Vicente Guevara, a 15-year-old boy, was wrongfully convicted of the tragic murder of Karen Thompson in 1997. He has since spent 27 grueling years within the confines of a prison cell, battling relentlessly for a chance to hear the truth. His grim case brings to light the inadequacies and seemingly deliberate negligence of the Toledo, Ohio Police Department.

Upon filing an open records request to delve deeper into Vicente's case, the Toledo Police Department blatantly dismissed my plea. Only after taking the case to the Ohio Court of Claims did we gain any traction, reluctantly being told by the police that all forensic reports, surveillance videos, and inportant interrogation reports no longer exist. 

This suspicious disappearance of vital records begs the question: How can crucial evidence conveniently go missing from a department entrusted with upholding the rule of law and maintaining justice? It chips away at the foundation of trust the public has in our law enforcement agencies, instilling grave doubts about transparency and due process.

In the United States, since 1989, over 2000 people have been exonerated in wrongful conviction cases, a significant proportion of which were due to withheld evidence, as reported by the National Registry of Exonerations. This doesn't just happen in Toledo, but in cities across the United States. However, it has now affected one of our own, in our city.

We call on the City of Toledo, the Toledo Police Department, and all relevant authorities to provide explanations for these inexplicable actions and take urgent measures to amend their procedures. We insist on thorough investigations into all evidence relating to Vicente's case and demand justice, truth, and accountability for every wrongfully convicted individual. Stand with us by signing this petition and make your voice heard in the urgent fight for justice.