Ever had someone you know purposely screw you over? Smile in your face as they twist the knife in your back? Sadly, I'm not even talking about Joe Wilkes’ lies told against me at trial.
I have learned a new lesson in life at 48 years old. A TV show contacted me, saying they read up on my case and not only believed in me, but told me that they could help me.
They would investigate for free and have an attorney and a retired homicide detective do the research. How could I not accept their help after over 21 years of desperation? Surely no one would prey on anyone who's so beaten down and desperate for help.
With great apprehension I kept asking, ''this will be a true-blue investigation, not some quick glance through, turning my life into a Hollywood fluff piece?'' I made sure I spoke my piece about it, almost calling it off several times, until they assured me the other shows done about me previously were ''inferior',' not only in production, but in the effort taken to ensure they ''find'' anyone we needed to interview.
Broken promises and blatant lies with a side of snake oil is what I was sold. I asked for specific people to be interviewed, full names and some with addresses. I flat out asked Desma if anyone was interviewed who was favorable to me? Long pause, and a soft spoken, ''No''.
After she admitted that they didn't interview ANYONE on my behalf, that was the last phone call she accepted. I tried to get clarification but instead I received silence.
How can anyone be so cold and calculated in their quest for money? That is all this show is interested in; ratings and getting paid. All under the guise of wanting to help someone who is fighting for their life, and has already been kicked and beaten down for over 21 years.
It is easy to read highlights and say what has already been said. Lies already got me here, only the truth will set me free. Children know this verse, yet adults twist the truth to suit their needs, usually for money and greed. Some seem to do it with an ease that even the most vindictive killer would applaud. We usually call them attorneys, and now I add to this list...’reality show’ producers.
- David Thorne
In the summer of 2020, I reached out to the cable TV show Reasonable Doubt through their Facebook page. After previously refusing their invitation to participate with their show for two seasons due to what I considered the poor quality of the research, programming and presentation, I thought I’d speak to them and see if they would see the flaws in David’s case that I could clearly see, and offer to help us find justice. Our options were limited. David’s case was going nowhere, and we were out of legal remedies.
I believed I was being very cautious, but I continued watching the program, and agreed with the online reviews that I read, which said none of the “convicts”, no matter how convincing their facts seemed, were ever given the fresh, unbiased look the show promised. I spoke to David about contacting the friendly voice leaving messages on my phone, and he wanted nothing to do with the exploitive TV show. Hoping we were being too skeptical and needing the “investigation” the show promised if they agreed you’re likely wrongfully convicted, I reached out.
Hello Sue, My name is Alex and I'm a television producer for the show Reasonable Doubt on Investigation Discovery. You had reached out to us through our website I believe, regarding your husband David Thorne's case. I've been following his case for some time, and I would love to talk to you about the possibility of featuring the case on our show. I see a ton of reasonable doubt, and would love to talk through the case, learn more about David, as well as your perspective on the case.
Feel free to give me a call or email anytime to discuss. You can email me at [redacted email] or call me at [redacted phone]
Thank you, and I look forward to speaking with you.
Best,
Alex
Reasonable Doubt /Discovery ID
Alexandra called me. She said their show was about justice for the wrongly convicted. That she knew David’s case very well and she absolutely believed in David. She said she and the field producer, Desma Simon, had discussed David’s case at length and both believed in his actual innocence. Both women talked to David and I many times and finally persuaded us that they were sincere. I convinced David. He did it for me. I am responsible. We signed on.
According to the production company, they’d request all the files, thoroughly research the case, interview everyone and give David the fair shot he deserves. To my knowledge, no documentation or case information was ever acquired from the court by the production company.
The “stars” of the show came to town and spoke with us for approximately two hours, during which time we told them details about the case that we felt were erroneous. Details that would be in the case files they said they would request from the court, but didn’t. They talked about case-related people, those who testified for the prosecution, who they might possibly have talked to, and those supporting the defense, who they “couldn’t locate” despite me giving them their contact information. I reached out myself to those same people after the taping, and they affirmed that no one from the show attempted to contact them.
They put us in front of a camera and told us that Joe had repeated his original statement and said they believed him; a proven liar with behavioral and emotional issues.
They threw police interviews down on the table to, I guess, impress us. Since I have the complete case file, and they likely printed them from my file, I’m not sure what they hoped to prove.
They laid out crime scene photos of the victim, again, from my file, and acted annoyed when I pointed out the errors in their interpretation.
They informed us that the kid who confessed to the crime when he was 18 years old and implicated David had reverted to his original confession and basically recanted his recantation when they spoke to him. The evidence points of Joe Wilkes’ confession have been proven scientifically invalid. He confessed while being coerced by cops seeking a confession from an emotionally and behaviorally challenged teen. He has since altered his statement every time he told it.
Their ‘knife expert’ agreed that the knife entered in evidence as ‘murder weapon’ was likely not the knife used on the victim.
Their ‘forensic expert’ agreed that the victim was not struck on the couch. Despite both of these being different from testimony, they just changed the wording in the description.
They told me I’ve wasted enough of my life; move on and forget about David. They labeled David a cult leader, apparently because his friends liked to hang out at his grandparent’s house and fish. They said the former Chief of Police called him David Koresh.
I got involved in David’s case immediately after his conviction in 2000. I did what the police and Reasonable Doubt should have done. I talked to people. I’m not likely to think Chris and Fatima ‘got it right’ in the three days they were here. They talked to a Chief of Police who admitted “mistakes were made” in this case and they listened via Zoom to the ever-evolving statement of a confused, mentally-challenged man.
Journalist Maggie Freleng, Unjust and Unsolved Podcast, and Murder in Alliance podcast have been investigating David Thorne’s case with Proclaim Justice for over a year. They have located the subjects and information they have looked for and are conducting a successful investigation.
- Sue Thorne