Crime Junkie
Crime Junkie
"So Harry felt some kind of responsibility for his death, even though he says that he wasn't actually responsible for his death. And he says that some part of his brain thought that confessing to the killing might help assuage some of that guilt." — Britt
"The prosecutor who at the time was a 19-year veteran named Dennis Sodra told American Justice that he stayed up basically all night charting out timelines and checking them against the evidence. And by the time he's done, he is 100% convinced. Beyond a shadow of a doubt that Harry Reos is innocent." — Britt
"Based on what? Based on this confession? Jordan Smith actually quotes a juror in his Austin Chronicle piece saying they convicted Harry quote based on his confession and characteristics. End quote." — Ashley Flowers
The episode begins with the discovery of a brutal crime scene at a Texas motel: a naked man, bound and severely beaten, is found in a ransacked room. Investigators struggle to identify the victim due to a fake name and vehicle registration. The victim is eventually identified as Father Patrick Ryan, a Catholic priest reported missing from Denver City, Texas. Simultaneously, investigators explore the possibility of a sexual encounter gone wrong given the motel's reputation and the victim's attire.
Further investigation into Father Ryan's life reveals he was last seen with James Harry Reos. Reos admits to being with Father Ryan, alleging a sexual assault by the priest. Despite Reos providing a detailed alibi and having no physical evidence link to the crime scene, he becomes the primary suspect. A year later, Reos makes a call to 911 confessing to the murder, but then recants, claiming he was under the influence of alcohol and drugs. He is ultimately convicted based on his confession and other perceived characteristics, despite a lack of physical evidence and a strong alibi.
Years later, the prosecutor who secured Reos's conviction re-examines the case and becomes convinced of Reos's innocence, citing significant inconsistencies in the timeline and evidence. He advocates for a pardon, but it is initially denied. Reos is eventually released on parole, and the evidence from the Father Ryan murder scene has reportedly been destroyed, leaving the case unsolved. The episode also briefly touches on a similar case involving another priest, Father Benjamin Carrier, found murdered in Arizona, noting the similarities but ultimately concluding both cases remain largely unresolved.