46 years ago an abused, homeless, and drug addicted Native American teenager fell prey to a powerful prosecutor who manipulated the judicial system and took away Chief’s (Douglas Ray Stankewitz) fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This tragic abuse of power against society’s “throw-aways” for personal gain is an all too familiar story here in America. And all too often it’s a story intentionally hidden from us because the belief is no one cares. This could happen to you. And if it did, wouldn’t you want someone to fight the system for you?
Chief was convicted for the murder of Theresa Graybeal and sentenced to death at the young age of 19 years old. He is now 66 and was the longest serving inmate at San Quentin State Prison. He is now at California Men's Colony. Due to the inadequacies of the court system, as is typical with death penalty cases, his case has wound through the courts for over four decades. During this time he has endured repeated inept counsel and five execution dates. He steadfastly battled with his trial and appellate attorneys for over 39 years to look at the evidence and focus on innocence. Until three years ago, they all failed to do so.
Thanks to Chief's current legal team including top civil rights attorneys, J. Tony Serra, Curtis Briggs and Marshall Hammons, the truth has been set free in the Writ of Habeas Corpus Petition filed with the Fresno Superior Court in January, 2021. On December 24, 2024, the court denied his habeas petition, saying in essence that he did not prove his claims. He will be resentenced in the same court in early 2025. We continue to fight for his freedom.
Fighting for freedom comes at a heavy burden and expense for those that have been tirelessly working and put in thousands of hours pro bono over the last 4 years. Even more so for someone who has been incarcerated for 46 years. Chief will need $50,000 to cover ongoing legal expenses, including investigation and expert witness fees; and to restart his life and reunite with his Indian tribe.
Contributing to Chief’s reentry fund means more than a donation, it’s a protest against the wrongful conviction and purposeful manipulation of a justice system that is meant to serve and protect the innocent. It’s protesting the intentional railroading of a powerless young human being by:
Inept state appointed defense counsel: they never reviewed the evidence or did their own research
Planting the murder weapon: the gun was not the murder weapon because it was in the possession of law enforcement from 1973 through the time of the Graybeal murder.
Withholding evidence: critical exonerating evidence was withheld from the jury
Missing evidence: over 50 pieces of exculpatory evidence are “missing”
Manipulated investigative reports: law enforcement reports were changed to support the DA’s theory of the murder.
46 years ago an abused, homeless, and drug addicted Native American teenager fell prey to a powerful prosecutor who manipulated the judicial system and took away Chief’s (Douglas Ray Stankewitz) fundamental rights to life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. This tragic abuse of power against society’s “throw-aways” for personal gain is an all too familiar story here in America. And all too often it’s a story intentionally hidden from us because the belief is no one cares. This could happen to you. And if it did, wouldn’t you want someone to fight the system for you?
Chief was convicted for the murder of Theresa Graybeal and sentenced to death at the young age of 19 years old. He is now 66 and was the longest serving inmate at San Quentin State Prison. He is now at California Men's Colony. Due to the inadequacies of the court system, as is typical with death penalty cases, his case has wound through the courts for over four decades. During this time he has endured repeated inept counsel and five execution dates. He steadfastly battled with his trial and appellate attorneys for over 39 years to look at the evidence and focus on innocence. Until three years ago, they all failed to do so.
Thanks to Chief's current legal team including top civil rights attorneys, J. Tony Serra, Curtis Briggs and Marshall Hammons, the truth has been set free in the Writ of Habeas Corpus Petition filed with the Fresno Superior Court in January, 2021. On December 24, 2024, the court denied his habeas petition, saying in essence that he did not prove his claims. He will be resentenced in the same court in early 2025. We continue to fight for his freedom.
Fighting for freedom comes at a heavy burden and expense for those that have been tirelessly working and put in thousands of hours pro bono over the last 4 years. Even more so for someone who has been incarcerated for 46 years. Chief will need $50,000 to cover ongoing legal expenses, including investigation and expert witness fees; and to restart his life and reunite with his Indian tribe.
Contributing to Chief’s reentry fund means more than a donation, it’s a protest against the wrongful conviction and purposeful manipulation of a justice system that is meant to serve and protect the innocent. It’s protesting the intentional railroading of a powerless young human being by:
Inept state appointed defense counsel: they never reviewed the evidence or did their own research Planting the murder weapon: the gun was not the murder weapon because it was in the possession of law enforcement from 1973 through the time of the Graybeal murder. Withholding evidence: critical exonerating evidence was withheld from the jury Missing evidence: over 50 pieces of exculpatory evidence are “missing” Manipulated investigative reports: law enforcement reports were changed to support the DA’s theory of the murder.
