Updates, November 2018: DNA
This letter was sent to friends, family, and all those seeking justice for Leroy. To get on our mailing list, click here.
Leroy ”June” Evans has been in jail for 38 years, for a crime which newly discovered evidence and testimony prove he did not commit. Everyone – including many of you – who has supported Leroy thus far in his quest for justice has asked the same question:
“WHERE IS ALL THE BLOOD”?
As we know, the only evidence against Leroy at his 1981 trial was from Anthony Jones. Jones testified that he was present when Leroy strangled and bludgeoned Emily Leo with an iron inside Jones’ kitchen. The prosecution described it as a “bloody crime scene” with “massive amounts of blood protruding from Mrs. Leo’s head.”
The problem with that statement is that there was no iron, and there was absolutely no blood at the crime scene.
Although no iron was ever recovered, we do have DNA evidence ready to be tested by top experts in the field that we are absolutely certain is not Leroy’s DNA. The evidence and Jones’ new sworn statement suggest that, should we apply modern technology to test the DNA, we would find the DNA of Anthony Jones, and not a trace of Leroy’s DNA. This absence of Leroy’s DNA, and the sole presence of the co-defendant, Anthony Jones’ DNA, would help to prove Leroy’s innocence.
All we need to do is test the DNA, but first, a court must allow the testing.
It’s that simple.
And the proof of Leroy’s innocence goes far beyond DNA.
The question of the missing weapon and blood was answered when the true killer, Anthony Jones, gave a new, recorded statement in 2016. You can read it in full here. As the sole witness against Leroy in 1981, Jones now admits in a sworn statement that he acted alone. He explains that there was no blood at the crime scene for the simple reason that the murder didn’t occur in the home. Jones alone murdered Emily Leo in an empty lot: the same lot where police found Jones with Mrs. Leo’s body on the day of the murder.
Since finally hearing the truth from Jones in his 2016 statement, we have also discovered that the police in 1981 had a lab report confirming Jones’ 2016 version of events, further proving Leroy’s innocence.
This evidence shows that the police and prosecutor in 1980 knew full well that Jones’ trial testimony was false, and yet they proceeded with their case to convict an innocent man.
On October 30, 2018, Judge Bradley denied Leroy’s request to have DNA retrieved and examined.
Judge Bradley further denied Leroy’s request to have the testimony of Anthony Jones and all of the new physical evidence presented. Once again, the justice system has turned a blind eye to the truth, and to Leroy Evans.
Despite this unexpected setback, we have already filed appeals to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania,where we remain optimistic that a more reasoned decision will give Leroy the opportunity to finally present all of the new evidence and testimony that proves Leroy’s innocence.
Your continued support for Leroy is encouraging and deeply appreciated, but we need more help.
We NEED to get the message out that Leroy is innocent.
Leroy’s wife of 40 years, Rosemary, still waits for her husband to come home. His mother, 86 years old, waits for her son, and we need your help. We are asking you to create a larger voice in support of this innocent man. We need you, your friends, and your family to join this Movement.
We are asking each of you to reach out to as many people as possible through social media, word of mouth, etc. and ask them to join us and spread the word of Leroy’s innocence, and hopefully others will react to this injustice and join us in this march for innocence.
The justice system can ignore one man, as the last 38 years have proven, but it can’t ignore a crowd. The louder we can make Leroy’s voice, the more likely the court is to listen.
Follow us and Share us on social media. Share the podcast; if you haven’t listened yet, be sure to follow along to hear the evidence and the voices of those affected, including Leroy himself. Share our blog, or circulate our “Make a Difference” page. This is a fight we all share, and we want you as involved in the fight as we are.
For Leroy, reach out, call, get on Twitter, Facebook, or anywhere we can spread the word. Make Leroy’s voice louder.
Contact the District Attorney of Delaware County’s Office, contact your local politicians, Governor Wolf’s office, not just once, but as often as you can.
Demand that they re-open this case!
In this fight for justice, we can all play a part.
The Mayor of Chester, along with the Chester City Chief of Police, have already written a letter to the District Attorney supporting Leroy’s innocence and calling for justice. The very city and police department that arrested Leroy 38 years ago are begging the courts to reopen the investigation. You can read that letter here.
The louder the voice, the quicker the response. We will continue to fight for Leroy in any and every way possible; inside the court and outside on the streets. If you need or want or can invite Leroy’s family, or the rest of our support team (expert witnesses, attorneys) to speak to your organizations, your churches, your NAACP group, Lions Club, Book Club, Universities, legal meetup, etc. let us know.
Every time Leroy’s story is shared, he gets closer to coming home.
Once again, thank you for your continued help and support.
Michael J. Malloy, Esquire