Unlocking The Truth Season Finale Recap

“Hope is a hell of a thing.”

The season finale of Unlocking The Truth closed Ryan and Eva’s investigations on Michael, Kalvin and Byron’s cases.

Byron

Ryan and Eva meet Anastasia’s father. According to him, Anastasia came home that night at some point and then went back out. This doesn’t add up with Kelly’s statement. She never said anything about them going home. Unfortunately we may never get to hear Kelly’s side of the story, as she did not want to meet up with Ryan and Eva. However, a Facebook message from another person claiming to be writing on Kelly’s behalf showed that Kelly is sticking with her second statement.

Ryan then goes to talk to Byron face to face. He asks Byron why he said “we shouldn’t talk about this” to Kelly when she called him. Byron claims that she was ranting during their phone call and that was his way of getting her off the phone. He then tells Ryan his story of what he believed happened to Anastasia that night.

He says that Justin Bruton must have gone home with her and then they left her home, went somewhere else and somehow ended up at the Lincoln cemetery. He also mentioned that their relationship had a darker element to it. Byron thinks they may have made some suicide pact; that is was definitely a mutual thing.

Based on the information gathered and the trial, Ryan and Eva think Byron shouldn’t be in prison. There isn’t enough evidence to prove his guilt or his innocence for that matter. We may never truly know if he is innocent.

Byron has had 3 appeals already.

Kalvin

Ryan and Eva meet with retired Sgt. Chuck Byrom. He was hired to review Kalvin’s case. Chuck let’s the duo know that Internal Affairs told him to take a second look at D.R. William’s cases as most of the “confessions” he got were not actually confessions.

Chuck was able to give the team more insight into the investigation. Kenneth Lamoureux had inconsistencies within the statements he gave D.R. Williams. Chuck flat-out said even dead Ken is more guilty than Kalvin. Unfortunately the system is about wins and losses. It is not about finding the truth. When Chuck was first investigating Kalvin’s case police officers tried to put fear into the investigators, hoping they would stop looking into the case. D.R. Williams himself was hostile and uncooperative when asked about the case.

Ryan and Eva go to speak to D.R. Williams himself. He did not want to meet on camera. Williams stated that he did not document everything but ran a by the book investigation. How could it be a by the book investigation if evidence wasn’t documented?

Later in the finale Ryan meets Kalvin face to face. Kalvin said he survived living by this motto: “when you’re right you’re wrong, when you’re wrong you’re wrong.” He also told Ryan that this wasn’t a mistake. They did this to him on purpose and knew exactly what they were doing. Kalvin was also told during the investigation that if Jill died they were going to make sure he got the death penalty. If that had happened he would have been killed 5 years ago. An innocent man sent to death for a crime he did not commit.

Ryan assures Kalvin he will do everything he can to make sure Kalvin is exonerated, no matter how long it takes. He then presents the team’s findings to Kalvin’s attorney, Jim Coleman. We learn that a possible new witness has emerged. The witness reached out after the first episode aired and stated that they saw Kenneth at the Silk Store with a flashlight. If the team can confirm this testimony, this could potentially set Kalvin free or at least help his case.

Ryan and Eva also go to speak to North Carolina attorney general Roy Cooper. Cooper is currently running for governor but refuses to look at Kalvin’s case. He declined meeting with Ryan and Eva. The duo will continue to call, email, write letters and do everything to make sure Kalvin Michael Smith is heard. Coleman said that if Cooper refuses to look into this case then he doesn’t deserve to be governor.

After concluding their investigations Ryan and Eva believe Kalvin to be 100% innocent.

Recapping Kalvin’s case:

All witnesses in Kalvin’s case were coerced and the so-called confession by Kalvin was never used in trial. Why?

The location of the assault was in the media contrary to what investigators claimed.

Kenneth was seen in the Silk Store 15 minutes before Jill was attacked.

Ken stalked Jill and had a history of violence against women.

Recapping Ryan and Eva’s conclusions:

100% innocent – Kalvin

Innocent – Michael

Uncertain of innocence or guilt but realize he doesn’t belong in prison – Byron

Updates on Byron, Michael and Kalvin:

Cyndy Short continues to advocate for Byron’s release and pursue all legal avenues for exoneration.

Tricia Bushral and the Midwest Innocence Project plan to file Michael’s Rule 91 Habeas petition before the end of the year and continue to champion his innocence.

The Duke Wrongful Convictions Clinic and Jim Coleman plan to file a motion for appropriate relief by the end of the year based on evidence discovered since Kalvin’s last appeal was denied. They will continue efforts to get attorney general Roy Cooper to take an active role in the case.