Case Specifics

Case Summary

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Jeffrey Lee Wood, born on August 19, 1974, was convicted for his alleged involvement in the tragic killing of convenience store clerk Kris Keeran during a robbery in Kerrville, TX, on January 2, 1996. However, Jeff did not know that co-defendant Daniel Earl Reneau was armed, nor could he have foreseen that a murder would occur while he waited outside. Despite having no prior criminal record, Jeff was convicted under the Law of Parties, which holds individuals accountable for the actions of their accomplices.

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Key Facts of the Case

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• Coercive Interrogation: Following his arrest, Jeff endured prolonged, forced interrogation without legal counsel, leading to a false confession that he later retracted.

• Trial Injustice: The court deemed Jeff unfit to represent himself, yet allowed him to proceed without adequate legal representation. This resulted in no witnesses being called during the crucial punishment phase of his trial.  Further, Wood's trial attorneys did not cross-examine the state's witnesses. The state relied on testimony from Dr. James Grigson, who had been expelled from the American Psychiatric Association for providing unethical testimony.  Grigson's testimony was based on junk science and he blatently misled the jury into believeing that Jeff would be a future danger to society. Three jurors from Wood's trial said they would have discounted Grigson's testimony if they'd known of his expulsion.

• Mental Health Struggles: Jeff suffers from mental and learning disorders, which were largely overlooked during his trial.

• Victim's Family Perspective: In a surprising twist, Kris Keeran's father has publicly opposed the death penalty, advocating for the life of the true perpetrator, Reneau, who was executed in 2002.

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