My name is Terrence Straughter Sr. I was born May 10, 1968, in Memphis Tennessee. I am now to my demise residing in Sterling Correctional Facility in Sterling Colorado. I was charged and convicted in 2018 of a pre-meditated capital murder that I did not commit and if proper evidence collection were done it would prove that I am innocent. Moreover, the state of Colorado denied me my right to a Grand jury indictment and due process ( Article II Section 8 Bill of Rights of the Colorado Constitution states "Until otherwise provided by law, no person shall, for a felony, be proceeded against criminally otherwise than by indictment by Grand Jury..."

On December 8th, 2017 I went to Dana Sems' apartment and we partied, just the two of us. I stayed the night and the following morning. On December 11th I was at my ex-girlfriend's apartment, we had a disagreement about something petty, so I decided to leave and head over to hang out with Dana Sems at her apartment just before midnight. When I arrived I was introduced to Alisha Moore and the 3 of us partied together until I passed out on the couch, due to the past 3 days of being intoxicated I was spent. All three of us slept at Ms. Sem's apartment that night, I woke up the next morning and Ms. Sems said she was leaving with a friend, so I said ok and got up and left as well. Later on, that night friends called the police and asked them to do a well fair check and that's when they discovered Dana's body on the evening of December 12th.

The injuries to her body were extensive with a lot of blood loss. She had been beaten profusely. Police took me in to take photos of my body to check for wounds, scratches, or defense wounds, but not one was found. Afterward, I was released to go home to my stepdaughter's home. Three weeks later I was arrested. 

Mishandled evidence- The medical examiner who has 30-plus years of experience and expertise never swabbed around Ms. Sem's neck even though she was manually strangled, she later stated to the jury it was a "simple mistake". Ms. Sems had severe wounds to the head and deep impressions on her neck yet you don't swab there for DNA?? The only areas swabbed were her mouth, hands, and blouse, then her body was sent off to the funeral home. DNA evidence clearly stated that there was other male DNA mixed with my DNA in her mouth on her person and in her apartment. The Lead detective, District Attorney, and medical examiner allowed this blatant error to go on, which would have raised reasonable doubt to acquit me in this trial had they done a more thorough investigation. 

The jury heard insufficient evidence that was held inadmissible. They were not given evidence that was hidden in “limine” (motion made at the start of a trial requesting that the judge rule that certain evidence may not be introduced in trial.) The trial judge and District Attorney withheld the evidence without myself or Public Defenders present. The alternate suspect was never questioned and DNA evidence was compromised. The jury never heard it because the trial judge stated he did not want to confuse the jury.

In another hearing 2 detectives were kicked off my case and 1 detective was fired for false statements and tampering with evidence.

There was witness statements from Ms. Sems’ neighbors, claiming they saw a man 6’1” to 6’2”, 220 lbs to 230 lbs. muscular build leave Ms. Sems’ apartment between 7-8:30 am in the morning of December 12, 2017. At that time I was 5’5” 190 lbs nowhere near muscular.

No other individuals were looked at despite the fact that I had no marks, cuts, or bruises at all. I told detectives I had nothing to do with it and allowed them to take pictures of me from all over my body that could possibly have defensive wounds. They checked and photographed my hands, arms, face, neck, biceps, triceps, chest, head, etc and I was clean not to mention no blood whatsoever on me. I know I'm innocent.

I believe the detectives had tunnel vision on me from the beginning because I am a black man and the victim was white. We did have a sexual encounter together once and my secretions were in her mouth, blouse, and hand. Sexual activity is not murder nor a crime.

The DA denying me an indictment by Grand Jury was a violation of my due process and Constitutional Rights. 

The jury had 115 exhibits to look at in deliberation for only 3 hours and rendered a unanimous verdict of guilty. 

Despite no evidence to prove me guilty I was convicted and sentenced to life in prison without the possibility of parole. The DA approached my public defender offering a deal for 16-32 years, I'm adamant I did not kill her, NO DEAL. Then he offered 10 years, NO DEAL, then he offered me 5 years and 2 years parole and I still said NO DEAL. Im innocent. If they had such a strong case how do you end of offering 5 years and 2 years probation? It makes no sense. I am innocent. They needed someone, anyone, an innocent man behind bars just so they could say case solved and close it. This is how it appears to me. 

I've been incarcerated so far serving 5 years, 2 months, 16 days, and accounting for a life sentence. Please sign my petition so I can either have a fair retrial or be released and exonerated due to insufficient evidence and the fact that IM INNOCENT.