A New Trial For Joe Lee Ritchie

To Whom It May Concern

We, the undersigned are asking and demanding justice be done!

We want inmate Joel Lee Ritchie # 212984, a Native American prisoner from Wisconsin, right now incarcerated at West Tennessee Detention Facility, Mason TN, to have a new trial and be represented by a lawyer who cares about justice, not money.

Joel Ritchie got arrested on April 12- 1997 for murder of his roommate Terri Schreiber.
The girl was found dead in their apartment two
days earlier. His trial started in October 1998.
The evidence used against Joe was based on weak argumentation; there was no witness, and no confession.

Even the attorney said that the state did not have enough proof.

The only thing they had against him was:

a) the story of 3 people telling he did it,

b) the fact that Terri was found dead in HIS house, and

c) his 'bad reputation' of being a biker, being heavily into alcohol and drugs and his previous suicide attempts.

The knife, which suppose to be the murder weapon, didn't have Joe's fingerprints on it, and they didn't find any of the victims blood on Joe's clothes and stuff.

People said he was in town, but there's proof that he wasn't. Even the newspaper said that they don't understand how Joe could be convicted of this crime.

Within 3,5 to 4 hours after a 5 day trial, the jury found him guilty, and in February 1999 Joe was sentenced with Mandatory Life.
But his conviction was all based on 'circumstantial evidence' and "snitch testimony".
After his trial he signed papers to appeal his case, 'cause there are at least 3 reasons why the court should look at his case;

1) the jury's contact with Terri Schreiber's parents

2) not calling witnesses that could help Joe and

3) conflicting statements of witnesses which should have been reviewed.

In May 2000 his first appeal was denied, in June 2000 he filed for appeal again, which was denied in July 2000.

Then Joe was busy sending a Notice of Appeal to the United States Supreme Court, but in August 2000 Joe got transferred out of state, to Whiteville Correctional Facility in Tennessee, and this was just before the Court deadline!
When he moved to Whiteville, suddenly a lot of legal papers seemed to be missing, which later did show up. (Although 'till today there are still papers missing.)
Because of this transfer he missed the deadline cause he couldn't get the legal brief in on time..

Joel has no conduct reports, is a "model prisoner".

We are asking that you look into Joe Ritchie's case and give him a new trial, with unbiased witness and jury. We also demand that ALL the missing documents be returned, and that a more indepth and complete investigation be done in finding the real murder(s). We ask that true justice prevail and if no evidence was or is found and one can prove that he actually committed the crime, that he be released immediately.

Thank you