Richard Clay's Life Is Spared!

Governor Jay Nixon has commuted the sentence of Richard Clay to life in prison without the possibility of parole. I learned of the commutation via email from a friend of Richard. I reprint the entire email below, with permission.

Skeptical Juror – I just want to thank you for looking into this case.  I have been waiting for your results and as soon as I saw them, I sent it to the Governor and also posted your link all over Facebook.  His family and friends have been fighting and praying for time and now he has it.  I want to thank you as a close friend of Rick’s that I believe your article of hard work has helped in this cause.  I had not heard of your site until a couple days ago when I happened across it by googling articles of Rick since I live in Texas now and don’t get much information down here.  I think what you are doing is a wonderful thing.  I am going to actually buy a couple of your books because I really have become intrigued by what you do here.

Thanks again for your diligent work and now his lawyers have the time to put together a proper defense in proving his innocence. Of course, that statement right there just goes to show that you are guilty until proven innocent, not the other way around.. 

Here is the link to the story:

http://www.kfvs12.com/Global/story.asp?S=13817386&Call=Email&Format=HTML

Once again, Thank you and may God watch over you.

Sincerely,

Walter Romanowski

[phone number withheld]

I have since written to Walter and spoken with him by phone. Despite Walter's kind words that my post played some role in the commutation, the timing of events suggests otherwise. I am late to the game, if you'll excuse the understated metaphor. Others have been working long and hard on the case, and it is to those people that credit belongs.

I admit, however, that it is a pleasant fancy that my work helped a wee bit.

My congratulations to Richard Clay and to all those who worked so long and so hard to see Richard's life spared. My regards to Governor Jay Nixon for having the political courage to make the tough call.