This book lays out the author’s proven approach to investigating and assessing a defendant’s claim of innocence whether pre-trial or post-conviction. The author weaves his 35 years of experience into a simple step-by-step process, showing the reader how to objectively investigate a wrongful conviction. He uses his case histories to describe an alternative to the “trial and error” methods so often used. As a result, this book offers a methodical and repeatable approach to assessing and investigating a defendant’s claim of innocence. The book refers to the actual investigations, which led to dozens of exonerations, prison releases, acquittals, and dismissed charges in Murder I cases. Claims of innocence may be common, but knowledge of an objective way to assess those claims is hardly universal. This book was written for the classroom and the field. It is essential reading for the student, the Innocence Project volunteer, practitioner, or anyone interested in correcting a wrongful conviction or avoiding the next false conviction. Special Offer for Adopters! Delve more deeply into the fact-finder’s role by featuring expert Dan Grothaus in a virtual presentation to your class. Grothaus offers a gratis 45-minute zoom presentation to any class of students using this book in their curriculum. The opportunity could be used by the class to ask questions or discuss any aspect of the book. It is possible the zoom might include an exoneree drop-in. Queries may be made directly to the author at: djgrothaus@gmail.com “Dan Grothaus is the investigator who convinced me that trained journalists make the best criminal case investigators. I have worked with him in several exoneration cases, and he brings an investigative reporter’s curiosity, research, interview skills, and human compassion to the work. I still use his “Murder Memo” approach when I teach law students how to organize data in a criminal case file. The excerpts of his book that I read are well written and reminiscent of my experiences working with Dan. I teach a law school course on Fundamentals of Investigation, and I teach law school clinics. This book will be a valuable resource for clinical instructors whose work involves investigation of any kind, including civil, criminal, or family law clinics.” Sean D. O’Brien, Curator’s Distinguished Professor, UMKC School of Law “The author, Dan Grothaus, is unquestionably one of the nation’s leading post-conviction investigators of wrongful convictions. I know this first-hand because I have worked with Dan on a few such projects. He is equally adept at spotting a convicted innocent person through a thorough evaluation of the case’s usually voluminous historical record; then constructing an investigative plan from scratch from that record; and finally putting into action that plan by conducting a successful investigation that in the end produces the desired result―the unearthing of new evidence that will be instrumental in freeing the falsely imprisoned inmate. His book, “Unravelling the Wrongful Conviction”, which spells out step-by-step how to undo the Gordian knot of a false conviction is a ground-breaking classic which should be at the ready by all those investigators, lay or professional, and lawyers alike, who are engaged in such a noble enterprise.” Jim McCloskey , Founder and Director of Centurion Ministries (responsible for 70+ prison releases) / Co-Author of When Truth is All You Have and Co-Author (with John Grisham) of Framed. “As a journalist investigating wrongful convictions, and as founder of the Midwest Innocence Project, I learned that the painstaking process unfolds better when lawyers collaborate with trained reporters who have become licensed private investigators. Dan Grothaus long ago set the standard for those skilled journalists with PI licenses. This book will become invaluable.” Steve Weinberg (Professor Emeritus – U of Missouri School of Journalism) http://www.steveweinbergauthor.com “We’ve learned so much about wrongful convictions in recent decades. But the lessons Dan Grothaus imparts strike me as particularly valuable because he shows the simple yet essential skills every cop, prosecutor, and defense lawyer should use to guard against the next wrongful conviction. With a journalist’s eye for a compelling story and a nose for detail, Grothaus leaves us with a haunting realization: that if such basic oversights can be found with intensive scrutiny, how many unjust convictions ― especially those outside of the most heinous homicides, which get the most attention ― remain hidden in plain sight?” Mark Obbie (Member/director of the Criminal Justice Journalists, former Associate Professor at Syracuse University, and current freelance journalist. Originally a lowly cop shop reporter in Houston with author Dan Grothaus.) “Dan Grothaus not only took my call from prison, but he knew what to do when I called. He knew what questions to ask, he knew what actions to take, and he knew the or