Sneak peek: Ryan Ferguson @LifeAfterTen | Forensic Files

[Music] I haven't had time to actually think about what it is to be free, what it
means to be free, what it is to have this life back. [Applause] I get out and it's such a different
world. There's so much more going on. I'm ready for anything really. I kind of want some Dairy Queen.
All right, please. I'm Erin Morardi. I've been following the case of Ryan Ferguson since 2005
when he went on trial for the murder of newspaper sports editor Kent Heightold. From the beginning, there was just
something not right about this case. There is no physical evidence whatsoever to connect Ryan to the crime scene.
[Music] Recording this will be Detective Strower. A lot of it's kind of foggy, kind of
fuzzy to you as to what you remember. Your honor, the state calls Charles Ericson. I looked up
and Ryan was over the victim. He had his foot on his back and he was pulling up on the belt.
The reality is that he chose to lie about me. Asked to count one guilty of murder in
the second degree. It just sucked the air right out of us. We were absolutely devastated.
Love you. Ryan Ferguson never should have been tried for this murder. [Music] This case is full of holes. It's just
full of holes. Ryan Ferguson is actually innocent. I think I saw Ryan. It is. Oh my god. I
It's there. Oh my gosh. Look at You cannot get better than that. Oh my god. [Applause]
I think I've proven my innocence. I think most people in the world in the whole world can see that.
End of story. Not yet. Not for Ryan Ferguson. It's very daunting. You don't know what you're doing in this world and
you don't know how to navigate it and operate in it. and not for his accuser. It was really easy for the police and
the prosecutors to manipulate me. I'm angry. I'm angry at myself. I feel like I've been played for a fool and I feel
like I should be released from prison. I know that Charles Ericson is absolutely
innocent. When you've got innocent people locked up, you've got the murderer still on the street.
They need to find the real killer.

Wrongly convicted of murder and finally free, can Ryan Ferguson put his life back together? "48 Hours"' Erin Moriarty reports, Saturday, March 29 at 9 p.m. ET/PT on CBS.

Brief Summary

Ryan Ferguson's wrongful conviction and the emotional fallout from the case are examined, highlighting the flaws in the legal system.

Key points

The Trial's Devastating Impact. The emotional toll of the trial is palpable as Ryan's loved ones react.
Ryan Ferguson's Innocence. Ryan Ferguson argues that he is innocent and the case against him is flawed.

Episode highlights

Episode quotes

This case is full of holes.

Comment on the weaknesses in the case against Ryan.

2:02WatchMar 26, 2014

More from 48 Hours

Solve the Crime

Read a real case one clue at a time, then see how your call held up against the investigators.