Chris Duncan’s New Reality
Jimmie “Chris” Duncan stands outside a rundown motel in Louisiana, reflecting on his surroundings. Despite the illicit activities around him, Duncan feels secure, a sentiment stemming from his time on death row. He spent decades trying to prove his innocence after being accused of killing his former girlfriend’s toddler.
An investigation by Verite News and ProPublica revealed that key evidence used against Duncan was likely fabricated by forensics experts employing discredited bite mark analysis. Louisiana prosecutors continued to push for his execution even as Governor Jeff Landry expedited executions.
“I feel safe here. I mean, I’ve been on death row. I feel safe anywhere.”
In June, the Louisiana Supreme Court dismissed Duncan’s conviction, stating that bite marks on the child’s body could not have been human-made. Chief Justice John Weimer criticized the prosecution, comparing Duncan’s trial to witch hunts of the 17th century.
Living in Limbo
Though the state’s top jurist overturned the case, Duncan remains in a state of uncertainty. Steve Tew, the district attorney for Ouachita Parish where the alleged crime took place, insists Duncan is guilty and deserves execution.
The uncertainty continues as Tew has until next June to decide on a retrial. Meanwhile, Duncan lives precariously, working the night shift at Walmart for $17 an hour. His financial and legal future is uncertain due to ongoing prosecutions and qualification issues for state restitution.
“The foreseeable future for me is the year between now and when they can’t prosecute me no more. That’s the only future I get to play with.”
Decades of Torment
Duncan recounts enduring a nightmare since his arrest on Dec. 18, 1993. He was babysitting Haley Oliveaux in the house shared with her mother, Allison Layton Statham, when the toddler died. Initially arrested for negligent homicide, prosecutors upgraded charges to murder after pathologist Steven Hayne and dentist Michael West claimed to find evidence of assault and drowning. Duncan was found guilty and sentenced to death in 1998.
His first decade in Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola was devastating. After losing his appeal in 2002, Duncan watched his family suffer. His mother stopped visiting in 2004; her death in 2007 due to alcohol-induced complications devastated her family. Duncan’s brother died of an overdose in 2018, succumbing to addiction.
Isolation and Survival
On death row, Duncan endured confinement for 23 hours daily, which lasted almost 20 years. The lack of scheduled freedom exacerbated his isolation, sometimes leading to suicidal thoughts. Duncan described efforts to maintain sanity by following strict routines involving reading, exercise, and learning new languages.
Physical deterioration was inevitable. Duncan suffered severe heart pain and extreme heat-induced seizures. Despite state lawsuits, air conditioning was denied, leaving inmates vulnerable to sweltering temperatures.
Instead of breaking, Duncan’s resolve strengthened. Even while feeling hopeless, he continued to fight for justice, striving to prove his innocence through alarming conditions.
“Sometimes the louder you scream, the more people look at you and laugh, like, ‘There’s another one claiming he’s innocent.'”
Signs of Hope and Progress
Learning about similar cases gave Duncan hope. By 2008, several cases with discredited evidence were overturned. With renewed legal support from Atlanta and the Innocence Project in New York, Duncan’s team discovered evidence proving his innocence, such as a video depicting West creating bite marks during the child’s examination.
Filmmaker Catherine Legge’s persistence brought a crucial witness to defend Duncan — Allison Layton Statham. Duncan’s bail was granted, and in June, the Supreme Court threw out the conviction. Duncan was the last among others sentenced to death based on Hayne’s or West’s work to gain freedom.
Building a New Life
Since regaining freedom, Duncan is rebuilding his life. He’s found employment and attempts to regain normalcy. Recently, he moved into his first apartment, settling into a new routine.
Duncan focuses on improving his work performance at Walmart, enjoying the simplicity it provides, while planning for greater responsibilities through management training. He also aims to address prison conditions and justice system flaws, ensuring no others suffer as he did.
Duncan rekindles past relationships, connecting with a childhood sweetheart. Yet, life remains complex as he confronts discomfort he cannot escape.
“I try to find ways to be happy, but nothing is simple anymore.”