004 – Fairbanks Four, Part 1

Hello Alaska
Hello Alaska
004 - Fairbanks Four, Part 1
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Fairbanks Four Part 1

Hello Alaska! In this episode we start talking about the story of the Fairbanks Four, a group of young men who were convicted of killing a teenager on a street corner in downtown Fairbanks. The four, three are Alaska Native, have always argued their innocence, arguing that racial bias and police misconduct put them away.

Warning: This episode contains both graphic descriptions of a murder and spoilers. 

Show Notes

The most complete historic account of the case was put together by the University of Alaska Fairbanks’ journalism students under the name “The Hartman Murder Files.”

The Fairbanks Four–Marvin Roberts, Kevin Pease, Eugene Vent and George Freese–were released and their convictions were vacated after 18 years behind bars.

The excellent series “Decade of Doubt” by former News-Miner reporter and UAF professor Brian O’Donoghue covers the case and the questions about the convictions ten years later. 

The News-Miner has a new owner! It’s the non-profit foundation that was created when its local owners, the Snedden family, sold it. It’s a return to local ownership and a launch into non-profit newspapers. 

And here’s a short film Pat made about the FIRST Lego League…