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Ending the Death Penalty: An Interview with Death Row Exoneree Ray Krone
Over the years, I have had the rare privilege of friendship with some incredible people, including several men who were wrongly convicted of capital crimes and condemned to death. While some were killed before they could be proven innocent, I am grateful that some lived to show us the dangers of a system that could take an innocent life in the name of justice.
One such person is Ray Krone, a death penalty abolitionist and the 100th inmate to be exonerated from death row since the death sentence was reinstated in 1976. In this compelling interview, Ray gives us a powerful and personal look into how easily an innocent man was sent to death row and the cost it exacted on his life.
Jamie Arpin-Ricci: It is not uncommon for public perception of a person is in prison — especially death row — to be that they are guilty and deserve to be there. How did you handle this strong presumption of guilt? What was it like to have so many believe the worst about you?
Ray Krone: You are right, if you get arrested for a violent crime, your name and face appear in many media outlets right away. The public has been lead to believe what they read/see there. What a burden for the wrongfully accused to overcome. I was embarrassed, ashamed and disgusted with this coverage at first and it bother me intensely.
Eventually I realized there was nothing I could do about that. The more important thing was proving my innocence. That became my focus and thankfully those who knew me believed and supported me. That’s who I was then focused on and to hell with those who were wrong! I couldn’t allow the ignorant and hateful people to destroy the good people I knew in my life!
JAR: You were once asked by an interviewer why God left you in prison for ten years. You answered by saying, “Maybe it’s about the next ten years.” What did you mean by that? What does it mean to you now, 14 years after your release?
RK: I felt that something positive must come from those years in prison. I became an advocate and voice for abolition, justice system reform, and encouragement for those facing injustice. I want that same public that accepted the original news stories to be ashamed and embarrassed like me and my family were.
