Overview of Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom — #592 Jason Flom with Anthony DiPippo
This episode centers on Anthony DiPippo’s extraordinary wrongful conviction story: he spent about 20 years in prison for the 1994 rape and murder of 12-year-old Josette Wright in Putnam County, New York, before being acquitted at his third trial. Jason Flom and Anthony walk through the original investigation, the coercive tactics used to build the case, the evidence pointing to another man — Howard Gombert — and the broader failures of the criminal justice system that kept an innocent man imprisoned for decades while the true perpetrator remained free.
Key Takeaways
- Anthony DiPippo was wrongfully convicted and later acquitted after three trials and roughly 20 years behind bars.
- The prosecution relied heavily on coerced or recanted testimony, including witnesses pressured by police through threats, intimidation, and promises of leniency.
- Evidence strongly pointed to Howard Gombert, a serial predator with a similar modus operandi who was seen with the victim, later committed other assaults, and eventually made incriminating statements in prison.
- Anthony’s co-defendant, Andrew Krivak, is still incarcerated, and the episode strongly advocates for his release as well.
- The conversation highlights systemic problems: tunnel vision by police, conflict of interest by defense counsel, false confessions, and the need for recorded interrogations.
The Case Against Anthony DiPippo
The original crime and investigation
- Josette Wright disappeared in 1994; her remains were found 13 months later in a disturbing condition consistent with sexual assault and murder.
- As the case drew intense attention, investigators zeroed in on local young men, including Anthony, who was a teenager involved in drugs and petty trouble but had no direct connection to the crime.
How the wrongful case was built
- Police used informants and witnesses who were pressured, threatened, beaten, or offered deals.
- Several key witnesses later recanted, saying their statements were fabricated or coerced.
- The state’s theory relied on a false narrative involving a van, a “spin the bottle” scenario, and a group assault that Anthony says never happened.
The defense conflict issue
- Anthony’s lawyer had previously represented Howard Gombert, creating an unethical conflict of interest.
- That conflict prevented crucial exculpatory information from being properly used in the early stages of the case.
Why Howard Gombert Matters
Jason and Anthony spend a significant portion of the episode on the evidence pointing to Howard Gombert as the real perpetrator.
Why Gombert fit the evidence
- Josette was last seen getting into a red car with Connecticut plates, which matched Gombert’s vehicle.
- Witnesses had identified Gombert, not Anthony, in photo arrays.
- Gombert had a pattern of similar sexual assaults involving young girls, bondage, gagging, and “babysitting” lures.
- A later prison informant reported that Gombert admitted having sex with Josette and referenced other related evidence.
Additional victims and pattern evidence
- The episode describes other crimes and suspicious disappearances linked to Gombert, including another missing girl, Robin Murphy.
- The host and guest argue that the combination of modus operandi, corroborating statements, and later criminal conduct makes the identification of Gombert as the likely killer highly compelling.
Prison Experience and Exoneration
Life inside
- Anthony describes prison as physically and psychologically brutal, especially for someone convicted of a violent crime against a child.
- He survived by “politicking,” building relationships, and staying alert, while also dealing with abusive guards and dangerous housing units.
Emotional survival
- He speaks candidly about the cycles of hope and despair that come with appeals, losses, and eventual progress.
- Family support, legal advocacy, and his own determination helped him keep going.
The moment of freedom
- Anthony recalls the exact moment the jury returned “not guilty” and how overwhelming it was to finally be released.
- His first day out included a long-awaited meal at Red Lobster, which symbolized the return of normal life.
Life After Prison
Reintegration challenges
- Freedom brought joy, but also culture shock: everyday choices, being around women, and simple things like shopping for toothpaste felt surreal.
- He also describes a bizarre post-release problem: old traffic tickets from before prison are still affecting his driver’s license, highlighting how bureaucracy continues to punish the exonerated.
Physical recovery
- His body improved dramatically after release, especially his back pain, which he attributes to finally sleeping on a real bed instead of prison mats.
Justice Reform and Advocacy
The episode goes beyond one case and turns into a broader call for reform.
Main reforms discussed
- Mandatory videotaping of interrogations from beginning to end.
- Stronger checks on prosecutorial misconduct.
- Better safeguards against false confessions and coerced witness statements.
- More support for innocence organizations and exonerees.
Anthony’s current work
- He is involved with the Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation and other innocence-related efforts.
- He also lobbies for a Commission on Prosecutorial Conduct to hold bad actors accountable.
How to Help
Support Andrew Krivak
- Anthony urges listeners to write to Andrew Krivak, who remains incarcerated for the same crime despite the growing evidence of innocence.
- He encourages moral support, awareness, and public pressure on officials.
Get involved with innocence work
- Donate to or learn from:
- Innocence Project
- Jeffrey Deskovic Foundation
- Even without money, people can help by:
- Sharing the case
- Writing letters
- Supporting reform efforts
- Following and amplifying innocence advocates
Notable Insights
“I try to live for the moment and for the future and not in the past.”
“Survival is man’s number one instinct.”
“If you know you’re innocent and you’re getting closer, you get this euphoric high.”
“There should be a camera on from the minute they bring in a suspect.”
Bottom Line
This episode is both a personal story of survival and a devastating example of how wrongful convictions happen: police tunnel vision, coerced testimony, hidden conflicts, and a system more focused on winning than truth. Anthony DiPippo’s eventual acquittal is a victory, but the episode makes clear that real justice is still unfinished as long as Andrew Krivak remains imprisoned and the broader system remains capable of repeating these mistakes.