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A 2017 study published by the American Psychological Association found that approximately 90% of people would prefer to not be informed of when and how they will die if a crystal ball or all-knowing source could reveal it.
But for Marilyn Mulero, an Illinoisan mom who was wrongfully convicted of murder, she didn’t have a choice of whether or not she’d get a peek at her fate.
As she sat alone in the courtroom on the day of her sentencing, abandoned by her unreliable attorney and unable to process what was going on, the bailiffs approached her.
“Do you know what just happened here?” they asked.
She told them no.
A couple phone calls and hours later, as Mulero was heading back to her housing unit, her situation finally became clear.
Bombarded by fellow inmates, she instantly became overwhelmed by shouts and cries.
“They sentenced you to death by lethal injection. That mean the state’s going to f***ing kill you,” she heard one woman shout at her. Others shared similar sentiments.
Her world instantly felt like it was falling apart.
But how did she get here? How does a responsible and loving mother who puts others before herself wind up being not only accused but convicted of something she had nothing to do with?
That is the exact subject explored in season two of Legal Talk Network’s podcast, “For the Innocent,” hosted by The Innocence Center’s Executive Director, Michael Semanchik.
Mulero opens up about her unimaginable story of wrongful conviction – and eventual exoneration.
For The Innocent
Thanks to the generosity of the Signal Awards judging panel, this episode received a bronze medal in the 2024 Activism, Public Service, & Social Impact category of the 3rd annual Signal Awards! See the award details here.
Disgraced former Chicago Police Detective Reynaldo Guevara and Ernest Halvorsen played a significant role in Mulero’s conviction.
After leaving a funeral, Mulero met the detectives for the first time. They handcuffed her, drove her to Humboldt Park, and started questioning her at the location of the murder, trying to get her to confess for 10-15 minutes.
Then they forced her to stand in front of the Latin Kings, a street gang famous for engaging in drug trafficking, assault, burglary, identity theft, money laundering, and homicide.
Guevara and Halvorsen falsely claimed that they received a confession framing Mulero, but there was never any actual evidence of that.
Mulero is just one of the many people harmed by these unqualified and manipulative detectives. According to WTTW News, Guevara alone has cost the county at least $62.5M for his misconduct and still has 33 lawsuits pending.
The National Registry of Exonerations compiled a list of defendants subjected to unjust treatment by the detectives, available here.
In April 2020, Illinois Governor J. B. Pritzker signed Mulero’s clemency petition, the first step in granting her freedom.
She finally received authorization to go home after spending 27.5 years in prison.
Two and a half years later in August 2022, Mulero’s conviction was officially reversed by Cook County State’s Attorney Kimberly Foxx. This made Mulero the 190th person exonerated from death row in the U.S.
Mulero is deeply grateful for the support she’s received from various innocence communities, but continues to face significant challenges as she struggles to adapt to life after prison.
To hear her whole story unfold, listen to her interview on For the Innocent.
For The Innocent
Legal Talk Network is a podcast network for legal professionals with hosts from well-known organizations and brands in legal. Over 20 active podcasts cover important legal news and developments, including access to justice, law school, industry events, legal technology, and the future of law.
