Noble, the witness, stated she could not positively identify the female at the crime scene. I am 5’1”, I weighed close to 200lbs at the time and was 46 years old - my hair was not in a ponytail (police intake photo). Jennifer Merten-Monroe stated that she had on PJ’s with neon penguins yet Officer Van Ryn stated in his report that she was wearing purple scrubs and also stated she was of medium build and 28 years old. When Officer Van Ryn appeared at the crime scene he encountered Jennifer Merten-Monroe talking on her cell-phone. Officer Van Ryn stated he and his partner arrived at the crime scene at 7.19pm yet Noble stated she passed at exactly 7.20pm; she was certain of the time and stated she checked her watch as she was late meeting friends. Noble also stated she observed an older style square box type van, dark maroon in color, not aerodynamic like the 2000’s. Trial transcript states I was in a light blue Ford Aerostar van. Very aerodynamic.
Detective Dorothy stated at the trial that Jennifer Merten-Monroe had to change clothes because she had blood on them, and also testified that she gave the victim money to eat at Burger King yet the coroner’s report did not show any food in the victim’s stomach. Jennifer Merten-Monroe was allowed to give false testimony by lying with regards to what she was wearing on the night of the murder. Crime Stoppers report 21L185 stated that a white male, a blue imported car, a white Pontiac (possibly a Sunbird) were observed at the crime scene. We learnt at trial that Jennifer Merten-Monroe drove a white Pontiac Grand Am - the Sunbird and Grand Am both are Pontiacs and similar in size.
Noble changed her story many times and stated over and over again that she could not positively identify the female at the crime scene and stated she picked me, and another female out of the line-up due to our ‘round’ faces. Noble was permitted to see me in the hallway prior to the line-up. Police chose us as suspects due to Noble and Jennifer Merten-Monroe with no regard to the truth. Jennifer Merten-Monroe is the one who made us suspects; Jennifer Merten-Monroe lied about what she was wearing the night of the incident; she lied by saying she did not work the day of the incident; and has not told the truth throughout!
D. Lutman, of the KCPD, processed the light blue Ford Aeorstar and no blood, glass shards (even though the police states glass shards were all around the vehicle), shellcasings, live ammunition or murder weapon were found in the van.
Noble told the police this story to collect the crime stoppers reward. Noble's story changed three times. Prosecution coached Noble what to say on the witness stand.
I know that I did not kill this man nor did I have anything to do with it. I am innocent of this crime and I need help in proving it. The courts do not care, all they care about is obtaining a conviction and nothing about an innocent person going to prison. I had public defenders, a different one about every three months, none of which bothered to discover the truth. There were many discrepancies but the trial judge did not care. I had jurors who knew the judge and the prosecutor, who went into the jury room and told them she was in the area the night of the crime (hereboth) because of this the other jurors assumed she was a witness.
Dan Eber was a witness who arrived at the crime scene and would have identified the female in the white Pontiac but the defense never called nor deposed him.
I had so much media coverage from my arrest through to my conviction that there was no way I could have received a fair trail.
Also, when Officer Van Ryn and his partner arrived at the crime scene at 7.19pm and encountered Jennifer Merten-Monroe talking on her cell-phone, if Noble truly passed at 7.20pm she would have seen the police officers at the crime scene and the female she described was Jennifer Merten-Monroe and had crime stoppers report 21L185 been made available to the defense it would help prove that I am innocent of this crime.
I have a DNA motion filed in the court and it has been filed for three years but the judge has not granted this motion. DNA is used to secure a conviction. The court system should also order DNA testing to set innocent people free.
My counsel's deficient performance prejudiced me in a fundamentally unfair and unreliable outcome in the proceedings. Counsel failed to call expert witnesses; investigate missing exculpatory evidence (with-held by prosecution) and properly challenge "hearsay" testimony.
I need help in proving I was not part of this crime and that I am innocent. No physical or forensic evidence ties me to this crime and no murder weapon was ever recovered. I never thought that at 54 years old I would be incarcerated. My parents are elderly and need me at home. Evil invaded my life and here I sit.
Brenda Williams
#1090690
Chillicothe Correctional Center
3151 Litton Road
Chillicothe
MO 64601-8502
U.S.A.
Brenda Williams
Wrongly accused of 1st Degree Murder
Sentenced To Life Without Parole
Sentenced To Life Without Parole
My name is Brenda Williams, and in January of 2003 after a very brief trial I was convicted of 1st Degree Murder in the death of my former son-in-law. I am currently serving a sentence of Life without Probation or Parole at Chillicothe Correctional Center.
The Kansas City police department withheld a crime stoppers report that would prove that Jennifer Merten-Monroe (the girlfriend of the victim) was at the crime scene when a witness stated she drove by. The witness described a female that was 5’6”- 5’7”, of medium build, in her early thirties, with hair in a ponytail. A white car was blocking the road. Jennifer Merten-Monroe stated she was 5’5”, of medium build, 28 at the time of the crime, drove a white Pontiac and yes, she wore her hair in a ponytail. I was 46 years old when this crime occurred. I could not have looked in my early thirties if I tried. Jennifer Merten-Monroe initially gave my daughter’s name (Chrysta Mize) then changed it to mine. Jennifer Merten-Monroe is the one who made us suspects; Jennifer Merten-Monroe has lied about what she was wearing the night of the incident; she lied by saying she did not work the day of the incident; she has not told the truth!
The Kansas City police department withheld a crime stoppers report that would prove that Jennifer Merten-Monroe (the girlfriend of the victim) was at the crime scene when a witness stated she drove by. The witness described a female that was 5’6”- 5’7”, of medium build, in her early thirties, with hair in a ponytail. A white car was blocking the road. Jennifer Merten-Monroe stated she was 5’5”, of medium build, 28 at the time of the crime, drove a white Pontiac and yes, she wore her hair in a ponytail. I was 46 years old when this crime occurred. I could not have looked in my early thirties if I tried. Jennifer Merten-Monroe initially gave my daughter’s name (Chrysta Mize) then changed it to mine. Jennifer Merten-Monroe is the one who made us suspects; Jennifer Merten-Monroe has lied about what she was wearing the night of the incident; she lied by saying she did not work the day of the incident; she has not told the truth!