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Identification by legally blind woman leads to homicide conviction
By Michael Wayne Crump
Edited by Barbara Jean McAtlin, Justice: Denied Staff
My name is Michael Wayne Crump. I am a 23-year old victim of injustice. My reasons for telling my story are twofold. First and foremost, it's written to familiarize you with my case and the injustice that has been done to me. Secondly, it's written with hope that someone can be of some assistance to me in my endeavor to prove my innocence.
Around noon on October 13, 1995, I received a phone call from my aunt. She told me that the police were looking for me. Being 100% innocent of any wrongdoing, I went to the police station to find out what the problem was. At the station, I contacted the first officer I had spoken with on the phone. He asked me if I knew what I was there for. I told him no. The police officer then showed me two warrants for the arrest of the murderer of Eric Nike Jones and asked me if I knew anything about them. Again, I said no. That's when he asked me if I would speak with the homicide detectives. Having nothing to hide, I told him yes. I also said that I could be of no help because I didn't know anything. Being ignorant of the law, I spoke with the two detectives without an attorney present, but I did not incriminate myself in any way. I told the two homicide detectives that I knew nothing about the murder or anything about the person who was murdered. Having nothing to hide, I allowed them to take pictures of my hands, face, and tennis shoes. They then locked me up and proceeded to build their false case.
On October 3, 1995, Eric Nike Jones was fatally wounded. There were six to eight people present in the home at the time the murder took place. One of those people became the one and only witness used to falsely testify against me. On October 3, 1995 -- the same day of the murder -- the police attempted to take statements from all the people who were in the home at the time of the murder. All the people interviewed said they had seen nothing because it happened so fast and the lighting in the house was very poor.
On October 9, 1995, the detectives took another statement from only one of the witnesses, Ms. Tina Trout. After speaking with Ms. Trout for a time, they showed her a photo lineup that included a photograph of me. I was the only one featured in the photo lineup wearing a hooded black sweatshirt like the one the alleged intruder was said to be wearing the night Eric Nike Jones was murdered. Ms. Trout was unable to pick me out right then, so the two detectives more than likely persuaded her into picking me because later that day she said it was picture 2. My picture.
During the interview before the photo lineup, Ms. Trout had said she didn't know my name and that she had never seen me before. After the interview and the photo lineup, the legally blind Ms. Trout claimed she was the only person who had told the police that she witnessed the entire murder, even though in her initial statement and on the 911 call tape recording, she said she had seen nothing except that the perpetrator had on dark clothes and dark colored shoes and had a hooded sweatshirt pulled tight around his face. Now, all of sudden she recognizes my face!
Once the two detectives realized that they could manipulate Ms. Trout, they moved fast to build a false case against me. They fabricated a story for Ms. Trout to put into a statement. In her October 9, 1995, statement, she said she had seen me on October 4, 1995, the day after the murder, behind her in a store staring at her with an intimidating glare and wearing the same clothing the intruder had had on. However, the two detectives failed to produce a surveillance tape from the store showing that her statement was true. The two detectives didn't even attempt to seize the tape from the store even though they were investigating a murder? On October 12, 1995, a third statement was produced by Ms. Trout that said she was positive that picture 2 of the photo lineup was the intruder. This made me a suspect in the murder of Eric Nike Jones.
On October 13, 1995, when I allowed the detectives to photograph my face, hands, and tennis shoes, they used it against me. Ms. Tina Trout said in her initial statement that the intruder wore dark colored shoes. On October 30, 1995, she issued another statement that described the exact color of the shoes the perpetrator had on -- "black/white/green Nikes" -- the same colors as the black/white/green Reeboks that I allowed the detectives to take pictures of during our interview. I believe this played a major role in my being convicted for a crime that I honestly did not commit.
My case was certified based on the testimony of a legally blind, lying witness. At the time of the murder, I was with my girlfriend and her mother at their house. My lawyer never called them to the stand during my trial. There was no physical evidence linking me to the murder of Eric Nike Jones, only the dubious testimony of Ms. Trout.
I pray that you or someone can be of some assistance in an attempt to prove my innocence. Your attention is greatly appreciated.
Thank You.
Sincerely,
Michael Wayne Crump
#237130
Red Onion State Prison
PO Box 1900
Pound, VA 24279Contact:
Levanda Crump
7217 Cross Street
Forestville, MD 20747
Work Phone: (703) 247-4696
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