FRAMED: An Investigative Story

Jason Usry joins me to discuss the commutation hearing from 2010 as well as the evidence that works against Temujin Kensu ever having his sentence commuted or his conviction reversed. Website: FramedPod.com Instagram: @FramedPod YouTube: Framed: An Investigative Story - YouTube

As we learned in the last episode, Temujin Kensu – formerly Fred Freeman, was now serving life without the possibility of parole in the Michigan prison system. Having been convicted of the crime of first-degree murder in the shotgun death of college student Scott Macklem, the jury had recommended the maximum penalty allowable in the state of Michigan. But true to his rebellious nature, Kensu would not settle silently into life behind bars. Kensu began educating himself in - among other subjects - legal matters. He had also garnered support and assistance from some enormously powerful organizations and individuals who believed him to be innocent of the crime for which he had been sentenced to life in prison. Would his efforts - and those of his many supporters - be rewarded, or would he be constantly frustrated in his attempts to win his freedom? Framedpod.com

On May 15, 1987, twelve jurors were charged with determining the guilt or innocence of Frederick Freeman in the first-degree murder of Scott A. Macklem. The State's theory relied upon the jury believing that Freeman, 23, was a violent, manipulative, self-proclaimed ninja warrior who was consumed by jealousy and rage. With an unrelenting need to control his former girlfriend by any means necessary, the prosecution maintained, Fred deliberately ambushed and executed his unsuspecting victim as he arrived on the campus. The State had presented 30 witnesses – several of them eyewitnesses who placed Freeman near the scene – to support their theory. However, the defense countered that this was pure fantasy, and that Freeman was actually 436 miles away in Escanaba at the time of the murder – and they were able to provide a series of equally credible eyewitnesses to prove it. After nearly three weeks of harrowing, emotional testimony on both sides, it was now up to the jury to reach a conclusion – would Freeman walk out of the courtroom as a truly free man, or would he spend the remainder of his life in prison? Framedpod.com

Brett from The Prosecutors podcast discusses the prosecution of Frederick Freeman, conflicts of interest, admission of evidence, and witnesses. Web and Socials: FramedPod.com | @FramedPod

The shocking murder of St. Clair Community College student Scott Macklem cried out for justice, and the State of Michigan was determined to hold someone accountable for the crime – even in the face of a seemingly airtight alibi. But considering the methods and theories used to achieve that goal, we must question whether justice can possibly be served when a case relies heavily on conjecture, supposition, wild theories, faulty hypnosis, and unreliable witnesses. To understand the present, we must disassemble the past and learn how we arrived where we are today… Framedpod.com

In the previous episode, we learned of the brutal November 5, 1986, murder of well-regarded St. Clair Community College student Scott Macklem. The Port Huron Police Department, who began their investigation moments after their arrival at the campus parking lot, interviewed several people present at the crime scene that morning. Evidence was scant, and pressure to solve the crime was enormous, as the victim was the son of a beloved and politically influential local family. 1986 was also an election year, further adding to the burden of obtaining justice. Additionally, Scott left behind a young fiancée who was pregnant with the couple's first child. The stakes could not be higher, and law enforcement was determined that the young man's killer would swiftly be brought to justice. Framedpod.com

In season two of Framed, we attempted to piece together exactly what happened in the Buddhist Temple Massacre at Wat Promkunaram. The end result of our research efforts produced, what we hope, is the clearest picture of what happened to the nine victims of Arizona's deadliest mass shooting. In spite of our efforts, there were still a few questions we were unable to answer in Season 2. So, the Framed Team kept digging, looking for those missing puzzle pieces. And, what we found has the potential to change the narrative that surrounds this case. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The Framed Team has assembled the pieces to this jigsaw puzzle in a way that no one ever has, to reveal a picture no one's ever seen. To the question, what exactly happened inside the Wat Promkunaram temple on a warm summer night in 1991… we have an answer, and we think we can prove it. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

The task force interviewed every single person that spent time with their three juvenile suspects. Literally hundreds of inmates were interviewed and, by our count, at least forty of them provided relevant information to the task force. We aren't going to go over every single statement from every single snitch, but we will go through enough of them to help you see the bigger picture. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On this episode we're going to focus on those individuals who fall somewhere between witnesses and suspects; a group often referred to by law enforcement as "persons-of-interest." See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

"It wasn't me! It must have been the guy I loaned my rifle to..." A new suspect enters the interrogation room. See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

A tip came in on the hotline that promised to bust this case wide open. In three days time, the task force had five suspects in custody... but each suspect had a different story to tell. In a case where everything depends on what people say, how do you decide who you're going to believe? Music for Season Two was created by The Captain (TrueCrimeGarage) See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.

On August 10th, 1991, nine victims were arranged in a circle and executed in a Buddhist Temple outside of Waddell, Arizona. The Framed Team spent two years combing through every piece of evidence, every misstep, and every alibi to try and figure out what exactly happened in the Wat Promkunaram Temple and, maybe more importantly, why it happened. Framed Season 2 premieres on January 6th. Binge ad free with Wondery+. Join Wondery+ for exclusives, binges, early access, and ad free listening. Available in the Wondery App. https://wondery.app.link/framed See Privacy Policy at https://art19.com/privacy and California Privacy Notice at https://art19.com/privacy#do-not-sell-my-info.