The Alley: DC's 8th and H Case

Trailer: What Happened at 8th and H?

On October 1st, 1984, Catherine Fuller was brutally killed in the H Street Corridor in northeast Washington, DC. Her murder not only scarred the nation's capital for decades, but it also resulted in the arrests of 17 young Black Washingtonians—the most arrests in D.C. history for a single murder. Of those charged, eight young men were sentenced to life in prison.  They always maintained their innocence.  Years later, evidence previously hidden by prosecutors was discovered, ultimately leading to the case being reopened in the early 2000s. Now, almost 40 years after they were convicted, the accused men—for the first time, in their own words—recount their decades-long saga with false confessions, U.S. prisons, and the American criminal justice system that failed them. Listeners will also hear from attorneys, law enforcement, journalists, and criminal reform advocates to help shine a light on the flaws and biases of our legal system still present today. This is The Alley: DC's 8th and H Case.     Host: Shannon Lynch   Executive Producers: Jason Stewart and Shannon Lynch   Cover art: Samantha Webster   Editorial and PR support: Jodi Narde, Joe Wilkes, and Molly Martin   Social Media: Maika Moulite  

October 1st, 1984

New America's Shannon Lynch revisits the 1984 murder of Catherine Fuller that rocked Washington, DC. The story starts at the scene of the crime—an alley near the busy intersection of 8th and H Streets Northeast—and unveils the fateful tip that caused investigators to settle quickly on a theory of the murder.   Follow New America on all platforms and use #TheAlleyPod to share your thoughts.

Prisoners of Their Initial Hunch

An anonymous tip led to a theory of a "violent gang attack" that captured detectives' imaginations—without any physical evidence. How could the DC justice system mishandle this case so egregiously from the start? In a city built by slave labor and steeped in racial politics, you don't have to look too hard to find answers.   Follow New America on all platforms and use #TheAlleyPod to share your thoughts.

The False Confession Trap

Intense interrogation tactics and a threat of life in prison leads to a coerced confession, setting off a chain reaction that would ultimately lead to 17 arrests. False confession experts Jim Trainum and Marissa Bluestine weigh in on why innocent people confess to crimes they didn't commit. Follow New America on all platforms and use #TheAlleyPod to share your thoughts.

Like Dominoes

A series of chain reactions resulted in police arresting 17 young Black people for the murder of Catherine Fuller. Four charges were dropped, and two suspects pleaded guilty to lesser crimes. Meanwhile, 11 of the arrestees—all of whom maintained their innocence—prepared to face the biggest murder trial in Washington, DC's history.