SILVER SPRING, Md., Aug. 16, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- It's the worst nightmare of anyone wrongfully accused of a crime: they know they're not guilty, but the justice system rules otherwise. Investigation Discovery's new special, I DIDN'T DO IT, exposes one such catastrophic conviction with the story of Christopher Ochoa and Richard Danziger, Texas teens condemned for murdering 20-year-old Nancy DePriest in 1988. Under pressure by interrogators, Ochoa falsely confessed to the crime and also implicated Danziger, eventually earning them each a life sentence. It was later discovered, after a true confession from already-convicted murderer Achim Marino, that Ochoa's admission of guilt was coerced and neither he nor Danziger were involved in DePriest's murder. Featuring an exclusive interview with Marino from behind bars, I DIDN'T DO IT premieres as a one-hour special on Saturday, August 27 at 10 PM (ET).
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"Investigation Discovery prides itself on being a true crime network that, in the process of telling great stories, is occasionally afforded the opportunity to shine a spotlight on the darker corners of the American justice system," said Henry Schleiff, president and general manager of Investigation Discovery. "I DIDN'T DO IT will explore all factors that contributed to this miscarriage of justice, including circumstantial and physical evidence, the suspects' own statements, as well as emotional elements that may have overshadowed the jury's search for truth."
Nancy DePriest was working alone at a Pizza Hut in Austin, Texas, when she was tied up, raped, and shot in the head. Days later, a waitress observed Ochoa and Danziger toasting beers in DePriest's honor while dining at the restaurant. The gesture raised a red flag for police, who subsequently named them lead suspects. Caving under the pressure of police interrogation, Ochoa falsely confessed to the pair's involvement in the crime but hoped the jury would recognize their innocence. However, in a case that pre-dated DNA testing, crude forensic evidence appeared to place Ochoa and Danziger at the crime scene and earned them each a life sentence. They languished in prison for nearly twelve years until a detailed confession from another Texas inmate turned their conviction on its head.
I DIDN'T DO IT is produced for Investigation Discovery by Lively Family, Inc., with Leanna Crouch as executive producer and Trish Wood as supervising producer. For Investigation Discovery, Thomas Cutler is executive producer, Sara Kozak is vice president of production and Henry Schleiff is president and general manager.
About Investigation Discovery
Investigation Discovery (ID) is America's leading investigation network and the fastest-growing network in television. As the source for fact-based analytical content and compelling human stories, ID probes factors that challenge our everyday understanding of culture, society and the human condition. ID delivers the highest-quality programming to more than 77 million U.S. households with viewer favorites that include On the Case with Paula Zahn, Disappeared, Unusual Suspects and Stolen Voices, Buried Secrets. For more information, please visit InvestigationDiscovery.com, facebook.com/InvestigationDiscovery, or twitter.com/DiscoveryID. Investigation Discovery is part of Discovery Communications (Nasdaq: DISCA, DISCB, DISCK), the world's #1 nonfiction media company reaching more than 1.5 billion cumulative subscribers in 210 countries and territories.
Please visit the Press Website at http://press.discovery.com/us/id/programs/i-didnt-do-it/
for additional press materials, online screeners, and photography.
SOURCE Investigation Discovery
