Joann Parks was a young mother of 3 small children, who one fateful night in 1989 lost them all to a vicious fire that engulfed the home. Initially considered an accident, but later ruled as arson, Parks was convicted of 3 counts of murder and sits in prison for life without parole. However, some 25+ years later Parks remains in prison, despite modern arson science strongly supporting her innocence. The California Innocence Project is currently fighting for her exoneration. In a case that has been widely publicized, and written about by Pulitzer Prize winning writer Edward Humes in his book, Burned, this is an episode that you do not want to miss. In Part I, we examine the facts of the night of the fire and how modern science and investigative techniques suggest that Parks is innocent of the crime.

Courtroom Confidential’s new Inside Innocence series, brings you compelling cases from the working files of the California Innocence Project. www.CaliforniaInnocenceProject.org