My husband, Rodney Borushaski, has been wrongfully convicted of two murders he wasn’t involved in. His life and ours have been turned upside down by this tragic miscarriage of justice. Despite his innocence, he is currently serving time behind bars, 29 years separated from his family and loved ones. 

The truth has not just sat idle — his ex-wife, in private conversations with their children, has admitted that my husband had no role or knowledge of the tragic events. Despite her confession (documented through affidavits filed with the courts) this vital testimony has not been given the attention it deserves in a court of law. 

Wrongful convictions shatter lives, not only of those who are falsely accused but also of their families. My husband's strength and our family's resilience are being tested every day. In light of the new information, it is imperative for the judicial system to re-evaluate his case and ensure that justice prevails.

Statistically, wrongful convictions have devastating impacts on the lives of innocent people. According to the National Registry of Exonerations, there have been over 2,800 exonerations in the United States since 1989, with each case representing an individual who lost precious years behind bars. Ensuring justice for the wrongfully convicted is not merely a legal obligation but a moral one. 

The Urban Institute in D.C estimated roughly 11.6% convictions to be wrongful and some of the reasons it happens too often are listed as false testimony, false accusations, perjury, official misconduct, along with malicious prosecution and conformation bias, over-charging so that individuals take a deal even if its wrong to avoid life or decades in prison and the media, which often has cozy relationships with the state and will portray those charged -and later convicted- as the enemy of the population in a "war model" effort to taint a jury pool before a trial is ever underway. (That's why good defense teams have specialist for juries.)

Furthermore in a recent article, an Iowa Supreme Court Justice, Susan Christiansen, spoke about the abysmal state of Iowa re: appointed attorneys and how the system is so broken and backed up the state is violating the Constitutional protection of a speedy trial due to lack of attorneys. If it’s that bad during that phase, how much worse is it once you have been in for thirty years and they can silence one behind a thirty foot wall? It’s hard to find attorneys to even take PCR (Post Conviction Relief) work due to the fact that the courts are so biased they feel it a fruitless endeavor. 

We are not just fighting for freedom, but for the truth to be acknowledged and recognized. Our demand is for a comprehensive review of the case, incorporating the testimony of his ex-wife and conducting a fair trial that examines all the evidence, old and new. Transparency, accountability, and justice should guide the process to correct this grave injustice.

Often we watch the news and decade’s old crimes will be solved. We cumulatively cheer for justice being served, and the criminal FINALLY having to pay his debt. What about the other way around? The man who’s lost years of his life to a false narrative? Where’s his justice? Where’s the justice for his children, grandchildren, brother, and parents? 

Sign this petition to urge the authorities to reopen the case, re-assess the evidence, and help restore the life and dignity of an innocent man caught in the web of legal errors. Your support can be the catalyst needed for change and justice.

Heather M. Borushaski

 hmborushaski@gmail.com