Ashley Debelbot was convicted of murdering her newborn. She was granted a new trial this February in the face of the State's "underwhelming evidence," multiple experts testifying to her actual innocence, and gross prosecutorial misconduct.
Now, she needs help.
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Now, she needs help.
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When Debelbot was convicted, she was a Sergeant (E5) in the Army. She was described by her commanding officer as a top 1% soldier. Endlessly kind, smart, and self-reliant. Promoted to tasks above her rank. /2
During her time in prison, Debelbot helped everyone she possibly could. She had a perfect disciplinary record, and was selected, time and again, to head up programs to help other inmates, particularly inmates, acclimate to working and parenting outside of prison.
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In short, Ashley Debelbot is one of the best people I have ever met. At her bond hearing, she presented multiple witnesses to talk about her contributions. Her platoon sergeant and prison chaplain described her in glowing terms. /4
On top of that, the judge now knew that the scientific evidence the State relied upon had been thrown into serious doubt. Four expert scientific witnesses were now present to testify that the State's theory of guilt was impossible. /5
The injury that killed Ashley Debelbot's newborn could not have been inflicted by her, or her husband, because the bleeding in the baby's brain was more than 24 hours old, while not in the care of her parents. /6
Despite all this, the trial court increased Ashley Debelbot's bond to $85,000 and forbade her to leave the judicial circuit, even though she had a home and job lined up elsewhere. He also forbade her to talk on social media about her own case. /7
So now, Ashley needs help. The Rev. Cathy Zappa has created a fund-raiser to help her with bond. If enough can be raised, Ashley can be free pending trial, where she will establish her actual innocence with overwhelming scientific evidence. /8
This freedom is especially important because the trial court, when it denied Debelbot's new trial, held that none of her scientific evidence would be admissible. If that holding repeats, we will need a time-intensive appeal.
Here is a brief list of her awards and accomplishments while incarcerated:
Full disclosure: along with extraordinary defense attorney Crystal Bice, I am representing Ashley Debelbot pro bono as she seeks exoneration.
