Overview of Wrongful Conviction with Jason Flom — Terrell Barros
This episode of Wrongful Conviction tells the story of Terrell Barros, who spent more than a decade in prison for a Providence, Rhode Island shooting he says he did not commit. Host Jason Flom, guest investigator Nerjena Hendy (Georgetown), and Terrell himself walk through a case marked by a questionable eyewitness, a flawed “dying declaration,” misleading forensic presentation, and powerful new evidence that led Rhode Island’s Supreme Court to uphold the overturning of Terrell’s conviction.
What Happened in the Case
The night of the shooting
- In August 2012, Terrell and friends were at a club in Providence.
- A verbal dispute broke out between members of Terrell’s group and another group.
- The conflict was not initially between Terrell and the victims; it centered on Stefan Bodden and others.
- Later, near Terrell’s car, Bodden ended up with a gun as two men — Jamal Cruz and Rokeem Henley — approached.
- Shots were fired:
- Jamal Cruz was killed.
- Rokeem Henley was shot in the leg.
Terrell’s account
Terrell says:
- He was walking toward his car when he heard shots.
- He ran into the driver’s side and immediately police surrounded the car.
- Bodden was the person holding the gun.
- Bodden allegedly said on scene: “It’s me, it’s all me, it’s all mine.”
Why the Conviction Was So Troubling
Bodden’s on-scene confession
A major issue in the case is that:
- Bodden allegedly confessed right in front of police.
- Despite that, both men were arrested.
- Terrell says the true shooter “skated” while he was made to pay for the crime.
The “show-up” identification
- Police brought Terrell to the dying victim for an identification procedure.
- Detective Matrasia claimed Jamal nodded at Terrell.
- Terrell insists Jamal was in no condition to identify anyone:
- He was critically wounded
- He was intoxicated
- The procedure was highly unreliable
Missing forensic follow-up
The episode highlights several investigative failures:
- No hand swabs were done on either Terrell or Bodden.
- That could have helped determine who actually fired the gun.
- The prosecution relied heavily on weak or distorted evidence instead.
Evidence That Supported Terrell’s Innocence
Eyewitness testimony problems
- The prosecution’s only eyewitness, Gregory Zorbedian, initially said he did not see the shooting.
- He changed his story just days before trial and identified Terrell as the shooter.
- The episode notes a major credibility concern:
- Zorbedian had a long criminal history
- He reportedly received a promise not to be charged for perjury if he changed his testimony
Gunshot residue and forensic issues
- At trial, gunshot residue was presented in a way that made Terrell appear implicated.
- But later analysis by attorney Bob Kando expanded the testing.
- Additional residue was found on Bodden’s belt/crotch area, which better matched the actual shooting position.
- This newer evidence strongly suggested Bodden was the shooter.
DNA evidence
- The DNA report excluded Terrell as the person who held the gun.
- The episode argues the state’s DNA expert presented the findings in a confusing, prosecution-friendly way that obscured the exculpatory result.
Ballistics and witness testimony
- The ballistic evidence indicated the shot was fired from very close range.
- Rokeem Henley testified that the only person standing close enough was Stefan Bodden.
- Yet the jury still convicted Terrell.
Trial Outcome and Sentence
- Terrell was convicted and sentenced to two life sentences plus 30 years.
- He says the conviction was built on:
- False or unreliable police testimony
- An incentivized witness
- Misleading forensic presentation
- A deeply flawed identification process
Recent Developments
Conviction overturned and upheld on appeal
- Terrell’s conviction was vacated in 2023.
- In July of this year, the Rhode Island Supreme Court affirmed that decision.
- The court agreed the new evidence was strong enough to justify post-conviction relief.
- The case now returns to Superior Court, where the state must decide whether to retry him.
New defense evidence
The defense now has:
- New GSR findings
- New affidavits
- New eyewitnesses
- Family members of Bodden reportedly saying he admitted guilt
Key People Mentioned
- Terrell Barros — the defendant and central subject of the episode
- Jason Flom — host
- Nerjena Hendy — Georgetown student investigator
- Bob Kando — Terrell’s attorney
- Stefan Bodden — alleged actual shooter
- Jamal Cruz — murder victim
- Rokeem Henley — surviving shooting victim
- Detective Angel/Angelo Avant and Detective Matrasia — investigators involved in the case
- Gregory Zorbedian — key eyewitness for the prosecution
Main Takeaways
- This episode presents Terrell Barros as a man convicted despite strong evidence pointing to another shooter.
- The case hinges on major concerns about:
- police credibility
- a coerced or unreliable witness
- a misleading identification procedure
- forensic evidence that was not fully or fairly explored
- The Rhode Island Supreme Court’s decision is a major step, but the case is not fully over.
What the Episode Wants Listeners to Do
Support the fight for Terrell’s release
- Watch the mini-documentary:
- “Making an Exoneree 2020: The Story of Terrell Barros”
- Sign and share the petition:
- change.org/free-terrell-barrows
- Share the episode and related materials on social media to build awareness
Closing Message
Terrell and his supporters frame this case as more than one man’s fight — it’s a broader example of how wrongful convictions happen when police, prosecutors, and weak evidence overwhelm the truth. The episode ends by urging listeners to help bring Terrell home and hold the system accountable.