ABC 20/20’s Gone Before the Storm: When Was Anthony Harris Released from Prison?

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ABC 20/20’s Gone Before the Storm: When Was Anthony Harris Released from Prison?

As a fervent advocate for justice, I eagerly await the airing of ABC 20/20’s “Gone Before the Storm” episode on Friday, August 23, 2024. The story of Anthony Harris, a young man wrongfully convicted at the tender age of 12 for a crime he did not commit, is one that resonates deeply with me.

The “Gone Before the Storm” episode from ABC’s 20/20 will delve into the wrongful conviction of Anthony Harris in Devan Duniver’s 1998 murder case. In his first interview since exoneration, Harris shared his experience of being pressured to confess by investigators. The episode also highlights the failure of authorities to investigate other possible leads and suspects. This revealing episode will air on Friday, August 23, 2024, at 9 p.m. Eastern Time.

20 years following his release from prison for a crime he didn’t commit – the tragic murder of his neighbor, Devan Dunvier – Anthony Harris shared his story with ABC News’ 20/20. The individual responsible for her death remains at large.

When was Anthony Harris’ conviction in Devan Duniver’s murder overturned?

On June 7, 2000, as reported by ABC News, the Ohio 5th District Court of Appeals overturned the murder conviction of Anthony Harris due to detectives forcing him to confess. This confession was used to secure a conviction for the murder of Devan Duniver. The next day, Harris left the detention center, now a free man, having spent approximately two years in custody.

During an interview on ABC 20/20’s “Gone Before the Storm,” Anthony Harris recounted his experience being coerced into making a confession in 1998. The discussion stemmed from the disappearance of five-year-old Devan Duniver, who vanished from her apartment complex in New Philadelphia, Ohio on June 27 of that year. This tragic event led to an extensive search for Devan, whose lifeless body was found the next day, having succumbed to numerous stab wounds to the neck.

Anthony Harris stated that a police chief from a neighboring town questioned him about Devan Duniver’s murder shortly after the discovery of his remains in a police station. The officer repeatedly asked Harris if he was responsible for Duniver’s death, which he initially denied. Reminiscing about the intense questioning, the exonerated man explained, “The investigator essentially suggested to me that if I confessed to this murder, I could return home. Given my fear at the time, I just wanted to go back home.”

The investigators zeroed in on Anthony Harris as a prime suspect, even with various other possible leads, according to People Magazine. In 1999, Harris was convicted of the murder during his trial by Judge Linda Kate in the Juvenile and Probate Court.

Unfortunately, the person responsible for Devan Duniver’s death was never found guilty. Nevertheless, Anthony Harris remains optimistic and vows to continue searching for answers. He expressed, “We will find a solution [and] provide some form of resolution.”

ABC 20/20’s “Gone Before the Storm” airs on Friday, August 23, 2024.

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2024-08-23 15:40