Peter Shellem
Encyclopedia
Peter Joseph Shellem was an investigative reporter for The Patriot-News
. He was instrumental in obtaining the release of five wrongfully convicted innocent people:
Shellem's reporting also led to the conviction and imprisonment for mail fraud of the Pennsylvania Attorney General
, Ernie Preate
in 1995. After serving a year in jail, Preate said of Shellem: "He is a one-man Innocence Project
. You've got to recognize the work that he's done and the value he's given to society. He was there when the justice system failed."
On April 16, 2010 Pete Shellem was awarded "The 2009 Innocence Network Special Lifetime Achievement Award". This event took place at the 2010 Innocence Network Conference, hosted by the Georgia Innocence Project, in Atlanta. His wife, Joyce Shellem, accepted the award in honor of him.
. His son reported that Shellem died from suicide, but this has not been confirmed.
The Patriot-News
The Patriot-News is the largest daily newspaper serving the Harrisburg, Pennsylvania metropolitan area. In 2005, the newspaper was ranked in the top 100 in daily/Sunday circulation in the United States...
. He was instrumental in obtaining the release of five wrongfully convicted innocent people:
- Steven Crawford, imprisoned for life in 1970 for murder at age 14, released after 28 years
- Barry Laughman, imprisoned for life in 1988 for rape and murder, released after 15 years
- David Gladden, imprisoned for life in 1995 for murder, released after 12 years
- Patty Carbone, imprisoned for life in 1984 for first-degree murder, released after 14 years after pleading guilty to a reduced charge of third degree murder
- Jay C. Smith, sentenced to death in 1979 for triple murder, released after 13 years, after the state Supreme Court found that prosecutorial misconduct barred him from being retried on double jeopardyDouble jeopardyDouble jeopardy is a procedural defense that forbids a defendant from being tried again on the same, or similar charges following a legitimate acquittal or conviction...
grounds
Shellem's reporting also led to the conviction and imprisonment for mail fraud of the Pennsylvania Attorney General
Pennsylvania Attorney General
The Pennsylvania Attorney General is the chief law enforcement officer of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It became an elected office in 1980. Currently, the office is held by Linda Kelly.- Authority and Responsibilities :...
, Ernie Preate
Ernie Preate
Ernest D. Preate, Jr. is a former Pennsylvania Attorney General. His term ended prematurely when he was indicted on federal charges for mail fraud for which he served a sixteen-month prison sentence in Duluth, Minnesota.-References:...
in 1995. After serving a year in jail, Preate said of Shellem: "He is a one-man Innocence Project
Innocence Project
An Innocence Project is one of a number of non-profit legal organizations in the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia and New Zealand dedicated to proving the innocence of wrongly convicted people through the use of DNA testing, and to reforming the criminal justice systems to...
. You've got to recognize the work that he's done and the value he's given to society. He was there when the justice system failed."
On April 16, 2010 Pete Shellem was awarded "The 2009 Innocence Network Special Lifetime Achievement Award". This event took place at the 2010 Innocence Network Conference, hosted by the Georgia Innocence Project, in Atlanta. His wife, Joyce Shellem, accepted the award in honor of him.
Death
Shellem died on October 24th, 2009, in his home town of Gardners, PennsylvaniaGardners, Pennsylvania
Gardners is an unincorporated community in Adams County, Pennsylvania, United States. Gardners is located off of Pennsylvania Route 34, in Tyrone Township just below Idaville....
. His son reported that Shellem died from suicide, but this has not been confirmed.