Abstract Dr. Samuel Holmes Sheppard lived on the bank of Lake Erie in Cleveland, Ohio with his wife Marilyn Reese Sheppard and young son, Chip. He was a highly respected neurosurgeon and worked at the Bay View Hospital alongside his father. In early July of 1954, the unspeakable happened in the Sheppard family home. Marilyn was murdered in her own bed as their child slept. Though there was little evidence other than guesswork against Dr. Sheppard, he was accused of the murder and was brought into police custody on July 30th. The initial case was driven by speculation, rumor, and little physical evidence. The case was infamously covered by the press and captivated the attention of the nation. In December of 1954, Dr. Sheppard was convicted of second-degree murder. Over ten years later, …show more content…
In the initial trial of Dr. Sheppard, this did not happen, and it lead to his imprisonment, the death of his mother, the death of his father-in-law, and eventually lead to his own death. Dr. Sheppard died due to liver failure associated with the heavy drinking he did after he was released. This all could have been avoided if the first trial had proceeded in a just and rightful manner. Trial by media is the antithesis of the right to due process, and that is what occured in the initial trial. Lack of a sequester allowed that bias to bleed into the courtroom. Though bias and speculation are inappropriate for a courtroom, improper investigation will make-or-break any criminal case. Forensic evidence is one of the most powerful tools in the courtroom, and is the gold standard for dismantling hearsay and speculation. Without it, Dr. Sheppard was convicted. With it, he was freed. The right to a fair trial is a right guaranteed to all citizens of the United States. When that right is violated by bias or improper investigation, it is the innocent who suffer the