Bloodsworth: The True Story of the First Death Row Inmate Exonerated by DNA

by Tim Junkin

Charged with the rape and murder of a nine-year-old girl in 1984, Kirk Bloodsworth was tried, convicted, and sentenced to die in Maryland’s gas chamber. From the beginning, he proclaimed his innocence, but when he was granted a new trial because his prosecutors improperly withheld evidence, the second trial also resulted in conviction. Bloodsworth read every book on criminal law in the prison library and persuaded a new lawyer to petition for the then-innovative DNA testing.

After nine years in one of the harshest prisons in America, Kirk Bloodsworth was vindicated by DNA evidence. He was pardoned by the governor of Maryland and has gone on to become a tireless spokesman against capital punishment.

Genres: True Crime, Nonfiction, Book Club, History, Biography, Crime, Audiobook

294 pages, Hardcover

First published October 9, 2004

Reviews

[Tori · Rating 5 out of 5]

Kirk Bloodsworth was tried and convicted for the brutal murder and rape of a 9 year-old girl and sentenced to death row. Long professing his innocence, he tried every avenue possible to prove he had been wrongly convicted. Going on a wing and a prayer, and questionable information from a detective novel, he became the first man to be exonerated by DNA.

Kirk Bloodsworth is my uncle.

I was so young when the crime actually happened, that by the time I was cognizant of my incarcerated uncle, I was so far removed from the details. All I knew is that he wrote me often, and signed all of his cards "A.I.M."-An Innocent Man. I imagined the life he lived, but really never knew the minutia until he sent me a signed copy of this book. To say it was eye-opening would be an understatement. Heart-breaking, gut-wrenching, terrifying...that's more like it. For all parties involved in the crime.

Despite my bias, I believe this is a book worth reading. This review could go on forever, I'll let you formulate your own opinion.

[Kathleen Brunnett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Such an array of emotions as I read this book... Angry at the sloppy and negligent police work. Incredibly sad that this man had to endure this horrific treatment knowing full well he was innocent. Relieved and proud that there were people who believed in him and worked tirelessly to prove his innocence. Can't wait to discuss this with my faculty book group this fall.

[Amy Werking · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing. Wow. This is a fantastic book. Such a moving story of someone I’m so happy justice finally set free. An outstanding piece of nonfiction.

[hannah · Rating 2 out of 5]

Utterly devastating. Kirk Bloodsworth was treated with cruelty, injustice, and was a sure victim of policemen abusing their powers and not following protocol. I am crushed for him, to this day. A tale of determination, strength, grit, and bravery in the face of horrible circumstances. I wish Bloodsworth, and his family, all the peace in the world now 💖

However, the writing was not fantastic, and I was only so fascinated b/c I was interested in the case, with a strong passion for criminal justice. I don't think anyone who isn't interested so strongly will be able to finish it.

[Eden · Rating 4 out of 5]

So proud to have worked on the One Maryland One Book this year when Bloodsworth was selected!

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I liked the straightforward reportage and the objective story that Junkin told, well-sourced from interviews with those affected as well as news stories from local journalistic sources like the now-defunct News American and the Essex Times. It did not surprise me to learn that Junkin is a lawyer as well as an award-winning writer.
This was clearly a huge story in Maryland when I was a teenager, with which I had little knowledge or familiarity. The book is a fascinating tour through the justice system, demonstrating how a few mistakes, whether unwitting or deliberate, can make or break a case against an innocent person, in this case, Chesapeake waterman Kirk Bloodsworth. The book group I attended had a thoughtful discussion about the faults of our justice system, whether the death penalty is an appropriate deterrent, and how life-changing an experience prison is for the guilty and the innocent alike. One thing we all agreed on is that Kirk Bloodsworth is an incredibly forgiving man and, despite the horror of what happened to him, his experiences changed him in a way that impacted so many other lives for the better. His advocacy and contributions to justice reform are inspiring and impressive.
This was the One Maryland One Book selection for 2018, and the author is doing an eight-stop book tour, where he will be joined by Kirk Bloodsworth for two stops, including the Baltimore Book Festival. Highly recommended for nonfiction book group discussions.

[Wendy Kiang-Spray · Rating 5 out of 5]

Bloodsworth is about the frightening series of events that led to a totally innocent man’s conviction in a horrific crime. This extreme case of mistaken identity (and faulty cop/court system) makes me worry that ANYONE can be in the wrong place (or situation) at the wrong time. I liked the book’s way of alternating between crime investigation, law and court process and Kirk’s story.

One quote at the top of a chapter was particularly thought provoking: Capital punishment is the most premeditated of murders, to which no criminals deed, however calculated, can be compared -Albert Camut

This is the ultimate story of perseverance with a happy ending that makes you grateful for modern science. 1/2 tissue.

[Nancy Karwatka · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was the One Maryland - One Book selection for 2018. Since the author was going to be at our local library I decided I wanted to read it. It's just shocking to see how a person can be arrested, convicted not once but twice and to be completely innocent of the crime. It's amazing how a prosecutor who is hell bent on a conviction can utilize faulty eyewitness testimony with no physical evidence to secure a conviction. The book was an unbiased analysis of police records and court testimony. It is a beautifully written book that kept my attention from beginning to end.

[Kim · Rating 4 out of 5]

Way tooooo much detail in some parts but overall a good book and once again exposes the issues with eyewitness testimony and capital punishment. Another theme that I noticed is that some of the problems made by the State’s Attorney’s office could have been addressed if they had more money in their budget. With a horrific crime there is pressure to find and convict a killer and not enough resources to go down other avenues and/or revisit key pieces of evidence or other leads. But nobody wants high taxes. Unfortunate all around.

[Beth · Rating 4 out of 5]

A truly necessary yet exhausting recount of the numerous court cases that ensued before Kirk Bloodsworth was finally declared an innocent man. This is an important piece of Maryland history which showed some flaws in the police and judicial systems. Bob Morin was the determined lawyer who helped many other wrongly accused death penalty cases.

[Mark Fallon · Rating 5 out of 5]

As Curtis Noble Bloodsworth reminds us, his story is proof that the system doesn't work. And if you believe "this couldn't happen to me", you're deluding yourself.

[Marina · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book absolutely broke my heart and made me so mad at the same time! How could the prosecutors disregard so many signs and put this young man behind the bars for something he hadn't done??

[Yvonne · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great read for any true crime junkie. The tribulations that this innocent man went through is unnerving.

[Laura · Rating 4 out of 5]

Couldn’t decide if it wanted to be a procedural drama or a memoir of Kirk’s time in jail. Some of the storytelling devices felt like unnecessary repetition. But an important work about so many important topics - the justice system and the death penalty.

[Danielle · Rating 5 out of 5]

Could not put it down...such a shame but inspiring

[Ryker Burnham · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book I feel like makes you question a lot of things during it, weather it’s the judges or Bloodsworth himself, but Bloodsworths energy and persistence is what I think was able to get him free, over all it’s a solid book and I do recommend.

[Ottavia · Rating 4 out of 5]

https://novelsandnonfiction.com/2017/...

This is definitely not an easy book to read. The story itself is gut-wrenching and infuriating. An innocent man imprisoned for years until the advent of modern DNA technology is able to exonerate him. There are many like him whose story is never told, or who even suffer the ultimate punishment through the death penalty, only to be exonerated posthumously when additional evidence becomes available. The writing in this recounting of Bloodsworth’s conviction and eventual acquittal is clear and concise while conveying the varying ranges of emotion experienced by him and his attorneys as they seek to prove his innocence. The author goes into detail about the conditions of life in prison that Bloodsworth was subjected to, and the trial that preceded his conviction. What’s most incredible is that there were several eyewitnesses that placed Kirk Bloodsworth with the nine year-old girl he was accused of raping, but clearly their recollections were proved to be several misguided. The book reads like condemnation of the criminal justice system, the media and public opinion, all of whom had a part in allowing an innocent man to be convicted not once, but twice, for something he didn’t do.

[Adrienne · Rating 4 out of 5]

I never thought I'd be one to read true crime until one of my attorneys gave me a copy of this book as a much needed dose of inspiration for a post-conviction capital murder case we were working on.

It tells the story of Kirk Bloodsworth, who was falsely convicted of the 1984 rape and murder of a nine-year old girl in Maryland. After numerous public trials, appeals, and almost ten years in prison Kirk adamantly maintains his innocence. With the help of Robert Morin he becomes the first person in the U.S. to be exonerated by DNA evidence. It is harrowing to see how our ‘justice’ system is skewed against the individual and how one man triumphs where few have. Kirk now devotes much of his life to telling his story and speaking out against capital punishment.

I'd recommend this book to anyone, though be aware that there is an honest depiction of the crime scene and the fact that someone would do commit such acts against a child is not easy to hear.

[Ruby · Rating 4 out of 5]

"This is an extraordinary tale of terrible injustice, of anguish and frustration, of courage and fortitude. It's a tale of a truly good and inspirational man. And of the true power of DNA."

"Curtis had always believed in authority. He'd been a decorated marine, loyal to his country, and had worked for Tidewater Fisheries, which served as the local marine police. He trusted law enforcement, trusted figures of authority, believed they knew what was best. He was conflicted now. Torn between this system he'd always believed in and the word of his son."

"There is a strain of hubris that affects certain people in power, people with authority. It can be slow to develop, like a dormant infection. If not guarded against, it can breed an unhealthy arrogance, a cocksureness that their judgments are beyond fallacy. Such self-righteousness allows them to close their minds to new possibilities. It can cause right-thinking people to do terrible things."

[Linda Luedeke · Rating 5 out of 5]

The details of the two unfair trials and the deficient police and investigation work is disappointing I enjoyed the book and what Kirk Bloodsworth became in the end. This could have ruined his life.

[Cindy · Rating 4 out of 5]

There were some graphic aspects to this book, which represent a hard reality, but are difficult to read. However, this was a powerful and moving book and is worth the read. Skip the graphic parts and keep reading.

[Carol · Rating 3 out of 5]

An important book but content is tough to read. One MD one book selection for 2018.

[Stephanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

Great storytelling in a nonfiction crime book.

[Andrew Shearer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Incredibly moving.

Never give up. Always fight the good fight, and demonstrate in compassion and empathy along the way. Beware of the single story.

[Jess · Rating 3 out of 5]

3.0/5.0

A good book that is hard to ready but inspiring all at once. It’s amazing how someone could not give up after everything he went through.

[Just Janet · Rating 3 out of 5]

How prophetic was the name of the man, Kurt Noble Bloodsworth, that became the first death row inmate exonerated/cleared by the results of DNA testing.

[Susan Morrissey · Rating 5 out of 5]

Heartbreaking. Baffled by how many mistakes were made by the police,FBI and many witnesses. This was a page turner.

[Linda Quintanilla · Rating 4 out of 5]

Although this isn't a book i would normally choose to read, it was really interesting. I think the author did a great job writing it.

[Cheryl · Rating 5 out of 5]

I knew going in that this book is about the exoneration through DNA evidence of a man who had been on death row. I knew it would push all my social justice buttons. And I figured that I could analyze it objectively as an attorney and a true crime enthusiast. I did not expect to be yelling out loud about the FBI profile that was built and all the ways it did NOT fit that were not considered. I have been yelling out loud a lot and I am only a quarter of the way into the book. The initial questioning set-up is straight out of profiler training (as John Douglas said, everybody has a rock) but the detective in charge had not been fully trained in the techniques. And Bloodsworth's response should have lessened an investigator's suspicions. I guess my Forensic psychology degree is also showing.

In undergrad I took a class called Laws of Arrest, Search, and Seizure about the 4th 5th and 6th Amendments which was a direct influence on the fact that I am a lawyer today. Part 3 of this book contains a discussion of rules and principles governing seeking identification of suspects from witnesses that could have come from that class. The police violated the letter of most of them and the spirit of all of them with the photo array and line-up in this case.

I yelled loudest and longest so far about the discussion of officers and detectives continuing to question Kirk when he arrived at Towson given that HE HAD INVOKED HIS RIGHT TO COUNSEL! Once someone who has been arrested invokes, the cops cannot LEGALLY discuss the crime with them. (I suppose legally is the operative word there because all too many cops don't abide by the law, although usually they are a little more likely to if they make detective.) That was true in 1984 even more so than today because the exclusionary rule still meant something. Le sigh. Now that I have vented I can try to get through the part about the trial. Then I did quite a bit of yelling about the Brady violations in the first trial -- imagine my shock when they committed another set during the second trial! SMH!! It really makes sense why the largest majority of people in the Maryland State prison come from Baltimore County -- it's not just population and poverty, it's also police procedures and willingness to follow the law.

I found the hard work of all of the attorneys in this case impressive. I could pick out flaws but that is a Monday-morning quarterback situation as much as anything else -- I hated most of the trials I did except one appellate argument and I am not in any position to judge trial strategy. I was really touched by the gentleness of this man who had the sincere regret of not picking up a taco salad which caused him serious issues during his trials and having to physically retaliate against the men who tried to jump him in the prison shower and the toll it took on him mentally.

I grew up in a place and time where the great bogeyman we feared was Ted Bundy, who had killed people in my immediate area, been arrested and escaped from prison, and then killed more people. He is the reason I have always been pro-death penalty in very very specific circumstances -- with the justification of specific deterrent, because Ted hasn't killed anyone in quite a few years. This book is proof of all of the other reasons that are argued for the death penalty which are scientifically proven to not actually support the use of the death penalty. It is expensive, it is not a deterrent to bad behavior by others, it does not bring actual resolution to anyone in the community, it is not administered in an objective manner, and it is psychological torture for the convicted person. The death penalty is not worth the cost on a completely cold and calculating analysis. When you factor in the number of people since Kirk Bloodsworth who have been exonerated through DNA testing, it has no place in a civilized society.

Finally, I am impressed by the compassion and grace shown by Bloodsworth towards those who prosecuted and even persecuted him and for the family of the victim in this case. His work after exoneration is impressive and inspiring to me because I have more legal training than he does and don't feel I have done nearly enough work for the cause of equal justice. It has awakened thoughts and urges again toward finding an outlet for those impulses which helped propel me to law school in the first place.

[Wanda Keith · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is an amazing story of Kirk Bloodsworth who was the first death row inmate to be exonerated by DNA. Bloodsworth was convicted on circumstantial evidence which was extremely weak. He spent almost nine years in prison, much of it on death row, fighting to prove his innocence. The crime he was convicted of was the brutal rape an murder of a nine year old girl. I tried to put myself in Bloodsworth's position as I read what he went through but it was impossible to imagine. The justice system against him was criminal in their prosecution of a man who they chose to be the perpetrator of this crime and they fit the evidence to convict him. Evidence was withheld from the defense and witnesses were led to identify a man the prosecution had chosen for the gas chamber. Like most people on death row, Bloodsworth did not have money for a proper defense and the state had limitless funds to prosecute. While reading in prison he came across a book by Joseph Wambaugh about a new process called DNA that was used in a case in England. From there Bloodsworth was constantly on his legal team to use this new process because he knew it would exonerate him. Since Bloodswork was exonerated due to DNA there have been 156 other death row inmates who have been exonerated as well for murders they did not commit. Just imagine being on death row and knowing you are innocent! I have read other books recently dealing with this same subject. 'The Sun Does Shine' by Anthony Ray Hinton who spent 30 years on death row and was exonerated was another great book on this subject. These books are powerful and need to make us all take a serious look at our justice system and how unfair it is to the less fortunate in this country. Either abolish the death penalty altogether or put serious limits on it. Above all, see to it that all people, regardless of race or financial conditions, have the same rights to a defense as the wealthy. Writing Congressmen or joining in organizations like the Equal Justice Initiative is a start that anyone can take. Highly recommend this book.