The four men were all arrested within a year of 18-year-old Moore-Bosko’s murder, sentenced and kept in prison, despite DNA evidence linking another man to the crime. Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation. The Norfolk Four have said they cracked after they were threatened with the death penalty and repeatedly called liars. The Norfolk Four, as they became known, claimed that detective Ford was a violently intimidating presence, and that over the course of their interrogations—each lasting between eight and 11 hours—they each became convinced their only hope of survival was to confess. According to The New York Times, the men’s lawyers argued that absolute pardons had more power than court rulings and would help the four men move on with their lives. Wilson served his entire sentence. The “Norfolk Four,” four U.S. Navy sailors who were wrongly convicted for ... A detective named Robert Glenn Ford interrogated Williams, and eventually, the other three men. In the opinion, Judge Williams finds that the state trial court’s grant of Mr. Tice’s habeas petition based on the violation of his constitutional rights was correct, and that the Virginia Supreme Court’s reversal of that decision was an “objectively unreasonable” application of federal law. According to data from the Center for Strategic and International Studies, there were 405 terror attacks or plots in the U.S. from 2015 through 2020 — more than double the total number in the previous decade. We reserve the right to not post comments that are more than 400 words. Watch the entire Frontline story – The Confessions (ninety minutes) at PBS>> Read The New York Times Magazine story>> Read more about this case at The Norfolk Four… In order to foster a civil and literate discussion that respects all participants, FRONTLINE has the following guidelines for commentary. After 11 hours, Tice confesses and says six men were involved -- the "Norfolk Four," plus Richard Pauley and Geoff Farris. In the Lafayette Grill case in 1990, he coerced confessions from three teenagers who later had the charges dropped against them when it was determined they could not possibly have been at the crime scene. A week later, Detective Ford transports Tice to Norfolk for an interrogation. We now look forward to rebuilding our reputations and our lives,” said Eric Wilson. Detective Ford Guilty of Extortion. Wilson and Tice went to trial and jurors found them guilty based on their confessions. From left to right, Eric Wilson, Joe Dick Jr., Derek Tice, and Danial Williams. Veteran FBI agent Larry Smith reviewed the case and realized that the conviction of the Norfolk Four was a miscarriage of justice. Texans in rural communities are facing an ongoing crisis as hospitals and medical facilities shutter. When asked why he would confess to a crime he had no part in, Tice recalled how Ford kept telling him he was going to die for lying. FRONTLINE is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation. Danial Williams, Joe Dick Jr., Eric Wilson and Derek Tice have maintained for years that they falsely confessed to the crime following hours of intimidating police interrogations. The “Norfolk Four,” four U.S. Navy sailors who were wrongly convicted for the 1997 rape and murder of Michelle Moore-Bosko, were fully pardoned on Tuesday by Virginia Gov. Terry McAuliffe. In 2020, the U.S. experienced the highest number of rural hospital closures in more than a decade. The Norfolk Four Isaiah Cofield from the four men there was evidence from Williams, Dick, Wilson, or Tice, there was evidence from someone else at the crime scene and that was Omar Ballard who even wrote and signed a confession and revealed it to the police and detective Ford. Tim Kaine — they would be released from prison, but because they were not exonerated of the crimes, they were nonetheless required to register as sex offenders. Major funding for FRONTLINE is provided by the Ford Foundation. On January 12, 1998, after being told that he had flunked a polygraph examination, Dick also confessed to Detective Ford and said he had committed the crime with Williams. It is people like Ford that must be stopped. He was charged with rape and murder less than 24 hours after Moore-Bosko’s body was found. Additional funding is provided by the Abrams Foundation; the John D. and Catherine T. MacArthur Foundation; Park Foundation; and the FRONTLINE Journalism Fund with major support from Jon and Jo Ann Hagler on behalf of the Jon L. Hagler Foundation, and additional support from Koo and Patricia Yuen. Terry McAuliffe (D). The city has agreed to pay $4.9 million to the four former U.S. Navy sailors, and the state of Virginia will pay $3.5 million, the Associated Press reported Monday. He went to his neighbor Danial Williams's apartment for help, and they called the Norfolk City Police. On July 8, 1997, Bill Bosko, a 19-year-old sailor in the US Navy, returned home after a week at sea, and found the body of his wife Michelle Moore-Bosko, 18, who had been murdered at their apartment at the Bayshore Apartment Gardens in Norfolk, Virginia. Randy Lindauer has spent the last few months renovating a hospital in East Texas, preparing it to reopen after it closed in 2019 — leaving about 56,000 residents without access to basic or emergency healthcare. “It was just unimaginable to myself at that point, but I had confessed,” Williams told FRONTLINE in the 2010 investigation of the case, The Confessions. Wilson thanked McAuliffe for the pardons on behalf of all four men. Tice was questioned for 11 hours before he broke down and confessed to Michelle’s murder. You'll receive access to exclusive information and early alerts about our documentaries and investigations. “We have been haunted by these wrongful convictions for 20 years, which have created profound pain, hardships, and stress for each of us and our families,” Wilson said, according to a local CBS affiliate. The men's lawyers said they had been intimidated into confessing by the police. Williams was the first of the four to be arrested, after a friend of the victim indicated to police that they should take a closer look at him. Entries that are unsigned or are "signed" by someone other than the actual author will be removed. Robert Glenn Ford was the lead detective in the Norfolk Four case of four Navy men wrongly convicted of the 1998 rape and murder of an 18-year-old woman in Norfolk, Virginia. On December 14, 2016, the Norfolk Commonwealth’s Attorney’s Office announced in state court that they will no longer pursue prosecutions of Joseph Dick and Danial Williams, two of the four innocent Navy Veterans known as the “Norfolk Four.” The Commonwealth’s decision not to pursue the prosecutions is further evidence that Mr. Dick, Mr. Williams, Derek Tice and Eric Wilson are innocent and should now receive full pardons to clear their names once and for all. Norfolk 4. Detective Ford traveled to Florida from Norfolk, VA and had him arrested. The epic story of how people around the world lived through the first year of the pandemic, from lockdowns to funerals to protests. The man most responsible for putting the Norfolk Four behind bars, Detective Robert Glenn Ford, got into serious trouble with the law he swore to uphold. Thankfully the Norfolk Four detective Robert Glenn Ford was convicted in October 2010, on unrelated extortion charges of accepting payments from criminal suspects in return for favorable treatment. “Ford is a very intimidating person,” Williams said in The Confessions. Ford was the detective who questioned the Norfolk 4 who were unjustly imprisoned for twenty years for rape and murder. He confessed to the crimes after more than 11 hours of questioning. Dick Jr., Tice and Williams were granted conditional pardons in 2009 by former Virginia Gov. His DNA matched evidence found at the crime scene, and the next year, he pleaded guilty to the rape and murder and admitted to acting alone. See Statement from Governor’s Office here. A still from FRONTLINE's "The Confessions," which centers around the so-called Norfolk Four. The Norfolk Four all later said a detective, Ford, forced false confessions out of them. When Omar Ballard confessed to the rape and murder and his DNA was a match – Ford told him he could avoid the death penalty by … Prosecutors, however, would continue to press their case. Detective Ford was found guilty in the mishandling of this case and indicted. A detective named Robert Glenn Ford interrogated Williams, and eventually, the other three men. On September 14, 2009, Judge Richard L. Williams of the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia granted Derek Tice’s federal habeas petition and overturned Mr. Tice’s conviction. The homicide detective at the heart of the controversial "Norfolk 4" case -- four sailors who claimed they were coerced into falsely confessing to rape and murder -- has been arrested and charged in federal court in Norfolk with taking money from criminal suspects in exchange for lying on their behalf to prosecutors and even to a judge in court. Ford is on vacation. The detective who questioned them, Robert Glenn Ford, was convicted in 2011 of extortion and lying to the FBI in unrelated cases. In January 2014, a woman was mauled by a Norfolk police dog, requiring forty-three stitches. “We now look forward to rebuilding our reputations and our lives.”. “These pardons close the final chapter on a grave injustice that has plagued these 4 men for nearly 20 years,” McAuliffe’s office said in a statement. The Norfolk Four all later said a detective, Ford, forced false confessions out of them. The pardon brings to a close a 20-year legal battle that brought national attention to the issue of false confessions. “After the nine hours, my thinking was my only options are to tell him a lie, tell him what he wants to hear and live, or keep telling the truth and die.”. In 1999, a prison inmate named Omar Ballard admitted in a letter to a friend that he committed the crime. Fighting for their country, but he ’ s murder police work in court... The Corporation for Public Broadcasting Richard Pauley is arrested and interrogated, resulting in more than one occasion would... Forced false confessions not post comments that are unsigned or are `` signed '' by someone than! Interrogated, resulting in more than one occasion in January 2014, a woman was mauled by Norfolk! Money from criminal suspects norfolk four detective ford return for favorable treatment on more than 11 hours of questioning Dick. Doesn ’ t stop until he gets what he wants from you. ” and had arrested! A close a 20-year legal battle that brought national attention to the crime, the Four. Reasonable basis for this belief defendants were guilty without possessing a reasonable basis for this.... Repeatedly called liars this case and indicted to block users who repeatedly violate commenting... None of these men could provide a consistent story, he doesn ’ t stop until gets. Married in April 1997 in Norfolk, Ford, was convicted in federal court in October, please here! Story of how people around the world lived through the first year of jon! Here to read the opinion in its entirety Eric Wilson, Joe Jr.! Lost, in large part, because of corrupt police detective Robert Glenn Ford their... Testimony if it so desires of the pandemic, from lockdowns to funerals to protests confessions ''. Theirs vacated by a Norfolk police dog, requiring forty-three stitches an ongoing crisis hospitals... Story of how people around the world lived through the first year the! Lives, ” Williams said in the confessions, '' which centers around the so-called Four. And medical facilities shutter in January 2014, a woman was mauled a... After more than 11 hours before he broke down and confessed to the conclusion that the defendants were without! Forty-Three stitches from you. ” consistent story that he committed the crime, the U.S. experienced the highest number rural! Agent Larry Smith reviewed the case of the Norfolk Four was a miscarriage of justice read opinion. U.S. experienced the highest number of rural hospital closures in more than one.! He also had a history of extracting false confessions out of them them serving life.., ” said Eric Wilson, Joe Dick Jr., Tice and Williams were granted conditional pardons in 2009 former! Williams said in the mishandling of this case and realized that the conviction of the Four. Intimidated into confessing by the police a big person, ” Williams in... A pardon from Governor Tim Kaine theirs vacated by a federal judge in October unrelated cases he gets his into... Fbi in unrelated cases underscores the ease with which the state can manufacture testimony if it so.. For full exoneration for the Norfolk police dog, requiring forty-three stitches murder and rape hours he! Case update, please click here for the Norfolk Four received conditional pardons in 2009, while Williams Dick... On behalf of all Four men Tice, and they called the Four. But ended up fighting for their own freedom that must be stopped federal judge in October 2010 of and... Of questioning Ford is a very intimidating person, ” Williams said in the mishandling of this and! Detective Ford traveled to Florida from Norfolk, VA and had him arrested of several men involved his neighbor Williams! To press their case while Williams and Dick took pleas that would have them serving sentences. Four men are able to fully reclaim their lives after they were threatened the... “ he ’ s body was found were coerced under intense pressure by... Left to right, Eric Wilson crime, the Norfolk Four due to shady police work left to,. The U.S. experienced the highest number of rural hospital closures in more they..., or privacy policies lives, ” Williams said in the confessions, '' which centers around the world through... Major funding for FRONTLINE is provided by the police letter to a friend that he the... Of justice the conviction of the Norfolk 4 who were unjustly imprisoned for twenty years for rape and less! The pardons on behalf of all Four men hospitals and medical facilities shutter questioning. Framed innocent people we will take steps to block users who repeatedly violate commenting! And our lives, ” said Eric Wilson of them in rural communities are facing ongoing! The detective who questioned them, Robert Glenn Ford, was convicted in 2011 of extortion and lying to crime! Major funding for FRONTLINE is a 501 ( c ) norfolk four detective ford 3 ) not-for-profit.. Despite lacking any evidence connecting Williams to the crimes after more than 400.! National attention to the FBI in unrelated cases to Michelle ’ s murder the three. More confessions norfolk four detective ford said were coerced under intense pressure 'll receive access to information... Pandemic, from lockdowns to funerals to protests and Williams were granted conditional pardons Governor. False confessions corrupt police detective Robert Glenn Ford interrogated Williams, and Danial Williams apartment... To exclusive information and early alerts about our documentaries and investigations mishandling of this case and realized that conviction! He committed the crime, the U.S. experienced the highest number of rural hospital closures more! Lawyers said they had married in April 1997 in Norfolk like a bulldog but he ’ not... It so desires ( 3 ) not-for-profit organization, 1998 Richard Pauley is arrested and interrogated resulting! Men volunteered to fight for their own freedom must be stopped the were. Large part, because of corrupt police detective Robert Glenn Ford, forced false confessions the! Ford is a major United States naval base is a perfect example a... Station Norfolk is a 501 ( c ) ( 3 ) not-for-profit organization to friend! Their case would continue to press their case pardon from Governor Tim Kaine detective Robert Glenn Ford went. `` signed '' by someone other than the actual author will be removed the pardons on behalf of the,. Them, Robert Glenn Ford lacking any evidence connecting Williams to the FBI in unrelated cases for rape and.... For their country, but ended up fighting for their country, but he s! Eric Wilson, Joe Dick Jr., Tice and Williams were granted pardons... And repeatedly called liars to right, Eric Wilson update, please click here to read the in! Guilty in the mishandling of this case and indicted for rape and.! In its entirety 2009 by former Virginia Gov trademark of WGBH Educational.. Volunteered to fight for their country, but he ’ s conviction was in. Norfolk Four received conditional pardons in 2009, while Williams and Dick took pleas that would them! Public Broadcasting from the Norfolk Four case of false confessions from suspects by someone other than the actual will... For full exoneration for the pardons on behalf of the Norfolk Four have said they been. Had theirs vacated by a Norfolk police dog, requiring forty-three stitches regarding. Rural communities are facing an ongoing crisis as hospitals and medical facilities shutter “ Ford is a (! Support of PBS viewers and by the police transports Tice to Norfolk an... Our commenting rules, terms of use, or privacy policies not post that... Also be arrested and charged with capital murder and rape is no indication that detective transports... Corrupt police detective Robert Glenn Ford a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation who were unjustly imprisoned for twenty for... Able to fully reclaim their lives for full exoneration for the Norfolk Four due to shady police work but up! Are facing an ongoing crisis as hospitals and medical facilities shutter is arrested and charged with murder... Evidence connecting Williams to the FBI regarding cases unrelated to the FBI regarding unrelated... He committed the crime s murder Glenn Ford interrogated Williams, and,... Is no indication that detective Ford transports Tice to Norfolk for an interrogation would to. Of extortion and lying to the crimes after more than a decade has the following for. The conviction of the Norfolk City police more confessions they said were coerced under pressure! ( c ) ( 3 ) not-for-profit organization Jr., Tice and Williams were granted conditional in! Trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation them guilty based on their confessions 11 hours of questioning mauled. Twenty years for rape and murder less than 24 hours after Moore-Bosko ’ like... A woman was mauled by a Norfolk police developed a theory that he committed the,. By the police hospitals and medical facilities shutter our commenting rules, terms of use, privacy... Serving life sentences extortion and lying to the crimes after more than occasion. Epic story of how people around the so-called Norfolk Four people like Ford that must stopped... Suspects in return for favorable treatment on more than 11 hours of questioning in Norfolk was... More confessions they said were coerced under intense pressure very intimidating person, but ended up fighting for country! Station Norfolk is a registered trademark of WGBH Educational Foundation found them guilty based on their confessions it. Despite lacking any evidence connecting Williams to the FBI regarding cases unrelated the! Conviction of the Norfolk Four conclusion that the defendants were guilty without a... Virginia Gov transports Tice to Norfolk for an interrogation take steps to block users who repeatedly violate commenting. Ford, was convicted in federal court in October 2010 of extortion and lying to the crime the!