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New podcast will explore Stanley Liggins murder case

The podcast is expected to launch in early January.

A Quad City public radio station is exploring some new questions in an old murder case, in an upcoming five-part podcast called "Suspect Convictions."

The project takes a look at the 1990 murder of 9-year-old Jennifer Lewis of Rock Island, and the man twice-convicted of her abduction, rape, and murder.

Stanley Liggins is slated to go to trial in Scott County for the third time in February.

"We've interviewed (former) prosecutor Bill Davis, (former) defense attorneys Gary McKenrick and Mike Tobey, we've talked to Jennifer's family and Stanley Liggins' family, and different reporters covering the case at the time," said Lacy Scarmana, with WVIK radio.

Former Quad City Times reporter Scott Reeder is writing a book about the Liggins case, and contributed several of his interviews for the project.  File stories were also provided by WQAD to be included in parts of the podcast, including Reporter Chris Minor's jailhouse interview with Liggins.

Scarmana says the podcast will be looking into the successful prosecution of Liggins, the police investigation, and issues associated with appeals by Liggins. Race and  and missing documents not provided to his defense attorney will be explored  as well.

"There were a couple of questionable jurors at the time that maybe had some beliefs that weren't exactly positive towards black people," she said.

The two says the interviews are not designed to reach a specific conclusion in the case.

"Our goal is to be objective. We give you the facts and you make your opinion," said visiting Spanish reporter Alfredo Manteca, who is interning with WVIK.

Liggins was arrested and charged with molesting a different nine-year old girl from Milan, one month before the murder of Jennifer Lewis. He was out on bond.

The podcast is expected to launch in early January.

 

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