In April 1979, the lives of two teenagers from two very different parts of the country were inextricably linked by murder. In Brewer, Maine, 17-year old Amy Banks awoke one night to learn that her father, Dr. Ronald Banks, had been murdered in New Orleans, Louisiana.
One month later, authorities in New Orleans arrested 16-year old Isaac Knapper and charged him with the killing of Amy’s father. But Isaac didn’t commit the murder.
This is the story of a wrongful conviction, a young Black man railroaded by the justice system, and evidence withheld at trial that would’ve saved him from a life sentence behind bars in the nation’s bloodiest prison.
This is the case of Dr. Ronald Banks, told by his daughter Amy Banks, and Isaac Knapper, the man once charged and convicted of his murder.
View source material and photos for this episode at darkdowneast.com/wrongfulconviction
Dark Downeast is an audiochuck and Kylie Media production hosted by Kylie Low.
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The Deaths of John Chakalos & Linda Carman Part 2 (Connecticut)
The Deaths of John Chakalos & Linda Carman Part 1 (Connecticut)
The Murder of Blanche Kimball (Maine)
ANNOUNCEMENT: Missing Kim
The Murder of Florence Small (New Hampshire)
The Serial Killings of Albert Flick (Maine)
The Disappearance of Ellen Choate (Maine)
The Murder of Robert McKee (Maine)
The Disappearance of Judith Leo-Coneys Part 2 (Vermont)
The Disappearance of Judith Leo-Coneys Part 1 (Vermont)
Inside the State Police Unsolved Homicide Unit (Maine)
The Murder of Dorthea Burke (Maine)
The Disappearance of Russell Bean (New Hampshire)
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The Murder of Lila Drew (Maine)
The Disappearance of Jesus De La Cruz (Massachusetts)
The Disappearance of Kitty Wardwell (Maine)
The Suspicious Death of Shawn O'Brien (Rhode Island)
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