"I can't look back; I have to look ahead," said Edward Chapman, who will celebrate a year out of prison after 14 years on death row for crimes he did not commit. "I mean, why give someone control over your life? My life is mine now." - Leslie Boyd/lboyd@citizen-times.com
Excerpt: “I'm in love with life,” Chapman said. “People have been kind to me this last year. … You have to find the positive. It's too draining to keep being negative. Anger and resentment are a heavy load.”
Asheville citizen-times.com
April 1, 2009
After 14 years on death row, innocent man savors freedom
Leslie Boyd
A year ago Thursday, Edward Chapman took his first steps out of prison — a free man after 14 years on death row following his conviction for two murders he did not commit.
He was told nothing about his impending release until officers came to his cell and told him to gather all his things, then walked out the back door of the prison with no money and no apology for the years lost.
A year later, no one from the state has issued an apology to Chapman, and when he filed his income taxes this year, the state withheld his $98 refund because, according to a letter explaining the withholding, he owes court costs for the trial that wrongfully sent him to prison.
Chapman lives and works in Asheville now and will speak at 12:15 p.m. Thursday at UNC Asheville. He has an easy smile and a serene demeanor despite all he has been through.
“I can't look back; I have to look ahead,” said Chapman, 41. “I mean, why give someone control over your life? My life is mine now.”
Chapman's champion through his release and since has been Pam Laughon, a UNC Asheville psychology professor, who has helped him find housing and work and serves as his advocate in his dealings with the state.
The two have traveled widely in the Southeast to speak about Chapman's case. Laughon will join Chapman to speak Thursday at UNCA and to celebrate his first anniversary of freedom with friends and members of the community at a fundraising party beginning at 5:30 p.m. Friday on the campus.
Chapman and Laughon now are in the process of applying for a formal pardon from the state. But he has not let the process get in the way of living his life.
Chapman has gotten a promotion and a raise from his employer, the Asheville Renaissance Hotel. He is learning to cook and reveling in luxuries as simple as a six-minute shower and the ability to choose what and when he eats.
“You can adapt to life in prison — you have to adapt,” he said. “There's a little bit of something in you that holds out hope. But you know why you're there; you're there to die, and they don't let you forget it.”
Chapman endured the grief of losing men who had become his friends as the guards celebrated the executions with fried chicken and soft drinks.
“People say, ‘Well, at least the system worked for you,'” he said.
Laughon isn't nearly as forgiving as Chapman.
“It took four months from the order for a new trial before Edward was released,” she said. “Four months might not seem like a long time to you and me, but it was four months Edward sat on death row. He can't get that time back.”
Once he did get out, Chapman was baffled by ATM cards and the prices on nearly every item in the store.
“Nobody paid cash for anything,” he said. “And everything cost so much. It just shocked me.”
He laughs about his first shopping expedition with Laughon, when he refused to buy so much as a single pair of underwear because he didn't think he should have to pay even half the cost.
He has become a good steward of his salary, Laughon said.
“I'm in love with life,” Chapman said. “People have been kind to me this last year. … You have to find the positive. It's too draining to keep being negative. Anger and resentment are a heavy load.”
(While this has already happened, enjoy this unique celebration for Edward - some ideas for other such events, perhaps? This event was in my state & neighborhood!!! Connie)
Two events mark the first anniversary of the release of Edward Chapman from death row: • ”Life After Death: Wrongful Convictions,” a talk by Edward Chapman and UNC Asheville Professor Pam Laughon, 12:15 p.m. Thursday in the UNCA Humanities Lecture Hall. • The First Annual Freedom from Death Row Ball: A Benefit for Edward Chapman, 5:30-10 p.m. Friday on the mini-quad and the first floor of Carmichael Hall on the UNC Asheville campus. The party will include music, dancing, volleyball and food.
SEE the original printing and READ the MANY comments to Asheville Citizen-Times GO:
here For just a sample from these COMMENTS to the article:
"...Nurse wrote: Dr. Laughon is a remarkable woman...Not to take anything away from Dr. Laughon, but the way I understand it, Frank Goldsmith, an attorney from Marion, spent hundreds of hours of pro bono legal work helping Chapman accomplish his exoneration. I don't understand why the reporter never mentioned his name.
(Another) There was also another Attorney involved...I do believe, however, that it was Dr. Laughon who brought this matter to the attention of the judicial system. She stood by Mr. Chapman through his nightmare, and continues in her supportive role today.
(Another)...glad to be reading this. yes, there were attorneys who worked really hard on Ed's case. but, dr. laughon deserves recognition because she has been his advocate throughout...lawyers aren't here for you once you've been freed...not to mention, since 2006 , there have been many students at UNC Asheville who helped work on Mr. Chapman's case, finding errors in evidence and providing support to the defense team...there have been a large amount of people who have worked years in order to see that this man's sentence was overturned, but if it weren't for Dr. Laughon we might not be reading about this on citizen times.
(One More)...I think this man is remarkable. He was wrongly convicted for something he didn't do and served 14 years for it. The man has character and realizes life's worth. He had plenty to be angered and bitter about, but you don't see him holding a grudge. Instead you see someone who is greatful for his freedom and moves forward with such a positive attitude. Too bad there aren't more people like him in this world.
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