A weekend selection at the 25th St. Louis International Film Festival tells a different side of a story you may have heard about before. The documentary “Dream/Killer” tracks Bill Ferguson on the quest to free his son, Ryan Ferguson, from jail after he was convicted of second-degree murder and robbery and sentenced to a 40-year jail term in the 2001 murder of Columbia Daily Tribune Sports Editor Kent Heitholt.
In 2013, Ryan Ferguson was released from prison when a state appeals court vacated his murder conviction. Missouri Attorney General Chris Koster announced soon thereafter he would not retry Ferguson.
Bill Ferguson contended his son’s innocence and fought for his release the entire time. On Thursday’s St. Louis on the Air, Ferguson joined host Don Marsh to talk about the years his son was in jail, how he searched for evidence that would help free him, and what life is like after his son was released:
“It tears at your heart when you realize there are so many people who are in jail because of plea agreements, poor police work and false identification,” Ferguson said. “For example, the FBI came out with a study several years ago that said eye witnesses are wrong 87 percent of the time. A lot of people in prison are there for misidentification.”
Related Event
What: St. Louis International Film Festival screens “Dream/Killer”
When: Saturday, November 12 at 7:30 p.m.
Where: Saint Louis University Center for Global Citizenship, 3672 West Pine Mall St. Louis, MO 63108
St. Louis on the Air brings you the stories of St. Louis and the people who live, work and create in our region. St. Louis on the Air host Don Marsh and producers Mary Edwards, Alex Heuer and Kelly Moffitt give you the information you need to make informed decisions and stay in touch with our diverse and vibrant St. Louis region.
