One Verdict, Countless Ripples

A WCN Op-ed by Jenny Holtzclaw

As I scrolled through social media recently, I saw the news: another "Not Guilty" verdict in a case I'd been following. I hesitated before clicking the video of the verdict being read. As soon as I did, my stomach dropped, my eyes filled with tears, and I was instantly transported back almost ten years—to December 10, 2015.

That day changed everything for my family. Most of all, it changed the life of my brother, Daniel Holtzclaw.

It's strange how one person's story can ripple outward—touching not just immediate family, but also strangers who've never even met Daniel. Years later, some of those people still reach out. His story isn't over. His voice is still being heard.

And that voice is a weight I carry every day. Days have turned into weeks, months, and years. Sometimes I go silent for long stretches because the hopelessness feels too heavy. I wonder if the truth will ever come out, especially when corruption seems so deeply rooted in our so-called justice system.

Families and lawyers who've lived through wrongful convictions know this feeling intimately. We see the government cover-ups and the systemic deception that others don't. Most people don't want to understand—until injustice hits them, or someone they love. I get it. Before Daniel, I didn't know much about wrongful convictions either.

But Daniel's voice must continue. His story isn't finished.

As Daniel's sister, it's hard to comprehend the cruelty he faces every day. He's a former police officer, surrounded by inmates who hate people who wore the badge. Some families worry about their loved ones getting old or having heart attacks. Our family's fear is that someone might kill a former police officer—my brother—who's locked up for crimes he didn't commit. He has to watch his back every single day. The mental and physical toll is crushing. My heart hurts.

Sometimes Daniel calls to say he's off lockdown—this time because someone else on his block died by suicide. What do you say to that? I try to change the subject, to focus on something positive, and tell him about the work our team is doing to keep his story alive, the progress on his post-conviction brief, anything that might give him hope.

If you're fighting this fight for someone you love, don't give up. YOU ARE THEIR VOICE. Sometimes, you're their only voice. Reach out to anyone who'll listen. When doors slam in your face, keep going. Gather every bit of evidence, transcripts, and case files you can. Use social media. Every effort gives your loved one hope.

I haven't given up, and we're nearly ten years in. This is a marathon, not a sprint.

A few years ago, I wrote a poem that I'd like to share:

Wrongful conviction is like cancer.

We wonder why? How did this happen? What could we have done to prevent this?

It doesn't just affect the person it happened too….It affects their friends, their family… their loved ones.

We try to raise awareness that this could happen to anyone you love. Cancer happens. Wrongful convictions happen.

We try to raise money to hire the best attorneys just like people raise money to pay for the best doctors.

We pray justice will prevail. We pray there will be a cure.

We face Grief – range of emotions, such as disbelief, despair, guilt and HELPLESSNESS.

You look forward to every day wondering if you will hear good news.

You wait for the judges to approve the appeal. You wait for the doctors to tell you the chemo is working.

You try to find the right words to comfort the ones you love.

You do everything you can to fight with them.

Wrongful conviction is like cancer…...We hear about it and brush it off because we NEVER THINK IT WILL HAPPEN TO YOU or someone you love until it does.