shooter, Neighborhood Kid named Tommy Highers. And what do you know . Tommy knew old Man Bob, owed him money, used drugs, even tOld Friends he was going to visit bob that night. They prepared a lineup. But when they showed the pictures to that eyewitness, he didnt pick out tommy. He pointed to tommys brother, ray. Told police he was positive, 100 sure ray was one of the young men running down the driveway and hopping in the car after the murder. So both brothers were arrested and tried and convicted. And sitting in the courtroom, the aunt who had loved them all their lives was devastated. I cant even imagine why they got life without parole, even. Without parole . Keith Morrison Voiceover this is Melvin Voiceover<\/a> the murder happened in seconds. One was coming straight for me and jim with a gun leveled at us. Ive never ran so fast in my life. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> the truth took decades. I said, you know what . Give me a lie detector test. I never believed it for one minute, never. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> did someone have it all wrong . Were innocent men in prison for a murder they did not commit . A 22year mystery until facebook helped Old Friends<\/a> find Each Other<\/a> and justice. Could you ever imagine you would actually cause such a thing . Not in A Million<\/a> years. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> together, they uncovered an almost unbelievable truth. It all made sense. None of us knew what happened that night. This all made sense. Somebody seen it. Somebody knew. All rise. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> now, they just had to get someone to believe them. Oh, my god. Were losing. Oh, my god. Were winning. Oh, my god. Were losing. Well face whatever has to come. This was it. This was it, for sure. Hello and welcome to dateline. It started with a party, high School Senior<\/a>s celebrating The End<\/a> of the School Year<\/a> and new beginnings. But before the night was through, One Man<\/a> would be dead and two others could not know it then but they would be facing a decadeslong battle to prove their innocence. Heres Keith Morrison<\/a> with graduation night. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> in the suburbs outside detroit, michigan, in the summer of 2009, a divorced mother of three named Mary Evans<\/a> was poking around in one of her favorite places, facebook. You can look up what everyones Up To<\/a>. Where are they at today . Are they successful . Are they did they take the wrong path . Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> dear mary, no idea that a little innocent poking into her own past would dredge up a shocking truth long buried. Oh, i was stunned. It was it was unbelievable. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and a Nightmares Worth<\/a> of terrors. I could have been killed that day. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and would bring together an unlikely band of friends, old and new, in a fight to right a terrible wrong. And then a miracle happened. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but no, in 2009, it was just an ordinary Summer Day<\/a>. No sign of providence anywhere, just mary reminiscing about the old days and friends long since gone away. And well, you know how it is, a person wonders. Not such an uncommon thing among people who grew up, as mary did, in Northeast Detroit<\/a>. When i moved in, it was actually a nice neighborhood. And then it changed. Oh, it definitely changed. Keith morrison yeah. Mary evans it started going really downhill. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but that particular Summer Day<\/a>, mary was in a mood to remember the good times, good friends. And on facebook, there was something called the Northeast Detroit<\/a> alumni group. So what did you do in this group on facebook . Well, that was all about is being in touch with longlost friends, people from the neighborhood. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> including a couple of brothers, Old Friends<\/a> from the neighborhood who, she remembered with a twinge, did not turn out so well. Tommy and ray highers went to prison, in fact, for murder. Mary followed the Case Way<\/a> back then, in 1987, remembers just how she felt when they were found guilty. I was shocked. You know, i was shocked to hear that. I thought, no way. Didnt sound like them to you . No. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> anyway, there she was, thinking about them again, fondly. So she wrote a line about missing them whenever she hears a certain song on the radio. And then she sighed and pushed the send button. And look out. People might have trouble believing that such a simple thing as a posting on facebook could make whole worlds change. A lot of people ask, well, what was it . What did you do . What happened . I says, all i did was put one sentence. Keith morrison yeah. Just one sentence. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> so she did. And 500 miles away in the suburbs of washington, dc Keith Morrison<\/a> what are you doing on facebook . Just wasting time, like a lot of people do. [laughs] Keith Morrison<\/a> Voiceover Kevin Zieleniewski<\/a> grew up in detroit, too, but was now an international Trade Attorney<\/a> in dc. He and mary didnt know Each Other<\/a>, werent even facebook friends, for that matter. But both belonged to that Northeast Detroit<\/a> group, which is why that very same Summer Day<\/a> in 2009, he just happened to see Marys Post<\/a> about those boys in prison for murder. That said something to the effect that Tommy And Raymond<\/a> highers are in prison for life. Every time i hear miss you by the stones, i think of those guys. Did you know those two guys . No, i didnt know them. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> which, by all rights, should have been The End<\/a> of it. But something in that post tripped a wire deep in the crater of kevins memory. That name, highers, hed heard it before. He was sure of it, in connection with a murder Case Way<\/a> back in the late 80s. And that memory lit up another one clear as day, the indelible memory of a bizarre story a College Roommate<\/a> told him one night in 93 or so. He could hardly believe it then. But now, when he saw Marys Post<\/a> . No, couldnt be. Were those old stories somehow connected . Maybe mary could tell him. I sent back to her, they wouldnt happen to be in prison for killing old Man Bob<\/a> . And she got back and said, yes, they are in prison for killing old Man Bob<\/a>. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> old Man Bob<\/a> was robert karey, well known fence, loan shark, Drug Dealer<\/a>, murdered at the Back Door<\/a> of his east Detroit Home<\/a> in the summer of 1987. Kevin was already on the computer that day in 2009, so he pulled up the Michigan Department<\/a> of corrections website, saw pictures of Tommy And Ray<\/a> highers, confirmed they were in Prison Doing Life Without Parole<\/a> for the murder of old Man Bob<\/a>. It was then it hit him, like a brick in the face. Something about those pictures was very, very wrong. Only one thing to do kevin picked up the phone and called that old College Roommate<\/a>, a man he hadnt seen for at least a decade, this man, John Hielscher<\/a>. He said it was about old Man Bob<\/a>. And i just started freaking out like, im not doing it. Im not doing any of this. How come . Scared. I felt scared. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but if he was scared now, oh, just wait. Marys little post and the connections it pulled up in Kevins Brain<\/a> had just made John Hielscher<\/a> part of a team he wasnt sure he wanted to belong to. And the next move was his. As a band of Friends Sets<\/a> out on a journey to find justice, they first need to find out what really happened the night old Man Bob<\/a> was murdered. Coming up. I got halfway through this and just went my god. When dateline continues. My late fatherinlaw lit up a room, but his vision dimmed with age. He had amd. I didnt know it then, but it can progress to ga, an advanced form of the disease. His struggle with Vision Loss<\/a> from amd made me want to help you see Warning Signs<\/a> of ga, like hazy or blurred vision, so its hard to see fine details, colors that appear dull or washed out, or trouble with low light that makes driving at night a real challenge. If you think you have ga, dont wait. Treatments are available. Ask a Retina Specialist<\/a> about fdaapproved treatments for ga and go to gawontwait. Com Herbal Essences<\/a> is a force of nature. Made with supercharged botanical blends, our sulfatefree formulas deeply penetrate to boost hair health. Without the salon naturals price tag. Herbal essences. Autumn is here. That means if you dont have leaffilter, youre stuck dealing with leaves, debris, all kinds of headaches. Excuse me, excuse me. Im sorry to interrupt. Im ray sparks from 318 down the street. You did our gutters last year. The sparks family. Their gutters were cleaned by you, realigned and sealed by you. And you installed leaffilter. Americas Number One<\/a> gutter protection system. Yes, sir. Of course. Is everything okay . Okay. Oh ha ha ha ha ha. Oh, i just love you, man. You make me feel so free. Leaffilters technology has been protecting homes and homeowners for more than 20 years. And that goes a long way with folks. May i oh. Oh. Glad youre happy with your service. To schedule your free inspection. Call 833 leaffilter today. Or visit leaffilter. Com. Why choose a mobile network to schedule your free inspection. Built for places youll probably never be. Instead of for where you are most of the time . Xfinity mobile was designed for where you need it most. Xfinity internet customers, ask how to get a free 5g Phone<\/a> and a second unlimited line free for a year. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> something serendipitous was in the wind in detroit as summer turned to fall in 2009. A womans simple Facebook Post<\/a> about Old Friends<\/a> now in prison for life was read by a detroit native turned Dc Lawyer<\/a> who got curious, looked up their pictures and Couldnt Sleep<\/a> really at the beginning, just thinking about it. And wondering what you should do. Yeah, wondering what to do about it. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> what he did was call his old College Roommate<\/a>, John Hielscher<\/a>, The Man Who<\/a>, way back in 1993, told him a story about the murder of old Man Bob<\/a>. Keith morrison Tell Me Why<\/a> you called John Hielscher<\/a>. To see if he remembered telling me the story he told me back all those years about the night that old Man Bob<\/a> was killed. And he did remember. And he did. He remembered it exactly on the phone as he did when he first told me the story. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> the story . That John Hielscher<\/a> had been there when old Man Bob<\/a> was killed, had seen things and never talked to police. And now . Once kevin looked at the pictures of the highers brothers, he understood clear as day that Johns Story<\/a> could expose a terrible injustice if it was ever revealed, that is. So kevin stewed about it for a bit, talked to his wife and took her advice. We had no hesitation that, you know, we should do something with this. You know, youre a lawyer. You know what to do with it, and just go ahead and do it. You know, its the right thing to do. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> so he boarded a plane for detroit on his own dime. And john faced down his fears and both met with the lawyer who represented those imprisoned brothers. We met at a restaurant in Grosse Pointe<\/a>, and we talked to the lawyer. And he didnt seem like he believed me too much. And i said, you know what . Give me a lie detector test. Ill take the test, and then well go from there. If you dont believe me, lets do this right now. Ok. So a couple of weeks later, we ended up taking a lie detector test. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and . The polygrapher detected John Hielscher<\/a> was being truthful. He passed with flying colors. And then nothing. Neither kevin nor john heard anything more from that lawyer. I just thought it got dropped, you know . Kind of, you know, wishing now, oh, good. Its not going to come back. Thats it. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and that would have been The End<\/a> of it, most likely, had it not been for her. Over on the other side of detroit, Though John<\/a> and Kevin Couldnt<\/a> possibly have known it, was a private investigator who, truth be told, had just about given up on the case of the highers brothers. We werent getting anywhere. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> Private Eye<\/a> Julianne Cuneo<\/a> had agreed to work the case for a fraction of her usual fee when the Highers Family<\/a> begged her to find evidence of the boys innocence. She tended to agree with them. But in her long search, she had been unable to find anyone or any facts that could challenge the story about old Man Bob<\/a>s murder that was told at the trial, which was this bob was home, and it was a friday night. Hes getting a lot of phone calls. Theres a Guy Sitting<\/a> in the kitchen weighing out bags of weed. People are calling and saying, hey, im going to be over. Heres what im going to want. Mostly people come to the Back Door<\/a>. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> an eyewitness to it all was sitting in his car out on the street. We built this animation to illustrate what he later told the police. Julianne cuneo about 9 30 an Omni Or Horizon<\/a> light in color pulled up out front of his house, and two guys got out and walked up the driveway to the Back Door<\/a>. And he hears shots fired. And shortly thereafter, he sees some guys hoofing down the driveway. They get back in the Omni Horizon<\/a> and drive off. Keith morrison so this guy, the witness says, must have been them. Julianne cuneo right. Everybody assumes that the people running down the driveway shot him, yes. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> the dealer, known as old Man Bob<\/a>, was dead of a single Gunshot Wound<\/a> to the chest. Detectives looked high and low for that getaway car. No luck. So the cops canvassed the usual suspects, and bingo. A Jailhouse Informant<\/a> named a possible shooter, Neighborhood Kid<\/a> named Tommy Highers<\/a>. And what do you know . Tommy knew old Man Bob<\/a>, owed him money, used drugs, even tOld Friends<\/a> he was going to visit bob that night. They prepared a lineup. But when they showed the pictures to that eyewitness, he didnt pick out tommy. He pointed to tommys brother, ray. Told police he was positive, 100 sure ray was one of the young men running down the driveway and hopping in the car after the murder. So both brothers were arrested and tried and convicted. And sitting in the courtroom, the aunt who had loved them all their lives was devastated. I cant even imagine why they got life without parole, even. Without parole . Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> this is Aunt Jan<\/a> hirth. It was very hopeless. It was very hopeless. Did you believe that they would have done never. I never believed it for one minute. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> the family stuck by Tommy And Ray<\/a> as the men watched their 20s and then their 30s come and go in state prison. And now here they were in their mid40s, still telling anybody and everybody, including us, that they did not kill old Man Bob<\/a>. I just walked with the faith, and i was just like, this is not The End<\/a>. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> the brothers had turned down any and all plea deals, determined instead to clear their names. They joined every prison program, took every class they could to improve themselves. We schooled ourselves. We always took any kind of programs they had to offer. Both of yo . Yeah, absolutely. Worked every day and just held our heads up. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but to prove their innocence, they needed some solid new evidence. And by 2009, after 22 years, even their family had about given up on that. Had you actually gotten to the stage where you thought, well, theyre just theyll be there for the rest of their lives, nothing we can do about it . I did. To be honest, i did. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and so, too, did the Private Eye<\/a>. Julianne cuneo stopped working the case, or tried to. But tommy kept on calling. Id be like, you cant keep calling me. Then one day, i picked up the phone, and it was tommy again. And i just didnt have anything to do. I said, fine, fine. This was purely to get tommy off my back. I thought i was going to do a couple of things, and id be done again. Yeah. Yeah. I can get tommy out of my life. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> so she picked up the phone, called tommys lawyer, who sent her a copy of the affidavit, the sworn story told by Guess Who<\/a> . That old College Roommate<\/a> of kevins, John Hielscher<\/a>, The One<\/a> who claimed he was there at old Man Bob<\/a>s when the murder took place. And when the Private Eye<\/a> read that i got halfway through this thing and just went, holy [bleep]. Like, oh, my god Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> coming up, a close encounter with killers. Im dead. Thats the first thing that came to my head. Hes going to shoot me. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> but are they the same Men Spending Life In Prison<\/a> for murder . When dateline continues. 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Safe steps best offer, just got better now, when you purchase your brand new Safe Step<\/a> walkin tub, youll receive a free Shower Package<\/a>. Yes, a free Shower Package<\/a> and if you call today, youll also receive 15 off your entire order. Now you can enjoy the best of both worlds the therapeutic benefits of a warm, soothing bath that can help increase mobility, relieve pain, boost energy, and even improve sleep or, if you prefer, you can take a refreshing shower. Allinone Product Call<\/a> now to receive a free Shower Package<\/a> Plus 15<\/a> off your brand new Safe Step<\/a> walkin tub. I tell people its the miracle of facebook. Heh. You know, without facebook, it wouldnt have happened. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> detroit Private Eye<\/a> Julianne Cuneo<\/a> had been baffled for years about the mystery surrounding the murder of old Man Bob<\/a>, the murder that put Tommy And Ray<\/a> highers in prison for life. And then out of the blue, late 2010, just because some woman had a moment of nostalgia and posted a casual note on facebook, an affidavit landed on Juliannes Desk<\/a> from a man shed never heard of, John Hielscher<\/a>. It had to be real. It had to be true. Its like a piece of heaven Falling Down<\/a> and landing in your lap. Yeah. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> john told julianne what happened that awful night in the detroit summer of 1987. It was party night, he said. John and his classmates had just graduated from Grosse Pointe<\/a> north high school. Thats in the suburb where the Captains Of Industry<\/a> lived, several miles and Tax Brackets<\/a> across the City Line<\/a> from detroit. And after a few beers, the partiers decided to drive over and buy some marijuana from old Man Bob<\/a>. You just call up, say youre coming by, go to the Back Door<\/a> there. And thats what we were going to do that night. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> so john and four friends hopped in a car, which was, by the way, a white plymouth horizon, and drove over to make the buy. And when they got there, they walked up the driveway to bobs Back Door<\/a>, just as that eyewitness later told the police, except for one detail. And it was a big one. The eyewitness identified the highers brothers as the young men he saw on the driveway. But, said John Hielscher<\/a>, it wasnt them, it was him. He and one of his Grosse Pointe<\/a> buddies went up that driveway. We made it to the Back Door<\/a>. And as soon as we knocked on the door and he opened it, i heard commotion behind me. And we saw people jump over the fence coming towards us. And one with a gun leveled at us. And we saw all the other people running towards bob, especially a guy with a shotgun. I just remembered, im dead. Thats the first thing that came to my you know, my head. Hes going to shoot me. I froze. We froze. And all he said was, get the bleep out of here. And we turned so fast and ran back to the car. Ive never ran so fast in my life. As we were running back, they had heard the gunshot. I said, get the hell out of here. And he screeched the cars and got out of there as quick as we could. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and after . The five returned to the Graduation Party<\/a>. People were wondering, whats the matter with you . What happened . And then someone told them what had happened. And part of the people, oh, i dont believe you. They didnt believe us. But you were freaking out. Oh, yeah. I could have been killed that day. Came close. Came close. I had a gun pointed right right to my face. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> then when he went home, said john, he watched the news, read the papers, looked for news of the shooting but didnt see anything. Never did find out what happened to old Man Bob<\/a>. You know, i didnt hear nothing of it. I didnt know i never saw him actually die. Yeah. So i didnt really know. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> so he said he just tried to forget it. He joined the army, served in the persian gulf, moved on with his life and never told a soul, apart from his girlfriend. And then one night in 1993, six years after the incident, he told kevin zieleniewski. And it was one telling detail in Johns Story<\/a> that kevin never forgot those people who jumped over the fence . They werent white kids. They were black. You had no idea that two men went to prison for this . No, not till kevin called me in 2009. Did you even know the highers brothers . I had no clue who they were. Never seen them in my life. Total strangers . Total strangers. And i said, this isnt right. Because it was it involved a different race. It was not two white people. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> that piece of information, more than 20 years after the murder, was what Tommy And Ray<\/a> and their family had about lost hope they would ever find. When i finally got the whole story, it was like, damn, somebody seen it. Somebody knew. This all made sense. It was just a matter of mistaken identity. Absolutely. It just proves Everything Weve<\/a> said and believed, and for the last 25 years. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> Johns Story<\/a>, which would have disappeared forever had it not been for marys Facebook Post<\/a> and Kevins Steel Trap<\/a> memory, now gave Aunt Jan<\/a> and all those who loved and believed in Tommy And Ray<\/a> new determination. The family brought in a whole new legal team with one Goal Nail<\/a> down the evidence, get the brothers out of prison. Attorneys Jan Knapp<\/a> and valerie newman. I thought this case should have never been charged. A mistake happened. A mistake happened, and it ended up with two men spending potentially the rest of their lives in prison. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> now, if only the team could find the other people who were in the car with john that night. And if they all told the same story, well, maybe then theyd have something. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> coming up, after more than two decades, the moment of truth. It was pins and needles. I mean, it was our life. This was it. This was it, for sure. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> when dateline continues. The Darkness Of Bipolar Depression<\/a> made me feel like life was moving on without me. Then i found a chance to let in the lyte. discover caplyta. Unlike some medicines that only treat bipolar i, caplyta is proven to deliver significant Symptom Relief<\/a> from both bipolar i ii depression. And in clinical trials, Movement Disorders<\/a> and Weight Gain<\/a> were not common. Caplyta can cause serious Side Effects<\/a>. Call your doctor about sudden mood changes, behaviors, or suicidal thoughts right away. Antidepressants may increase these risks in young adults. Elderly dementia patients have increased risk of death or stroke. Caplyta is not approved for dementiarelated psychosis. 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Com hey ill give you 574 if you switch. For an Ice Cream<\/a> . Okay. So, what about 574 for switching your Home Insurance<\/a> to allstate . Tempting. But thats way too much of a hassle. Actually, its not. Allstate can handle the switching for you. Just call em. So, its easy and i could save . And you get allstate. Huh, like a cherry on top. Oh, you brought your own. Check allstate first and you could save hundreds. Youre in good hands with allstate. Hi, im Richard Lui<\/a> with a news update. The world is commemorating when youre since October 7<\/a> attacks on israel by hamas. Over 100 hostages remain held in gaza while more than 40,000 people were killed as the conflict continues to escalate across the middle east. Kamala harris and thomas are wrapping up their Media Appearances<\/a> with us, and with the tell election day. They will appear separately on a 60 minute special in addition to latenight short podcast appearances. For now, back to dateline. They said they did not commit, Tommy And Ray<\/a> highers were given two valuable things hope and a potential eyewitness. A stranger named John Hielscher<\/a> had come forward to insist he saw the real killers. But could One Man<\/a>s claim be enough to overturn a conviction . For Tommy And Ray<\/a>s team, it was time to go about the task of proving it. Once again, Heres Keith Morrison<\/a> with graduation night. Private eye Julianne Cuneo<\/a> and the others who joined her efforts for the highers brothers believe the newlydiscovered witness, John Hielscher<\/a> was telling the truth. Now, if they could only find those four high school Friends Hielscher<\/a> claimed were with him, were with them the night when he and they took a trip to buy marijuana from a neighborhood Drug Dealer<\/a> known as old Man Bob<\/a> back in 1987, a trip that ended in gunfire. First, bad News Julianne<\/a> discovered the driver of the car died. But his family confirmed he drove a white plymouth horizon, the same type of car an eyewitness had seen fleeing the scene. And that was important to be able to make that connection. Right. Because the linchpin of all this is that these guys were in a white omni, Omni Or Horizon<\/a>. Theyre the same car, basically. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and then, One By<\/a> one, they did find them, the kids, now 40 somethings, whod been in the car and heard the very same things John Hielscher<\/a> told them. This man, john corber, was riding in the front passenger seat, and he confirmed the story. You can just see it dawn on his face that two guys have been sitting in jail for nearly 25 years. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> the woman who was a high School Senior<\/a> was dating one of the men in the car confirmed she saw it, too, though getting her to talk was no easy task. But none was more reluctant than that young Man Whod<\/a> walked up the drive to the Back Door<\/a> with John Hielscher<\/a> and then fled down again in terror when a shot was fired. Why wouldnt he talk about it . Pretty much all of our witnesses grew up in fairly wealthy, welltodo families, and it seemed to be an embarrassment that they had gone into East Detroit<\/a> to buy marijuana. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> for months, hed only communicate through his sister, an attorney. He refused to tell the investigators what he knew, seemed to go to great lengths to avoid their calls. He wanted no part of it, which i still really cant understand. Because its you know, its not often that you get to be a hero. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> finally, what could the lawyers do . They subpoenaed him. It had to be done. We had two innocent men in prison. There was no choice. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and finally, they all wound up right here, detroits frank Murphy Hall<\/a> of justice, spring 2012. The lawyers appointed to represent the longimprisoned brothers, Tommy And Ray<\/a> highers had hoped to avoid this. Theyd allowed themselves to think the Wayne County<\/a> Das Office<\/a> might see the new evidence about the night old Man Bob<\/a> was killed, see that a mistake was made, and rectify it. But we had a Prosecutors Office<\/a> that was very uncooperative in the face of overwhelming evidence of innocence. Did that surprise you . No, its an amazing ability to blind yourself to everything except what you want to look at. Bailiff all rise. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> of course, that was a defense Attorneys Point<\/a> of view. And so here they were in court to fight it out. Just getting this hearing took a year of their efforts and persuading all those witnesses to testify about a moment in time so long ago was no less difficult. Knowing that, Tommy And Ray<\/a>s family became a sort of Cheering Section<\/a> in court. We filled up the room, and we wanted to show everybody that we were there to back them up, and we just wanted to be there for them. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> all crowded the courtroom of Judge Lawrence Talon<\/a>, who would decide if the new evidence merited a new trial. Lawrence talon all right, want to bring them out . Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> finally, Tommy And Ray<\/a> highers filed into court, the brothers who from Day One<\/a> insisted they were innocent, whose family never stopped believing in them, looking like just what they were survivors of a Quarter Century<\/a> in prison. It was pins and needles. I mean, it was our life. Because if he didnt believe what he was hearing we were going right back to the state penitentiary. And there was never no more relief. Yeah, this was it. Ray highers this was it, for sure. Good morning, your honor. Valerie newman, state appellate defender office. When i got to the hearing, it was all out warfare. All right, you may call your first witness. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> the defense began laying out the strange tale from the start, with Mary Evans<\/a> and her 2009 Facebook Post<\/a>. Ms. Evans, why have you come forward in this case . You know, on the streets, i always heard that highers didnt do it. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> next, the Dc Lawyer<\/a> who just happened to answer that post of marys. Would you please state your name for the record . Kevin zieleniewski. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> on the stand, Kevin Retold The Story<\/a> that john, the old roommate, told him way back in 1993. He made a comment to the effect that, wow, you wouldnt believe what happened that night. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and so, said kevin, he felt a duty to step in. And why are you here today . Two innocent people are in prison for life. And i learned information that could help set them free. And i felt compelled to bring that information forward. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and then One By<\/a> one, the witnesses, the now 40somethings who told the court about that night outside old Man Bob<\/a>s house, where theyd gone to buy marijuana for their Graduation Party<\/a>, and that it was their friends, not the highers brothers, who came running down the driveway. And how did they look when they got in the car . Terrified. Why are you coming forward . Two minutes is too long in prison, let alone 20 some years. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> even the reluctant witness, The One<\/a> they had to subpoena to get to court, confirmed all of it, as did The Man Who<\/a> threw the Graduation Party<\/a> that night. He was very forthcoming and said, sure, i remember that day they pulled up. They were a wreck. And they told me what happened. And you just dont forget something like that. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and finally, The Man Who<\/a>se comments to his roommate nearly two decades earlier kept the old story alive the defense calls John Hielscher<\/a>. What was it like, the process of testifying at this hearing . Ive been to combat ive jumped out of planes. And that was the toughest thing i had to do. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> John Hielscher<\/a>, who was horrified he never found out for certain that old Man Bob<\/a> was murdered, told the story hed never before publicly discussed, complete with what he heard and saw after walking Up To<\/a> old Man Bob<\/a>s Back Door<\/a>. I heard commotion coming from the alley behind bobs house. I saw four africanamerican males hopping over the Chainlink Fence<\/a> from the alley. And they were running towards the house. Jan knapp ok, then what happened next . I saw a larger africanamerican male with what appeared to be a shotgun. And then i saw another africanamerican male with a handgun who told us to get the [bleep] out of there. Jan knapp and what did you do then . I proceeded to turn around and run as fast as i could. Did you hear anything . As i was as i was turning to run, i did hear a gunshot. Were you scared . Oh, im still scared. Have you ever been afraid like that after that . When i was in combat. Jan knapp are you telling the truth. Yes, maam. Jan knapp and why are you here . Because theres two innocent people that did not commit this crime. Ana quiroz objection. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but then it was Ana Quiroz<\/a> turn. The Wayne County<\/a> Assistant Prosecutor<\/a> made it perfectly clear she didnt believe all those new witnesses coming forward to tell the story or what they said in their sworn statements, which she picked apart word by word. No, maam, thats not correct. Ana quiroz its not correct . So your affidavit is wrong . Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> the Assistant Prosecutor<\/a> went methodically through the testimony of each witness and suggested, sometimes gently, sometimes not, that they were all lying, had concocted the whole story to help free Tommy And Ray<\/a> highers. Arent they Friends With You<\/a> on facebook . My understanding is that no, no. Listen to my question. Arent they Friends With You<\/a> on facebook . Yes or no . Well, i would say no judge Keith Morrison<\/a> voiceover but, said Tommy And Ray<\/a>s attorneys, it was the Assistant Prosecutor<\/a> who concocted a story. The prosecution had nothing to contradict our theory, just absolutely nothing. And so when you have nothing, you concoct something. And so what they concocted was a grand conspiracy theory. Keith morrison did that surprise you . It did. To have people who are unconnected to the defendants to come together in this huge conspiracy to cook something up doesnt make sense. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but in The End<\/a>, it was Up To<\/a> the judge to decide if the new evidence was cooked up, as the prosecutor claimed, or compelling enough to give the highers Brothers Their First Shot<\/a> at freedom in 25 years. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> coming up, the judge rules. Will the highers Brothers Get A Second Chance<\/a> . Well fight, and well face whatever has to come. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> when dateline continues. Oooh this is our night shingles doesnt care. But shingrix protects. Only shingrix is proven over 90 effective. Shingrix is a vaccine used to prevent shingles in adults 50 years and older. Shingrix does not protect everyone and is not for those with severe allergic reactions to its ingredients or to a previous dose. An increased risk of Guillainbarre Syndrome<\/a> was observed after getting shingrix. Fainting can also happen. 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This is the Courts Decision<\/a> on the Defendants Motion<\/a> for relief from judgment. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but with all the history, the legalese, the new evidence, the witnesses the prosecution was meticulous in pointing out inconsistencies and differences between testimony. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> it took the judge two full hours to explain the basis for his decision, the reasons he said he had no choice but to rule a particular way. Oh, my nerves were shaking. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> as Tommy And Ray<\/a>, their courtroom, full of family and friends and attorneys, agonized, some felt almost ill. Just sitting through the ruling almost killed me. Im thinking, oh, my god, were losing. Oh, my god, were losing. Oh, my god, were winning. Oh, my god. Were losing. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> until the judge finally said the words Lawrence Talon<\/a> this evidence meets all the requirements for this court to grant the requested relief by the defendant. [applause, cheering] all right. Jan hirth a weight just fell off my shoulders. It was just oh, finally, thank you. Thank you. Keith morrison and everybody was hugging and it was just a joyous scene. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> you would think, looking at this, that Tommy And Ray<\/a> highers had just been declared innocent of the murder of old Man Bob<\/a>. [laughter] but that is not what happened. Not even two weeks later, when the judge decided to release the brothers on bond to await trial [cheering] and Tommy And Raymond<\/a> hires walked out of jail for the first time in more than 25 years. Welcome home Keith Morrison<\/a> voiceover well, it certainly felt like victory, looked like victory. It was like someone had hit a Grand Slam<\/a> at the ballpark. Sweetie oh, my god. Oh, man. Hell, yeah. Heres my wonderful attorney. Yeah. Im telling you now. Im telling you now. Hey. Hey. She is the bomb. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but Tommy And Ray<\/a> highers were merely men on bail, awaiting trial for murder, a trial the prosecution gave every indication it was especially determined to win and thus send these two men right back where they came from, state prison. Whats it like to be sitting here talking about whats happened to you . You cant even put it into words, the feelings that go through you. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> which gave us a chance to talk to them as they prepared for their biggest fight yet, for exoneration and, they hoped, permanent freedom. Well fight, and well face whatever has to come. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and here they told us their version of what happened the night old Man Bob<\/a> was killed. We got involved in things we shouldnt have been involved in. Right. Drugs. That was the main thing. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and that night, june 26, 1987, the brothers did indeed go over to bobs house, they said, saw the police were there, and assumed you know, we figured he was being raided. Thats exactly what we thought, that he was being raided, never even stopped. There was so much police out there that we just kept going. It never occurred to us that he was murdered. Right. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> a week later, they were under arrest. Walked in there and never walked out. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> they were 21 and 22 when they went in. But now they said they are not the same men as they were then and that that is a good thing. Im not ashamed of being in prison, because prison made them thats who i am today. Prison made this man, my morals, my integrity. I mean, in a way, a positive experience and yet one you wouldnt wish on your worst enemy. Right. Right, exactly. You still hold on to the light, and, you know, you just push forward every day. Jan hirth whats on the agenda today, guys . Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> after their release, they moved in with their Aunt Jan<\/a> and wore electronic tethers to monitor their whereabouts, mandated by the court. They were like rip van winkles, awakened to the real world, learning to use cell phones, getting their drivers licenses. Waiting to get that all my life. First one ive ever had. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and getting up in the morning and going to work, ray at an industrial heating and cooling company, Tommy Head<\/a> of maintenance at an apartment complex. And at the very same time, the Wayne County<\/a> Prosecutors Office<\/a> was preparing its case against them, to put them back into prison for life, preparing it as we sat here talking. Though, as the brothers told us here, the da has put an offer on the table. They can keep their freedom if they agree to one condition. What plea are they offering . Right, for us just to plead guilty, and wed get time served. Would you . No. No. We stood on our innocence, and we screamed it to the top of our lungs for 25 years. And then for the people that got behind us and believed in us, for us to do that would just be like a slap in their face. And then it would just tear my integrity right out of my body. So were innocent, and nothings going to change that. There will be people in the audience who will still believe you did it. Sure, people i mean, you know, you cant convince everybody. Mhm. Youre kind of used to that now. Sure. But all we want to do is convince 12. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> those 12 would be the jurors sitting in judgment at their upcoming retrial for murder. Tommy and ray highers were going back to court to see if free men they would remain. Craig Melvin Voiceover<\/a> coming up, a Courtroom Game<\/a> of chicken . Who blinked first . It was really disingenuous. Disingenuous is such a polite word. What does it really mean . It means they were saving face. 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I use new olay cleansing melts every day. Just soak, activate and wash. To clean, tone and refresh. Thats a 3x better clean. Olay. Keith morrison th voiceover the halln. Of justice was waiting, again, for tommy, and ray highers, the very place they were sent away in the first place. I hate going into the courtroom. I hate going to the courthouse. I hate parking in the Parking Lot<\/a> to get to the courthouse. You know what i mean . Its like, i just but its something that we got to deal with. And its going to be headon. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> as we talked two weeks before the scheduled start of their trial, the Wayne County<\/a> Prosecutors Office<\/a> was forging ahead, once again charging the brothers with the murder of robert karey, old Man Bob<\/a>. How nervous are you about this . You know, of course youre going to be nervous. I mean, your lives are in other peoples hands still. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> for the past several months, Tommy And Ray<\/a>s Defense Attorneys<\/a> have been attending pretrial hearings, sending motions back and forth, as lawyers do, all the while hoping the da would come to see it their way and simply drop the charges. I was confident that it was a game of chicken, because they had no evidence. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but with each legal step in the march toward trial, they were disappointed. The da, it seemed perfectly clear, was very serious. All rise. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> then, just a few days after our interview with the brothers, september 2013, everyone assembled in the courtroom. Assistant prosecutor reynolds had something to say. Your honor, at this time, based on consultation with prosecutor worthy, based on communications with the decedents family, based on a recognition of what 26 years can do to the triability of a case, we would move to dismiss the case against the defendants at this point in time. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and that was it. Case dismissed, no new trial. Its not often you get to give somebody their lives back. And thats what we did. We gave them their lives back. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but before they all left the courtroom, the prosecutor pointedly reserved the right to refile Murder Charges<\/a> if new evidence ever surfaces. Reporter are you going to allow this to hang over your head for the rest of your life . Absolutely not. I mean, you know, in the last year, we havent allowed it to hang over our heads. You know, we moved on. You know, weve moved on in life, and were going to continue to do that. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> but Wayne County<\/a> Prosecutor Kym<\/a> worthy, who declined Datelines Request<\/a> for an interview, took a Parting Shot<\/a> at the brothers, issued a statement saying, quote, just as we did 26 years ago, we firmly believe in the evidence in this case. We have worked diligently to bring this case to trial. With the passage of time, it is an unfortunate reality that this case cannot be put back together, and we must dismiss it. Sadly, in this case, justice was not done, end quote. Freedom Keith Morrison<\/a> voiceover really . How are you doing . Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> said the people who freed Tommy And Ray<\/a>. It was really disingenuous. It was not right. Disingenuous is such a polite word. What does it really mean . It means they were saving face. They already have the stain of 25 years in prison for a crime they didnt commit. And then you have the Prosecutors Office<\/a> saying, yeah, right. Kind of like, we still think theyre guilty. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> in 2016, michigan lawmakers passed the wrongful imprisonment compensation act, calling for the state to pay exonerated prisoners 50,000 for every year spent behind bars. The highers brothers sued the state for just over 1. 2 million each. And in october 2019, the michigan attorney Generals Office<\/a> settled the suit, agreeing to pay the full amount. Of course, in the days immediately following their release, nothing could compare to the chance to celebrate with the people who helped make it happen, like mary, whose Facebook Post<\/a> started everything. Could you ever imagine you would actually cause such a thing . No, no, not in A Million<\/a> years. [laughs] its hard to get my head around it, you know . Its just an awesome feeling. Keith morrison sure. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> kevin, who still shies away from taking credit. I happen to be a lawyer. It doesnt really seem that extraordinary to me. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> and John Hielscher<\/a>, who can finally put the past where it belongs behind him. Its like i told them. I said, i just wish i could have done something earlier. You wouldnt have had to sit there for so many years. And tommy looked at me, gave me a hug, and he says, its the way it was supposed to happen. It had to happen like this. Keith morrison yeah. They dont seem bitter at all. Not when i met them. Just glad theyre home and theyre out and theyre free. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> free men, who know none of it would have happened without family and friends, that Dream Team<\/a> of lawyers and investigators, and, of course, facebook. What would you like to say to those people who helped you along the way . Thank you from the bottom of my heart yeah. For believing, understanding, and taking the time that most people dont do. Its like, you know, A Dream Come True<\/a> for us because its what we always been hoping for. Somebody to help us. Thats why we just want to live and move forward. We know its gone. Its the past. Move on. Better days. Keith Morrison Voiceover<\/a> so they profoundly wished. But even life regained from injustice is not always fair. In november 2021, Tommy Highers<\/a> died of a heart attack. His Brother Ray<\/a> tried to go on but could not face life without tommy. And in april 2024, he took his own. Thats all for this edition of dateline. Im craig melvin. Thank you for watching. Melvin, and this is dateline. Hello, im craig melvin, andhad the good cop,e. U you had the bad cop, and the polygraph. It felt like law and order. Craig melvin the fire broke out before dawn","publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"archive.org","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","width":"800","height":"600","url":"\/\/ia904505.us.archive.org\/20\/items\/MSNBCW_20241007_060000_Dateline\/MSNBCW_20241007_060000_Dateline.thumbs\/MSNBCW_20241007_060000_Dateline_000001.jpg"}},"autauthor":{"@type":"Organization"},"author":{"sameAs":"archive.org","name":"archive.org"}}],"coverageEndTime":"20241008T12:35:10+00:00"}