Claude Garrett
Claude Garrett (right)
In the early morning hours of February 1992, a horrific house fire started at 114 Broadway, Old Hickory, Tennessee. Renters Claude Garrett and his fiancée, Lori Lance, were the sole occupants of the home. While Mr. Garrett managed to escape the fire, Ms. Lance sadly succumbed to smoke inhalation.
In 1992, fire investigation and science were undergoing a profound transformation. The introduction of the National Fire Protection Association 921 Guide for Fire and Explosion Investigations (NFPA 921), published that year, was the first widely accepted metric establishing a standard of care for fire investigation. Despite its wide acceptance, it included no scientific method at the time of its publication.
When the fire hit 114 Broadway, a fire investigator believed he could identify a “pour pattern”—charring on the floor where presumably an accelerant was poured to start the fire—by eyesight alone, even though the fire had completely engulfed the room. Though now debunked, this belief kicked off the investigation against, and led to the eventual conviction of Mr. Garrett.
While soil and clothing samples taken in the initial investigation tested negative for an accelerant, samples taken later—after the scene was contaminated—tested positive. A kerosene-soaked bedspread appeared in front of the utility-room door, apparently missed by at least four state investigators that had previously reviewed the scene. Then, a firefighter’s testimony changed: Ms. Lance’s body went from being discovered in an unlocked room to a locked room. This “locked door” was a key component of the State’s case. This changed testimony coupled with the “pour pattern” began to tell an extremely different story than the tragic accident that occurred that night.
Mr. Garrett maintained his innocence in 1992. His first trial, in 1993, was overturned by the Tennessee Court of Criminal Appeals following the revelation that the prosecutor withheld exculpatory evidence favorable to Mr. Garrett. With Mr. Garrett still maintaining his innocence, the State tried him a second time in July 2003. Twelve years had passed between the two trials, and with them, expert opinions focusing on “pour patterns” were widely discredited and viewed with skepticism. Yet, the lead investigator maintained his original opinions based on pre-1992 standards and junk science, and Mr. Garrett was convicted a second time.
By 2020, however, nationally-recognized experts have examined Mr. Garrett’s case, concluding that a responsible examiner would not determine the cause of the fire to be arson. The lead investigator’s conclusions, the cause of Mr. Garrett’s prosecution, have been debunked.
In May of 2022, Mr. Garrett’s conviction was officially overturned.
Claude Garrett being greeted by his attorneys from The Tennessee Innocence Project, Jessica Van Dyke and Jason Gichner, as he walked out of prison (left).
“The Court is satisfied that Petitioner has presented clear and convincing evidence showing that no reasonable jury would have convicted Claude Garrett of felony murder in light of the new scientific evidence,” Criminal Court Judge Monte Watkins wrote in his ruling. “Garrett has shown actual innocence.”
Read about Mr. Garrett’s exoneration by clicking the link below.
"Claude Garrett's 1992 murder conviction tossed in latest effort to review past cases" - The Tennessean
To learn about Mr. Garrett’s conviction, click on the following links from journalist Liliana Segura, who has been writing about Mr. Garrett’s case for over five years.
“Playing With Fire” Series - The Intercept
“The Story of Claude Garrett and the Bad Science of Arson” - Nashville Scene
In Memoriam
1956 - 2022
It is with profound sadness that we mourn the loss of Claude Garrett. Claude was exonerated in May 2022, after nearly 30 years fighting for his freedom. During his five months of freedom, Claude did a lot of living. His most important time was spent with family and friends, especially his daughter, who he loved fiercely.
Words cannot capture our feelings or make sense of this loss. Claude knew his case better than anyone, and the Tennessee Innocence Project was merely a small part of his 30-year quest to clear his name. We take small comfort in the fact that Claude was found innocent by a court earlier in 2022.
In the summer of 2022, Claude’s daughter, Deana, had generously agreed to share their story for our annual video. During filming in September, Jason Gichner stated, “There is an urgency to our work. At the Tennessee Innocence Project, we recognize that clients aren’t the only ones with hope that they will one day be released – their families share that hope, too.” We had no idea how those words would impact us just a few months later. With Deana’s permission, we are continuing to share their story.
Claude will remain in our thoughts.
The Tennessee Innocence Project’s annual video, featuring Mr. Claude Garrett.