Two wrongly convicted men share similar experience

By Connie Leonard - bio | email
Posted by Charles Gazaway - email

LOUISVILLE, KY (WAVE) - When Edwin Chandler's manslaughter conviction case was dismissed Tuesday by Judge Fred Cowan it was a reminder of a very similar case in Louisville. Two innocent men, both convicted and both sent to prison for several years before someone actually listened to their stories, investigated and found the new technology to help set them free.

As Chandler became a free man Tuesday, he broke down in tears as the judge dismissed his conviction. It was the kind of emotion a rare few can understand. Ironically, one of those people who completely understands lives right here in Louisville. William Gregory stared at the pages of a Bible he carried in prison.

"Job, that was me because everything was taken away from him and then it was restored," said Gregory.

For years, the Bible's "Job" was the only man Gregory could identify with. But as he watched news reports Tuesday of Chandler, Gregory realized there was another. Just like Gregory, Chandler spent nearly a decade behind bars for a crime he didn't commit. It brought back emotions Gregory has only felt talking with others in his New York therapy groups. Men who were wrongly convicted, but their cries fell on deaf ears.

"We all felt the same way because we were done and injustice and it is hard to deal with it when you are innocent," said Gregory while wiping away tears. "It is very hard to deal with and today, I still have nightmares about going back to prison so when the judge released him, I knew what he felt."

The similarities between Gregory and Chandler are remarkable. Gregory was wrongly convicted of rape and burglary in 1993, the same year Chandler was wrongly charged in the shooting death of store clerk Brenda Whitfield.

"I was really astonished that Mr. Schroering convicted both of us," said Gregory of the similarities that Steve Schroering was the prosecutor at both trials.

"Circumstantial evidence is terrible," Gregory said. "Whoever is the best actor wins and that's what happened."

Both men were helped by the Innocence Project and new evidence testing technology. A hair sample cleared Gregory; a fingerprint freed Chandler.

"I can't wait to talk to him (Chandler)," Gregory said. "And I kept saying there's plenty more in there just like me and I just felt so excited that they actually released another guy."

While in prison, Gregory was quite the pool player, but it is the only memory from his time behind bars that he wants to keep. Gregory now spends his days renovating his home. His settlement with the City of Louisville is helping him do the renovations. Three lawsuits brought Gregory some $6 million, minus attorney fees. Although it took many years for Gregory to actually see any money from his suit against the city, he said Chandler deserves at least as much. "You can't put a dollar amount on it. What's the price of a life?"

Gregory hopes to meet Chandler soon and pass along his advice. Gregory is also urging the community to get behind Chandler, whether it is a company offering him a great new job or people just offering their encouragement. Gregory said that is what helped him the most.

Related stories:

• LMPD to review handling of Chandler case
• Eyewitness in 1993 store clerk death speaks exclusively to WAVE 3
• Man convicted in 1993 shooting death is exonerated

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