In 1998, Luis Vargas was at a parenting class in Los Angeles when he was asked to participate in an interview with the LAPD. Knowing he did nothing wrong, Luis agreed to talk and headed to the police station. By the end of that day, his future was over. Through constitutional violations, ineffective legal representation, prosecutorial/police incompetence (at best), and unduly suggestive eyewitness identification procedures, Luis Vargas was convicted as the Teardrop Rapist and sentenced to 55 years to LIFE in prison. Meanwhile, the actual Teardrop Rapist continued his spree of violent sexual assaults, following his modus operandi as Luis sat on trial, or in prison. In 2011, the California Innocence Project began looking into Luis Vargas' case. By 2015, he was fully exonerated and deemed factually innocent by DNA evidence.
Joined by post-exoneration attorney Brett Boon, Esq,, Luis shares his emotional journey through a hellacious 18 years. And looks to the future as he continues to grow through the pain.
**WATCH ON YOUTUBE**
Episode Links
1. Luis' Story on CIP
2. Donate to California Innocence Project
3. Donate to Michigan Innocence Project
4. The Alternative to Violence Program
5. Set Free Ministries
6. Contact Attorney Brett Boon, Esq: brett@boonlawoffice.com
Show Links
1. ATITA on LinkTree
2. Joe Jenneman
3. Michigan Podcasting Network