FALSE CONFESSIONS: THE EDDIE GILL CASE

“No one would ever confess to a crime they didn’t commit! I certainly wouldn’t!”

That phrase has been repeated endlessly by people who hear about false confession conviction cases that have been overturned. I admit, the temptation to believe a confession is logical. It is utterly counter-intuitive to think someone would, or could, confess to something they didn’t do. But the fact is that it happens every day and, no, you really don’t know what you would do if faced with the same circumstances of police pressure and manipulation.

Eddie Gill had serious cognitive limits from a young age. With an IQ of 70, he dropped out of school in 9th grade, and is unable to read or write. In short, he is easily manipulated. But Eddie’s most telling characteristic was that he was an eighteen-year-old black male who lived in a poor, inner city neighborhood. He was also, as they say, in the wrong place at the wrong time.

“ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 2ND, 2013,”

Eddie Gill went with his sister and his girlfriend to the Futuristic nightclub on Milwaukee’s south side. It was to be the club’s last night of operation, as it had been ordered closed due to liquor license violations. The club was packed, and at closing time, a crowd of about 60 people spilled into the street. Suddenly, a car pulled around from a side street and stopped in front of the crowd. Two hooded figures appeared from the car with guns drawn, and pointed them at Jordin Crawley and his friend, who were standing in front of the nightclub. The individuals in the car opened fire, releasing six shots toward their target. Crawley was killed, and his friend next to him was injured.

“THE ACT WAS QUITE CLEARLY A TARGETED ASSASSINATION”

At the time the shooting occurred, Eddie was at a gas station across the street talking with a friend. As he was crossing the street to return to those gathered outside the club, the shots rang out. Eddie ran, as did the entire crowd. The police arrived moments later and spent most of the night interviewing witnesses but ended up with no leads whatsoever.

Nine days later, a Milwaukee Police Detective contacted Eddie’s mom, and requested to speak with her son in his capacity as a witness to the shooting. Someone had identified Eddie in surveillance video from the gas station the night of the incident. Eddie’s mother agreed, and on February 14th, 2013 at 6:00 PM, Eddie’s sister dropped him off at the Milwaukee Police Administration Building in downtown Milwaukee.

“EDDIE WOULD BE IN CUSTODY FOR THE NEXT 13 MONTHS.”