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For each part of this story there are accompanying videos. See all the videos below. Or catch up if you've missed anything.

Part I

Part II

Part III

Part IV

Part I

Remembering June 7, 1998 Video

Murder, then rush to judgment — In the eyes of prosecutors, everything pointed to Clarence Elkins as the man who killed and raped his mother-in-law, Judy Johnson, and raped his 6-year-old niece. Even the niece said, "Uncle Clarence killed Grandma." But in the rush to judgment, the legal system missed the most important fact of all: He didn't do it.

Part II

Stand by your man? Video

Traumatized child hid her doubts — Sitting on the witness stand, her feet not touching the floor, the girl answers innocuous questions from the prosecutor. Doherty's questions gradually move to Grandma Judy and the noise that woke the girl from her slumber that fateful night. She can barely manage more than two- or three-word answers. "Who did you see in the kitchen?" Doherty asks. "Clarence," the child answers. Video: "Guilty"

Crime scene

A map showing the locations of key places in this story. Click to enlarge map

Part III

"Beer glasses and cigarette butts" Video

'My God, this thing is horrifying' — For three years April Sutton was convinced that the man who murdered her mother and raped her daughter was a member of her family. For three years April was convinced the murderer was her sister's husband, Clarence Elkins. Then someone changed her mind: her daughter Brooke. Videos: Tonia Brasiel & Earl Mann

Related stories

Part IV

Did the system work? Video

Putting up a united front — "Are you ready to come home?" Melinda Elkins asks her husband Clarence. "I've been ready," he tells her. The media portray it as a love story: Melinda stood by her man and they are walking off into the sunset together, holding hands. But as Clarence and Melinda approach their silver wedding anniversary, there is no sunset and no holding hands.
Video: Freedom, Dec. 15, 2005
Video: "One thing everyone misses"