The Alley: One Murder, Eight Life Sentences, Many Questions

Article In The Thread
Photo of the 8th & H alley in Washington, DC overlaid with podcast cover for The Alley: DC's 8th & H Case
July 19, 2023

On October 1st, 1984, Catherine Fuller was brutally killed in the H Street Corridor in northeast Washington, DC. Her murder not only scarred the nation’s capital for decades, it also resulted in the arrests of 17 young Black Washingtonians—the most arrests in D.C. history for a single murder. Of those charged, eight young Black men were sentenced to life in prison.

They always maintained their innocence.

Years later, evidence previously hidden by prosecutors was discovered, ultimately leading to the case being reopened in the early 2000s. Now, almost 40 years after they were convicted, the accused men—for the first time, in their own words—recount their decades-long saga with false confessions, the U.S. prison system, and the American criminal justice system that failed them. Listeners will also hear from attorneys, law enforcement, journalists, and criminal reform advocates to help shine a light on the flaws and biases of our legal system still present today. This is The Alley: DC’s 8th and H Case.

Available on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and wherever else you get your podcasts.

Learn more about the podcast here.


Follow The Thread! Subscribe to The Thread monthly newsletter to get the latest in policy, equity, and culture in your inbox the first Tuesday of each month.