The Man Behind the Story

How I turned personal tragedy into a force for change.
If I can do it, you can do it, too. Join me, and we can do it together.

Wrongfully Convicted

I was 21 when Tyler and Smith County, Texas, wrongly accused me of the 1977 slaying of Linda Jo Edwards. I lived in a prison cell built of cinder blocks and injustice for the next two decades.

The Journey

Tyler and Smith County v. Kerry Max Cook is one of the most egregious examples of documented misconduct in American jurisprudence.

I underwent nearly four capital murder trials, three overturned convictions, and a U.S. supreme court stay 11 days away from my execution in the death of Linda Edwards. Years of investigations and court proceedings have reached the same dramatic conclusions: the police investigation was flawed, fraught with perjured and suborned, invented testimonies and fabricated evidence.

Left Bookend

"Bookends of Deception"

Right Bookend

On June 19, 2024, the Texas  Court of Criminal Appeals (TCCA) found me “Actually Innocent.”The TCCA characterized my legal saga as one plagued from beginning to end with “bookends of deception spanning over 40 years...And when it comes to solid support for actual innocence, this case contains it all - - uncontroverted Brady violations, proof of false testimony, admissions of perjury, and new scientific evidence.”

More Than a Death Sentence

Extreme suffering and loss defined my time in prison. Put on death row, wrongly accused and convicted, and falsely branded a homosexual sex offender, guaranteed abuse and torture at the hands of inmates. During that time, my older brother was murdered, and my dad died of cancer. My mother passed away before seeing her son and her family’s name cleared.

The Continuation of the Journey

I am the author of the bestselling memoir “Chasing Justice: My Story of Freeing Myself After Two Decades on Death Row for a Crime I Didn’t Commit.”

My ineffable search for truth, justice, and Tyler, Texas, accountability continues today, 48 years later in Federal civil court on a Section 1983, seeking to hold Tyler officials accountable for framing me for the 1977 rape and murder of Linda Edwards.

A Husband, Father, and Guide to Reaching Your Peak.

I am a husband and father and inspire youth and adults worldwide on the importance of hope, family, and perseverance. I am also a court-certified life sentence consultant.

Podcast Coming Soon

I’m excited to share that I’ll soon be launching a podcast where I take a deeper dive into my story, the lessons I’ve learned, and the powerful voices of others who have faced adversity and found hope. Stay tuned for honest conversations, inspiration, and insights that continue the mission of Chasing Justice.

“An immensely compelling story….if it were fiction, no one would believe it.”

-John Grisham

Author of Framed