investigators | business fraud | criminal defenseJudge overturns murder conviction of Edward Wright...
Apr.21.2025
What goes into investigating & overturning the wrongful conviction of an innocent man?
~ 100+ people located
~ 75+ people interviewed
~ 6+ lawyers
~ 283 exhibits
~ 5 years of work
On Friday, April 11, 2025, Hampden County Superior Court Judge Jeremy Bucci overturned the conviction of Wright. The defense investigation found substantial 3rd party culprit evidence suggesting that the victim’s ex-boyfriend, Allen Greg Smalls (deceased), committed this murder, stole mementos from the crime scene, and threatened the victim Penny Anderson night she was murdered. Smalls lied about his alibi, attempted to sell a knife the day after the stabbing, and also confessed twice to having committed the murder. He went on to commit several other violent crimes against women.
Eddie Wright called the news “bittersweet”... “There is bitterness for all the years I’ve lost in prison,” he said, “but also sweetness in the possibility of freedom.”
Despite not calling any witnesses during the new trial hearing and admitting there was no chance for a retrial, the DA cynically appealed the case to keep Mr. Wright in prison just a few weeks longer.
40 years later, Eddie Wright found justice. And we're still working to get him home. We worked this case with our outstanding partners at New England Innocence Project and pro bono lawyers Nigel Tampon, Isaac Saidel-Goley and many others.
~ 100+ people located
~ 75+ people interviewed
~ 6+ lawyers
~ 283 exhibits
~ 5 years of work
On Friday, April 11, 2025, Hampden County Superior Court Judge Jeremy Bucci overturned the conviction of Wright. The defense investigation found substantial 3rd party culprit evidence suggesting that the victim’s ex-boyfriend, Allen Greg Smalls (deceased), committed this murder, stole mementos from the crime scene, and threatened the victim Penny Anderson night she was murdered. Smalls lied about his alibi, attempted to sell a knife the day after the stabbing, and also confessed twice to having committed the murder. He went on to commit several other violent crimes against women.
Eddie Wright called the news “bittersweet”... “There is bitterness for all the years I’ve lost in prison,” he said, “but also sweetness in the possibility of freedom.”
Despite not calling any witnesses during the new trial hearing and admitting there was no chance for a retrial, the DA cynically appealed the case to keep Mr. Wright in prison just a few weeks longer.
40 years later, Eddie Wright found justice. And we're still working to get him home. We worked this case with our outstanding partners at New England Innocence Project and pro bono lawyers Nigel Tampon, Isaac Saidel-Goley and many others.