Forensic Files - Season 12, Episode 19 - All Butt Certain - Full Episode

A six-year-old girl ran and hid when she saw her grandmother being beaten to death, but the man followed, beat and assaulted her. She said the assailant was her uncle, who was convicted. She recanted her testimony years later.
Forensic Files is the longest-running true crime series in television history. Evidence and interviews with experts help solve real crimes, disease outbreaks and accidents around the world.
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• Forensic Files - Seaso...

[@DJChavez95]

Honestly, just the fact that the neighbor kept Brooke outside for 45 minutes alone should’ve been a red flag, and she needs to be investigated too, because chances are, she may have played a role in this.

[@ronalddonner3396]

Lucky for this creature,there was no social media at that time.

[@pcneace]

I would like to get ahold of that damned neighbor

[@traceeteeter9875]

No kidding!

[@southernmocha7571]

Forreal man sick sh*t to leave a helpless child like that

[@MrSoorajsurya]

I swear mahn ! That neighbour..... One of the worst human beings i have seen on this show- and this show has a quite a few monsters

[@MizzMetallikat76]

This makes me SO mad, cos I actually had a similar situation happen to me although I was older. I'm 46 now and this happened 7yrs ago now... I was walking home from my local shops on my own ..I was literally 10 min max from my house ..it was around dusk so not quite dark yet but gettin there, I was attacked from behind at knifepoint by 3 ppl, dragged into a wooded area off the footpath, raped at knifepoint, I was beaten unconscious ( the Dr think more than once) ...I was stabbed in my back, had my earrings ripped out and had severe head/facial injuries...I don't know how long I was out for but it was pitch black when I woke up, I was so disoriented I couldn't stand ...they think I was knocked unconscious by smacking my head into a tree as they found blood all over one.... I had to crawl to the nearest house I think ...it took me nearly 20 min to even reach the door which was prob a min away from me cos I was so disoriented, I was bashing on their door, they refused to even open the door, I had to BEG them x3 to EVEN call an ambulance!!!! I live 10 min away from a hosp and I recall it felt like at least 35-40 min for the ambulance to even arrive!!!! I was naked from the bottom up, they tore my jeans nearly off me and ripped my t-shirt fully off, I recall being super cold that night waiting, I got to the hosp( I must have been unconscious again at this time cos I was told all this, I have no actual memory myself of it), I had 10 stitches to my lower back, they just missed my spinal cord, and I had a severe brain bleed! I was in the ICU for 4 days before I woke up! The cops never found them..but they know it was 3 ppl cos I had 3 diff sets of DNA in me...but because they "weren't in the system" the cops closed my case after literally a wk!!!!🤬🤬🤬🤬 Today, I'm left with severe memory loss and PTSD and I can't even leave my fucking house alone esp at night and they were never punished!! South Australian police did a AWFUL job and pretty much blamed ME cos I wasn't able to recall what they looked like! My life is a complete mess thanks to this and mosta the time, I don't even WANT to be here frankly!!!

[@mbarkaboha2783]

I think the neighbour didn't let her in so the killer wouldn't see she was still alive and kill the little girl. In a way she saved her life.

[@judithpeligro5837]

The faith , tenacity and brilliance of this lady is remarkable.

[@gawayategulle6272]

Still baffled why the courts kept refusing to grant a new trial even when it was clear that the wrong man had been jailed.

[@Atlargein]

It’s called politics. Many rely on prosecutions to further their careers. Also many prosecuters rely on public opinion in high profile cases in order to be re-elected to office.

[@ironclock]

@@Atlargein Yep. Sheer corruption. Welcome to the US justice system

[@jilldurham5498]

It is called USA which is supposed to be land of the free

[@titaniumman_22]

The almighty dollar 💵!

[@knucklegame5050]

EXACTLY. Crazy that People can be THAT COLD

[@drewizkoollikeicecre]

That neighbor had to be a complete moron. Who would act like that when a child gets to the door and tells you what just happened to her? She should be ashamed of herself. To cover for the man that abused your daughters. Then you have the police and DA that would rather put an innocent man in prison instead of following and investigating the DNA evidence. This shows the system is broken from the top.

[@traceeteeter9875]

Yes, that evil bitch should be prosecuted also.

[@kateturner1849]

The neighbour should be in jail herself 😡

[@TJMalana]

😡😡😡😡

[@Kaalamansahalamanathayop]

its better she didnt let the child in, we dont know whats in his husband's mind.

[@desmondmcdade4934]

No kidding, what the hell?

[@KnowTrentTimoy]

This is what I call: LAZY JUSTICE. It took the determination of one individual to set things right. BRAVO to the wife!! Great job!!

[@markbaz4200]

It scares me how often situations like this happen in towns across America & the rest of the world.! Sometimes “lady justice” is a little to blind. Need to lift the blind fold and take a peek at the case.

[@trencesmall8704]

@@markbaz4200in this case lazy, and corrupt justice, because they literally looked at the evidence, each time it was revealed to them, and then looked the other way, leaving an innocent man incarcerated while they furthered their own political careers based on their how many convictions they won

[@quansyelayne6221]

Melinda we need more people like you 👏👏

[@sophiag2348]

Now that's a wife to be proud of! Just so sad the marriage still didn't work out...after all the effort she put into freeing him 😔

[@wallakadj4036]

@@mastermirror1972Oh that's heartwarming, thanks for the update man 👍

[@vatafakman]

He was free and rich, of course it did not work out..

[@miharuka7408]

On December 15, 2005, the charges against Elkins were dismissed, and he was released from prison.[24] He filed for divorce in September 2006,[25][26] which was finalized in 2007. They still remain friends to this day.[27]

[@Kelvinllovejr]

Wahhhhhh? How in the world can that be possible? These men ain't loyal. That should have been a lifelong marriage right there

[@soniaclarkstewart]

@@KelvinllovejrHe was suffering from so much PTSD and was going through so much therapy trying to get himself together.

[@amg8497]

Those prosecutors couldn’t stand the fact that Melinda was smarter and obviously even more savvy than they are ! ….I would be honoured to be her friend .. she is a very special person .. I’m so sorry their marriage didn’t survive tho very sad indeed

[@66limelight]

I saw another program about Clearance Elkins while he was still in prison. Melinda was fighting for his freedom and there was plenty of evidence, IMO, for at least a new trial and that was before they pinned Earl Mann. Of course the state kept claiming they had the right guy and Clearance remained in prison. After I'd watched it my gut feeling was that Clearance was innocent as there was no proof and the strongest evidence the prosecution had was the testimony of his 6 year old niece. I blame the jury too because they ignored everything the defense had but took the testimony of a 6 year old as gospel. When I was six I knew how to answer a question in the way that I knew my mom or dad wanted to hear, even if I knew it was the wrong answer. I think that's what she was doing.... just pleasing the adults who were probably asking her "Was it Uncle Clearance? So you think it might have been Uncle Clearance? It was Uncle Clearance? And I think when she made that phone call she said "Someone killed my grandma." She didn't say Clearance did it and would have named him if she actually saw him. Yes, I think the prosecutors were very embarrassed by being outsmarted by Melinda. She did what the investigators were supposed to do. They didn't find it odd that Clearances niece was told to sit outside on the steps when she shows up bloody and bruised? Whoever was living in that house should have been a suspect high on the list. And six years after the murder, Melinda received permission to get the swabs tested for DNA. What????? Six years later!

[@paulozimek276]

@@66limelight If I was Melinda I would have taken all the paperwork and evidence and drove down to Washington, DC and straight to the US Justice Department. This is a case I definitely would have wanted the federal government involved. I can't believe that court in Akron refused a retrial twice and then refused to to let Elkins go after the perpetrator was taken into custody. The US Attorney should have pulled that judge from the bench, disbarred that prosecutor and filed charges against them. What would have happened if Clarence was killed in prison - or perhaps this is what they were hoping for.

[@blaquebeaute]

That wrongful ID caused long lasting psychological effects on Clarence, and caused the breakdown of their marriage! What a tragic set of events

[@synergisticcollusion134]

And the girl too. She was pressured from the get go and repeatedly drug into court to give information the prosection WANTED!

[@Kayla-rd5jd]

@@synergisticcollusion134 exactly, she was so young & had just seen her beaten & bloody grandma after being assaulted & beaten herself. i can’t imagine how she felt knowing that her testimony put her uncle away even though it wasn’t her fault at all. my heart breaks for that family and everything they all went through. the absolute strength and bravery that melinda showed is just beautiful & i’m so happy that she was able to be successful. she seems heartbroken but understanding about the divorce, it’s so sad. i really hope she & the rest of her family are doing well

[@kimthomas8717]

That lady is amazing 👍🏽 Wow Ive not seen such determination in a case like this !

[@s.tavares3257]

It is her mother who died. And she wanted to free her husband.

[@nahum9729]

That woman who kept that child outside for 45 minutes is a useless excuse of a human being.

[@nahum9729]

@Chris Wen yea realy lovely ,protect a monster and it will turn on you.Also for her as a mother to keep that girl outside she equally a monster.

[@trencesmall8704]

I agree, but I still believe to this day, had she let the child into the house, that child would never have come out alive. So, as bad as she was, at least the little girl still has a future ahead of her, because that monster couldn’t finish her off .

[@nahum9729]

@@trencesmall8704 Never thought about about that agree

[@KickYourFace10]

@@trencesmall8704Right. She may have been protecting her.

[@taydestiny38]

This is why I live by the saying, “If you want something done right, you have to do it yourself”. This is a strong woman and I wish I had a wife or girlfriend like her. On a side note…..I so wanted to give that little girl in the re-enactment a hug, after that neighbor closed the door on her.

[@drsaikiranc]

Cuz it's my destiny

[@rafaeltudlong6245]

Melinda should have been employed by the FBI for now.she was a good detective.

[@rogersswai3684]

Perhaps,even in any law enforcement agency

[@TurboOvenMan]

She's in the Innocence Project. They can very well use her talents there to prove the innocence of wrongly convicted prisoners.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

The sad thing is, she technically didn't do anything special, just basic things the investigators _should_ have done. But all they care about is closing cases.

[@Anon-greyman]

They hire Political Partisans, not heroes...

[@philipmarete8801]

The level of determination in this lady is truly amazing

[@davidrossi6255]

SUCH AN AMAZING WOMAN Melinda is . God bless me with a lady like her. I'm just so overwhelmed. Thank God she found her true calling bringing freedom to those who are wrongfully convicted

[@danielgant2214]

What a great wife, to do all that to prove her husband was innocent. And even after the divorce she still says good things about him. What a fine woman.

[@Feliososarky]

Great work and perseveration from the wife! That poor girl also went through so much at an early age. The system is messed up

[@ruelvillafranca1724]

How come the investigators never questioned the neighbor who refused to help the little girl immediately?

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

Because they were lazy. It was dark in the house, and the girl barely saw her attacker, but they didn't even bother to consider any other possible suspects. No matter what the neighbor would have told me, it'd have been suspicious that she left a brutalized little girl on her doorstep for 45 freakin' minutes. Sus AF.

[@erikschultz6865]

Damn good question. And then she drives her home--not to hospital?

[@waytoson]

That prosecutor owes that man a huge pile of cash... This is absolutely insane how bad this country's judicial system...

[@synergisticcollusion134]

True, but the taxpayers had to foot that $5.25 million settlement!

[@CoCoGemel]

Did Earl Mann's wife know about what he did??? Did they ever establish for sure that that was the reason why she left that poor girl outside for 45 minutes and wouldn't let her come inside? Because if so, she needs to be in jail right next to her poor excuse of a husband.

[@annalin2816]

What a terrible neighbor

[@MustardLadySaveMe]

melinda is an icon and an inspiration. She knew in her heart that justice was not served and she made damn sure to uncover the truth for all to see. What a brilliant mind and fortitude.

[@rs52594]

Earl Mann is still in prison serving his life sentence and will not be eligible for parole until 2064 when he'll be 91 years old.

[@andrewbouk1324]

He won’t even live that long. Good riddance.

[@b-doghere532]

Piss poor police work in this case. Good thing the guys wife was competent and resolved this case correctly

[@adriangilbert5364]

My question is, were the original investigators made aware of the girl being made to sit outside her neighbor's house at that time? It's bizarre that you could know that and not follow up. That stands out as more than an insignificant detail.

[@synergisticcollusion134]

They knew. Thry didn't care.

[@Tenamf]

What a awesome job she worked her butt off , I’m so happy he got out, I hate it didn’t work out sad that she worked all those years for him !

[@LKYme]

The episode title is "All BUTT Certain" 😆

[@TJMalana]

Within the first three minutes who suspected that the neighbor Earl had something to do with this? What neighbor in their right minds make a traumatized little girl wait over an hour to get her help? That’s a major red flag.

[@mauricesmith6650]

I'm trying to figure out how they convict the guy with absolutely no proof of him doing it ...that's crazy to me

[@synergisticcollusion134]

They had the word of an abused little white girl who said ,"He did it...?". Unfortunately, that was MORE than enough for the majority, especially because back when it happened eyewitness testimony was considered to be IRREFUTABLE and the BEST evidence possible; even more so than DNA and fingerprint evidence! Craziness and laziness!💯💯🙄🤦‍♀️🤬

[@douglassmith4004]

That judge who denied a new trail deserved to go to jail himself.

[@RyuzakiHirokai]

I think people, especially in these situations, need to know that children recount information through comparisons due to their brains still developing. The 6 year old saying the murderer looked like her uncle didn't mean he was the murderer in her mind. He was tall and had black hair (or whatever), in the same way her uncle was tall and had black hair.

[@Rye-jl2fk]

Of course. Only a group of lazy detectives who don't care about justice as long as their job is easy and they get paid would take a 6 year old's eyewitness testimony as gospel. Everyone involved in locking that man up should face criminal charges for being so utterly negligent and inept.

[@dirtyface-capone7622]

Crazy how Clarence left Melinda after she got him out of prison.Guess he just wanted a fresh start.If I was Clarence, no matter what happens in life, Melinda would always be my best friend.If she ever needed anything, I'd be there in a flash for her.

[@saffsuff]

Keep in in mind his relationship with that whole family ruined his life

[@lorealdrayton6164]

yup! i wish them all the best!

[@mauricesmith6650]

He probably left more because of the family not believing that he was innocent and probably giving him hell... I can only imagine the things they said to that man and he probably was sitting in that jail cell thinking about how disrespectful they were to him

[@Kaalamansahalamanathayop]

it was her niece who put him there so its the wife duty to find out the truth i heared when you are convicted with rape then youll be rape at jail we didnt know what this man went through all those years. he deserve a fresh new start than living with his wife and keeps on arguing.

[@synergisticcollusion134]

@@mauricesmith6650 👏👏👏👍👍

[@peacefulpatriots]

Those prosecutors, and judges should be tried, convicted, and sent to prison for 6 years

[@evanpowers1537]

I don't believe in hell, but if it exists they'll be there.

[@Rye-jl2fk]

How is the judge not punished for this? There needs to be a price to pay when you ruin someone's life like that due to gross negligence and an absurd degree of stubbornness.

[@grasonramsunker7433]

OMG 😭 this story made me cry ... Human's are so mean and heartless ... My heart goes out to this little girl 😢😓😞 God bless you ✝️❤️🙏🏻🌹

[@peedeel2077]

Wow Melinda! What a determined lady. You did a great job I'm only sorry the marriage didn't withstand the trauma. Keep up the great work.

[@rottingchunks]

One of the most shocking and incredible episodes of the whole series!

[@teodorosanto9781]

So impressed with the way the lady stuck to her guns followed her gut instincts and thought of a way to see Justice all the way to the very end.. movie Producers take note

[@titaniumman_22]

I love her determination in working to get her husband freed. ❤

[@julsmelrose]

Damn, what a woman! Is there a documentary on Melinda?

[@welcometothemovies9157]

There's a movie being made

[@tomquinn607]

Melinda is a glorious woman. I hope every man has one woman like Melinda (besides his mother) in his life.

[@justinbell700]

These are the kind of things that children should never have to bare withness at all.

[@stormangelus6638]

Pretty sad when a civilian does the job for the cops to get the matter resolved. The American "justice system" doesn't like to admit they can f*** up and make a mistake.

[@wonderbars36]

Sad but...should we be surprised? The contamination argument from prosecution, and having a judge agree totally sounds like: "uh...this case is just a pain in the ass. How do we get out of dealing with it and just uphold the old ruling? Oh just we'll argue this and the judge is in my pocket and owes me one. "

[@synergisticcollusion134]

Cops can't really do anything once someone has been incarcerated. By that point, you're dealing with corrupt or at least egotistical prosecutors/DAs and Judges who all care more about their reputation and politics more than ANYTHING else! 💯💯

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

They don't apologize either. A lot of the time they just double down. They want to be seen as infallible when literally everyone and their grandmother knows they're not.

[@synergisticcollusion134]

Admitting fault and apologizing are BIG NO-NOs in the political arena and the justice system is a MAJOR political arena!

[@womantoday6576]

I can not imagine what went through the head of that neighbor that left a battered and assaulted 6 years old girl outside on her door step. Most surely she did it to help his husband and plan how to help him, first of all not allowing the girl to see it so that the girl might not recognise it. Well, she got a pretty nice reward for that, her dear husband abused her doughters a few years later... When will women start to consider that if their man is accused of assaulting girls or boys, sooner or later they will do it to their own children? I understand marriage and supporting the husband but children should come first no matter what.

[@shahloeshonboboeva5161]

Exactly

[@traceeteeter9875]

I hope she was prosecuted.

[@womantoday6576]

@@traceeteeter9875 not that I know of...

[@traceeteeter9875]

@@womantoday6576 I guess that was kind of a dumb statement on my part. Unfortunately can’t really prosecute someone for being a shitty human being. If only though.

[@womantoday6576]

@@traceeteeter9875 if only...

[@alexburke1899]

The beginning is confusing, it seems like nobody showed up after she called 911, then the neighbor drove her away from the scene 45 minutes later and the cops still hadn’t showed up?

[@KLYDO1]

I’ve watched a lot of these episodes and this one is absolutely crazy. Wow.

[@riggs20]

So Ohio already had the killer’s DNA on file? If they’d have done their due diligence and set up a database to compare unknown DNA to offender DNA on file, they could have exonerated the innocent guy and saved his wife years of frustration.

[@paulozimek276]

Yes! Very true.

[@kateturner1849]

OMG - they call themselves "judges"? This is appalling 😡 I would sue that excuse for a judge all the way down to his underwear. This was just plain LAZY!

[@paulozimek276]

As I've commented before, if I was Melinda I would have taken all the paperwork and evidence and drove down to Washington, DC and straight to the US Justice Department. This is a case I definitely would have wanted the federal government involved. That court in Akron refused two retrials and kept Clarence in jail after the perpetrator was caught. What would have happened if Clarence was killed in prison - or perhaps this is what they hoped for. The US Attorney should have pulled that judge from the bench, disbarred that prosecutor, and filed charges against them and whoever else was responsible for this mess.

[@lorrainemunnings5179]

The neighbor lady is an animal

[@shanikaayanna9767]

Everything about this case pissed me off!! Thank god for Melinda!!

[@KMK77]

This is the only episode in entire Forensic files where a women does more investigation than Cops... She fought with the very system that is supposed to protect the innocent and give justice to victim.... It was really sad to know that she was divorced after all she did to get justice for her husband......

[@MashaRistova]

There’s another episode in this season of a guy who was wrongly convicted and he solved his own case from prison. So crazy. I feel so bad for people who get wrongly convicted, I’m glad things like The Innocence Project exist. The wife in this episode is so resilient and strong to solve this!!! Too bad her and Clarence didn’t work out

[@LauraSti]

Mary O There's another one. It's called A Daughter's Journey, and it's the story of the daughter of the killer, as well as a victim of horrible abuse, doing all the work to prove his guilt. (This was in large part to protect herself and her brother, since her father was in prison for their abuse and she believed that when he got out he would kill them both. In order to prevent that, she had to prove there WAS a murder in the first place, and she had to prove that he'd done it. And she did. Badass girl, and I want to be half as strong as her someday.) It's not in this season, though.

[@synergisticcollusion134]

@@LauraSti Wrong case... Mary was talking about the case of Roy Brown, may he rest in peace.🙏🙏

[@Feliososarky]

This is DEFINETLY Not the only episode. There is too many including the ones mentioned. Theres also the woman from saskatchewan where her own Dr raped her. She practically solved her case with help of her family while the whole town hated and bullied her.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

That's a bold claim for the entire show. I've watched since the initial run, but even I can't remember every single episode. Even if not on this show, there have been a lot of people who have had to take over investigations themselves. Not saying she wasn't special for it, though.

[@calvinharrison21]

WOW , and he Left HIS WIFE after All THAT !!!

[@slobodangrasic5649]

Melinda Elkins is extraordinary woman. A rarity in this world.

[@DMINISHED9]

“He Did It” Police: “okay”

[@tp8087]

Neighbour was dodgy from the get go.

[@connormccann5172]

I hope that neighbor Tonia Brasiel is her name, Tonia Brasiel lost her job, custody of her kids, and I hope her entire family severed ties with her

[@berthachiomaekeh]

Well done Melinda! You are the hero of this case.

[@ahmedrefaat1086]

The most amazing and unbelievable part in this story the court rejected many times every petition even with the evidence that exnorate innocent behind bars,but at the same time they give parole for ex convicted killers and rapists to go out side and continue their crimes..i call it handicapped justice Feels so sad for Melinda after that all she suffered, her marital life ruined i hope she find love and peace❤

[@bananaboatb]

Imagine divorcing someone who helped you get out of prison.

[@pattrathai9539]

Detectives always work one way forward. Once they have a suspect, they bend the rules

[@cherryphilip7019]

The prosecutors and the police were playing the lazy game, they were too lazy to investigate the case.

[@bennieseverino2595]

shame on the investagators of this case, and the prosecutors too. self-trained woman is better than all of them combined.

[@barbaraschoepp7821]

Did Melinda get reimbursed for all her expenses during her investigation? She surely deserves it. Her efforts were outstanding.

[@lindaweber5599]

Melinda is a hero. What an amazing woman. Bless her.

[@theotherguy3083]

Earlman wife should have been arrested too

[@kateturner1849]

This wife is a true hero. 🌹❤️ I wish you all the success and happiness you so richly deserve. 🌹

[@rubarhs]

I can’t believe what this little Angel went through, she is a real hero and a fighter , that after all she went through she did the right thing by calling 911 and tried to seek help from the monster neighbors, and she gave a good hint to the police of the attacker features by mentoring her uncle but it was bad police work that led to all this mess. Be strong little girl no one deserves what you went through, you should be proud that at age six you did what you did

[@synergisticcollusion134]

She's not a little girl. She's 30.

[@betters93]

She also put her Uncle in prison and ruined his life.

[@honeyg3589]

@@betters93 Egotistical, lazy cops and prosecutors used the shaky words of a SIX YEAR OLD to put a man in prison. And then attempt to keep them there, despite the weight of the forensic evidence and her recantation as an older child.

[@Lacey424]

@@synergisticcollusion134she was little at the time she went through it.

[@Lacey424]

@@betters93she didn’t the justice system did.

[@Kelvinllovejr]

Out of all the episodes I've seen which is at least over 250 this is the most insane one to me how this woman did all of this and how they literally solved their own case. Seasoned trained "professionals" couldn't do it so an ordinary citizen with 0 training and only watching forensic files was able to do it. Unreal

[@cynicannkeel8899]

The granddaughter THOUGHT the attacker was her uncle. The wife's friend claimed she'd heard Clarence angrily lash out at his mother-in-law. I've seen plenty of cases on KZbin where the prosecutor would have never allowed authorities to arrest someone based on such circumstantial evidence. Police investigation was lazy, incomplete. Scary how many innocent people are probably sitting in prison, some for their entire adult lives.

[@danamullins1275]

She was trying to describe the attacker s features and mentioned he looked like her uncle. Brooke was six years old and under the impression that the police couldn't make mistakes. With the shoddy police work done, and the fact that the prosecutors, police, and members of her family saying that Clarence was the attacker probably convinced her to go along with what they said. Wouldn't be surprised if they gaslighted her.

[@vanessalastra1320]

Where was her uncle that night? Didn't he have an alibi?

[@Kelvinllovejr]

13:08 Wowwwwwwwww. One of the biggest plot twists I've ever seen on this show. What are the chances that she picks that exact house. Insane!!

[@jennifermerriott7276]

How was his DNA not in the system with that rap sheet?

[@jennifermerriott7276]

I mean to check the FIRST TIME not to double check her results

[@Drocakd]

She’s a real one

[@terredee]

I would have never wanted to let Melinda go. She’s truly amazing. A keeper, for sure.

[@synergisticcollusion134]

Her family still considers him to be guilty. Why would anyone with even half a functioning brain stick around that environment, just waiting for the next accusation!! 🙄🙄🤦‍♀️

[@slinkystarfirelight5968]

Melinda's an amazing woman!

[@TheNuckinFoob]

What's even crazier is right after Clarence was exonerated he filed for divorce from the woman that fought, nonstop tooth and nail, to get him released for 7 years. Kind of a douchebag move.

[@knucklegame5050]

Kind of?? NO, Definitely IS

[@adambump5297]

Yeah probably but the way she put it made it seem like it was a mutual agreement so I can't complain really.

[@joeylamuel5828]

It really was. I would be stuck to her like glue.

[@nathalie_desrosiers]

Sorry to be late at the party, but no. He was *NOT* a douche bag. 6 years of jail will have a toll on any man (even more an innocent man) AND marriage. Plus, her family acted awfully toward them even after it was proven he did not commit those awful acts. People just don't accept to be told they were wrong. They remained close friends, and that's all that matters. A divorce was the best thing for both of them, putting all those tragic things behind them.

[@patrickregan3302]

That was an act of true compassion on her part!

[@omnicupid6694]

"Do they want me to hand them the killer on a silver platter?" More like handing him over on a clean ash tray.

[@andstajacvaris1918]

I always wondered why the stupid neighbor wasn't questioned why she left a beaten small child on her porch. I stil get tears in my eyes thinking about how very scared and confused and physically hurt she was just sitting there. 😢

[@richardjura7450]

Great work Melinda.

[@miaowang6919]

Such a wonderful woman

[@nickford17]

This is the most interesting episode I've seen so far, somehow never seen it before.

[@cyd3716]

Melinda is amazing I’m so impressed with her❤

[@winniekaroki8927]

She a bad ass!!❤️

[@honodle7219]

Having lived in that area of Ohio in past, I can state with a certainty that the local judicial was never going to allow a new trial. It would have exposed their incompetence. And the way the judicial works there is, it's all about the conviction rate and not about the truth. The ornate stone building they keep showing is the Akron court house. Barberton is a suburb of Akron.

[@josephpecoul6532]

First time to see this what an amazing story and so sad at the same time

[@satoru937]

This is one of upsetting episode I have seen of FF, upsetting because how casually prosecutors/investigators let the neighborhood canvasing slide. Freaking perp was right under their nose . and Wife also had to have known. That wife must have known her husband was up to no good and left the girl outside till he got clear. Hats off to Melinda and her old fashioned investigative work. Really Great❤‍🔥

[@zuzellogan5613]

Poor Brooke, was left outside by a neighbor. How this woman could leave this poor child outside??? Why not bring her inside??? It is beyond my comprehension!!! This neighbor was a neighbor from Hell, that’s for sure. I am glad that Brooke is fine now. And my heart goes out to Clarence for being in prison for a crime he didn’t commit. And just based on a witness testimony the reason this man was convicted, is outrageous. I don’t believe in witnesses at all, what I believe is in forensic science, that’s it. It is a great tool to solve crimes and convict the guilty only and to exonerate the innocent ones. Prosecutors in this case were dead wrong not to allow a DNA test to be retested. Shame on them. Kudos to Melinda for all she did to bring justice to Clarance as well as for her mother. She is a remarkable woman who deserves respect and admiration. Too sad that her marriage suffered because of the ineptness and incompetence of prosecutors and the judge too. I wish Melinda the very best in all her endeavors in the future. Bravo bravo, Melinda. 👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍🙌🙌🙌

[@brianwilliams6167]

GOD! What a wife......

[@hairbyday5041]

The daughter is a heaven sent woman

[@flej01]

Wow what a woman, such a beautiful soul. Its a lot for a marriage to endure and I understand the break down.

[@zuzellogan5613]

Oh, what a shame Melinda’s marriage ended. I wonder why. Too bad for that. But I am glad she is working for the Ohio Innocent Project so more innocent people in prison are released . . Hats off to Melinda, I applaud her. 👏👏👏👏👏👍👍👍🙌🙌🙌🙌🙏🙏🙏🙏

[@aaloh6154]

@The Boondocks Network agree with you. Under similar circumstances, I would do exactly the same. I would not feel comfortable to join her and her family... and move on..😒

[@traceeteeter9875]

Really??? 🙄

[@cUser691]

@Casual Waver i wish I had wife who’d stand by me through good times and bad like his wife did. I wouldn’t abandon her for any bs “fresh start” probably with a younger hottie like he’ll prob get. A wife like that -who takes viws serious = golden. Wife’ s relatives may have distrusted him based on kid’s testimony but she is not her relatives. but his wife stood by him over 6 years. SHE believed his innocence. She learned forensic science techniques. She appealed twice to court to get re-trials. After turned down she went to state’s Atty General. Wife made all effort to try to exonerate him.

[@cUser691]

@@aaloh6154 Wife was not her relatives. I would distance from relatives NOT from her. I don’t need excuse of “fresh start” to want new wife [prob] . The lady took the taunts and ridicule while fighting for his innocence. People thought she was media w**re wanting attention, taunts he was kid rapist. 6 years that lady fought for his re-trials. 6 f*ing years. Wife had unwavering faith in his innocence . May we all have wives who stick by our side through thick and thin

[@ronalddonner3396]

Why would a son in law kill her mother in law.On the word of a terrified six year old who just was violated and saw her grandmother murdered.And a man with no previous record of violence would attack a 6 year old??? Every detective and the judge who refused a second trial should be jailed(yes jailed) for their part in this travesty of justice.

[@gareeba4492]

She is a hero

[@user-ji2qe3sp9w]

Pure soul right there ❤️

[@Tulloful]

The best episode ❤

[@patrickshezi2077]

Ya the sadest part is that the marriage did not work out

[@bonganimaseko2628]

I like medical detectives because they show us the investigation to find the murderers

[@knucklegame5050]

She Frees him then he Leaves her when he Gets Out?? Woww what a Pos. Imagine is she had did NONE of that for him. He would've Rotted in there

[@efrainmartinez5408]

She really loved her husband❤ Sad she lost her husband...Same thing happened to me after getting out of prison my wife divorced me ...😥 Sad..

[@aladynamedSusan]

He divorced her tho😢

[@Kayla-rd5jd]

in case anyone is wondering, Clarence & Melinda are both happily remarried & remain friends to this day. Clarence has gone on to be an advocate for the wrongfully convicted & has made quite a few media appearances. Melinda was actually investigating something before her husbands conviction which is what she’s working on now - the Hick’s baby-selling case. in the 60s, she was sold to her parents from the black market Hicks Clinic in GA after her birth mom gave her up. this happened to about 200 other people as well so she works to have these people reunited or simply given information about their birth families. she is still on the mission to discover her birth parents. on the other hand, brooke’s story is sad. the most recent info i can find about her is that she was arrested in 2018 for grand theft after stealing & selling library books, videos, games, etc. with an accomplice. at the time of the article, it stated she was released from one jail where she was serving for other crimes (not sure what) to be moved to another jail. it’s so sad to hear that she’s gotten into crime but i can only imagine the trauma she dealt with & how dealing with it poorly can lead to that.

[@nathalie_desrosiers]

Thanks for the numerous updates. Happy for Clarence and Melinda. I hope she will succeed. It's sad for Brooke. Hope she will eventually be ok.

[@LadyAstarionAncunin]

She's a ride or diė for real! I'd be really curious to know how things fell apart because, my goodness, if what she did didn't prove her love, especially considering she lost her mom and her niece was brutalized, then what could?