A Wrongful Conviction in Texas

In 1981, a devastating discovery was made at a motel in Odessa, Texas. The body of a Catholic priest, Father Patrick Ryan, was found, and the investigation that followed led to a shocking miscarriage of justice.

The Wrongful Conviction of James Harry Reyos

Within a year of the murder, Texas authorities pinned the crime on James Harry Reyos, a Native American man. Despite having an alibi for the night of the murder and not being in Odessa or even Texas at the time, Reyos was condemned by a jury and spent 20 years in prison. The conviction was largely due to the prejudices of the time, with Reyos being viewed as a "throwdown character" because of his Native American heritage and the fact that he was gay.

A New Investigation Unfolds

The case took a dramatic turn in 2017 when Mike Gerke became the chief of police in Odessa. Gerke’s daughter-in-law, a fan of true crime podcasts, raised questions about Reyos’ conviction after listening to an episode of "Crime Junkie." This led to a re-examination of the evidence, including latent bloody fingerprints from the crime scene that had never been processed using the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFIS). The new investigation revealed three potential suspects, giving Reyos hope for finally clearing his name.

The Fight for Justice

Reyos’ fight for relief was taken on by Allison Clayton and a team of four female students from the Innocence Project of Texas. The team worked tirelessly to prove Reyos’ innocence and bring justice to the case. The documentary "Night in West Texas" tells the story of Reyos’ wrongful conviction and the journey to clear his name.

The Documentary: "Night in West Texas"

The documentary, produced by Myths of Monsters, Naked Edge Films, and Monthly from Texas, premiered at the Dallas International Film Festival in April. Director Deborah S. Esquenazi, a Peabody Award winner and Emmy nominee, is known for her work on "Southwest of Salem: The Story of the San Antonio Four," which won the best documentary film prize at Frameline40. "Night in West Texas" is a powerful exploration of the cracks in the American judicial system and how an innocent man can slip through the cracks.

A Community Rallies for Justice

The documentary shows how Reyos was disparaged as a minority but also how a community rallied around him to fight for justice. The film is a testament to the power of community and the importance of fighting for what is right. As Reyos prepares for his final appeal, the Innocence Project of Texas and his supporters remain hopeful that justice will finally be served.