Charles Erickson, Ryan Ferguson's friend and later confessed, had dreams about the murder.

One contestant on "The Amazing Race" has a remarkable story to tell.

Ryan Ferguson, 37, is a long-time friend of Dusty Harris. They are among the couples competing in the 33rd season. It premieres Wednesday on CBS. Ferguson was just 14 years old when he was accused of murder.

In 2001, Columbia Daily Tribune editor Ken Heitholt, was strangled to death and beat to death in Columbia's parking lot. This happened on Halloween night in Columbia. Charles Erickson, Ferguson's friend, expressed concern that he might have been involved in the murder when the crime continued to attract press attention two years later. Although he had dreams about the crime, he didn't remember what he did that night.

Erickson confessed to the crime and also implicated Ferguson, then 19, in the murder. Both were subsequently charged with murder. Erickson and Ferguson were not physically linked to the crime, despite the presence of footprints and fingerprints at the scene. Erickson's testimony and that of a janitor, who claimed to have witnessed Ferguson at the crime scene was what did Ferguson in. Erickson accepted a plea bargain and testified against Ferguson, but Ferguson insisted his innocence and was sentenced for 40 years.

After Erickson and the janitor retracted their testimony, and an appeals court ruled in favor of Zellner that prosecutors had withheld evidence, he served 10 years of his sentence. In a settlement agreement, he was awarded $11 million and $2.75 million damages by the city.

Erickson continues to fight for his innocence.

This case would be the subject of the 2015 documentary "Dream/Killer" and Ferguson hosted a 2016 MTV series called "Unlocking the Truth" about other wrongfully convicted prisoners.

Ferguson spoke on the Reality Life With Kate Casey podcast this week. He said it took him some time to feel "free," but now he is "really enjoying" life.

"I feel for those who still experience what I did." He explained that this is always my first and last thought. It is just knowing that America has a criminal justice system, and it is not working properly. Police and prosecutors are not held accountable for wrongdoing. My prosecutor is now an judge! It's amazing!

He said that "The Amazing Race" approached him about doing this season.

"They reached out to me and asked us if we'd like to audition, and we agreed. Ferguson said that although I wasn't sure if we would be accepted, it was great that they reached out to us and offered the chance. "I was like, "Yeah, The Amazing Race is my favorite show. I saw it in prison. I was locked in a tiny cage for 10 years. Do I want to travel the world with my best friend or do I need to be kept in prison? "Why not?"

Ferguson recruited Dusty, one of his closest friends, to serve as his partner. He told Casey that he had "supported me throughout my time in prison." He said, "That was just about the coolest thing ever. Being able to call Casey and say, 'Hey buddy, do you want to do The Amazing Race?' It was amazing."

He said that "a few people" knew about his case, and they were especially fans of his father who never lost hope of releasing his son.

The CBS show will premiere January 5, 2010. Ferguson has just launched Prison Counts, his podcast.

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Title: New Amazing Race Contestant Did 10 Years In Prison for Murder He Didn't Commit
Sourced From: toofab.com/2022/01/05/amazing-race-ryan-ferguson-murder-case/
Published Date: Wed, 05 Jan 2022 18:26:35 +0000

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