“We sleep safely at night because rough men stand ready to visit violence on those who would harm us.”
Winston S. Churchill
If you should ever fall under the suspicion of murder, mark my words, you'll be the first person escorted off the property, the crime scene grounds. But apparently, if you were in Blue Springs, Missouri in the early 1990's and the authorities thought you may have committed a homicide it was common practice to let you stick around and touch as many things as possible. At least this was the policy that was applied towards Kenneth G. Middleton in 1990. Today he is better known in and around circles as Inmate #179112. Mr. Middleton's son, grandchildren, relatives and friends have the Blue Springs Police Department (BSPD) to thank for that.
When I think about Ken and the unbalanced justice they served him and the injustice that is still on the menu today, I'm sickened. But more importantly, it makes me furious. The method that was used to turn Ken into a convicted killer makes me angry and confused. Did BSPD know that if they messed up test results, broke the procedures, ruined the film, violated the accident scene, that a jury would side with them, regardless if Ken wasn't the shooter? I don't see how they could but they did and it worked. The botched investigation, in my view, was enough that any jury or Judge should have seen that he wasn't given a fair field to fight for his life. Not guilty, no charges, no missing 27.
I wrote about Kathy this week and I was crying nonstop. To think someone(s) unclothed her and had her naked on the floor while the tedious investigation into murder was conducted. I am pissed off. In some ways I feel like family to her even though I never met her. I feel it an honor to tell this story. I know that Kathy is looking down and begging and pleading for someone to do something to wrong this right. Cliff, a beautiful son, has been standing next to his father, united, since this accident happened. Fighting for his Father since day one. But today Cliff needs reinforcements and additional forces. This fight is coming to a conclusion. This fight needs to be a force, a movement, to cut those chains off Kenneth G. Middleton. He was convicted of murder and the wheels of justice move incredibly slow but nearly 28 years of wrongful incarceration is way too many. If they've made a mistake, the State, we can live with that. Just let Ken go.
(Un) Just My Opinion (Read Quote Above) - The Blue Springs PD hadn't had a homicide for nearly 10 years and they needed one. This scenario couldn't have been better - no need to lock your door or windows, keep the kids from school, or worry the perpetrator got away. They had their suspect and the were going to show their people that all is good, that all is safe, and that all could sleep well, all the while throwing a bone to their troops, their men in the field, the BSPD because without their rough men visiting violence, they might get weary, weak, and rusty. The BSPD was on the case even if they had to sacrifice an innocent man. It had started that first day, Sgt. Rogers would tell the local newspaper, The Examiner, "we have the weapon used in the shooting" and continue with "it doesn't appear to be the result of a robbery or suicide." That statement was made while The Examiner was there on the scene, minutes after the call came in to 911. To time that statement, the paper snapped a photograph of Ken while he laid out on the front stairs in disbelief and pain from his loss, the death of Kathy.
I want to tell everyone that I was looking for a way to tell this story in words like I do when I talk about this matter. I hardly ever use 29.15 ineffective counsel or use habeas corpus, corpus delicti, or any other Latin word. I use terms like "Brother isn't that unimaginable? It gets worse people, think about this..." I tell you this just encase it seems to those reading these shorts, that I'm not serious enough or that I think life is a giant playground with words - which I do think. I wanted to relay this story like 2 friends talking over a beer or soda. I need this story to get out. Please share it or talk it out. Anything you can do to help. Ken, Cliff, and I need help. More people that realize these things did really happen the quicker we can get more people helping us help Ken.
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