Support For Ray's Case and the Petiton in Support for Parole Hearing and Commutation

Our heart felt thank you, goes out to all who have given their support to Raymond Gray both in the past and who will in the future. Unfortunately, some groups and organizations and even some individuals have been known to take advantage of the disadvantaged and to misuse the needy behind bars for their own profit and financial gains, as well as for obtaining undeserved recognition and unearned good will. We are not going to identify those, or call them out, but they know who they are. We plead with them to do the right things now, and to right their own wrongful actions. We need only those who are willing and capable of being effective and honest advocates for this cause. We mean no harm to anyone, and this is not a defamation, a libel or a slander for truth to be told. Please make your own mind up who to deal with if you are seeking help. The clock is ticking and time waits for no one.

Links

True Crime Author Fred Rosen
http://www.the-line-up.com/ray-gray/


Proving Innocence, Freeing the wrongfully convicted
http://www.provinginnocence.org/cases/ray-gray.html

Raymond Gray

You may write Ray at Raymond Gray MDOC #135481
2400 S. Sheridan Drive
Muskegon, MI 49442
Note: Prisoners are often moved. In order to make sure you have the current address, you may wan to go to http://mdocweb.state.mi.us/OTIS2/otis2.html. Click the "I agree" button at the bottom of the page. Place the MDOC number in the field and select Search. Click on the name and you will see where he is located.

Taken from the AIDWYC Journal, Summer 2010. Written by Sal Caramanna
In 1973, Raymond Gray’s life and career could not have been brighter. Ray knew his calling. As a talented young artist, Ray enrolled in a fine arts program and was preparing to take his career to the next level. He never made it to his first class. What happened to Ray is the stuff of nightmares, a Kafkaesque tale that

Ray Gray

sadly has played out far too many times in the justice system. In 1973 Detroit, in a city overwhelmed by crime and one of the highest homicide rates in the USA, investigation of felonies was more about closing the books than solving the misdeed. On February 6, 1973 two men burst into the home of Ruben Bryant. The men believed Bryant was a drug dealer and were looking to rob Bryant of his money and drugs. Things went awry and Bryant was shot and killed.

Accused, charged, tried and convicted of this crime that he did not commit, Ray has not tasted freedom since the day of his arrest – over 38 years. Although he has been held physically captive, his spirit, passion for life and art have not been muted. Ray’s art speaks the message of a man not embittered, a man with faith that the truth will one day be revealed.

Virtually all of the usual suspects of wrongful conviction causes aligned to cut Ray down in the prime of his life: police tunnel vision, police corruption, faulty crime scene investigation, faulty identification procedures, suppressed evidence, failure to investigate other suspects.

How was Ray linked to the crime? His ex-girlfriend went to Bryant’s home to buy drugs minutes before the invaders burst in. All the while, Ray was at home – four alibi witnesses confirmed this at his trial. Her behavior in the home led the surviving occupants to conclude – quite reasonably – that she was in cahoots with the invaders. None of the surviving occupants claimed to be able to identify either of the invaders on the night in question. This changed however by the time of trial likely due to the influence of the deceased’s brother, a freshly minted Detroit police cadet, devastated by his brother’s slaying. He embarked on a mission to avenge his brother’s murder. When he learned of the ex-girlfriend’s involvement, he focused in on her ex-boyfriend. The rest of the story is the tragedy of a vibrant life relegated to a sentence of life of confinement. Come trial time, Ray would be identified by the two surviving adult occupants and his alibi would be rejected by the trial judge after only 15 minutes of deliberation.

The International Review Committee at the Association in Defense of the Wrongly Convicted is actively working on gathering evidence to mount an application to review his conviction in State Court. Officials from Proving Innocence and Humanity for Prisoners are also a part of the team. Although all involved graciously donate their time to help free Ray, we still require funds to help with investigation and legal costs.

March 2010 Update

Ray Gray's 5 year review was scheduled for September, but came up with little warning, making it difficult for his representation, AIDWYC, to lend it's support, but they managed to get a letter of support to the MDOC just in time.

The process is that if he passes the review, he will then be given a "commutation interview" with only one non-lawyer present for support. Then, if he passes that, a regular parole hearing will be scheduled.

Free Ray Gray Support Group on Facebook

Free Ray Gray Facebook Cause

Free Ray Gray Facebook Page

Humanity for Prisoners

http://www.humanityforprisoners.org/


Innocent

Wrongful Conviction Advocacy at York University

http://www.wireservice.ca/index.php?module=News&func=display&sid=4039
Apparently the artwork that was used for the making of these cards has not been returned to Raymond Gray or to his wife Barbara Gray, and a letter has been written to located the works of art and to produce an accounting for the card sales. Sadly, as of today, there has been no response to that letter.

The Association in Defence of the Wrongly Convicted http://www.aidwyc.org/

http://www.innocencelibrary.com/aidwyc-journal-volume-11-summer-2010/

http://98.130.173.143/index.html

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iPetitions

• http://www.ipetitions.com/petition/free-ray-gray

FREE RAY GRAY!

Fred Rosen

The Petition 1 Highlight 68 Comments 162 Signatures

 

To:
Governor Rick Snyder, State of Michigan
Dear Gov. Snyder:
In 1973, Raymond Gray was convicted of a murder he didn't commit. He is in the 43rd year of a life sentence in a Michigan prison and is up for parole. I've been working on freeing him for the last eight years. The facts are these.
Ray Gray was a 21-year-old amateur boxer about to go pro. An artist, he was going to simultaneously attend art school. Then he got framed. His ex-girlfriend fingered him as one of the two hold-up men who murdered a drug dealer.
Ray had witnesses to say he was home at the time. It was a bench trial and the judge didn't believe him. Instead, he sentenced him to life. Eight years later, Charles Mathews confessed in an affidavit that he was one of the hold-up men. The second hold-up man, now deceased, was Tyrone Pugh.
From day one, Ray has maintained his innocence. I investigated and found everything he said to be true. Since going to prison, Ray has been a model prisoner. A mentor to younger prisoners, he has become a well known and respected artist behind bars.
We respectfully request that you commute his sentence.

Links

Highlight

January 16

Petition has reached 100 signatures!

Signatures

• robert hodges United States
• Paul Karr United States
• Micheal Mitchell United States
• Zack Rhodes United States
• Keturah United States
• LaTonya Hargrave United States
• Kenyata Curtis United States
• Andy Ireland
• Phyllis M Long United States
• Judith Agogliati United States
• Marvin White United States
• Nancy Brennan United States
• Benita Dickens United States
• Matt colver United States
• Rayshaunda elliott United States
• Angela Walsh United States
• Dave L United States
• norman bowden United States
• cheryl stokes United States
• Matthew Winacott Canada
• Olivia Hodges United States
• Brett United States
• Thomas hlliard United States
• BRENT LEGGETT United States
• Warren Quesnell United States
• Glencairn Murray United States
• Nathan Falde United States
• Joann Bouno United States
• Kirsten zimmerman United States
• Amanda Euteneier United States
• wendy lawrence United Kingdom
• Christie Jackson United States
• Matt Heffner United States
• Justin Bond United Kingdom
• john r smith jr United States
• cheryl stokes United States
• Crystal Starheart United States
• Ed Opperman United States
• Kathy Shepherd United States
• James Greek United States
• Marlene fabregas United States
• Andrea Whiteman United States
• Susan Miele United States
• Alana Collins Bullis United States
• Jacob Tjapkes United States
• Barry Dowdy United States
• Mary Kay Heaven United States
• inge vd Netherlands
• Evelyn Case United States
• A Garrison Canada
• audrey kirkpatrick United States
• Ursula Armijo United States
• teri vanderberg United States
• Allison United States
• Brenda McKee United States
• Jennifer Thompson United States
• suzanne armetta United States
• Sherry Thornton Miles United States
• Denise Souriall United States
• Robyn United States
• Alex Gottshall United States
• Tamika Polk United States
• Lee Knieper Husemann United States
• Sarah kardashian United States
• Melissa Loudy United States
• Barbara Scott United States
• Beth Avila United States
• Richard Goodson United States
• Kathy Mittge United States
• Hollie Kirchoff United States
• Debbie Streske United States
• Monica coombs United States
• Carolyn Johnson United States
• Rachelle Murua United States
• Sua Lee Indonesia
• Sarah hall United States
• Colin Irvine United States
• Chevelle Harris United States
• Jodie Lewis Canada
• Shelia Shuford United States
• Bill Proctor United States
• Mary Anna Hilden United States
• Tas'Nata Smith United States
• Mark Rake United States
• Bianca Kyles United States
• Justin dilbeck United States
• Steve Sullivan United States
• Juana Moore United States
• Terry Beatty United States
• Edward Collins United States
• Sean Cloran United States
• Steven I. Butler United States
• David Peattie United States
• Ramon Gonzalez United States
• Karly King Simpson Canada
• Tracey Wheeler United States
• Michelle pollard United States
• Nansi McCullough United States
• Mary Kay Heaven United States
• Diane Sims United States
• Aaron Commey United States
• Sarah kardashian United States
• Mark Anderson United States
• Vickie Fetterman United States
• Dave Majkowski United States
• Lynn Cummings United States
• Cynthia Wood United States
• Lynn Cummings United States
• Lee Knieper Husemann United States
• Patricia Jean Fisher United States
• Fred Rosen United States
• Breanna Ray United States
• Sandra Wiley United States
• SHANNEN FILBERT United States
• Angela Colwell United States
• Christopher Curtis United States
• Leah cowles United States
• Radiance Jones United States
• Melvin Ballard United States
• Ebony Walker United States
• marcelbroom United States
• literia mcgrew United States
• Amrique Dockery United States
• Servier United States
• Ashley Calla United States
• Phyllis M. Long United States
• Siawan Terrell United States
• Rosalynne McNac-Moore United States
• Darena ambrose United States
• King K Walker United States
• Everette Holland United States
• chaunel taylor United States
• Lanice Palmer United States
• Lucinda davis United States
• Ella Long United States
• Kimberly Hunt United States
• Ray Gray United States
• Melodie larsosa United States
• Michael Fleming United States
• April best United States
• Edward Martin United States
• Barbara R-Gray United States
• Fred Rosen United States
• cherisa shiv
• Destinys Book United States

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