PROBLEMATIC PROSECUTION Critics say misconduct linked to hundreds of wrongful convictions N'DEA YANCEYBRAGGUSA Today May 26, 2026 49 mins ago 0 1 of 3 Harry Ruiz stands April 27 in a New York City courtroom as a judge prepares to vacate his murder conviction. DEAN MOSES PHOTOS, POOL Harry Ruiz hugs his lawyer, Ron Kuby, after a judge in New York vacated his murder conviction. A judge determined Harry Ruiz, who spent 25 years in prison, should never have been convicted in a 1993 murder-for-hire plot. Prefer us on Google Learn More Facebook Twitter Bluesky WhatsApp SMS Email Print Copy article link Save N'DEA YANCEYBRAGGUSA Today SPOTLIGHT | JUSTICE SYSTEMkAmw2CCJ #F:K D9@F=5 ?6G6C 92G6 366? 4@?G:4E65]k^AmkAm%92EVD E96 4@?4=FD:@? 2 }6H *@C< ;F586 C624965 pAC:= af[ =625:?8 9:> E@ E@DD E96 3@E4965 >FC56C 4@?G:4E:@?]k^AmkAm#F:K <?@HD 96V== ?6G6C 86E 324< E96 ad J62CD 96 DA6?E :? AC:D@? 7@C 2 >FC56C 96 2=H2JD >2:?E2:?65 96 5:5 ?@E 4@>>:E] qFE 96 D2:5 E92E 52J :? 4@FCE =:7E65 2 9F86 H6:89E @77 9:D D9@F=56CD]k^Am kAmQx 76=E @G6CH96=>65] x 76=E C6=:6G65] x 76=E =:<6 x 42? 3C62E96[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am People are also reading… Appalachian Mountain Brewery bringing new ‘outpost’ to Old Fort. Here's when, where Meet Marion's citizen of the month, a devoted educator Marion woman charged in burglary cases from 2020, 2023 with DNA evidence Father injured, 18-year-old son killed in Burke County shooting along Mount Olive Church Road McDowell County’s Memorial Day service set for Sunday at Carson House North Cove Elementary alumni turned love of creativity into career of service West Marion Inc. to hold Juneteenth celebration. Here's when, where all the events take place McDowell County EMS deputy director: A letter to the community during National EMS Week Asian car-maker was supposed to build a $4B plant in NC. It's now being sued by the state Marion budget: No property tax increase proposed; water, sewer rates may rise Marcus Freeman modernizing Notre Dame football with push from Navy SEALs McDowell Tech names Penny Lonon 2026 Excellence in Teaching Award recipient Got a McDowell County paranormal experience? Now is the time to speak up NASCAR champ Kyle Busch dies at 41 after severe illness South Caldwell baseball and softball are both going to the state championship next week kAm#F:K D2:5 E96 962C:?8 2=D@ D965 ?6H =:89E @? 6G:56?46 E92E 4@F=5 92G6 96=A65 9:D 42D6] p C6:?G6DE:82E:@? F?4@G6C65 E92E AC@D64FE@CD A2:5 E96 D@=6 E66?286 6J6H:E?6DD 2?5 96C >@E96C 2?5[ 27E6C E96 4@?G:4E:@?[ H6C6 E@=5 3J EH@ @E96C H:E?6DD6D E92E #F:K H2D ?@E A2CE @7 E96 `hhb >FC56C\7@C\9:C6 A=@E]k^AmkAm!C@D64FE@CD AC6G:@FD=J 72:=65 E@ 5:D4=@D6 E92E 6G:56?46[ #F:KVD 2EE@C?6J #@? zF3J D2:5] %96 }6H *@C< r@F?EJ s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6JVD ~77:46 D2:5 :E 92D Q?@ 32D:D E@ 5:DAFE6Q zF3JVD 4=2:>D[ 3FE 4@F=5?VE 4@?7:C> E96>[ 6:E96C[ :? A2CE 3642FD6 E96 AC@D64FE@C C67FD65 E@ A2CE:4:A2E6 :? E96 C6:?G6DE:82E:@?]k^Am kAmQ%@ E9:D 4@FCE[ E92E DA62<D G@=F>6D[Q yF586 #@36CE |2?56=32F> HC@E6]k^Am kAmzF3J 42==65 E96 42D6 2? 6I2>A=6 @7 QD6C:@FD[ 68C68:@FD[ A6CD:DE6?E[ 4@?E:?F:?8 AC@D64FE@C:2= >:D4@?5F4E[Q 2 AC@3=6> =682= 6IA6CED D2J :D =:?<65 E@ 9F?5C65D @7 HC@?87F= 4@?G:4E:@?D ?2E:@?H:56]k^AmkAm(96? 2D<65 :7 2?J@?6 H@F=5 36 96=5 244@F?E23=6 :? #F:KVD 42D6[ s:DEC:4E pEE@C?6J p=G:? qC288 D2:5[ QE96 ;F586VD 564:D:@? 2?5 @FC A2A6CD <:?5 @7 DE2?5 7@C E96>D6=G6D]Qk^AmkAmQ(6VC6 7@4FD65 @?[ >F49 >@C6 AC@DA64E:G6=J[ 2?J =6DD@?D E92E 42? 36 5C2H? 96C6 8@:?8 7@CH2C5[ C2E96C E92? C6EC@DA64E:G6=J[Q qC288 D2:5]k^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qm(92E 92AA6?65nk^DA2?mk^Am kAmp7E6C t>>2?F6= u6=:I H2D >FC56C65 :? `hhb[ 2 `b\J62C\@=5 ?6:893@C A68865 #F:K 2D E96 D9@@E6C[ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED D9@H] %9@F89 96C E6DE:>@?J H2D :?4@?D:DE6?E[ @E96C H:E?6DD6D 4@CC@3@C2E65 #F:KVD 2=:3: 2?5 E96C6 H2D ?@ A9JD:42= 6G:56?46 =:?<:?8 #F:K E@ E96 4C:>6[ 96 H2D 4@?G:4E65 2?5 8:G6? E96 >2I:>F> D6?E6?46]k^AmkAmQx 5:5?VE 56D6CG6 E92E[Q 96 D2:5] Q%96J E@@< >J J@FE9 2H2J] %96J E@@< >J =:76] x 4@F=5 92G6 5:65 6G6CJ 52J]Qk^Am kAmpD #F:K 7@F89E 9:D 4@?G:4E:@?[ 96 D2:5 96 76== :?E@ 56AC6DD:@? 3FE ?6G6C 82G6 FA 9@A6]k^AmkAmw6 H2D C6=62D65 @? A2C@=6 :? a_`h 3FE D2:5 96 C2C6=J H6?E 2?JH96C6 @E96C E92? H@C<[ D64=F5:?8 9:>D6=7 @FE @7 762C @7 86EE:?8 42F89E FA :? 2?@E96C 42D6 @7 >:DE2<6? :56?E:EJ]k^Am kAmQr@>:?8 9@>6[ x DE:== 76=E 2 5:D4@??64E[Q 96 D2:5] Qx 5:5?VE <?@H 9@H E@ 36 2 72E96C @C 2 9FD32?5 @C 2 D@? @C 2 3C@E96C]Qk^AmkAm(92E 96 5:5?VE <?@H H2D E92E :? E96 `d J62CD =625:?8 FA E@ 2?5 7@==@H:?8 9:D EC:2=[ AC@D64FE@CD AC@G:565 E96 2==6865 6J6H:E?6DD 2?5 96C >@E96C H:E9 >@C6 E92? S`f[___ :? Q42D9[ 2A2CE>6?ED 2?5 =682= 2DD:DE2?46[Q 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED D2J]k^Am kAmxE H2D :?7@C>2E:@? 9:D 2EE@C?6J =:<6=J 4@F=5 92G6 FD65 E@ F?56C>:?6 96C E6DE:>@?J] %96 $FAC6>6 r@FCE CF=65 E92E AC@D64FE@CD 2C6 C6BF:C65 E@ 5:D4=@D6 2== D:8?:7:42?E[ 72G@C23=6 :?7@C>2E:@? :? E96:C A@DD6DD:@? E@ 5676?52?ED[ <?@H? 2D E96 qC25J CF=6]k^AmkAmqFE zF3J D2:5 E96 EC:2= AC@D64FE@C[ 7@C>6C 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J w6=6? $EFC>[ ?6G6C D92C65 E9:D :?7@C>2E:@? H:E9 E96 5676?D6] %96 EC:2= AC@D64FE@C Q564=:?65 E@ G@=F?E2C:=J 5:D4FDD E9:D 42D6Q 5FC:?8 E96 C6:?G6DE:82E:@?[ E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6JVD @77:46 HC@E6]k^Am kAmx? a__a[ 2 Q>2;@C ?2C4@E:4D EC277:4<6CQ :?7@C>65 7@C>6C 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J y@9? s@C>:? E92E 96 9:C65 D@>6@?6 E@ <:== u6=:I[ 2? 244@F?E 4@CC@3@C2E65 3J 2?@E96C >6>36C @7 E96 D2>6 5CF8 @C82?:K2E:@?[ 4@FCE 5@4F>6?ED D2J] p82:?[ zF3J D2:5[ AC@D64FE@CD ?6G6C E@=5 #F:KVD 2EE@C?6J 2E E96 E:>6 23@FE E9:D 4C:E:42= 6G:56?46 F?E:= 27E6C E96 C6:?G6DE:82E:@? H2D =2F?4965 :? a_ac]k^Am kAm%96 2DD:DE2?E 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6J 2DD:8?65 E@ E96 42D6 C642==65 DA62<:?8 H:E9 #F:KVD 5676?D6 2EE@C?6J 3FE AC@D64FE@CD Q92G6 ?@ C64@C5D :?5:42E:?8 H92E H2D @C H2D ?@EQ 5:D4=@D65]k^Am kAms@C>:? 5:5 ?@E C6DA@?5 E@ C6BF6DED 7@C 4@>>6?E] $EFC> 564=:?65 E@ 4@>>6?E @? 96C @=5 42D6D[ D2J:?8 D96 5@6D?VE 92G6 Q2 DF77:4:6?E >6>@CJQ E@ 5:D4FDD E96> H:E9@FE C6G:6H:?8 C6=2E65 5@4F>6?ED]k^Am kAmQx 92G6 C625 E96 2CE:4=6D 2?5 DF77:46 :E E@ D2J E92E ?F>6C@FD DE2E6>6?ED 4@?E2:?65 :? E96 2CE:4=6D 4@?46C?:?8 E96 #F:K 42D6 2C6 ?@E 4@?D:DE6?E H:E9 >J >6>@CJ[Q D96 D2:5 :? 2 E6IE >6DD286j D96 564=:?65 E@ DA64:7J]k^Am kAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qmw@H 4@>>@? :D E9:Dnk^DA2?mk^AmkAm(:E99@=5:?8 6G:56?46 :D E96 >@DE 4@>>@? 7@C> @7 AC@D64FE@C:2= >:D4@?5F4E[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $2>F6= vC@DD[ 4@\7@F?56C @7 E96 }2E:@?2= #68:DECJ @7 tI@?6C2E:@?D] !C@D64FE@C >:D4@?5F4E A=2J65 2 C@=6 :? >@C6 E92? b_T @7 HC@?87F= 4@?G:4E:@? 42D6D[ E96 C68:DECJ C6A@CE65 :? a_a_[ E9@F89 vC@DD D2:5 E96 C2E6D 2C6 =:<6=J 9:896C]k^AmkAmQxEVD 56=:36C2E6=J 4@?462=65 2?5 @7E6? DF446DD7F==J[Q 96 D2:5]k^Am kAm&?62CE9:?8 E9:D <:?5 @7 >:D4@?5F4E @7E6? E2<6D 6?@C>@FD 677@CE]k^AmkAm#F:KVD 4@?G:4E:@? H2D G242E65 27E6C 2? 6IE6?D:G6 C6:?G6DE:82E:@?[ DA2C<65 3J 2 E:A 7C@> 2 4@=5 42D6 56E64E:G6] xE :?G@=G65 :?E6CG:6H:?8 5@K6?D @7 H:E?6DD6D 2?5 C6G:6H:?8 E9@FD2?5D @7 5@4F>6?ED E@ 4@CC@3@C2E6 E96D6 4=2:>D[ 244@C5:?8 E@ $92=6?2 w@H2C5[ 9625 @7 E96 !@DE\r@?G:4E:@? yFDE:46 &?:E]k^Am kAm%96 #F:K 42D6 362CD D:>:=2C:E:6D E@ 2?5 D92C6D 2 <6J A=2J6C H:E9 2?@E96C HC@?87F= 4@?G:4E:@? 7C@> E92E 6C2[ H9:49 H2D F?4@G6C65 27E6C 2 D:>:=2C 677@CE]k^Am kAmx? }@G6>36C a_ab[ y232C (2=<6C H2D 6I@?6C2E65 :? 2 `hhd 5@F3=6 >FC56C 27E6C E96 5:DEC:4E 2EE@C?6JVD @77:46 2?5 E96 x??@46?46 !C@;64E C6:?G6DE:82E65]k^Am kAm%96 :?BF:CJ 7@F?5 Q?F>6C@FD AC@3=6>D[Q 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 x??@46?46 !C@;64E[ :?4=F5:?8 E92E AC@D64FE@CD 72:=65 E@ 5:D4=@D6 E92E @?6 <6J H:E?6DD E@=5 :?G6DE:82E@CD (2=<6C H2D ?@E E96 8F?>2? 2?5 2?@E96C H9@ :56?E:7:65 (2=<6C 2D E96 8F?>2? H2D 8:G6? 9@FD:?8 36?67:ED] $EFC> E@=5 ;FC@CD E92E E96 =2EE6C H:E?6DD C646:G65 Q?@ 4@?D:56C2E:@? :? 4@??64E:@? H:E9 96C E6DE:>@?J[Q E96 x??@46?46 !C@;64E D2:5]k^Am kAmQ%9:D :D E96 EJA6 @7 E9:?8 H6 C@FE:?6=J H@F=5 5:D4=@D6 ?@H[Q qC288 D2:5]k^AmkAmkDA2? DEJ=6lQ7@?E\H6:89Ei3@=5Qms:D4:A=:?6 C2C6k^DA2?mk^AmkAm%9@F89 Q2 8@@5 ?F>36C @7 AC@D64FE@CD 2C6 C6A62E @776?56CD[Q E96J 2C6 C2C6=J 5:D4:A=:?65[ D2:5 q6??6EE v6CD9>2?[ 2 =2H AC@76DD@C 2E !246 &?:G6CD:EJ 2?5 =682= 6E9:4D 6IA6CE]k^Am kAmyFDE cT @7 E96 AC@D64FE@CD :?G@=G65 :? HC@?87F= 4@?G:4E:@? 42D6D 72465 D@>6 <:?5 @7 5:D4:A=:?6[ 244@C5:?8 E@ E96 }2E:@?2= #68:DECJ @7 tI@?6C2E:@?D] ~?=J EH@ AC@D64FE@CD H6C6 492C865 H:E9 4C:>6D C6=2E65 E@ 9:89\AC@7:=6 >:D4@?5F4E 42D6D[ 2?5 3@E9 C646:G65 >:?:>2= D6?E6?46D]k^Am kAmQx7 J@FVC6 ?@E 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 27E6C AC@D64FE@CD H9@ 2C6 AC6D6?E=J AC@D64FE@CD — 2?5 >2?J AC6D6?E AC@D64FE@CD 2C6 ?@E@C:@FD @776?56CD — x E9:?< :EVD G6CJ F?=:<6=J E92E E96JVC6 8@:?8 E@ 8@ 27E6C AC@D64FE@CD H9@ 92G6 =@?8 D:?46 C6E:C65[Q v6CD9>2? D2:5]k^AmkAmp }6H *@C< DE2E6 4@>>:DD:@? =2F?4965 :? a_a` E@ :?G6DE:82E6 E9:D <:?5 @7 >:D4@?5F4E C646:G65 ?62C=J d__ 4@>A=2:?ED] $@ 72C[ :E @?=J 7:?:D965 :?G6DE:82E:?8 2?5 C64@>>6?565 4@?D6BF6?46D :? @?6 42D6]k^Am kAm!6@A=6 H9@ H6C6 HC@?87F==J 4@?G:4E65 EJA:42==J 2C6 23=6 E@ D64FC6 42D9 D6EE=6>6?EDj }6H *@C< 2=@?6 A2:5 @FE >@C6 E92? S` 3:==:@? E@ 9F?5C65D @7 A6@A=6 6I@?6C2E65 E96C6[ E96 C68:DECJ C6A@CE65 :? |2C49]k^Am kAm$E:==[ :EVD C2C6 7@C E96 2EE@C?6JD H9@ 96=A65 AFE E96> 369:?5 32CD E@ 7246 4@?D6BF6?46D] !C@D64FE@CD 92G6 :>>F?:EJ 7C@> 4:G:= =2HDF:ED — 2 AC@E64E:@? D@>6 D2J E96J ?665 E@ 5@ E96:C ;@3D H:E9@FE 762C]k^Am 0 Comments Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 Be the first to know Get local news delivered to your inbox! Sign up! * I understand and agree that registration on or use of this site constitutes agreement to its user agreement and privacy policy. Related to this story Most Popular Appalachian Mountain Brewery bringing new ‘outpost’ to Old Fort. Here's when, where “We’ve heard the feedback and we’re bringing it. We are excited to deliver a taste of Boone to Old Fort with a piece of Appalachian Mountain Brewery.” Meet Marion's citizen of the month, a devoted educator In total, Medford devoted more than 50 years of her life to McDowell County Schools. Marion woman charged in burglary cases from 2020, 2023 with DNA evidence The charges stem from the break-in of a residence on Mack Noblitt Road in 2020 and the break-in of a storage unit in Marion in 2023. Father injured, 18-year-old son killed in Burke County shooting along Mount Olive Church Road No charges have been filed in the shooting. McDowell County’s Memorial Day service set for Sunday at Carson House The Memorial Day service will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday.
Appalachian Mountain Brewery bringing new ‘outpost’ to Old Fort. Here's when, where “We’ve heard the feedback and we’re bringing it. We are excited to deliver a taste of Boone to Old Fort with a piece of Appalachian Mountain Brewery.”
Meet Marion's citizen of the month, a devoted educator In total, Medford devoted more than 50 years of her life to McDowell County Schools.
Marion woman charged in burglary cases from 2020, 2023 with DNA evidence The charges stem from the break-in of a residence on Mack Noblitt Road in 2020 and the break-in of a storage unit in Marion in 2023.
Father injured, 18-year-old son killed in Burke County shooting along Mount Olive Church Road No charges have been filed in the shooting.
McDowell County’s Memorial Day service set for Sunday at Carson House The Memorial Day service will take place at 2 p.m. Sunday.
