PUBLISHER'S NOTE: For years I have been searching for cases - wherever they might be - in which key evidence has been 'buried' by the police, as in the Tim Rees case in Ontario, in which decade after he had been convicted of murdering a little girl, miraculously an audio video was found in the offices of the Chief of police discovered,,,If that had been disclosed....Take it from there. Several months ago I found my first case of the magnitude of Tim's case - a case in which - and now I have found yet another...Iris Seabolt Slso involving a video --- go through it - as much detail as possible... Why am I doing this. It's more than just an exercise. Its because in Tim's case the is probably one of the most glaring examples of police misconduct in Canadian history - and yet over the years there has been barely a peep. There should be a roar! Go ahead. Then. wind up:
----------------------------------
PASSAGE TWO OF THE DAY: "The State also failed to disclose a video-recorded interrogation of Seabolt's co-defendant threatening to have him “strap[ped]” to a “gurney” and executed if he did not cooperate with the prosecution, a video which Rezutko had previously testified did not exist. Finally, the State failed to disclose internal affairs records documenting that Rezutko had paid his informants in homicide cases for sexual acts."
----------------------------------
PASSAGE THREE OF THE DAY: "In Seabolt's case, Judge Spataro found that she had been deprived of evidence that could have been used to challenge both the State's case and Rezutko's credibility."
-----------------------------------
PASSAGE FOUR OF THE DAY: "Second, beyond Seabolt's case, Gurulé is calling for an independent investigation of every post-conviction case involving Rezutko, with a special prosecutor appointed to conduct the investigation, in light of the malfeasance uncovered in Seabolt's case and evidence of misconduct in other wrongful conviction cases in Elkhart County.:
-------------------------------------------------------------
POST: Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic Client Iris Seabolt Exonerated," by Adrienne Calling, published by Notre Dame University, on September 2, 2026.
GIST: "Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic (EJC) client Iris Seabolt has been fully exonerated more than two decades after she was wrongfully convicted of felony murder in Elkhart, Indiana.
Special Prosecutor Nelson Chipman, the elected prosecutor of Marshall County, moved to dismiss the case against Seabolt, and, on September 2, 2026, Elkhart Superior Court Judge Christopher Spataro granted the motion to dismiss, bringing to an end a case that began more than 25 years ago.
Special Prosecutor Nelson Chipman, the elected prosecutor of Marshall County, moved to dismiss the case against Seabolt, and, on September 2, 2026, Elkhart Superior Court Judge Christopher Spataro granted the motion to dismiss, bringing to an end a case that began more than 25 years ago.
Judge Spataro previously vacated Seabolt's conviction in April 2026 after finding that constitutional violations, including the State's failure to disclose critical exculpatory evidence, undermined her conviction.
In 2004, Seabolt was convicted of felony murder in connection with the August 2000 killing of A.J. Williams in Elkhart.
In 2004, Seabolt was convicted of felony murder in connection with the August 2000 killing of A.J. Williams in Elkhart.
After the State presented its case at trial, Seabolt entered a guilty plea and was later sentenced to 45 years in prison.
She attempted to withdraw her plea at sentencing, stating that her guilty plea was coerced and maintaining her innocence, but the request was denied.
Seabolt was released on parole in May 2022 after serving nearly 19 years in prison.
Seabolt was released on parole in May 2022 after serving nearly 19 years in prison.
At 12:01 a.m. on May 5, 2022, EJC students and attorneys greeted Seabolt as she walked free from Madison Correctional Facility.
Although she had regained her freedom from prison, her murder conviction remained in place for nearly four more years as the EJC continued to litigate her claims of innocence.
Although she had regained her freedom from prison, her murder conviction remained in place for nearly four more years as the EJC continued to litigate her claims of innocence.
While this litigation continued, EJC students assisted Seabolt with her reentry and reintegration into society.
“All of my success is due to the help and the friendships that have come out of this horrible situation,” said Seabolt.
EJC students and attorneys helped Seabolt secure housing, transportation, and other resources as she adjusted to life outside prison.
“They helped me find resources that I wouldn't have known how to find because I had been away so long,” she said.
Seabolt also recalled the moment she learned that the EJC would take her case after years of trying to find someone who would listen to her claims of innocence.
“Of course I cried because I spent so many years just trying to get somebody to listen,” she said.
The EJC filed Seabolt's petition for post-conviction relief in June 2021.
“All of my success is due to the help and the friendships that have come out of this horrible situation,” said Seabolt.
EJC students and attorneys helped Seabolt secure housing, transportation, and other resources as she adjusted to life outside prison.
“They helped me find resources that I wouldn't have known how to find because I had been away so long,” she said.
Seabolt also recalled the moment she learned that the EJC would take her case after years of trying to find someone who would listen to her claims of innocence.
“Of course I cried because I spent so many years just trying to get somebody to listen,” she said.
The EJC filed Seabolt's petition for post-conviction relief in June 2021.
The petition presented newly discovered evidence, including recantations from key witnesses and evidence of gross police and prosecutorial misconduct in the investigation and prosecution of her case.
In April 2026, Judge Spataro granted Seabolt's petition, vacated her conviction, and ordered a new trial.
In April 2026, Judge Spataro granted Seabolt's petition, vacated her conviction, and ordered a new trial.
The court found that the State withheld material exculpatory and impeachment evidence, including evidence concerning misconduct by former Elkhart Police Department Detective Stephen Rezutko, who played a significant role in the investigation and development of witness testimony against Seabolt.
According to court pleadings submitted by the EJC, there was no forensic evidence linking Seabolt to the crime, and the State's case relied heavily on jailhouse informants.
According to court pleadings submitted by the EJC, there was no forensic evidence linking Seabolt to the crime, and the State's case relied heavily on jailhouse informants.
Evidence uncovered during post-conviction proceedings showed that Rezutko fabricated witness statements, including by sharing details of the crime with informants to shape their statements and testimony.
The State also failed to disclose a video-recorded interrogation of Seabolt's co-defendant threatening to have him “strap[ped]” to a “gurney” and executed if he did not cooperate with the prosecution, a video which Rezutko had previously testified did not exist.
Finally, the State failed to disclose internal affairs records documenting that Rezutko had paid his informants in homicide cases for sexual acts.
In his order vacating Seabolt's conviction, Judge Spataro wrote, "The State's blatant violation of Seabolt's rights under the Due Process Clause voids her conviction and, therefore, voids her plea."
For Professor Jimmy Gurulé, founder and director of the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic, Seabolt's exoneration underscores several significant issues surrounding her case and other wrongful convictions in Elkhart County.
First, the dismissal fully vindicates Seabolt after more than two decades of maintaining her innocence and nearly 19 years of wrongful incarceration.
“Dozens of law students worked on Iris Seabolt’s case over several years. These students used their legal knowledge and training to correct the miscarriage of justice Iris suffered. These students should be commended for their hard work,” Gurulé stated.
Among those students was Lenora Popken ’20 J.D., now a staff attorney with the EJC, who began working on Seabolt's case during her first year at Notre Dame Law School.
“After nearly 20 years of wrongful imprisonment, the world finally knows what we have always known—that Iris is innocent,” Popken said. “Fighting alongside her since my first year of law school has been the privilege of a lifetime. Iris’s unwavering strength throughout this decades-long legal battle is nothing short of extraordinary. Today is about long-overdue justice for her, and I am deeply honored to stand with her as both her attorney and her friend.”
Second, beyond Seabolt's case, Gurulé is calling for an independent investigation of every post-conviction case involving Rezutko, with a special prosecutor appointed to conduct the investigation, in light of the malfeasance uncovered in Seabolt's case and evidence of misconduct in other wrongful conviction cases in Elkhart County.
Rezutko has been involved in at least four proven wrongful convictions in Elkhart.
In his order vacating Seabolt's conviction, Judge Spataro wrote, "The State's blatant violation of Seabolt's rights under the Due Process Clause voids her conviction and, therefore, voids her plea."
For Professor Jimmy Gurulé, founder and director of the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic, Seabolt's exoneration underscores several significant issues surrounding her case and other wrongful convictions in Elkhart County.
First, the dismissal fully vindicates Seabolt after more than two decades of maintaining her innocence and nearly 19 years of wrongful incarceration.
“Dozens of law students worked on Iris Seabolt’s case over several years. These students used their legal knowledge and training to correct the miscarriage of justice Iris suffered. These students should be commended for their hard work,” Gurulé stated.
Among those students was Lenora Popken ’20 J.D., now a staff attorney with the EJC, who began working on Seabolt's case during her first year at Notre Dame Law School.
“After nearly 20 years of wrongful imprisonment, the world finally knows what we have always known—that Iris is innocent,” Popken said. “Fighting alongside her since my first year of law school has been the privilege of a lifetime. Iris’s unwavering strength throughout this decades-long legal battle is nothing short of extraordinary. Today is about long-overdue justice for her, and I am deeply honored to stand with her as both her attorney and her friend.”
Second, beyond Seabolt's case, Gurulé is calling for an independent investigation of every post-conviction case involving Rezutko, with a special prosecutor appointed to conduct the investigation, in light of the malfeasance uncovered in Seabolt's case and evidence of misconduct in other wrongful conviction cases in Elkhart County.
Rezutko has been involved in at least four proven wrongful convictions in Elkhart.
Internal affairs investigations also documented misconduct during his tenure with the Elkhart Police Department.
In Seabolt's case, Judge Spataro found that she had been deprived of evidence that could have been used to challenge both the State's case and Rezutko's credibility.
Finally, Seabolt's case adds to a troubling history of wrongful convictions in Elkhart County.
Finally, Seabolt's case adds to a troubling history of wrongful convictions in Elkhart County.
According to the National Registry of Exonerations, Seabolt’s exoneration marks the eighth exoneration in Elkhart County since 1989.
There are now more proven wrongful convictions in Elkhart County than any other county in Indiana, including Marion County.
“Elkhart County holds the record of being the exoneration capital of Indiana,” said Gurulé.
Seabolt's exoneration marks the EJC's fifth exoneration, after the exonerations of Reginald "Reggie" Dillard in February 2026, Kara Beaty in April 2025, Anthony Bedolla in August 2024, and Andy Royer in July 2021.
Gurulé praised the EJC team that investigated and litigated Seabolt’s case, which included staff attorney and term teaching professor Kevin Murphy '14 J.D., staff attorney Lenora Popken '20 J.D., executive assistant Anne Peterson ‘92, ‘02 J.D., adjunct professor Elliot Slosar, and at least 11 EJC students since 2021. Exoneration Project investigator Patti Fayed also worked on Seabolt’s case.
“I am so proud of the army of Notre Dame Law School students who fought for justice for Iris over the past several years,” Murphy said. “Their work was in the best tradition of Notre Dame lawyers.”
For Seabolt, her exoneration brings not only the clearing of her name, but gratitude for the people who stood beside her throughout the process.
“I am thankful to God for finally clearing my name and for using the people that He used to do it, because now, I have a whole other family,” Seabolt said.
Since its founding, the EJC has remained committed to criminal justice reform, litigating wrongful conviction cases, and educating the public about miscarriages of justice.
Learn more about the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic at exoneration.nd.edu."
“Elkhart County holds the record of being the exoneration capital of Indiana,” said Gurulé.
Seabolt's exoneration marks the EJC's fifth exoneration, after the exonerations of Reginald "Reggie" Dillard in February 2026, Kara Beaty in April 2025, Anthony Bedolla in August 2024, and Andy Royer in July 2021.
Gurulé praised the EJC team that investigated and litigated Seabolt’s case, which included staff attorney and term teaching professor Kevin Murphy '14 J.D., staff attorney Lenora Popken '20 J.D., executive assistant Anne Peterson ‘92, ‘02 J.D., adjunct professor Elliot Slosar, and at least 11 EJC students since 2021. Exoneration Project investigator Patti Fayed also worked on Seabolt’s case.
“I am so proud of the army of Notre Dame Law School students who fought for justice for Iris over the past several years,” Murphy said. “Their work was in the best tradition of Notre Dame lawyers.”
For Seabolt, her exoneration brings not only the clearing of her name, but gratitude for the people who stood beside her throughout the process.
“I am thankful to God for finally clearing my name and for using the people that He used to do it, because now, I have a whole other family,” Seabolt said.
Since its founding, the EJC has remained committed to criminal justice reform, litigating wrongful conviction cases, and educating the public about miscarriages of justice.
Learn more about the Notre Dame Exoneration Justice Clinic at exoneration.nd.edu."
The entire story can be read at:
PUBLISHER'S NOTE: I am monitoring this case/issue/resource. Keep your eye on the Charles Smith Blog for reports on developments. The Toronto Star, my previous employer for more than twenty incredible years, has put considerable effort into exposing the harm caused by Dr. Charles Smith and his protectors - and into pushing for reform of Ontario's forensic pediatric pathology system. Please send any comments or information on other cases and issues of interest to the readers of this blog to: hlevy15@gmail.com. Harold Levy: Publisher: The Charles Smith Blog. FINAL WORD: (Applicable to all of our wrongful conviction cases): "Whenever there is a wrongful conviction, it exposes errors in our criminal legal system, and we hope that this case — and lessons from it — can prevent future injustices."Lawyer Radha Natarajan: Executive Director: New England Innocence Project; FINAL, FINAL WORD: "Since its inception, the Innocence Project has pushed the criminal legal system to confront and correct the laws and policies that cause and contribute to wrongful convictions. They never shied away from the hard cases — the ones involving eyewitness identifications, confessions, and bite marks. Instead, in the course of presenting scientific evidence of innocence, they've exposed the unreliability of evidence that was, for centuries, deemed untouchable." So true;
