Free Johnny Lee Savory

Peoria, Illinois

...In The Interest of Justice.

In 1977, fourteen year old Johnnie Lee Savory was abducted from his home and family by the Peoria Police Department and placed in the worst possible foster home. His new father was the Criminal Judicial System; his new mother was Lady Justice. His new siblings were all inmates of the Illinois Department of Corrections. johnnie was forced into the worst of dysfunctional families by a system that has no regard for human life, no interest in seeing true justice served. The Judicial System and the State’s Attorney will try to trick you into believing that justice has been served by convicting an inncoent boy for crimes he did not commit. Lady Justice stands blind and helpless while the System attempts to destroy yet another life. We, the taxpayers and citizens of Illinois, cannot allow the crimes of a system that we must support financially to continue to victimize an innocent human being for crimes HE DID NOT COMMIT. Twenty years have been allowed to pass while these “kidnappers” of Johnnie Lee Savory have arrogantly believed that their abuse of an innocent child will go unnoticed. They have counted on the fact that we, the people from Johnnie’s community, would believe these absurd claims of justice served and not take a stand to end this type of systematic abuse.

THE TIME TO FIGHT HAS COME!!!

We must unite our voices and demand that Johnnie Lee Savory to be freed from his wrongful imprisonment. We cannot let Johnnie suffer and face his situation along for one moment longer. He is now a man, an innocent man, yet no longer powerless to overcome the injustice that has been his burden for these long years. We must cry out for his freedom and become a part of his struggle.

THE FACTS

On January 17, 1977, James Robinson, 14, and his 18 year old sister, Connie Cooper, were murdered in their Peoria home. By all accounts, it was a gruesome, senseless waste of life. It is no less to Johnnie Lee Savory. James was a close friend of Johnnie’s, a friend with whom he attended school. Grieving for the loss of a close friend at age 14 is painful enough. Imagine the pain in having to fight for you own life in the process. Johnnie Lee Savory was convicted for the murders of his friend and his friend’s sister. For 22 years, his life has been a living hell. To fully comprehend Johnnie’s misery, you have to look at the facts of the case. He was convicted on one piece of evidence; coerced, inculpatory statements made after hours of grueling interrogation. Statement, which on appeal, the Court deemed never should have been allowed. On January 25, 1977, Johnnie Lee Savory was abducted from his school by the Peoria Police Department, vigorously interrogated, stripped naked so hair sample could be taken from his body, and coerced into confessing to a crime that he had not committed. This confession was the sole piece of evidence the State had to justify their torture of this young boy. There was no physical evidence linking Johnnie to the crime scene.

  *According to Police and lab reports, “..fingernail
    scrapings (from the right hand of Connie (victim),
    and hair taken form Connie’s right hand, hair from
    Robinson’s left hand…”  “None Match Savory’s”
    “fingerprints found in the home of the victims…
    NONE MATCH SAVORY’S”

Another startling fact that is unquestionably in Johnnie’s favor was the family dog. The presence of the dog in the Robinson’s home at the time of the murder alone is proof of Johnnie’s innocence. The dog was very protective of James and Connie. He would not let any stranger in the Robinson home. Testimony from the victims mother, stepfather, relatives, and family friends, all affirm the fact that the German Shepherd was ferocious, and affirm that the dog had to be locked away from people whom he did not know.

          *Troubleman (the dog) had a record, longer than some
           criminals, for biting strangers and violent behavior.
          *Peter Douglas (victims' stepfather) says the dog was
           loose in the house when he arrived home and found the
           bodies of the victims.
          *Peter Douglas told police that the dog would bite a
           stranger, therefore the murderer would have had to
           been known by the dog to enter the house.  Johnnie's
           first visit to the Robinson home was the night before
           the murders took place.  At that time, the dog had to
           be locked in another room for the duration of the
           time Johnnie was in the home.
          *Renatta Williams (a family friend) says that the dog
           is vicious.  Police say the dog had to be segregated 
           during the investigation of the crime scene.
          *According to one police report, "The dog barked and
           jumped at the door at 10:00 a.m., 1/18/77, when a Del
           Farms salesman delivered a pamphlet to the home.

In 1980 the Illinois Third District Appellate Court ruled that Johnnie’s confession was illegally obtained in violation of his state and civil constitutional rights. He was never read his Miranda rights at any time prior to interrogation by Peoria Police and his right to have a parent present during interrogation was denied.

  *The State appealed to the Illinois Supreme Court
    to overturn the Appellate Court decision…
    That Appeal Was Denied!
  *The State then appealed to the United States Supreme
    Court…Their Appeal Was Denied!
  *State’s Attorney Michael Mihm was quoted as saying,
    “We cannot retry him (Savory) without his statement,
    so that’s it, he won’t be retried again.”
  *State’s Attorney John Barra was quoted as saying,
    “Without it (the confession) there is no substantial
    evidence to tie Savory to the crime or the scent of
    the crime.  I don’t know how it would be possible to
    try him without it”

Johnnie returned to Peoria County with absolutely NO EVIDENCE against him. Surprisingly, the State was able to coerce three members of the same family (Frank, Tina, and Ella Ivy) to testify under oath that Johnnie had made admissions to each of them on the day of the murders concerning the deaths of James Robinson and Connie Cooper, adding the Ivy family to the then growing list of victims in order to secure an otherwise nonexistent conviction.

  *In 1977, statements taken from the Ivy family made
    no mention of Savory’s alleged admissions to them
    concerning the deaths of the two teenagers.
  *During the second trial, Frank Ivy agreed to a taped
    interview with Charlie Peters, an investigator from
    the Appellate Defender’s Office.  During that interview,
    Frank admitted that Savory had never made
    Any statements concerning the deaths of the victims.
  *In a written recantation, Tina Ivy states that she was facing
    criminal charges herself, that Johnnie made admissions
    of guilt to her on the day of the murders.

Based on the testimony of the Ivy family, Johnnie was once again convicted of these crimes. In 1983 Frank and Tina Ivy contacted Savory’s attorney of their own free will, and gave sworn affidavits that they had lied during the second trial in 1981. The Judicial System again denied Johnnie’s freedom in their efforts to secure their own political positions and to cover up the truth.

DNA TESTING

In the second trial, a pair of bloody pants that didn’t even belong to Johnnie Savory, were admitted into evidence and used by the State to deceive the jury into believing that there was physical evidence that would link him to a crime. DNA testing was not available at the time of the second trial. Recently, the Governor of Illinois signed into existence a law that allows persons the opportunity to request DNA testing in their case, if it was not available at the time of the crime, and would affect the outcome of the conviction. A motion has been filed on Johnnie’s behalf to request DNA testing of the physical evidence in his case. Our plea is for you to join the fight for Johnnie’s freedom and demand that the truth finally be brought to life. If you are willing to join the struggle and would like more information surrounding the facts of the case, please fill out the attached form and add your name to the growing list of supporters to fight for the freedom of an innocent man!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

STATE OF ILLINOIS PRISONER REVIEW BOARD

Name Johnny Savory No. L-12206 Date April 30, 1998RationaleThe basis for the Board's decision at this time is explained as follows:L-12206On April 28, 1998 at Danville Correctional Facility an interview was help with Mr. Savory who testified on his own behalf. As a result of this hearing, an assessment was made of his institutional adjustment, prior criminal activities, parole plans and the statement of facts of the offense.Mr. Savory is 35 years of age and has served 21 years of a sentence of 40-80 years for two counts of murder. The facts of the offense are as follows: On January 18, 1977 James Robinson, age 14, and Connie Cooper, age 18, were murdered. Both were stabbed and slashed several times. Johnny Savory, age 14, was arrested. He was convicted on July 1, 1977 and sentenced to 50-100 years. In 1980, the conviction was overturned, a new trial was held and in 1981 he was again convicted and sentenced to 40-80 years. he maintained his innocence and is presently requesting that his attorney Mr. Ted A. Gottfried, State Appellate Defender, have D.N.A. testing of certain evidence. (Mr. Gottfried's web address is www.state.il.us/defender)His institutional adjustment is good. He has received his G.E.D., a certificate for auto body, electronics, and paralegal. He has received no institutional disciplinary reports since 1994.Since he was only 14 at the time of the crime Savory has no criminal history. There is one juvenile case for burglary, which was dismissed.MR. JOHNNY LEE SAVORY IS COMING UP BEFORE THE PAROLE BOARD APRIL 27, 1999.

Support Letters

INSPIRATIONAL SUPPORT LETTERS CAN BE SENT DIRECTLY TO:C/O JOHNNIE L. SAVORY, IIREG. NO. L-12206DANVILLE CORR. CENTERP. O. BOX 4002DANVILLE, ILLINOIS 61834-4002I support the following in the case of Johnnie Lee Savory and am willing to take a stand in defense of his innocence.CHECK ONE OR MORE OF THE FOLLOWING:1. IMMEDIATE DNA TESTING /____/2. NEW TRIAL /____/3. A FULL PARDON BY THE GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS /____/4. AN IMMEDIATE RELEASE FROM PRISON /____/5. REOPEN THE CASE FOR FURTHER INVESTIGATION /____/(Optional)Name. .Address: .City/State .Zip .Phone: .IN SUPPORT OF JOHNNIE LEE SAVORY SEND ALL RESPONESE, REQUESTS FOR MORE INFORMATION, AND DONATIONS FOR LEGAL FEES AND DNA TESTING TO:Mr. Lewis Donley2015 West Antionette StreetPeoria, Illinois 61605PLEASE FEEL FREE TO COPY THIS INFORMATION AND SHARE JOHNNIES STORY WITH FAMILY, FRIENDS, AND PEOPLE EVERYWHERE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The Wrongly Convicted

HOW PROCECUTORS SACRIFICE JUSTICE TO WINFOUR TRUE STORIES OF THE WRONGLY CONVICTEDCase No. 1Debbie Tucker LovelessJohn Harvey Miller both in prison for 5 yearsEmory Texas:Loveless and Miller said wild dogs killed their 4 yr. Old daughter. Prosecutors charged the parents for beating and stabbing her. After the couple was convicted, their Lawyer obtained emergency room and autopsy photos that prosecutors withheld. Including one whowing paw prints on the girls back. Five scientists studied the photo and said the wounds were consistent with dog bites. The convictions were thrown out in 1993 and the couple were FREED.Case No. 2Kirk Bloodsworth – imprisoned for 9 yrs.Rosedale Md.Bloodsworth was convicted twice for rape and murder of a nine year old girl. The first conviction was reversed because prosecutors withheld evidence of a suspect who helped search for the girl, knew undisclosed crime details, failed a polygraph and had what looked like blood on his shirt. Prosecutors waited 2 years before disclosing yet another suspect – a mental health patient who closely resembled the killers police sketch and sought counseling at a nearby clinic the day of the murder. Bloodsworth, once sentenced to death, was cleared by DNA testing and freed in 1993.Case No. 3Walter McMillian – on death row for 5 years.Monroeville, Ala.Even with 7 alibi witnesses, McMillian was convicted of murder. To assure McMillian’s Appellate Lawyer wasn’t hiding anything, prosecutors gave tape conversations of a key witness implicating McMillian. They heard the same witness complaining of being pressured to frame McMillian. An Appeals Court concluded that prosecutors had suppressed evidence and McMillian’s conviction was reversed in 1993.Case No. 4.Joseph Green Brown – on death row 13 years.Tampa, FloridaWhile trying Brown for murder, the lead prosecutor told jurors the States star witness had absolutely nothing to gain by identifying Brown. That wasn’t true. The State had secretly granted the witness immunity against a murder charge and the prosecutors had allowed him to commit perjury by denying any such deal. Brown’s conviction was reversed in 1986. Both prosecutors became judges.These are stories of wrongly convicted individuals.By:Mr. Lewis Donley Sr.

Help Free Johnny Lee Savory

Johnnie would like to thank all individuals who read these articles; and if you think this case was an injustice, please help pass this information on to other groups and organizations such as those listed below.1. NAACP – IN New York2. American Civil Liberties Union ACLU – in New York.3. Amnesty International – Canada4. National Medias – CBS, NBC, ABC, & FOX5. Any group/orgainzation dealing with justice/fighting against injustice.6. Harvard Black Law Students Association 617 495-4556 democracy@law.harvard.edu7. Court TV8. National Black Media Coalition 301 445-26009. National Association of Black – Owned Broadcasters 202 463-8970 / nabob@abs.net10. National Association of Blacks in Criminal Justice 301 445-2600 office@nabcj.org11. UCLA Africian American Leadership Institute 310 825-2001 execed@anderson.ucla.edu12. National Urban League Inc 212 558-530013. National Association of Black Journalists 301-445-7100 nabj@nabj.org 14. Workers World 212 627-299415. Chicago Tribune www.chicagotribune.com/go/trial

The Wrong Man?

Peoria Times-Observer investigative reporter DeWayne Bartels started a 4-part in-depth look at the case of Johnnie Lee Savory, a man some believe was wrongly convicted of a double murder when he was 14 years old. Find out why there may be reasonable doubt about his guilt. His first article was in the April 7, 1999 Peoria Times-Observer.

INJUSTICE IS A DEADLY CANCER

REWARD

PAID BY THE FAMILY, FRIENDS AND SUPPORTERS
OF JOHNNIE LEE SAVORY, II

$10,000
(TEN THOUSAND DOLLARS)"...WILL BE PAID TO THE PERSON OR PERSON(S) WHO CAN PRODUCE TANGIBLE EVIDENCE THAT WILL PROVE JOHNNIE'S INNOCENCE. NO MONEY WILL BE PAID OUT UNTIL 30 DAYS AFTER HE'S FOUND NOT GUILTY, OR THE CASE IS DISMISSED. AT YOUR REQUEST, YOUR NAME CAN REMAIN ANONYMOUS."

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Monday, 10 December 2012